Originally Posted by
Explore
I'm very particular about room location, and usually find online checkin to be frustrating as you can't select a specific room, or get advice about rooms from the front desk staff.
The bolded phrase is the reason not to do online check...even in situations where you get to pick a specific room. Those rudimentary floor plans will show elevators, but they don't show the quirks of the building. I'm talking about things like: ice/vending machine, HVAC equipment, restaurant ventilation, garage dumpsters, external lighting, or adjacent buildings.
Unless I've stayed at a hotel and know it well, I always defer to the knowledge of the Front Desk reps for room selection.