One rarely mentioned quirk that I have, that my friends know about me (and tease me), is my OCD like behavior in hotels.  The first thing I do after taking photos for the blog is open the bar of soap and wash my hands then get a tissue (or ten) to pick up the television remote and put it inside a Ziploc bag. I then go to the door to check out my fire escape options (I’ve been awaken at 1 a.m. twice to fire alarms which is scary). I will always wear shoes (or slippers) in the room and never, never, ever will I walk in bare feet.  My friends have accepted my quirks as I try to hide my disgust for their lack of concern as they take baths, walk in bare feet, touch every surface with abandon and even use the in room coffee maker and amenities. I’m not sure when the germaphobe tendencies started but it’s the classic Odd Couple situation (when I travel with friends) where I’m the weird one until now.  So how will hotels change after covid-19 and will that affect me much?

Hotel Cleaning Procedures

Now with Covid-19 the topic of cleaning in hotels has come to the forefront in recent weeks as each hotel adopts and shares their cleaning protocols to provide a “perceived” level of safety for travelers (nothing is 100% – there are no guarantees in life or travel) to get back on the road, in the air and to their hotels. You’ll see updates daily by hotel brands as if one cleaning protocol over another will swing the needle to make you stay there.  Sadly there are no standards in the industry (yet) to get certified in cleaning methods, products, equipment, etc.  So for me, who rarely touched things in the hotel and did my own version of a clean room, will this really change things for me?  Probably not.  I welcome more cleaning and sanitizing.  My concern is whether this is a temporary change or long term?

My Hotel Routine (Pre-Covid 19)

Pre-covid, I put on the “do not disturb” sign on my door (as if that was a barrier to germs) and decline daily room cleaning so that the linens were not changed nor the carpets vacuumed. No outside germs (in my mind) were allowed in my room during the stay so limiting the number of staff in room I thought would help.  I swapped towels with the housekeeper if I saw the cart nearby or called later in the day for delivery.  Despite declining housekeeping daily, I always leave a tip on the last day. My one exception to in room visit by staff, was of course, room service.  This quick visit would deliver all the good food, wine and dessert.

So now with everyone talking about “will you go to a hotel again” and touch things – if anything it will be even more attended to with cleaning schedules of common areas and handles/buttons. A bit like you always thought they did but didn’t (if you saw the NYC subway close down for nightly cleaning recently, I’m sure you, like me, thought “didn’t they clean the subway every night anyway?”).  You will likely see staff cleaning common areas on a regular schedule.

Hotel Check In Changes During/After Covid-19

As for those common areas – we’ve all been there – crowded hotel lobbies, long check-in lines and dreaded the waits.  Now you’ll be able to bypass all of that for some hotel brands/locations. But before you get to the front desk and/or lobby, you might miss the bellman offering to carry your bags or the welcome staff to sit with you personally for check in.   I don’t anticipate temperature checks in the long term at hotels because of the liability, increased staffing required to administer and enforce each time and the bottleneck of people in line in the lobby.  Enforcement of masks will be a tough one too.

Despite all of my weirdness in the hotel room, I never considered the room keycard an issue but now will wipe that down with each use in the elevator and room door.  I’m probably an outlier in that I’m not a fan of hotel keyless entry options using your phone and yet another phone app to download. Keyless unlock with phone will likely become the norm so be prepared to connect to hotel Wi-Fi, have some data/battery left on your phone to access and bring a phone at all times when you leave the room.

• Check in online, get keyless code and bypass the front desk to your room (unless old European hotel key weights)
• Carry your own bags to your room or use the provided cart for assistance
• Less crowded hotel lobbies as furniture will be removed, social distancing in force with groups

New Technology in Hotels

In room touchscreens were just starting to come into their own but will you want to touch them now?  Will you use the TV remote to order/control what you need? Will smart rooms become voice enabled?  Do you run a voice privacy risk in hotel for guests?  You are ok to chat up Alexa, Siri and other voice assistants at home, which have had their own issues with hacking and data collection but what about in a hotel – are you weary of privacy and ability to listen to you?

I’ve seen a few hotels with text options to retrieve your car from the valet – you text the claim number and are told when the car will be available in the driveway.  This would allow you to stay in room longer.

Smart elevators are already in use in some hotels such as The Moxy Times Square NYC and The Hard Rock London Hotel.  You scan your hotel key card and are directed to a numbered elevator. Once inside there are no buttons to press, the elevator is going to x number of floors to make the system efficient.

Hotel Room Changes due to Covid-19

If I was really flying my “don’t touch that” germaphobe flag in room, I wouldn’t be surprised to see all in room amenities such as the minibar, coffee maker, iron/ironing board and other shared items that guests can use during their stays removed.  Removal of extra bedding, pillows and comforter cover too.   Limits to daily in room cleaning.  Addition of sanitizing gel and wipes.  Sealed items and the death knell of hotel toiletries to favor of in shower items. If you need anything, you’ll have to call to have these items delivered (don’t forget to tip!) or buy in the lobby/front desk shop.

• Goodbye Hotel Minibar (I won’t miss the $5 M&Ms and $7 bottle of water) but I will miss the best hotel minibar at 1898 The Post in Ghent followed by The Westin Sydney minibar
• Call Housekeeping for extra blankets, pillows, iron/ironing board and other amenities
• Removal of individual hotel toiletries of shower gel, shampoo, conditioner, hand cream, etc.  I will miss collecting hotel toiletries especially luxury ones.
• The hair dryer – can we dip that into a Purell bath? Not sure how you really clean it.
• Unknown what happens to the coffee/tea options in room and in lobby

You may see changes to daily housekeeping changing of linens, towels and cleaning schedules.  There are so many moving parts in the room that I’m sure you’ve never thought about so likely you won’t miss much in the short term (long term who knows?).

Hotel Restaurant & Bar Changes

Room Service – I discussed my thoughts on How Room Service Will Change and it’s probably the “death of room service” as we knew it (at least for now).

Other hotel changes to expect will be the restaurant buffets (goodbye self-service), Kimpton famous wine happy hours (please, don’t take the wine away!), lobby seating, bar seating, pool bar seating, etc.

Will the hotel be responsible for enforcing social distancing? What if they remove bar seats – what’s to prevent someone from standing next to you or sliding their seat over to chat you up?  Hotels are there to provide a service not to police guests normally however does the social contract, health risks and local state/city regulations change that?

Hotel Gym Changes

Hotel gyms have always been an afterthought of small spaces to provide enough equipment for guests to use.  I rarely see the gyms in use by more than one or two people at a time.  That said, I suspect that reservations will become the norm to provide social distance and time to clean equipment between uses.  Equipment may need to be removed or limit the number of guests per time slot (30-45 minutes). Will hotels increase delivery of in room stationary bike, yoga mat or equipment usage? Hotels already provide yoga mats in room (Kimpton hotels),  deliver workout equipment to your hotel room and in recent years introduced fitness suites.

Hilton workout rooms look pretty awesome now, they call them “Five Feet to Fitness” workout rooms, will this model become more popular? Maybe?  I know I want to try this room type out if I can afford it. Will we see more hotel rooms with Pelotons or  hotels with the Mirror workouts?  Will hotels charge extra for these room types – you bet!  They will likely be in the Suite category to provide the extra space needed for the equipment. Or you can social distance yoga in the park instead.

Final Thoughts – How will the hotel experience change

To be honest, the world of travel has always had risk to it – from norovirus on a cruise ship, food poisoning at restaurants or food stalls to being chased by hippos (ok that’s just me). There are earthquakes, floods, hurricanes, fires and now murder hornets (those guys had a good doom/gloom PR agent) so the world continues to throw stuff at us while we live and when we travel.   You need to decide for yourself and your family what risks you want to take with travel and what you don’t.  No one can decide that for you.  If you do the research, make the backup plans, use a travel agent (where best needed) and expect the unexpected then you’ve done all you can do to travel.  I’ll be back at my favorite hotels when I can travel again, hopefully you will too.

So just a few thoughts on how the hotel experience will change (or not change) for me.  Thoughts on what you think will change at hotels and to your hotel experience?

One of my favorite travel indulgences is hotel room service.  Landing in a new city, arriving at the hotel and perusing their room service menu gives me a sense of the hotel, the food culture and a bit of sticker shock (burgers are quite expensive!) I anticipate the knock at the door to announce the arrival of my food. It’s exciting each time as the setup differs, the experience created varies and I still love when they remove the covers for each part of my order.

