What little extras do you appreciate when it comes to hotel stays?
It's nice when chocolates are left on the pillow.....
the end of toilet paper is shaped into a little rose (isn't that special?)....
or when towels are folded to look like bunnies,
but these lodging bonuses wouldn't make it onto my "Top 10" list of amenities.
I'm referring to those details that provide comfort, convenience or pleasure,
which, In My Humble Opinion,
should be standard fare at all hotels, but sadly, aren't.
I've stayed in many hotels across the price-point spectrum,
experiencing some of these conveniences at low-budget motels,
while finding them lacking at some luxury hotels.
In case anyone in the hotel industry is reading this,
consider me your focus group of one.
TEN AMENITIES EVERY HOTEL SHOULD OFFER:
1. Free coffee in the lobby.
I'd rather run down to the lobby with raging bed-head
and sheet marks on my face for a fresh cup of coffee with real milk
(bonus points for offering skim or almond milk).
than make a cup in my room,
and use that awful powdered chemical creamer.
Might it be more cost effective to have a big urn in the lobby,
than furnishing all of the rooms with individual coffee makers?
(Asking for a friend 😉).
2. Complimentary bottled water in the room.
Nothing cheeses me off more than seeing a sign saying
"Enjoy this bottle of water for $3."
Please, Mr. or Ms. Hotel Manager, go to Costco and buy a few cases.
One or two complimentary bottles for parched overnight throats
or taking medication is greatly appreciated.
3. Full length mirror
The first thing I look for in any hotel room is a full-length mirror.
Granted, I may not like what I see,
but at least I'll know if my skirt is tucked into my underwear.
Do I really have to say more about this?
4. Lighted magnifying mirror in the bathroom
Seeing my face up close and super-sized is not a pretty sight at my age,
but, I do like being able to see what I'm doing when I put on my makeup.
Bathroom lighting in hotels is often terrible,
and most times, I can't get close enough to the mirror over the sink.
If my eyeliner is crooked, or there's a splotch of mascara under my eye,
I'd like to know before some stranger in the elevator points it out to me.
5. Plenty of towels in the bathroom
Do you know how many hotels we have stayed in
(including luxury hotels) that supply towels for two,
even though they know there are three of us in the room?
Usually, it's me who's reaching for a towel from the shower,
only to find wet ones hanging on the hook.
6. Night stands on both sides of the bed.
On the rare occasion I travel alone, this is not an issue.
But, 99% of the time, there are two or three of us,
and we all need a place to put those things
we'll have to reach for in the dark of night or break of dawn.
This includes, but is not limited to a phone
(which serve as alarm clock, flashlight, and insomnia companion),
a bottle of water (see #2, above),
iPad, iGlasses (aka, eye glasses, heh-heh!), etc.
Night stands don't need to be large, just big enough.
7. Adequate water pressure.
Remember that episode on Seinfeld -- "The Shower Head,"
when everyone's hair was plastered to their head
after their building installed water restrictors?
Yeah, that.
I've got thick hair, so perhaps I'm overly sensitive to this,
but when I can't rinse the shampoo out of my hair,
someone's gonna be crabby over breakfast.
FOR HOTELS WITH A POOL OR BEACH:
8. Chairs at the pool and beach to accommodate every guest.
If I have to set the alarm clock for 6:00am to run down to the pool or beach
in my nightgown to save chairs,
well, then, I'm not relaxing on my vacation, am I?
I know, I know, there may not physically be room at some
hotels to supply enough chairs for every guest,
but this is something that really puts me in a foul mood.
If I can't find a chair, and I can't rinse the shampoo in my hair....
watch out!!!
9. Adequate shade protection on the beach.
Gone are the days of baking in the sun all day long.
Now, I can't last more than 15 minutes without diving under an umbrella.
Heading down to the beach, only to find out that
they've run out of umbrellas, is a "shady" way to run a resort.
There should be a supply of extra umbrellas at the pool and beach,
so that everyone who wants one, gets one.
10. Complimentary sunscreen and water at the pool or beach.
Sometimes it's the little things, right?
'Nuff said.
And, BIG BONUS POINTS for..........
A "call" button on umbrellas for beach or pool waitstaff.
Why is it that I'm constantly being asked,
"Can I get you anything?" when I'm not hungry or thirsty,
but as soon as I decide I'd like some lunch,
not a wait-person can be found.
The only place I've seen call buttons is at the St. Regis Bahia Beach in Puerto Rico.
Granted, it's a swanky resort, and I have no idea what this costs,
which is why I didn't include it on my Top 10 list that every hotel should have,
but it is a brilliant amenity.
I don't expect to see this at Motel 6,
but at resorts that offer food service at the beach or pool,
it's the ultimate pampering!
So, basically, what I'm trying to say is, if I.......
can't get a decent cup of coffee in the morning,
have to quench my parched throat with a $3 sip of water,
can't see that I've got my skirt on inside out,
don't know that I've got lipstick on my teeth,
have to dry myself with a washcloth,
need to use an upside down garbage can as a night table,
have to walk around with suds in my hair,
can't find a place to park my butt at the pool,
and end up with a wicked sunburn at the beach.......
I'm not likely to write a very nice TripAdvisor review.
On the other hand,
give me some ice water and sunscreen at the beach,
and I might just reconsider that extra star.
What's on your wish list list of hotel amenities?
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