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?

I disagree that It's related to the number of stars, price etc, It's related to if the hoteliers care about their customers. I stayed somewhere for £70 a night recently, not 'posh' by any stretch but on booking it I was informed that the only room I could have was right above the bar and it might be loud until about 2300. I am not an early riser/sleeper so it wasn't a problem at all-but the point is they TOLD me. And if there are weddings/meetings etc that should happen. Drug deals etc of course they can't do anything about beforehand but if they have good customer service they should sanction. And people shouldn't let their babies disrupt adults trying to enjoy themselves-if your baby is crying, take them out! That's nothing to do with money or how many stars, there are ignorant folk of all incomes/walks of life.

Warner Leisure Hotels are for adults only and aimed at the more mature customer so should be safe. The Polizzi Collection boutique hotels would also be good for a quiet retreat.

Most 4/5* hotels I’ve stayed in around the world in my lifetime have been fine. Not really stayed in many since covid, chose air b n b’s or shared villas. Smaller boutique ones or ones in pubs are generally very good too.

I used to have to plan and go away with a membership company who had dinner dances/conference in places like Barcelona, Brighton etc. One hotel we stayed in was part of or next to Nou Camp but was obviously a conference hotel. Of course we didn’t want to disturb anyone else at night so chose the conference option rather than a Las Ramblas one (my boss would’ve preferred Las Ramblas as more to do there) but good luck keeping 200 men plus spouses quiet when they’re there to have a good time!

We only do the small lovely hotels in the Uk. Living in the US now and anything 5 they absolutely do not tolerate these kind of shenanigans and usually won’t allow weddings whilst guests are paying to stay at luxury hotels. Wedding parties either book out the full venue/ it’s a lot rarer for hotels to host weddings in general stateside. Going to a 5 hotel around Christmas here and taking my toddler and he will be expected to behave as people including us are paying a lot to be at a luxury hotel! No TVs in sight.

Drug deals surely you report your suspicions to reception/management especially if it’s dealing in plain sight. I’m sure most hotels have a policy on drug taking in their establishments.

I loathe hotels in general, but I'd always particularly avoid more expensive ones if at all possible as they tend to get these kinds of groups in on block-booked discounts. I've never had any trouble in an Ibis, TravelLodge, etc., which tend to be occupied by solitary sales/business people and small family groups. They don't have lounges, though.

Well as many have pointed out, premier inn is usually fine! And we only go away once or twice a year and save to stay in nicer places vs going away often and having to stay in crappier places.

Agreed with you about US hotels. Wedding parties generally do book out the entire hotel for the wedding, my close friend did this in Philadelphia and her sister did the same in Martha’s Vineyard. Have stayed in New York a lot over the years (and Washington DC) and it’s extremely rare to be disrupted, I don’t think it’s ever happened!

Compare DP’s staying in Paris last Thursday night near the station, in an Ibis. DM complained it was noisy and I did say what did you expect?

I now choose hotels really carefully to the point that I wonder if it’s worth the stress.
Weddings at weekends, conferences during the week, people wanting to share whatever programme they’re watching with the room three doors down. As much as I would prefer not to use them AirBnB much more relaxing in my opinion.

OP - email the hotel asking for a refund, also put a review on Trip Advisor.

Second the premier inn - as I posted unless we are having a romantic night away we always book them. Bloomin brilliant, staff are always great and beds amazing!!!

I'm seeing plenty of decent hotels that price in Ireland. Various dates. The first is a weekend, the second not but it's December in Dublin City centre 🤷🏽‍♀️. Only did a 2 min search so I bet there's more deals to be had

With TravelLodges and Premier Inns, they can get noisy if they’re city locations with youngsters piling in from country areas to use after a big night out. Maybe post Covid price rises have made this less likely, but it can be worth asking if they have a designated quiet or family floor.

We always do slightly out of town
less likely to have a public bar and most raucous clientele tend to prefer a more central hotel
Also avoid conference centre hotels as inevitably the may have (er...) conferences

It's bloody awful when hotels are bad. I agree that £125 a night may not be much in hotel terms these days but it's a blooming enormous amount of money in real life, just to have a horrible night.

Without wanting to sound extremely old, I agree also that most people don't have any standards of public behaviour now. They expect to be able to behave exactly as they do at home, plus a bit extra because they're on holiday and drunk. Remember when Johnson the prime minister came shambling out in a rumpled old top and disreputable shorts to talk to the press? Can you imagine the prime minister doing that even 30 years ago?

I've got no solutions except those already stated - stick to Premier Inn or go very high end, or it's a risk.

What resort is this OP? I've stayed in lots of those kind of hotels and I've never seen anything like that. How awful.

I never stay in hotels unless it’s for work for this reason. Renting a house/cottage is the only way for me to get the peace I want and even then, it’s a gamble if you go somewhere new. I now have a select few places I go.

We had a dreadful experience in what is supposed to be a high end hotel (Scotland, begins with a G) which was spoilt by obnoxious guests. Loud, overbearing people who couldn’t have a conversation without shouting or a meal without copious amounts of alcohol. Cost a fortune and was bloody awful.

You'll definitely know if you've been bedbug bitten - smallish red welts that look a little like chicken pox, and usually lots of them.

Sadly speaking from experience after parents inadvertently introduced a couple to our suitcases in Spain, back in 1980. It took 2 months of awful itching and that dreadful rash - and Rentokil - to discover what the cause was. Yeuch!!!

You get what you pay for I’m afraid.

I only stay in a hotel if it's one night only and I'm arriving late. I'll find the cheapest place too so I'm not sickened by the price if I get a bad sleep lol.

Apartments are often the same price as the midrange hotels, I check those first if I'm away for a few nights - I believe it's better value than a hotel.

@PermanentTemporary nearly 30 years ago Cherie Blair opened the door of 10 Downing St in her nightie!

@Wexone i stayed in a large hotel in Leopardstown last weekend for €110 per night for a twin room and bed and breakfast. It can be done.

I must admit we have had 2 stays in Premier Inns this year, different locations, and both were quiet and fine and that included using the attached "Brewers Fayre" pubs for meals.

Nah I think budget hotels are far less likely to have weddings taking place, even for hens people tend to go for something other than a travel lodge and the like. I've always found budget hotels quieter.

@Betsyhilton where? That is so cheap!

I think so your research before booking, I’ve never had these issues and I travel lots of work & leisure.

saying that this year when on holiday we stayed in a villa and I never want to stay in a hotel again, it was bliss!

On several occasions we’ve had people holding impromptu parties in the room next door to us. And one time the couple next door were chatting into the small hours and the man had a very penetrating voice.