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Services That A Luxury Hotel Can Offer You & Your Family

If you have ever seen luxury hotels depicted in the movies, you will see that often times, the staff of these hotels will go above and beyond to ensure that their guests have everything that they desire. Sometimes, what is portrayed on screen can seem a little bit ridiculous, going to extremes to entertain the audience or to elicit a laugh from the audience.

However, luxury hotels will go to (sometimes extreme) lengths to ensure that their guests have everything they want, making sure that they are kept happy. This results in repeat business, and free “word of mouth” advertising, that is priceless in itself.

Here are a few of the services that luxury hotels can offer you and your family:

Private Chef:

Certain luxury hotels will offer guests the option of having their own private chef to have at their disposal to cook a meal for them.

Having this kind of attentive service available to guests has a huge impact on them, as they know that the food they are getting is not “off the rack”, is cooked to their exact specifications and will be as delicious as possible.

In Villa Dining:

Some luxury hotels have private villas for their guests, and they offer the option of having a table service provided to guests, in their own villa!

In conjunction with having a private chef at their disposal, this is a unique experience for guests, and having this one on one treatment is something really special.

Private Pool:

Some of those villas may come with their own private pool also. Having the ability to take a dip in your very own pool, free from children and other guests is something that many guests treasure. This is real “living the dream” stuff!

Private Beach:

Indeed, if your hotel is located close to the sea, you may find that the hotel offers you your very own private stretch of beach with your villa or room. There is nothing quite like waking in the morning, to opening your door to a fresh sea breeze, while the sun warms the golden sands under your feet.

Chauffeur Service:

Do you need to head somewhere, but do not fancy having to drive your hire car or taking public transport to your destination? Many luxury hotels offer chauffeur services, meaning that you can be dropped off and collected from your destination in style. A real slice of the movie star lifestyle!

The Need Anything – Just Ask Approach!

Luxury hotels really will go above and beyond to ensure that you have everything at your disposal that you could possibly want. You will often find that all you need to do is ask (within reason of course – nobody is going to carry out illegal activities for you!).

Seriously though, all you need to do is experience a luxury hotel once, and you will find it almost impossible to ever return to inferior offerings from 3 or 4 star hotels.

Features Never Found In Luxury Hotels:

If you have ever stayed in 3 or 4 star hotels (as I am sure many of you reading this have over the years), there are a number of “features” or experiences that you will no doubt have had, that you will never experience at a luxury hotel.

Now, that is not to say that luxury hotels are lacking in any way, rather the opposite is true. Read on to discover some of these “features” or experiences that you will never endure at luxury hotels:

Extended Waits Checking In and Out:

3 and 4 star hotels are used by the vast majority of holiday goers, as they are somewhat cheap and cheerful. However, once check in time arrives, people seem to descend from everywhere, clamoring to get checked in to drop off their bags in the room.

The same is true of check out time. This does not happen in luxury hotels, as it is the staff’s top priority to ensure that you have the very best experience possible, right from the start.

Some luxury hotels enable you to check out, before you even leave your room, meaning all you have to do is drop off your room key before heading off on your journey home.

Sub Par Bedding:

They say that there is nothing like your own bed at home. Perhaps the person or persons who came up with this phrase never experienced beds in luxury hotels however!

3 or 4 star hotels all seem to have the same beds and bedding materials, usually hard mattresses (to ensure that they are acceptable to a range of tastes, and are hard wearing), while some luxury hotels will allow you to choose your preferred mattress and bedding material type, ahead of checking in.

No more rock hard mattress or scratchy blankets!

Food Choice – What Food Choice?!

3 or 4 star hotels normally have just 1 restaurant, and while there may be different cuisines on offer, these are usually a shadow of what the authentic cuisine should be, prepared with substitute ingredients, that have been stocked to cater to the wide ranging menu.

Luxury hotels will usually have several restaurant options on site, with specialized and authentic menu options, often prepared by a chef who specializes in that particular cuisine. You will know the difference immediately, as the correct ingredient will be used to ensure the freshest, tastiest experience possible.

This too is true of vegan or vegetarian options, as 3 or 4 star hotels may have only just 1 item on the menu to cater to your tastes, while luxury hotels will have a massive range to choose from.

General Surroundings:

3 and 4 star hotels are “adequately” decorated in both their rooms and public areas. Often favored by business people for meetings and “off the street” customers for food etc, these hotels are perfectly fine for short stays.

However, luxury hotels are prepared to the highest standards, ensuring that no matter where guests look, they are witnessing the very finest.

The Very Best Luxury Hotels In Asia

Hot on the heels of our piece on the best luxury hotels in Europe, comes this article on the best luxury hotels in Asia.

