As a travel writer, I've stayed at more than my share of properties, and collected a few hotel-stay horror stories along the way. But nothing is worse than a room where it's impossible to fall — and stay — asleep, whether because of a nearby elevator or late-night noise from neighbors. "At its core, a hotel's primary purpose is rest, and a truly restorative night's sleep depends on a quiet, tranquil environment," says John Beck, a regional operations director for a hotel in New York's Times Square area.
You can't always control who's bunking on the other side of the wall, but Beck and other hotel insiders have plenty of tips for scoring the quietest room possible — and what to do if you don't.
Whether you're staying at a budget hotel or a luxury property, some rooms are simply better positioned than others. Overall, it's best to avoid rooms by noisy elevators and other high-traffic areas. Ernie Slatinsky, general manager and co-owner of a historic boutique hotel in Texas, says rooms near the lobby or main gathering spaces are more likely to generate noise complaints. Brian James, front office director at a large resort in Orlando, notes that lower-floor units and those overlooking pools also tend to be louder.
Other areas to try to avoid include rooms next to ice machines and vending alcoves, rooms beside stairwells or the service corridors housekeeping carts run through, rooms directly above a restaurant or fitness center, and rooms facing a busy street. Slatinsky recommends booking "a floor as far away from the lobby or common areas as you can get."
"Securing a quiet hotel room starts before you even arrive," explains Chintan Dadhich, a senior hospitality executive who oversees two New York properties. Some hotels are designed specifically with sound reduction in mind — a feature often highlighted on their websites. Beck says his property uses triple-pane, insulated windows with heavy-duty seals, and its rooms are "fully insulated from adjacent spaces above, below and beside them," with cork flooring designed to absorb sound. It's also worth checking a hotel's policies to see how seriously it takes quiet hours.
Once you've chosen a hotel, reach out to the property directly. "Guests who are sensitive sleepers should share their preferences in advance — whether that's a corner room, distance from elevators or fewer adjoining walls — so the hotel team can thoughtfully place them in the best possible location," Dadhich says.
Some hotel apps also let guests check in and select their exact room using a floor plan, so they can stay far from an elevator or stairwell. And don't forget to reiterate your preferences during check-in — front desk staff often know which rooms are the quietest.
If neighbors do create a racket, don't just grit your teeth and bear it. "If noise does become an issue, the most important thing is to speak up right away," says Dadhich. "The sooner a guest alerts the front desk, the faster the team can investigate and resolve the problem." James says staff will start with a courtesy call to the noisy room, followed by an in-person visit from a guest services team if needed.
Noise can make or break a stay, so a few extra habits help: pack earplugs or a small white-noise app, request a corner room with fewer shared walls, book outside busy weekends when your dates are flexible, and hang the "do not disturb" sign so early housekeeping rounds don't wake you.