Loud hotel neighbors - what to do, if anything?

In My Humble Opinion
1

As a perk of my job, I had the pleasure of spending the other night in beautiful downtown Cincinnati. It is amazing how warm 20 degrees seems after Chicago’s single digits!

Checked into a very comfortable hotel room right downtown. Desk? Check. Comfy chair? Check. Cable? Check. King-sized bed with enough pillows for a small country? Check. Did some work, and went out for a delicious dinner of a grilled portobello sandwich accompanied by a pint (or 2) of a delectable imperial stout. (The smoky stout beautifully complimented the earthy flavor of the mushroom…)

Because I planned to wake up quite early the next morn, I went to bed immediately following Angel (and a superbly creepy ep it was!) at 10 p.m. eastern. Just as I turned out my light (and figured out all those pillows) I heard the occupant of the neighboring room enter their door. Immediately followed by the sound of their cell phone ringing. They then had the nerve to actually engage in a phone conversation in a hotel room! Can you believe it?

Actually, I believe “conversation” might not adequately convey the frequency or intensity and volume of their explosive braying and cackling laughter. Their substantive contribution to the conversation was primarily limited to varyingly nuanced repetitions of “Whatever!” Though the frequent use of the word “ejaculation” may provide some insight as to the elevate plane of discourse.

So what, if anything, do you do in such a situation?

-Each time they burst out laughing, I wanted to shout out “Shut the fuck up!” But I refrained.
-I considered turning on my radio to drown them out, but I don’t like falling asleep to TV or radio, and I feared screwing up the alarm on an unfamiliar clock/radio.
-I thought of knocking on their door, or calling them on the house phone and informing them that I could hear their conversation. But I didn’t really want to confront them, and a small part of me didn’t want them to think of me as the unreasonable crank next door.

  • I thought of calling the front desk. But what would they do? It isn’t as though this person was having a loud crowded party, late at night, with music blaring…
    -And, all nice and comfy in my bed, I didn’t want to ask to pack up and move to another room.

They got at least 3 phone calls in rapid succession. When I checked the clock, the conversation had been going on for 20 minutes. I think I fell asleep within the next 10 minutes.

Like I said, this person undoubtedly had no idea how clearly their voice was carrying into the next room. And I am sure their friends consider them friendly, entertaining company with their generous and ready laugh. But lying in the dark with my teeth clenched, wanting only to fall asleep, such complimentary characterizations did not spring to mind.

So what, if anything, would you do in such a situation? And what, if anything, can a traveler do to lessen the likelihood of such happening in the future?

Perhaps earplugs are in order. In which case I’ll undoubtedly sleep late and be held in contempt of court. I wonder if they accept Visa for bail money?

2

If bothered by guests in an adjacent hotel room, call the front desk. Simply say that you’re not sure what the room’s occupants are doing, but there’s a great deal of carry-over noise and it’s preventing you from getting to sleep. They’ll send a guy to come knock on the door and say that there’s been a complaint, and that alone should make the occupants think about what they’re doing.

I had this happen to me once, but I was the one the complaint was about. I put on the television, and since it was early evening and I figured that it wouldn’t bother anyone, I turned it up so that I could hear the news (particularly the weather) while I did my hair and makeup in the bathroom. Apparently the guests next door had a baby who needed to nap and my tv volume was disturbing. I slipped an apology note under their door.

Late in the evening, it seems even less touchy to simply lodge a complaint. It doesn’t mean that anyone’s going to get arrested or kicked out. Chances are that people simply have no clue how far the noise that they’re making is carrying and how disturbing atmospheric noise can be to others, especially if they’re trying to sleep.

3

Yes, call the front desk. It’s possible they will give you a different room. If they can’t or won’t do so, and they don’t take measures to quiet the other room down, suggest to them that what you’re there for is a night’s rest, and if you can’t get that you won’t pay them. I was in a hotel once where there was a convention of some sort, and there were folks intermittently slamming doors, laughing and arguing in the halls at all hours of the night. When I’d complain, security would come and quiet them down for a while but just as I was dropping off to sleep it would start up again. I ended up getting the room for free, although I would rather have had the night’s sleep.

4

You could tell the front desk folks that you think people are throwing furniture around or are beating up each other. I think they would respond quickly!

Or, you could wear earplugs AND a watch with a vibrating alarm (like the one I have). I think you could also buy a vibrating alarm clock that goes under your pillow. What do deaf people do in order to wake up on time??

5

This happened to me not long ago, and rather than call the front desk, I just went next door and knocked. In that case, it was his television that was turned up too loud.

As it turned out, the guy was clearly stoned, and appeared to have fallen asleep/passed out. It was no big deal. He turned it down and we went to sleep.

I vote for confronting the problem yourself. Bring the front desk in if that doesn’t work.

6

If you have trouble with a hotel guest being too loud, call the front desk. If they have the rooms, they will move you to a quieter area. If not, they will try to calm down the noisy occupants or appease you in some way. I worked in a few different hotels while attending college, and all of them gave incentives if a positive comment or comment card was given to the front desk. So, when it means a possible bonus or raise, most desk clerks will go out of their way to make your stay as comfortable as possible. But remember, if they do a good job, take a minute to fill out the comment card!

7

Reading the OP again, tapping on the wall or going to their door and politely asking them to quiet down might work. OTOH, if you’re already in bedtime attire & don’t have a robe, it might not. It’s situational. Obviously if it sounds like a fight or some such thing, I’d definitely let others handle it.

