During #BlogGambia I was lucky enough to stay at Ngala Lodge, a lovely boutique hotel, perched on the rust-coloured cliffs overlooking the Atlantic Ocean. I’ve stayed here a few times now and it is one of my all-time-favourite hotels; the suites are very spacious and comfortable, the staff are superb, the grounds lovely, the food excellent and the other guests I have met here are always interesting and sociable.
The view from the Ngala Lodge gardens
But what makes the perfect hotel? Not the easiest of questions to answer as each one of us looks for different things in a hotel and for me it also depends on where I am visiting and why.
City breaks
If I’m in a city such as Rome or Paris, as long as the hotel reaches a minimum standard of cleanliness, comfort and value for money, the location is probably the most important thing to me as, as I’ll be intending to be out and about exploring as much as possible and in the evening it is great to have some good restaurants close at hand, especially if I am travelling alone.
When I visited Rome last September my hotel was conveniently near the Spanish Steps and some wonderful restaurants as well as a metro station
Relaxing escapes
When I visit a beach resort and intend to have some down time relaxing than I find it isn’t just the hotel itself or its staff that make a hotel for me it is also the other guests. I really enjoy chatting to people who I find interesting and have a similar outlook to me. While I’ll happily spend an occasional morning on the beach, I’m not there to top up my tan, I want to get to know the local culture and people, but I also enjoy getting to know other guests and hearing about their adventures.
Another lovely, although more basic, hotel in The Gambia, Sunset Beach – what a setting!
Last year when I had my first experience of staying in an all-inclusive hotel it was the other guests that let the hotel down for me. They would completely ignore me if I said good morning as I passed them in the hotel grounds or even if I held a door open for someone, well, I might as well have been invisible.
Business trips
More recently, for me at least, another priority has raised its head… free and reliable Wi-Fi. A symptom of my addiction to travel blogging and the associated social media malarkey! For anyone who regularly works online this is an obvious must and I do begrudge paying for it when you have already paid for the hotel. Everyone on the recent #BlogGambia trip found the lack of reliable internet restricting but that is not uncommon in developing countries.
My Ngala Lodge ‘office’ throughout #BlogGambia
Hotel reviews
One thing I always do when I’m looking for a hotel in a new destination, is to check out <hotel review sites to see whether other travellers recommend, or equally important, have any severe objections to, any of the hotels I’m considering. While some of these sites are certainly open to abuse, if this is kept in mind, I find them an extremely useful tool.
What makes the perfect hotel for you?
The location, the cuisine, the staff or even the other guests? I’d love to hear what floats-your-boat when it comes to the perfect getaway.
The food at Ngala Lodge is not only delicious but also beautifully presented (and very bad for my waisteline).
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Value and location are usually the most important things for me – I’m usually on a bit of a budget but looking for interesting touches that reflect the local area and nice luxury touches.
I’m afraid wi-fi is a must for me nowadays too! If it’s a city hotel then it has to be in a very central location – this cost is usually offset by the saving in transport in and out of the city anyway.
That’s quite possibly true regarding the cost and if you are are only there for a long weekend, which is often the case for me, then I’d rather not be wasting my time sitting on buses or the tube or stuck in the traffic in a taxi.
Perfect hotel means perfect food, perfect ambiance, perfect hygiene and above all perfect services. A hotel which provides this combination of things is best.
All this at a reasonable price, in a great location with reliable and free Wi-Fi…. am I asking too much? 😉
I usually look for a clean economical place to sleep that is close to a lot of excellent food options. I use Trip Advisor all the time to read other traveler’s reviews to make informed decisions. How did we ever travel before the internet? And I am currently using my hotel’s free internet to read my favorite blogs. 🙂
It’s hard to believe that the internet has only been around for about twenty years. We certainly relied on guide books a lot more then although I still like to have a guide book in my hand rather than just using the internet.
The two things I usually look for in hotels are comfort and affordability. I don’t mind spending extra dollars for added comfort but it should be affordable and the price should be reasonable enough. With these two parameters I could say that a particular hotel is already perfect for me. Thanks for sharing your insights.
You are right to point out that “the perfect hotel” is going to be a) different for different people, and b) even different for the same person, depending on different needs.
Most commonly I travel with family so I enjoy hotels where there is plenty for them to see and do, places where we can get time to relax, a good location, a spacious room with a view, friendly staff/service, great food and reliable WiFi as from time to time I need to keep tabs on work when I’m away.
I don’t ask for much. 😉
Did I mention that Ngala Lodge is a child free zone unless you rent all 18 suites! I’ve never had children so that’s the one thing I don’t consider but of course that is a major consideration for many. I would suggest Mandina Lodges in The Gambia if you could do without Wi-Fi – most older children would love it there!! Kombo Beach or Sunset Beach are both good family options if you are looking for more mid-range accommodation. I’m starting to sound like a sales rep so enough of that!
Good to hear about your ‘perfect hotel’ requirements. Have you found it yet?