Long slow wow - Small 1 star pension in Ibiza on a little local square. Small corner room on 1st floor with little balcony and 2 small chairs. Perfect view that just immersed you into the life of the town.

Wow!, but not really - Walking into the upgraded suite at the Gritti Palace in Venice. It was a wow!, but after staying in the dark room it became gloomy and it felt like the room was going to kill me in my sleep.

View of Danube in Budapest from the Intercontinental

A little motel in New Zealand that washed my rental car windows overnight while it just sat out in the general parking lot.

Wow service in that it felt real, helpful, sincere, and joyful was the Hotel Splendid Royal in Lugano, Switzerland. I have never experienced anything else quite like it.

This is not hotel related, but on my very first trip to Europe, on the first day of the trip, back when I was just 18 … I walked into the Center of Brussels from my hotel, made the final turn on to the Grand Place (central square of the City of Brussels) for the very first time … and at the precise moment I saw the splendor of the square unfold, a full symphony orchestra in the Square hit their first note. Doubt I’ll ever top that one.