When looking for hotel accommodation most people are very price
driven in terms of making their choices. Finding out where you
want to go and how cheaply you can stay there are very often the
only factors that are taken into consideration. Couple this with
the British attitude of “making the best of a bad situation” and
being too accommodating when it comes to poor service, and it is
no wonder there are so many hotel horror stories out there. As a
travel writer I have certainly encountered a number through the
years myself, however one of the best I have heard of late can
be read here -
ons.com/content_40028769924. The following is an extract
from this particular hotel horror story -
“When I checked in, I was given the last available room. It had
one bed even though I requested (requested being the key word)
two beds. I would be sharing a room with someone and even though
I don’t mind sharing a bed, I did not know how the other person
would feel. I was told my request for 2 beds was just that, a
request. They are not obligated to give me what I requested.
Okay, so I would be sharing a bed. Fine.
Then I went upstairs, put the key in the lock, and opened the
door. There on the bed, was a couple… um… enjoying
themselves. They looked at me, I looked at them, and then I ran
out the door. I went down to the front desk and told them what
happened. They told me that they didn’t know which rooms had
been given out that day. The man checked a few things on his
computer and told me, “Whoops, that was the room of the couple
who just got married here.” How did he know who was occupying
the room and the other guy at the desk didn’t even know the room
was occupied? So I got another key and he was pretty positive it
was empty. I went upstairs, put the key in the lock, and the
door didn’t open. I had to go back down to the desk. I was
getting tired of lugging my luggage all over the place. He
checked the key and gave it to me again, assuring me it would
work this time. I went upstairs, put the key in the lock, I was
happy to find that the key opened the door and even happier to
find that the room was unoccupied.
The room was missing an iron and the light bulbs in both of the
lamps. The bathroom light was out as well. Why would they give
someone a room without making sure everything was working as it
should?”
It could be said that the British very often bring this on
themselves with the ‘laissez-faire’ attitudes outlined above.
However, as a paying guest you should be entitled to have a
hassle free stay. While it can never be guaranteed that you will
have a pleasant stay, a little research beforehand can go a long
way. A bad hotel experience can be hard to digest at the best of
times - but what if it’s a holiday you have been saving for, or
even your honeymoon?
One way to minimise your chances of a bad stay is to pay for the
best in luxury hotel accommodation. While this isn’t always
practical for many budgets, a break in a 5 star hotel can be an
experience which will leave you refreshed and relaxed and can be
worthwhile splashing out for every once in a while. In a luxury
hotel, it’s the touches that make the difference. Fluffy towels,
plump pillows, award-winning food, attentive service and opulent
furnishings are the ingredients for the great memory of an extra
special weekend break.
The UK certainly has its fair share of top quality five star
hotels - from quiet country retreats in Scotland, such as
Gleneagles and St Andrews Bay Golf Resort & Spa to world class
hotels in the centre of London, such as the stunning Renaissance
Chancery Court Hotel. Indeed the Chancery Court - located only a
short walk away from the theatres and shops of London’s famous
West End - is a perfect example of how hotel stays should be.
The hotel’s beautiful marble architecture combined with the
first class service truly make it an oasis in a sea of hectic
modern living - a stay here will remind you exactly why hotel
breaks are such a pleasant experience.
For further information, UK based short break specialist
Superbreak.com -
has a range of “Luxury Hotel Breaks” that can be tailored to
meet even the most modest of budgets and the excellent
detailed selection of hotel reviews from around the world.