How To Travel Like You Run The Hotel

Luxury travel specialist Ruwaida Abela Northen shares her insider tips & tricks that’ll ensure you get the most out of your holiday…

Be Known Before You Arrive

The best hotel stays begin before you even check in. Always email ahead – your flight details, pillow preferences, and the ‘why’ behind your trip. Is it a celebration? Say so. The right teams will make magic happen. Great ones will do it quietly.

I always say: “If you’re planning to place any amenities in the room, I prefer savoury over sweet.” And just like that, I walk into a beautiful cheese board, marinated olives, or little smoked salmon sandwiches – instead of a sad-looking cake I didn’t ask for and won’t touch for three days. Sugary desserts are a default. Savoury platters are a profile.

And pre-arrival notes? That’s where you begin writing the story of your stay. In the Maldives, a butler once called the previous resort we’d stayed at to ask how my four children slept – and adjusted our entire villa set-up to match. I didn’t ask. I didn’t even know – until I walked in, noticed everything felt right, and asked him. That kind of care? It’s un-Googleable. It’s human.

Unpack, Always

Your room is your sanctuary, not a stopover. Unpack your bags. Hang your clothes. Set out your skincare. Light a candle (if you’re allowed). I run hot water through the coffee machine twice before brewing anything. And I never touch the kettle.

Travel Essentials

A cashmere wrap; planes are cold, hotels colder.

A travel adapter that actually works.

Your own toothpaste. Because those grainy ‘eco’ ones some hotels use under the guise of sustainability are simply cheap. And I’ve got standards.

A tiny foldable stand for my phone or Kindle. For room service trays, nightstands, and long-haul flights. Trust me.

Antibacterial wipes or scented towelettes. I’m not a germaphobe, but I’m also not touching that remote.

A satin pouch with safety pins, double-sided tape, and fashion tape. You’re either the one who saves the day, or the one who’s saved. I prefer the former.

Cashmere socks for in-room rituals. Slippers are cute, but comfort is serious business.

An emergency fancy outfit. Because you never know when an unexpected invitation turns into something unforgettable.

And a thank-you card. Handwritten and left at check-out. It’s earned me upgrades, welcome notes, and more than a few wonderful reunions.

Upgrade Without Asking

Politeness is underrated. Say: “If there’s anything available, I’d really appreciate it – but no worries if not.” That tone alone unlocks doors. The best upgrades go to those who ask nicely and don’t expect it. And, always pick a view over square footage. Waking up to the buzz of the Spanish Steps beats a massive suite overlooking a courtyard any day.

Eat Local

When ordering room service late at night, skip the usual club sandwich, burger, or pizza. Trust me. The chefs working overnight are usually still in training – often the least experienced on the team. But here’s the thing: they’re also usually local. Which means they’ll absolutely nail a dish from their own culture. So, if there’s a local curry, soup, or home-style special on the menu? That’s your best bet. And it’s usually the best bite of the trip.

The Greatest Luxury Isn’t Always the Obvious One

We stayed at the most luxurious hotel in Costa Esmeralda, Sardinia. Impeccable service, super yacht views, guests with titles and black cards.

But the moment we still talk about? A private cooking class in a tiny village. Just us, a Sardinian nonna, hand- kneaded pasta, red wine, flour everywhere. No spa menu. No dress code. Just the luxury of time, of togetherness, of feeling human again. Do your research.

Make the Staff Your Allies

Want the best table? The quietest room? Local secrets? Be kind. Talk to the team. Ask what they love about the destination. And always – always – go back and share your feedback about their recommendations.

Once, housekeeping noticed my favourite boots had mud on them after I walked the city in the rain. They had them cleaned and waiting, without me asking. You don’t forget gestures like that.

Travel Like You’ll Come Back

Because if you do it right, you will. And when they greet you by name, offer your favourite table, or bring over a chess board because they remembered you and your husband like to play – that’s the invisible upgrade.

They Know!

Everything you say, do, ask for, send back, complain about, praise, wear, tip, or leave behind – it all goes in your guest profile. And not just ‘notes.’ Real-time updates. Comments. Judgments.

And guess what? The team reads them out loud. At the morning briefing the next day. In front of everyone from the GM to the night duty manager, the front office, housekeeping, and even engineering.

That “kindly declined turn-down service” might be recorded as “slightly paranoid.” Hotel staff are trained to monitor rooms that constantly have the DND on for safety reasons. That “room too cold, wanted a different suite” could become “difficult guest, avoid offering upgrades.” That “sent the Caesar salad back twice” becomes “high-maintenance traveller, flag for F&B.”

So, when you think no one’s watching? Think again. And they’re taking notes which will be in your global profile if you’re staying in a chain hotel. So don’t do or say anything that you don’t want ten strangers to talk about the next day. Be gracious. Be curious. Be the guest they’re genuinely happy to see again – the one who asks the right questions, tips with intention, and says thank you like they mean it.

The secret to travelling like you run the hotel? Don’t act like you do. Just travel like someone who respects the people who actually do.

Imagery Supplied

From Harper’s Bazaar Arabia July/ August 2025 Issue