There’s nothing worse than lying down on your comfy hotel room pillows and then hearing things from the next room.
Babies crying, TV blaring, couples arguing, couples having a good time… no matter the type of noise, it’s never welcome through the walls.
Or what if you’re in the room where the baby’s crying, and you are worried about it waking up your hotel neighbors?
You need to know if there are any hotels with soundproof rooms!
Read on to find out where and how you can get the best night’s sleep.
Are Hotel Rooms Soundproof?
We’re sorry to tell you that in most cases, hotel rooms are not soundproof.
It’s no surprise that hotel guests complain about noise levels much more often than they do about anything else such as the maintenance or cleanliness of their room.
Despite the lack of formal soundproofing, most hotels do have insulated rooms that may well keep some noise out (or in!), but they’re not usually soundproof by design.
That said, all hotels are different in their construction and their management and this may well reflect how soundproof the rooms seem to guests staying there.
Some newer hotels or high-end ones may be built with specialized anti-vibration materials or even soundproofing systems.
Some hotels only have soundproofed floors or doors that are just enough to limit hallway noise or elevator noise.
Other hotels tend to have thinner walls, unfortunately, and soundproofing just isn’t a priority.
Why Are Some Hotel Rooms Not Soundproof?
For most hotels, the reason their rooms are not soundproof is usually cost-related.
Reportedly, 90% of noise in hotel rooms actually comes from the outside through the windows.
For hotels in warmer places without air conditioning, you may well find the rooms noisier because you have to open the windows to keep cool!
Other noise complaints tend to relate to noise from the corridor, including:
- door slamming
- elevator noise
- and noisy people passing by
There are ways that hotels can mitigate such noise even if their walls aren’t built with soundproofing.
Some hotels have high-quality, thick doors that fit well. These eliminate corridor noise.
Also, hotels with windows that have double or even triple-glazed panes are usually quieter.
If you want a quiet hotel room, it might be worth asking when you book what the doors and windows are like!
How Can You Make Your Hotel Room Quieter?
You’ve made a booking at a great place but you’re desperate for a good night’s sleep.
The good news is, there are things that you can do to improve your room’s quietness both before you go and when you arrive.
Ask at Reception if there are any events on
Before you book a particular hotel, it might be worth a call to the reception to ask if there are any planned events on the dates that you wish to go.
Events such as weddings and parties often mean added noise, even if it’s just people coming back later to their rooms after a bit too much at the bar.
Always Good Idea – It may also be wise to have a quick search for the town or city to see if any external events may cause an excess of visitors – or particularly lively ones!
Look for big football matches, gigs and concerts, and festivals.
All of these may well mean that people are noisy on the streets surrounding the hotel as well as when they’re making their way back to their room in the small hours.
Request a Quiet Room
When booking your hotel room, it is usually possible to make a request even if you book online.
Requests can include the position of your room. You should make it clear that you’d like a quiet room in a quiet part of the hotel.
This could be a room that overlooks a garden area rather than a busy street or one that is far from the elevators and staircases.
Rooms at the ends of corridors are usually quieter too as there is no passing foot traffic.
Avoid Adjoining Rooms
If you’re traveling with a group of people and are making several bookings for rooms, some hotels may offer you adjoining rooms.
Stay clear of these if you want to reduce noise. The adjoining door is usually just a typical inner door and does not have soundproofing.
This means that noise travels much more easily from room to room than it otherwise would if there was just a wall between the rooms.
Check Which Room You’re Booking
When you’re booking a hotel room, you can always ask which room you are being allocated before you arrive.
This is usually easily done before arrival either on the phone or via email.
The reception of the hotel should be able to give you some information on the room, such as:
- where it is
- what the standard of the room is like in terms of windows and soundproofing
- and where it overlooks
Contacting the hotel before you arrive may well allow you to negotiate your room and request particular features that will hopefully reduce the levels of noise in your room.
Stay at an Airport Hotel
An airport hotel? With all the noise from planes?
Believe it or not, it’s not a bad idea.
Airport hotels are close to noise, but they nearly always have excellent insulation from that noise.
Did You Know? Some of the quietest rooms are at airport hotels because they know they’re going to be noisy and so fit them with the best quality windows and soundproofing that other hotels often forgo due to cost.
Have a room away from Doors and Elevators
If it’s not from outside, the majority of hotel noise is located in passageways where a lot of people congregate.
Elevators, stairwells, and internal fire doors that must close but are not soft closing are all sources of extra noise that you just don’t want to hear.
If you’re making a request when booking, specify that you’re away from elevators and stairs. It’ll minimize the noise as much as possible.
Use White Noise
You might think this is counterproductive, but playing white noise actually may help to cancel out any external noise that you can hear when you’re in your hotel room.
Many people find it relaxing to sleep to.
Editor’s choice
Magicteam
Whilst you can buy specific white noise machines, you can also download white noise apps to your phone or play white noise videos on YouTube.
They may just help you get a better night’s sleep.
Final Thoughts on Soundproof Hotel Rooms
If you’re wanting a quiet night’s sleep, it’s best to phone ahead and request as many things as possible to make your stay that little bit quieter.
Of course, no one can control the behavior and noise levels of other guests in the hotel, but you can make choices that will hopefully minimize the risks of being bombarded by loud chattering or babies crying during your hotel stay with these top tips:
- Are there any events?
- Request a quiet room.
- Avoid adjoining rooms.
- Check which room you’re booking.
- Consider airport hotels.
- Stay away from doors and elevators.
- Use white noise.
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