Which hotels/chains restrict guests ability to lower room temperatures
Jul 31, 2017, 8:24 pm
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: Aug 2013
Location: YSB & YAM, Northern Ontario, Canada
Programs: Aeroplan, IHG Gold Elite, Marriott Rewards
Posts: 1,100
Which hotels/chains restrict guests ability to lower room temperatures
I'm putting this here because of it's generalistic nature and not applicable to any chain or hotel.
In our travels, Canada, USA, Japan we've noticed that some hotels severely limit how low the room ac may be set. Often it cannot be lowered below 74f or thereabouts - when we need 68f - but management sometimes block that from being set.
Now prior to making a reservation we phone the specific property to inquire what their policy is - if we can get a statement to that fact!
Anyone else come across or been bothered by this?
In our travels, Canada, USA, Japan we've noticed that some hotels severely limit how low the room ac may be set. Often it cannot be lowered below 74f or thereabouts - when we need 68f - but management sometimes block that from being set.
Now prior to making a reservation we phone the specific property to inquire what their policy is - if we can get a statement to that fact!
Anyone else come across or been bothered by this?
Jul 31, 2017, 10:02 pm
#2
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: May 2002
Location: Pittsburgh
Programs: MR/SPG LT Titanium, AA LT PLT, UA SLV, Avis PreferredPlus
Posts: 31,005
I just tried my current room - 68 is the min. I've never noticed one before as I rarely go below 70. I would have notice a minimum as high as 74.
Jul 31, 2017, 11:07 pm
#3
Join Date: Mar 2007
Location: SJC/SFO
Programs: WN A+ CP, UA 1MM/*A Gold, Mar LT Tit, IHG Plat, HH Dia
Posts: 6,284
I don't know that I've ever stayed in a hotel where the air conditioning temperature control couldn't be set to a reasonably low temperature like 66F/19C. Though plenty of times the system has not been able to attain such a temperature. Sometimes that's been because it's a larger hotel has a central HVAC system that must be switched between heating and cooling modes centrally, and it's still in heat mode on a hot day off-season. Other times, particularly in South Korea, the hotel's system just isn't capable of making it any cooler than about 24C (75F) in the summer.
Jul 31, 2017, 11:24 pm
#4
Join Date: Jun 2006
Location: California
Programs: AS,WN,UA,B6,hotels
Posts: 4,239
Been in hotels in Hawaii where opening the balcony door turns off the air conditioner. Makes sense, since it is useless and wasteful to run the air conditioner with the balcony door open.
Aug 1, 2017, 2:32 am
#5
Join Date: Dec 2013
Location: HEL
Programs: AY+
Posts: 87
In some cases the fancoil runs only cooling or heating liquid, not both. So basically it´s impossible to adjust the temperature both directions. So, in summer you get cold air and winter hot, spring and autumn, depends the weather on past few weeks how lucky you are, because the hotel changes it only twice a year.
Aug 1, 2017, 8:11 am
#6
Join Date: Feb 2016
Location: Loveland, CO
Programs: MileagePlus Lifetime Gold, Hilton Diamond, Bonvoy Gold, IHG Platinum
Posts: 153
Aug 1, 2017, 8:53 am
#7
Join Date: Nov 2016
Posts: 812
I've been in hotels that even shut the A/C off if you turn the bathroom fan on, similar to the Hawaii situation.
I was just in the Hyatt Regency in Seattle and I had it all the way down to 64. Took the blankets and pillows from both beds and was in heaven. After this experience I think I'm going to purposely book double rooms from now on.
I was just in the Hyatt Regency in Seattle and I had it all the way down to 64. Took the blankets and pillows from both beds and was in heaven. After this experience I think I'm going to purposely book double rooms from now on.
Aug 1, 2017, 9:43 am
#8
Suspended
Join Date: Nov 2015
Posts: 1,808
I was recently in Frankfurt. The Hotel in the city ONLY had heat, no AC. I get that its Germany..but still, in the middle of summer it's hot.