8

I’m usually the “talk to them in person” type myself, but the last time I did this at a hotel, I learned my lesson. The people in the room next to ours were being incredibly loud at 10 p.m., just as I was trying to get my kids to sleep, and after I went next door to (very politely) ask them to please keep it down, instead of the original noisy conversation and doors banging, we were treated to their extremely noisy, prolonged, and expletive-ridden opinion of “that bitch in the next room.” That’s when I called the front desk, and when someone came to talk to them, they complained about ME bothering THEM.

Never again. I’d just call the front desk and have them deal with it from the start.

9

Yes call the front desk. Most times the noisy neighbor will comply. but you have also established a record of your problem. Compensation for any inconvenice to you is usually only offered if management is aware of the noisy room. If the front desk does not know you have a problem. Note to business travelers on an expenxe account. Ask for a free breakfast or an upgrade on a future stay. IF your company pays for your room,what good to you is a free stay?

10

If none of the above suggestions work, and you get up REEEEEEEEEEEEEAL early . . .

-Order a wake up call . . about 5 minutes after you leave.

-Set your alarm for about 10 minutes after you leave

-Leave the radio and TV at full blast before you leave.

-Rip the “Do Not Disturb” tag off their door, and go to the restaurant and order them breakfast room service.

You might be groggy from lack of sleep, and be out $15 . . . .but the satisfaction of making these jackassess wake up with a hangover at 630am is priceless.

11

I have done it, sometimes nothing happens, othertimes they have given me a extra room just to sleep that night, other times they have moved all my stuff to the other room.

12

You should never try to confront any one you don’t know. Let the hotel staff know. They are paid to do this sort of thing, And they can’t do anything if they don’t know about it. Don’t get belleigerent with the desk clerk, He isn’t your problem, but do insist that it be taken care of.
And if nothing is done, ask, pointedly, for a comment card. THe hotel I work, lives or dies by those things

Spelling and grammer subject to change without notice.

13

Thanks for the feedback, folks.

Other frequent travellers I have talked with were firmly in the “call the front desk” camp.

I know I often feel I am being - um - intolerant of other people’s lifestyles/behavior/etc. That is one reason I spend so much time with my family and a few close friends, and prefer entertaining in my home than in the public.
When I am out, I feel less justified in imposing my choices on others. And as I said, I was going to sleep quite early.

Another thing that constrained me from acting was that I kept hoping the phone calls would end any time. If they had turned on the TV, at least I could have guessed how long the program might last. Or if they had guests, I might expect it to last longer than a phone call.

And I was so comfy. All I wanted was to fall asleep!

14

That’s a real laff riot to the people on the other side of, above, and below your room, who did nothing to disturb you but now will have to listen to your “payback.”

15

Collateral damage. :cool:

16

the only thing that you can do to make them shut up is to make them aware of your presence. try kicking in the bumper of their car, or matbe slash the tires. if you decide to slash the tires, do it right, and get at least two tires. most people only have one spare.
but if your looking for something less intrusive, you could simulate having an orgasm. that always gets the neighbors quiet.

17

Umm… why only simulate it? :slight_smile:

(sorry, but I couldnt resist)
(sorry again) :slight_smile:

18

Another vote for “call the front desk and let them handle it.”

During one hotel stay, my wife and I ended up being next door to a bunch of people who partied loudly, and late into the night. A complaint to the front desk brought a manager, who told the party people to be quiet.

Five minutes after he left, the party was again in full blast mode. Another phone call, and the manager returned to repeat his request to be quiet. And again, five minutes after he left, they were at it again.

This time, the manager came to our room. He had a luggage trolley. “I know this is an inconvenience, but if you folks can pack up, I’m going to move you to another room.” We gladly did–it was late at night, and we were tired, and just wanted to get some sleep, no matter where. “Where” turned out to be a rather nice suite, and the manager also was nice enough to give us that suite free for that night, and coupons for breakfast the next day.

Definitely call the front desk, and let them handle it. If our experience is anything to go by, you’ll get your sleep, and maybe an upgrade, besides.

19

Banging or tapping on the walls never works. Trust me.

Knocking on their doors works sometimes, but it never works on someone with kids. Used to be you’d complain about someone’s kid and they would do something about it. Nowadays you complain about someone’s kid and they take it as a personal insult.

Always call the front desk. Be nice. It isn’t their fault. The nicer you are to them, the nicer they’re likely to be to you.

On a business trip to Philly, I was staying in a luxury hotel next to a Chinese woman who spent the greater part of the late night (1am to about 4am) screaming into the phone in chinese. Guess she was calling home. I complained about it to the desk and they ended up having a talk with her about it and moving HER to a new room. Perhaps I wasn’t the only one to complain.

Was in a hotel in Wall, SD where the parents were across the hall from me and the kids were next to me. All flippin’ night they were running back and forth, slamming the doors. I asked to move down the hall to a quieter room. The parents were arrogant, inconsiderate assholes who didn’t want to hear that their precious children were disturbing anyone else.

Nowadays I always ask for a quiet room, away from any rooms with children in them.

I used to carry hearing protection with me so that I could sleep through the first couple of hours of noise or on long flights, but since they’re shooter’s equipment and probably have gunpowder residue on them, I doubt that I’ll be trying to take them on any airline flights in the future…

20

Sounds like your hotel walls were actually too thin. Regardless, the hotel owes you another room.

I was staying in a hotel that had a wedding reception at it and the people had rooms in the hotel. It was worse than any stories you’ve read about rock bands. At 2 in the morning I got up, packed and left. I check out at the desk and simply said I didn’t expect to pay for that evening. The person on duty didn’t disagree. I knew there had to be at least 20 complaints from guests on 3 floors.

What sucked was that I witnessed 2 near fatal crashes from drunks on the road. Somehow they managed to drive off both sides of the road without killing themselves.