Top 10: At A Haute Hotel, Why The Little Things Matter More Now Than Ever

Remember when a well-stocked mini bar at a hotel was enough? Now the concept of the hotel amenity bar has been kicked up a notch. Way up. These days, think, mermaid-led snorkeling tours, complimentary luxury convertibles, in-room record players, and vinyl records. Here are nine amenities shaking up the hotel scene that our Lance Avery Morgan recommends you experience on your next jaunt near or far.

#1 Merry Ol’ London

Claridge’s,the London hotel, has launched an Art Deco Package that also includes a set of F. Scott Fitzgerald’s classic books and a Leica Instamatic camera in the hotel’s signature eau de nil green hue. What a venue for a getaway weekend. At http://www.maybourne.com.

#2 And Then, A Mermaid Appears

At Cheval Blanc St-Barth Isle de France, you can spend the day on a snorkeling excursion, and may be surprised by the hotel’s enchanting mermaid, Amarylis. To remember this magical experience for the family, Cheval Blanc’s photographer will capture the moment with Amarylis for guests to keep.  At http://www.chevalblanc.com/stbarthisledefrance/en.

#3 Very Vinyl

The Berkeley in Knightsbridge has created an exclusive experience. Guests staying at the hotel will receive exclusive tickets to the current retrospective at the V&A, the official exhibition book, and a record player in the room with a selection of the band’s vinyl records including Dark Side of the Moon, The Wall, and The Division Bell. At http://www.the-berkeley.co.uk.

#4 Guests Only, Please

The Lowell Hotel in Manhattan has the hottest new spot – the Club Room. This chic lounge feels like a swanky New Yorker’s living room and is reserved only for guests until 5 p.m. (when it opens to the public). Throughout the afternoon, it acts as a private salon and meeting place for guests. See you there. At https://www.lowellhotel.com.

#5 Bermuda By Twizy

Hamilton Princess & Beach Club is the first property in Bermuda to offer two-seat Renault Twizy vehicles to guests. The electric cars were designed by Renault’s Formula One racing team and can travel up to 50 miles on a single charge. Visitors, who are not permitted to rent cars on island, will now have a new option for exploring Bermuda on their own. At https://www.thehamiltonprincess.com.

#6 Beach Blast

Nantucket Island Resorts is collaborating Bowers & Wilkins to offer guests complimentary headphones and speakers for borrow. The hotel collection is also continuing a nine-year partnership with BMW to extend vehicles to those who book The Wauwinet, White Elephant, and White Elephant Village’s top three-bedroom suites. At https://www.nantucketislandresorts.com.

#7 Gym To Go

For travelers who want to stretch it out after a morning’s game drive at a Beyond Bateleur Camp, a ‘gym-in-a-basket’ awaits in guest suites, fully-equipped for an in-room workout. The camp, which is set to reopen after a complete refurbishment in the late 2010s, overlooks Kenya’s Maasai Mara, allowing for a workout with a view of the sweeping plains and passing game. Closer to home, guests at La Réserve Paris Hotel and Spa can also exercise in the comfort of their own room thanks to free weights and Pilates bands in the closets. Health and wellness is a key component of La Reserve brand. The Paris property is home to a guests-only spa with a 50-foot indoor pool. At https://www.andbeyond.com.

#8 Your Own Cologne

Majestic Hotel & Spa’s Royal Penthouse Suite, the largest suite in Barcelona, is home to a Bar Au Parfum stocked with five 200 ml bottles ofAtelier Cologne, available for use throughout the stay. Guests can even take home a complimentary leather case, engraved with their name and filled with 30ml sized bottles of each of the colognes. At www.hotelmajestic.es/en.

#9 See Sloths? Super.

Nayara Springs just unveiled its Sloth Sanctuary, offering adorable on-demand wildlife viewing. Their famously sedentary nature ensure that guests snag a peek at these furry locals. The resort now has 12 sloths in residence after planting 300 Cecropia trees, the animals’ main food source. At http://www.arenalnayara.com.

#10 Everything Luxe.

When you check into your next luxury hotel suite, may we suggest that you seek a welcome gift of locally sourced products, a pillow menu, room purification, and instead of a mini-bar, why not ask for a cocktail bar. On your mark, get set…see you on the jet.