There's nothing better than heading off on vacation, right? And while some people book the cheapest hotel room on offer as somewhere to lay their heads after a day of exploring, there are others who appreciate that the right hotel can make or break your vacation. Yes, there are so many hotels around the world that go above and beyond for their guests, thanks to friendly concierges, creative housekeeping staff, and even added extras in the hotel room. Don't believe us? Keep scrolling to see for yourself!
The Ultimate Pillow Fort
If you travel a lot for work, you'll know just how important the right hotel can be. Sometimes, they seem incredibly unfamiliar and clinical - and you need to know how to break through that professional barrier. One guy did just that when he decided to ask the Hampton Inn for his very own pillow fort. What the housekeeping staff created (complete with pillow fort rules) is what pillow fort dreams are made of.
We'd stay here just to experience Samantha and Erin's sense of humor! And for the ability to stay in one of the best pillow forts we've ever seen, of course.
Making the Most of Forgotten Sunglasses
There's nothing more annoying than losing something in your hotel room - especially if you lose your sunglasses while you're on vacation! And while you could spend hours turning the hotel room upside down, sometimes you just need to forget about them and head down to the all-you-can-eat breakfast buffet instead. Luckily for the owner of these sunglasses, though, the hotel maid managed to find what she hadn't been able to.
But placing these sunglasses on the bedside table would have been too easy for the maid. She wanted to show off her creativity with one of the best towel elephants we've ever seen - and we love it.
Just Some Light Bedtime Reading
Hands up if you rifle through the drawers as soon as you check into a new hotel room? Don't worry, you're not alone. The human race is naturally nosy, and while we rarely come across the lost property of those who stayed in the room before us, it's not uncommon for people to find a Bible on the bedside table. This is something that many hotels offer as standard. But this hotel didn't want to.
In a world made up of so many different religions, this hotel decided to offer something that could be read by everyone, instead. Yes, that really is the Universal Declaration of Human Rights.
Late Sunday Check-Outs
One of the worst things about staying in a hotel is the check-out time. Normally, these check-out times are early in the morning, forcing you to rush your packing and fight back against indigestion as you shove random breakfast items down your throat. But it seems as though the concierge at this hotel understands just how annoying these early check-out times can be - especially on a Sunday morning when you're trying to avoid going back to reality.
That's why they decided to extend their Sunday check-out hours. Not only that, but they even extended breakfast until lunchtime, so you can have as much fun as you want the night before and not miss breakfast!
Take Your Soap Home
Although many hotels offer soap and other cleaning products in bottle form, you're normally not allowed to take them home. After all, they sometimes attach them to the wall, or they just add them to your bill if you do decide to sneak them into your luggage. But there are still a few hotels out there that appreciate the humble bar of soap - and those are the kind of hotels that we absolutely love.
Of course, you don't want to use a bar of soap that someone else has used, which is why hotels don't re-use them for different guests. So, it makes sense to let guests take them home with them, right?
Solving the Annoying Gap
When you're on vacation in a new place and trying to get to sleep in a strange and unfamiliar hotel room, it can be easy to focus on the tiny things that may annoy you. From the gentle hum of the air conditioning to the annoying gap in the middle of the curtains, all of these things can prevent you from getting a good night's sleep. But it seems as though this hotel wanted to solve one of those issues.
Although they couldn't do anything about the air conditioning, they could re-design the curtain rail so that the curtains would cross over each other. And just like that, the annoying gap was gone!
Introducing "The Rag"
You have to congratulate hotels on their ability to provide bright, white towels. Every time you check into one of these places, you know for certain that you'll be greeted with perfectly white towels that are 100% clean. But when guests use these towels to wipe off their makeup or wipe up coffee stains, there's no way the hotel can rid the towels of these stains. Instead of throwing them away, though, this hotel decided to offer them to guests in a different capacity.
Yes, these are "The Rags." And while you probably wouldn't use them after a shower, they're perfect if you need to clean anything up in your room or just wipe your hands dry.
