Archive: February 2014 - What Hotels Could Do Better

This blog originally appeared in a 2014 post:

Having just come home from a round of rather grueling travel, in a series of hotels, a few thoughts on what small things hotels could do to better the experience for their guests:

• More electrical outlets – and in convenient places so that I don’t have to search for them under the bed and behind furniture. It’s a given that people have a lot of devices these days (iPhones, iPads, computers, etc.) and beside outlets in particular are appreciated.

• A decent hairdryer – no one really wants to travel with their own, but too often, even in five-star hotels, I come across hairdryers that date from the mid-80s. So burned out they can scald your scalp in a matter of seconds, there is nothing more frustrating, particularly for women. No one wants to go to their business meeting looking like Cousin Itt, but that can easily be the result when you use that Vidal Sasson of thirty years vintage. A good hairdryer isn’t that expensive, and you don’t need a high-end model, so hotels need to step up and do better.

• Manageable room keys – I’ve seen a lot of cute room keys. Really heavy, ancient ones at B&Bs; large ones the size of a giant bookmark; and decorative, modern designs from boutique inns and hotels. All of them are cute and nifty, but they don’t fit handily in a pocket or wallet. Try going for a run in Central Park with your room key when it’s bigger than a credit card! I know some people collect cool room keys, but for most of us we really just need something that is secure and easily carried.

• Beds without a top sheet – more places seem to be adopting this approach, having just a duvet or a blanket instead. No reasonable explanation for this, and it’s annoying.

• Dim bathroom lighting—since most lack a window, having an ugly fluorescent light and nothing is less helpful for applying makeup in particular.

Other thoughts on what bugs you regarding hotels?  And, in all fairness, I promise to also post a list of things that great hotels do well.

-Laura