I love hotels! They really can make you feel at home when you travel. Come along with me as I share stories of some of the best hotels I’ve encountered during my travels.  

I’ve always loved hotels. When I was a little girl, my parents would take my sister, Catherine, and me on frequent trips. Sometimes, it was just a quick weekend getaway. Other times, it was for trips with my dad’s cattle business, and the hotel—or a motel in the late 60s/early 70s—was the highlight of every trip. We looked forward to the next trip with anticipation!

I’m posing with my mom (holding my sister) in a hotel room in early 1967.

The Fascination with Hotels Continues

I’ve never gotten over that fascination with hotel rooms. I adore those little soaps and am fascinated by the amenities you find in hotel rooms. As journalist Bill Bryson says, “It amazes me that I still get excited in hotel rooms just to see what kind of shampoo they’ve left me.”

I get that.

My husband says I’m a hotel snob, and I’m guilty as charged. I ADORE nice hotels. Some people feel it’s a waste of money to splurge on a nice hotel while on vacation because you only sleep in the room. But that hotel room is my sanctuary while I’m away from home. Some of my most memorable travel moments revolve around the exceptional hospitality I’ve received at hotels, from the super luxurious to the more budget-friendly stays. The wow moments usually occur when someone reaches out during a time of need. Here are several of my most memorable hotel experiences.

Château de la Messardière, St. Tropez

One of my most unforgettable trips was the first time I flew alone to France. I was excited but anxious to be so far from home and alone. I was staying at the gorgeous Château de la Messardière in St. Tropez. Seriously, it’s a dream destination in a beautiful luxury chateau. When I arrived, the general manager, a lovely British gentleman named Gerald Hardy, met me and showed me around. I was impressed by Mr. Hardy—he called other guests by name as we passed them. He also spoke to every employee with the same grace and respect, whether it was the young man polishing the banisters, the chef with his two Michelin stars, or the doorman.

Château de la Messardière near St. Tropez, France. Photo courtesy Château de la Messardière

Mr. Hardy and I spent a wonderful evening over dinner, telling each other our stories. Even though I was an experienced traveler, I told him during dinner that it was my first solo trip to Europe, and I felt a bit anxious. He reassured me that Château de la Messardière was the perfect start to my journey, but told me to call him if I needed anything. He gave me his card and let me know that he would be the manager on duty for the evening, so I should feel free to call. Jet lag can be brutal, especially when traveling across multiple time zones. Combining that with my first solo international trip jitters, I had difficulty sleeping.

A Kind Gesture

At about 4 AM, I wanted something warm—hot tea. I realized nothing was in the room, so I called the front desk. To my surprise, Mr. Hardy answered. I asked him if there was a place to get a cup of tea. At that point, I was hoping for a hot water dispenser and a tea bag, but he reassured me the hotel would bring me a pot of tea. After asking if I was okay with Earl Grey and if I preferred milk, he told me it would just be a few moments. About 10 minutes later, I answered the knock to Mr. Hardy, holding a tray filled with Earl Grey tea and steamed milk. He set the tray down, and the aroma of hot tea and pastries filled me with an incredible sense of gratitude. He pointed to a plate of beautiful croissants. “I hope you don’t mind, but the pastry chef took hot croissants from the oven for breakfast, so I added two for you.”

Did I mind? I almost cried.

A Cup of Tea Saves the Day

Mr. Hardy poured me a lovely cup of tea, suggested I doze a bit, and reminded me that I had until 10:30 to come down for breakfast as he left me alone. As I sipped my warm cup of tea, I curled up on the sofa and nibbled on the most amazing pain au chocolat and flaky, buttery croissant of my life.

I slept beautifully for a few hours and emerged refreshed in time for breakfast. Although Mr. Hardy had left after his night on duty, he had notified the assistant manager about my night, who checked in on me to ensure everything was okay.

I kept in touch with Mr. Hardy until his passing a few years ago. Every year, I received a lovely Christmas card, and I wrote about Château de la Messardière countless times in various publications.

