richarddd

Preferring to be out of the room for housekeeping would seem the default preference. What's annoying is having housekeeping at your door when you're about to go out, ask them to come back in ten minutes, then go out for hours, come back and find that housekeeping hasn't returned or that they're in the room.

KatW

What I would wish for at luxe properties: a way to admit staff knocking/ringing door without having to get out of comfy chair or bed. Yes, I am lazy. It seems to be protocol in best hotels for staff to specifically ask out loud if they may enter your room. I’d appreciate a way to indicate this that does not involve getting up and going to the door. Let the shaming begin!

RichardInSF

My small thing: when I re-arrange some furniture on a multi-night stay, housekeeping doesn't put it back where it originally was. I not only notice that right away, it really annoys me.

reigndrop

Yes and it’s why you pay that premium. Things I care about or notice:

- lots of sparkling water
- Japanese toilet
- heated floors
- replacement of toothpaste that’s gone low
- placement of slippers next to turndown floor linen
- ability to order any dish from all restaurants at the hotel via IRD
- greeting by name among certain hotel staff
- scented hotel lobbies
- flowers in lobby

there’s more but that’s what immediately comes to mind

Livetotell

-A good variety of vegetarian/vegan entrees or even better a separate vegetarian menu
-Wonderfully comfortable / amazing bed linens
-I know this is bad, but I love a great shower, which means lots of pressure. Really dislike those thimble/spindle/needle-like water efficient shower heads
-As I get older, a separate adult pool area
-Updated design / remodeling of the hotel/resort. The Chedi in Switzerland ( first floor areas) really pop. The FS Jackson Hole, pretty much looks the same after 12 years, with soft refurb
-Concierge that maximizes what you want out of your stay, enlightens, and makes the experience even better.
-High end toiletries. I love hand / bar soap that smells amazing, and will always pilfer some home.
-A great Spa
-Seamless housekeeping

hijiji

I appreciate small packets of detergent for when you want to hand wash items yourself instead of sending them to the laundry.

vprp

My best experiences have always been due to wonderful people working at the hotel. It could be a small, "we look forward to see you again soon" as they open the car door for you as you depart for the airport.

- A few years ago, we stayed at the Rosewood Hong Kong. While at the Manor Club, my mother remarked that she doesn't eat pork. The next morning, my wife and I went downstairs to have breakfast at the restaurant. They asked whether my mother was coming as they had specially prepared dim sum without pork for her. Service at the Rosewood was spectacular but that's one little detail we always tend to remember.
- Also had a great experience at the Ritz Carlton Kyoto. I had participated in a couple of hotel activities in the first stay and one of the activity team members was wonderful. On a TripAdvisor review, I explicitly mentioned her name to say thanks. On a subsequent trip to the RC Kyoto, this team member had moved to the concierge team but prepared a card to welcome me back and to say thanks for the compliment on TA.

If there is a club lounge, I tend to book a room with club access as I feel it's like staying at a hotel within the hotel.

CanaryWharf

The small things can sometimes make a big difference.

At my favourite lux hotel in Dubai (had more than 50 stays there), I always get escorted straight to my suite and the check-in process consists of me signing a piece of paper - no ID and they never ask for a credit card / a deposit. Being able to skip the whole check-in procedure can make a big difference, especially after a long flight and seeing a queue at the front desk

When I think about it - the best hotels I have stayed at where the one’s where everything felt effortless / care-free, and it just feels good staying there. Even if something goes wrong, you know it will be fixed quickly & in a professional manner, so there is nothing to worry about.

what i hate the most is lux hotels that nickel & dime - and where you literally have the feeling they are just trying to squeeze out every cent out of you or argue over extremely petty things, despite the daily room rate being 4-figures.

exactlyaron

Also received outstanding service in the Manor Club.

It was amazingly personable. I don't drink tea or coffee only hot chocolate (because obviously I'm 13 not 33) after the first morning I wasn't asked again if I wanted tea or coffee when in there by any member of staff. My partner is vegetarian and apart from one occasion in a morning when there was a different chef they were great at putting some veggie dim sum together for her. One evening my partner wanted a Pina colada which was off menu, I went to ask the barman and he said unfortunately he didn't have any coconut milk so I asked for a mojito which again was off menu and he was happy to make that. The next evening he came over to us and said they'd got some coconut milk in and if my partner would like a Pina colada.

I think personal touches are definitely what makes for a 'luxury' experience.

lost_in_translation

Yep, this is precisely why I believe many of the “luxury” hotels in the US are just not luxury hotels. Nothing takes you back to reality quicker than being told “sorry, it’s not included” when you ask for something basic with breakfast that would cost the hotel about $1.50 to provide, for example. Luxury hotels should make you feel like you got more than you paid for, not less (e.g., treats left with turndown, complimentary glass of champagne on arrival, extra amuse bouche or pre-dessert in the hotel restaurant, etc).

The definition of high end luxury is absolutely the small touches to me:
- Housekeeping noticing you used all of an item and leaving double the next day
- Not having to restate all your preferences the second time you stay because the hotel noted them down
- Your order being remembered at breakfast
etc.

Above all, I’d say it’s about staff feeling like they can take initiative to make your stay better, not feeling like they have to follow rigid rules.

m0hamed

This comes down to the hotel brand.

FS believes in ‘the Golden Rule’ of treating others as you wish to be treated.

PH SYD used to allow staff to spend up to $1,000 to fix a guest issue. I don’t know if it’s current practice, but it started when housekeeping accidentally bleached a fur coat of a guest who was going to the Opera. The Concierge swiftly took her to David Jones where she purchased a new coat paid for the by the property (and much more than $1k).

Management have to empower staff for them to take initiative otherwise their hands are tied.

United747

This 100%. I couldn’t think of a good way to describe it, but as I would tell people “things just work”

Visconti

RE: Little things

Since I've been throwing some jabs at the PH Vendome, it's my most recent stay and fresh in memories, it's only fair to recount something positive about them. Four or five years ago, I just had one of those stays there where everything was just off. Not sure what was going on (not that I cared), GM transition or too many Hyatt redemptions, but, this time, "things didn't work." It was apparent to me, and to any of the staff who had taken his/her job seriously.

During checkout, the FD staff started by noting that it appears I've had some issues and started to apologize, and I just politely cut her off and said, "it was fine, thanks." Here's the small good thing. I was headed to the HR airport hotel for an early morning flight. When I had arrived, the check in desk appeared to have been expecting me and just very briefly said, "Monsieur, here is your key and your suite is ready." No CC required, no passport and no signatures--it was the "perfect" gesture for that moment.

There's little doubt the PH had reached out to the HR to arrange this seamless check in for me.

askyamaz

Ritz Paris, Ritz London, Park Hyatt Vendome Paris

KatW

So many lux hotels do not incorporate Casinos — probably many more than those that do.