small indulgences

[ovrclokd]

my company has some kind of corporate relationship with starwood hotels, so i end up staying frequently at a sheraton or westin. i've been elite in their loyalty program for a couple years now, so i get the preferred-guest rooms with the fancy toiletries... including body wash. which i never used to use, but tparnell and jpenamelist turned me on to the joys of a

Comments

[secretsoflife]

my uncle is a big muck-muck at gilchrist and soames. it's a fascinating industry :)

[ovrclokd]

omg, they make my favorite soap ever! (spa oatmeal soap - altho i love their aloe vera soap, too.) my favorite thing about interop being held in vegas is getting to stock up on oatmeal soap at the mandalay bay - i got about a dozen of them last year, which would have cost about $40 online. this year i'm seriously considering asking my coworkers to save 'em up for me - i'll get incredible amounts of teased about it, but it'll be worth it.

[indigo_rose99]

Ok, what am I doing wrong?

I mostly stay at hotels internationally and I get the crapola toiletries. The current hotel I am in has soap in a bottle that is nailed to the wall. Yes, really. Ditto on the shampoo/body wash (yes, really one item. Ugh.). If it smells, it is like chemicals. Ugh. SO not touching my hair.

I will say that I am happily traveling with Lush products. Lush's solid shampoo, conditioner, and massage bars feel great, smell good, work well with my hair and body and do not count as liquids in my carry-on. But of course I had to pay for them.

I actually find that US domestic hotels have better body products than the international hotels I stay in. Perhaps it is the upgrade thing you mentioned? Yes, I am a member of at least 10 hotel clubs. No special status on any of them. I think. I vary chains too frequently.

[ovrclokd]

international starwood hotels have nice stuff. international non-starwood hotels seem to be hit or miss. i really liked the toiletries that i got when we stayed at killashee house for cosac - elemis sharp shower and body lotion. but the nice novotel had, basically, cheap crap.

i've looked at the lush stuff, but it's hard to justify paying for wash stuff when i get so much of it for free... (except my ouidad hair products, which are the only things standing between my hair and madness.)

are you staying at business hotels when you travel internationally? i find that most of the major chains - hyatt, marriott, hilton - have decent stuff no matter where i'm staying.

[indigo_rose99]

I do stay at business hotels when I travel internationally.

I am currently in a Clarion. In most countries I stay in Hilton, Radisson, Crowne Plaza, and Shangri La. My customers do not seem to have relationships with hotel chains. Just with airlines. I am a member of Hilton HHonors, Hyatt, Choice Privileges, Priority Club (as gold, I think), Starwood Preferred, and Marriott Rewards. So far my memberships have gotten me fresh fruit and once an entry to a gym. No spiffy bath products. *wistful sigh*

[lintqueen]

Oh -- I am a 'ho for the hotel toiletries too! The good ones I hoard, massively (the Triton in San Fran used to have really nice ones...feh, can't remember who they were by tho).

I second the Lush recommendation, though. Their solid shampoos are excellent for travel!

[ovrclokd]

expedia thinks the triton has aveda... always a good choice. :)

[sclatter]

I got Molton Brown stuff once at a hotel in the US, down near Palm Springs when I was there for a horse show. It was lovely. :-)

[ovrclokd]

yup. it really amazes me what a difference such a little thing can make... i've been happy all day because my hair smells nice (as in, a different nice than usual which makes it noticeable).

[thewronghands]

I'll keep an eye out -- I generally bring all my own toiletries, so I just ignore the hotel's. Now I'll pay attention, though.