When you’re checking in to your hotel, you can usually get a better room if you remember to ask the right questions.

But what are the right questions? When do you ask them? And whom do you ask?

Here are some ways to ensure that your next hotel stay isn’t spent next to loud renovations, and that your shower doesn’t run at a drip.

Check out the rest of our Hotels section for money-saving tips and great ideas for unusual accommodations.

Our series on what you need to know about hotels also features Snagging Better Deals on Hotel Bookings: Part One.