A Very Necessary Toiletry Addition
Switzerland has so much to offer. People who vacation here enjoy the snow-capped mountains, the delicious chocolate, and the impressive cheese. But while you probably didn't need another reason to book a hotel in Switzerland, here's one anyway! This hotel not only offers guests toiletries in the form of eco-friendly shower gel, shampoo, conditioner, and soap, but it also gives them the chance to enjoy a rubber ducky during their bathtime adventures.
In our opinion, this is a very necessary toiletry addition, and we're not sure why more hotels don't offer such a fun and friendly face in the bathroom. Everyone loves a rubber duck, after all.
The Coolest Train Hotel
There's a big difference between a budget hotel and a more expensive hotel. And while budget hotels are normally housed inside normal-looking buildings, you can spend a little more to stay somewhere with a bit more character. So, what about a hotel in an old train station? Not only do you walk up and down the station platforms, but you actually have to walk down them to get to your hotel room - which is inside of an old train car!
We'd love to see what these rooms look like inside, but we guess we'll just have to book the hotel and check it out for ourselves. We wonder if we can honk the horn?
It's Easy to Find Your Way Home
When you head off on vacation, it can be easy to get lost. And while this is all part of the fun and allows you to explore more of the destination, it can also be a little stressful and overwhelming - especially when you're tired and want to get back to the hotel. That's why the concierge at this hotel chooses to hand out this card to every guest that checks in.
By placing this card in your wallet, you can hand it to a taxi driver and take the hassle out of finding your way back. And we think this should be a must-have for every hotel!
The Eclipse Package
You probably don't need us to tell you that a solar eclipse is a very rare event. For some people, it happens just once in a lifetime, which is why so many people make a big deal out of it. In fact, the people who booked this hotel did so just to witness the solar eclipse in all of its glory - and it's clear to see that the hotel went above and beyond to make their stay extra special.
Yes, that is a solar eclipse food package! From Moon Pies to Sun Chips, every single hotel room was kitted out with this goodie bag. And it's little touches like this that put a smile on our faces.
An Accurate Weather Station
When you're on vacation, it's always a good idea to check the weather forecast. This way, you can plan out your day and make sure you don't get caught out in any bad weather. And while there's no doubt that there are so many apps that can give you an accurate depiction of the weather, we have to say that we absolutely love this weather station at this hotel! It's probably very accurate, too.
Sometimes, all it takes is a coconut on a chain to give you the information you need. Although we feel sorry for the people who wake up and realize that the coconut is gone...
Evacuation Plans in the Perfect Place
When you book a hotel and head off on your vacation, the last thing you want to experience is a fire. But it's incredibly important to understand the health and safety risks of staying away from home, and it's always a good idea to check out the evacuation plans of each hotel. Have you noticed what's so cool about this plan, though? This hotel has attached them at ground level so you can still see them if smoke fills the hallways.
Of course, we hope that guests will never have to us them - but we can't help but think that this should be standard practice in every hotel. It just makes sense.
Outlets for Everyone
Is there anything more irritating than heading to a new country and realizing the plugs and outlets are completely different? This means that you can't charge your phone or plug in your hair dryer, and it means that you have to go in search of an adapter that will let you use all of your electrical items. But if you choose to stay at this hotel in Switzerland, you won't have to do that.
Every room comes complete with outlets from different parts of the world, meaning you can simply plug in your chargers from home and not give it a second thought. Genius!
Fulfilling a Robert Request
When you book a hotel, you always have the option to add a request to send to the hotel. Perhaps you want to celebrate a birthday, or you want to adorn the bed with rose petals. But every so often someone comes along with a strange request - like this person who wanted the hotel to hide a picture of Robert Downey Jr. in the hotel room somewhere. So, that's exactly what the concierge did.
You have to give them some credit, too, because they chose a very good hiding place. And while we do have to question whether the staff have enough to be getting on with, we still appreciate their sense of humour.
