To feel like I never want to stay in a hotel again

[Betsyhilton]

Just back from what was meant to be a relaxing break in a hotel. We had a loud wedding that went on until the small hours, with wedding guests taking over the lounge the next day; a baby that screamed and cried throughout breakfast while both parents sat there and neither bothered to take him out; and the lounge on the Friday night had a match playing at full volume and was full of non residents drinking and shouting and roaring at the screen.

The last time we took a break in a hotel there was a large conference being held there. They were seated at two long tables in the dining room and the noise was so loud that ourselves and several other tables complained but nothing was done. We also had to put up with loud work related skype calls and phone conversations in the lounge when trying to relax with the morning papers, and an impromptu meeting being held at a table beside us, with more and more people joining in until we felt squeezed out.

We've also had weekends in hotels ruined by loud hen and stag parties.

AIBU to think it's nearly impossible to get a relaxing calm break in a hotel anymore?

We tend to look for small hotels, often family run. Never had these problems in such places. They tend to provide so much more. Usually have good restaurants attached.
Bigger hotels with Conference centres or function suites attached are often like your experience.
Saying that on a self drive holiday in Europe and had no problems in city centre hotels. Saying that we haven't met many British people!
I hope you get another trip away somewhere nice soon.

Do you ever read reviews? Try that.

Honestly you have listed far too many experiences to convince me you are prioritising cost over quality

You can find some lovely holiday lodges/cottages that are similar to the price of 4 star hotels but much more peaceful and relaxing, some even with hot tubs!

Having just seen that it was £125 a night I’ve changed my answer to YABU, at that price you’ll get this kind of carry on.

If you want a proper relaxing break I’m afraid you have to often use price as a filter and I find at the £250/night mark things start to settle down. And if they are noisy, management are quick to step in and sort it out and offer compensation.

I came on here to say the same !

It shouldn’t be the case, though, that only people who can afford to pay ridiculous prices can access peace and quiet.

Not that price always buys peace and quiet, especially where weddings are involved

YANBU , which is why we haven’t stayed in a hotel since 2010. B&B , chambres d’hôtes etc from then on.

I’m more concerned about the bedbugs too - just came back from a week staying in uk hotels and I’m convinced we’ve come home with bedbugs - I’m itching every night. Mind you I’m sitting on a train atm - that’s not great either!

God - where do you get a 4* hotel for that price?! My local Premier Inn would cost that for next weekend!

We also had to put up with loud work related skype calls and phone conversations in the lounge when trying to relax with the morning papers, and an impromptu meeting being held at a table beside us, with more and more people joining in until we felt squeezed out.

For Skype calls, I'd be tempted to get into the background and wave at the camera, then start a loud conversation behind the person in question. For phone conversations, I'd suggest they take it somewhere more quiet. For meetings, either join in enthusiastically or ask them whether they really feel it's appropriate to discuss their company's private affairs in a public place and suggest they talk to the hotel about getting a separate room.

£125/night is pretty cheap imo. We have a luxe hotel booked for a weekend soon which is more than double that a night. They do have weddings there, but it's all self contained and breakfasts are booked at check in so plenty of room plus the restaurant is pricey which tends to keep the hoi polloi away 😊

Apologies for that dreadful stream of consciousness sentence structure there...

Except I’ve been looking at places to stay in Ireland, and just on one website there are 59 5 star hotels with excellent reviews for under £160 a night which is my budget. The cheapest being £69 for a 5 star with a luxury double room, mountain views and breakfast included, and it’s scored 9.8 out of 10 on trip advisor.

That sounds awful! We went to a Eurocamps this summer in Rome and loved it. We are looking at maybe Sanguli or Cambrils the next time. It's not one of those is it?

Have you complained to the hotel?

We had a Xmas break at a 5* hotel ruined by a very large extended family group. They are well-known for anti-social behaviour, & hotel management didn't realise this when they accepted the booking.
We were given 2 nights free DBB as compo.

Small hotels, pubs/restaurants with rooms, B&Bs do the job. I can't remember having an experience like the OP's. The last time we stayed at a hotel with a wedding was in a 40ish bedroom, basically 18th century hotel in a town in Northern Italy. Wedding was (I think) late afternoon with reception to follow. We had dinner in the internal courtyard and couldn't hear a thing. Lots of guests staying over so as we saw them at breakfast (some with babies/well behaved small children). I don't know where (or whether) they were carousing but it was all very peaceful. I don't think they were particularly posh - lots of people had tattoos.

It's a difficult one.

I was initially thinking that a much smaller countryside hotel would be a lot quieter - but then I remembered staying in such a place in the Lake District last summer - only about 10 or so rooms - but that included a family party who decided, a few drinks in, that they all hated each other and had a screaming row around 1.00 in the morning - under our window .

Haven't experienced any problems in other such hotels though . And TBF never had an issue in a premier inn either .

can you name any of those hotels and what dates are you going please? uou can't even get a three star hotel in Dublin for less than 180e a night and that's only on the outskirts not even in city centre

I’ve stayed in hundreds of four and five star hotels in my years as cabin crew, I’ve been disturbed MANY MANY times. Rich people can be just as noisy as those less well off, in fact they’re often worse! Weddings, conferences, Spring break in America, Disney areas etc are all awful in a big hotel. If I was booking something for myself I’d go for a smaller hotel with no function suite!

We use hotels quite often when visiting daughter's house as she's no current spare room. Chains, either Village or Holiday Inn (Express).

Never been seriously disturbed at night but the Dining Room in the Village is dominated by Sky TV screens. Either Liverpool team or either Manchester playing footie and on TV can get raucous as can Wales Rugby but it's liveable.

Better at the HI, just one screen by the bar so you can get away from it.

Better breakfast too.

Book on price but perhaps willing to pay a tenner more for the HI.

Unfortunately I think you've been very unlucky OP, combined partially with what others have said about cost (of quality hotels in the UK anyway).

I stay in a lot of hotels between business and leisure and have only very rarely had significant issues, and my stays vary from Travelodge up to real high end 5 star.

In future seek out hotels that do not have conference and event facilities and that should mitigate the wedding / party / braying businessmen issue a bit. I'd also agree that in the UK, sadly, real quality with good service often comes at £250+ per night, unless you stumble on a particular gem, and the gems are usually individually owned and run rather than a chain of any kind.

I thought this was going to be about bedbugs!

No it is near Barcelona. We thought it would be great for kids to have other children to play with, pool, entertainment and beach. We always do small hotels or rent villas.

The hotel is lovely as is the area. I just think its the people

It was cheap though for a 4 star , Last 2 weeks of the season.

Hell really is other people

Hotel prices have rocketed since Covid. £125 a night isn't much these days.

We go Airbnb or holiday let’s now
Partly because we all like our own bedroom and in a hotel that would cost a fortune but also because we have found in hotels it only takes one person or one family to inflict misery on to everyone else