Three Things Thursday (The Confounded Edition)

Posted on January 26, 2012 by Coco

I am on a business trip, staying at a lovely boutique hotel in London. I’m used to things being different when I travel, but three things about my hotel room really confounded me.

When I saw how small the lift was, I told the bellhop that I could take my bags up myself. Maybe if I’d let him escort me he would have shown me how to turn the lights on! I flipped every switch in my room before I gave up and found a housekeeper to help me.


I could blame my jet lag, but I don’t think that I ever would have figured out that you have to put your room key card into this device by the master switch before any lights or electrical outlets will work!

Being a fan of strong coffee, I was happy to see this Nespresso machine in the mini-bar area.

Although there was a card with step-by-step directions, the card did not show where the water reservoir is. After pouring water into the wrong place two times, I finally found it. (Thank goodness for a generous supply of towels!)

I didn’t think twice when the waiter brought me a book of matches with my dinner bill. After all, this is Europe where people still smoke, right?


Luckily I took advantage of the slow lift ride back up to my room to take a closer look.

I noticed that the front of the “matchbook” says “Herbal Seedsticks”–each “matchstick” has a seed embedded in it. The directions say to poke the seedsticks into a container filled with “compost” and water generously with a fine spray.

Have you ever been confounded by your hotel accommodations?

Would you have figured out the light switch?

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9 Responses to Three Things Thursday (The Confounded Edition)

  1. Misty @ Life Off the says:
    January 26, 2012 at 2:04 am

    I think the light switch would have gotten me too!

  2. bFIT4Lifer says:
    January 26, 2012 at 4:05 am

    There are hotels in California and NY that you have to put your key in to power of up the room. It is a new way for the hotel to conserve power and way to know you are in the room too. I would say it is strange but unique. Did the matches have a herbal scent?

  3. Carrie@FamilyFitness says:
    January 26, 2012 at 4:22 am

    The hotels I'd stayed in on my trip this summer all had those same room light thing. I know it's for conservation, but it still felt a little Big Brother-ish.

    Was the coffee good?

  4. SuperBabe says:
    January 26, 2012 at 5:52 am

    I would have figured out the switch, but only because I already had to do that several times! 🙂

  5. Tara Burner says:
    January 26, 2012 at 7:22 am

    I'm envious…I soooo want to go to London 🙂

  6. KCLAnderson (Karen) says:
    January 26, 2012 at 4:59 pm

    I love matchbooks…it's the only thing I collect! That's an extra-cool one! 🙂

  7. stephanie says:
    January 27, 2012 at 5:58 am

    have fun! this makes me so excited, ill be in london in July!
    ive seen those before in a hotel in honduras. its so you dont waste energy and leave the lights on when youre gone!

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