I love the Do Not Disturb Sign

One of the best things about traveling (I know the list is very, very long) is the parting gift that the hotels give away on the day of checkout – the ‘do not disturb’ signs. Well, maybe give away is a little misleading. They just seem to fall into my bag as we leave the room. Yes, I know what you are thinking – that’s crazy dangerous! I know, but I love to live on the edge!! I have put together a collection of some of my favorites.

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Each sign is such a personal expression of the hotel, whether it be whimsical or traditional in its message.

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The materials used also vary. Some are wood or metal – these are especially fun to take. There can be some drawbacks like the metal disk shown above. I got pulled out of the TSA line for this sweet little sign that happened to fall into my bag when we stayed at Montage Palmetto Bluff. Oops…

Some hotels take the whole do not disturb sign to another level and make it impossible not to throw them into your suitcase upon checkout. Like the ones from the hotel in Bhutan, which is now the Meridien in Thimpu. They look like a set of men’s ties, red no, green go. Love the simplicity and classy look – how could I leave those behind!

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Then there are those that are simple and straight forward. They can be a little funny and sometimes beautiful like the ones below on the bottom right from the Alvear Palace in Argentina.

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The do not disturb sign is sadly fading away and is being replaced by an impersonal exterior light that you turn on from your room. It makes me a little sad when we check out of these hotels, and there isn’t anything to remind me of the experience. In these cases, I usually keep the room key. Some hotels are trying to maintain a little do not disturb sign dignity by trying to accommodate with a sad little sign.

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Anyway, just a little diddy to maybe brighten your day and remember that one day we will be able to go and travel again. I look forward to the joy that you will have when you, all of a sudden, find a do not disturb sign in your suitcase when you get home!