# Staying in a hotel/B&B, is traffic noise a problem for you? **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [September 16, 2019, 8:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/staying-in-a-hotel-b-b-is-traffic-noise-a-problem-for-you/840342 "2019-09-16T20:50:38Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Teddie](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/7ab992/32.png) [@Teddie](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Teddie)\ **Post date:** [September 16, 2019, 8:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/staying-in-a-hotel-b-b-is-traffic-noise-a-problem-for-you/840342/1 "2019-09-16T20:50:38Z")
Husband and I stayed in a pretty expensive b&b recently, £185 a night. It was in the centre of town, Manchester, we were well aware that due to it being in the centre of town there’d be noise. Traffic noise, people who’d been out partying, street cleaning in early hours of the morning. It’s not a problem for us. We lived in London, now live in tiny village, outside noise doesn’t leave us being unable to sleep even with the windows open. At breakfast 2 couples were outraged at the amount of noise after midnight. It’s a city! Of course there’s going to be noise outside! Are you very noise sensitive due to maybe living in the middle of nowhere and being used to silence? If so surely you wouldn’t stay at a hotel in the middle of a city…or you’d take ear plugs :dubious: ---
**Author:** ![iamthewalrus\_3](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/258eb7/32.png) [@iamthewalrus\_3](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/iamthewalrus_3)\ **Post date:** [September 16, 2019, 9:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/staying-in-a-hotel-b-b-is-traffic-noise-a-problem-for-you/840342/2 "2019-09-16T21:08:23Z")
Since we had small children, we got used to sleeping with a white noise generator in the room, so now we tend to turn it on for ourselves as well. I also travel with earplugs in case it’s really noisy. So, no, but only because I’m prepared for it. ---
**Author:** ![Hampshire](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/hampshire/32/4887_2.png) [@Hampshire](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hampshire)\ **Post date:** [September 16, 2019, 9:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/staying-in-a-hotel-b-b-is-traffic-noise-a-problem-for-you/840342/3 "2019-09-16T21:17:11Z")
If it’s a lot of noise whereas it all becomes a blend of white noise I’m fine and actually prefer it to complete silence. If it’s just two people having a conversation within ear shot it will keep me up all night. ---
**Author:** ![BrickBat](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/ac91a4/32.png) [@BrickBat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BrickBat)\ **Post date:** [September 16, 2019, 9:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/staying-in-a-hotel-b-b-is-traffic-noise-a-problem-for-you/840342/4 "2019-09-16T21:21:14Z")
I too use a white noise generator. It all began back when I worked 3rd shift and had to sleep during the day. It worked so good that anymore, I Cant. Sleep. Without one. For travel I have a battery powered one, and it does the trick. I’ll employ earplugs too, but not if I’m the only one in the room: I’m paranoid I won’t hear a smoke detector if it goes off. ---
**Author:** ![OttoDaFe](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ottodafe/32/356_2.png) [@OttoDaFe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/OttoDaFe)\ **Post date:** [September 16, 2019, 9:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/staying-in-a-hotel-b-b-is-traffic-noise-a-problem-for-you/840342/5 "2019-09-16T21:32:00Z")
Generally, no (though something like a four-vehicle accident involving an exploding tanker would likely get my attention). I grew up under the flight path for a USAF base, and currently live about two miles south as the guttersnipe flies. So I think I’d be more discomfited if there weren’t background noise of some kind. ---
**Author:** ![Teddie](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/7ab992/32.png) [@Teddie](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Teddie)\ **Post date:** [September 16, 2019, 9:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/staying-in-a-hotel-b-b-is-traffic-noise-a-problem-for-you/840342/6 "2019-09-16T21:39:24Z")
> [@iamthewalrus\_3](#): > > Since we had small children, we got used to sleeping with a white noise generator in the room, so now we tend to turn it on for ourselves as well. I also travel with earplugs in case it’s really noisy. So, no, but only because I’m prepared for it. As a major insomniac I use a white noise app which I find helpful. > [@Hampshire](#): > > If it’s a lot of noise whereas it all becomes a blend of white noise I’m fine and actually prefer it to complete silence. > If it’s just two people having a conversation within ear shot it will keep me up all night. I agree. People stood outside your bedroom window having a noisy conversation is the worst! If you can hear every word of the conversation then it’s infuriating :mad::mad: I’ll shout out the window and tell ‘em to move on 😃 > [@BrickBat](#): > > I too use a white noise generator. It all began back when I worked 3rd shift and had to sleep during the day. It worked so good that anymore, I Cant. Sleep. Without one. For travel I have a battery powered one, and it does the trick. > > I’ll employ earplugs too, but not if I’m the only one in the room: I’m paranoid I won’t hear a smoke detector if it goes off. As a nurses aid/HCA I worked nights for many years before becoming a full time (day carer) for my grandad. I never really struggled with ‘outside noise’ but the white noise helped me greatly to become relaxed and tune in to the white noise and fall asleep. ---
