The first time I saw the Hotel Geysir, I knew I wanted to return and stay there. It is literally across the street from a very active geothermal field, including the namesake for geysers, and home to Strokkur, one of the worlds most active geysers that erupts every 5 to 15 minutes, reliably enough that you can stand or sit and wait, and not be disappointed. We even saw a double, two eruptions only a couple of minutes apart.
The hotel is elegant, dark, calming, relaxing, modern. The public areas are soaring but warm and inviting. The hotel is six miles south of the Gullfoss Waterfall, and powered by geothermal heat. The shower was a work of art, absolutely amazing water flow. The restaurant serves modern gourmet food - I don't know why there is not a Michelin star or two at the door - an insufficient wine cellar I guess. The food was as good as it gets.
There are a few things that hotels consistently get wrong.
When there is a double room, two beds, why is there only one luggage rack or surface to open bags? Two adults are most often going to be traveling with two or more bags, yet hotels almost always only provide one luggage rack or built in surface for opening bags.
Hotels skimp on towels. If I have been traveling all day, it is nice to take a shower when I arrive and if I do there is not a fresh towel for my morning shower. For $300 a night, double up on the towels. (And yes, at home I use a fresh towel every time.)
Hotels are increasingly going to shower gel, and I like shower gel, but often find the pump on the shower wall empty, or filled with something that is more like water than gel. Use the good stuff, and don't assume that we want to smell like a rose.
Putting phones in the room. In room phones have become nothing more than a waste of space over the past 25 years. It is time for them to go the way of vacuum tube televisions.
Lighting, and darkening. I need enough light to be able to see, and I want it dark when I sleep. All too often the lights are either too bright, or to dull - in this age of LEDs, put in dimmable lights. The other pain, is draperies that don't quite close, or stay closed. Blinds or shades often work better.
What am I missing in my short list of consistent things that bug me about hotels?
Electrical outlets. Many hotels give no thought to guests and have outlets only for lamps, tv, etc. Or any available outlets are inconveniently located under desks or near floor.
ReplyDeleteGood one, I have known people to carry power strips with them.
DeleteI like your suggestions, especially about the towels!!!
ReplyDeleteThe last hotel we stayed in, in Greenville, Carlos, because of his eyesight, missed the towels that were set on a rack and folded, and used a washcloth and then a hand towel to dry off after a shower.
Not the hotel's fault, but we did get a giggle out of it.
In Europe Jay misses washcloths, most don't provide them
DeleteYour suggestions do make sense. I'd suggest making sure the towel rack is closer to the shower so you don't have to exit the shower soaking wet to get the towel.
ReplyDeleteGreat idea, I did that when I remodeled my bathroom
DeleteAs I do not possess a mobile phone (American: cellphone), I like to have a proper telephone in my hotel room. I am happy to use a towel over and over again. Think of the energy used in laundering towels! Almost every hotel I have ever stayed in has been more than adequate but in wintertime it would be good if they could have extra bedding available just in case guests get cold in bed.
ReplyDelete66% of the worlds population have mobile phones, over 97% in the USA, I hate mine, but can't imagine life without it.
DeleteI always carry my own toiletries....but towels are a huge thing for me...there can never be enough towels for me. Except two places in Philly I stayed. They gave me the plushest towels and many....that I ever had in a hotel....with exception to boutique hotels.
ReplyDeletePlush towels and lots of them
DeleteDid my comment go to the "Spam" factory?
ReplyDeleteretrieved.
DeleteHave you ever encountered bed bugs?
ReplyDelete