Every Great Hotel Has These Four Features

A hotel can be more than a crashpad you settle for during vacation or a relentless business trip: With the right touches, a property can feel paradisiacal. A true home away from home, if you will. Don’t believe us? Just ask Beth Bastian, principal advisor at Bastian World Travel, a Montecito Village Travel affiliate and Virtuoso agency based in Santa Barbara County. 

Bastian says booking hotels is a “big part” of her travel agency’s annual revenue, so she’s done her due diligence. While she’s the first one to admit lodging isn’t a one-hotel-suits-all situation—and she always considers a client’s demographic and budget when booking—but there are some common threads that really make a property sing.

Below, Bastian shares her green flags she always notices in hotels. From larger amenities to tiny touches that often go unnoticed, these features offer a five-star experience wherever you go. 

Montage Healdsburg

1. A Warm Welcome

First impressions matter, which is why Bastian says how a hotel greets its guests is incredibly telling. “This hotel staff interaction makes all the difference,” she says. “[It’s important to] feel welcomed by a hotel staff member from the minute you arrive.” The travel advisor is also a big fan of a check-in process that “feels personal”—be it a local beverage, comfortable chair at a check-in desk, or a tour of the grounds.

Of course, West Coast hospitality knows how to start your trip on a positive note. While many wine country properties like Alila Napa Valley and Montage’s Healdsburg outpost pours a glass of wine upon arrival, the culinary-focused Appellation Healdsburg serves guests an amuse bouche.

Meanwhile, Paws Up Montana offers a private transfer, which picks incoming visitors up at the Missoula Airport, gives them a quick tour of the grounds, and takes them directly to their accommodations. 

Tanveer Badal

2. Bounty of Beverages

Speaking of drinks? Though a welcome glass of wine is delightful, Bastian appreciates spaces that offer lots of beverages. “If you have a gorgeous terrace or balcony, I also appreciate a coffee and tea station in the room,” she says. “This way our clients can enjoy the views and take their vacation mornings at a slower pace rather than needing to head down to the restaurant right away to start their day.” 

Many high-end hotels have an in-room French press or coffee machine to start your day on the right foot, but Bastian also appreciates when hotels offer “complimentary, unlimited fresh water refill stations.” Nowadays, sustainability isn’t just a mere travel trend: It’s a requirement. Fortunately, properties like the Four Seasons Resort Sensei Lānaʻi in Hawaii offer FloWater advanced osmosis refill stations to keep you hydrated.

Twenty47Studio/Getty Images

3. Intuitive Rooms

Living in a hotel room shouldn’t come with a manual, which is why Bastian likes when hotels focus on the guest experience. “A hotel that labels its light switches and has a universal ‘On/Off’ switch by the bedside has clearly thought of how to make a guest’s stay more enjoyable,” she says. 

Bonus points if a hotel prioritizes a good night’s sleep. It doesn’t matter if a guest is doing  a long weekend away or traveling from a different zone: A comfortable bed, soft sheets, or even a pillow menu a la Beach Terrace in Carlsbad can make their stay downright dreamy. 

“Blackout curtains in your room can be key,” she adds. “This can really help with a great night’s sleep especially in sunny destinations such as Southern California.”

Kodiak Greenwood

4. An Immersive Feel

Sometimes, a good vibe is the best amenity a hotel can have. Bastian, for example, is a huge fan of Post Ranch Inn in Big Sur. While the hotel is rife with thoughtful touches—“incredible personal service, endless views of the ocean, as well as the hand-crafted silverware and dishes”—she says it’s built to be a true getaway.

“It’s the type of hotel that makes a guest forget about the rest of the world and the memories of a stay here last a lifetime,” she says. “Post Ranch Inn is a true retreat and destination in itself: You’ll find it hard to leave this peaceful and beautiful property.”