My desires are few, disappointments are many.
Why is it so common to have my sleep interrupted by a chorus of slamming doors, other guests yelling down the hall, and vacuuming in the room upstairs?
Why must I endure painfully loud rock music and organized activities by the pool when all I want is a little sun, a blender drink and a book?
Is it so much to ask that when I travel -- whether on business or for pleasure -- I want a little quiet?
This isn't about taking a vow of silence and heading to a monastic prayer retreat. I'm not a prude and I love rock music when I'm in the mood. But let me seek it out, rather than assaulting me with noise at all times. You don't need to try that hard to entertain me.
Here is my challenge to the travel industry, should you choose to accept it:-- Smoking and non-smoking rooms are now almost universal in hotels and motels. Could you try the same with designated quiet floors or quiet wings? Guests would be asked to keep their voices down in the hallway, to refrain from letting their doors slam, and to exercise extra consideration during primetime sleeping hours, say 10 p.m. to 10 a.m. Housekeeping would not vacuum during these hours, and maintenance would not begin hammering in a stairwell, either.
--- Automatic door closers are part of fire suppression, and I understand the need for safety and following fire code. Still, adjust door closers to do the job a little slower, and put a little bit of cushion in the doorframe to ease the non-stop thwack of inconsiderate guests who let doors slam. At the Park South in Manhattan's Murray Hill area, doors close, but peacefully. It can be done.
--- Where possible, set adults-only quiet time for the pool and hot tub, even if it's just one hour at the end of the night, so those who'd like a little soak without the typical exuberance of kids and water.
--- At resorts and on cruises, set aside one area for quiet. No sexy legs contests in the pool, no activities coordinator shouting into a microphone, no sudden blast of Queen blaring over crackling speakers. Ask that guests respect this designation by not bringing their own jambox or shouting across the pool.
--- Remind guests to be considerate. The Bavarian Inn in Frankenmuth, Mich. is a family friendly mecca -- video games, pools, indoor miniature golf. Yet the halls are blissfully silent, thanks in part, I think, to signs everywhere encouraging guests to keep their voices down in halls and stairways. A simple step?
And travelers, here's what I ask of you:--- If you have a problem while you're traveling, politely let someone know. Ask the activities coordinator if she could turn the volume down. Call the front desk to let someone know that there's a loud party on your floor. If management doesn't know you have a concern, they can't fix it, and they don't know they're at risk of losing your business.
--- Vote with your wallet. Let hotel managers know that you will or won't be back, and why. You can do this in person, or with an email or letter when you get home.
--- Share your feedback, both good and bad, about the volume level of places you've stayed. Please use this format, to make it easy for others to use the "search this blog" function to find your input.
Name of lodging:
City, state, country:
Web link, if you have it:
Date(s) you stayed there:
What they did well, quiet-wise:
What they did poorly, quiet-wise:
Recommended to quiet-seeking travelers? (yes or no?)
This is an experiment with the power of technology -- surely we are not the only travelers who feel this way, but when we're on vacation, we feel like we're in the minority.
Maybe blogging about this can help us, and others, find the places that cater to travelers like us, and encourage the travel industry to cater to our desires.
