Hotel wants guests to sleep tight

Do-it-yourself tips
Many experienced travelers have their own way of dealing with noise at hotels.

Many go the defensive route, bringing along earplugs, noise-blocking headphones, sound machines and over-the-counter or prescription sleep aids. Before reserving a room, many road warriors call ahead to find out if there are any weddings, large meetings or conventions booked into the hotel during their stay. And when checking in, many guests request rooms far away from elevators, ice machines and bars.

Others go on the offensive. Los Angeles hypnotherapist Nancy Irwin says if a complaint to the hotel manager doesn’t get results, she’ll call a noisy guest herself. “I simply say I am the night manager and that they need to keep the noise level down. It nearly always works.”

Or you could do what a Vermont spa owner did. After her family was disturbed at 2 a.m. by a party in the room next door, Sara Daly of Middlebury didn’t call the front desk to complain or march over and bang on the door.

“I toughed it out and then they got a 7 a.m. wake-up call from me. It was payback. And it made me feel better.”