3 luxury hotel secrets from The Peninsula Beverly Hills

“It’s like Ritz-Carlton on steroids,” Kari said after we checked into The Peninsula Beverly Hills.

She was right.

In just the few minutes since we’d arrived, we experienced a few of the things that set this luxury resort apart from the rest, including the über-personalized service (there’s a personal assistant assigned to you for the duration of your stay) the fingertip bedside controls that regulate temperature and mood-lighting, and and the over-the-top amenities, like the monogrammed pillowcases.

Not that we’ve never seen anything like this. We have, here and there. Terrific service can be experienced at a bed and breakfast, a one-star, a five-diamond. The hotel industry has no shortage of amenities — some good, some totally unnecessary.

But no one puts it all together quite like The Peninsula.

Here are a three luxury hotel secrets perfected by this resort:

✓ We’ll do it your way. When we checked in, a receptionist asked us when we wanted the room cleaned and when we preferred turndown service. If you think the average hotel is too big to offer that level of customization, think again. At 196 guest rooms, The Peninsula is no small resort.

✓ Your secret’s safe with us. Discretion is a word that’s used a lot. (The villas have “discreet” entrances, and guests are promised complete confidentiality at the hotel. I don’t know how many Peninsula guests actually crave anonymity; it seems to contradict the very thing that defines Beverly Hills: celebrity. But discretion may just be another way of saying we’ll make you feel special.

✓ The little things matter. Of all the creature comforts, the one that impressed us the most was (drumroll, please) … the towels. They are incredible. Oversized, soft, fluffy and there are more of them than you’ll ever need. I can’t remember the last time I didn’t have to ration towels (two to a kid). Not here.

I haven’t experienced anything like this since checking into the Wheatleigh a few months ago. Looking at my schedule, I don’t expect I’ll see anything like it again for a while.

A word or two of advice: Although The Peninsula is child-friendly, it wasn’t built with kids in mind. The guests here value peace and quiet and discretion, so if you’re thinking of checking in with children, particularly young ones, do have a talk with them about being on their best behavior.

We did. It didn’t really work.

Also, this isn’t a DIY kinda place, which is to say, you have to accept having someone carry your luggage or help you out of your car, or really, do anything. (We are do-it-yourselfers, and we really had to let go.)

If you can live with that — and I know, it’s a hardship! — then the Peninsula is something that must be experienced.

  • Ed

    “like the monogrammed pillowcases.”
    Monogrammed with which monogram? The guest’s initials, or the hotels? If the pillow cases have my initial monogrammed on it, then *THAT* is impressive!

  • Adriel

    I really dislike that whole ‘insistent service’ thing. I like to think that if I want to lay a tip on a doorman or a luggage handler, the least they could do is back the heck off and consider my money as compensation for letting me do it my own self if I want to!

    There have been times (sprained ankle) that I appreciate someone else rolling my heavy luggage down the hall for me. Otherwise, I grew up in a very self-sufficient household, and it really makes me uncomfortable to have someone very dedictated to doing something I KNOW I can handle myself. (Please note I’m not including services like turn-downs or room cleaning – more the ‘required’ baggage handling and valet service, the over-solicitious guide to – and into – my room, opening the menu at the table for me… that sort of thing.)

    It all simply sets my nerves on edge, which is the last thing I would suppose a resort atmosphere is designed to encourage. I know, it’s all quite horrible to have things taken care of for me. Still, if one of the selling points is that they provide personalized service, and my personality prefers LESS service, why can’t they do that for me? After all, it’s not like I’ll pay or tip less for them leaving me alone.

  • Dallas Road Warrior

    You don’t have to go to Beverly Hills for this type of service. Stay at any Fairmont property. As a member of the Presidents Club (no special requirements to belong, just fill out an application) you have an assigned concierge who not only checks you in but personally takes you to your room so you can inspect it. If you don’t like the room they will assign you another. They too have great towels ( I have a pet peeve about three towels in a double or King room ) and you get to choose your bed pillows, foam, feather, hypo-allergetic, etc. In addition to how many, the type of newspapers you would like delivered to your room and they also ask when you would like the room serviced. Anything you can’t think of or have forgotten, all you have to do is call your concierge and your request is addressed.

    The best part is that they are competitive in price with Hyatt and Marriott class properties so you do not have to “splurge” for the additional pampering and amenities you recieve with Fairmont.