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Concierge Tips, Cuisine

Five-Star Secrets: An Insider Guide to Room Service Etiquette

November 1, 2024 by Lucy Thackray No Comments

There’s something so indulgent about dialling down for room service – staying comfy in your suite, perhaps even in a fluffy bathrobe, reclining in style and waiting for that knock from your server. But what are the rules, and are there things to watch out for? We asked one anonymous industry mole from a five-star hotel for their ultimate room service etiquette tips: any dos and don’ts that will help you get the best out of that luxury tray service. Here’s our ultimate guide for approaching room service etiquette like an insider.

 

Photo of a bed with room service breakfast platters next to the bed

Don’t order when you’re already ravenous

“Twenty to thirty minutes is a typical wait for room service. But at peak times, in big hotels, catering teams reserve the right to take up to an hour to get your food to you. Call down with your order well before you want it to arrive, or you’ll just end up frustrated and hungry.”

 

Do wear whatever you like

“Is there room service etiquette when it comes to clothing? It’s not uncommon for guests to greet their tray delivery in a bathrobe, pyjamas or sweaty post-gym outfit – trust me, our servers have seen it all. Their job is just to get the tray to you and get that bill signed. The only real ‘don’t’ here would be answering the door undressed or in underwear; a bathrobe won’t make your server uncomfortable, but your underwear might!”

Read next: These Hotels Have the Best Room Service in the World

 

Breakfast is overrated

“The biggest error I see guests make is ordering eggs for breakfast up to their room. While it’s wonderful to have a lie-in while you wait for your food, eggs simply don’t travel – the scrambled eggs get hard and cold, poached yolks solidify and every style of egg is just so much better fresh from the breakfast buffet station. Coffee can get weaker and colder on the tray, too. As breakfast is far and away the most popular mealtime for room service orders, this is also the order most likely to take a long time. When I’m staying at a hotel, I go down to the restaurant for breakfast.”

The club sandwich is a room service classic for a reason

The club sandwich is a room service classic for a reason

 

There are some failsafe room service winners

“You can rarely go wrong with a club sandwich and fries on room service. Not only is it a classic that’s usually been on room service menus for years (and so been perfected), it’s something that travels well and can be jazzed up with condiments. Other failsafe stars of the room service menu include burgers and pasta dishes. Look out for what’s on the 24-hour, usually shorter room service menu – those are the perennial classics we’re confident we can get right any time of day – and what kind of cuisine is served in the main restaurants. If there’s a well-regarded Japanese restaurant onsite, the sushi platters should be just as good delivered to your room.”

You may also like: The World’s Best Hotels in 2024

 

Know your tips

“As with any kind of food and beverage tipping, room service etiquette for a tip will vary from place to place. In the US, 18%-20% of the room service bill is standard; in most hotels in major cities, a 12-15% service or ‘tray’ charge will be included on your bill. In the rare cases or farther-flung countries where this isn’t the case, rounding up to the nearest 10 or adding on $5 or so’s worth as a tip will be acceptable.”

 

Want something not on the menu? Just ask

“Most hotels will only bring you what’s on the menu, but if you have a hankering for something simple – a grilled cheese sandwich, say, or a simple tomato salad – that’s not on there, it’s worth asking. It’s not necessarily breaking room service etiquette to ask for a green juice on an uninspiring drinks menu, or for a side of potatoes you don’t see listed in print. Especially in more high end hotels, food and beverage managers will go out of their way to accommodate you.”

Don't fret about answering the door in your bathrobe

Don’t fret about answering the door in your bathrobe (Unsplash/Getty)

 

Your tray shouldn’t feel stale

“In a poor room service setting, the pitfalls will be obvious: your eggs will be cold, your coffee may have a layer of film across the top, or the contents of the plate may have slid sideways in transit. Hotels with a strong grasp of their room service offering will be able to deliver your food hot, fresh and unspoiled – so don’t be afraid to call down and ask for a replacement item or dish. Consider that you’re paying extra for the tray service: you want the food to be worth the wait.”

