10 Over-the-Top Hotel Amenities We Can't Live Without
It's all about those extras.
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Photo By: Courtesy of Carneros Resort and Spa
Photo By: Courtesy of The Broadview Hotel
Photo By: Courtesy of French Quarter Inn
Photo By: Courtesy of JW Marriott Chicago
Photo By: Courtesy of LondonHouse Chicago
Photo By: Courtesy of JW Marriott Desert Springs Resort & Spa
Photo By: Courtesy of The Darcy
Photo By: Courtesy of Gstaad Palace
Photo By: Courtesy of Four Seasons
Photo By: © She-N-He.com ©She-n-He Photography
Butler Service for Your Bubble Bath
At the gorgeous, sprawling Carneros Resort and Spa in Napa, Calif., guests who book the Harvest Cottage get access to the property’s envy-inducing fireside butler service. Just give the word, and your personal butler will appear to fill the outdoor soaking tub on the cottage’s private terrace (yes, really) and make sure it’s overflowing with scented bubbles. He’ll also light the outdoor fire pit and deliver a s’mores-making kit, if you so desire.
Your Own Personal Record Collection
There are few places to spend the night in Toronto as stylish as The Broadview Hotel, which opened in 2017 in a gorgeous 127-year-old landmarked building after a three-year renovation. (The place needed some love — previously, it was home to a raunchy and rundown strip club!) These days, the address is all about perfecting the art of the luxe hangout sesh, with vinyl record players in each room that come with a curated record selection by Toronto’s beloved Tiny Record Shop.
A Pillow for Every Mood
You wouldn’t suffer nights at home with an uncomfortable pillow at home, so why should you on vacation? Pillow menus are a must for high-end properties around the world, including downtown Charleston’s elegant French Quarter Inn. As part of the property’s turn-down service, guests can select the pillow of their (literal) dreams, from a buckwheat-filled number that’s perfect for neck support and stress reduction to a Swedish massage-inspired pillow stuffed with space-age foam original designed by NASA.
A World-Class Workout
It's no average fitness program at the JW Mariott Chicago. Here, trainer Jason Raynor — one of Nike’s 50 Master Trainers — is on hand to help bring your workout to the next level. He also leads the hotel’s Fit Squad, which guides guests and spa members through any of the hotel’s group fitness classes, like "Awakening Flow" yoga and power kickboxing. There are also special programs designed for guests on the go; Fit Meetings, a meditation and posture-focused program, can be done in a suit and tie.
A Wedding Proposal for the Record Books
If you’re itching to propose to your sweetheart, LondonHouse Chicago might be the place to do it. The hotel’s specialized proposal program gets you some private time in the rooftop cupola (a Beaux-Arts pillared structure original to the building, constructed back in 1923), a romantic pathway of rose petals leading to the proposal spot, and an ice-cold bottle of Dom Pérignon Champagne to celebrate with afterward.
A Giant Donut, Just for You
If you've ever been bummed out by teensy donuts that fail to satisfy, this amenity is for you. The DoNut Disturb package at California’s JW Mariott Desert Springs Resort & Spa gets you a decadent, Tahitian vanilla-spiked donut that weighs a whopping 40lb and measures three feet wide, ensuring you (and your friends) won't go hungry. The treat, which comes glazed in electric pink sweet cream frosting and topped with neon sprinkles and tropical fruit macarons, is all yours for just $219.
In-Room Caviar Service
At The Darcy in Washington, D.C., you don’t need to leave your hotel room for high-end indulgence. The property’s in-room caviar service gets you two chilled shots of smooth Belvedere vodka and a 1/2 ounce of decadent Petrossian Royal Shassetra caviar, plus all the classic add-ons like chopped eggs, red onions, and chives. You can also tap The Darcy’s Cocktail Butler for a pair of custom libations, mixed right in your room.
Lunch… Via Helicopter
High up in the Swiss apps, the glamorous Gstaad Palace is a favorite wintertime destination of celebrities and royalty alike, and for good reason. After a morning of world-class skiing, you can arrange for a sophisticated lunch atop the Matterhorn, one of the highest peaks in the Alps. You won’t have to break a sweat getting there, though: You’ll be transported 9,000 feet above sea level via helicopter.
The Tooth Fairy, at Your Service
Just because you’re on vacation, it doesn’t mean the Tooth Fairy is, too. At least not at the Four Seasons Resort Orlando at Walt Disney World: If your tyke loses a tooth during their stay, the property's complimentary "tooth fairy amenity" gets him or her a special cupcake delivery and a tiny tooth case to transport home the lost chomper.
A Fish Friend for the Night
If you're feeling a bit lonely at the Roxy Hotel in New York City, a call down to the front desk will get you some company — in fish form. If you like, hotel staff will run a goldfish up to your room, bowl included, to spend the night free of charge.