I’m acutely aware that this is a controversial opinion. But… I’m not a fan of turndown service. There, I said it! For those unfamiliar, turndown service is a second daily housekeeping visit during the evening—usually while guests are out to dinner—during which the team preps the room for your perfect slumber. Typically, the bed is remade with the sheets folded open to warmly invite you in. Slippers are neatly placed on either side, ready for when you awake. The lights are dimmed to create a soft, romantic ambiance. And in many luxury hotels these days, gifts are left on the desks or bedside tables (we’ll get to these in a moment). However, my biggest gripe—and again, I know this may just be me—is returning at night to find all of the curtains and blinds completely closed. Many of you will be thinking: “So what?” The majority of hotel guests prefer to sleep in blackout conditions, because they appreciate laying-in on their vacations, prefer the privacy, or simply find better Zzzs that way. And that’s fine, for the vampires. Personally, I love nothing more than waking up to the sunlight, slowly stirring as the room gradually brightens and the warmth of a new day fills the space. I am unable to do this in my New York apartment, since our bedroom faces a dark alley and is akin to a cave. Therefore the opportunity to forgo an alarm and enjoy the natural light, as well as the beautiful cityscape or ocean vista outside, is one I cherish dearly. Particularly if I’ve paid extra for said view!! So once I return to my room, relaxed and ready to roll into bed, I always find myself reopening all of the drapes and blinds. Not the biggest inconvenience ever—although it depends on the size of the suite—but it still slightly takes away from the novelty of being spoiled and not having to worry about mundane tasks. Now, the gifts. I do not mean to sound ungrateful here by any means. This is more a problem of guilt from my side than a grievance. Firstly, I rarely (if ever) leave enough space in my luggage to take anything extra back with me. I’m not a souvenir kinda guy. So ideally, any hotel-room amenities to arrive would be edible or drinkable while on property. A small collection of chocolate, or a bottle of champagne on the first night? Yes please! But I've had everything from a new pair of shoes and a giant straw hat, to coffee table books and full sets of embroidered linens, all presented without warning. And I feel awful having to leave them behind—particularly if they’re personalized. On another occasion, I returned to a framed photo of my cat staring at me from the end of the bed, which was such a sweet gesture, but it made me feel terribly guilty that I was thousands of miles away from her. My request would be to perhaps choose from a list of options. Or, if the element of surprise is key to the delight, could I at least request a size limit? It dawned on me as I wrote this that I could simply just leave a note for the housekeepers to please leave the curtains open, or keep the Do Not Disturb sign on the door. And mention my luggage constraints upon arrival. I will absolutely try this next time. But in an ultra-high-end hotel, where anticipating needs has become a prerequisite for luxury, perhaps a request for preferences prior to or during check-in could be helpful. I know that many top hotels already do this, but I’d love to encourage more to follow suit. That way, I could simply enjoy my pillow chocolate. |