With the current covid-19 pandemic affecting the world, travel has been essentially shuttered for all but essential travel. Hotels, used to seeing 60-80% capacity, are now operating at 10% if opened or have decided to close altogether.  It’s a massive industry employing people of all skills and backgrounds. How the hotel industry comes back to serve travelers is still an unknown – obviously cleaning will be the top priority.  But what about food service at the hotel and specifically room service? Is covid-19 the death of room service as we knew it? Will contactless delivery become normal?  Will outside delivery services (UberEats, Caviar Food Delivery, DoorDash, Deliveroo, etc.) be allowed to deliver food and if so, will they delivery to the front desk for guest pickup or be allowed to access your guest floor (I’m thinking the former rather than the latter which is security risk).  Hotels will likely limit the number of staff in guest rooms going forward for safety reasons and this will likely include hotel room service.

Hotel Room Service Pre-Covid 19

From the perspective of costs, room service is often a big expense for hotels and often loses money – they need to have a large inventory of equipment (cart, linens, salt/pepper, utensils, glass wear, etc.) to deliver room service meals. Hotels and/or restaurants also need to staff the room service department 24/7 for that crazy person ordering a burger at 1 a.m. (ok me after a night at the pub).  All of the parts needed to create the room service are many as seen in the photos below – smaller condiments, butter containers, bread baskets, etc.  My breakfast platea alone has 20+ pieces of supplies before the food is added.

I am already starting to mourn room service as I knew it, as I enjoyed it, as it wowed me!  I want to set expectations for the future room service experience now (I can already imagine becoming one of those “I remember when….” travelers).  I want to envision how it can still retain the allure of indulgence, the high touch artistry of delivery all while continuing to honor the hotel brand of service and keeping everyone safe in the process.

Best Room Service Experience – The Soho Hotel London

The best room service experiences have often lead me to become more loyal to the hotel.  I still remember my first room service order at The Soho Hotel in London.  I ordered sorbet for dessert and was asked if I wanted it with my food.  I was surprised by the question – don’t they deliver all the food at once?  They explained that my appetizer and main meal would be delivered and then I would call room service to return and pick up the plates when I was ready for dessert.  At that time, they would deliver the sorbet.  If they delivered all at once, they feared the sorbet would melt and not be the right experience (I’m sure many of us have eaten melted ice cream/sorbet).  I really never thought about this and they allowed me to rethink the room service experience while offering a high touch service. Staying at other Firmdale Hotels, like Charlotte Street Hotel London, they also emulated high touch room service so I never had melted dessert again.

New Hotel Room Service Takeout Delivery Model

Years ago, in Philadelphia, I was invited to experience the new Curio collection property,  The Logan Hotel, for the weekend.  I ordered room service from Urban Farmer, the onsite restaurant concept owned by Sage Hospitality.  When the food arrived at my room, I was a bit taken aback.  There was no rolling cart, no table setting with linens, condiments, flowers, no presentation.  I was handed a brown bag with my “takeout” order.  My food was wrapped in takeout containers along with plastic utensils and packets of condiments.  For someone who loves room service and boutique hotels, I was disappointed. The food was fantastic as always but it wasn’t the experience I love.

The big question is how to replicate the fine dining, steakhouse or hotel restaurant experience in a takeout container?  I’d rather eat at the restaurant but now will I want to eat in a large hotel restaurant with social distancing and possibly a mask while not eating?  Probably not right now – I’m going to have to embrace the new room service and contactless brown bag, plastic containers and utensils.  Little did I know that Urban Farmer at The Logan were years ahead of the room service food curve.

Hotel Room Service Memories

So in the spirit of any trip down memory lane,  enjoy my photos of great room service memories – the food, the plating and set-up, the experience, the desserts and the many special touches (plants, flowers, personal notes).

London Rosewood Hotel – dessert was divine!  The panna cotta with fresh strawberries, shortbread biscuits (cookies) and fresh flowers.

Melbourne (Australia) Sofitel – the club sandwich with chips (fries).  Room Service tray with linen cloth and a personal note included.  I was exhausted when I arrived at the Sofitel from a long journey and just needed to eat, shower and get sorted to explore the city.

London Hyatt Andaz hotel club sandwich is not a normal “London” food so I often order room service to get a bit of American comfort food.  With thick chips (fries) in the center accompanied by three dips, it was a wonderful way to have a taste of home.

Hotel Room Service New Normal

So many facets to reimagine room service.  Hotels are working hard with government and health agency directions on the state, local and country level.  Each hotel brand may have a global standard or could have a bespoke model for that city.  Will delivery robots be used in hotels to deliver your food/drink?  (robots are expensive!).  Will the room service experience include touchless paper bags outside the door?  My quiet anticipation of the knock at the door could be deflated as I remember when…

For many they have to wait more than a year to stay at Zion Lodge in Zion National Park so I consider myself quite lucky to have booked a room only two weeks ahead of my stay.  To be fair it was a November visit, not quite high season but the bonus was that I felt like I had the place to myself.  My visit to Zion National Park was a stopping point on my wellness/birthday vacation adventure St. George (Red Mountain Resort & Spa) – Page, Arizona – Zion Lodge – Las Vegas.  It was a great mid-point on the road trip to appreciate the beauty of nature and take a much needed time out staring at the stars above (I needed to wish on them all!).

Driving to Zion Lodge (Route 9 and 89 entrance)

I didn’t realize there were two distinctly different entrances at the time so I entered Zion National Park from Page, Arizona (Routes 9 and 89 entrance from the Grand Canyon, Bryce Canyon and Page direction).  I followed the road through the stunning scenery which included driving through a tunnel (built in the 1920s) and then twists and turns of the Zion-Mount Carmel Highway as the car went from the higher elevation down to the base of the park.

As it was November and just before sunset, I was able to pull over multiple times to get out and take photos and just marvel in the quiet beauty of nature.  Once I reached the bottom of the park, I made a right onto the road normally closed during tourist season (Spring-Fall) and serviced only by shuttle busses. Those staying at the lodge get a special parking pass from the Lodge prior to check-in (mine arrived by mail after my trip so the hotel provided me a car hangtag at check-in. I followed the road past shuttle stops #3 and #4 before I saw the Zion Lodge sign (shuttle stop #5).

If you enter from Springdale, Utah, the drive to Zion Lodge is easier as you are at the bottom of the park already so the drive is quicker, less scenic and less thrilling in my opinion.

Zion Lodge – Check-In

Zion Lodge is spread over two parking lots and multiple buildings. There are 40 cabins, 75 rooms and 6 suites in cluster of buildings.  It is managed by Xanterra, which manages many national and state park lodging as well as a few tour groups and Windstar Cruises. The main lodge is for check in, restaurants and gift shop while the sleeping rooms are a quick walk away but have their own parking lot.  So you can use the main parking lot (small, limited to 20 minutes) to get checked-in and pick up your keys and then drive to the parking lot to unpack your gear to take to the room (or cabin).

The main lodge was, as expected, warm, friendly and decorated nicely.  The front desk welcomed me and offered an upgraded room (front of building) which I declined because I wanted the quiet in the back.  The front would be next to walking path and the road which could be noisy when busy but offered a gorgeous view.  The hotel also offered to extend my stay as they had open rooms at a discounted price but unfortunately I had already booked my next leg of the journey (Las Vegas).

I was given the key card and a laminated property map with the Wi-Fi code (surprisingly good connection for social media) and other information.  Armed with my key card and map, I refilled my water bottle at the station in the lobby before I went back to the car to move it to the guest parking lot nearer my hotel room.

Zion Lodge – Hotel Room (Standard Double)

I was not able to book the separate cabins that sat out front of the buildings.  My “hotel room” was on the second floor (no elevator) and I should have only brought in my overnight bag but I brought everything in with me, lugging it all up the stairs.  I was a bit apprehensive as the online photo looked nice but didn’t have much else to go by – no video of the room or photos of the bathroom.  When I opened the door, I was pleasantly surprised that it was nicer than online.

[embedyt] https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MwwDr-vm1qw[/embedyt]

Upon entry, the bathroom was on my left with a sink and open closet area outside of the shower/toilet room. This was actually great design as I took my hiking boots off in this area and tons of sand poured out from my earlier visit that day to Horseshoe Bend and Antelope Canyon.

With only my hiking socks on, I walked on the carpeted part of the room and put my things down on the desk noticing the recycle bins along the side.  Zion Lodge has recycle bins throughout the property and their toiletries are also in refillable bottles.  Being kind to the environment is taken seriously here.

My double room had two beds, a chair in the corner, desk and television area as well as an outdoor patio with two chairs.  The view outside in the back of the building was very quiet but I realized I passed on a million plus stars out front – I only had a few thousand in the back.

The shower had a good water pressure and the toilet is similar to a cruise with a vacuum system (not quiet).  The bathroom décor was simple with a few forest animal tiles but practical with a night light option.

