Check in counter at The Nines hotel in Portland, OR (Photo: Chris McGinnis)
Here are six questions every smart traveler should ask when checking in a hotel:
1) What’s the location of this room?
When you ask about the specific location of the room, the clerk becomes personally involved in your room choice—and does not leave it up to whatever the hotel reservations system has assigned you. Depending on your specific situation, you may want to ask for a room away from the elevator bank, ice machine or maintenance/housekeeping closet for peace and quiet. You may want a room that does not get direct morning or afternoon sun. You may want a high floor for the view or a low floor for safety. It’s up to you but best to always ask for something specific.
2) How’s the wi-fi connection in this room?
Depending on the age of the hotel, wi-fi service can vary significantly from floor to floor… or even from one end of a hallway to the other. Based on complaints about slow service, the desk clerk should know which rooms are closer to routers, or those that get fewer complaints. If wi-fi is important to you, always ask about the connection speed before you get your room assignment!
3) Does this room have a connecting door?
There’s not much worse than a noisy hotel neighbor, especially when the sound can be heard from under the door to the connecting room. I’ve been roused from precious slumber by loud snorers, screaming babies, eerie prayer chants, and worst of all, loud TVs that neighbors leave on ALL. NIGHT. LONG. Good grief. Avoid all that by requesting a room without a connecting door when you check in. (Did you know that there’s a difference between “connecting” and “adjoining” rooms?)
4) When was this room renovated? Is it in the new part or floor?
Hotels rarely shut down completely for renovations. Instead, they renovate one floor at a time. Your question here should be two-pronged: 1) May I please have a room on a renovated floor? And 2) Should I be concerned about any renovation noise coming from above or below this room?
An ADA compliant bathroom at the Hilton Westchester (Photo: Hilton)
5) Is this an ADA compliant room?
Even though I do not have any physical disabilities, I always seem to be the guy who gets one of the hotel’s ADA compliant rooms. For some reason, hotel clerks won’t tell you this at check in, so you won’t know until you get to the room. You’ll know you have an ADA room when you see two peepholes in the door, the big wide door to the bathroom, metal grab bars around the toilet and the roll-in shower area. The hooks in the ceiling, the paddle-style sink hardware, the unusual closet layout. If I’m just there for the night, I’ll usually take it…and enjoy the extra space. But for longer stays, I’ll ask for another room.
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6) Do you have my correct loyalty program info?
I’m surprised how often I have to follow up on hotel loyalty credits because the person who booked my trip neglected to include the proper loyalty program numbers on the reservation. It’s a lot easier to get the points when checking in than trying to claim them after you’ve checked out. So double check.
Did I miss any? Please leave the question YOU always ask below… or comment on mine!
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You’ve reached #Avgeek heaven if you score a high-floor corner room at the Hilton O’Hare. Loved my stay!
Plus this Hilton could not be more convenient. The Blue Line from the Loop deposits you virtually at its door and underground walkways lead you to all terminals.
Can I get a better room? Does not always work but it sometimes results in a better room.
Thanks, Don! LOL — chris
The high toilets in these rooms I find uncomfortable. I don’t believe that our bodies were designed to do that function partially standing up.
If you don’t need an ADA compliant room, -please- don’t take it. I realize it’s often roomier, but it’s made that way for a reason. If you take it and there’s a wheelchair user, that person is SOL if for some reason that person needs an ADA compliant room. That’s not fair to that person. Not everyone who books a room identifies themselves as requiring an ADA compliant room upfront during the booking process; sometimes the booking process doesn’t ask or the ability to select the room is not clearly identified on the website.
I try to ask if there are any groups or special occasions in house (especially if checking in on or near the weekend. Obviously I want to be separated from them. Nothing like having the wedding party moving between rooms at all hours when you are trying to sleep.
I always ask “how does the WiFi work here?” A few months ago I was at a major hotel and I wasted almost 20 minutes in my room trying to connect my laptop to their WiFi network. After pulling my hair out, I called the front desk and was told they have no WiFi in the rooms, just a jack to plug your own cable in. When the hotel said they had WiFi, they failed to mention that it was only in the common areas for $20 a day.
I stayed at an ALOFT hotel in Denver with tiny rooms. When I complained about an unrelated issue, they switched me to an ADA room that was actually larger and nicer. So in some cases, ADA rooms can be a bonus.
Thanks, Av! I’m the kind of person that loves a lot of light, so a corner room request is always on my list or requests, too! 🙂 — Chris
I’m a Marriott guy, and I always ask if there are any Rewards upgrades. They usually don’t volunteer this on their own. Not sure how other brands address this. I also ask for rooms with a view, or at least a corner room. Little things count when you spend 100+ nights a year in somebody else’s bed!
Good to hear! I thought I was being singled out with the ADA room assignments! 😉 — chris
Thanks, Gary!
The ADA Room is a big frustration for me. I kind of feel like a jerk asking since I am fortunate to not need an ADA Room, but they tend to be less comfortable and homey. A lot more institutional in design and aesthetic. Even as a Platinum with Marriott I still have to ask to make sure I don’t get an ADA Room.
Here are my five things to ask at the check-in desk, they can definitely improve your stays…
http://viewfromthewing.boardingarea.com/2014/10/17/5-things-must-ask-every-time-check-hotel/