Myles - does the hotel industry still use that term within itself for the bad rooms in a hotel?
I cant speak for general hotels in what terms they use, but where l work yes we do have rooms that are known to give a perhaps not the best customer experience, and we have many names for these. Iv never heard the phrase Ha Ha rooms but the staff will usually be aware of such complaints and if there is space to move a guest, then its no bother to move a guest, and usually no questions asked.
When your full thats when the fun starts, and you lie through your teeth, naturally smiling and it make its easier . However not every guest will find these faults be it ghosts, or next the lift shafts or just generally a hot room. or just a noisy room.
When l used to travel on QE2 generally l was specific in what cabins l asked for, but then a good agent normally got your request on booking day as long as you gave your preference. and it was only really when you opened your cabin door that you realised exactly what you had. And down in the depths of 5 deck you took your life in your hands.
These days and on my travels beit by Air or land based hotels l do generally have requests for rooms. The Hotel Del Coronado know not to put me in the new rooms, its always the Victorian part, and yes while the pipes may clank and the hot water might perhaps not be so hot you do get a lovely room experience.Their new rooms nice though they are, are just generic rooms Vegas is another example and while a "Strip"view is always a must, so also is a high floor. With the best will in the world a strip view room can be a bit like Fawlty Towers, its over there between that two buildings. And given the vast size of the hotels, a room near the elevators is usually a must, the last think l need is to be tramping another half mile down a long corridor.
So next time you book into a hotel and the room key is handed over, take care, it might just be you have an "interesting" room
