When I travel, I far prefer funky old hotels with character to the cookie-cutter efficiency of modern chain hotels. But each hotel — in fact, each room — has its own character. You need to get to know it, and then, sometimes, whip it into shape. This video clip is an attempt to explain this.
How do you make a hotel fit your style?
If you can’t see the video below, watch it on YouTube.
Comments
I prefer comfort, affordability, location and services. And often you get what you pay for.
The new request that customers refrain from using the first names of their guides when rating their contribution to the tour borders on ridiculous. I would disregard it and be very irritated if my ratings were neutered by bureaucratic managers concerned about malcontents. Guides who do an exceptional job should be allowed to bask in their recognition by the people who pay the bills. Guides who are perceived lacking should read about it.
It’s funny about how where we live alters our sense of what’s good or bad.
Since I hate Florida’s hot and humid summers I would love to spend a rainy day in France. Trade ya!
For me a quiet room is the most sought after feature.
der Doppelganger
WEDU Tampa
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Good tips! Standard business travel: Clear all the counters and shove it into a drawer. Pile up the useless stuff on a chair, wherever. Start charging all your electronics. Pop out your RS packing cubes, one for bedside stuff, another for bathroom. Just unzip the cube and lay it open in the bedside drawer, wherever – instant ready! Hang your bathroom bag.
Last B&B I was in called to ask if I took the guest binder with me when I left. Why would i? It’s still in the drawer with all that other stuff!
Good info, Rick. Reminds me of an incident after checking into the hotel in Barcelona to begin your Spain and Morocco tour. I plugged in my phone charger , there was aloud noise and a spark, and the entire floors electricity went out. the hotel maintenance guy ran around looking to see who caused it! Turns out the knockoff iPhone charger was the culprit!
I just completed my fourth trip to Italy, and have become a died-in-the-wool RS-style traveler when it comes to hotel selection. Three of the places we stayed are RS recommendations, and all were comfortable, quiet, small, and had that old world and family run feel: Hotel Vecchia Milano (Milan), Hotel Beretta (Varenna), and Hotel Doni (Venice). What was most fun was using the RS style to chart unknown territory, specifically San Marino. Using the internet, we located Cantina di Bacco, where the staff don’t speak English, but we landed a reservation via email, what limited Italian I know, and an Italian-English dictionary. Talk about character: the first floor is literally a cave (very nicely decorated), and above it are a few simple, clean rooms. And they treated us marvelously.
My apologies. First post on the website, and I put it in the wrong section! My comment should’ve gone on the Graffiti Wall, not Rick’s Blog.
I’m with Jeff. A quiet, rainy day in France sounds just lovely (living in Los Angeles). I so enjoy your blog Rick.