I admit I'm a bit more towards the side of high maintenance when it comes to what I want in a business grade hotel but as a person who is spending more days a month on the road than in my own house I've pretty much nailed down what I want and need in order to be a road warrior/global nomad beyond a very well informed front desk and a "we'll get it done right concierge."
So here's my list:
1. Real Broadband--1.5 megs or more to my room symmetrically. Anything less and its no fun.
2. Wired and Wireless in Room Access- The ability to plug my travel router in so I can use multiple devices over the Internet connection such as a WiFi phone, dual mode phone, Nokia N800 Internet Tablet or a second PC when traveling with my wife to be.
3. Power Outlets near the bed and extra power outlets in the room to charge things like cell phones, digital cameras, iPods, GPS, etc.
4. Lights Over the Bed I like to read the morning paper in bed with my morning coffee and croissant.
5. In Room Safe-that's big enough for a laptop and more. I really don't like the idea of lugging my Mac everywhere I go and hotels are notorious for where they seem to grow legs. I recently stayed in a $325 a night hotel in Santa Barbara and the in room safe was big enough for a wallet and cigars, but not a laptop. The hotel front desk refused to hold the laptop in the hotel safe or manager's office and a baggage room is about as secure as my room.
6.Relaxing and Inviting Lobbies and Bars with Outlets Honestly, getting out of the room, sipping a Martini and watching some jerk try to pick up on a hottie is still fun now that I'm getting married, but even more so, ideas and inspiration comes from stimulation. But so many bars and lobbies are cold, sterile and just no fun. Maybe that's why I love TabletHotels and Kimpton Hotel properties so much these days.
7. 24 Hour Room Service WITH a 24 hour menu--some of us can be in multiple time zones in the same day and span ten overnight. We need to keep our bodies in tune and that means eating what we need not by what the clock says.
8. A Hot Restaurant With A Killer Chef--okay so I'm a foodie and a wine lover, and a coffee/espresso and tea junkie. I like food from Artisan bakeries, locally grown produce and fruits and farm raised beef, poultry and fresh fish. But why should I have to leave the hotel?
9. Seven Day A Week Laundry-we all don't pack heavy and there are a few things we like to keep fresh and clean.
10. Early Check-In- 11 AM is fine...but come in off a red eye and having to wait until 3 is tough. I know you can reserve the extra night (and I sometimes do if its a weekday and I have an important meeting first thing) but at 250-300 a night for a room I never slept in...I'll gamble and hope they can get something for me by 11 AM.
11. A Fluffy and Warm Bathrobe--yes those of us who work in our rooms don't want to be naked all the time, nor dressed in our go to meeting clothing.
12. Flat Screen Wide Screen TV That's 23" or larger Size Matters. Watching CNN on the small screen we can do on a laptop. Besides, give me a wide screen with HD and I'll but a movie more often.
13. A Larder Hotel De Anza in San Jose lets you raid the larder throughout the day/night. So do other cool hotels. That way, if room service is more than you need, you can find a snack at anytime.
14. High Quality Bottled Water Again, our health on the road is always a challenge. Having better grades of mineral water on hand (at fair prices) keeps us going, and going.
15. Sound Proof Windows Nothing is worse than hearing the trash truck's claxon at 3 AM. As a matter of fact, why is the hotel even thinking that a 3 AM pick up even makes any sense. People stay in hotels to sleep, not to make trash.
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