Here at IDEAL we’re often asked to recommend a good hotel. And although this may seem straight forward, it’s a question fraught with difficulty. Everyone’s different, with a diversity in taste, price point and idea of what or what isn’t ‘essential’. Some prefer quirky and unique boutique hotels, others a luxury five star hotel with all the amenities to boot.
All of which got us thinking about what makes a good hotel. About which values and necessities cross all borders of personal preference. While taste, location and particulars differ from person to person, there are some factors that are at the heart of any good hotel. So, here are 5 IDEAL elements that make a great hotel.
THE WELCOME
The warm smile, those delicious drinks and that refreshing towel you’re offered while they find your reservation – a great hotel starts with a great welcome. First impressions, after all, are everything. How you’re received when you first step into the hotel matters a great deal; it’s your first chance to make a judgment of the hotel and can set the mood for the entire stay. It’s the difference between overlooking that stray hair in the plug and it causing utter disgust and associated bad reviews on TripAdvisor.
A hotel can have all the amenities in the world, but if their welcome and service is anything less than phenomenal, the whole experience can be ruined. We’re not just talking about service with a smile here, rather the all encompassing trait called “hospitality personality,” which every hotelier should have. It’s when a person can quietly makes guests feel comfortable and important and have a natural joie de vivre, kindess and graciousness about them, coupled with the sense that they’re not overdoing it. Easy peasy, then.
We keep banging on about first impressions and alongside the welcome, it’s important to make the entrance look inviting too. Taking care of that first impression is something called ‘kerb appeal’ and even the most innocuous elements can play a part in the overall impact of that first impression. An unruly front entrance, broken gates, a tatty fence or dirty doors; these can all be a major turn-off.
Giving the exterior of your hotel a facelift and adding an attractive custom welcome neon sign can cement a positive impression so early on in the process. After that, the customer is putty in your hands.
A CLOUD LIKE BED
After a long day of sightseeing, there’s nothing quite like falling into a five-star hotel bed with a zillion pillows that are so fluffy, you wonder if the hotel staff would notice if one accidentally fell into your suitcase. Sumptuous soft sheets with a high thread count, plush pillows, fluffy feather mattress toppers; a hotel bed is as close to sleeping on a cloud as us mere mortals can get.
From boutique joints to international brands, the best hotels spend a lot of time and money carefully crafting cloudlike combinations, to guarantee guests a sleep experience like no other. We’re not kidding, Westin Hotels & Resorts spent over a year testing hundreds of mattresses, pillows and bed linen to create their signature ‘Heavenly Bed’. And the night’s sleep it provides make that level of research totally worthwhile.
SPA-LIKE BATHROOM FACILITIES
Once a basic amenity, the hotel bathroom is just as important to guests as the bedroom when it comes to choosing the ideal hotel. Yep, it’s all about oversized tubs and full body jets, rain shower heads and double sinks. Expensive aromatherapy soaps that awaken your senses and fluffy white bathroom robes don’t hurt either. Basically, a great hotel bathroom should be like a spa experience and you should feel pampered even if you’re alone.
Hotels are spending more time focusing on getting the hotel bathroom right, especially since many people now have upgraded, luxury bathroom experiences at home, with a range of fancy add-ons and high-quality items, just like you can see here. It’s therefore essential for a hotel to go that extra mile and make their bathrooms a spa-like sanctuary for guests.
A BREAKFAST BUFFET
Is there anything better when you’re on holiday than letting loose on a hotel’s breakfast buffet? It’s one of the finest pleasures of the hotel experience, and the truly great buffet breakfast turns a sometimes mundane daily ritual into the ultimate gastronomic experience.
We love the ones spread over a vast dining space, with multiple ‘cooking stations’ devoted to different global influences. And while the obligatory omelette station serving tender and fluffy eggs, and the sweet waffle section, laden with every topping imaginable are integral to a great hotel breakfast, one that presents the local cuisine, offering guests exciting and enticing opportunities to try new tastes, trumps them all. And for those who have overindulged the previous night, that freshly-squeezed juice, trios of smoothies and detox tonics bring a feeling of wellness to a worn out mind.
MORE THAN ONE CHAIR
We’re being serious. If you’re travelling with a companion and there’s only one easy chair in the room, what’s the other guest meant to do? Perch on the end of the bed? Nah, we’re not having that. Indeed, having more than one chair in the room highlights the hotel’s character instantly, showing thoughtfulness and an attention to detail that only the best hotels have.