Asia seems to be the “new frontier” for a lot of holiday makers, especially in the last decade, who maybe have become a little weary of the same old beach holidays in Spain or Portugal for example, or for those looking for a little more than traditional holiday destinations can offer.

Here are some of the finest hotels you will find in Asia.

Burj Al Arab, Dubai, UAE:

One simply cannot begin an article on luxury hotels in Asia without first mentioning the Burj Al Arab. The self proclaimed “World’s Most Luxurious Hotel” is famous the world over.

And while they may be lofty claims by the hoteliers, the are also well founded. Staying here is usually a once per lifetime experience, and is the ultimate in decadence.

From the butler service on every floor, to the seven different restaurants on site, to the 24 carat iPads in each room, this hotel is kitted out to ensure that each guest comes away knowing they will certainly never experience another hotel like this.

Dhara Dhevi, Chiang Mai, Thailand:

Built to resemble a Burmese temple, this hotel is the top hotel in all of Thailand. Featuring 123 rooms, you will be met by a horse and carriage service at the gate upon entering. Villas have their own private plunge pools and some of the best spas in the world can be found here.

If you are a little bored of an evening, you can choose from over 5000 books or DVDs to while a few hours away. Food choices are vast, ranging from fine French cuisine to royal Thai offerings.

The Ritz-Carlton, Hong Kong, China:

The Ritz-Carlton is renowned for the levels of luxury offered to guests, and this is no different. Of all the hotels spread across this massive city, this is the finest.

From the plush beds to Nespresso coffee makers in each room, the owners sure do like to ensure that guests have everything they could ever want. There are even iPods and iPod docks in each room, so you will never be bored while staying here!

Perhaps best of all, this hotel is connected to a shopping mall, meaning you do not have far to travel to get some retail therapy!

Banana Island Resort Doha, By Anantara, Doha, Qatar:

Although the name is quite a mouthful, this resort is set on a private 32 acre island. Situated off the coast of Doha, you can look forward to features such as a holistic wellness center, huge pool in the style of a lagoon, amazing crescent beach that is kept spotless, bowling alleys and much more.

Food options are vast, spread over seven different areas, ranging from American style cuisine to Tapas.

These are a small slice of the luxury hotels that are available in Asia. No matter where you choose to go, there is likely a luxury hotel available to you!

The Best Luxury Hotels Europe Has To Offer:

Europe is such a huge place, filled with many different cultures, languages, customs, cuisines and fascinating architecture. Spread over 10 million kilometers (America is just over 9 million by way of comparison), you could visit every single country in Europe (there are currently 51) and still not see everything that this amazing place has to offer.

And of course, across all those countries, there are an amazing array of luxury hotels for you to choose from. These are the very best that Europe has to offer:

The Dolder Grand, Zurich, Switzerland:

Upon first laying eyes on this fine establishment, one could be forgiven for mistaking this hotel as a fine museum. Featuring fine art and exhibition pieces from the likes of Andy Warhol and Salvador Dali, this is a sight to behold.

In addition, the spa is spread over 43,000 square foot for the ultimate in relaxation. For the foodies, an 8 course meal is available, prepared by Michelin starred chef, Heiko Nieder.

Canaves Oia Santorini, Greece: 

Looking as if it was ripped straight out of a James Bond movie, this hotel has 41 rooms, and is in high demand. Build into a cliff side, with panoramic balconies and infinity pools for guests to enjoy, the Canaves Oia Santorini is a truly unique setting.

Eccleston Square Hotel, London, England:

London is literally packed with luxury hotels, so it can be hard to choose between them. However, the Eccleston Square differs from what a lot of others have to offer.

The focus of this family run establishment is technology – each room comes with a specialized iPad, enabling guests to do everything from making dinner reservations to even ordering a new toothbrush, should the need arise. The best room to request is one with a balcony, overlooking the gardens.

The Lodge, Ashford Castle, Mayo, Ireland:

Many people traveling to Europe for the first time hope to travel to Ireland at some point, even if just to see what all the fuss is about. If traveling to this Island, why not stay in the very best hotel you can while there? The Lodge at Ashford Castle, set on 350 acres overlooks Lough Corrib, and is truly an unforgettable setting.

While here, ensure to have dinner reservations at Wildes at the Lodge, named in honor of William Wilde, a very well known surgeon who lived in the area. Oh, and he was also father to a guy named Oscar something or other!

Waterford Castle, Waterford, Ireland:

Finishing with Ireland, Waterford Castle in County Waterford is really a unique place. Built on a private island, the hotel is a restored 16^th century castle.

