When staying at a hotel, where do you stand on sneaking a croissant from the breakfast buffet? What about making your bed before checking out? Or the cut-off time for playing music in your room?Well, the time for debate is finally over. The UK’s leading etiquette expert, William Hanson, has lifted the lid on the travel rules everyone should follow – and which controversial behaviours are, in actual fact, totally permissible in a hotel.Equal parts witty and deadly serious, William Hanson is an etiquette expert who has caused quite a storm on social media in recent years, known for his no-nonsense approach to being truly classy.He’s well regarded for his podcasts Help I Sexted My Boss and The Luxury Podcast, and has even written books including Just Good Manners and The Bluffer’s Guide to Etiquette.This summer, he has partnered with Hotels.com on the guide ‘William Hanson’s Grand Etiquette Hotel Guide: 10 Tips to Reap the Rewards During Hotel Stays’. In an interview with the Daily Mail, William revealed the absolute no-no behaviours when enjoying a hotel stay. William Hanson has shared the biggest rules to follow in hotels – and what behaviours to avoidWilliam said: ‘The biggest thing for me is treating every member of staff – from the front-of-house staff you see when you arrive, to the cleaner you pass in the corridor – with genuine respect. ‘It shouldn’t need to be said. It’s part of the bargain of being a human being… and it’s not just good manners, or being nice to people – it will also unlock better, more personalised service, whatever type of hotel you are in.’This might sound obvious, but William has plenty of other advice for those seeking a bit of etiquette guidance ahead of their travels.How else can you get upgrades and better service? William suggests using eye contact with the staff, and using their name if you can see a nametag.’The psychology there is when we hear our name, it releases a chemical in our brain that makes us pay attention a bit more. And it’s more personal. You want to be treated personally in a hotel.’So treat the staff personally as well, just by simply using their name. I think you are going to get a better response from them.’Another idea is to use a very British type of humour. William says: ‘You can also use the humour approach – it’s one of our strengths as Brits, that we are relatively self-deprecating. You can say something like: “I appreciate you’re probably really, really full – and if you need to move people around in rooms to accommodate other guests, I am more than happy to fall on my sword and have an upgrade.”‘ Keen to get five-star service? William shares his insider tips on bagging special treatment when on holiday’That worked for me once on an airline. It hasn’t yet worked for me in a hotel, though.’But perhaps the most surprising of all is the expert’s take on breakfast buffets.He reveals: ‘It is fine to take things away from the breakfast buffet for your lunch, depending on the time you’re [there]. ‘If you’re there at 7am, when the breakfast buffet has just started and they’ve got the rest of the hotel to feed, I would suggest you’re not there grabbing croissants or bananas to take away for your lunch – unless you’ve asked.’ ‘If you’re there at 9.55am and it’s about to close, I would still ask. I think it’s always better to ask permission.’But at that time, it is less of an issue to take something away for lunch, particularly if it’s self-contained, like a croissant, a muffin or a banana. I wouldn’t start lifting up the bowl of baked beans and taking that away, though.’So these are the good behaviours – but what about the worst?’There is something about breakfast, I think maybe because people haven’t woken up yet, or they are in the process of waking up, whether it’s skipping the queue or thinking that somehow your schedule is more important than everyone else’s, that rankles me. And it often rankles other guests,’ William says. Breakfast behaviour is the most controversial – but there are some things that seem naughty but are totally acceptable’And actually, the whole point of a buffet – I get asked this question a lot with buffets – is that you can go […] more than once.’It’s better to go back a little and often, rather than pile up your plate – which is going to lead to bad table manners as well, because food’s going to fall over, you’re not going to be able to get to it, it’s going to be overwhelming. ‘With Western table manners, we’re quite prissy with food in that we’ve developed this code of conduct: small mouthfuls, mouth closed, no noise, straight back, food comes to us. It’s very controlled. In the West, we don’t like hearing and seeing the mastication and all of that. So that really can put me off whatever I’m eating.’There’s one seemingly helpful hotel behaviour that is actually more of a nuisance, though, according to William: when guests attempt to help the service staff clear tables.’Some Brits will think, oh, I can’t possibly have someone wait on me […] but actually, if the staff are balancing, clearing on a tray, they’ve got the way that they’re doing it.’There’s a bit of physics going on, and if you’re starting to pick things up for them and thrust things at them, that’s normally when accidents happen. ‘So, if they ask you, or they really cannot reach, it is absolutely fine to pick up your plate and just gently lift it to them and wait for them to take it – but don’t feel the need to