Fairmont Miramar Hotel in Santa Monica

My wife and I arrived at the hotel and it took some time to check in. I should have used the online check-in; yes, they offer this at Fairmont, but last time I used this (in February 2011*) it didn’t seem to make any difference,  I still had to go to the front desk, so I didn’t bother this time. We went to the suite where there was no welcome basket awaiting us, as I’d become used to due to my status. 

I did not want to call the front desk, but I did send an e-mail (I thought a phone call might sound too needy) to Customer Service asking whether the welcome basket depended on location (this was my own explanation for the lack of it).
They answered in some 30 minutes,an impressively fast response: “Yes, it does depend on each hotel. Each hotel decides if they will be offering a welcome amenity and what type of amenity they would offer.” The mystery had been solved and that was it. However, after some time, someone knocks at the door and delivers the missing welcome basket. 

There was no coffee machine in the suite; I can’t remember the last time I had a room without a coffee machine, not that I use it but I found it quite odd. However, this was in the suite:

My wife said : “When you made the reservations, you must not have specified that the second adult was your wife !”
I don’t think the kit was complimentary, and I didn’t want to call the front desk to ask.

And a phone in the bathroom, again, not something you see often.

I wonder, does anyone make calls from the bathroom? Why? By its position, one could be doing only one thing at that moment of calling. I imagine the conversation:
“How is it going?”
“It is going well.” or possibly, “It isn’t going to well.”

Unrelated to this post, but I have had a strong urge to share it with other people and here seemed to be the best place.

My niece has a blog and one of her posts is about how oatmeal that contains fiber was good for transit.
I suggested that she put the following poll at the end of the post:

Do you want to see the result?
1. No
2. Yes, black and white photos
3. Yes, color photos
4. Yes, video on Youtube       
5. Yes, video on Youtube with musical background

My wife didn’t like the suggestion at all so my niece didn’t post the poll, but I still think it was a good idea.

* quite surprised to have recently read in the Globe and Mail:

Frequent guests at Fairmont Hotels in North America will soon be able to bypass the front desk by checking in and out online. The service will be available to members of Fairmont President’s Club and Fairmont Gold. Prior to arrival, members will be able to register using a laptop, smart phone or other Web-connected device. An e-mail will inform guests where to pick up their room key. Before leaving, guests can check out online and receive a receipt by e-mail.