From: CJ in Watertown, Massachusetts
Question: One of my hotel pet peeves is noise from adjoining rooms. I read that some of the newer hotels were constructed on the cheap and are noisy. Are there hotels whose construction has left them with customer-annoying quirks?
Answer: Although I wouldn’t exactly call a billion-dollars cheap, it is true that a lot of the newer hotels do have thin walls and doors that lead to noise issues. This is a sad fact at just about every major hotel that I’ve stayed in, however the noise level has to be pretty high to seep into your space. You won’t hear conversation or televisions at normal levels from adjoining rooms but if your neighbor is shouting at someone or watching a Jerry Bruckheimer movie you’re going to know about it.
Something I discovered very recently is to never accept a room located adjacent to the elevator. It may be more convenient than walking down those long hallways but the elevator bays are where people stand and talk and laugh and yell things like “Hurry up Marge, the elevator is here!” ALL NIGHT LONG!
I hate to say it but the cheaper (in terms of room rates) the hotel the worse the problem is. Not because of construction issues but because of clientele. Less expensive hotels seem to lure the louder crowds – you know, the people who get drunk and then wander the halls singing “Viva Las Vegas” all night. You don’t get that at places like Bellagio very often.
Of course you need to ask yourself if spending the extra $200 per night to stay at Bellagio is worth the peace and quiet or would it make more sense to buy some $2 ear plugs at the nearest drug store.
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From: Tammy in Homewood, Illinois
Question: I'd like to know what type of amenities the hotels offer in their rooms. I need to know what to pack!
Answer: Great question, Tammy.
Of course it totally depends on what hotel you’re staying at and how nice of a room you’re getting in that particular hotel. Most of the big hotels on The Strip these days offer soap, shampoo, hand lotion, conditioner, a shower cap, hair dryers, and irons and boards. Note that I said “most” though. Some of them still only carry soap and shampoo and then you’re on your own.
Of course if you’re getting a nicer room, like an executive or suite level, there will probably be a lot more for you to play with. Some include robes, various body and bath lotions or oils, toothbrushes and toothpaste, and mouthwash just to name a few.
At the smaller non-casino hotels around town, it still depends on how much your paying and how nice the room is, but you’ll usually only find soap and maybe shampoo.
It’s worth noting that even when those things are provided, they may not be to your liking. I stayed in a very posh suite at a hotel once that had toothbrushes and the bristles were so hard it felt like I was using a stick to brush my teeth. If you’re sensitive about smells or tastes, or have allergies of any kind, bring your own just in case.
The only way to know for sure what will be in your hotel room is to ask. Call your hotel’s toll-free reservations number (so the call doesn’t cost you anything) and ask what your room will include.
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