A guest at The Miami Beach EDITION says he was reduced to whispering in his room after a neighbour and hotel security complained about the noise of ordinary conversation. The hotel warned that a third complaint could result in being charged the full cost of the complainant's room. The guest checked out the following morning.
Knock at the door
Writing in an opinion piece for Express.co.uk, JJ Anisiobi described arriving late at night with his wife, tired after travelling, and opening the door to their room at around 11pm. His first impression was that the room was "surprisingly basic" for a five-star property, with everything in shades of off-white.
While unpacking and chatting about where to eat and what to do the next day, the couple received a knock at the door. A man outside, who said he was staying in the next room, told them: "I can hear you talking through the wall. Can you keep the noise down?"
Anisiobi said he explained they were not shouting or playing music, adding: "We're just talking. If the walls are too thin, that's not our fault."
Second complaint and warning
After the neighbour left, the couple began whispering and decided to watch Netflix on a laptop rather than switch on the television, worried that even that might be considered too noisy. Less than ten minutes later, hotel security knocked again, saying they could hear laughing from outside the room and that the television was too loud - although the television was not switched on.
The security guard then warned that a noise complaint had been received, and that if there were three complaints against the room, the couple could be charged the full cost of the complainant's room.
Checkout and move
Anisiobi described the situation as "wonderfully absurd" and said he packed his suitcase the following morning and checked out of what he called "the monastery". The couple moved to The Ritz-Carlton, South Beach, where normal conversation did not appear to be regarded as a public nuisance.
His advice to anyone planning a stay at The Miami Beach EDITION: "Pack your swimming costume, pack your sunglasses and, just to be safe, leave your voice at home."