Aerial view of Château de la Messardière. Photo courtesy Château de la Messardière

Texas Hospitality

I have two Texas hotels that saved the day for us, both during snowstorms. Yep, snowstorms in Texas. The first was ten years ago—in December 2013. I had flown into Texas for a press trip to Grapevine, TX, where the adventure started.

Snowmaggedon in Grapevine, TX

Grapevine—the Christmas Capital of Texas—wanted us to experience all the fun Christmas activities, so we flew in the first week of December.

Grapevine, TX, is the Christmas Capital of Texas. Photo by Bill Graham

That same afternoon, I discovered that a good friend had passed away from cancer, so I was feeling very sad being away from Bill. I called him and was very upset, but I told him I would be okay with a busy schedule over the coming days to preoccupy me. We discussed the possibility of snow, which was forecast for the Dallas area starting later that night.

I gathered myself and joined my group for dinner. We had a great first night at dinner, with the weather forecast at the forefront of the conversation. Now, the Dallas, Texas, area is not accustomed to snow, so any accumulation shuts down the city, so we were hoping it wouldn’t snow. As I enjoyed the meal with my fellow travelers and the folks from the Grapevine Convention and Visitors Bureau, I didn’t realize that (1) it was snowing heavier and (2) my husband, who worked for American Airlines at the time, had hopped on a plane for Dallas to be with me.

Yes, It Snows in Texas

We finished dinner and returned to our hotel—the Hilton DFW Lakes Executive Conference Center. By then, the snow was falling heavily, and we agreed to meet for breakfast the next morning. Our host, Leigh Lyons, would let us know the schedule and if it needed to be changed because of the weather. My husband arrived, much to my surprise, at about midnight. It had taken him forever to get there. He got a seat on the very last plane, arriving in DFW for what would turn out to be several days, and finally found an Uber to bring him the few miles to the hotel. He said the ride had been long and grueling and warned that the roads were getting treacherous.

The Hotel and Grapevine Convention & Visitors Bureau Shine Through

We woke up the next morning to a winter wonderland. Grapevine was living up to its name as the Christmas Capital of Texas–the only catch was that we couldn’t leave the hotel to experience it. Everything was shut down. No vehicles were coming or going. Streets were impassable with layers of ice and snow. The hotel’s employees were stuck in the hotel. We dubbed the experience Snowmaggedon.

It could have been a disaster. Instead, I’ve never had a better trip. Not only was Leigh, on behalf of the Grapevine CVB, the most fantastic host, but everyone at the hotel made us feel welcome. We were all in this together. We spent our days in the hotel bar—Bonnie & Clyde’s Hideout—playing games, telling stories, and yes, drinking. The staff ate in the restaurants and slept in available rooms because no one could go anywhere. We all became neighbors over those few days.

When the weather finally allowed, we headed to play on even more ice. This time at ICE! at The Gaylord Texan. Photo by Susan Lanier-Graham

I will never forget the hospitality we felt during our stay. Several years later, in 2017, Bill and I moved to Dallas with American Airlines. We lived a few miles from Grapevine, and I would frequently stroll the streets, always feeling a special bond with the city because of that winter. And yes, I finally got to enjoy the fantastic experience of Grapevine at Christmas.

Stuck in Texas During the 2021 Blizzard

But…surprisingly…that wasn’t my only snow encounter in the Dallas area.

As I mentioned, we moved to Dallas in 2017 and rented a home on Lake Carolyn in the Las Colinas region of Irving, about 15 minutes from DFW airport. During COVID, my husband retired from the airline, and in late 2020, we decided to return to Arizona. We made arrangements to move and were counting down the days. We had everything all planned out…and then the snowstorm of 2021 hit. The storm dumped about a foot of snow on us in Irving and – once again – left roads impassable.

The snow kept coming in February 2021. Photo by Susan Lanier-Graham

We Had No Water!

Most people in Dallas lost power, and many places lost water when water lines froze. Our apartment complex was without power for only a few hours, but the water lines froze in the apartments and between the complex and the city. We were without water and told we wouldn’t have water for the rest of the ten days before our move.

