10 most outrageous hotel perks around the world
Employer Articles / October 13, 2017All hotels want to attract guests with comfortable amenities, but some go above and beyond. These hotels offer perks that are wacky or just plain outrageous, and their guests have a memorable story to tell when they return home. Here are some of the most unusual guest services that are available to travelers.
1. Rent a goldfish
The Independent reports that The Hotel Charleroi Airport in Gosselies, Belgium, allows guests to rent a goldfish for the night. Each goldfish comes in its own fishbowl, and the service costs 3.50 euros. When the fish aren’t in guest rooms, they hang out in a large tank in the housekeeping department complete with plants and a shelter.
2. Teddy bear check-in
Premier Inn team members used to find an average of 3,000 stuffed animals left behind by guests per month, which prompted the hotel to come up with a creative solution. In August 2017 it began offering teddy bear check-in and giving parents check-in cards for their kids’ stuffed animals. Now toys and teddy bears can check in just like human guests, and parents get a reminder to take them along at check-out.
3. Surfing lessons for dogs
Surfing lessons for humans are a beloved fixture of seaside vacations, and one hotel has expanded its offerings to include pets. ABC News reports that Loews Coronado Bay offers surfing lessons for dogs at a dog beach. As part of the package, dogs also receive either board shorts or a bandana.
4. A suite with a basketball court
The Hardwood Suite in the Palms Fantasy Tower at The Palms Casino Resort boasts an indoor basketball court and a locker room. Fold-out beds allow guests to sleep on the court. The suite also includes a lounge with a dance floor.
5. Beekeeping tour and honey tasting
Travel + Leisure reports that the Waldorf Astoria opens its rooftop beekeeping area to guests for a special experience. Guests pay $1,800 each, which entitles them to an hour-long tour of the beehives and a three-course meal with honey as a key ingredient. Guests also receive a spa treatment featuring honey.
6. A suite from a children’s book
The beloved children’s classic Eloise is set in The Plaza New York, and the hotel celebrates that story with its Eloise Suite. Guests can enjoy the Eloise books and dolls, and the suite is decorated in pink and black to match the character’s room. The hotel also serves Eloise-themed tea.
7. A soap concierge
The Viceroy Riviera Maya offers guests much more than the simple complimentary bar of soap found in some hotels. It has a soap concierge who visits guests upon their arrival and introduces them to different types of soap produced by the local Mayan community. Guests select the soaps they want, and the concierge cuts personalized soap bars for them.
8. A submarine ride
CNN reports that Laucala Island offers adventurous guests rides underwater. Guests at this resort can opt for rides in a submarine, which seats two people and provides a 360-degree view of the ocean and marine life, as part of their all-inclusive package. The submarine journey brings guests 40 to 60 feet below the surface of the water and lasts an hour.
9. Gold-plated iPads
Burj Al Arab provides in-house guests at its Dubai property with iPads plated with 24-karat gold. Guests receive the iPads when they check in and can use the devices to access concierge services. The hotel offers the iPads and other gold-plated gadgets for sale in its boutique.
10. Personalized fireworks
Las Ventanas al Paraiso allows guests to design a fireworks display using a menu in an app. Guests can choose from roman candles, mini shells, tail comets, and other fireworks and effects. Guests then watch their display on the beachfront.
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