Hotel Check-Ins How do you handle it?

Truth be told, I've never had a negative reaction anywhere in Asia, Europe or North America. At most a double check like others mentioned (you sure you want one bed?). And it never came off negatively.

In my travels in North America (a while ago, admittedly) the majority of hotel reception employees were positively mincing - and I don't mean that in a bad way. So we never got anything besides a sly smile, if that!

Once it's even led to some bizarre flirting (the receptionist - big hulk of a man - at the Four Seasons in Provence actually said "I love your personality"). And that was rude, because he knew I was with someone!

I have never had any problems anywhere. Once I requested bunk beds at checkin and none were available. I had picked up a couple of cowboys in southern Arizona.
Once at LAX I was given a room at a nearby hotel after being bumped. I took a stranded soldier to my room for the night. He was flying standby and had no where to go. Made me feel good all over.

My partner and I have never really had an issue with anyone changing us to doubles assuming we did not want one bed.

The only "issue" (and it was hardly an issue) that sticks out in my mind was at a Doubletree in Atlanta where the clerk became so visibly nervous he was flustered - seemed like he wanted to ask during the check in but probably did not want to offend us. We get our luggage out of the car and on our way back by the desk he then confirmed 'You guys wanted a king right?', we said 'sure did....thank you!'

When I worked front desk I just confirmed bed type like I did with every single guest I checked in and later trained my team to do the same. The simple phrase "I have you confirmed for a XXXXX for XXXXX nights." was sufficient to resolve any bedding discrepancies with any guest right then and there without any awkward/uncomfortable moment.

Wait... the soldier, or the act of kindness??!!!

Now here's a twist on this subject matter... what do you guys do when the hotel staff knows that you are staying by yourself, but see you bringing up a local boy(s) to your room? Some FD staff have given me a confused look, others have done the "double take". More so in Poland and Austria, than in Germany or the Czech Republic.

In DC? The hotel that hosts MAL in January...really?!

Never had any bad experience, if except at Oriental Bangkok in 2002, but we just insisted for 2 minutes and it was over.

Last experience was in August 2012. I was not traveling with my partner but with a colleague/friend in Moscow (which is not the most firendly place on earth). We had booked a room with twin beds. At check-in front desk clerk asked me with a discrete voice if we would prefer a king bed. I declined his offer explaining that my friend was not my boyfriend but I still told him that it was a nice touch and I was positively surprised.

I sometimes have the reverse problem. My husband and I actually prefer separate beds. It has sometimes been assumed that we really wanted a king bed but were too shy to ask

Exactly hsmall. My partner and I use separate beds. I kick and pull covers off the other person in my sleep. Also hard for me to fall asleep if I'm touching someone.

Don't forget, we ARE everywhere, including front desks. We've generally been very well taken care of when checking in with a gay front desk associate. Last experience was a suite upgrade when we were staying on SPG points. Makes me want to pay it forward to the gay folks I help in my job.

I've never really had any problems but most of the hotels have been in big European cities. One time in Minneapolis a few years ago...I think it was the Radison (not the Graves 601 that was lovely the next trip!) we encountered some hostility with the front desk clerk.
I had booked the room for 2 nights on Expedia...they couldn't find the reservation and asked for more confirmation #s. I couldn't get anything to load on my phone at the time and (stupidly...thinking, whatever it's Minneapolis and a major hotel shouldn't be an issue) didn't have anything written down on my papers.
The clerk wouldn't even let me use one of the computer terminals in the business workspace of the lobby because they were for registered hotel guests...finally I got the number after calling someone to get on a computer for me. They had my name first name and last name swapped...I thought it was strange that the clerk wouldn't have been competent to find me in their system.
Anyways the rest of the check in process was very curt and quick and went up to our room which had two double beds (I feel this may have been out of spite) instead of the king room in a hotel in the middle of winter to which we saw maybe 3 people in the elevator the entire time we were there.

This is where the. Problem started.....

Serously, I have not had any major issues checking my partner and I into a king room. Once in a while, a clerk will double check the roomtype, but never an issue.

I have found exactly the same problems you mention above when I was alone and with a reservation done by a travel agent.

It is a big unfounded assumption of your part to imply that the employee acted like that because you are gay/were with your partner. IT seems to me he was probably just a rude/inexperienced employee.

Minnesota is one of the few non-northeast States that allow same sex marriage under their constitution (approved by democratic vote) and is one of the more accepting states in the US as well.

Never had a problem,. even in countries (Singapore, India etc) where gay sex is illegal, or other places where it's taboo. Just be upfront and behave as though it is perfectly normal, and most staff will react the same way

I always specify that one King bed, even booking directly in web pages or with TA, and with TA I make them very clear, a must.
When we arrived to hotels, (happened a lot in India) they where surprises that out TA booked a King bed instead of 2 beds, we always answer, that was or request. and simply you receive a smile.
Never happened to us something weird, even in Nepal with sex is a seriously Tabu.

Never been an issue for us, ever. We both go to the desk and get our room. I've never had them switch beds on us before either.

edit: I always seem to get the bed preference check even when I'm traveling alone, so I never take it as anything but routine when I'm asked while my partner is there.