I booked a one-night stay at The Dorm Hotel for $300 and was placed in Room 108, which is directly adjacent to the front desk. Unfortunately, my experience was far from restful. I was repeatedly woken up by ringing phones, guests checking out, and loud conversations right outside my door. To make matters worse, reception knocked just five minutes before the 11 AM checkout to remind me of the 11 AM checkout time.
When I checked out, I expressed my frustration that I hadn't been informed the room shared a wall with the front desk and was located next to the hospitality area (with coffee, tea, TV, etc.). The response I received was that the hotel is "boutique" and I had booked the last available room. However, it was clear that no other guests were exposed to the same level of noise and disruption.
Despite the inconvenience, I was told no refund or compensation could be offered because I had booked through a third party (Hotels.com). I believe, at the very least, a voucher for a future stay should have been offered as a gesture of goodwill.
To top it off, the front desk advised that “in the future,” I should call after booking to request not to be placed in a room next to the front desk—something that should not be the guest’s responsibility in the first place.