In the age of luxury with high-end hotels seemingly opening up every day around the world... how does a hotel stand out from the five-star crowd? When everyone has a million thread count sheets, locally sourced products that promise to make your skin glow like an incandescent firefly, obsequious butler service and all the other things that make a four-star hotel a five-star one - some savvy hoteliers are beefing up their perks, service and experiences.
Because it's not just about the rooms anymore - it's about so much more. Here are 10 hotels around the world with really great perks that everyone will want to take part in.
Kinigi, Rwanda
This newly opened hotel at the foot of Rwanda's Volcanoes National Park is simply stupendous. Made of mostly locally sourced materials nestled in between three gorgeous volcanoes, it is minutes away from where the famed gorilla treks start - which is where the great perk of this hotel comes into play. Packing trekking gear for a hike up a steep mountain on the equator is tricky. It's hot. It's cold. It's rainy. It's sunny. And then there's the stinging nettles, thorns and mosquitoes. To pack for a trek like this can easily fill a suitcase - leaving little room for anything else. But at Singita Kwitonda, they provide the gear for you - including waterproof jackets and pants, gators, gloves and even hiking boots - leaving you free to arrive with just a carryon full of toiletries and day dresses. It's a seriously thoughtful perk that we haven't seen anywhere else.
Viceroy Riviera Maya
Playa del Carmen, Mexico
Everyone is obsessed with wellness these days and hotels are getting in on it. At the Viceroy Riviera Maya there is an actual Shaman-in-residence, who can usually be found tending to his Jardin Pak'al (the garden where he grows herbs used at the Wayak Spa). The shaman greets all guests upon arrival with a complimentary traditional Mayan blessing that is supposed to reset the mind and spirit and is available for private meetings.
Marrakesh, Morocco
Not only is this all-riad property owned by the King of Morocco, one of the most stunning hotels in the world, it also offers you exclusive, local Marrakesh perks like complimentary tickets to the impossible to get into YSL Museum in partnership with the Yves Saint Laurent-Pierre Berge Foundation.
The White Elephant and The Wauwinet
Nantucket, Massachusetts
Nantucket is beautiful, yes, but it can be hard to tackle if you don't have a car to take you into town(s). Instead of facing summer traffic and driving there yourself or shelling out for a rental car, fly in and stay at the White Elephant or the Wauwinet and you will get to drive a 2019 BMW SUV for the duration of your stay.
Oracabessa Bay, Jamaica
This iconic hotel is all about experiences - and is now offering them for free. So go enjoy things like guided snorkeling excursions, guided meditation with singing bowls and visits to nearby Firefly, Noel Coward's hilltop home rumored to have been Captain Morgan's lookout - all on the house.
New York City, U.S.A.
If you're a music lover heading to New York City, get thee to one of The Chatwal's 14 specialty suites where you will receive a red Crosley radio and a vinyl LP collection of famed Broadway musicals. Options include Dear Evan Hansen, Wicked, Hairspray, Kinky Boots, Fiddler of the Roof, West Side Story, South Pacific, and more. Meanwhile, if you're with kids they can amuse themselves with a theater playhouse with puppets.
Barcelona, Spain
This chic hotel is not only within view of Gaudi's La Sagrada Familia, it is also thoughtful. Instead of letting their guests rack up roaming charges, the Almanac gives them an iPhone that guests can use throughout their stay, including complimentary international calls and mobile access to the hotel's team.
Iguassu Falls, Brazil
As the only hotel located within Brazil's Iguassu National Park, Belmond Hotel das Cataratas offers exclusive access to the park's waterfalls both before- and after-hours. Through Belmond's partnership with Leica, guests are also outfitted with a complimentary lightweight Trinovid 8x42HD Leica binoculars and a curated map to on where watch the wildlife up close as day breaks over the rainforest.
Arenal Volcano National Park, Costa Rica
Set in Costa Rica's Arenal Volcano National Park, guests of Nayara Springs can wake up with the rainforest each morning with complimentary daily yoga in the open-air pavilion as well as early morning bird-watching walks with expert nature guide Juan Pablo. Bonus: everything in each villa's mini-bar (apart from the wine bottles) is complimentary – from plantain chips to Costa Rican beer.
London, England
London's The Bloomsbury, whose ground floor was recently redesigned by Martin Brudnizki, offers hotel guests a complimentary walking tour of the trending Bloomsbury neighborhood on Saturday mornings at 11 am. Guests can learn about the 20 leafy squares of the area – the old stomping grounds of the literary Bloomsbury set – and check out the British Museum's latest exhibitions after the tour.
Uncommon Knowledge
Newsweek is committed to challenging conventional wisdom and finding connections in the search for common ground.
Newsweek is committed to challenging conventional wisdom and finding connections in the search for common ground.
