4 Experiences That You Can Only Have At A Luxury Hotel

If you're considering staying at a luxury hotel for the first time, you may be a little shocked when you get a look at the hotel's daily and weekly rates. But you get what you pay for, and luxury hotels are offering a lot more than just a room, a bed, and a continental breakfast. Staying at a 5-star hotel or resort is an experience that everyone should have at least once, and doing so can be a vacation adventure all on its own. Find out what experiences you can have at a luxury hotel that you aren't likely to see anywhere else.

Extra Personal Service

When you book a stay at a luxury hotel, you can expect a high degree of personalized service. You can expect the concierge to quickly learn your name, your room number, and whether you prefer limo service or regular taxi service. In some luxury resorts, you may be assigned a butler, who will get to know your needs and wants even more intimately – if you ask for a well-done steak to be delivered to your room the first night, you won't need to specify how you'd like your steak cooked the next time.

While it's true that these staff members rely partly on tips, and quickly learning your preferences and desires is one way to earn a larger tip, that's not all there is to it. Calling you by name and remembering your preferences is a major way that luxury hotels set themselves apart from nice, but nondescript mid-range hotels. They go the extra mile to anticipate your needs and ensure your happiness. Some luxury hotels are allowing guests to customize their experience by choosing their own check-in and check-out times.

Lots and Lots of In-Room Services

Sure, the yoga classes and full service spa are part and parcel of the luxury hotel experience. But what you may not know is that, depending on the room you're in and what you're willing to pay, you may very well be able to get a private yoga lesson or an in-room massage.

In the top luxury hotels, "room service" is not a phrase that applies only to food. You're there to be pampered and served, and if that means that you want to spend the entire weekend in bed, they'll bring the amenities to you whenever possible.

Pool Service

Does the giant swimming pool with the water fountains, slides, swim-up bar, and nightly dive-in movie sound like a dream come true? Well, what if they threw in a bunch of people whose only jobs are to bring you towels, water bottles, snacks, and drinks, and help you apply sun tan oil to that hard-to-reach spot in the middle of your back?

Pool service is a luxury hotel benefit that often surprises people who aren't used to it. Even if you booked the hotel primarily because of the awesome pool (or pools), you may not have been prepared for the level of one on one attention that you'll receive from the staff while you're lounging on the deck. Lie back and enjoy it – in the right luxury hotel, you can feel like you're being waited on while sunbathing on a private tropical island, without ever leaving the hotel.

A Unique Tipping Culture

Don't feel bad if you're confused by who to tip and when to tip at a luxury hotel or resort. Even people who stay at them frequently aren't always sure what to expect between one hotel and the next. Some include gratuities in the price of the package – this is often true of all-inclusive resort-style hotels. Some hotels expect you to leave a large tip on your way out. And still others just ask that you tip as you go.

It never hurts to call and ask any questions you have about tipping before your check-in date. Otherwise, carry small bills. While tipping is almost always optional, it's generally expected that you'll at least tip the valet parker, any drivers, the doorman, the concierge and the housekeeping staff that take care of your room. Everything else is up to you.

Staying at a luxury hotel is a fantastic and relaxing experience, and you'll probably find it to be worth the price tag in the long run. That doesn't mean that you should book just any expensive hotel room, but take a good look at what you're getting for that rate before you decide that it's too expensive. If a week or weekend of full service pampering is just what you need, there's no better way to get it, so go to website and book something today.