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Forget Free WiFi. Here’s What I REALLY Want In A Hotel

The Liberty Hotel @The Open Suitcase LLC

The Liberty Hotel in Boston was a prison. The cellblocks overlook the lobby that transforms into a dance club on the weekends. “Jailhouse Rock” anyone?

What defines a great hotel? A billion-dollar location certainly. Would the Plaza Hotel be the Plaza if it wasn’t sitting at the entrance to Central Park? Spectacular rooms? Of course. I’ll take a 4-poster bed with sumptuous pillows and a Juliet balcony at The Gritti Palace in Venice any day.

But I think the hotel industry has forgotten the one feature that can easily take a hotel from good to GREAT. And it’s not free WiFi, heavenly beds, or fragrance butlers. When renovating or building hotels, I’m suggesting that the Marriotts, Hiltons, and Hyatts of the world ignore the rooms, forget modern amenities and bring back a feature of legendary historic hotels: the killer lobby.

Think about every book you’ve read that features foreign intrigue. Something nefarious always happens as characters connect in the lobby. A note is bundled into a copy of The Times and passed slyly from a sweating agent in a linen suit to our James Bond-like hero who then vaults the bellhop’s cart to avoid splattering gunfire delivered by two evil henchmen.

Related: Diary of a 6-Day Digital Detox – IT WILL NOT BE OKAY

It’s rumored that William Faulkner penned his Nobel Prize acceptance speech in the lobby of NY’s Algonquin Hotel. I wish I could time travel just to stumble upon him. “Hey, Bill,” I’d ask. “Could you possibly clarify a couple of points in ‘As I Lay Dying.’ They’ve bothered me since I got a 68 in AP English.”

Union Station Hotel

Nashville’s Union Station Hotel is a restored 100-year old railway station. The grand lobby features a barrel-vaulted stained glass ceiling.

If you’ve ever stayed in a historic hotel, the best of them have magnificent lobbies. They’re huge and comfy and inviting for a reason. The rooms are small. Really small. During a stay in Oregon’s Columbia Gorge Hotel, I resorted to walking across the bed to get to the other side of the room.

There were also no flat screen TVs in those old hotels. Folks migrated to the lobby to socialize. To read. To drink. To play cards. I know it sounds quaint and a bit twee.

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Twice a day, a paddling of ducks descend from their rooftop home via elevator to the lobby of the Peabody Hotel in Memphis. When the doors open, they sprint down a red carpet and dive into the lobby fountain. A not-to-be missed treat for all ages.

But think about it. Self-help articles extol the virtues of a digital detox. We’re morphing into cellbots who stare at screens all day and have forgotten how to engage with one another. When traveling, don’t you retreat to the room, climb into your plumped-up bed, flip on ESPN, grab your laptop, and login to the hotel WiFi?

Related: Following 007: James Bond Movie Films In An Alpine Paradise

What if you brought a book downstairs to the lobby instead? Consider the embrace of a deep leather armchair, a roaring fire, and a brown liquor drink. The gentleman seated next to you opens up the same bestseller. You strike up a conversation. He’s no secret agent, but a dad shepherding his son’s baseball team to a travel tournament. A lively debate ensues about who makes the best hot dog in Chicago (You’re Team Portillo’s; he’s a fan of Jimmy’s Red Hots). Thank you, Mr. Stranger. I feel human again.

Give it a try on your next trip. Seek out a hotel with a famous lobby and, instead of shuffling back to your room with your morning coffee, grab a paper and a seat. Let the adventure begin!


Mysterious and weird things happen in hotel lobbies. Like a rave? That’s what happened recently during Marriott’s One Millionth Mobile Check-In.

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2 Comments

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Comments

  1. roamingpursuits says

    April 16, 2015 at 3:59 AM

    Wonderful photos.

    Reply
    • The Open Suitcase says

      April 16, 2015 at 5:53 AM

      Thank you!

      Reply

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ABOUT CATHY

Traveler. Writer. Wife. Mother of 3. Friend. Dabbler. "The thing is to have a life before we die. It can be a real adventure having a life” - John Irving, "The World According to Garp" Let's Talk!

