Man, I love to travel. I love getting out of dodge and seeing new things. I wish I could do it more often, too, and by “more often,” I mean every month! I’d love to be able to go someplace new one weekend a month…
Do you hear that, future eccentric billionaire who’s going to fund my life of leisurely travel? I would very much appreciate one all-expenses-paid weekend trip per month. I mean…if you don’t mind. It sure would be nice. 🙂
Thanks to El Hub and frequent flyer miles, last weekend in Monterey we stayed at the Portola Hotel & Spa right down by Fisherman’s Wharf.
Naturally, this calls for a list of five things I love about hotel rooms. Things like…
1. Trying new beauty products
GIRL, you know it’s true: first thing I do after I put down my luggage and open the curtains is make a beeline for the bathroom to check out the complimentary beauty products. The Portola had products from a brand I’d never heard of before, Olive Branch Botanicals? They had all the essentials — bar soap, lotion, shampoo, conditioner and body wash.
My fave was the body wash, which smelled a little like orange flowers, and it was good stuff, too. My skin felt nice and soft and moisturized. I’ll have to keep an eye out for more products by Olive Branch Botanicals…
2. Robes
OH! — the robes! Can’t forget about the robes. You gotta rock the robe if there’s one in the room. I like to wear them after I take a shower, while I’m getting ready for the day, or while I’m just lounging around the room.
I don’t know what it is, but there’s something about wearing a robe in a hotel room… Just makes it all feel a little more indulgent, like yeah, you know it! I’m really treating myself! 🙂
3. Trying different teas, coffees and coffee machines
So, at home I have a boring old drip coffeemaker… It serves me just fine, but on trips I always take full advantage of any fancy schmancy hotel room coffeemakers, especially when they come with a selection of different teas and coffee flavors, and on this trip the room had a Keurig!
I was all about the Decaf Breakfast Blend…
4. Patios and balconies
If the room has a patio or a balcony, score! I always try to spend a little time out there if possible. I’ll go out with a cup of coffee or my journal and just enjoy the quiet time… Or, sometimes I’ll sit there and people watch. That’s fun too. I’m the kind of person who needs a little quiet time everyday.
Oh, and then there’s…
5. Room service! (Specifically, breakfast)
Room service usually costs an arm and a leg, so it’s not something I do all the time, but when I can, I’ll splurge on a room service breakfast.
I like it when the hotel gives you one of those cards with the breakfast selections on it that you make little checkmarks on and then hang on the handle outside the door. You just put your delivery time right on there, and then, voila! — someone brings you breakfast the next morning THAT YOU DIDN’T HAVE TO COOK (which, clearly, is the most important part of the experience). Eggs, maybe some bacon, toast, coffee, juice — all that yummy breakfast stuff.
Also, because I never eat food in my bed at home, of course I always have to when I travel. 🙂
I mean, you gotta do what you gotta do.
Your friendly neighborhood beauty addict,
Karen
Cute room! You’re like me Karen. I live it up when I stay at hotels, but I never ever touch the mini bar. Those prices are obscene!
I love staying in hotels too! My favorite thing is the large, cushy beds. We have a queen size at home, and whenever I sleep on a California king with silky sheets in a hotel, I’m in heaven!
I spend a small percentage of the year “living” in a hotel room, so I totally agree with your list. I also love coming back to a newly maxe bed. It makes me feel just a wee bit spoiled. 🙂
Yes to the robes! The fluffier the better! And to the baths! And the complimentary snacks and drinks 🙂
I prefer eating breakfast downstairs and have a late night snack delivered that I can devour in bed. So wrong, but feels so right!
Thinking about you staying in a hotel room made me want to stay in one so bad! I stayed in a couple of nice ones last November and it was fun! Oh and once the baby is born I think you should invest in a Keurig (you can even find them cheaper on Craigslist if that’s your thing). I think you would really like one!
Karen, I am totally with Rachel! Get thee to Bed, Bath and Beyond and grap a Keurig. I am on my second one and even my daughter…the beautiful @kimpcole has one now. Lots of good teas to choose from as well as coffe!
Coffee!!
To add to your list, I like that (unlike at home) there are no chores to be done, so you can completely relax. Also, you can go out and have fun, come back and someone has cleaned and made the bed! I’ve stayed at the Portola and it is really nice.
I totally agree with your list! After dropping off my luggage, I immediately head to the bathroom. I like to unpack all my beauty stuff and lay it on the vanity. It’s like marking my territory! lol
I LOVE travel and hotel rooms too. I love the escape from “real life.” I’d go every month if I could. My favorite place to go right now is Atlantic City, because I love being treated like a queen at the casinos, staying in ultra-luxurious rooms (free!) and having incredible views of the beach and city from my room. My favorite place to stay (Taj Mahal) has a makeup “nook” in the bathroom with a really nice separate space, vanity, and Hollywood mirror. (Chairman Tower.) I have these things at home but it feels like a luxury in a hotel because most of the places I’ve stayed in my life don’t have anything like that. I love the pampering of having a maid clean the room too – even if the sheets were used one night and aren’t dirty I can get fresh, clean sheets I can bounce a quarter off of! The in-room coffee usually isn’t good where I stay, but I usually stay in a resort with a Starbucks on-site and I am more than satisfied with that! I haven’t been able to talk myself into room service yet because of the cost, but one of these days I’m going to go for it. I’m going back to Atlantic City next week before spring semester starts at college and I can’t wait!
Damn, I could use some of that right now. I’m in a funk and breakfast in bed with a bottomless mimosa sounds like the best idea I’ve ever had!