Hotel Design Fails

Hotel Design Fails is my gift to you all, for some light hearted laughter.  And it’s not just guests who point out these hotel design fails either.  

Most hotels have some sort of social media presence.  A Facebook page, an Instagram Account or website. So, nowadays, when you make a reservation, you assume that you have a pretty good idea of what you’re going to get when you arrive at your destination.  

However, sometimes, you can still catch yourself staring at something so bad that it makes you scratch your head and wonder, “how on earth did that get past the architects and hotel designers?” 

Not everyone who opens a hotel business has direct experience of running one.  They think about what may look nice but don’t think about the practicalities of daily operation or about functionality.   

In the case of some of the fails I’ve included below, they don’t even look nice!

I have compiled some of the worst, most confusing, baffling and funniest hotel design fails I’ve found on the internet.   With credit to shareably.net who collated so many hotel design fails   

The Safety Guard door lock … that doesn’t!

Misaligned door sliding bar lock. Article Hotel Design Faults by MY RANGGO Hospitality Magazine

Room Signage … when you’re not sure if you’re going up, down or sideways!

Confusing Hotel Room direction sign. Article Hotel Design Faults by MY RANGGO Hospitality Magazine

A good toilet design for Spiderman or Elastigirl.  That’s one way to cut down on toilet paper usage

Hotel toilet which is 6ft away from the toilet roll holder. Article Hotel Design Faults by MY RANGGO Hospitality Magazine

When a newbie is in charge of inventory and ordering in new stock!   Well, technically, it does contain salt.  

Salt Shaker with individual packets of salt inside. Article Hotel Design Faults by MY RANGGO Hospitality Magazine

When a very private type of room … isn’t. 

It’s not exactly the best place to put a glass accent on a door!  Maybe  it’s one-way glass but they installed it the wrong way round?

Public toilet in a hotel, which has a glass panel with full view of the toilet bowl. Article Hotel Design Faults by MY RANGGO Hospitality Magazine

Taking “ensuite” to the next level!  It’s certainly one way to maximize the available space!

Hotel room which has a toilet, sink and shower in the hotel room itself. Article Hotel Design Faults by MY RANGGO Hospitality Magazine

With this “window” and a little bit of imagination, you could be anywhere in the world!

Man in a hotel room opening curtains to reveal the room wall. Article Hotel Design Faults by MY RANGGO Hospitality Magazine

I’m not sure if this is ingenious or just cost-cutting!  Why have two doors, when you can have one!

Hotel closet and bathroom which share the same door! Article Hotel Design Faults by MY RANGGO Hospitality Magazine

“Excuse me, Duty Manager? The vent in my bathroom does not seem to be working.”

Vent cover in a hotel bathroom, which is fixed to a tiled wall. Article Hotel Design Faults by MY RANGGO Hospitality Magazine

This escalator will help you get nowhere fast.

Escalator with its exit straight in to a wall. Article Hotel Design Faults by MY RANGGO Hospitality Magazine

We don’t recommend trying to access Hogwarts from here!

Set of outside stairs leading up to a brick wall Article Hotel Design Faults by MY RANGGO Hospitality Magazine

An additional feature found in no other hotel.  There has just been too many cases of people catching fire whilst showering!  

Fire system sprinkler which has been installed in a shower. Article Hotel Design Faults by MY RANGGO Hospitality Magazine

When the hotel is owned by a faucet enthusiast.  Or another way to reduce water consumption.  You can’t use it if you don’t know which tap to turn on!

Hotel room sink with more than 20 faucets. Article Hotel Design Faults by MY RANGGO Hospitality Magazine

When the lamps make you feel a little bit uncomfortable.   It’s difficult to tell if this was a deliberate or accidentally fail.

lampshades installed in a gable roof, creating light spots that look like breasts with nipples. Article Hotel Design Faults by MY RANGGO Hospitality Magazine

Finally, a sitting area just for Ninjas.  Or was it done especially for a Parkour Convention?

two seats and a table on a platform above the stairs, with no way to get to the platform. Article Hotel Design Faults by MY RANGGO Hospitality Magazine

“Where are the kids?”

“They’re at the tip of the, um, pool.”

Hotel swimming pool which looks like a penis when viewed from above. Article Hotel Design Faults by MY RANGGO Hospitality Magazine

When the Interior Designers really love a certain picture.

Hotel room with the same painting hung on both walls. Article Hotel Design Faults by MY RANGGO Hospitality Magazine

We hope you never use these stairs when you’re drunk!

a geometric carpet on hotel stairs which creates the illusion of staggered steps. Article Hotel Design Faults by MY RANGGO Hospitality Magazine

Not a good idea to abbreviate the word “Assistance” on this one!

Poorly worded elevator sign saying "Please push for After House Ass". Article Hotel Design Faults by MY RANGGO Hospitality Magazine

I’m sorry, what?

Maybe it’s intentional and they wanted to create waterfall features in their rooms?

Shower faucet which doesn't hang over the bathtub, so water hits the rim and sides. Article Hotel Design Faults by MY RANGGO Hospitality Magazine

Because sometimes, we just want to sit there and watch ourselves do our business.

Mirror on the back door of a bathroom facing the toilet. Article Hotel Design Faults by MY RANGGO Hospitality Magazine

Another hotel trying to save on toilet paper!

Woman stretching her foot to try to reach the toilet paper on the other side of the room to the toilet. Article Hotel Design Faults by MY RANGGO Hospitality Magazine

If you want us to go on a diet, you can just say so.

Hotel room mini fridge, which you can only open a couple of inches because a desk has been bolted to the wall in front of it. Article Hotel Design Faults by MY RANGGO Hospitality Magazine

Five Stars for the excellent water pressure!

Sink tap which is shooting water across the room. Article Hotel Design Faults by MY RANGGO Hospitality Magazine

“Especially for those who always get hungry when showering”

Soap dispenser in hotel bathroom mislabeled as Soup. Article Hotel Design Faults by MY RANGGO Hospitality Magazine

When the room description states “modern compact bathroom”

Tiny bathroom where the sink faucet swings across to feel a footbath shower basin. Article Hotel Design Faults by MY RANGGO Hospitality Magazine

Coming face to face with hotel design faults like these can result in one of three responses.  Depending on your mood, who you are traveling with and whether you had a great journey getting there, these epic fails can either send you over the edge, make you furious or make you laugh.  

Either way, it makes for a memorable stay and a funny travel story! 

Even if it takes you a few years before you find it funny!

Have you seen any crazy hotel design fails in your recent travels? Tell us in the comments!

What do you think?

Written by Angel Lam Ko

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