When staying at a luxury hotel.
I try not to be overly ambitious about using every single service.
Eating breakfast,
going to the lounge,
swimming in the pool,
and visiting the spa.
I used to think that way,
thinking, “I might as well make the most of it.”
But now, it’s a little different.
Luxury hotels are not something to be “used up,”
but something to be “savored.”
Savor the space.
Savor the scent.
Savor the meal.
And savor yourself as you spend time there.
I have summarized the 5 things I look for in a hotel.
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01｜SENSES
Sharpening the five senses
The scent the moment you enter the hotel.
The feel of the sheets.
The temperature when you touch the cup.
The light streaming in from the window.
The taste of breakfast.
In everyday life,
I tend to do things while doing something else.
That is why at a hotel,
I try to feel each thing carefully.
“I like this scent.”
“This light is beautiful.”
When I pick up on such small sensations,
I feel like my dulled senses are slowly returning.
⸻
02｜BODY
Healing the body
On the day I stay at a hotel,
I also make it a priority to rest my body.
Sleep a little longer than usual.
Take a long, relaxing bath.
Stretch out in a fluffy bed.
And do nothing at all.
It is a time to tell your body,
“It is okay to rest today.”
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03｜MIND
Refreshing the brain
I want to rest not just my body,
but my brain as well.
At a hotel, I try not to pack my schedule.
Look out the window.
Drink some tea.
Take a break from my smartphone.
Stare blankly without thinking about anything.
When I have time like that,
the things in my head gradually start to get organized.
New ideas come to mind,
or I remember things I had forgotten.
I believe that in order to use your brain,
you also need to give it a rest.
⸻
04｜INNER
Focusing on your inner self
In our busy daily lives,
our own feelings tend to be put on the back burner.
That is why at a hotel,
I prioritize myself just a little bit.
What do I want to do right now?
What am I tired from?
What do I really want?
Eat what I like.
Read my favorite book.
Do nothing.
Gradually fulfilling
what I truly need.
I believe a hotel stay is
also a time to cherish yourself.
⸻
05｜FAMILY
Creating more memories with family
And finally,
time with family.
Eating breakfast with the children.
Watching them have fun in the pool.
Talking a little longer than usual.
Looking at the same view.
Saying, “I want to come back here again.”
You might eventually forget
the name of the hotel or the size of the room.
But,
“We had such a good time then”
is a memory that will remain.
Staying at a hotel
is also about adding one more memory with your family.
⸻
WHAT I FEEL
More than “what I did,” it’s “what I felt”
I believe staying at a luxury hotel
is not just about receiving lavish service.
Awakening the five senses.
Resting the body.
Refreshing the mind.
Turning your gaze inward.
And deepening the time spent with family.
When you think of it that way,
a hotel becomes more than just a place to stay.
A place to realign yourself.
A place to deepen time spent with loved ones.
A place to step away from the daily grind,
and return to yourself.
That is why I
value
what I felt
more than what I did.
My heart felt a little lighter.
My body felt more at ease.
I felt a little closer to my family.
I felt like I could do my best again starting tomorrow.
If there is even one such change,
that hotel stay has sufficient value.
Luxury hotels are
not about getting your money’s worth, but
something to be savored.
Savor the space,
savor the time,
and savor yourself.
And,
savor the time spent with your loved ones.
I love that kind of hotel stay.
