^^ I've given up on several occasions, and just set my cell phone. I just want something with an on/off switch and way to set the alarm time.

One thing I really don't like is when you put on the bedside lamp (or floor lamp) and the light is burned out..

At my house lights burn out very,very infrequently, yet so many hotel rooms I have stayed in seem to have a problem with in-room lighting.

Others-when you go to an ice or vending machine to find out it is out of order. At least put a sign up saying where the nearest working one is.

Just spent 3.5 weeks in Hilton Homewood suites.

Room laid out for looks, not use. Business travelers are readers, studiers, workers. We're insane enough to read in bed. Some lighting, please?!

But not all the time. I want my Netflix. How about high-speed to the wall jack? Is there ANY large hotel that doesn't offer p-poor bandwidth?

Internet connectivity a complete nightmare. Wifi--fuggedaboutit. Multiple DNS problems, and the daily key hassle. Please people--I'm here for WEEKS. Don't make me grovel for a key every 24 hours.

HELPLINE??
1-800-STAY-DISCONNECTED
No, no, let ME, the customer, troubleshoot your broken IP stack...(whom do I bill?)

Electrical hassles? I feel your pain--I pack my own three-in-one plug. (TSA always thinks I want to blow up the plane.)

"Business center" a complete joke. Nevermind those crippled kiosk workstations. Nice screen, no bandwidth. Printing??? Prints page 1 ONLY of .pdf--Googledoc retarded.

Outgoing fax only--beg for incoming fax at front desk.

Staffers couldn't be nicer, but Hilton? Waterboard me, please. Just don't send me there.

--CR

Agreed.. sometimes hotel layout is laid out for looks..

and the consultants/designers forgot about reality.

Oh yes, and showers. Don't install over-designed showers than needs a degree in hydro-engineering to work out how to turn on and and get water of the right temperature. All we need is on, off and temperature. On occasion I have given up trying to work out how the shower worked as there were so many knobs, switches and levers.

I'm only going to be in the room for a night or two. I'm going to be half asleep (and possibly hungover) when I used the shower and I won't have my glasses on. I don't have time to go on a Shower Usage Induction Course.

Speed: I can't think of the last time I was in a hotel where the WiFi was strong and fast.

Access: I hate systems that require unique keys. The front desk frequently forgets to hand out the keys to every guest. Besides, it's totally unnecessary. If the hotel still feels like it needs to place control on WiFi access in 2011, then it can do so by simply asking name and room number. That's strong enough validation for a Homewood Suites.

For a Homewood Suites though, I'd want a strong fast wired connection in the room. I imagine lots of people out-of-town for weeks would prefer the option to plug in directly...even if there's also a weaker WiFi option.

Have breakfasts that start at an early hour, especially at airport hotels. This is a huge complaint of mine. 6 AM is too early for anyone catching a flight at even 7 AM or earlier and some hotels don't start until 7! At least have some breakfast breads and coffee out that I can eat on the run.

You're joking, right?

I think it's hilarious that people can';t figure out how to set an alarm clock. But I think this is the first time I have heard of someone who can't operate a shower. And yet it's the KETTLES that everyone makes fun of for not knowing about the 3 ounce rule.

Oh well, maybe I'm in a minority of one for being "Shower challenged"

Actually, I much prefer a bath but I very rarely have them in hotels as the tubs are either too small or fill too slowly. The thing I look forward to most after a long road trip is a very long soak in the bath when I get home.

The main issue with the outlets is that travelers with electronic doo dads really dates to the last 15 years or so. Any hotel designed before that time (and some hotels have been built in the meantime using the older designs) won't have enough outlets. The original designers didn't figure you'd be bringing your ENIAC with you.

The other issue is that many electric codes forbid "permanent" use of extension cords, so this means in many locations they can't just leave power strips either. I think the lamp-with-an-outlet is a loophole (doesn't count as an extension cord), which is why you're seeing that more often.

Login -> My Account -> My Profile -> Contact Information -> Corporate or SET Number.

Remove your "strange" SET number, and put in 298940 for AAA.

Then just select the "Compare Rates" option after searching (only need to do it once and it'll remember it) and you'll get the standard rate, the AAA rate (via the SET), and points rate, and the C+P rate all on the one screen.

Last motel we were at (Comfort Inn) my husband had to call someone up to the room to show him how to operate the shower controls. I came back from swimming and was laughing at him when he told me. He just said "wait and see". I tried and tried and tried and finally seperated the fixture about 1 in from the wall in the effort to pull it out enough to start the water. I'm "elderly" and not that strong. What a Hoot!!! Finally got it to work some with the entire pipe sliding in and out from the wall. Reported problem in the morning at checkout. Person seemed amazed we had a problem. Told them it was now their problem.

Enjoyed the challange of traveling in Europe where every toilet flushes differently, but this shower at the last motel, was by far the most puzzling piece of plumbing I have ever experienced!!!!!!

My husband just reminded me that the problem was not getting the water on, but off. You had to pull the fixture OUT (away from the wall) to turn it off.

Logging onto the internet is cumbersome..

Just let me onto the net access easy.. I'll be happy.

I've been hoarding creamer packets for a while for this very reason!

I've mentioned elsewhere having encountered television sets that flash/blink!

One hotel had such a gap around the door, not just under it, that I could've practically read a book with the lights off.

It's these new "efficient" bulbs that say something like "23 watts equivalent to 60" -- horsefeathers! They're more like 35 watts in output!

Many years ago, at the Doubletree in Key West, they had four movie channels ... but no PBS!

There's also the frantically flashing "welcome" phone message upon arrival.

As for the electric outlets -- AMEN!

Forget moving the bedside tables, that's child's play! I've had to get behind the bed to get at the outlet more than once. Moreover, I've encountered an outlet that might have been useful located behind a piece of furniture it would've taken a team of weightlifters to move, as well as a similar piece of furniture covering exactly half an outlet, as though the hotel were being sadistic!

overly attentive service aka maids coming to try to clean the room every 2 hours, people bringing ice, restocking the mini-bar etc... Sometimes after you've had a late night you want to sleep until noon or so and you don't want to have to get up every 15 minutes for a knock at the door.