I called hotels. Any hotels in the area that had power were sold out. I had met the manager of Marriott Dallas Las Colinas a few months earlier and had her phone number, so I called her and asked if there was even one room available. After explaining our situation, she told me one room was available. I booked it immediately. We packed a few clothes and laptops and headed a mile to the hotel.

Mind you, this was in the middle of COVID. In February 2021, there were no vaccines, and there had been a sharp spike in infections. We hadn’t been inside a restaurant in almost a year. We were nervous, but we had no alternative given the situation.

A Hotel Staff Saves the Day

The hotel staff was terrific. Guests were there because of the storm. The restaurant was closed, but the bar was open, serving a limited menu.

The bartender knew each of us by name, and the guests became familiar faces. We all spent our days wandering between our rooms and at tables scattered around the lobby. It was the first time many of us had been with other people in months, and the staff accommodated us for anything we needed.

Lobby bar at Marriott Dallas Las Colinas. Photo by Susan Lanier-Graham

If you fly in and out of DFW and have an overnight, I recommend staying at the Marriott Las Colinas. It has easy access to all the great restaurants at the Toyota Music Factory and the restaurants on N. O’Connor Blvd. And, as a side note, stop for dinner at Hugo’s Invitados and order the Crackling Pollo. It’s one of the most flavorful dishes ever!

Mandapa, a Ritz-Carlton Reserve, Ubud, Bali

A final example is Mandapa, a Ritz-Carlton Reserve in Ubud, Bali. Under any circumstances, this is a magnificent property, hugging the banks of the Ayung River, surrounded by lush forests but close to the center of Ubud. The intimate retreat has 35 luxurious suites and 25 private pool villas, each with its own Patih (butler).

Entry gates at Mandapa, Ubud, Bali. Photo courtesy Ritz-Carlton

Not Your Average Travel Experience

When we arrived, however, it was under extraordinary circumstances. The day before our big trip to Bali, my husband had a nasty fall about 7 feet from the top of a ladder onto our gravel yard. Fortunately, he didn’t break anything, but couldn’t put weight on one leg. We decided to take the trip, arranging for a wheelchair to transport him on and off the airplanes and through the terminals. We arrived in Bali and spent a few days at a resort overlooking Jimbaran Bay before heading to Ubud. By then, Bill was doing better, walking with crutches.

We arrived at Mandapa, and our butler, a lovely young woman who had received her training in Switzerland, met us and immediately wanted to pamper us. She was particularly concerned about Bill, hobbling around on his crutches. After the first day there, Bill graduated to a cane and walked more, trying to exercise his leg.

We were staying in a magnificent riverfront private pool villa. It had a beautiful Balinese garden with an outdoor shower, a soaking tub, a separate house with a living/dining area, and a private pool with stunning views down the river bottom.

We stayed in a one-bedroom pool villa. Photo courtesy Ritz-Carlton

An Incredible Staff

But, as spectacular as that room was, the kindness of our butler and the staff made this an exceptional experience. Bill walked up the hill from our villa to the main lodge to exercise. As he left our villa, the gardener working just outside offered to take him up the hill in the golf cart. Bill refused and explained he wanted to walk. He had two or three others offer to give him a ride as he made his way up the mountain.

As he arrived at the main lodge, our butler greeted him with a cool cloth and drink—and insisted on bringing him back down the hill in the golf cart and helping him into our villa.

The welcome pavilion in the main lodge. Photo courtesy Ritz-Carlton

The entire stay was like that. The staff greeted us by name each day we arrived at the restaurant. I asked about mangosteens, my favorite fruit in the world. They told me it was early in the season, but I had a plate of fresh mangosteens waiting at breakfast the next morning. It was a stay made even more incredible by that staff.

The Best Hotels Make You Feel Welcome

In the words of Maya Angelou, “People will forget what you said, forget what you did, but people will never forget how you made them feel.”

We welcome you to explore more of our favorite hotels and resorts on Wander With Wonder.