The Result of a Good Tip
You know what they say: treat others how you want to be treated. And in the hotel world, housekeeping staff rely on the generosity of guests' tips to bulk up their limited pay. They don't just take the money and run, though. Instead, they decided to pay back this generosity with some creative generosity of their own - like when this Egyptian housekeeper decided to create this impressive towel flower design.
We have a feeling that this probably put a smile on the hotel guests' faces when they saw this, which is what it's all about. Don't forget about the housekeepers, people.
The Designated Makeup Remover
We already know that hotel towels are traditionally as white as humanly possible, but what about people who want to take off their makeup? Well, it seems as though this hotel grew tired of dealing with makeup-stained white towels, which is why they decided to add some designated makeup-removing towels to the bathrooms instead. Of course, the smart option was to go for a black towel - so that's exactly what they did.
This was a genius idea by them, as it gives their guests the chance to make the most of the towels while also reducing the hotel's cleaning bill. It just makes sense!
When There's a Llama Convention
Although many people stay in hotels when they're on vacation, others use hotels as the base for their wedding ceremonies. This is a great option for people who want to stay, celebrate, and eat at the same place with their loved ones - and that's obviously why this couple decided to tie the knot at this hotel. But what they hadn't bargained for was that there was a llama convention booked for the same day as their wedding!
When the couple found out, they immediately asked the hotel if they could merge the two events together - and it seems as though they agreed. They look like one very happy couple.
The Indoor RV Hostel
You have hotels, and then you have hostels. This budget accommodation option is perfect for travelers looking to explore on a budget, and they normally offer guests bunk beds and shared rooms. But it seems as though there are some hostels out there that offer something different - and this is one of them. This hostel in Germany has been made to look like an indoor vintage RV park, and it's super cool.
Guests get to choose which trailer they want to sleep in, and they have the added bonus of being warm and dry all night, too. And just look how quirky it looks in the evening!
An Efficient Spouse Disposal Unit
You have to love a hotel with a sense of humor. And we don't know about you, but we have a feeling that this hotel has a seriously funny sense of humor. After all, they wouldn't have installed this Spouse Disposal Unit if they hadn't! Of course, we don't think this is actually used for the purpose it was intended, but it's still pretty hilarious to see this in the flesh.
We bet couples have a hoot posing on this bench, and that's what you want from a hotel. These places need to offer more than just the hotel room, and this hotel does.
A Daily Reminder
When you book a hotel and head off on vacation, it can be easy for time to fly away from you. You might get a little discombobulated, unsure of what the day is or where you are. Well, that's why this hotel in Ukraine has made it its mission to remind everyone of the day on a daily basis. But instead of putting a sign up in the lobby, they change the carpet in the elevator instead!
Yes, every single day, they pull up the carpet from yesterday and lay the new one with the correct day of the week. And that's the kind of efficient luxury we can get behind.
Your Wish Is Our Command
All kinds of people book hotel rooms, from solo work travelers to honeymooners to brand new couples. That's why it's not uncommon for hotels to receive requests from the people who choose to stay there. And when this guy decided to take his new fling to the hotel for the night, he wanted to make her feel comfortable - and he wanted her to understand that he was respecting her intimacy wishes.
Of course, he still wanted to show off his sense of humor and impress her! So, he enlisted the help of the concierge to make sure that everything went to plan.
Big Bees in the Big City
When you book a hotel room in a big city, you can bet your bottom dollar that it's going to be a modern glass building. But while some hotels are happy with this style, there are others who want to embrace the eco-friendly lifestyle. That's exactly what one hotel in central London did when they planted a living roof and even added some beehives into the mix! They can even be seen from the hotel rooms.
Not only is this a great bit of greenery for guests to enjoy, but we have a feeling that the bees probably enjoy this addition, too. More hotels should do this!
An Appropriate Kid's Menu
If you've ever been on vacation with a child - or just been around a child for longer than an hour - you'll know that ordering food for them is a complete and utter nightmare. Most of the time, they have no idea what they want, but they definitely know what they don't want if you don't order the right thing for them. To make this situation easier, this hotel decided to design a very appropriate kid's menu.