What bothers me more are those hotels where the air conditioning is motion activated. Fine if you are awake in the room, moving around..but when you go to bed, it stops and begins to get hot. I have run into this in Las Vegas a few times and even in Tucson, which is simply cruel.
What bothers me more are those hotels where the air conditioning is motion activated. Fine if you are awake in the room, moving around..but when you go to bed, it stops and begins to get hot. I have run into this in Las Vegas a few times and even in Tucson, which is simply cruel.
Aug 1, 2017, 10:41 am
#9
Join Date: Jun 2008
Location: GLA
Programs: BA Silver
Posts: 2,962
I don't know that I've ever stayed in a hotel where the air conditioning temperature control couldn't be set to a reasonably low temperature like 66F/19C. Though plenty of times the system has not been able to attain such a temperature. Sometimes that's been because it's a larger hotel has a central HVAC system that must be switched between heating and cooling modes centrally, and it's still in heat mode on a hot day off-season. Other times, particularly in South Korea, the hotel's system just isn't capable of making it any cooler than about 24C (75F) in the summer.
Aug 1, 2017, 11:42 am
#10
Join Date: Mar 2012
Location: Boulder
Programs: AA Plat, CX Silver
Posts: 2,361
I was recently in Frankfurt. The Hotel in the city ONLY had heat, no AC. I get that its Germany..but still, in the middle of summer it's hot.
What bothers me more are those hotels where the air conditioning is motion activated. Fine if you are awake in the room, moving around..but when you go to bed, it stops and begins to get hot. I have run into this in Las Vegas a few times and even in Tucson, which is simply cruel.
What bothers me more are those hotels where the air conditioning is motion activated. Fine if you are awake in the room, moving around..but when you go to bed, it stops and begins to get hot. I have run into this in Las Vegas a few times and even in Tucson, which is simply cruel.
Aug 1, 2017, 12:11 pm
#11
Original Poster
Join Date: Aug 2013
Location: YSB & YAM, Northern Ontario, Canada
Programs: Aeroplan, IHG Gold Elite, Marriott Rewards
Posts: 1,100
Looks like there are a few hacks possible..........!
It seems that simultaneously and or sequentially pushing a specific sequence of buttons on the room a/c control changes the display to "V I P" and allows the temperature to be set below any predetermined limit. It also has another huge benefit in that it disables the motion detection cut-off! No more waking up at 3am with the a/c off and room feeling like an oven!
Aug 1, 2017, 12:25 pm
#12
Join Date: Jul 2017
Programs: DL
Posts: 196
At the Mayflower in DC (Marriott group), the lowest setting the thermostat would allow was 68 degrees. However, that setting lowered the temp to ~72-74 in the room. Being used to low humidity and temps, I couln't sleep. I called the front desk several times. Once I started asking for a new room, they send the maintenance guy, who switched the filter and disabled the room thermostat. Then he showed me how to adjust the unit itself to my preferred temperature.
Aug 1, 2017, 3:07 pm
#14
Join Date: Feb 2017
Location: Houston
Programs: UA 1K and Million Miler, *A Gold, Marriott Bonvoy Lifetime Titanium, Hertz Five Star,
Posts: 1,301
I was recently in Frankfurt. The Hotel in the city ONLY had heat, no AC. I get that its Germany..but still, in the middle of summer it's hot.
What bothers me more are those hotels where the air conditioning is motion activated. Fine if you are awake in the room, moving around..but when you go to bed, it stops and begins to get hot. I have run into this in Las Vegas a few times and even in Tucson, which is simply cruel.
What bothers me more are those hotels where the air conditioning is motion activated. Fine if you are awake in the room, moving around..but when you go to bed, it stops and begins to get hot. I have run into this in Las Vegas a few times and even in Tucson, which is simply cruel.
Aug 1, 2017, 3:35 pm
#15
Join Date: Jun 2002
Location: Somewhere warm
Posts: 170
Most luxury hotels have the a/c set within a range if 18-26 degrees Celsius with the default set point of 22 degrees, but this can be adjusted if a call is made to the FO requesting the change. Most hotels are fine with this IME.