Zion Lodge Restaurant – Red Rock Grill

My overnight rate (Winter Bed & Breakfast Promotion) included a buffet breakfast in the main lodge restaurant, Red Rock Grill, on the second floor of the main lodge (the seasonal Castle Dome Cafe was closed).  The buffet had the standard breakfast fare – scrambled eggs, pancakes, French toast, oatmeal, potatoes, bacon, fruits and breads.  Unfortunately for me, the scrambled eggs were made with milk so the buffet wasn’t quite for me as I’m dairy and gluten free.  Fortunately, the server was able to have the kitchen make me two over easy eggs which I paired with potatoes, bacon and fruit. As for the juice, I asked if “fresh squeezed” and the server said “it’s fresh from the machine” so I stuck with water.

The restaurant is massive and includes an outdoor patio for warmer times. I can only imagine how packed this place gets in summer with hotel guests and visitors on the shuttle system.  Advanced reservations are recommended.

For dinner, my rate included a bar drink but I wasn’t in the mood for a big supper or drink after my busy day in Page, Arizona and the subsequent three hour drive to Zion Lodge so I ate my takeaway sandwich I picked up on my drive (I’m always prepared with a snack bag of food). The restaurant décor echoes the warm and friendly vibe of the lobby.  The menu is quite varied in options and price points.

Zion Lodge Shuttle – Zion Scenic Drive

Zion Lodge is shuttle stop #5 and there is an outdoor waiting area near the main lodge.  You can take the shuttle down to the final stop #9 (Temple of Sinawava) for The Narrows Hike (8+ hrs roundtrip) or the easier Riverside Walk (1.5 hrs roundtrip).  Going the other way, you can take the shuttle to the first stop #1 Visitor Center.  As I visited in November, the shuttle was done for the season so I was able to drive the car to the various shuttle stops for pictures and hikes.

While I started at Riverside Walk prior to 10 a.m. when parking was easy to find on a November Thursday, by 11 a.m. most of the shuttle stop parking lots and side of the road were full so I had to pass on a few photo opportunities. The scenic drive closes frequently when there is no parking available (people get creative on the side of the road) so best to follow @ZionNPS on Twitter for updates.  No matter as I had a lovely drive to myself and even saw an animal on the road. I was able to stop and take photos on the empty roads.

Overall Impression of Zion Lodge

I loved the quiet serenity and star filled sky at Zion Lodge and was disappointed that I hadn’t booked a longer stay, if only to sit on the deck and admire the beauty and sounds of nature.  Reserve your room at Zion Lodge as soon as you have an inkling that you want to go to Zion National Park.  It was a wonderful experience and so easy to do.

It’s in the simplicity that you find luxury – time saved from shuttles, time saved from commuting in/out of the park, more time with family and loved ones.  I learned that “Zion” means peace and refuge and my stay at Zion Lodge was just that – a refuge away from the daily drama bubble that I live in, away from the work drama, a time to reconnect and be mindful in appreciating the small details along the path. And the star filled sky, well, that was just stunning bonus that is captured in my memory and reminds me to breathe and enjoy the silence.

There’s a table full of Scottish shortbread cookies (and healthy apples) that I was drawn to in the lobby at check in – I knew I was going to like it here. Here was the Edinburgh Sheraton Grand Hotel & Spa located in Festival Square. My weekend trip to Edinburgh was a quick one with only a three night stay at the luxury hotel in Edinburgh which would be just enough time to explore the city and beyond for highlights of Scotland. Using my points, this was an award stay which was still a good deal for me over the May bank holiday (and marathon) weekend when rates were higher than normal.

Edinburgh Sheraton Grand Hotel Location in Festival Square

Festival Square turned out to be a great base for my stay as I love to walk everywhere.  Shopping on Princes Street and the local parks were a quick 5-10 minute walk while Edinburgh Castle and the Royal Mile was 15-20 minutes (uphill and stairs take time depending on your cardio levels).  While the hotel faced the castle, it was not an easy walk straight.  The hotel is in front of the conference center and across from the movie theatres, live performance hall and has many restaurants (mostly chains which are good), pubs and a Tesco nearby.

Edinburgh Sheraton Arrival & Front Desk

The cab pulled into a private entrance off of the street and was met by the bellman who welcomed me to the Edinburgh Sheraton Grand Hotel & Spa.  If I had any doubts where I was, he was dressed in a kilt so I was most definitely in Scotland. He asked me my name as we walked inside as he took my bag.  I was directed to the front desk and he introduced me to the front desk staff for the handover and check in.  I had requested an early check in of noon as I was arriving on the overnight flight from Philly which connected in London so I hadn’t slept but really just needed a shower to wake up.  The front desk was very friendly to welcome me, explain the hotel features and the surrounding area. When asked if this was my first visit, I said “I was here over twenty years ago so essentially it’s all new to me again”. My key card was then handed over as I was told that I was upgraded to the preferred floor and given an Edinburgh Castle view – two bonuses for me.  The front desk staff were extremely friendly and chatty during my stay.

Edinburgh Sheraton Grand Lobby Area

At most hotels, the lobby is where the action is, however at the Edinburgh Sheraton, its mostly used as a meeting spot, business center and for the front desk and concierge.  The exit is to the driveway so most guests will use the 2^nd floor exit/entrance to Festival Square to access the main road, transportation and begin their trek outside.  With that, I only visited the lobby when my tours picked me up and of course to stock up on the complimentary butter biscuits that welcomed me to the hotel.

The décor and layout was quite nice as the Sheratons are upping their game in my opinion, a long way away from the boring beige that I tend to associate with a Sheraton.   The lobby had the Link Business Center, a television seating area, an open seating area, a lovely art collection and a private whisky tasting area roped off that day for a special tour group.

Edinburgh Sheraton Grand King Room

The elevators require a key swipe to access guest sleeping floors. I would be on the 6^th floor of the seven story hotel.  My room was close to the elevator bank (four rooms away) but I was only bothered by noise on one morning as loud people were walking by.  The hallway rug was a relaxing brown plaid, an ode to the kilt.

As I entered the room, it was definitely surprising in a good way.  My Sheraton expectations were definitely exceeded just like in London at the Sheraton Grand London Park Lane. The Edinburgh Sheraton room had wooden floors, a rug feature around the bed and a view of the castle up on the hill.

On the left, I had the master room switches, closets of storage (plus slippers and robes) and drawers for the minibar and coffee maker.  Impressive was the drawer of glasses similarly featured as they are at the Westin Sydney.  So obviously the designers are borrowing cool features from other hotels.

The flat screen television welcomed me to the hotel and the desk was large to work on with a comfortable leather chair.  The room also included a seating area along the windows.

My view did in fact include the Edinburgh Castle up on the hill so that was cool, the downside to facing the front of the square was the noise below from the bar and outside folks from the wedding party one night.  Other than that it was quiet as no events were planned in the square during my stay (definitely check during your visit).

The King bed was a Sheraton Sleeper bed, which like the Westin’s Heavenly Bed, is a hotel bedding product that provides a wonderful sleep experience. The wall behind the bed was mirrored which helped make the room feel bigger. The room darkening drapes did allow some light in the room (not much) from above where they were not flush to the wall. Next to the bed, each side had room controls, a side table and light.

The hotel participates in the Green Program offering points to forgo daily maid service.  With a quick stay, I was happy to participate, collect my points and reuse my towels and sheets.  The only downside is that the SPG Preferred complimentary bottles of water weren’t refilled each day.  The front desk said that they would send me bottles water if I wanted.

Tempted as I was to just fall into bed and sleep after the long journey, I chose to experience the shower instead so I could find food and explore the city. I could sleep later.

The Edinburgh Sheraton Grand King Room Bathroom

A somewhat open plan bathroom with frosted glass, the bathroom was quite impressive but also a bit dark (note: makeup application was tricky).  There is a bathtub with loofah, a stall shower, toilet room and sink area with shelving underneath.  The toiletries are standard Sheraton, which are fine but not that great (or chipmunk worthy).  Here is where the Sheraton could use an upgrade in presentation and experience. An interesting feature was the door swung close to either the toilet room or the bathroom.

Sadly, one area that was disappointing was one of my major hotel pet peeves – the hair dryer bolted inside the desk drawer.  I absolutely hate this – love the hair dryer but please set it free!

The Concierge Team at the Edinburgh Sheraton Grand Hotel

A week before my stay, I contacted the Concierge team for suggestions on what to do and where to eat.  A member of the team quickly answered me with a plethora of options.  When I asked to know more about tour operators and destinations, another team member replied with two preferred providers and his opinion to avoid Loch Ness tour as its all day on the bus with little time off the bus.  As I had done this a long time ago and the monster wasn’t seen then, I had no interest in a long bus ride again so I chose a different tour – one to the Highlands with Timberbush Tours (note: I booked the tour on the vendor website, but to get picked up at the hotel, the concierge needs to make the reservation.  They modified for me when I arrived and it was nice to have a hotel pickup/drop off and save time).

