If You Know, You Know: The NICHE Luxury Hotel Details That Matter to Jetsetters
When you’ve traveled enough, you start to take note of the little things that make each hotel unique. The small touches that don’t just make a difference, they are the difference. And when you’re spending your hard-earned money on a luxury vacation, you want it to be WORTH it every step of the way – which means the hotel not just meeting expectations, but impressing you, especially when it comes to the room! I have what I call “Jetset Seven” star hotels in my mind – these are the hotels that are so beyond a five-star hotel, because of all of the little thoughtful details that they impress you with throughout the experience. These hotels are a level above even the BEST five-star hotels in the world, they’re elite. And I’m going to tell you some of the reasons why!
This isn’t about being snobby, or demanding as a guest. It’s about a deep appreciation for the thoughtful, elevated details that turn a luxury hotel stay into an experience. I don’t ever EXPECT these things, I’m just elated when I see them!!!
Whether you’re checking into your hundredth vacation or planning your first big luxe trip, consider this the Jetsetter checklist of hotel must-haves, because once you know, you KNOW 🙂
The Ice Bucket Check™
If you’ve been following on instagram, you guys know this one. THE ICE BUCKET CHECK.
When I check into a hotel, one of the first things I’m judging you by is your ice bucket. Because, to me, the ice bucket is a great indicator of the level of service I can expect from your hotel.
For example, a 4-star hotel will usually have ice available to you, but you have to walk down the corridor to get to it. Not the most luxe experience. But fine. A five-star hotel will have ice available to you on demand via your hotel butler or the front desk, which is totally nice too – service is going to meet expectations and be there when you need it. But a “Jetset Seven” as I like to call the best-in-class, SEVEN star hotels that we sometimes come across, sets itself apart by having the ice bucket already filled for you when you check in. It’s rare. It’s elite. it’s LUXURY. and it’s everything. These hotels have already thought of what you may need before you need it, and you can expect that level of service throughout your stay there, which is what sets them apart.
Jetsetters need ice. For spritzes. For sodas. For the wine they brought with them in their suitcase to toast on the balcony during sunset. For hydrating after that long-haul flight. Bonus points if the bucket is chic and BIG as well. We love a big, filled ice bucket throughout our stay.
The Robes
Ok everyone knows that a luxury hotel essential is a plush robe. But have you ever stayed at a hotel with two robes (per person) suitable for different occasions? Some elite, Jetset Seven tier hotels will have a plush, after-shower robe that’s perfect for lounging around the room, and ANOTHER, thinner, more ‘tropical weather’ friendly robe that’s perfect for reading your book on the balcony.
We want thick, cozy, oversized robes that make us feel like we just stepped into our own private villa in the Maldives. (And yes, we clock the embroidery.) But you know what else we want? Options. The idea that you can not only have a big plush warm robe for inside, but a chic, patterned, tropical kimono-style robe for outside? LUXE.
Bonus points for baby robes. I love when a hotel has these!!!!
Welcome Drinks That Say “Welcome to your Home Away from Home, You Can Relax Now”
Luxury hotel essential: An arrival cocktail or chic signature refreshment as a part of the resort welcome experience
There is nothing more elite than arriving at a resort, being handed a chilled towel and a cocktail, and immediately feeling your shoulders drop. You’re home now.
Whether it’s fresh coconut water in Bali, an icey cold delicious margarita in Mexico, or a sparkling spritz in Lake Como, welcome drinks are a Jetsetter love language. We expect to be welcomed, not just checked in!
A Sense of Place
Hotel rooms to me should always have a ‘Sense of Place’. When I walk into a hotel, I don’t want to feel like I could be anywhere in the world, I want to feel deeply rooted in where I am. There should be touches throughout that not only FEEL like the destination, but also teach you about the destination.
The room, the lobby, the scent in the air – everything should feel uniquely like the destination. From locally sourced materials and regional art to cultural touches that tell a story, the best hotels give you a sense of belonging to the destination – even if it’s your first time there. It’s a detail that turns a hotel stay into an experience.
Take Six Senses Douro Valley in Portugal, for example. From the moment you arrive, you know you’re in wine country. The design whispers the story of the Douro: rustic yet refined countryside chic touches, Portuguese pottery, and curated wines from local vineyards at every turn. You’re not just in Portugal – you feel Portugal. The soul of the place is layered into every detail. And then you stay at a different Six Senses somewhere else in the world, and it feels completely different, completely unique, but reliably luxurious, and reliably like you are truly engrained in the destination you’re visiting.
