38 Most Popular Hotel Amenities Explained

Hotel amenities have been around since the dawn of hospitality. According to the Guinness Book of World Records, Nisiyama Onsen Keiunkan is the world’s oldest hotel, dating back to 705 AD, and it’s famous for offering guests luxurious hot spring baths. For many, the basic function of a hotel is simply a place to sleep overnight. But with the right amenities, a hotel can quickly transform into the destination itself.

What Are Hotel Amenities?

Hotel amenities are provisions, services, and facilities offered to guests for use during their stay, beyond the basic hotel room function. Amenities have evolved over time to follow traveler trends. For example, alarm clocks have been replaced with SMART speakers, SMART TVs are phasing out basic flat-screen models, and single-use toiletries are being swapped for refillable dispensers.

For some hotels, like Nisiyama Onsen Keiunkan, it’s the hot spring amenity that defines the hotel. For others, it could be a rooftop terrace like at the Arthouse Hotel NYC. Or it could be a water park like at Jamaica’s Sunset Beach Resort. Luxury hotel amenities can be anything from private beach access at The Savoy Hotel in Miami to a helipad and golf course at the Luttrellstown Castle Resort. 

Other amenities have become basic necessities, such as free wifi and free breakfast, which are considered the most-wanted hotel amenities by Condé Nast Traveler.

Are Hotel Amenities Always Free?

Hotel amenities enhance the value of a hotel room. Even though they feel like a free bonus to your stay, many hotels actually charge fees to cover the operating costs of their amenities. Resort fees, sometimes called amenity fees, are the most common way guests are charged for hotel amenities, whether they use them or not. Alternatively, the cost may already be priced into the room rate and not visible on your final bill.

Sometimes, hotel amenities aren’t available to all guests. Hotels may offer amenities available only to a particular segment of their guests—think status members or guests staying in premium rooms. Exclusive hotel amenities are a way for hotels to encourage guests to sign up for their rewards programs or to reserve a higher-tier room.

Popular Hotel Amenities to Look For

Many amenities have become staples in the hotel guest experience. Hotel amenities can be categorized into three segments:

• In-room amenities

• Bathroom amenities

• Property-wide amenities

Here’s a list of common hotel amenities in each category.

In-room hotel amenities

These hotel amenities are found within the hotel room where you sleep. Whether you book a standard room or an upgraded suite, each room has amenities to enhance your stay.

1. Climate control

Air conditioning and heater settings to personalize the temperature inside the hotel room

2. Refrigerator

A mini-fridge or full-sized refrigerator in suites with mini-kitchens.

3. Microwave

Microwaves are convenient for reheating leftovers from your refrigerator.

4. TV and streaming services

Flat-screen TV with cable or a SMART TV with access to popular streaming services, including Netflix and Hulu.

5. Bluetooth speaker

In-room speaker with Bluetooth capabilities to connect to your personal phone and enjoy your own music.

6. Work desk

A dedicated desk for working on your laptop or tablet.

7. Mini bar

Snacks and mini alcohol bottles stocked in hotel rooms are available for purchase.

8. Wifi

High-speed wifi accessible in the hotel room. Upgraded wifi services feature dedicated networks aside from the general hotel wifi.

9. Personal care kit

Small kits with a toothbrush, toothpaste, mouthwash, razor, sleep mask, chapstick, and other items.

10. Coffee-maker

Prepare your morning coffee with an in-room coffee maker and complimentary cups and pods.

11. Pillow menu

Personalize your sleep with a pillow that suits your preferred firmness.

12. Blackout curtains

Keep your room dark even after sunrise.

13. Safe

Keep your valuable items safe when you’re not in the room by keeping them in your personal safe.

14. Housekeeping 

Get housekeeping service during your stay for clean sheets and towels.

15. Turndown service

Refresh your room after a day out with turndown service before you go to bed.

16. Room service

Order food from the hotel restaurant and get it delivered to your hotel room.

17. Room with a view

Certain hotels provide tailored ocean, garden, or views of a famous local attraction.

18. Non-smoking or smoking room

These hotels provide designated rooms for guests who want to smoke.

Bathroom amenities

Well-stocked bathrooms can significantly boost guest satisfaction with their stay. Here are a few must-have hotel amenities commonly found in hotel bathrooms:

19. Towels

Bath, hand, and face towels may be available. You can typically call the front desk to request more towels. 

20. Toiletries

This can include body soap, shampoo, moisturizer, mouthwash, and other toiletries. 

21. Hand soap

A branded bar of soap or soap dispenser at the sink.

22. Hair dryer

A basic model hair dryer is available at most hotels.

23. Tissue

If a hotel offers tissues and you run out, you can typically request another box from the front desk.

24. Bathrobes and slippers

Branded bathrobes and slippers can make your hotel room feel like home.

25. Iron and an ironing board

This is a helpful amenity for refreshing wrinkled clothes that you packed in a suitcase. 