On site the team was great to book my Edinburgh Castle ticket which allowed me to walk up to the entrance and skip the ticket line.   I also was given recommendations for my St. Andrew’s visit as to the best fish/chips and bakery in town (subjective obviously).   The Concierge team was definitely a highlight at the hotel.

One Square Restaurant & Bar at the Edinburgh Sheraton Grand Hotel

Breakfast is served on the 2^nd floor at One Square Restaurant.  There is a buffet as well as ala carte offerings.  Arranged in a separate space, there is juice/smoothies on one table, fruit on another.  The hot bar of breakfast foods is in a U shape with a chef making omelets.  On the other side of the room is the bread table which included gluten free bread and cereal bar.

When the hostess walked me through the buffet room before seating me, I mentioned I am gluten and dairy free so could I skip the bar and order ala carte.  She was fabulous to ask what I wanted and charge accordingly. I said I just wanted two over easy eggs, a side of bacon and some pineapple.  The buffet cost over £20, my breakfast was £6.  Given that a glass of juice is usually £6 or more, I was quite happy with this reasonable and logical pricing.  The next day when I arrived and there was a host, I said my name and room and he said “your dietary restrictions are noted”. As someone who has had to order the buffet and overpay at hotels, this was seriously a delight.  While I was thinking of brunch at a local restaurant, I really couldn’t beat £6 so I ate at the hotel each morning to save money and time.

Dinner in the One Square bar/lounge let me choose from the fancy One Square menu (Steaks, Duck, etc.) or the lighter bar menu. Both menus have the One Square burger which is a signature dish made in house, so I decided to see if they were as good as touted.  The lounge is a pretty design feature with glass lighting, purple chaise loungers, lime fabric chairs and accent colors and features.  It felt more relaxing than the One Square Restaurant dining area that I was eating breakfast each morning.

Choosing a table by the window inside, I was offered bar snacks which I declined while waiting on my burger, chunky chips (fries) and side of green beans with almonds (had to add something healthy).   I didn’t realize how hungry I was but I ate the entire meal – bun included (so much for my gluten free stint).   It was quite a satisfying meal and tasty – Scottish beef has a different flavor than what we are used to in the U.S.

At the time, the lounge was quiet for a Saturday night until the wedding parties spilled out of the event space on the floor. On previous nights, the bar, lounge and patio were packed during happy hour and later into the night.

One Spa & Fitness Center

The hotel has a separate large facility for spa treatments and the fitness center.  It is in a separate building next to the hotel which can be accessed on the connector bridge from the hotel or via an entrance at lobby level outside in the arrivals driveway.  I didn’t have enough time to book a treatment and since I was walking for hours each day, opted to forgo using the fitness center.

Overall – the Edinburgh Sheraton Grand Hotel & Spa

I had a lovely stay at the Edinburgh Sheraton Grand and would definitely stay here again when in Edinburgh.  It was in a great location to walk from, the staff were very attentive and friendly and the room was comfortable. My view of “what is a Sheraton” has definitely evolved in Europe and based on this visit and my London stay, I would consider more Sheraton stays in the future.  It seems that the Sheraton brand is evolving into an affordable luxury category with modern design and elevated experience, a far cry from the boring budget beige that I’ve long associated with the brand.  The Edinburgh Sheraton was quite “Grand” after all.

At the World Travel Market in London, the speaker spoke about the boutique hotel experience and “how it makes you feel”.  He noted that the experience starts the minute you arrive (or often times before that on social media and the hotel website) – the design, smell and people make all the difference.  Do you fit into the story being told by the hotel?  A boutique hotel should deliver a unique experience – one that makes you feel something, hopefully good. For me, I love boutique hotels in London – the luxurious Charlotte Street, the historic Great Northern and the contemporary Hoxton Holborn to name a few favorites. My next stay would be at My Bloomsbury, part of the My Hotels Group, an affordable U.K. chain with properties in Bloomsbury, Chelsea and Brighton.

I like to think that I’m pretty savvy with my hotel research before hitting “book/make a reservation”, My Bloomsbury tested me and not in a good way. When I walked into the lobby, I felt good, the décor is modern but when I opened the door to my room, my spirits were immediately crushed and I was disappointed not to experience the “design led luxury that is beautiful to have around you” that the website advertised.

I was lured in by the photos on the My Bloomsbury website – the bright yellow and white décor with black leather headboard and framed photos on the walls of the Standard Double Room.  It felt like a hotel that would make me happy and deliver a comfortable experience with pleasant surroundings. I liked their philosophy (individual experiences to make it my hotel and “designer led luxury”) and the website was magazine swoon worthy and who doesn’t want that?

Last Minute Booking with Hotel Tonight

I didn’t clear my conference hotel waitlist for the Wednesday night stay and with a huge soccer event in the city, the hotel prices were soaring so I went to my HotelTonight app to see what choices I had.  There I saw the My Bloomsbury on the app for $249 (a bit high for this property in my opinion but much lower than the My Bloomsbury website price of $400+).  The HotelTonight app showed the same photos as the hotel website and a high “like” rating along with the classification as a “hip” hotel.  Having had success with HotelTonight in Paris last year with another “hip” hotel, I booked one night at the hotel.

My Bloomsbury Hotel Location

My Bloomsbury Hotel is near The British museum in the Bloomsbury neighborhood.  With garden squares and pretty homes, it is odd that it is so close to the frenetic pace that is Oxford Street and Tottenham Court Road tube station. It is a lovely area with easy walking to Oxford Street, Holborn and Soho.  It’s in the heart of everything you want for a visit to London – food, entertainment, transit, history, museums, shopping, etc.

My Bloomsbury Hotel Arrival

The lobby is small, wedged between Gail’s Bakery takeaway and restaurant.  The modern table/desk with cute features were just as expected for a small boutique hotel (this hotel has 86 rooms).  The photos online matched for a good first impression.  Greeted after a long crazy taxi ride from the conference hotel, I had a quick check in despite a new staff member in training.  I asked about the May renovations, she conferred with her colleague and told me they were complete so I also asked about a tour of the hotel the next day with the Sales Manager (who was gone for the day) and gave my business card with contact information.

With key in hand, I made my way to the third floor and when I exited the elevator I was met with old (carpet colors) and new (paint, room signs, some pictures) in the hallway and was concerned.   It foreshadowed what was to come.

My Bloomsbury Hotel – Standard Double Room

The key didn’t work so I walked back down the hallway to the elevator and used the house phone to request a new key.  Ten minutes later as I waited outside the door, the key arrived and staff quickly departed after a quick “sorry”. She didn’t stay to make sure my room was ok (another bad sign). I swiped the key and opened the door and became instantly sad by what welcomed me (or what didn’t welcome me).

What I expected from the website photos and descriptions

“In each of our 86 guestrooms every detail – from the fine Egyptian cotton bedding to the unique suites and the mix of vintage and designer furniture – has been carefully considered. Design-led luxury that is beautiful to have around you.”

“My Bloomsbury is a design led hotel. The rooms feature limited edition bespoke prints by illustrator Charlotte Trounce inspired by modern classic English writers, Leonard Woolf and Virginia Woolf who formed part of the Bloomsbury Set.”

Looks amazing right?  Here’s my room – can spot the differences?

My Hotel Bloomsbury – First Impressions

I walked into a pink room – one wall was wallpapered pink, the ugly window covering (which doesn’t block the sun if you want to sleep late), blond wood furniture and a rug that showed much use.  The room wasn’t renovated and it definitely wasn’t what was advertised online.   This room was “basic”.  Now basic isn’t necessarily bad but in this case I reserved “hip” and “design led luxury” and was expecting  something to that effect.

The room had a desk with more outlets than I’ve ever seen, a minibar of snacks and drinks, in room tea/coffee accessories and a wall mounted flat screen television. There were no “limited edition bespoke prints” on the wall, actually there were no prints or photos at all in the room, no black leather headboard and no “boutique” or “designer led luxury” feel to this room.

The switches on the wall were also a sign that the room was not updated as were the very bright ceiling lights that could not be dimmed.

My Bloomsbury Hotel Bathroom

The bathroom was much better than expected from the pink room.  It looked as if was just updated but then I saw the black mark in the tub and the cracked tiles under the shower head.  The flush on the toilet was a bit tricky but I managed to figure it out.  The toiletries were as advertised on the website, a brand I’m not familiar with Anyah in nice environment friendly packaging.  The best feature was the water pressure in the morning for a shower – the very powerful water was definitely not environmentally friendly but quite welcome.

