TravelPerch

Tired of sleepless nights on the road? I hear ya. Having stayed in dozens of hotels dotting the globe during personal travels and through my positions as a flight attendant and cruise line crew member, I’ve learned how to score rooms where I’ll likely get a good night’s sleep. Here’s what you need to know:

1)      Research! Research! Research!
Invest some time to look around the net before making a hotel reservation. Get the scoop on where the quiet rooms are at higher-end hotels worldwide by visiting www.tripkick.com. Although the offerings on this site are somewhat limited, the info provided is invaluable. And, be sure to read hotel reviews on www.tripadvisor.com and a much smaller but thorough site called www.oyster.com. Thanks to scanning these kinds of reviews, I’ve saved myself from countless sleepless nights because I was tipped off to accommodation situated near popular bars, trains and the like. You may even want to post a question on a forum asking others about noise issues of the hotel you’re looking at staying at.

2)      Avoid the “Noisies”
Contact the property you plan to stay at and ask if there are any renovations, construction projects, major events or other possible “noisies” taking place in or near the property. While you have them on the phone, inquire about where the quietest areas of the hotel are and make note of them for when you place a reservation.

3)      Ask & You (Likely) Shall Receive
When you make a reservation, be sure to ask for a quiet room – especially one away from elevators, ice machines and stairwells. When I book a hotel room on-line, I add that to the “Comments” section of the form and a few days later, I call to confirm they received my reservation and request. A few days before my arrival, I email to follow up on my reservation and request, and upon check-in I gently remind them. The hotel will generally say they can’t guarantee my request will be granted but the only time it wasn’t was when I booked a high end hotel  in Calgary, Alberta through Priceline. When I’ve booked hotels in Orlando and Vegas (twice) through Expedia, I’ve had my requests honored. Don’t forget to ask if there are newly renovated rooms as they may have better soundproofing.

4)      Do a Scan Before You Unpack
After arriving at your room, don’t unpack just yet. Do a little inspecting for potential noise issues. Look out the window. Are you overlooking a busy street, train tracks or a pub? What hotel facilities are you near? The pool, children’s play area, convention centre, restaurant, lobby or bar?  I checked in late one evening to a hotel in San Juan, Puerto Rico and loved the salsa music which greeted us. What I didn’t love was that the band played on for several more hours and my room was right above them.

5)      Don’t Be Shy
If your room is located by a noise pit such as those mentioned in #4, go to the front desk as soon as possible and politely outline your concerns. One multi-generational family of eight that I know stayed in a resort in Puerto Vallarta and the first night was a rough one for them. Their rooms were above the main buffet AND within earshot of the open-air lounge where musicians played until 1 am. The next morning, this family approached the front desk staff, expressed their disappointment and were promptly given much better rooms.

Traveling can be stressful and tiring. And, not sleeping well can negatively impact what could be a fun-filled vacation or successful business trip. Keep these tips in mind the next time you’re headed to a hotel. Check out my post, 10 Ways to Sleep Well on the Road.