I'm a travel expert - these are the hotel rooms you should always avoid and how to spot if you've been booked into one

Daily Mail​

06-06-2025

After a long day of travelling, there's no better feeling than arriving at your hotel, tossing your suitcases to one side and falling onto the bed.
But what if your peace is suddenly shattered by the sound of constant noise from the corridor - from the slamming of doors, to the deep rumble of the lift, to the clanging of cleaning equipment as staff dash from room to room?
According to a travel expert, this common issue is often experienced by guests who have been allocated a specific room - and it can all be avoided with one simple booking strategy.
Javier Sobrino, founder of Descubriendo Viajes, a Spanish travel platform specialising in curated accommodations, said: 'After staying in hundreds of hotels, I've learned that a room number on your booking can make or break your entire stay.'
He revealed that rooms ending in "01" are located right next to lifts, stairwells, and service areas – essentially the noisiest areas on the floor.
While this setup is practical for hotel operations, it creates a less than enjoyable experience for guests hoping for a quiet stay.
Sobrino said: 'These rooms catch all the foot traffic from other guests coming and going at all hours.
'You'll also hear the housekeeping staff starting their rounds early in the morning, with carts being rolled past your door first, and supplies being restocked in nearby service areas.'
He revealed that rooms ending in "01" are efficiently located right next to lifts, stairwells, and service areas – essentially the noisiest areas on the floor
He warned that late-night revellers stumbling back to their rooms, early risers making their way to breakfast, or the constant use of the lift will eventually become 'the soundtrack' to a guests' stay.
The reason why hotels rarely advertise this information when guests are making a booking online is because every room ideally needs to be filled.
Sobrino added: 'Hotels are in the business of selling all their inventory. They're not going to volunteer information about which rooms might be less desirable unless you specifically ask.'
He urged guests to be an 'informed traveller' and be aware of which rooms are located near noisy areas, as this helps to avoid a potentially disruptive stay.
Beyond rooms ending in "01," Sobrino warned guests to steer clear of alternatively problematic areas, such as rooms directly above or below hotel restaurant and bars, which can be noisy either early in the morning or well into the late night.
He added: 'The same goes for rooms facing busy streets or located near loading docks where deliveries arrive early in the morning.'
For families with young children or for those planning an early night, Sobrino also advised booking rooms located a good distance from stairwells, as these tend to have heavy doors that slam when people use them to access or exit corridors.
Sobrino urged travellers to 'make smart requests,' when inquiring about a room, to call the hotel directly after booking online, and to 'mention any special occasion, even if it's just that you've been looking forward to this break for months'.
He added: 'A simple "I'd prefer a quiet room away from elevators" works wonders. Front desk staff want you to enjoy your stay and will note your reservation. If you're in their loyalty program, mention it – this often improves your room assignment priority.'
It comes as a safety expert has issued a warning to guests staying in hotels, guesthouses and B&Bs to watch out for five spots in rooms that contain the most dirt.
As millions of Brits plan to stay in hotels this spring, experts caution that even the cleanest-looking rooms may harbor germs.
In fact, surfaces in the average hotel room are found to be dirtier than a typical home, an airplane, and even a school - while hotel showerheads contain 25,000 times the bacteria of a toilet seat.