Gail’s Bakery at My Hotel Bloomsbury

The on site food provider is Gail’s Artisan Bakery, a local chain throughout London that I’ve frequented many times as I love their cookies.  I was quickly seated for breakfast and given two menus – one for hotel guest and one for general diners.  Having a yen for pancakes I chose the ala carte blueberry pancakes, which at first weren’t fully cooked but the second plate was fine (not sure why pancakes are such a problem in London).  Next visite, I’d order the popular eggs with fresh bread or avocado toast that the tables around me were enjoying.

There was an American woman who (sadly) was loud and impatient with her continental breakfast order.  She was a hotel guest (the hotel has a lot of corporate clients) and ended up leaving in a huff and without letting staff know before her food arrived, drinking a bit of her coffee and juice.  If you need to rush, Gail’s Bakery has a takeaway area on the other side of the lobby or go across the road to Pret Manger.

Meeting the Hotel Manager

I was clearly disappointed and felt duped by the photos on the My Bloomsbury website and HotelTonight – the manager was available in the morning so after breakfast I asked to speak with her to address my concerns.  Having spent over twenty years buying travel and doing hotel site visits, I wanted to talk travel with her and see what happened with my reservation – was I given the sad pink room because of HotelTonight (they don’t guarantee room type but my issue wasn’t room category)?  Or was the pink room the normal?

Eleni spent almost ½ hour with me to talk about the hotel.  I found out while the May renovation was complete as it was structural only (to convert suites to rooms and add inventory) the room renovation was not done.  Only about 8 rooms (of 86 rooms) were renovated to the new design that is advertised on their hotel website and the HotelTonight app (if I complained the night before I wouldn’t have received a new room anyway).  She expected the room décor updates to take a bit more than a year so ready end of 2017, early 2018!

I was shocked by this and told her that it wasn’t noted on the hotel website and they should be transparent about that type of renovation and long timeline.  When I said “I guess the eight update rooms are to show corporate buyers”, she confirmed that a majority of guests are corporate clients (i.e. – the impatient lady at breakfast).  While I was grateful for her time, I still felt duped by the sad pink room vs. the bright yellow room I expected.

Hotel Tonight Response

I uploaded the real photo from the room to the app so others are not duped.  I opened a chat on the HotelTonight app to express my dismay at the false advertising in my opinion.  The rep said she would reach out to the hotel manager to see what happened.  A few back and forth communications ensued –  I emailed my photos and then HotelTonight closed my case as the My Bloomsbury hotel told them that they were working with me directly (they were not!).  As of this writing, I’ve heard nothing from the hotel or follow-up from the manager, Eleni, as they led HotelTonight to believe.

I wanted HotelTonight to investigate how the hotel was classified “hip” and if the photos were validated in person.  If less than 10% of the rooms available look like what you are selling that is just wrong.  I had to follow-up offline with HotelTonight who confirmed that they sent the issue to the local London marketing team to follow-up further with the hotel and evaluate their listing.  I didn’t ask for a refund (I stayed in the room) but HotelTonight provided a small credit toward a future booking (within 90 days) which was a nice gesture.

My Bloomsbury Final Thoughts

The My Bloomsbury hotel is in a great location but the boutique hotel experience expected wasn’t delivered.  Their website claims they are “design led luxury that is beautiful to have around you” and it sounds like a lovely concept that isn’t ready for guests yet.  Maybe add an ** with a date one gets to experience this beautiful luxury.  The basic standard double room I was given, while extremely ugly was functional and the bed comfortable. Need a basic hotel in a good location, then it’s fine. Expect a boutique experience like I did, you will be disappointed.

If you want “design led luxury”, read some of my other London hotel reviews for those properties that are delivering this experience now, not in a year from now, not in only 8 rooms!  So set your expectations, consider this a basic, affordable option in London – a place to drop bags and sleep but not to be wowed by design or luxury.

For years, I’ve recommended the Kimpton hotels to my business travelers  based on their boutique hotel product, high level of personalized service and it doesn’t hurt that they have a complimentary wine happy hour social for guests. The Kimpton group is quite active and responsive on social media – I follow them on Facebook and Twitter and the individual properties, where applicable. In New York, there are four hotels but with a theatre ticket, I decided to stay in the theatre district at The Muse hotel.

I tried to book online, had a bit of an issue and had to call central reservations.  The agent was extremely helpful and the booking made with ease.  I then, as I do with most hotel stays, emailed the concierge with a few queries for my stay.  The concierge, Ronaldo, contacted me three days later, apologizing for the delay and listed a few options for tours and nearby bakeries (it’s for dessert research of course!)

The Muse Hotel – Arrival

Upon arrival at the hotel, the lobby while small is quite nicely decorated in warm woods.  Ronaldo was at the front desk to check me in (the other two girls sort of stared past me while Ronaldo was chatting with another guest), he acknowledged me, finished with the guest and checked me in quickly.  As a Kimpton loyalty member of their Inner Circle program, I was entitled to a room upgrade, if available (it was – I was told that it would have a balcony which intrigued me), free internet usage and a raid the mini-bar credit of $15 for the stay (NYC is higher than the $10 in other cities). These benefits are standard – this was my first stay and I was still entitled to receive them.   When I told him the secret word for January (which was posted on facebook), he asked “red or white”?  Red, of course and was presented a bottle of wine (nice surprise!).  I was also provided a welcome envelope full of maps, brochures and discount coupons which were of interest to me based on my email to him.  So armed with my bottle of red, I proceeded to my room.

The Muse Hotel Suite Upgrade

The elevator was a quick ride up to my floor and I was easily into my room which was L shaped.  I walked down the long hallway to the closet to hang up my coat and saw the classic Kimpton robes – leopard and zebra themed along  with socks (for purchase) and amenities such as an umbrella, laundry bag and very clever – a fedex envelope.

Then I turned to face the room……. and just laughed out loud.  This is what I do when presented with an awesome room that I wonder how did I get this?  How did I luck into this treat.  For context, I’ve stayed in many a NYC room that was me, my bag and a platform bed on the floor and my bag and I struggled for room.  Other rooms where the width of the room was the length of the queen bed – for those taller people you need to sleep on an angle.  So here I am in this large king room with a chaise lounge sitting area and a door out to what Ronaldo called the balcony.

I’ve stayed in hotels with a balcony and my assessment that this qualified as a rooftop balcony party space for me and my closest thirty friends.  As this room (I will call it a suite since it seems that big to me) adjoined another, the roof could be opened even further.  As it was, there were two chaise lounge chairs and a table for four and a view of the street and the surrounding buildings, including the Westin Times Square where I’ve stayed more than once and had considered for this visit. In warmer weather, I’m sure it is decorated a bit nicer but for winter it was a bit bare but still lovely to have fresh air and a view in New York.

After a quick once over of the room, all of its buttons, bathroom (nothing spectacular) – I headed down to the lobby for the complimentary wine social.  There were about twenty people in the lobby area (you could not use the bar) so it was a bit crowded and as a solo traveler not that conducive to meeting other travelers so my glass of Malbec and I went back to the room.  I asked Ronaldo how many levels of upgrade was my room as I knew it clearly was not a normal upgrade.  He laughed and said a few (in my head I figured four or five) – I’m not sure I wanted to know what the normal room size would be – I was happy to be living my suite life which then got a bit sweeter…..

A Sweet Suite Surprise at the Muse Hotel

The knock on the door prompted me to run down the dark wooded hallway bare with one photo on the wall – a contrast to the colorful and highly decorated room I encountered.  I was greeted by a hotel server who was delivering an envelope, a bottled of prosecco, water and a dozen Baked by Melissa mini-cupcakes (a favorite NYC treat).  If I hadn’t felt like a rock star before with the room, the secret password bottle of wine and enormous balcony, I did now.

I realized that my choice to pick a hotel that made me happy despite costing more was a fantastic turn of events.  I thanked the server and asked if this is a normal delivery for guests and he wasn’t sure.  As I wouldn’t drink the prosecco, I asked him to take it back and not waste it. So I opened the secret word wine and quickly popped a few mini-cupcakes before getting ready for dinner and the theatre.

The Muse Hotel Restaurant

I didn’t venture far deciding to dine in the hotel restaurant.  I had looked at the dining menu in room but didn’t realize there were a few differences until I sat down.  No worries, I had the chicken option which was so flavorful in a way that you want to have bread to soak up the juice (etiquette aside as I was dining solo, sadly no bread basket to oblige me).  Sitting in the warm corner of the bar my service was attentive (as measured by my ability to never finish a glass of water as it was continually attended to).  So off to The Book of Mormon for a bit of fun.

