Je t’adore – l’hotel parfait

No sooner has Christmas disappeared from the shops than Easter appears, but look carefully and spot the hearts and suchlike for Valentines day!  We are low-key about it, as the other 364 days (365 this year) are the ones that matter.  However, as part of the love-ly travel link up with Emma, Angie, Jessi and guest host Kaelene this month I’m talking about what I love and adore (apart from of course my valentine, Cornwall and sailing). My search for ‘l’hotel parfait’…

So I thought I would tell you about my perfect hotel.  I’m yet to stay in it, the search goes on, but I am already in lust with the idea of it. As you’ll see I am quite particular and I have a few all time favourites to benchmark against.  Incredibly not all are by the sea, I even surprise myself sometimes.  Everything up until now has not just been research, don’t worry – research is enjoyable, but just like when I was wedding planning I always remember what I like and seek it elsewhere.

Nothing can beat personal service – not only is it attentive of the staff, but I suspect they have more fun in their jobs as guests get to know them too.  It’s the same throughout life – when someone takes a moment to improve the other person’s day it is normally reciprocated.  If someone knows my name then I will use their name and mention it to the manager on check out.  The staff at Cliveden House blew me away in this regard.

Everyone knows I love a little glass of champagne from time to time, so a welcome drink on arrival is always something I will appreciate. Even if hotels give it to all guests, who cares, it still makes each individual guest feel special and kicks off the relaxation right away.  I did pour the prosecco given to me at The Liberty in Boston straight down the sink – on that occasion the token gesture didn’t work so well!  We lucked out on our check in to the Vanderbilt Grace in Newport with such a gorgeous day to enjoy the view!

Not much beats a room with a view.  Even in the city where I hate being put in an inward facing room with no light coming in.  We’ve been lucky to stay in some incredible spots – Jamaica was full of them (below), Qasr al Sarab took our breath away, The Kinsterna looked out on stunning and succulent gardens and in Maine we were spoilt for choice of views.

A place needs to be in keeping with its surroundings.  I am sure the large luxury hotels are great inside, but sometimes I just can’t get over how much of an eyesore they are.  Look how well Qasr al Sarab nestles into its surroundings.  We stayed at the Aghadoe Heights hotel near Killarney and whilst it is anything but pretty the staff acknowledge you are best to arrive in the darkness and leave the curtains open to enjoy the epic dawn view!

I hate to stay in a block built run of the mill place, however nice it is. I’ve stayed in enough on business.  Uniqueness is what this blog is about and what I am always seeking.  In fact it often gets entered into google on a search along with ‘hidden gem’ or ‘rustic’, I used to use the term ’boutique’, but for some reason big hotels now consider themselves boutique, which I find misleading.  We stayed in a treehouse on our South African honeymoon – one of a kind!

We created ourselves a problem when we bought ourselves a super king size bed at home – as when you travel it should always be at least as good as at home.  I try not to be disappointed if the bed isn’t this size when we’re away and get over-excited if, unfathomably, it is bigger… Even Premier Inn and Travelodge go to market on bed size now though, so times are a changing.  Our room at the Inn at Cuckolds Light was just sumptuous as you can see.

To feed my collection, I have a nose for sniffing out quality bathroom amenities and a good hair dryer.  It is always a nice treat when its something I’ve not seen before or a local company that the hotel is supporting.  My particular favourite is Korres which we saw for the first time in Greece, fortunately Marks and Sparks stock it these days so my cupboards are now full of all and sundry from Korres!  I need a good hair dryer too – I get bored easily so need to be able to blast my hair for a few minutes and be done!

You know those hotel rooms with balconies in the shade and no view? Well I don’t like them.  What I need is a terrace that has plenty of space and gets the sun and preferably has a view too.  Here’s our terrace room in the desert and we had a similarly large one in Greece.  You need to head somewhere where land isn’t at a premium for this to work.  I’ve never stayed in a pool suite, I’ve looked at lots but I get bored easily and like to swim lengths and private pools are too small – so for now I’m going to stick to terraces!

I am the first to admit I am a pool snob, and this causes great challenges booking holidays.  I ‘need’ an infinity edge pool looking out across a splendid scene. Places like The Chedi, The Kinsterna, The Abu Dhabi Shangri La (below)…. Well – they’ve made me this way!!  I also need some shade – I’m a pale little thing and I burn on contact with the sun, I need to be able to stick my legs in the sun and the rest of me in the shade!  Well located palm trees that shade part of the pool are a hit too – then I can be in the pool and read my book, in the shade!

