Whether we are on a business trip or on vacation, we usually want to feel as comfortable in the hotel as we do at home. Especially if the hotel interiors literally invite relaxation with their cozy decor or SPA offer. There is, of course, nothing wrong with this – a rested, relaxed guest is a reason for joy both for the owner and the hotel staff. However, we must remember that unlike our own home, we are not alone in the hotel. Just like in any public place, certain norms and rules of social conduct apply here. In this article, we will explain what dress code applies in a hotel. It is worth knowing this so as not to expose yourself to remarks or unfriendly looks from other guests and not to cause them discomfort.
A hotel is largely a public space where different, unrelated people meet, just like in a restaurant, school, or theater. Of course, we usually come here for leisure purposes and care about our well-being. That's understandable. However, while we can walk around our own room even naked or just in a towel, in the hotel's common areas a certain dress code applies. It is worth observing it. This shows not only our awareness, social experience, and personal culture but also ensures that all guests can feel equally comfortable.
Hotel breakfast is one of the most pleasant moments of the day for many guests. Mainly because a good establishment takes care to serve a wide selection of products – from sweet snacks, fruits, and vegetables to hot dishes, various kinds of cheese, cold cuts, juices, and freshly brewed tea and coffee. Let's be honest – the fact that, as guests, we do not have to prepare or clean up after the meal is very attractive. This makes us all the more eager to relax. However, this does not mean that complete casualness should also apply to clothing. How to dress for breakfast at the hotel?
Certainly, it would be tactless to go down to the restaurant in pajamas or even wearing a robe over them. If you don’t feel like changing, you can always order breakfast to your room. Of course, no one will expect formal attire in the morning. If you wonder how to dress for breakfast at the hotel, we assure you that casual attire, such as sweatpants, is perfectly appropriate.
Different customs apply to later meals like lunch or dinner. Especially if the hotel is very elegant. Such establishments usually have exquisite restaurants open also to guests from outside. How to dress for dinner at the hotel? The best way is to dress as you would when going to a restaurant of similar prestige in the city. Certainly, no one would show up at such a place in a bathrobe or swimsuit, even during hot weather.
If you wonder how to dress for dinner at the hotel, no one will require a suit or cocktail dress from you, but if you appear in the clothes you wore by the pool, you may be asked to change. If that happens, it’s not worth taking the remark personally or causing a scene. The hotel staff must care about the comfort of all guests and the boundaries of many people must be respected.
The shoes we wear in the hotel should of course be comfortable. After all, we came here to relax. So you do not need to show up at dinner in high heels or dress shoes – unless you like it and it fits the rest of your outfit. If the hotel restaurant is elegant, showing up there in rubber slippers would be a definite faux pas. It is also worth asking the staff about the dress code in this regard. In very luxurious establishments, you might be asked to change your shoes.
And what shoes to wear in parts of the hotel other than the restaurant? If there is a pub on the premises, we also recommend dressing for it the same way as you would for a city bar. In corridors, relaxation, or sports areas, you can of course walk around in slippers or sneakers, whichever is comfortable for you.
Different rules apply at the hotel pool and SPA than in other common areas, but there is still a certain dress code. There are changing rooms and lockers on site, so if you wonder how to go to the hotel pool, that should be an advantage. You have two options. The first is to walk through the common areas in comfortable daywear, e.g., sweatpants or a dress, and then change into your swimsuit in the changing room.
You can also change into your swimsuit in your room, but remember to put on a robe and slippers – and walk to the recreational area this way. For some, this is very “private” attire but acceptable in hotels, provided that you are only going to the pool and return the same way. Showing up in such an outfit in a restaurant will definitely be tactless and frowned upon.
It is unacceptable, however, to walk around the common areas (excluding the pool and SPA) in only a swimsuit or shorts without a shirt. Remember that no matter where you are going, you are not on the beach but in an elegant establishment.
You may wonder why all these rules exist since you come to the hotel to relax and have fun. Like other social rules and etiquette, they exist to avoid offending others with our behavior. And remember that everyone has different sensitivities and boundaries of privacy. Of course, we pay for our stay also to feel good, but we are not at home but in a place where others are present. They also have the right to comfort.
Most misunderstandings or dress code faux pas are not due to ill intentions of guests but to simple oversight. To avoid this, it is worth asking the staff what dress code applies in the hotel. A visit to the establishment’s website will also tell you a lot. The more elegant and luxurious the decor, the more formal attire it may require.
