Details of Five Star Living

An afternoon bouquet of roses.

As I said before, I'm getting used to this hotel living again. For the most part, I travel very low brow. The Red Roof Inn has been my friend for many years and while I enjoy nights (and days) at the Halekulani in Waikiki, it's rare that I splurge to stay there.

Every once in a while, I Priceline my accommodations and land nice hotels are heavily discounted rates only to complain that I'm getting nickel and dime'd on Internet fees, parking fees, water bottles and the litany of fees that accompany a la carte living.

At the Kampala Serena, I'm surrounded in luxury. From the linens to the pillows to the bedding and everything else. All my desires are cared for. I need a car to take me to the airport tomorrow? Mike is only too happy to arrange a complimentary car to take me in the morning, but he also insists that the driver take me an hour earlier to tour their other facility: the Victoria Serena Lodge near Entebbe. Very generous.


Thank you, Frankline.

After a long week of training and judging, I'm surprised and delighted to find an arrangement of fresh pink roses in my room. It's a nice and unexpected touch.

Soon after, one of my attendants rings the doorbell to ask if she can "turn down" the room for me. She's someone that I haven't seen all week as the turndown has been done while I've been elsewhere in the city. She's quick, efficient, friendly and has my curtains drawn, slippers and a floor towel laid out, throw pillows put away, sheets pulled down and fresh bottles of water and clean drinking glasses laid out before my ten minute Chris Rock clip is finished on YouTube.

I didn't notice it earlier in the day but there's also the note from Frankline Nyakundi, Rooms Division Manager apologizing for any inconvenience they will cause me by moving the Business Center to one of the lounges while they renovate that room - in January 2011.

I'm going to miss the leather-wrapped clock, the room service and at-will ice service. I leave tomorrow for another hotel in another country and I've remembered the most discomforting thing about Five Star Living: leaving.