Bookmark for later: How to Spend 48 Hours in One of Norway’s Most Scenic Hotels

 

Be specific

“If you’re a foodie who knows what you like, it pays to be specific. Want that morning coffee to be a machine espresso with a little hot water, not a weaker pot of filter coffee? Say as much when you call in your order. Want ketchup and mayo with that side of fries? Ask specifically, just in case. Whether it’s dressing on the side of a salad or freshly-squeezed OJ, not carton, we’d rather know in advance and get it right first time than risk the dreaded complaint call afterwards.”

 

What to do when you’re finished

“The universal sign for ‘I’m done with my tray’ is to put it just outside of your hotel door, on the floor – that’s why you’re frequently tripping over people’s trays and champagne buckets in hotel corridors. However, if you don’t want to lug the tray outside, it’s just as acceptable in the world of room service etiquette to call down and say your tray is ready to collect. A member of the F&B team will be up reasonably promptly.”

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Africa, Australia, Europe, Latin America, Luxury Journeys

10 Best Luxury Vacations To Book In 2025

September 27, 2024 by Lucy Thackray No Comments

Want to get ahead of the travel pack? The hot travel trends and destinations are already forming for next year, from the safari scene to ultra-luxe hotel openings, active pursuits and top destinations. If you’re looking for the best luxury vacations to book, here’s your starter’s guide. Wild, unspoiled nature and low formality are two things that will set the tone, says the founder of trend forecasting website Globetrender, Jenny Southan. “Sometimes when people are investing a lot in a trip, it can create a lot of pressure,” she explains. “When everyone is in a relaxed state of mind then time together becomes more enjoyable.” From hotel merchandise to padel games, here are some of the top trip styles and places to travel in 2025.

 

1. The “it” hotel

One of the top trends Jenny has noticed is what Globetrender is calling “hotel hotlisting”. “High-net-worth travellers are chasing new hotel openings around the world to tick off, and in so doing may find themselves exploring places they hadn’t considered before,” she explains. Some of her top openings to watch in luxury vacation destinations for 2025 include the Corinthia Bucharest in Romania, Six Senses Papagayo in Costa Rica and One&Only Moonlight Basin in Montana. Luxury Gold’s tours tick off many of the most sought-after hotels on the planet: your hotel hotlist might include Belmond Hotel das Cataratas, at Argentina’s Iguassu Falls (the Grand South America tour), South Africa’s striking Twelve Apostles Hotel & Spa (Spectacular South Africa), and Ireland’s Ashford Castle (Castles & Kingdoms tour).

Brazil’s Belmond Hotel das Cataratas, by Iguassu Falls, might make your hotel hotlist

2. Accessible safaris

Safaris are for everyone – or they should be. Jenny points to a leader in this field – Ximuwu Lodge, in South Africa’s Klaserie Private Nature Reserve – as a pioneer of accessible safaris. Ximuwu’s vehicles are adapted for wheelchair users, as well as its lodge bedrooms, pool, corridors and communal areas; there are mobile ramps to access wildlife hide locations, strategically positioned for optimal lighting so all visitors can capture great images of the Big Five.

3. Nature for family bonding

Some of the best luxury vacations for the year ahead will be in naturally bountiful nations, says Jenny. “Nature-based retreats trump cities, for example. And less formality will enable everyone to feel more relaxed than white glove service,” she observes. “The emphasis will be on time together as a family – not leaving your children in a kids’ club all day, or with a nanny. In Italy, the Borgo Egnazia hotel is organising ‘Family Happiness Breaks’, for example.” Whether nature immersion means rugged National Parks or white sand beaches to you, think about getting the family out to an outdoors-focused destination such as Norway, Ireland or Australia.

National Parks like Banff in Alberta, Canada, could be the place for your next family vacation

4. Padel in paradise

Luxury vacation destinations are getting sporty with the latest fitness trends. “We have identified a trend for ‘Racketeering’, whereby people are seeking out hotels and resorts where they can play tennis and other popular racket sports, such as padel and pickleball,” says Jenny. Even the billionaires are at it. “Necker Island, Richard Branson’s resort in the British Virgin Islands, recently installed new padel and pickleball courts, while other high-end properties and cruise ships are following suit. Unlike tennis, padel courts are smaller and the games are easier to master. Plus they’re social,” says Jenny. 