If you ask us, "I'm not hungry" is definitely the best thing on that menu, but we're also very intrigued by the "I don't want that." Whatever a kid chooses (or doesn't choose), we bet they'll be happy.
Plant Friends on Tap
If you've ever booked a hotel for a solo stay, you'll know that it can be pretty boring and lonely. Sure, you can watch whatever you want on TV and you can order whatever you want through room service, but sometimes you just need someone to talk to. To combat that loneliness, this hotel decided to let guests borrow a plant to take to their room when they felt they needed an extra friend.
We absolutely love this idea, and we bet people who love plants also love this idea! After all, there's nothing better than waking up to some greenery by the side of the bed.
The Assumption of Theft
Let's be honest; when you pay so much for a hotel room, it just makes sense to take some of the goodies home with you. From the snacks in the free mini bar to the shampoo and conditioner in the bathroom, it's easy to sneak these into your luggage. That's why we love the fact that this hotel has decided to embrace this assumption of theft and changed their packaging accordingly.
In fact, if we saw this packaging in the bathroom, we'd be even more inclined to take it home with us. It'll be like a little memento of our hotel-stealing adventures.
Time to Check for Cameras
We've already talked about the fact that many hotels keep copies of the Bible in their bedside drawers, but it seems as though more and more hotels are choosing to stray away from this outdated tradition and opt for another option instead. In fact, this hotel decided to swap out the Bible for a copy of George Orwell's 1984! And while it's a great book, this choice is a little alarming.
If we turned up to our hotel and saw this, we'd spend the next hour checking for hidden cameras in the TV or on the ceiling. After all, Big Brother is always watching...
An Accessible Swimming Pool
There's something about a hotel with a swimming pool that makes us so happy. For those who don't have pools at home, this addition is enough to get you to hand over your credit card and book a hotel room there. But what many hotel pools lack is the accessibility aspect, with many people being left unable to use the pool because of steps. This hotel decided to flip the script on that, though.
Yes, that is an accessible ramp going into the pool! This means that even more people can make use of this pool, and we want to book this hotel now purely for that extra thought.
Keeping Things Green
It's hard for hotels in the heart of cities to maintain their green credentials. They're often tall and full of glass and lacking any type of greenery. But if you've ever been on vacation to Singapore, you'll know that this place does everything in its power to merge the natural world and the modern world. Don't believe us? Just look at this impressive hotel that's covered in rich and luscious greenery!
This living hotel looks modern and luscious, and we have no doubts that the plants living on the side of this building help to make Singapore a healthier place to live. Plus, it looks super cool.
A Complimentary Phone
Anyone who has ever traveled abroad will know how difficult it can be to use your cell phone. For starters, you might have to pay roaming charges - and then you might not be able to get your internet to work. To combat this common problem, this handy hotel offers guests the chance to borrow a complimentary travel buddy in the form of a cell phone. And we think this is such a good idea!
With internet access as standard, free data, and free calls, guests can use this phone to find their way home, talk to their relatives back in their own country, or just find the next best place to eat.
An Array of Do Not Disturb Options
Sometimes, you just want to be left alone. And while it's important to appreciate the hard-working staff that work in hotels, it's also important to recognize when you don't want to be disturbed. Of course, most hotels offer you a 'Do Not Disturb' sign to pop on your door handle when you want to keep the maids at bay - but it seems as though this hotel decided to go one step further.
Offering three other 'Do Not Disturb' options, guests can get creative with their choices. For us, the 'Bacon Deliveries Only' would be on the door as soon as we checked in.
Service With a Smile (and Pillow)
If you've ever left something in the hotel room on vacation and only realized you'd forgotten it when you got back home, you'll know that it can be a nightmare trying to get it back. But there are some hotels out there who do everything they can to reunited their guests with their belongings - and this hotel is one of them. When this person left their jacket, the hotel immediately mailed it back to them.
