Chitika

Friday, July 15, 2011

The Hotels You Never Tire Of

By Adriana Noton


Hotels are a form of short term lodging usually associated with travel or incidental to business or recreational travel. While in years past they offered the barest of amenities, today many have all the comforts of home. In fact some guests have made themselves at home there for decades at a time.

In the beginning the rooms were furnished with only a bed, cupboard, table and chair, wash basin and pitcher. Later on communal baths became available down the hall. These were places to sleep only.

Over time more amenities were included as new technologies like telephones, televisions, alarm clocks, coffee makers, irons, hair dryers, refrigerators, air conditioners, and the internet were developed and became standard accessories. Luxury facilities became competitive in their wooing of guests and ratings.

They now offer such things as fitness gyms, swimming pools, spas, gourmet dining rooms and room service, child care, dry cleaning, meeting rooms, newspaper, massage, beauty shops, and various forms of entertainment. Some have gambling casinos, live entertainment shows. Concierge service are available to give advice and directions, or make arrangements for the guest.

If fact some people have extended their easygoing stays in their favorite resort or other lodgings for years. Everything you might enjoy at home can be made available at some inns, with a 24 hour staff included and with the freedom from chores and concerns like house cleaning, maintenance, and yard work. The purchase of all the equipment, tools, and supplies needed to operate a household becomes unnecessary. Things like cookware, linens, vacuums, are not needed. It may be unnecessary even to have a car.

These have been mostly people who have the means to pay for the convenience of having others waiting on them. Many have been actors who may have first become accustomed to this style of living while filming on location. Larry Fine of Three Stooges fame lived for years in hotels with his wife and raised his daughter there. British actor Richard Harris was a long term resident, Egyptian actor Ahmad Zaki lived his last 15 years there, and American actress Elaine Stritch lived for over a decade in one.

The novelist Vladimere Nabokov and his wife lived in one in Russia from 1961 until his death in 1977. The electrical inventor, Nicola Tesla resided there during the last decade of his life, and died there. Coco Chanel, the fashion designer resided there for more than three decades. General Douglas McArthur died there after a 14 year residence.

Jack Lyons, a British entrepreneur, lived in one for many years. Howard Hughes, the eccentric millionaire stayed in them during much of his life. In 1948 he spent $11 million at one for one year's lodging for him and his entourage. He lived the last ten years of his life as a recluse in various hotels in Beverly Hills, Las Vegas, Boston, London, Vancouver, Nicaragua, the Bahamas, and Mexico.

Hotels today provide the amenities some people desire in a permanent home. The lifestyle they afford is free of any concerns about home maintenance or household chores.




About the Author:



No comments:

Post a Comment