This kind of intentionality in a luxury hotel stay doesn’t go unnoticed. It’s what makes you remember a hotel long after you’ve checked out, and what earns it a permanent spot on the ‘Jetset 7’ list.
Baby Amenities that Welcome Families like a Home Away from Home
Luxury hotel essential: Baby-friendly, family-friendly and toddler-friendly perks and thoughtful touches
If you love to travel with a baby, you know: the gear is endless. But the best hotels make it effortless for families, which makes them coming back year after year.
We’re talking thoughtful touches like real cribs (not flimsy playpens), blackout curtains, bottle warmers, baby-safe bath products, and even adorable toddler-sized robes. When a resort goes the extra mile to think about the entire family – down to the tiniest traveler – it’s not just appreciated, it’s remembered!!!! Did you know Montage Hotels have a program where you can request Uppababy products for free to use throughout your stay? From pack n’ plays to jogging strollers, it’s so nice!
I also loooove when a fancy resort lets kids eat for free – like at the Four Seasons Bora Bora, where kids under 5 eat every meal for free in any restaurant or by the pool! It’s such a great perk.
Traveling with kids doesn’t mean compromising on style. It means booking places that get it. And the hotels that welcome little jetsetters with open arms? Those are the ones we keep coming back to!!
✈️ Want more? Check out: The Best Resorts for Families in the USA and the Caribbean
Above & Beyond Touches
Things that make you go ‘wow’. Such as the Ritz Paris monograms your pillowcases with your initials. And when you ask them curiously what they do with the pillowcases after your stay, they’ll respond “We save them for your next stay, Ms. Haisfield”. These little things are about creating a feeling that you’re not just another guest, you’re welcomed in your home away from home. It’s personalization of your experience at its finest. And once you’ve experienced it, anything less feels like a letdown. It’s not standard service, it’s thoughtful magic, that all the Jetset Seven’s do best.
The One & Only Reethi Rah in the Maldives asked subtly what my baby son’s favorite toy’s name was, when they saw he was carrying around Sophie the Giraffe, and then proceeded to monogram a ‘bed’ for her in our room, complete with “Sophie” embroidered on it. Are you kidding? So cute.
The seven-star is the hotel that knows your name, remembers your preferences, anticipates your movements, and finds ways to impress you. These are the moments when hospitality isn’t just service—it’s connection.
Great Wine Glasses in the Room!
Luxury hotel essential: Amazing glassware in the room! (As well as at the hotel restaurants, of course)
I didn’t carry a carefully chosen bottle of red across an ocean to drink it out of a thick-rimmed wine glass that feels like it belongs in a Holiday Inn. Give. Me. A. Real. Glass!
The thin-rimmed kind with a long stem and a chic big bowl. Jetset-7-star level hotels will have AMAZING wine glasses waiting for you in the room, ready for whenever you want to enjoy a sunset toast or an after-dinner nightcap. And they’ll have a custom wine opener ready as well, with the hotel’s name.
Honorable Mentions:
Turndown service with something special – whether it’s a treat, a bedtime tea, or something culturally significant from the place you’re visiting.
Dyson hair dryers. Because the travel-sized buzzers of doom are unacceptable.
Slippers that actually feel good!!!!!
Charging outlets next to the bed. Not across the room behind the TV. And outlets that have a USB-C? Chef’s kiss.
A skincare refigerator – yes I’ve had this before in a resort in the Maldives and it was SO extra and SO CHIC.
Jetsetters Don’t Settle
We’re not high-maintenance, we have high-standards when we’re spending on a luxury vacation.
We’ve seen what’s possible in a luxury hotel stay, and now we hold every luxury hotel to that level. Not because we’re picky… but because we’ve experienced travel done right. And once you know what a truly thoughtful, luxurious stay feels like? There’s no going back! Especially when you’re spending your hard-earned money on an expensive hotel room.
This is your unofficial checklist. Your @JetstChristina travel club starter pack. Now that you know some of these Jetset stamps of approval, welcome to the Jetsetters.
Because if you know, you know.
Recommended Reading:
The best luxury resorts in the world
The best private islands in the world
The Ultimate Luxury Travel Guide to Doing Bali With Kids
Jetset Christina’s Travel Essentials for Moms
Traveling With a Nanny: What to Know