That wasn't all they sent, though. When they sent the jacket back, they also decided to gift the guest with a complementary pillow. And that's what you call good service, right?
A Bathroom for Kids
Staying in a hotel can be a strange experience for kids. There's no doubt about the fact that these rooms are tailored towards adults, and they can often be very clinical and impersonal. But in an effort to make their hotel more child-friendly, the Europa Park Hotel in Germany decided to add a little something special to their bathrooms. Yes, that is a tiny children's bathroom within the main bathroom!
You may have thought this was a mirror, but that's actually a small doorway into the smaller bathroom. And we bet the kids who stay in this hotel absolutely love this quirky perk.
All Work and No Play
Do you remember what we were saying about hotels lacking personality? Well, we have a feeling that this hotel took that generalization rather personally, which is why they went above and beyond to provide their guests with an experience like no other. And while this hotel might not be 100% kid-friendly, it's certainly the kind of hotel that everyone would remember for the rest of their lives. Especially with that bath mat.
It turns out that all work and no play can make Jack a dull boy, which is why there are axes and blood stains everywhere! It's a pretty useful axe, though.
Doors for Everyone and Everything
Is there anything better than a pet-friendly hotel? Ok, those who are allergic to animals probably wouldn't appreciate the stray pet hairs that linger in these hotels. But having the ability to go on vacation with your pets is something that many people dream of. As well as being pet friendly, this hotel has even gone one step further and installed a cat flap for those who want to get a bit of fresh air.
We're not sure what we love more about this cat flap, though. Is it the tiny stairs leading to the cat flap? Or the 'EXIT' sign sitting stop the cat flap?
As Cool as a Crocodile
Let's be honest; the housekeeping staff at hotels are artists. Not only do they manage to nail the hospital bed sheet fold every time, but they also have the ability to make quirky and cool characters out of towels. And what we love about this is that there's no expectation to do that. Doing so isn't in their contract and it's not on their cleaning lists - but they do it because it puts a smile on people's faces!
While there's nothing quite like a towel elephant, we can safely say that this is the first towel crocodile we've ever seen. And it's pretty cool with the shades on.
Choo Choo on the Floor
There are so many hotels out there in the world, which makes it super easy to book a hotel room in seconds. But why pick a generic hotel? If you want to have the experience of a lifetime, try and look for a hotel that has a quirky or unique feature. You know, like a working train model under the dining room floor| That''s exactly what this hotel has, and it's one of the coolest things we've ever seen.
While we're sure the food served in this restaurant is also delicious, the fact that you can watch the train whizz by while you're eating is a very nifty concept.
A Switch Like No Other
Getting accustomed to a new hotel room can be hard. You might have to spend a little time working out where things are, how to open and close the curtains, and how to use the light switches when it comes to turning certain lights on and off. To make things easier, though, this hotel decided to add a giant rope switch just above the bed. This way, guests couldn't miss it.
And while there are other smaller switches around the room, this rope switch has the ability to turn all of them off at the same time when you're ready for bed.
A Historic Sign
When booking a hotel, what entices you the most? The facilities? The price? Or maybe the historical features? If you're part of the latter category, you might appreciate this old sign that was found in a hotel by a confused guest. At first, they didn't quite understand what they were reading. Then, they realized that the hotel was so old it was around before electricity became a common thing we all took for granted.
It's amazing to think that people stayed in hotels before the ability to flick on the lights or turn on the television or radio, which makes this sign even more curious.
Attention: Dogs in the Room
Many hotels around the world don't allow you to leave your pets in the room when you're not there, but it seems as though this hotel understands that there are certain things dogs can't do. And when owners want to head off and ski, they're allowed to leave their doggies to rest in the hotel room. The only request they have is that they put this sign on the door, so the maids know not to enter!
This is a great idea that we think should be rolled out elsewhere. After all, dogs need sleep, too - and they don't want to be interrupted by the vacuum cleaner!