Room number tourists should 'never' pick when booking a hotel

Daily Record

3 days ago

Javier Sobrino says the room number on your booking can make or break your holiday
You've been daydreaming about your holiday for months. After a tiresome day of travelling, you finally reach your hotel, ready to relax.
But as you settle into your room, the peace you yearned for is disrupted by incessant noise from the corridor, slamming doors, and the unmistakable rumble of the nearby lift. According to Javier Sobrino, founder of Descubriendo Viajes, a Spanish travel platform specialising in handpicked accommodations, this common hotel nightmare can often be sidestepped with one simple booking strategy.
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"After spending over a decade travelling across Spain and staying in hundreds of hotels, I've learned that the room number on your booking can make or break your entire stay," he said. "Never book a room ending in '01'.
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'In most hotels, rooms ending in '01' are typically located right next to elevators, stairwells, and service areas – essentially, the noisiest spots on the floor.' This room placement isn't random.
Hotels are typically designed with rooms ending in '01' positioned near lifts and service areas for efficiency, reports Devon Live. While this layout makes sense for hotel operations, it creates a less-than-ideal experience for guests in these rooms.
"These rooms catch all the foot traffic from other guests coming and going at all hours," he explained. "You'll also hear the housekeeping staff starting their rounds early in the morning, with carts being rolled past your door first, and supplies being restocked in nearby service areas."
The disturbance isn't confined to daylight hours either. "Late-night revellers returning to their rooms, early risers heading out for breakfast, and the constant ping of elevator doors will become the soundtrack to your stay," he noted.
Why hotels say nothing about room number one
Hotels seldom advertise which rooms may be subject to more noise when you're booking online. Naturally, they need to book every room, even those adjacent to areas with a lot of activity.
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"Hotels are in the business of selling all their inventory," he noted. "They're not going to volunteer information about which rooms might be less desirable unless you specifically ask."
Other hotel room numbers to avoid
While rooms ending in '01' are often the main one to worry about, Mr Sobrino points out that there are additional rooms that could pose a nuisance.
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"Rooms directly above or below hotel restaurants or bars can be noisy well into the night," he cautioned. 'The same goes for rooms facing busy streets or located near loading docks where deliveries arrive early in the morning.'
For those travelling as a family, Sobrino said: "Avoid rooms near stairwells if you're travelling with young children. These areas tend to have heavy metal doors that slam loudly when people use them, potentially waking little ones during nap time or early bedtimes.
"You don't need to make demands to get a better room – it's all about smart requests. Call the hotel directly after booking online and be friendly. Mention any special occasion, even if it's just that you've been looking forward to this break for months.
"A simple 'I'd prefer a quiet room away from elevators' works wonders. Front desk staff want you to enjoy your stay and will note your reservation. If you're in their loyalty program, mention it – this often improves your room assignment priority."
Elaborating on what he has learnt from his many travels, Mr Sobrino said: "Hotels want happy guests who leave good reviews and return. Being polite but specific about your preferences means you're helping them give you the experience you're hoping for. In my decade of travelling across Spain, I've found that how you ask matters just as much as what you ask for."