What would you like to tell hoteliers?
 

As we travel the world, there are certain experiences in hotels that reappear no matter where we seem to be. Help compile a list that we can then send to places we have stayed in or would like to try. I am talking about 4 and 5 star hotels here. Less than that, I know I have to lower my expectations substantially.<BR><BR>1. We love the in-room safes.<BR>2. The mini bar prices are stupid. If you made them a bit more realistic, we would actually buy something and you would make a lot more money on them.<BR>3. Large bath towels are always a treat and we are willing to hang them up indicating we are happy to reuse them. Why then do the maids insist on taking them anyway? <BR>4. There IS a tremendous demand for real non-smoking rooms and dining areas. <BR>5. If you are a hotel in a developing country, and charge 5 Star prices, you darn well better provide 5 Star standards.<BR>6. Two twin beds pushed together are not very comfortable for a couple. <BR>7. Buy firm mattresses to begin with and replace them when they start to sag. <BR>

Big spacious rooms.<BR>Enough space for 2 suitcases (even in the leading hotels of the world!)<BR>Empty desks and enough space to put your own things. <BR>Bathrooms where everything works.<BR>2 pillows each.<BR>Someone who helps with the luggage.<BR>Bright lights.<BR>Good restaurant(s).<BR>Bed long enough with good matress.<BR>Plugs everywhere.<BR>Air conditioning or heating which is working<BR>If you complain, than the staff believes you and you don't have to argue. <BR>By the way, the best hotels I have been to were in the far East and owned by Japanese or Asians. <BR>

1. Offer the choice of reusing towels and sheets. I think it's a ridiculous waste of water/labor to wash these each day I stay there.<BR><BR>2. Provide "Do Not Disturb" signs even in lower-end hotels. And instruct your staff to respect them.<BR><BR>3. Instruct housekeepers to try to be somewhat quiet in the mornings. Your European hotels have paper-thin doors and walls so it's impossible to sleep through maids shouting to each other down hallways.<BR><BR>Funny, I've always found European minibars to have very reasonable prices compared to the U.S. Maybe it's because I usually stay in 2-3 stars.

I'd like to tell the hotelier at my Amsterdam hotel 2 weeks ago that he has beautiful eyes, was incredibly charming and I can't stop thinking about him. And in case he's reading this, he has my email and is welcome to write!

Oh please don't tuck the top sheet and blanket in with the bottom sheet, making me practically have to make the bed from scratch when I turn it down. Aaaaargh!

1. If you have an in-room safe, don't charge us to use it. Even if you decline responsibility for anything stolen, you don't want to have to replace the doors each time there's a break-in.<BR><BR>2. (especially for US hotels) Try not charging for breakfast. That way, we're more likely to see if we like the restaurant and possibly return in the evening when we know you make the most profit.<BR><BR>3. If you don't want us to use the room towels for the swimming pool, don't charge us to hire other ones!<BR><BR>4. I don't care if the room doesn't have a Playstation.

If you're going to supply a blow dryer, have one with enough power to actually dry someone's hair!

Hairdryers in the room. If not, let me know that I can borrow one from the desk.<BR>Wall mounted showers. Or at least have the option to make it higher. I have seen some that are on a pole thingy, that allows you to move it up or down. Still not as high as the standard American shower, but easier than the strictly hand held device.

<BR>Only one point but shouted very very loudly:<BR><BR>SINGLE PEOPLE STAY IN HOTELS!!!!!!!<BR><BR>The margins on these rooms are completely unacceptable. I don't know why they can't get their head around it.<BR><BR>Another softer point on the same lines is:<BR><BR>If you are primarily a business hotel and you get a single person staying in your empty hotel at the weekend, don't put them in the pikiest little boxroom you've got. Upgrade them, they may come back. (Yes Giffard Hotel, Worcester I'm talking about you).