I rather like my unpacking done for me, items pressed etc. but generally I am aware that staff do this, so not a surprise - I can see it being unnerving if you don't know they do it / if they don't ask first.
Over and above:
The Intercontinental Montreal - amazing concierge, nothing was too much trouble, he was a mind reader, and made our stay brilliant!
the butlers at Sandals Royal Bahamian - rest of the staff not great, but two of the butlers went WAY above and beyond when someone got sick.
I forget the hotel name, but near Cairns, Australia, they catered to my abject fear of the snakes and spiders between my room and the restaurant (you can't see them in the dark and the webs were terrifying by day!!!) so delivered full multi course restaurant food to me in the evening, even tho normally they didn't! (basic room service only)
Goldstone Hall in Shropshire - absolutely bend over backward service in every way.
The Crowne Plaza in Liverpool - walked in looking for a room one evening, no booking, not only did they charge me well below rack rate (applied a staff discount for me!), they upgraded me as well, and handed over some drinks vouchers! And had the best chips I've ever had through room service!
Crowne Plaza in Sunrise Florida - was expecting not great based on other people's info, but they gave me a great room, fantastic attitude, and gave me an item I asked quite unleadingly if they knew where I could purchase it!
None of these are high end places, perhaps they stand out more because the service was SO much better than I expected - the higher the hotel reputation wise, the more I expect. I don't expect chain Caribbean hotels, or Crowne Plazas to wow me, so when they do they really stand out.
Originally Posted by
uszkanni
On honeymoon in either AUS or NZ (went to both places, don't remember in which country this occurred), was supposedly booked into a 4/5* hotel but found it to be unsatisfactory - for various reasons. Found another place and checked out that day, explaining to the manager why we chose not to stay and mentioned where we were going. A few hours later, a couple of staff from the first hotel showed up at our new room with a bottle of champagne and offered apologies for the poor experience. Very nice gesture and totally unexpected.
Oh, I agree with others who've said they would prefer it if hotel personnel didn't go through their luggage; even if it's with the most benign intent. I would think that the hotel would make this verboten, just to avoid accusations of theft, breakage, etc.