**Author:** ![Procrustus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/procrustus/32/2994_2.png) [@Procrustus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Procrustus)\ **Post date:** [September 16, 2019, 9:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/staying-in-a-hotel-b-b-is-traffic-noise-a-problem-for-you/840342/7 "2019-09-16T21:43:17Z")
We live in an extremely quiet location. Nonetheless, I don’t have a problem with hotel city noises unless it’s unusually bad. ---
**Author:** ![iamthewalrus\_3](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/258eb7/32.png) [@iamthewalrus\_3](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/iamthewalrus_3)\ **Post date:** [September 16, 2019, 10:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/staying-in-a-hotel-b-b-is-traffic-noise-a-problem-for-you/840342/8 "2019-09-16T22:04:22Z")
> [@Teddie](#): > > As a major insomniac I use a white noise app which I find helpful. Yeah, that’s what we use too. At home we have dedicated machines because pressing a button is easier than fiddling with a smartphone, but when traveling we just use an app. ---
**Author:** ![Teddie](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/7ab992/32.png) [@Teddie](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Teddie)\ **Post date:** [September 16, 2019, 10:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/staying-in-a-hotel-b-b-is-traffic-noise-a-problem-for-you/840342/9 "2019-09-16T22:08:12Z")
> [@Procrustus](#): > > We live in an extremely quiet location. Nonetheless, I don’t have a problem with hotel city noises unless it’s unusually bad. This is what I’m saying. You live in a very quiet place, If you were going to stay in a hotel/b&b that was in a town centre you might take ear plugs? That’d be sensible as you’re used to no noise when you’re sleeping/trying to get to sleep. I understand completely people not able to get to sleep with town/traffic noise, I respect that. It’s just if you’re staying somewhere with this type of noise surely you’d help yourself and get earplugs or maybe not stay there? ---
**Author:** ![blondebear](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/blondebear/32/1022_2.png) [@blondebear](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/blondebear)\ **Post date:** [September 16, 2019, 10:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/staying-in-a-hotel-b-b-is-traffic-noise-a-problem-for-you/840342/10 "2019-09-16T22:30:42Z")
“City traffic” noise (cars stoping/starting, people parking/getting out of cars) bothers me quite a bit. If closing the window doesn’t help I’ll put in earplugs even though I don’t like using them (I like to drift off listening to podcasts). If the noise is more like the susurrous of a freeway in the distance or country road, that’s almost as good as white noise for me. ---
**Author:** ![kopek](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kopek/32/337_2.png) [@kopek](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kopek)\ **Post date:** [September 16, 2019, 10:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/staying-in-a-hotel-b-b-is-traffic-noise-a-problem-for-you/840342/11 "2019-09-16T22:35:24Z")
Never ------ with one exception. We were in a hotel upper floor near Kentucky Kingdom across from the airport. The UPS hub airport. At midnight it became like DaNang in 1968 with assault landing and take-offs for several hours. They have since torn the hotel down. ---
**Author:** ![panache45](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/panache45/32/64_2.png) [@panache45](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/panache45)\ **Post date:** [September 16, 2019, 10:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/staying-in-a-hotel-b-b-is-traffic-noise-a-problem-for-you/840342/12 "2019-09-16T22:36:46Z")
The worst noise I had to sleep through was when I was living in NYC and working graveyard shift. Not only trying to sleep in Midtown Manhattan during the day, but across the street from construction of Zeckendorf Towers and constant pile driver noise. Ear plugs weren’t enough. ---
**Author:** ![Ludovic](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/7ab992/32.png) [@Ludovic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ludovic)\ **Post date:** [September 16, 2019, 10:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/staying-in-a-hotel-b-b-is-traffic-noise-a-problem-for-you/840342/13 "2019-09-16T22:44:23Z")
I’ve literally never had traffic noise be a problem at a hotel/b+b. Vehicles in general are another story. When my family stayed at Motel 6’s the semi’s would start to warm up their cabs at like 6 and the neverending rumbling diesel would wake me up, and one time in downtown Orlando I was woken up at the ungodly hour of 9:30 by the revving engines of a car show, but never normal street traffic. Noise from within the hotel is a totally different story, but that’s for another thread. ---
