October’s travel linkup topic is ‘Interesting things in hotel rooms’. When I fist saw the topic I thought this could be rather saucy! Rest assured this post is rated PG… for me, the most interesting things in hotel rooms are not the fact that sometimes their bathroom is bigger then my bedroom, but rather those little touches that can make a stay extra special.
Handwritten notes
Often when you stay in a 5 star hotel, you will find a typed letter in an envelope from the hotel manager that thanks you for staying with them and wishes you a pleasant stay. Of course that’s really nice but what’s even better is a handwritten note. It’s something small but to me it really does make a difference. What’s even better is when it’s accompanied by something tasty like these gorgeous seagull chocolate eggs from when we stayed at the George in Rye.
Wine
I do love it when there is a bottle of wine or, even better, champagne waiting in your room. The best surprise was when we stayed at Copacabana Palace in Rio de Janero for our honeymoon and they had given us a bottle of champagne with a lovely card. We had also been to Argentina and were warned that in South America they don’t really make a fuss of honeymoons so the champagne was a real surprise! Not only that, we were invited to have drinks one night with the hotel manager and some selected guests which was really lovely. They went out of their way to ensure we had a special stay. It was fabulous!
Cake
It happened to be my husband’s birthday when we were staying at the fabulously luxurious Sandy Lane in Barbados. We didn’t tell them but obviously they had seen the date on his passport when we checked in and so on his birthday they delivered a bottle of champagne, a card and cake! It was so unexpected and really memorable. (I think we ate it before I thought to take a picture).
Hot tubs
So… I’m cheating a bit with this one because obviously I’d know if we booked a room with a hot tub so it wouldn’t really be a surprise but I had to include it because finding hotels with hot tubs are not actually that common. We had one on our balcony when we stayed at the Centara Grand Beach Resort in Krabi, Thailand in 2007. It was only the second time we’d stayed in a luxury hotel so we were rather impressed. Plus, the view from the hot tub was amazing!
Another time we booked a room with an outdoor hot tub in a private garden was at the Cotswold House Hotel and Spa. That was rather different from Thailand in that it was snowing! It was fabulous though to soak in a lovely warm hot tub whilst it was so chilly outside.
What surprises have you found in a hotel room? Share them in the comments below.
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22 COMMENTS
Wandermust mummy
7 years agoI love personal touches in hotel. Really makes something feel luxurious #travellinkup
Kirsty Marrins
7 years ago AUTHORIt really does! It definitely makes me want to return to a hotel 🙂
Emma @ Adventures of a London Kiwi
7 years agoThose personal touches just make for such a lovely surprise!
Kirsty Marrins
7 years ago AUTHORYou are so right, Emma. They really do!
Anita
7 years agoI appreciated a cake brought to my hotel room in case of my birthday!
Kirsty Marrins
7 years ago AUTHORIt was a real treat!
Betsi
7 years agoThe extra touches are always appreciated! We’ve had chocolate covered strawberries and champagne and room upgrades. Those little touches make you feel so pampered and special 🙂
Kirsty Marrins
7 years ago AUTHORThey really do, Betsi! If a hotel goes the extra mile to make us feel special, it’s guaranteed we will be back!
Angie Silver
7 years agoHonestly there nothing better than hotel surprises! It’s impossible to get tired of chocolate covered strawberries and a bottle of bubbly!
Kirsty Marrins
7 years ago AUTHORYou are absolutely right, Angie! Who would get tired of champagne?!
Samantha
7 years agoWhat a nice post. It’s so great to see some places go the extra mile, and get called out in such a lovely way!
Kirsty Marrins
7 years ago AUTHORThanks Samantha 🙂
Cat Lin
7 years agoI love staying at 5 star hotels because of the personal touches! I have had most of the experience you listed except wine and cake 😛
Kirsty Marrins
7 years ago AUTHORI must say, the cake was really unexpected and delicious!
Vyjay
7 years agoEveryone likes a surprise and when it comes from unexpected quarters, the joy is more. The personal touch is what impresses the most and leaves a lasting impression.
Kirsty Marrins
7 years ago AUTHORAbsolutely!
Dannielle
7 years agoReading the birthday off his passport is a ninja move, impressed! I’ve never really stayed anywhere for a special occasion, but hopefully I’ll get fun treats like these!
Kirsty Marrins
7 years ago AUTHORIsn’t it just, Dannielle? Oh no, you definitely have to right that wrong – celebrating a birthday away is awesome!
Anna Parker
7 years agothe personal touches in a hotel room are such a good thing – they don’t actually cost the hotel much but we all coo over them and enjoy them!
Kirsty Marrins
7 years ago AUTHORThat is so true! And these little touches make us recommend them to others and return too.
Kat
6 years agoI agree, it’s the little touches that make a difference in a hotel stay experience. As I write this, I”m currently in Hue, Vietnam and the hotel that I’m staying made the effort to put a few flower petals on the bed (only 3 – I don’t need my bed strewn with flower petals like a honeymoon bed, lol!) and one petal in between face towels nicely rolled up on the sink in the bathroom. It was such a lovely welcome 🙂
Kirsty Marrins
6 years ago AUTHORThat is lovely! I do love it when a hotel goes the extra mile. It doesn’t need to be a big gesture, something small is also nice. Enjoy Vietnam!