One of my travel conveniences is the hotel breakfast of $30 (a standard joke of mine that no matter the buffet or ala carte, it always seems to add to that price), the Muse Hotel breakfast was $16 which was refreshing and when a juice $6 is added (I’ll never understand how any diner or hotel decides this is a good price for juice not fresh squeezed or requiring added effort, I should have raided the mini bar and did a BYOJuice to breakfast) bringing the total to $22 which while still a bit high was convenient with my timing and food allergy.  Point of reference, there are numerous cafes, fast food, etc. in the area to save money but I was on a time crunch to get to the NY Times travel show.  Again, service was attentive and there isn’t much to say about bacon & eggs other than it’s a nice treat to have someone make me breakfast.

The point of a hotel that makes me happy is knowing that at some point while traveling solo, I will spend a bit more time in the room whether I come back early from dinner or decide to dine it so it is important to have a level of comfort.  I did not use the Muse Hotel room service but after my posh steak dinner at Del Frisco’s, I came back to the room early and finished my cupcakes with wine outside on the balcony (I had to use it at least once, can’t waste it, even if dressed for winter with gloves, coat scarf). By the way, I did text every friend within a bus or train ride away to come stay in NYC after I saw it – it’s so much better to share.  Sadly, no one was able to last minute jump on my offer. Since Ronaldo was working all weekend during my stay, when he saw me come back Saturday night early, he called to remind me that my booking included a dining credit so make sure that I use it.  Wow, I didn’t know about that but explained that I had dined in the restaurant so all was good. It turned out to be a $50 credit which covered dinner.

The Muse Hotel NYC – Final Thoughts

Sunday was checkout – it was with a bit of sadness to leave the sweet (suite Muse Hotel) room, especially after sleeping in late (checkout is at noon) and knowing that my bedroom at home is not so nicely decorated (I may need to change that soon) or as big.  While I was hesitant initially to book the hotel near Times Square – the location ended up being fantastic -it was a nice walk to the Javits center, quick to theatre and around the corner from Rockefeller Center.  If it had been warmer, I would have enjoyed the walk to Central Park. I will definitely come back to the Muse Hotel – I may not experience that amazing room again but for a little bit of time, I felt like a rockstar living the suite life in New York (if only I had moved that lobby wine social to my rooftop!).

My last minute weekend in London for my British Airways status qualification trip gave me a great opportunity to try a new hotel, the Hoxton Holborn as I wanted an affordable hotel stay.  The Hoxton hotel has been on my radar for a few years now since it first opened in Shoreditch in 2006 and then in Holborn in 2014 (I’ve recommended it many times and can’t wait to try their Amsterdam property or the 2017 anticipated locations in NYC and Paris) as they are changing the concept of affordable London with their well designed rooms, free amenities and hip lobby space all for a price that won’t make you cry after converting from pounds sterling to dollars.  It’s an exciting time to be in London and see how the hotel industry continues to evolve and in the case of the Hoxton Holborn exceed expectations.

Hoxton Holborn Location

The location is fabulous in my opinion.  Centrally located two blocks from the Holborn underground (tube) station which is served by two popular lines – the Central (red) and Piccadilly (blue) lines.  I would take the Piccadilly line direct from Heathrow to Holborn (about an hour’s journey) then walk to the hotel.  From the hotel you can walk to the City (about 30 minutes to St. Paul’s or two tube stops on the Central line), walk to the British Museum (about 15 minutes) or shop, eat and be entertained in Covent Garden, Soho and Oxford Street (about 10 minute walk).  I walked everywhere as I love to do in London.

Arrival

I had previously read that the lobby is teeming night and day with guests and non-guests working at the communal tables, couches, bar and restaurant (free Wi-Fi!).  When I arrived near 1 p.m. on a Saturday, the lobby/bar/restaurant area was full of life of all ages not surprisingly attached to their phones and Macbooks.  You might mistake it for an Apple store walking on the street if it wasn’t for the warm woods and designer touches.  I thought I would feel out of place for my age but I happily saw people of all ages which was a nice mix.

The front desk is in the left hand corner once you enter the hotel.  While check-in is normally 3 p.m., I was thrilled to find my “Cosy” room ready upon arrival (a nice surprise after my overnight flight in coach plus where I didn’t sleep).  The front desk staff was pleasant in welcoming me to the hotel and explaining the hotel amenities as it was my first stay.

Hoxton Holborn Rooms

The hotel has 174 rooms in four room categories aptly named – Shoebox, Snug, Cosy and Roomy. They are small compared with American standard rooms of 300 sq. ft. as they range from 129-247 sq. ft. but you’re in London so you shouldn’t be in your room much.   I was able to tour the Shoebox room and you can still walk on both sides of the double bed.  It is good for a solo traveler or a couple without much luggage.  The room rates vary but I’ve seen the Shoebox start at £99.  The rooms are also listed on Hotel Tonight but you don’t know which category you’ll get as they are selling open inventory (new to Hotel Tonight? contact me for a $25 credit on your first booking).

Lest you think this hotel is just for solos and couples, they offer connecting rooms for families. The Roomy rooms can accommodate two twin beds instead of a double bed.  So you need to pay for two rooms as with most of London hotels (unless you do a flat or corporate apartment) but these are a bit more affordable especially when you add in the breakfast bags, bottled water, and fresh milk.  Downside for families is the lack of a bathtub in my opinion.

My Hoxton Holborn Cosy Room

Exiting on the 3^rd floor (the hotel has 5 floors), I was greeted by stadium seating, an antique record player (that I may have seen as a child) and rollway desk as hallway décor. As I turned toward my room, I walked past it looking for the room number on the door rather than the floor. Each room has pegs outside the door for your morning breakfast bag (see below).

Expecting a small “cosy” room, I was pleasantly surprised when I opened the door.  The background music was playing the “chill” station to welcome me and a good reminder of what this visit was about – to chill over the bank holiday weekend with friends and chocolate.

With a round mirror across from the bed, the room appeared larger than it was.  There were many clever touches to utilize all the space that the room had to offer.  The desk served many purposes – with a swivel flat screen, coffee/tea making amenities, an easy to find hairdryer, Hoxton Survival Guide listing all the hotel’s services and amenities as well as a map of Holborn with in the know recommendations like the Cartoon Museum (who knew?).  With a radio, shelves and well-worn paperbacks, the desk was multi-purpose.

Next to the desk was a leather chair, copper table and lamp in front of the two windows with their gold curtain and heavy room darkening drapes. The black and white wallpaper added to the design of the warm room.

Turning around to look at the bed, it was so very inviting in its plush whiteness with the two checkered pillows and the turquoise “Softly Does It” pillow flanked by two bedside lights. I wanted to fall into this bed after my no sleep overnight flight but I was fighting jet lag to stay awake as long as I could (the chill music wasn’t helping my case).  The wood headboard was covered in leather only adding to the modern design and warm feeling. Under the bed, the drawer held additional pillows and covers as needed.

The Hoxton Holborn Bathroom

Small and functional is all you need to survive but at the Hoxton Holborn, I got a touch of “wow” with the bathroom.  At this price point, I wouldn’t expect a rain shower, but I got it.  I wouldn’t expect large, plush, fluffy bath towels but I had those too!  The Pen & Ink toiletries smelled good and I liked those as well. The only downside (for me) was the lack of sink space and hooks to hang my wet towels or clothes.  Minor inconveniences given the powerful hot shower oasis I had to wash away the overnight flight.

The Hoxton – Free Breakfast Bag

The hotel has two on-site restaurants where you can enjoy breakfast but the hotel provides you with a FREE breakfast bag each day (you need to fill out the bag and hang it outside the room at night).  Included in the bag is a bottle of OJ, a banana and a yoghurt pot.  What a great start to the day.  The bags are delivered on the hour between 6 a.m. – 9 a.m.  As I’m dairy free, they substituted an apple for the yoghurt. If, like me, you slept your jet lag off and had a lie in, waking at 1 p.m. on Sunday (hey no judgements – the bed is super comfortable), having food waiting at the front door when you eventually wake up is fantastic.

Other Free Stuff

Yes, there is more than the free (no password required) Wi-Fi. The in room refrigerator is stocked with two bottles of water, called Flat Matt, and a container of fresh milk for your coffee/tea. If you need more water, just ask the front desk.  I didn’t have to pay for bottled water all weekend that was lovely.  Flat Matt is my new favorite water amenity (sorry Fred Water at Kimpton, you’ve been replaced with a new water man).  The hotel also provides one hour of free local and/or international calls (in case you don’t have international mobile coverage, you can call home without worry). There’s also a calendar of music and lifestyle events happening at the hotel throughout the month.

