We Want Amenities!!

Ever wondered what amenities to expect at a hotel? The list of amities that can be offered is endless. But here is a very basic segregation which segregates the good hotel from the bad. So that you know which ones to choose.

Lets begin from the time you wake up; the first thing is water, hot water to bathe. Now that is a basic requirement, please note that some economy hotels charge for such a facility. So take care. Costly hotels which charge for such a facility must be pushed down your priority list.

And then there is breakfast, where do you plan to have it? On the bed itself, or some place else? It is up to the hotel management to decide whether to provide you bed and breakfast together. Generally hotels which have a restaurant do provide a breakfast in bed or as a buffet. But that again is something you have to check up before going to a hotel.

Now you are all dressed up and ready, what about the dirty laundry? Do you take care of it or the hotel has a system in place to take care of all that dirty linen. That is one more amenity, which hotels may provide. Again, that is up to the hotel policy to decide. But you can generally ask the bellboy to get the laundry done and for a small tip they will get it done.

Say after getting dressed up you plan to go for a trip. Where would you keep your valuables? Does the hotel have a locker where you can put them? And once you have put in your valuables, does it have a car to take you to your destination?

Considering that the answer to the above questions is a yes and you manage to reach your destination, and have a blast there. Then when its evening its time to go back to your temporary home, the hotel I mean.

You reach back to your hotel, all your valuables are safe in the locker, the laundry is done and above all the room is cleaned up and beds made. So all you have to do is have dinner in the hotel restaurant below and then jump into the nice soft bed for the night.

This was a list of some very general amenities, but here is a point wise list of things you should look for.

•    Email Facility         •    Radio                •    Safe Deposit Box
•    Jacuzzi                 •    FAX                   •    Cribs for babies
•    Laundry                •    Rollaway Beds   •    Coffee Machine
•    Lounge                 •    Iron                  •    Tooth brush
•    Ice Machine           •   Movies               •    TV Remote Control
•    Bath Tub               •    Desk with lamp  •    Connecting Rooms
•    Breakfast              •    Copy Service    •    Golf
•    Modem Lines         •    Hot water          •    24 hour check out
•    Parking                 •    Alarm               •    Wireless internet network
•    Badminton Courts  •    Tennis Courts    •    Elevators

By no means is this list complete, it is just to show you that hotels consider any thing beyond a room to live in as amenities. Even a mattress is considered as an amenity. So beware of such hidden costs and make all such hidden rules amply clear before you go to stay there.

Some hotels may also throw in some complementary amenities if you are a regular visitor, and in case they don’t you can always ask for some kind of discounts. Many of the hotels show that they do awesome business, but it all a gimmick and they will pull all stops to retain a customer. So just ask them.

This one is for people who are going to live in those luxury hotels. You are going to spend a couple of thousand dollars on each night staying there. So make sure that you get that kind of service. You are paying for it, and you should get what you want. Become a spoilt but reasonable kid. It’s your right.

And the last thing is the personal touch. A hotel does not become a home if it does not have that personal touch. So that’s the smallest thing but the most vital thing for a hotel to have. Always remember how hotel staff treated you, that decides the culture and the type of management that the hotel is under.

Now here is an important point to be noted for those who have pets. Quite a few hotels do not allow pets. So be careful in case you plan to take pets along. Some hotels do allow pets put you have to pay a security deposit in case the pet does any damage. So taking pets along is a completely different thing and pay attention to the rule book while booking a hotel. There are some wacky hotels which are specially designed for pets, often called pet hotels. These hotels are a paradise for animal or pet lovers.

One important thing to note about the amenities is, many hotels offer these amenities but not of the highest quality. They might offer internet connections but it might be dead slow. The mattress might be all lumpy and there is always a fear of the bed breaking under your weight. So it is a good idea to read a review of the hotel from someone who has visited.