**Author:** ![aruvqan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/aruvqan/32/2891_2.png) [@aruvqan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/aruvqan)\ **Post date:** [September 17, 2019, 12:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/staying-in-a-hotel-b-b-is-traffic-noise-a-problem-for-you/840342/14 "2019-09-17T00:18:37Z")
> [@OttoDaFe](#): > > Generally, no (though something like a four-vehicle accident involving an exploding tanker would likely get my attention). > > I grew up under the flight path for a USAF base, and currently live about two miles south as the guttersnipe flies. So I think I’d be more discomfited if there weren’t background noise of some kind. Flightline of Norfolk Operations Base, Norfolk VA and Langley Air Force Base. I can sleep through pretty much anything as well =) I can also ID by sound most of the commonly used Navy aircraft as well =) ---
**Author:** ![Baker](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/bb73d2/32.png) [@Baker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Baker)\ **Post date:** [September 17, 2019, 1:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/staying-in-a-hotel-b-b-is-traffic-noise-a-problem-for-you/840342/15 "2019-09-17T01:01:17Z")
Noise doesn’t really bother me. I live less than a block from a long street in my city that is a major thruway for emergency vehicles. I don’t even turn my head for sirens now, unless I am driving. ---
**Author:** ![Eyebrows\_0f\_Doom](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/eyebrows_0f_doom/32/3119_2.png) [@Eyebrows\_0f\_Doom](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Eyebrows_0f_Doom)\ **Post date:** [September 17, 2019, 1:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/staying-in-a-hotel-b-b-is-traffic-noise-a-problem-for-you/840342/16 "2019-09-17T01:17:19Z")
I live on a major intersection in Manhattan so general city noise/cars/buses/etc is normal and when I am in a place with no noise I usually find it _too_ quiet. People talking is different. Voices are distracting and will keep me awake. ---
**Author:** ![kenobi\_65](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kenobi_65/32/13178_2.png) [@kenobi\_65](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kenobi_65)\ **Post date:** [September 17, 2019, 1:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/staying-in-a-hotel-b-b-is-traffic-noise-a-problem-for-you/840342/17 "2019-09-17T01:36:52Z")
> [@Teddie](#): > > I understand completely people not able to get to sleep with town/traffic noise, I respect that. It’s just if you’re staying somewhere with this type of noise surely you’d help yourself and get earplugs or maybe not stay there? My suspicion is that the people who complained about the noise had not actually ever stayed in a hotel or B&B in a busy city center. Even if they were aware “yes, it’s in a city,” they may not have realized just how noisy nighttime in such an area actually is. ---
**Author:** ![Rhiannon8404](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/rhiannon8404/32/17929_2.png) [@Rhiannon8404](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rhiannon8404)\ **Post date:** [September 17, 2019, 1:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/staying-in-a-hotel-b-b-is-traffic-noise-a-problem-for-you/840342/18 "2019-09-17T01:44:32Z")
I live in a fairly quiet, suburban neighborhood. I actually love hearing “city noise” when I’m travelling and will frequently leave a window open if feasible. As mentioned above though, I don’t want to hear an on going conversation between two people. But music from a night club, general chatter, and traffic, is just fine. ---
**Author:** ![P-man](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/p-man/32/3606_2.png) [@P-man](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/P-man)\ **Post date:** [September 17, 2019, 1:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/staying-in-a-hotel-b-b-is-traffic-noise-a-problem-for-you/840342/19 "2019-09-17T01:56:38Z")
The only time I ever had a big problem with noise in a hotel was in New Brunswick, NJ. Our son was around two, and Ms. P was very pregnant. There was a couple next door where a guy was cheating on his wife (we knew because we heard the woman on the phone during a break in the action telling someone that his wife thought he was somewhere else). We complained, and someone from the hotel knocked on the door, but they pretty much kept it up all night. This wasn’t a boning motel, either. They offered us a free stay, but we never took them up on it. ---
**Author:** ![peccavi](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/peccavi/32/388_2.png) [@peccavi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/peccavi)\ **Post date:** [September 17, 2019, 2:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/staying-in-a-hotel-b-b-is-traffic-noise-a-problem-for-you/840342/20 "2019-09-17T02:01:20Z")
I grew up in a house next to a state highway. Not only a state highway, but a “dead mans curve” on that highway. As a child, I didn’t just sleep through traffic noise, but some pretty horrific accidents (like the time a jacknifing semi decapitated a couple in a convertible sports car). [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/staying-in-a-hotel-b-b-is-traffic-noise-a-problem-for-you/840342.md?page=2)