The restaurant, the Munster Room, is fantastic, and has been awarded with the Michelin star. You can try Irish classic cuisines such as smoked haddock with caviar, before finishing your banquet with fresh Irish Cheeses.

The choice for luxury accommodation in Europe is vast, but hopefully this piece has been of some assistance to you in making a decision.

Choosing The Right Luxury Hotel

When you are browsing the internet or through brochures for your hotel to stay in while on holidays (or other travel plans), it can become pretty easy to get bogged down in the sheer amount of choice there is available. Of course, this will depend on your holiday destination of choice, but often times, there will be a choice between at least 2 places to stay.

And when it comes to luxury hotels, while there may be fewer of them to choose between, it can be hard to choose just one. That is why it is worthwhile having a checklist of sorts that you can revert to, in order to make the choice easier for you. Here are some ideas you can use for your checklist:

Food Choices:

While you may choose to eat out on many of the nights that you are on holiday, you may prefer to have an early night on at least one of your nights staying in a hotel. Therefore, having a great choice of food is pretty important.

Consider what types of food you would like to experience while staying in the hotel and ensure the one you choose matches your desire.

Additional Benefits:

Does one hotel offer additional benefits that outweigh those of another you are considering.

Things such as free breakfast every morning, perhaps a free dinner on some of the nights you are staying, air conditioning in room and television channel choice could all be deciding factors for you. Add these to your list also!

On Site Laundry Service:

Some hotels offer on site laundry service. Now, you may never need to avail of this service, but anything can happen while out in the wilds on your travels, so it is at least beneficial to have this as an option.

And indeed, many travelers like to wash their clothing before packing and heading home, leaving one less job to do when they arrive back in their home destination. IS this something that you would consider important to you? If so, add It to your list!

Location:

This may be one of the greater deciding factors in choosing your ideal hotel. Depending on where that hotel is located can mean the difference between walking easily to everywhere you wish to visit while on your holiday, or having the expense and bother of using public transport to get about.

If you have a choice of 2 hotels however and you find they are both a little off the beaten track, do not dismiss them, as there may be shuttle services available. And these hotels will have chosen their location to build wisely, so there may be some astounding scenery that you could be potentially missing out on, some historical monument or building that you have overlooked or other.

If in doubt, contact the hotel directly (many hotels offer free contact services via their webpage), in order to obtain a little more information.

Good luck in choosing your luxury hotel – enjoy!

Why a Luxury Hotel Beats Out A Mediocre One Every Time

The time is fast approaching, where people all over the world decide it is time to book their holidays, in order to unwind, relax and cast off life’s stresses, if even for a little time.

For many out there, this is the one or two week period they look forward to most all year, so should it not make sense to try and ensure that the accommodation you choose while on that holiday is amongst the best possible?

Here are some reasons why a luxury hotel will beat out a mediocre one, every single time.

Services:

Some 3 or 4 star hotels are perfectly fine, decorated to high standard and quite comfortable. But often, there is something missing. Be it laundry service, room service options or the ability to get food at any time day or night, you will often find that lesser hotels are not exactly everything your heart desires.

You will often find that you need to make compromises to get the experience you really desire. Not so with a luxury hotel, who will usually do everything that a guest asks, to ensure that their experience is the very best possible.

The Comfort Factor:

It is safe to say that pretty much everybody reading this will have experienced 3 or 4 star hotels at least once while on their travels. Perhaps many of you have never experienced luxury hotels however. Comfort levels are night and day between the two.

While 3 and 4 star accommodation may seem comfortable at the time, once you have experienced the level of comfort offered in luxury hotels, you will find it next to impossible to ever revert back to booking 3 and 4 star hotels ever again.

Food Choices:

Again, 3 & 4 star hotels are perfectly fine when it comes to food offerings, that is if you are pretty easy going, and choice is not an issue for you. And indeed, many great chefs work in these hotels.

However, with that being said, luxury hotels will often have many different offerings, in many different settings (they may have different restaurants for different styles of cuisine, such as Italian or Asian).

Another issue you will often find, especially if you are vegan or a vegetarian is that, while your needs are catered to somewhat in 3 or 4 star hotels, there often is only just one choice on the menu for you – it does not take to long to get sick of seeing “”Nut Roast” on every single hotel menu you see!

Overall Experience:

The overall experiences between luxury and lesser hotels is totally different. While many in 3 or 4 star hotels simply return there in the evening, maybe have something to eat, and head for bed, repeating the next morning, those in luxury hotels find it hard to leave their surroundings – at all! You really need to experience the differences for yourself!