Simple things that make a hotel great

[Major]

Readily accessible power sockets. I hate having to move furniture to reach a power socket next to the skirting.

A clock that doesn't put out the same amount of light as a small town

 

[amaroo]

Good quality toiletries (and I'm a bloke)

I despise the type that make you stick your finger in the bottle to get the stuff out! SYD Flounge is the same......great product, lousy delivery!

Other than that-

Separate shower
Over supply of towels
Plenty of bottled water
Cosy, inviting breakfast/dining room
Decent iron/board
24hr shoe shine service
Decent paper selection delivered to your room

Forgot to add - egg station

 

[AirKat]

Shangri la Singapore has a smallish pool area. But they prepare your deck chair and when you are done they take away your towels etc. means there arent dozens of chairs "reserved" all day via towels being left in place. they come around with fresh watermelon on a hot day too.

The Shangri-las are great for this, they do it at a couple of others like KL too. The Shangri-la loyalty program gives you guaranteed early late check out, my room is guaranteed to be available by 8am to check in and is mine until 6pm checkout. I don't use it often but when I need to it has been fantastic. Other than that
Separate shower (not over a bath)
Power points
Shower gel (rather than a cake of soap)
Cotton buds
A view of something that isn't depressing
A good hot breakfast buffet

 

[gruntfuttock]

+1 for the good iron & board and for some decent light in the room... and for the hot choc! I'm old enough to remember when we used to also get complimentary twin pack of average biscuits, just right for a quick mid-evening break from the laptop

Add to that:
-- TV that can be swivelled so you can watch from the couch or use as a big extra monitor from the desk
-- Exhaust fan in the bathroom
-- Properly set up TV - Can't stand watching Sky News with the picture stretched horizontally, but this seems the norm in local hotels
-- Only MY room service/breakfasts/other charged to my bill...
-- Drinkable coffee in US hotels or a kettle instead of the dripolator so I can make a proper cup of tea

 

[drron]

Most of the things mentioned are needed to make a hotel good.
What makes it great for me is feeling at home.The SGS in Bangkok does that for me.Smiles,service and going that bit further when you are a regular guest.A message when you arrive in your room when you check in from the staff in the Living room saying how they are looking forward to see you again,then when you go there a real welcome with hugs and kisses,the pianist coming over and talking to you in his break,the doorman welcoming you back,the GM showing you the proposed renovations on his day off.Thats why we keep going back.

 

[tuapekastar]

A bugbear for me in most hotels is the font size on the shampoo/conditioner/"lotion" bottles in the bathroom. I need glasses for close-up stuff and invariably forget to check before I hop in the shower. So I'm confronted with 3 little bottles, each having the brand name (e.g. "PIERRE LE POSEUR") in large and just (for me) readable size, and the product type (e.g. conditioner, shampoo etc.) in impossibly small font.

 

[vertisol]

power points where you can get to them and decent reception on the clock radio. Can never seem to find a local radio station that's not awash with static.

 

[Maggs]

What I like:
1. Efficient and friendly front desk staff
2. Free WIFI
3. A good quality cotton bath robe
4. Tea and Coffee facilities
5. Big walk in shower (hate shower over bath)

I'm sure there are others, just can't think of them

 

[Must...Fly!]

A sleep function on the TV!

 

[Shelf]

Free (or reasonably priced) net access
A minibar that doesn't autocharge.
An easy to navigate tv/inhouse movie system.
(this may seem a bit odd) however I strongly dislike the oversize toilet

 

[seanpodge]

Free wifi
Decently positioned power points
Showers which work without having to lift that stupid little stopper on the bath tap in a piece of gymnastics
Staff that understand that the "do not disturb" sign on the door means "do not disturb".

 

[jetlagger]

Iron & board.. Have had to wait far too long for pressing service many times
Decent quality bed
Good size bathroom
Large shower with good water pressure
Ample power sockets
Soundproofed rooms
A pleasant view & smiling helpful staff is the best topping..

 

[RB]

Another vote for the big writing on shampoo etc & also opening windows.
We tend to stay in apartment style rooms rather than hotels because of the feeling of space

 

[dajop]

Bedding that matches the environment. I am not a big fan of heavy arctic style quilts/doonas in tropical climates and prefer to sleep in a flat sheet or a very light quilt. This means calling for a sheet (language difficulties permitting), or just removing the cover and sleeping under that - which in turn is another simple thing, if I sleep under a cover one night I prefer not to have to remove it again the next night.

Aside from that, well located power points, showers with good pressure/temperature, opening windows, comfortable pillows and a fridge (that is not autocharging minibar)!

 

[Jobu]

But what impressed me is that they have used universal power outlets by the bed and desk.

Spot on chrisb. I can only recall 1 hotel I have stayed at where I didn't have to move furniture or unplug the night-lamp/alarm clock to plug in my phone/laptop...

What else I appreciate:

- lots of light (and natural light too, love floor to ceiling windows) - too many dark rooms
- fast Internet (super fast pls), available thru-out hotel, and not have to pay for multiple devices
- a shower that is not in a bath tub and has water pressure
- a tv that doesn't take 10 seconds to change channels (and lots of choice)
- good food (!!!)
- a king bed not 2 doubles joined together
- reasonable laundry rates available at all hours (one place I stay returns all laundry within 4 hours, no express charge, no time restrictions)
- privacy please...

 

[Simo]

Power points are my biggest issue.

I also like good pillows.

Also when I am overseas I like some universal power adapters.

A decent freezer so I can buy a bag of ice and keep it in the fridge for the drinks, or an ice machine on ever floor.

 

[m_ratt]

A small one that's not been mentioned already (in addition to many that have):
Television sets that have a sleep timer. I find that most hotel tv systems don't have such a simple function.

 

[marks]

A small one that's not been mentioned already (in addition to many that have):
Television sets that have a sleep timer. I find that most hotel tv systems don't have such a simple function.

+1. I think the companies behind the tv systems could work this in?
And for someone to check regularly that the digital TV signal works. This is becoming a bigger problem as it is rolled out from the old analogue.

Decent iron (with long cord) & ironing board. Iron with the spray function is fantastic.

I hate showers in the bath. Especially with the plastic shower sheet. I was in the hilton in Cairns recently and the new room had a room with the bath and a shower next to each other. Window to the room for natural light and a door to slide close to keep the bathroom dry. A great comprimise without the climb into a bath.

Universial power points at the desk is great but I've also been using the razor power point for mobile phone chargers for the last 10 years! Who travels with a powered razor anymore?

Cheers.

 

[Cynicor]

Lights, lighting, light switches.

The ability to off ALL of the lights in a room and make it black as pitch, at least at night. Even better if you can do it during the day due to the heavy curtains.
Next, the ability to read a newspaper at any point in the room or on the bed, not just underneath the single bright desk light or entrance down light.
And finally, not relying on individual lamps or, if they do, making sure they are all able to be turned off from the bed.

I want to be able to turn the room in night during the day, and day during the night if I so choose. (Mostly because I can't read a book in the evening in some rooms, and not because I do anything fun past about 9pm...)

 

[amaroo]

I despise the type that make you stick your finger in the bottle to get the stuff out! SYD Flounge is the same......great product, lousy delivery!

Other than that-

Separate shower
Over supply of towels
Plenty of bottled water
Cosy, inviting breakfast/dining room
Decent iron/board
24hr shoe shine service
Decent paper selection delivered to your room
Egg station

Some others:

Free mini-bar
Shower that double as steam room
Executive club lounge