The Hoxton Holborn Restaurants

There are three restaurant options on site.  Hubbard & Bell, which is owned by the Soho House Group and provides room service, is a popular bar/restaurant serving up a good menu of food and drink as well as offering live music in the lobby. The lobby is a popular place all day/night. The Chicken Shop is the basement gem with a simple menu of rotisserie chicken, chips and apple pie (wait to you read my yummy review).  The Hoxton Grind is the corner coffee shop serving up fresh cakes, breakfast pastries, sandwiches, salads and a coffee menu.

Final Thoughts – The Hoxton Holborn Hotel

You’d never know that this is an affordable hotel based on the design when you enter the lobby.  My bank holiday stay (Saturday & Sunday) cost £328 (about $472) because I booked so late. From the outside, the hotel looks like a five story office building. The fact that I slept so well with no outside noise or light was reason enough to make this a new favorite London affordable boutique hotel for me.  All of the amenities and helpful friendly staff were yet another reason to love this hotel.  With clever details, well thought out amenities that travelers want and enjoy and a price that allows you a few more pints in London, the Hoxton Holborn is a hotel that you should check out on your next visit to the city.

Traveling to London for work, I’ve stayed in a variety of hotels throughout the city over the years, it wasn’t until I discovered the Firmdale chain of boutique hotels owned by the UK designer Kit Kemp that I found my home away from home, albeit a much more stylish, luxurious and colorful home than my own home (how I wish Kit would visit Philly to help me recreate my favorite hotel room here at home!). While I am dating the world of hotels, The Charlotte Street Hotel in London has my heart.  So much so, that I’ve given up loyalty points over the years staying here on both an expense account and with my own money. With only 52 bedrooms and suites, each decorated differently, you are guaranteed to have a unique experience each time.

It was after my first stay at The Soho Hotel, a Firmdale property that I avowed myself of ever earning hotel loyalty points in London again. For a points person, forgoing thousands of points with each stay is a big deal but I feel that it has been worth it.

Charlotte Street Hotel Location

The hotel is located on Charlotte Street in Fitzrovia surrounded by media ventures and a stone’s throw from Soho and the film studio offices.  While Oxford Street is teeming with people, the hotel just three blocks away feels like it’s a world away from the chaos.  Funny how just a few blocks can alter your mood and perspective.  You feel like you are in a quaint neighborhood full of chain restaurants (Cote, Bryon Burger, Pizza Express, Gaucho), pubs at every corner as well as bespoke restaurant options like the trendy Bubble Dogs (fancy hot dogs and champagne).  The British Museum is a quick ten minute walk.  Nearest tube stop is Tottenham Court Road which will become a stop on the CrossRail service in 2018.

Lobby Area

You are greeted upon entry to the hotel by the dog – he’s quite adorable.

With leather seating and a fireplace, the hotel welcomes you and provides two separate lounge areas to relax and entertain.  Filled with comfortable sofas, chairs and ottomans as well as a loyalty bar that you sign to your room, the areas are meant to be used as if you were at home (they were always full when I looked in). I’d happily entertain here – come visit me next time for a glass of champers!

Check-In/Front Desk

I reserved a room for Saturday night (on my expense account visit) knowing that I was arriving quite early (6:30 am flight) on Sunday and the rooms are not ready until at least 3pm, I didn’t want to wait 8 hours  in the lobby after not having slept on the plane -it was a friendly, quick check-in as I think I was the only room key left to be claimed as it was a full house.

My Charlotte Street Hotel Room

The bellman escorted me to my room with my bags and made sure to show me all the room features which is a nice touch. He asked if I wanted tea or anything delivered to the room this early as he would arrange it, I declined, saying that I was going to go to sleep for a while. In the past when I arrived early with a friend who said “YES to coffee” it arrived within 15 minutes – they are all about service at the hotel.

My room would face Charlotte Street which concerned me a bit especially if there were loud people at the pub but it wasn’t an issue at all during my stay.  I would have a King bed as well as a sitting area and desk in the room.

The Bathroom

The bathroom decor is the same at both properties I’ve stayed at.  My room had a separate shower (most of my rooms have had the tub/shower combo) and interestingly a very low single sink (or I’m very tall!) which is odd as there are generally double sinks. Either way, it is a comfortable space with heated towel rack and wonderful toiletries by Miller Harris that I was taking every day because I do love to open the shampoo up at home and be transported back to my London hotel room.

Charlotte Street Hotel  Room Amenities

There is an ample double door closet with full size umbrella to use, a separate cabinet with shelving that has the accessories below and my personal favorites – the extensive and tempting minibar and slippers. Turndown service each night draws the curtains, lowers the lights and leaves a bottle of water bedside along with an aroma therapy sleep spray in lavender.

Welcome Amenity

My room welcome consisted of a handwritten note from the hotel manager, a concierge note and a small gift.  The gifts vary depending on the hotel and number of stays.  For this visit, my adorable box contained nail polish from Temple Spa.  It was perfect!  I brought my own polish but felt the universe wanted me to wear purple. Every single lady at the office commented on my nail varnish and when I said “the hotel gave it to me” they were shocked. My past amenities have varied – I had to (sadly) return the full sized lotions and spa products when traveling carry on only.

Oscar Bar & Restaurant (Room Service)

The restaurant onsite is called Oscar Bar & Restaurant and is crowded at pretty much all times of the day & night.  It is, like the rest of the hotel full of colorful murals and furniture. I was part of the sparse early morning breakfast crew, there were four of us before 8am each day (best time to get photos!).  As my room rate included breakfast, I ate at the restaurant each morning.  The staff was friendly and the food prepared quickly.

I would have drinks in the bar with a friend one night, the drinks menu is quite interesting with so many fancy mixed drinks as well as a good selection of wine and champagne by the glass.

One night after a long day at work, I was too exhausted to go out to dinner or even drag myself to the bar so I ordered room service, a simple toasted sandwich with fries was so tasty.  I love that the room service trays come with a small plant to keep in the room if you want. Service was quick for both delivery and tray pick-up.  They are also easy to work with special requests.

Charlotte Street Hotel – Sunday Film Club

The Charlotte Street Hotel has a screening room in the basement that is quite plush.  They screen new releases each week and the Sunday Film Club, as it is called, includes a meal, drink and movie.  The film is complimentary for guests if there is a seat available, just inquire at the front desk. I was able to enjoy this awesome hotel perk during my stay – read my separate post “About Time” -An Awesome Hotel Amenity in London

Concierge Team

I contacted the concierge prior to my stay for restaurant recommendations for a solo diner as well as local yoga/pilates studios (I alway think I will work out but I don’t – I don’t even use the very nicely equipped gym in the basement!).  The concierge had left a personal note in my room when I arrived and the team is available 24/7 at the front desk (which in of itself is a great service).  While onsite, I also inquired about a pub option and well, we know how that turned out in this post. The team is very good and offer a great service and recommendations.

The Charlotte Street Hotel – Final Thoughts

What started out as a business hotel stay has morphed into a personal favorite.  Now I will admit that it is much easier to stay when you are on an expense account with rates starting at $400+ a night, however, I have also stayed here with my own money a few times (I just hand over my credit card- I know it is expensive, it makes me happy).

Despite the name “hotel”, it feels more like a second home for me when I visit London.  The warm and attentive service, stylish decor and great location makes this definitely a hotel worth forgoing all of those points. I’m quite loyal to love over points especially at The Charlotte Street Hotel in London.

Update: The Charlotte Street Hotel underwent a fashion makeover in 2014 so the above “Orange” color palette has changed to “Hues of Blue” and the toiletries are now Kit Kemp’s Cowshed brand. 

Inside the Elephant Camp Luxury Tent

I was shown inside and greeted by a wardrobe and steamer trunk to store my gear.  Arriving with my bright orange duffel bag and backpack instead of the luxury, designer luggage on wheels the other guests arrived with made me eschew the fancy storage area and live out of the bag as I had the past week. The floors were concrete (of course my shoes brought in the sand and dirt) and some of the walls could be rolled up, while other parts were sliding glass doors to open up and bring the outside that much closer to expose you to the elements.

On the left side of the room was the plush seating area with minibar area and local drink.

The bed  was flanked on either side by the romantic vision of mosquito netting. It was in the center of the room where you could lay in bed and look out the sliding glass doors to watch animals in the distance (I would see buffalo when I awoke the next day).  There was a table area with the electrical outlets in the floor and walkie talkie to contact the staff if you needed anything.  On the table was a handwritten welcome letter from the house manager, Jonathan, which I found a very nice touch.

I was shown the air conditioning unit on the wall and provided instructions on how to use it – given that it was September, it was still hot outside and I would need to run the a/c and or fan inside (there would be a few electrical outages for which the backup generator would kick in). Yes, air conditioning was available in the middle of Zimbabwe -this was definitely a western convenience afforded luxury travelers.

