By design, every hotel cares about its reputation and ensuring guests are satisfied. When choosing accommodation, we can count on many conveniences, and compared to how it was in the past, we don't have to bring everything from home – some items are provided by the hotel. Depending on the number of stars, we can expect different standards. So, what should we take with us?
Regardless of the star rating, there are things every hotel provides. Even a one-star hotel guarantees bedding and towels that are exchanged upon guest request or at least once every three days. However, we won’t find any kind of toiletries at this level, which a two-star hotel already provides. It will only be soap, but at least we know we don’t have to bring that. The more stars, the more we can expect, although even a five-star hotel cannot offer us everything. Some items are offered for sale, often at inflated prices, for example, cosmetics. When planning a vacation in a hotel, it’s best to call reception and ask for details. Another factor is how long we plan to stay because the longer we stay, the more we prefer to use our own items, appreciating instead the hotel’s efforts in other areas such as room service, the SPA zone, or the on-site restaurant. What to bring to the hotel? This question faces every traveler, and the more demanding we are, the more the hotel might fear disappointing us. So how can we improve its chances in our eyes and ensure we are satisfied with our stay? The answer is to pack appropriately.
Also read: Hotel savoir-vivre, or how to behave properly in a hotel?
There are things you can have your own, even if the hotel provides them, but there are also those without which your vacation at the hotel will become very complicated. If we plan to use a computer, don’t forget all the cables needed for it. The same goes for a phone charger, which everyone uses these days. Toothbrush and toothpaste are not part of hotel bathroom supplies either, and without them, it can be hard to have a good time. For those who have trouble sleeping, it’s worth reminding about earplugs, because there will probably be more guests at the hotel, and we never know how they will behave. Depending on the season or if we plan to use SPA treatments, we must have our own swimsuit and flip-flops. Additionally, if we plan to sunbathe or lounge by the pool, we need to bring sun care cosmetics, because such items can only be purchased at the hotel. In case of bad weather, it’s good to have a book or some other form of favorite entertainment. Many hotels provide writing materials but not reading materials. The hotel often organizes evening events and gatherings, but in the room, we are left to our own devices.
Also read: Eco-friendly and zero waste hotel — what it’s about?
Many hotels now provide in rooms a hairdryer, accessories for children such as a playpen, crib, toilet seat reducer, but for various reasons we may prefer our own. A bathrobe, which can be useful on the way to the SPA zone, is often found in the hotel wardrobe. Similarly, the simplest cloth slippers. Many hotels also have a kettle, cups, glasses, small bottles of water, and even a few tea bags, coffee, or sugar. Of course, this may be insufficient for our needs, but it’s enough to start. However, if we drink more, it’s worth bringing something with us. Often in the hotel wardrobe, we will also find a pincushion useful in crises. What to bring to a hotel to ensure more comfort? Despite offered hotel cosmetics, sometimes it may turn out that our skin or hair reacts to changes in an unexpected way. Therefore, it’s good to have your own proven cosmetics in the suitcase, about which we are sure they serve our skin well. In case of feeling unwell, it’s good to have some painkillers, fever reducers, or allergy medications.
The rest is basically a matter of personal preference. We may like snacks, so the minibar present in the rooms of some hotels may be tempting. However, it is a rather expensive business for some, so you can bring something with you. Of course, a hotel stay also requires having documents needed for check-in or money with which we can appreciate the staff or which may be needed for so-called refundable deposits when checking out.
