Do you ask to see more than one hotel room at check in?
 

Hello,

Reading lots of articles recently about how when you arrive at a hotel, you should ask to see more than one room. I am heading out on 2 week vacation soon and have booked lots of hotels that I am really excited about. Do you think I should ask to see more than one room at check in?? I always felt like if I am staying at nice places, well-recommended, and I am happy with it generally then that's fine. But, I've been reading a lot about how hotels might not give you the best that they can immediately. Have I been too naive, or appropriately trusting??? What do you do?

Thanks!

No. I'm not on vacation for the room and as long as there's nothing wrong with the room and I get the standard of room that I paid for, then I'm happy. Asking to see different rooms to see which one has a better view or similar just seems like being a pain in the butt. :) Being annoying doesn't necessarily mean that you'll get something better, it just means that they might not be as willing to help you if they can.

When I'm signing in (or when I make the reservation) I might ask if they have a room available facing a certain direction if it actually matters to me. Otherwise, I go to the room I've been assigned and if there's a problem with it, then I go back and address that problem directly.

Depends on the hotel. Yes I do that at cheap hotels in Mexico on a beach vacation. No I would not do it at a high-end place in the U.S. or Europe.

On rare occasion, we've asked for a different room because ours smelled bad or was in a very noisy location, but not just to compare rooms.

I only ask if there's something wrong with the first room, or if I made a request in the comments section when I reserved and they gave me the opposite.

Here's my advice. Check in as early as you can when the hotel isn't full yet. Be friendly and upbeat with the person who checks you in. Call in advance and have them note your room requests...then repeat them when you check in. (For example sometimes I ask for the most romantic room, or a view on the quiet side...) Then, go to your room right away and check it out...be sure to turn on the shower and check that all the doors and windows work (locks) etc. Then if you don't like the room, change right away.
Have fun!

If I have a reservation I take the room I'm assigned unless there's a real problem. If I just show up looking for a room I do expect to see more than one room, but that's usually automatic.

Standard buildings, no. Quirky or old repurposed buildings, we ask to see the room that is suggested before signing in. Sometimes the clerk changes to another room before showing it, suggesting that the policy is to try to get rid of the worst room first.

Squeaky wheels get the grease. Always ask NICELY for view rooms free upgreades etc what ever is free flash any hotel preferred guest cards I have. If room does not suit I go right back down and ask to see the manager. LOTS of upgrades free food even suites sometimes doing this. Ijoin ALL preferred guest programs most ARE REQUIRED to upgrade you
to best available sometimes even suites unless they are booked. ihg.com marrott.com spg.com are all great about doing this for me.Good points deals on their CCs lots of free stays.
60000 with ihg and 70000 with mariott with first time CC use for me personally recently good for upto 7-8
free nights at their lower tier nice properties..

The only time I ask to see the room is if I am a walk-in and don't know if I want to stay at the place. Otherwise, I make any requests that I have and then go with the room that is given. I make requests for views, quiet rooms, balconies, etc. Sometimes I get one, sometimes not.

If it's a long stay, more than 3 or 4 days I always do. An overnight depends upon what I've read about it and how the lobby looks.

But I generally do, I like to check the bed make sure it's comfy.

Yep I do that when I'm checking into a lower budget hotel, hostel, or backpacker inn. And when I make such a request I always try to be friendly and not demanding. :)

"I always felt like if I am staying at nice places, well-recommended, and I am happy with it generally then that's fine." I feel like this too for the higher-end hotels -- if it's good enough quality, why bother?

Interesting question and responses. We were shown to a room with twin beds in eastern Europe, and we explained that no, we wanted one big bed. The non-English speaking staff continued to take us to rooms with twins, and finally convinced that we could not be pleased, I guess, they gave us the hotel's best suite.

I look at the assigned room and often refuse it, make it clear what I prefer sbuch as higher floor, away from stairs and elevator, etc.

Only if there is something wrong with the room we are given.

Nope never ask to see two rooms.