SIGHTS
A numbered door with a key card entry, a fire escape plan on the wall, closets with non-removable hangers, an extra blanket and pillows folded on a shelf, a room safe, patterned carpet with muted stains, a bathroom with typical fixtures (a shower, toilet, sink area and mirror), a tiled floor with dirty grout in the corners, racks holding fluffy white towels, extra toilet paper rolls, dings and scuff marks on the walls, a cramped standing area between the shower and sink, a tray with complimentary toiletry items, a box of tissue and a paper-wrapped water glass, a hair dryer attached to the wall that may or may not work, bright overhead lighting, a robe hanging from a hook on the door, a bed (or two, with matching bedding and pillows), a nightstand with an alarm clock and bedside lamp, a TV on a console, a telephone and phone book, a service sheet (room service, laundry rates, amenities information), pamphlets for nearby takeout restaurants, a thermostat, bland artwork, a desk with stationery and a pen, a wall hookup for laptops or chargers, a small chair or love seat, a coffee maker with supplies (coffee, tea, sugar, powdered cream, coffee mugs), water glasses and an ice bucket, a minibar or fridge with a pricing chart, a trash can, the TV remote, thick drapes on the windows, a chest of drawers, a Bible in a drawer of the night stand, a Do Not Disturb sign hanging from the door handle
SOUNDS
The hum of air conditioning or a heater, water gurgling in the pipes within the walls, doors opening and closing, half-heard conversations from people passing in the hall, the shower or toilet running, a dripping sink, the coffee pot perking, the ding of a nearby elevator, drunk people stumbling to their rooms and talking loudly, kids running across the floor in the room overhead, traffic or construction filtering in through an open window, a phone ringing to deliver a wakeup call, canned laughter or explosions from TV shows, the suction of a fridge door giving in to pressure as one opens it, bottles clinking on the door of the fridge, a rap at the door, a couple arguing in the next room, kids crying after a long day, muffled voices through the walls, the crinkle of shopping bags, luggage zippers being pulled open or closed, the high-speed whir of the blow dryer
SMELLS
Bleach, cleaners and deodorizers, old carpet, fabric, bleached towels, aromatic shampoos, conditioners and soap, brewing coffee, alcohol, cigarette smells clinging to one’s clothing, perfume, aftershave, hairspray, sweat, junk food with strong odors (tortilla chips, cheese puffs, popcorn), room service meals
TASTES
Coffee, tea, water, mouthwash, toothpaste, food brought up to the room or delivered by room service (burgers, fries, sandwiches, spaghetti, salads, soup), pop and snacks from a vending machine (chocolate bars, granola bars, gummy treats, candy, chips)
TEXTURES AND SENSATIONS
Sliding the smooth plastic card into the slot and then yanking it out to disengage the lock, the instant freeze of ice on the fingers while digging into the bucket for cubes, steam on one’s face as one blows on a hot cup of coffee, the give of a mattress, the first brush of cool air on sweaty feet when one’s shoes are kicked off, the shock of cold as bare feet touch the bathroom tile, a fresh towel against the skin, lather sliding down one’s back in the shower, blotting a wet face with a soft towel, rummaging around in a suitcase to find items by feel, flipping through the plastic laminated room service menu, lining one’s shoes up by the door, dumping shopping bags onto the bed, sliding a hand along the wall in the dark as one searches for the light switch, thick curtains being opened or closed, the rush of heat from the blow dryer, peeling back a heavy comforter, crisp sheets against one’s skin, snuggling down in the covers, the warmth of one’s breath against the pillow
POSSIBLE SOURCES OF CONFLICT
Noisy neighbors (fighting, screaming children, babies crying, people playing the TV too loudly)
Drunk people trying to reach their rooms at night (jiggling door handles, knocking on the wrong door, being obnoxious)
Finding that one’s room is not clean (hair in the drain, urine on the toilet seat)
Spotting bed bugs or roaches
Bad room service
Infidelity or break-ups
Building construction that wakes one early
PEOPLE COMMONLY FOUND HERE
Cleaning staff, guests, handymen
RELATED SETTINGS THAT MAY TIE IN WITH THIS ONE
Rural Volume: Tropical island, wedding reception
Urban Volume: Ballroom, black-tie event, elevator, limousine, taxi
SETTING NOTES AND TIPS
There are many different kinds of hotels, from elegant, to run-down, to full-on sleazy. Ask yourself what type of hotel your character can afford and if appearances are important in the situation. Then incorporate some conflict to create problems for your character and add zing to the setting.
SETTING DESCRIPTION EXAMPLE
I glared up at the ceiling. Never again would I stay in a hotel hosting a family reunion. First the elevator doors were dinging every ten minutes, dropping off drunks. But of course they couldn’t just stagger off to their rooms—no, they had to scrape along the wall and try every door, swearing at the ones their cards refused to open. If that wasn’t bad enough, a trio of old ladies got off on my floor practically shouting at each other about how wonderful it was to be with family, and that Lindy’s fiancée seemed like a bit of a drunk and wasn’t it just pathetic how Lee couldn’t hold a job? If they didn’t shut up soon, my head would explode.
Techniques and Devices Used: Hyperbole
Resulting Effects: Characterization, passage of time, tension and conflict