What Brit wouldn’t love a happy hour really.  I don’t mean the uncouth kind, but the relaxing ones which help the wind down and kick start the evening.  Unsurprisingly the Chedi (Oman) happy hour is one of the best – good quality food and drink (one evening we didn’t actually need to eat afterwards), but the Shangri La is definitely up there too.  When I’ve been away with work, Club Rooms having access to the lounge for drinks and nibbles is a particular treat as it means chit chat with a few other people also away by themselves on business – breaking up the monotony of the 4 walls of a hotel room.

One thing that can’t be beaten is honest recommendations from the concierge or general manager.  I remember having a recommendation from a friend once and the hotel saying that they couldn’t send us there, we should go to an alternative of their choosing – that riled me.  What I really like is the antithesis of this – someone like Kingsley at Round Hill who works out what kind of people he’s talking to and directs you sensibly.  We wouldn’t have ended up dining on a house boat in Montego Bay if it wasn’t for him!  When we were in Greece, the handbook written by The Kinsterna hotel went in to such detail that we had a marvellous time exploring the area.

Nothing beats a bit of space and privacy in communal areas.  On a working day we all spend too much time cooped up on trains, buses, or in offices with other people always invading our personal space.  The last thing wanted is for this to be emulated on holiday.  Hotels with rambling gardens, tiered pools and terraces, choices of seating – these are fantastic and show such clever use of space, just like at the Kinsterna.

For me cleanliness is a given.  Imagine my horror when I stayed in a Hampton by Hilton (don’t ask… it was the only hotel in a town in Florida that I visited with work) and there was a little post it note left stuck to the headboard “pillow cases, sheets and bed cover – clean and fresh for every guest”.  I had rather assumed that it was as standard!  I do however think it is a bit over the top when hotels change sheets and towels every day, no need and bad for the environment.  The Chedi hotel was spotless everywhere – the most feng shui’d place I have visited, incredibly beautiful, perfect and clean.

This is more a UK thing, but having wellington boots of every size available to borrow is a great idea.  I have my own pair and they tend to live in the car, but sometimes I forget.  Then we choose to go on a walk and it’s muddy.  Thank goodness for hotels like the Chewton Glen and Cliveden House that think ahead for their forgetful guests.  Cliveden did raise the bar recently as they lend out Dubarry boots – I have a pair for sailing of course, but now I really want a pair for walking too…

Staying on the British theme… I love nothing more than a good cup of tea.  But oh my goodness how often am I disappointed – so many places have that ghastly Lipton tea which is only good when iced!  Whenever I go to the US I take my own tea bags but I should remember them whenever we travel really. It’s the little things!

I know I’ve booked well when in advance of a trip the hotel get in touch and offer suggestions and generally help.  Pre trip banter is always very positive, although something like my little discussion with American Airlines wasn’t quite so rewarding…  One particularly helpful proprietor was the lady that ran our gorgeous B&B in Paris – she was so helpful she single-handedly helped me plan our trip!

I get bored easily – so I like there to be things to do, a choice of places to exercise and a spa to enjoy.  I’m unlikely to spend too much time in a gym on holiday but I’ll happily follow a running route, climb a sand dune (exhausting and sand went everywhere. Everywhere) or go for a recommended hike.  I’ll enjoy a spa if it is something small and special – I can go to a Clarins in John Lewis, the best are those with local treatments or something a little bit different.

Why, I hear you asking, is there a picture of a yacht in a post about hotels?  That is because I love to be by the sea and hear the sound of the sea, the waves and the wind as I doze.  There is nothing better than waking up to these sounds.  In the picture, the hatch in the foreground – open it, climb down the ladder and there are two perfectly good bunks – I have had some great nights sleep there lulled to sleep by the waves.  When we were in Cornwall staying at The Lugger in Portloe we could hear the sea overnight – so peaceful and relaxing.

There are a few other things that add to the experience – starting the holiday in comfort at the airport is always a treat it has to be said.  We are lucky that with all our business travel we can use miles to fly first class.  This is a real treat and whilst the British Airways Concorde Lounge is getting a little tired it still remains one of the best lounges I have been to (the new lounge that BA opened at Dulles gives it a run for its money now).

I hate queuing, especially after a flight when I just want to get to my destination.  So a breeze through border control is always appreciated.  Greece was surprisingly simple (below – fastest ever).  I had a dire time at Brussels airport when I arrived half an hour before a strike ended, and I am paranoid when I’m in the States on business that I will get the answers wrong.  Fortunately Heathrow has just opened some more of the E-Passport booths so time spent queuing is definitely lessening.

 What have I missed – what do you need a hotel to offer for you to feel the love for it?  Future hotel reviews of mine I think will be brought to you using the criteria above… let the rating fun commence!

Pin me…