Part of the joy of traveling to faraway places is experiencing customs and cultural differences you would not come across if you only stayed close to home.
Having said that, when you book a modern-looking hotel in a European country, you usually expect it to follow the same basic rules as hotels elsewhere.
You show up, present your ID, get the key, and rarely interact with reception again, except for the usual hellos, goodbyes, or if there is an issue with your room.
According to one American tourist staying at Tirana International Hotel in Albania’s capital city, however, guests can still run into uncommon rules that seem contradictory in practice.
In a clip travel content creator Tremaine Collins (@tremaineontv) filmed while speaking to a Tirana International Hotel worker, the employee appears to inform him of one strange rule. He later posted the video to TikTok, where it got over 2.3 million views.
What Happened At This Hotel In Albania?
In the video, Collins appears to be standing near the reception holding a hot dog he bought outside the hotel. The hotel receptionist seems to have just informed him he cannot bring his meal into his room.
“Like, I can’t eat my snacks in the room?” he asks.
A worker off camera responds, “That’s not a snack. That’s bread…”
Collins is flummoxed.
“What kind of hotel is this?” he asks. “I’ve never heard of this. I’ve never heard you can’t eat in the room.”
He then points out that staff would not have known about the food if he had brought it in a bag.
“As I see you, I have to tell you that it’s not allowed,” the worker says.
Collins then asks to see the hotel’s list of rules. He also brings up what he says was another surprise: a 5,000 ALL deposit (around $61), or the hotel holding his passport.
“First, the deposit of 5,000,” he says. “But it wasn’t on Booking. That’s so crazy.”
Instead of taking the food to his room, Collins decides to eat it at the reception area.
“So I’m going to eat it right here,” he says.
He then starts eating what he calls a Mediterranean hot dog at the reception while talking about the hotel.
“This hotel is expensive for no reason,” he says. “Old and outdated, rusty and dusty.”
Collins adds that he felt stuck staying there.
“Since it’s prepaid, I have to stay here for the whole time,” he says.
He Says The Food Rule Was Not The Only Issue
In a follow-up video, Collins gives more details about the interaction. He says this was his second time in Tirana. The first time, he stayed at an Airbnb and had a smooth experience. This hotel stay, however, was different.
First, he points again to the cash deposit or passport rule, which he says he had never heard of. Refusing to leave his passport, he says he paid the cash deposit.
Then he criticizes the condition of the room.
“It’s so old and outdated,” he says, showing a bathtub-and-shower setup. He also says the air conditioner does not really work. Complaints of Tirana International Hotel rooms being outdated are also common among Tripadvisor and Google reviews for the property.
According to Collins, the receptionist said he was not allowed to eat in the room because there was no dining table. However, he points out that the room did have an office-style table he could use.
That also clashes with the hotel’s own amenities. Tirana International Hotel lists room service as one of its hotel features on its Booking.com listing.
Is This A Common Hotel Policy?
For a common, run-of-the-mill hotel, not really.
According to a Mahi Resort guide, you’re more likely to see outside-food restrictions at luxury resorts, resorts with several dining outlets, and all-inclusive properties.
Some resorts are more specific. Eftalia Hotels, for example, says in its hotel rules that guests are forbidden from bringing food and drink into rooms for hygienic reasons.
Some hotels allow outside deliveries but do not allow delivery drivers to go upstairs.
Grand Hyatt Seoul, for example, says it welcomes outside food delivery orders, but drivers are not allowed on guest floors and guests must collect orders at the lobby.
Legally, though, hotels do have the right to set house rules for their own property. HospitalityLawyer.com describes the right to control the premises as “probably the single most important right inured to an innkeeper.”
“In furtherance of this right, innkeepers are permitted to create and enforce ‘house rules’ that are designed to ensure order and safety and to prevent misconduct that can offend guests, upholds the reputation of the hotel or brand, or limits guest conduct that does not further the business purposes of the hotel,” the publication wrote.
Given that the rule is somewhat unusual, many guests won’t expect it, so one would expect this to have been communicated at check-in. In Collins’ case, he says he only found out after trying to bring food upstairs.
Viewers Were Confused, Too
In the comments, many viewers focused on the same contradiction Collins pointed out: The hotel appeared to offer room service, but the worker allegedly told him he could not eat outside food in the room.
“How they have room service but you can’t eat in the room?” one commenter asked. “What is that woman’s NAME I need to know”
Others thought Collins handled the situation exactly right by eating the food at the reception desk instead.
“You eating it at her desk is FRYING me,” one viewer wrote. “You dealt with her correctly.”
“For a $5000 deposit, y’all better be cooking me breakfast hibachi style in my room!” the commenter wrote. “Hot and ready for me to wake up to.”
While the amount sounds dramatic in U.S. dollars, Collins appeared to be referring to 5,000 Albanian lek, or around $61.
Someone else said Collins should take the issue up with the booking platform.
“Complain to booking and get a refund,” they wrote.
BroBible has reached out to Tirana International Hotel via email and Collins via TikTok messages for comment.