Room Service

Today
I’ve started my great “round the world” holiday! Hurrah! Of course it involves staying in a great number of hotels. Over the next 40 days I’ll being staying in about 25 hotels about 7 different countries, if you count the stop over at Heathrow. And that doesn’t take into account 2 cruise ships.

We’re able to afford to stay in some good hotels. Even so, they vary much. We stayed at Raffles in Singapore. Although my friend who produces the “Ultimate Hotel Guide” doesn’t rate it as highly as the Four Seasons, we liked it for its central location and air of grand colonial elegance. Turbanned attendants greeted us by name and nothing was too much trouble. Our bedroom was really a suite with dining/sitting area, large bedroom and huge bathroom which had magnificent ornamental tiles. Birds flew freely in and out of the entrance hall. And by some agreement with dirt-free Singapore, they didn’t drop any poo anywhere on the immaculate tiles.

By contrast, the Shangri-La in Sydney, despite its service and beautiful views over the harbour, feels like a corporate chain. Although they produce a cracking salad.

It’ll be great fun discovering what the rest of the countries we’re visiting have to offer.

In My Day
I’ve lost count of the number of hotels I’ve stayed in. When I worked for Flare I travelled all over Britain. I’ve stayed in everything from the most deadly 2-stars, through Travelodges with their affiliation to Little Chef food, to some weird and grand places.

One that sticks in my mind is the Tre-ysgawen Hall hotel in Anglesey. I arrived after a long drive. The hotel charged £70 per night with breakfast and evening meal so my hopes weren’t high. I drove up a long drive and arrived at the sort of hotel where it costs £1000 just to open the front door. It appeared that I was the only guest. The chef produced an elaborate menu and was disappointed when I asked for an omelette. My bedroom had“real” furniture in it. I stayed there a few times and nearly always was entirely alone. What was this place? Was it a cover for drugs running? Or money laundering? On one occasion I arrived, after a long day’s training, to find that the bar was closed. “So sorry,” said my friendly waiter, “It doesn’t apply to you – it’s because of the demonstration.” I accepted a mineral water. It was only later, during dinner, as I watched people filing into the adjacent ballroom, that I asked, “What demonstration?” “Well, more of a meeting – like where they talk to dead people”, said my waiter. “You mean that they’re having a seance next door?” I asked incredulously.

But it was true. I spent the night, feeling spooked, expecting to see ectoplasm floating across the lawn or hear mysterious rappings in the night. I later learnt that the owners’ real interest was in psychical research and they regularly held meetings, seminars and seances , and this presumably paid the somewhat meagre returns from being a hotel in the middle of nowhere. (And believe me, Anglesey is the middle of nowhere).

Although I’m no longer at the mercy of admin staff to arrange my accommodation I am at the mercy of the travel company and what the Internet can tell me. Ah, well, all part of life’s rich etc etc....