stack the plates at the table for them and pass them over. ‘They’ve got their system, they’ll have their own internal training as well.’For more guidance, take an inside look at William’s complete guide… WILLIAM HANSON’S FULL GRAND ETIQUETTE HOTEL GUIDE1. The art of engaging staff with dignity Treating staff with respect is the number one priority at a hotelTreat every member of staff, from the cleaner to the manager, with genuine respect and an open ear. A polite ‘hello’ and a brief, focused question or request, rather than a demanding tone, is key. This isn’t just about being nice; it’s about unlocking personalised service. Staff are far more likely to go the extra mile for a guest who treats them as a valued individual. You gain access to insider tips, bespoke recommendations, and a level of care that money alone cannot buy.2. Halcyon hallways (and the virtue of silence)Corridors are not thoroughfares for celebration, but shared spaces requiring a degree of restraint. One should move through them quietly, particularly in the later hours, keeping voices low and footsteps gentle. By doing so, you preserve the calm for others and, crucially, ensure the same courtesy is extended to you. Keep the noise levels down in the corridors – you never know who is sleeping, William explainsThe reward is simple: uninterrupted rest, and a hotel experience that feels civilised rather than chaotic.3. Libationary lessonsA well-enjoyed drink need not become a public performance. Moderation is key, particularly in shared spaces where one’s behaviour is on quiet display. By remaining composed, you retain both dignity and control of your surroundings. The benefit is twofold: you avoid becoming tomorrow morning’s anecdote, and you ensure your evening remains pleasurable rather than regrettable – something both you and your fellow guests will appreciate.4. On burning embers and better judgementHotel rooms are designed for comfort, not combustion. Lighting a cigarette indoors undermines both the space and the experience for future guests and inevitably results in penalties that could have been easily avoided. Stepping outside preserves the integrity of the room and spares you an unnecessary charge. It’s a small concession that keeps both conscience and bill entirely untroubled.5. Housekeeping is not an archaeological activity It’s also important to maintain a basic standard of cleanliness in your roomA hotel room is not one’s private domain to abandon entirely. Keeping your space in reasonable order (not pristine, but certainly not chaotic) ensures that housekeeping can do their job efficiently and discreetly. In return, your room will be refreshed more thoroughly and with greater care. The result is a consistently pleasant environment – rather than one that feels as though it requires excavation.6. Lavation gentilityThe kettle, charmingly utilitarian as it is, exists for hot drinks only. Incredulously, some people attempt to use it for laundry, and they deserve to be cut off from society. Repurposing it for this is a step too far. Never use a kettle in a room to wash your clothes – it is highly unsanitaryBy keeping such matters confined to their proper place, you maintain standards not only for yourself, but for all who follow. The benefit is simple: one avoids embarrassment, preserves decorum, and ensures one’s cup of tea remains exactly as it should be.7. Borrowing, ownership, and other dangerous assumptionsHotels provide generously – but not without limits. Slippers and toiletries may accompany you home; larger items most certainly may not. Understanding this quiet distinction spares one both awkwardness and unnecessary charges. By taking only what is intended, you maintain propriety and leave with your reputation, and wallet, entirely whole.8. Marshalling one’s morning repastThe breakfast buffet is not a free-for-all, but a civilised ritual governed by the simple act of queuing. Waiting one’s turn may feel distinctly British, but it ensures order and ease for all. In observing this small courtesy, you avoid friction, move more efficiently through the space, and begin the day on a note of calm rather than quiet competition.9. The folly of flag-planting by towel William also weighs in on the sun lounger debate – can you ‘shotgun’ a seat with your towel?Placing a towel on a sun lounger at dawn and vanishing until mid-afternoon is a practice best left unadopted. A lounger is not secured by textile alone, but by presence. By using spaces only when genuinely needed, you contribute to a more relaxed and equitable environment and, in turn, are far more likely to find one available when you actually wish to use it. Consideration, as usual, works very much in one’s favour.10. Loyalty, and why it gets one furtherA surprising number of travellers overlook the simple advantage of loyalty programmes. By consolidating bookings and collecting rewards, one quietly accumulates tangible benefits, be that complimentary stays, upgrades, or added comforts.’It is a small shift in behaviour with a disproportionately pleasing return. Hotels.com Rewards, for instance, permit you to earn £100 in ‘Hotels.comCash’ after 10 eligible nights.’In short, loyalty is not merely virtuous; it is quietly lucrative.Want to holiday like a travel expert? Get free access to this subscriber article about the best Greek islands to visit (and the worst ones to avoid) when you sign up HERE to the Escape newsletter