Property-wide amenities

Here are popular hotel amenities available to all guests during their stay:

26. Free breakfast 

Wake up for a hot or buffet-style breakfast in the hotel lobby with grab-and-go snacks.

27. Bar or restaurant

On-site venues for dining and drinking. Sometimes, they’re also available for room service.

28. Indoor or outdoor pool

One of the most popular hotel amenities is a standard pool or multi-pool facility.

29. Hot tub

Many hotels include a hot tub in the pool room. Upgraded hotel rooms may have a hot tub inside the guest rooms.

30. Fitness center

You can find gym and wellness equipment so you can maintain your gym routine while traveling.

31. Spa

Spa facilities can include services like manicures, pedicures, facials, massage, and other treatments.

32. Welcome drink or gift

Start your vacation on a high note with a complimentary drink after check-in or a snack package inside your hotel room.

33. Parking

Some hotels include on-site free or paid parking and may have valet services.

34. Lobby or coworking space

Many hotels design their lobbies as a gathering space for their guests. These spaces include free wifi, seating, and space to work. Other hotels may have more dedicated coworking spaces.

35. Pet-friendly

If a hotel is pet-friendly, it means your pet can stay with you. You can read the hotel’s pet policy for any limitations or restrictions, like breed restrictions, pet-restricted areas, or pet fees.

36. All-inclusive

This means guests receive food, drink, and other services as part of their stay. Depending on the hotel, these services may be comped or incur additional fees.

36. Electric vehicle charger

You can keep your electric vehicle charged overnight with on-site electric vehicle chargers.

37. Accessibility

These hotel rooms are designed to accommodate hotel guests with additional mobility, sensory, or cognitive needs.

38. Airport shuttle

This typically means there’s a complimentary shuttle to and from the airport.

How to Book a Hotel With Great Amenities

The right hotel amenities can be the difference between an average stay and a five-star experience. Travelers have their own preferences for what they value most during their stay—someone on vacation would rate their stay based on the swimming pool, while a business traveler would rate it based on the wifi speeds in the business center.

Here are the best ways to ensure you stay at the best hotel with hotel amenities that matter.

Compare hotels 

It’s easy to get FOMO from hotel amenities. Should you book the sophisticated hotel with the swanky speakeasy or opt for the cozy chalet with a private fire pit? Compare different hotels to see which property has more of what you’re looking for during your stay.

Browsing online travel agencies, like Priceline and Expedia, is a popular way to compare hotels and find the best value. More recently, travelers have turned to artificial intelligence (AI) to assist in their search for travel accommodations. Advanced large language models (LLMs), such as ChatGPT, Claude and Gemini, can provide hotel recommendations tailored to your travel style, budget, and preferred amenities.

Book the hotel directly

Want to know the secret to unlock the best hotel amenities? Book directly! Unlike booking through a third-party or online travel agency, booking hotels directly establishes a relationship between you and the hotel, not a third party or online travel agency. When you book directly, you may find waived or reduced amenity fees, reduced resort fees, and access to additional amenities, such as a welcome gift.

As travelers increasingly rely on LLMs for hotel research, DirectBooker plans to bridge the gap between cutting-edge AI and real-time hotel data. Rather than relying on outdated or incomplete listings from online travel agencies, DirectBooker will connect LLMs with real-time data, ensuring that room rates, amenities, and availability are accurate when you do your travel planning through any popular AI tool. Once you’re ready to book, you’ll be able to deep link into the hotel’s official website to continue your journey. 

Maximize Your Stay With Hotel Amenities

Hotels provide these special amenities and facilities to guests to make their stay even more comfortable and enjoyable. Whether you’re planning your trip with an LLM or comparing your options with a third-party tool, make sure you book directly in order to get the most out of your chosen hotel’s amenities.

Sources

Guinness World Records. “Oldest Hotel.” Guinness World Records, https://www.guinnessworldrecords.com/world-records/oldest-hotel

HOTREC. “Digital Trends in Accommodation: Hotels, Booking.com and DMA.” HOTREC, 2 July 2024, https://www.hotrec.eu/en/news/digital_trends_in_accommodation_hotels_booking-com_and_dma_.html

Lin, Thomas. “Free Breakfast and Free Wi-Fi Top List of Travelers’ Most-Wanted Hotel Perks.” Condé Nast Traveler, 9 Apr. 2014, https://www.cntraveller.com/stories/2014-04-09/free-food-travelers-lists-most-wanted-hotel-amenities

Bryan Shelmon

Bryan Shelmon is a travel writer with bylines in Lonely Planet, Midwest Living, and Wanderlust, known for immersive storytelling shaped by long-term travel across 25+ countries. He combines a background in business with nearly a decade of freelance experience, collaborating with tourism boards and capturing culture through art, language, and local exploration.

Our editorial process: DirectBooker curates insights from global hospitality experts and our network of industry insiders. Articles undergo rigorous fact-checking and quality review before publication, ensuring authentic, actionable advice for savvy travelers.