5. The screen-inspired trip

“Nantucket on the US east coast and luxury Thailand will be big due to ‘jet setting'”, says Jenny – the two destinations feature in new Netflix show The Perfect Couple, starring Nicole Kidman, and the upcoming series of The White Lotus respectively. Other inspiration for 2025’s best luxury vacations will be the upcoming film Paddington in Peru and the Mediterranean island of Malta, which served as a location for both Jurassic World Rebirth and the highly anticipated Gladiator II. For southeast Asian serenity, White Lotus style, try Luxury Gold’s Inspiring Indochina itinerary; for Paddington worthy landscapes, book Treasures of the Incas.

6. Winter sun outside the box

New openings in classic locations such as the Seychelles will be big for next year, says Jenny, who cites the new Cheval Blanc in the islands as one of the most exciting openings on her radar. A Four Seasons is also coming to Belize, putting this less well-trodden Latin American destination on the luxury map. “I saw that Bahrain is promoting itself as a winter sun holiday destination,” she adds, “and there are a number of new luxury hotels opening on Saudi Arabia’s Red sea coast”. Get ahead of the high-end travel crowd by booking less obvious winter sun destinations before everyone else gets there.

Ancient spa practices from Cambodia to India will inspire wellness trips

7. Wearable hotels

One huge travel trend in the hospitality world is luxury merchandise, says Jenny. “More and more luxury hotels are jumping on the ‘shoppable stays’ trend, where they launch highly covetable branded merchandise, fashion apparel, sports gear and homeware. These are often in partnership with couture brands such as Dior and Fendi, but also the likes of Lacoste and Superga,” she says. “Pioneers include the One&Only and Four Seasons groups, as well as Hotel du Cap-Eden-Roc, Marbella’s Puente Romano Beach Resort, the Beverly Hills in LA, and Grand Hotel Tremezzo and Passalacqua in Lake Como.” 

8. South America for digital nomads

South American countries including Argentina, Brazil and Colombia are emerging as the new digital nomad destinations, Globetrender has found. Good value living costs, sunshine, nature and vibrant communities are all thought to be draws for the world’s wealthy entrepreneurs -and where the working-from-abroad crowd goes, the luxury travellers will follow. Some of the best luxury vacations for 2025 can be found in magical Peru, Brazil, Chile and Argentina. See the best of the Latin American continent on Luxury Gold’s epic, 23-day Grand South America tour.

9. Authentic spa destinations

Tapping into historical spa and healing practices will be a big trend of 2024, say Jenny and Globetrender – they recently reported on the Skjol bathing ritual you can experience in Iceland. In terms of the best luxury vacations, the world’s top spa destinations will include India for Ayurvedic practices (the luxe hotels on the Imperial Rajasthan tour have you covered), Peru’s Inkaterra lodges for ancient medicinal treatments (Treasures of the Incas) and Cambodia and Laos for steam baths, meditation and massage (Inspiring Indochina).

10. Fabulous rail journeys

Taking the train will be a core part of the luxury experience in 2025, says Jenny – going on recent Globetrender reports of The Vietage train’s new experiences in Vietnam, and champagne catering on Belmond’s luxury trains in Singapore and Europe. Bucket-list rail experiences abound in Luxury Gold’s itineraries: from Switzerland’s mountain scenery aboard the Glacier Express to Norway’s Flam Railway and Japan’s iconic bullet trains, you can ride the rails in style on several continents.

 

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Luxury Journeys, Unwind

Sail Away With Us On These Luxury Cruise Experiences

September 27, 2024 by Lucy Thackray No Comments
Aerial view of the great barrier reef off the coast of Australia

Taking to the water is a supremely soothing and restorative experience – whether you’re gliding across Vietnam’s storied Halong Bay, traversing the neon-bright waters of the Great Barrier Reef, or simply plying the waters of the ancient Nile. River cruises, overnight “boatels” and adventurous day sailings should all be a part of your luxury travel itinerary. Here’s where Luxury Gold comes in – with our built-in days at sea or along the river, you’ll see your destination from a different perspective, stopping off for bucket-list swimming and sightseeing along the way. Here are the luxury cruise experiences to book for the year ahead.

