There are a lot of luxury hotels out there. So many, in fact, that it’s hard to choose which one would be best for your vacation. Of course, there are several criteria that you should imperatively look at before you make a selection: the location, the decor, the onsite restaurants and bars, the spa, the experiences on offer, and the amenities. But there’s something else you should inquire about before booking your stay: gifts. Some high-end hotels opt to differentiate themselves from the lot by offering their guests presents – even when it’s not Christmas or your birthday. The gifts are nothing extravagant, but it’s a thoughtful touch that travelers not only appreciate but are unlikely to forget. For vacationers, receiving a gift, no matter how small, cements the property as unique and worthy of another visit. And customer loyalty is everything in business. Here are five hotels that go above and beyond for its guests with top-notch gifts.
Hotel: Twin Farms
Location: Barnard, Vermont
Twin Farms isn’t a hard sell. The property comprises 300 acres of wooded countryside in Vermont, a nine-acre pond, and only 28 upscale accommodations, among which are eight treehouses. The food and drinks offerings, which are included in your stay, range from bucolic picnics to more formal affairs in the dining room, or even special meals in the busy kitchen, right next to the chef. Best of all, Twin Farms will keep you busy. There are tennis and pickleball courts, archery lessons, watercolor classes, pasta-making workshops and games and jigsaw puzzles for quiet nights. And if you like solving jigsaw puzzles, you’re in luck.
Twin Farms gifts guests locally made, handcrafted, wooden Stave puzzles. That way, travelers can bring back a little piece of Twin Farms and Vermontese creativity home with them. Stave Puzzles provides jigsaw puzzles to resorts all around the country, from Montana to Rhode Island. But because Stave Puzzles is only 45 minutes away from Twin Farms, the gift is a little more special when you get it from there. And you can visit the workshop during your time in the Green Mountain State.
Hotel: Le Sirenuse
Location: Positano, Italy
Le Sirenuse is what Italian dream vacations are made of. The red-and-white property, perched on a cliff high above the Gulf of Salerno, is as close to perfection as you can imagine. For one, there are the views, which consist of the glittering Mediterranean and the gorgeous dome of the Church of Santa Maria Assunta. But there is a lot more to it, including a uniquely tiled outdoor pool that mimics the hues of the sea, 58 charming rooms and suites, and restaurants that are so romantic they look straight out of a Hollywood production.
After their stay in this paradisiacal property, photos and memories won’t be the only things guests will have to remember Le Sirenuse by. They’ll be able to enjoy a very special souvenir too. The hotel gifts guests made-in-Italy ceramic ashtrays featuring its logo: two mermaids. Because smoking is a terrible habit, we recommend you use it as a bedside jewelry container. That way it will hold both precious memories and prized belongings. The travelers who want more from Le Sirenuse can purchase locally made goods at the hotel’s boutique, Emporio Sirenuse, including clothing and fabulous homeware.
Hotel: The Carlyle
Location: New York City
There are plenty of very high-end hotels in New York, but The Carlyle is undoubtedly one of the city’s most iconic properties. The 1930s hotel, located on the Upper East Side of Manhattan, is mostly known for its striking Art Déco exterior, its illustrious guests, and its glamorous Bemelmans Bar. Not only that but it’s also the chic spot where A-listers prepare for and party after the famous Met Gala. Non-celebrity travelers who like the finer things in life enjoy the hotel’s excellent address (less than 10 minutes on foot to the MET), its martini master classes, and the fact that, if they keep coming back, they’ll get a monogrammed pillowcase. That’s right, The Carlyle has a long-standing tradition of embroidering repeat and VIP guests’ initials on their pillow shams. In fact, The hotel’s housekeeping department makes over 1200 monogrammed pillowcases every year. And if you’re only a one-time guest, you can try and ask for your personalized pillowcase and the staff will potentially indulge you.
Hotel: St. Regis
Location: Rome, Italy
The St. Regis Rome is more akin to a palace than a hotel. Everything about this 1894 property is grand: from the spacious lobby with its striking chandelier to the Ritz ballroom with its frescoed ceilings, and the monumental staircase. The guest rooms and suites are equally opulent in their traditional, deluxe decor, elegant textiles, and thought-out artworks. And you can’t stay in such a gorgeous place if you don’t have the appropriate nightwear. Lucky for you, the St. Regis is known for gifting personalized Frette monogrammed silk pajama sets to select guests, or to those who are there for a special occasion. So, if you’re thinking of an Italian adventure for your birthday, your honeymoon, or your anniversary, we recommend you stay at the St. Regis.
Every Aman Hotel From Mozambique to Bhutan
Hospitality brand Aman is beloved by luxury travelers for its impeccable, high-end properties. But it’s often the level of customer care that blows guests away. In fact, Aman hotels are renowned to offer the best service of any hotels anywhere in the world. It does not come as a surprise, therefore, that Aman likes to spoil its guests with special gifts. In each of the 36 luxury resorts, hotels, and residences that Aman owns and operates in 20 countries, travelers receive a special leather luggage tag embossed with the property’s name. Each Aman property has its own luggage tag design and color so that you can attempt to collect them all.
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FAQs
Q: Who can get a monogrammed pillowcase at The Carlyle hotel in New York City?
A: Only repeat guests, VIPs, and those who are staying in the most expensive suites get monogrammed pillowcases.
Q: How much is the branded ceramic ashtray that Le Sirenuse gives its guests?
A: The Le Sirenuse ashtray sells for €60 (around $70) in the hotel boutique.
Q: How can I get an Aman leather luggage tag?
A: Aman luggage tags are given to those who stay at one of their 36 properties around the world.