The Elephant Camp Tent Bathroom

I was led to the bathroom and tried to contain my glee at the site of the travel magazine worthy decorated bathroom with a separate soaking tub, shower, sink area and of course the chandelier, because every tent needs one of them (sadly you can’t see it in the photo)!  If I didn’t quite understand the “glamping” term, I did now.

The Elephant Camp Viewing Deck

I was then led to the deck and shown the outside shower area, my private plunge pool (yes, my own pool!!!) and the deck area with seating to enjoy the outdoors. I didn’t have enough time to properly enjoy this amenity – I should have had a bottle of wine to watch the sunset and enjoy the animal sightings but I had places to go.

The Elephant Camp Luxuries

My nearest neighbor was quite far away (there are 12 tents for 24 guests at the main camp) so my tent was a private oasis.  Times like this when you wish someone else was with you to experience this and at the same time, it gives you pause if you overthink it.  I had an indoor and outdoor shower as well as a soaking tub.  Whatever you put in the hamper, the staff would wash and return the next day which was a great perk for me living out of my duffel bag and rotating clothes for the past week in Botswana. The room had a walkie talkie to contact staff if you needed to leave at night (you had to be escorted by staff to/from your room at night due to the fact that the animals can walk by and did mostly at night). There were so many other small details that made this luxury small boutique camp stand out.

I’m a hotel girl and this luxury room/tent/oasis definitely made me happy and it was all mine to enjoy for the next two days.

Victoria Falls Activities

While you might be tempted to stay in your tent and enjoy the pool and relax, I was keen to check off my “to do” list.  Now normally, I’m not the checklist person but really this was a once in a lifetime visit as Zimbabwe was never on my radar before and I wasn’t sure it would be again.

The staff at The Elephant Camp drove me to Victoria Falls and gave me about two hours to explore (it was enough time given that it was low water season September and not crowded) before they would pick me up to bring me back to the property for my amazing dinner (the food was fantastic). The next day, I would ride a helicopter over Victoria Falls before enjoying afternoon tea at the historic 1904 built Victoria Falls Hotel on the way to many sundowners (happy hour drinks) on the Zambezi River sunset cruise.

On my final day, it was time to walk the hotel cat, Sylvester.  She isn’t your normal cat, she is a cheetah (their ambassador) and she doesn’t quite walk at your pace, she runs and its beautiful to see.  We walked the property and it reminded me of my walking safari in the Okavanago Delta as I could see animal tracks.

Luxury Glamping at The Elephant Camp Victoria Falls

I stay in luxury hotels usually because of hotel points, but in Zimbabwe, I chose to pay for the luxury tent at The Elephant Camp and it was a nice contrast to the other parts of my safari journey.  I met Helen who inspired me and had a memorable time with Sylvester and the staff at the property.  Hopefully, one day I can return to The Elephant Camp, because I’d like to enjoy a sundowner in my pool watching the animals go by in the distance as well as the other activities they offer that I didn’t have time to do.

I won’t lie, when I heard that my group was assigned to the Holiday Inn Miami West – Hialeah Gardens, I wasn’t thrilled.  I was hungry and wanted the cookies at the Doubletree Hotel where other passengers were assigned. My inner hotel inspector (snob) was skeptical ranking Doubletree above a budget Holiday Inn by a cookie. The busses from the Fathom Cruise terminal was full of disappointment as our cruise was delayed and we were on the highway driving away from the Adonia, a ship that we had looked forward to sailing on to the Dominican Republic. I rarely stay at Holiday Inn hotels (IHG points) as I prefer the Starwood brands, so I wasn’t sure what surprises awaited me. There were many surprises!

Location

The Holiday Inn Miami West – Hialeah Gardens is close to Sun Life Stadium and about nine miles from the airport (far enough that they don’t have a shuttle). Located right off of the Palmetto highway (Route 826), the hotel seems well positioned for those attending games at the stadium, visiting by car on business (free parking on site) or wishing for a budget alternative to the downtown hotel options. We easily ordered an Uber when going to the airport. There is a school across the street, the mall down the road and auto repair shops across the road – basically this is an area of local Miami residents.

Holiday Inn Miami West Lobby

The old building façade didn’t do much to allay my concerns however, my initial fear of the hotel quickly dissipated when I saw the sign that the 263 room hotel had completed its sleeping room renovations (yeah!).  Undergoing an $8 million renovation, the rooms and event spaces were complete – only the lobby, gym (currently closed), restaurant, and elevators are left to update. Wi-Fi is complimentary. When five busses of sad cruise passengers arrive to overwhelm your hotel, the front desk staff, led by Andres, a manager, were not only friendly but super-efficient to check us in quickly as we were quite hungry. No credit card was needed as the Fathom Cruise line was paying the bills, so just a quick photo ID check to sort us out and we were off to the 5^th floor.

Room 520 – Double/Double

The elevators are still being updated as I noticed the prior incarnation paperwork (a former Howard Johnson hotel) inside.  The buttons should (but don’t) light up when pressed.  When we exited on the 5^th floor, it still had that new paint smell (literally, we smelled paint in the hallway).  We were greeted with updated décor as the lobby sign had shown.  Suddenly, I felt better that his was a nice Holiday Inn before I even opened the door.

The room was all shiny and new at only three months old.  The double beds were decorated nicely (I really liked the faux leather box spring cover) and the furniture was well thought out and functional – there are outlets on the lights as well as on the side of the bed.  The view is of the highway and buildings but that doesn’t stop a nice sunset. This is a connecting room if you need that for your family or group.

The television was a bit fuzzy and needed a tune up as the settings (or cable) seemed a bit off in picture size and color but it wasn’t the end of the world. Just noticeable.  The alarm in the adjoining (empty) room began buzzing at 6:30 a.m. so I reported that to the front desk to shut off. A Keurig coffee maker is provided in room.

The bed was comfortable with the pillow menu of soft and firm noted on the covers for you to choose which ones are best for you.  Shutting the room darkening drapes, I quickly fell asleep after the day’s drama.  As someone from the city, I’m used to street traffic/beeping noises – in this case, noise seemed minimal to me.

Bathroom

The bathroom had updated fixtures and accessories except for the tile in the bathtub which seemed older. The toiletries were Bath & Body Works which is a nice touch because it is a known company that produces good products. Despite a full hotel, the water pressure was strong and the water nice and hot.

Restaurant

The restaurant is waiting for it’s makeover so I didn’t think it fair to take photos since it will change soon. Given the unusual circumstances of five busses of cruise passengers checking in at 7:30 pm on a Sunday night, the restaurant staff were fantastic.  A buffet was set up and an open bar (definitely needed to drown our sorrows).  For those with food allergies like me, they were quite accommodating.  Regular menu offerings are standard fare – burgers, pizza, chicken wings, sandwiches, salads, etc.

For breakfast, the restaurant staff was back and working with nary three hours sleep as Rosanna told me but that didn’t affect her as she ran around smiling and interacting with everyone to help.

For lunch, the restaurant is usually closed but in our case, it remained open.  Another buffet was set up but if you wanted a menu item they were also offering that option.  In my case, I had a grilled chicken and bacon sandwich made to order (Rosanna also order me one and she made it to go – she must have known I would need it later when the cruise was canceled and I was on a flight home). The bar was full of stories, expectations, disappointment, hope and prayers that we would sail.  With a plethora of mixed cocktails and frozen drinks, the passengers chatted up new friends, colleagues and staff. It was a prelude to what we expected onboard at the ship bar.

Meeting Space

The meeting space is recently updated and quite spacious to accommodate a variety of events up to 1,000 guests in the ballroom and adjoining rooms.  The meeting planner in me was curious to look inside the rooms and at the shared spaces as well as the parking availability (there’s a multi-level garage on site that is free). The staff I interacted with and observed were fantastic so I’ve no doubt they’d be superstars with meeting and events as well.

Pool Area

There is a small pool area with lounge chairs and jacuzzi that the passengers were taking advantage of despite the cool winds – there was still sun!  Hey with enough free beer and sorrows drowned, you try to salvage what you can on the missed cruise!

Overall

Despite the circumstances of the past twenty four hours, my stay at the Holiday Inn Miami West at Hialeah Gardens was quite nice and a good surprise. The new rooms are quite comfortable and stylish and the hotel staff is a bonus.  Seeing how they responded to our swarming the property with genuine friendliness and attentiveness was refreshing.  If only our ship had sailed, I would have loved to bring them along for a vacation – they definitely earned it with their hard work and smiles.

While Fathom Cruise, a division of Carnival Cruises, paid for my room and meals due to the cruise disruptions and eventual cancellation, all opinions are mine.