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It’s beginning to look a lot like Christmas...
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Include a visit to Longwood Gardens near Philly to get your ho ho ho on. The Conservatory features 20 oh my gosh holiday themed rooms.
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Plus the food and drink are awesome. Check out the stew made with famous Kennett Square mushrooms and drafts brewed with hothouse fruits. Try the Cherry Oatmeal Stout! Trust me.
#christmastime #christmasiscoming #christmasmood #ornaments #holidayseason #visitphilly #christmasinphilly #ribbon #Longwoodchristmas #merryandbright #holidaydecor #tmom
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Room with a view...
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@HawksCayResort lanai rooms overlook serene water features like the (heated!) pool and lagoon.
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Best of all, they have large decks with loungers. One’s calling my name.
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The resort’s looking good after a $50 million post-Irma renovation. Same friendly service I enjoyed on two prior visits. You can go home again.
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It’s all relative....
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I’ll never complain about my weight again. I’d be nearly 2 TRILLION pounds if home was a neutron star.
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So many fun facts learned at the American Museum of Natural History today. Did you know that the lyrics are true? We really are stardust...created out of a nebula cloud. Thank you, @jonimitchell_official .
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Mirror fence
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That’s the name of this sculpture, one of more than 100 that dot the 500 acres at Storm King Art Center.
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Fall’s the perfect time to visit, but go early. They expect 6,000 guests on beautiful autumn days, like today. Did you get outside? #hudsonvalley #hudsonriver #nylovesfall #autumncolors #fallcolors #fallfoliage #outdoorart #naturesbeauty #greatoutdoors #artscene
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So very serene.
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I was a nervous wreck during the hours leading up to my daughter’s wedding. But watching her glide through the getting ready, put me at ease. .
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Big thank you to @beautybycherise for helping the bridal party put on the pretty. First time for me wearing false eyelashes - such fun!
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#effortlesschic #bridalhair #romantic #bridalmakeup #theknot #hairinspo #weddinghair #weddingday #hairfashion #weddingphoto
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Programs?! Programs?!
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3 days before the wedding, the details of the ceremony were finalized. So, I headed off to our local craft store and picked up medium weight card stock, a small single hole punch, ribbon and stickers. Oh. And a paper crease to help make crisp folds.
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Employing 3rd grade crafting skills, I knocked these out in no time. What? Me worry? .
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Do you know the way to San Jose?
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The city’s changed so much since I started visiting back in 2007. Hotel prices have soared thanks to Silicon Valley tech money. Finding an affordable, yet elegant, place to stay to begin our week-long wedding adventure was a challenge.
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.
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Fortunately, my daughter found the @hayesmansion, an historic hotel that, until recently, was owned by the City of San Jose. It’s scheduled for a $15 million upgrade by new owners. Can’t wait to see it after the reno!
.
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Built in 1905, it’s a magnificent estate property tucked away in a suburban neighborhood. I stole some precious quiet time in the mornings (#calmbeforethestorm), with my coffee on a secluded terrace surrounded by lush tropical foliage. Thank you to the friendly and efficient group reservations team, especially Frances and Rona, who facilitated our stay. .
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Instagram post 2102304528551866689_53059164 Ripe and ready! It’s #TOMATO time! Kick off the season with a #GIVEAWAY for the New York Botanical Garden Totally Tomatoes Weekend, August 10-11, 2019. Two lucky winners will each receive a 4-pack of tickets for Saturday OR Sunday! . . Culinary demos! Maker station! Garden tours and yummy family fun! . . Want to win? If you’re going to be in #NYC next weekend, follow @theopensuitcase and @nybg, like this post and comment about your favorite way to enjoy tomatoes. Enter until Wednesday, August 7 at 10 p.m. EST. Winners will be chosen at random and announced Thursday morning! . . #plantlove #garden #gardenlife #gardenlove #gardensofinstagram #vegetablegarden #gardenideas #backyard #homegrown #growyourfood #veggiegarden #lovemygarden . . Entrants must be 18+ years of age. This contest is not sponsored, administered or associated with Instagram and entrants agree to comply with Instagram’s terms of service.

Ripe and ready! It’s #TOMATO time! Kick off the season with a #GIVEAWAY for the New York Botanical Garden Totally Tomatoes Weekend, August 10-11, 2019. Two lucky winners will each receive a 4-pack of tickets for Saturday OR Sunday!
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