KatW

offerendum

This thread shows again how different tastes are. In many cases I agree. Personally I don´t use Body Lotion but my GF for excample use it extensively. I don´t Need unpacking Service and always deny it. I like high beds, I´m undecided about television in bathroom. Mostly it remains unused but sometimes it´s nice to watch some TV while taking a bath. Agree that Minibar items on display are neither useful or aesthetic.

Regarding soft product if I don´t pay a high amount for something I don´t need I prefer it´s offered and I can choose. More difficult with hardproduct, a TV in bathroom may be harmless but a (very) high bed it mostly something what is good for some and bad for others. Also at least if staying at signature suites choices are also not that easy.

lost_in_translation

Agreed.

A TV integrated behind the mirror in the bathroom so that it's invisible when off, but you can watch the news whilst brushing your teeth is one of the things that makes me think a hotel has actually thought seriously about design and customers' needs; no idea how anyone could object to that.

offerendum

No objection. Nevertheless this TV´s are often not watchable from the tub.

FlyerEC

Pausanias

Hardly any TVs seem to be placed where you can watch it without needing surgery afterwards. Occasionally we might switch on a TV to find a news channel but mostly we won't. I also dislike returning to your room at night to find that housekeeping has switched it on and have it playing music or the hotel's own channel.

I have absolutely zero interest in fruit bowls, cookies, chocolates etc and always ask for them to be removed. We also dislike whole bottles of champagne as we find them hard to drink so we usually leave them - we did just that on our recent Seabourn cruise. I'd much prefer two half bottles.

Lighting systems nowadays seem designed to baffle guests.

I like the espresso machines but usually fail to make them work. I dislike the idea of a hotel feeling too snooty to offer a more humble tea & coffee set-up.

Finally, I dislike a vast array of magazines and brochures cluttering up desks and tables. They always get sent to the bottom of the wardrobe.

mumum17

Agreed here.

I can escort myself to the room of a city hotel...hate the uncomfortable moments afterwards when I want to say..."ok, bye".
Unpacking service...please, I can do my own undergarments, thank you very much.

Personally, I like a tv in the room...it helps me relax to sleep at night . And one in the bathroom, built into the screen, is thoughtful for me incase I want to see the news etc while shaving.

mumum17

Totally agree.

offerendum

TV in the room is a must. I expect at least one in the bed- and one in the livingroom. But this is no luxury trapping for me, it´s absolute standard.

Often1

All of this simply shows that people have different tastes and some of it shows that some places people are referring to as "luxury" are not luxury and others are people who apparently lack the ability to say, "no thanks".

If you don't care for a TV in your bathroom, do not use it. Unless you have a moral issue with the device, it should not be much of a bother.

If you do not want to be escorted to your room, have your bags unpacked or want a room tour, just say so. It is the essence of a luxury property that it serves your needs. I only travel with what I can readily carry and do not check luggage. I do not want or need my luggage touched as I am able to carry/wheel it myself. I also want the check-in and room process to be as short and simple as is possible. When a bellman reaches for my bag, I politely ask him to leave it for me. When the FD says, "XXX will escort you to your room," I say "thank you for the offer, but I would prefer not."

I don't want extra pillows, so I toss them on the floor. My life has gone just fine and the effort is not a particular bother.

Luxury properties do not display "for sale" mini-bar items in the room. If you are staying at a property which has a $10 tag on a water bottle, it is not a luxury property. Make a point of saying so to a manager. I toss the price labels as it is tacky in the extreme.

laf747

Agreed!!!

Exterous

Its not so much a luxury trapping but I do find that the nicer the hotel the more likely they are to constantly ask me if I need any help with my luggage and push when I say "No thank you"

Very much this. When checking in I'm often not in a great frame of mind for small talk on the way since its either obscenely early\late my body time or I want to quickly shower or change before leaving again. Also I've never found it particularly hard to find the ironing board or mini-fridge.

beachmouse

I would like a small laminated card though explaining how to correctly turn the shower on and get the tub stopper to work. (I know I've seen one of those in a Hyatt ecosystem property) The overly complicated hotel plumbing fixture seems to show up in every hotel type from budget to luxury and I shouldn't have to have a civil engineering degree in order to figure out how to wash up.

Cityflyer10

This is fine as long as it is obvious that the item is for sale, which can be an issue if they like to put mini-bar items on the counter. More than once I have debated whether an item was supposed to be a welcome gift or if it was chargeable. Of course the better option in my opinion would be to not have a chargeable minibar!

mike_la_jolla

I had this exact problem at the Le Maurice Paris. A bottle of red wine, with glasses, was placed directly on the welcome note from the GM. We drank the bottle assuming it was a gift from the GM, only to find that the hotel charged us for the wine. I threw a fit and vowed never to return. I didn't like the place anyway.

- At the risk of starting a flame war, I find the TVs in the bathrooms to be ridiculous. And I have *no* need to answer the phone while sitting on the lew.
- I hate automated rooms. A switch works fine thank you. Never did figure out the controls at the MO LV and I'm a computer engineer.
- Magazines are OK. I steal'em sometimes ...
- Just HATE when the maid braids my charging cables. This is not helpful.