 

Norway’s Fjords

Geiranger fjord, norway

The peaceful, rock-encircled fjords of western Norway are a must-see while in Scandinavia. On Luxury Gold’s 12-day Timeless Scandinavia tour – which traverses three countries in total – you’ll board a RIB boat to explore its Geiranger Fjord, gliding around this hook-shaped body of water surrounded by cathedrals of rock and skyscraper-tall waterfalls. You’ll feel dwarfed by the sheer scale of nature along this unspoiled body of water, counting the Seven Sisters waterfalls along with the lonely Suitor cascade while a guide tells you all about the local landscape – and lore. Afterwards, retreat to the nature-swathed Hotel Union Gerainger, where you’ll unwind in luxury surrounded by fjordland scenery.

Book Luxury Gold’s Timeless Scandinavia tour.

 

Egypt’s River Nile

One of the most important waterways in the history of civilization, the Nile still hums with ancient magic. You’ll spend seven nights sailing it on Luxury Gold’s Elegance of the Nile tour, embarking on one of the world’s best luxury cruise experiences aboard the deluxe, all-suite River Tosca vessel. Drifting along past riverbank palm trees, golden kasbahs, mountainside sunsets, wading birds and crocodiles, you’ll be living in style. A spacious outdoor sundeck has a swimming pool and lavishly cushioned sun loungers, a river-view restaurant lets you order with the breeze in your hair, and a smart library-lounge with books, views and a bar are the place to unwind. 

Book Luxury Gold’s Elegance of the Nile tour.

 

Halong Bay & the Mekong Delta, Vietnam

Southeast Asia is famous for its waters: glittering jade bays hugging white-sand beaches, snorkel-friendly lagoons, placid lily-ponds reflecting crumbling temples, jungle waterfalls with cooling pools. But nothing beats the two bucket-list experiences the region holds: Vietnam’s luminous Halong Bay and the mighty Mekong Delta. On Luxury Gold’s 16-day Inspiring Indochina tour, you’ll first take to the Mekong for a guided boat tour close from Ho Chi Minh City, stopping for lunch at the authentic Mango Home thatched restaurants and learning about life along the waterway. On day 11 of the tour, you’ll board a traditional Junk boat for one of the planet’s best luxury cruise experiences: sailing Halong Bay. A dazzling spot for a water-based adventure thanks to its bright emerald waters and vast limestone karsts (island mountains), it has floating villages, complex caves and white-sand beaches to spy from the comfort of your vessel. Sunset over this otherworldly setting is something to experience in your lifetime.

Book Luxury Gold’s Inspiring Indochina tour.

 

Australia’s Great Barrier Reef

Aerial view of the great barrier reef off the coast of Australia

Crowned one of the Seven Wonders of the Natural World, the expansive Great Barrier Reef off Australia’s northeast coast, can be seen from outer space. On Luxury Gold’s Inspiring Australia tour, you’ll get up close and personal with its lurid turquoise waters, containing some 2,500 individual reefs and 400 types of coral, not to mention turtles, sharks, manta rays, clownfish and colourful Maori wrasse fish. On day three of your 13-day tour, you can opt to cruise the Barrier Reef, getting to know one of the world’s most complex eco-systems from the comfort of a captained boat. Borrow masks and snorkels to see the world beneath the surface, and speed past idyllic castaway islands on a sun-soaked day at sea.

Book Luxury Gold’s Inspiring Australia tour.

 

Matsushima Bay, Japan

Matsushima Bay, Japan (Tohoku Tourism/JNTO)

The world’s finest luxury cruise experiences take you to the still and quiet of nature, often found a stone’s throw from the most bustling metropolis. So it is in Sendai, northeast Japan, where futuristic Japanese architecture and innovation meets the wildness of the sea and craggy coastline. While here, a cruise through Sendai’s contemplative Matsushima Bay is a must; revered as one of Japan’s top three views, it’s factored into day seven of Luxury Gold’s 11-day Majestic Japan tour. Your private sailing will give unparalleled views of the hundreds of pine-covered islands, and you’ll hear about the cultural significance of Matsushima, which has had countless Haiku poems written about its beauty. Along with a serene tea ceremony, this luxury cruise experience will cement your love of Japanese culture while in underrated Sendai.

Book Luxury Gold’s Majestic Japan tour.

More luxury cruise experiences: Beauty Beyond Words: Past Guest Sal On Cruising Croatia’s Dalmatian Coast.

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