As our trip draws to a close and we look back on all the places we have stayed, we realize we have become very demanding when it comes to our hotel rooms. We have a long list of requirements for a place to get our 5-star rating, and realizing this, we understand that we will never be the perfect hosts. The intricacies of hospitality are immense, and we have a new appreciation for the entire industry. Ironically, some of our best memories are from places without all the creature comforts, and I wonder if we did stay at a “perfect” hotel, would we even notice and appreciate it? Or would it then not be perfect because it didn’t have charm and character?
In any case, if we did have an opportunity to create our own hotel, which would no doubt get a Trip Advisor Certificate of Excellence, this is what we would include.
Rooms
- Comfortable bed
- Good pillows
- Lots of natural light
- Shades and curtains to block out said natural light
- Good lighting
- Light switches in obvious areas
- Master switch to turn off said lighting
- A full-length mirror
- An outlet for a hairdryer by a mirror
- Room to unpack
- Room to put a suitcase after you have unpacked
- Temperature control
- High-enough ceilings and fixtures so no one has to duck
- Windows that block out noise (added after staying by a church with a bell that went off every 15 minutes, 24 hours a day)
- Accessible outlets, especially one near the bed
- USB port by bed
- Uncluttered surfaces that we can use
- Refrigerator
- Free water
- Delicious turn-down service chocolates
Bathrooms
- Attached (this comes after rainy days in the RV and anticipates our upcoming yurt)
- Running water (stipulated after the tree house stay)
- Nice-smelling shampoo and separate conditioner
- Good hairdryer
- An outlet for the good hairdryer
- Places to hang all the towels
- Places to put your toiletries
- High shower heads
- Hand-held shower with a holder that the girls can reach
- Temperature controls that the girls can reach
- Continuous hot water
- Good water pressure
- Place to put soap, shampoo and conditioner
- A curtain or door that covers the entire shower area
Breakfast
- Included
- Hot and cold
- Fresh fruit
- Fresh breads, including French bread, flaky croissants, chocolate croissants, bagels
- Omelet station
Common Areas
- Foosball table
- Outlets
- Comfortable tables and chairs and sofas
Extras
- Friendly and helpful staff and hosts
- Good WIFI
- Separate washer and dryer, and the dryer must actually dry
- Ice-making capabilities (meaning trays and a freezer or an ice-machine)
Wow! Come to think of it, our home doesn’t meet all of these requirements!
What else would you add?
A few recent updates to our site include
bigtrip2016.com 
So, based on these criteria, what have been some of your favorite hotels of your trip?
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Based on the criteria, one of the best places we have stayed would be the cruise, which I know sounds really odd. However, my personal favorites (for short periods of time) have been places with lots of character, like the tree house, the houseboat, the Villa von Trapp, and the RV.
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I think I foresee a new business for the Thiessen’s!!!
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Love this post! I will bookmark it “hospitality” and use it as a checklist when preparing for future guests. (I have to admit that “character” will have to be the defining trait for ours)
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