As hotel charges increase, many travelers have a decreasing tolerance of the nickle-and-dime approach so much in evidence in many rooms. After paying $300 for a room, should it really be necessary to cough up more cash for a bottle of water or a soft drink?
Hotel Missoni in Edinburgh provides some basic amenities like snacks, soft drinks, mainstream movies, wireless Internet and even laundry service at no charge. A room for the night there costs more than $200, but at least they see amenities as opportunities to please their guests rather than simply potential streams of revenue.
Hotels appear to be getting this message, and many of the new or renovated properties provide wireless Internet and other services at no charge. Let's hope they don't simply raise the room rates and then call these items "freebies."
