Have I Accidentally Exposed The Luxury Hotel Industry?!

Hotel stay overview (Treehouse near Oxford Circus, London)

• Stayed at Treehouse, noted for a cozy, intimate reception—very small compared to other luxury hotels.
• Location was repeatedly emphasized as right by Oxford Circus, with views of major landmarks, including the BT Tower area and directions toward Euston / King’s Cross.
• The theme/vibe leaned woodland/cabin-like, with eco/tree-themed branding (e.g., merch, books about trees, mugs).
• At check-in, there were complimentary sweets, plus water and fruit.
• Price mentioned: ~£430 (breakfast extra, about £45).

Room & amenities (what stood out)

Room design/details

• Filtered water was already in the room (the host wished more five-star hotels did this instead of offering only tap water).
• Quirky decor included plush toys, branded camping-style mugs, and multiple themed design elements (lighting, art).
• A big table, massive TV, and a seating area.
• A Bluetooth speaker was mentioned.
• The room blended the woodland theme with exposed/industrial concrete textures.

Bathroom

• A standout feature was a copper bathtub (“never stayed anywhere with a bath like this”).
• Rainfall shower plus a handheld shower.
• Bath products and bath salts were provided.
• A privacy curtain, plus a small window/partition.
• Remington hairdryer.
• Toiletries had playful branding/logo details.

Mini bar / in-room extras

• Espresso machine with pods.
• Fridge drinks and snacks were chargeable (examples mentioned later included soft drinks around £3.50–£4, with alcohol priced higher).
• A safe was available for valuables.

Roof bar / “Nest” experience

• Roof bar called “the Nest”.
• The host visited during rainy weather, noting the view is better when it’s not raining.
• Full heaters were available, and smoking is allowed.
• Reported opening hours: typically until 1:00 a.m. for most of the week.
• Prices mentioned:
  • Cocktails about £17
  • Beer about £7
  • Glasses around £13–£15 (one “Rose” glass was noted as slightly cheaper)

Food experience (Mexican restaurant in the hotel)

• Only one restaurant was mentioned as serving breakfast/lunch/dinner.

Dinner highlights

• The menu was described as very heavy/thick.
• Staff encouraged ordering pico de gallo / tortilla chips, described as warm tortilla chips.
• Main dishes referenced:
  • Blanco ceviche
  • Steak/prawns
  • Multiple taco/bowl options
• Pricing/feel:
  • Example entrée/bowl price: around £98 (with side options noted)
  • Chips and salsa were praised as among the best the host had
• A non-alcoholic drink was chosen; the list included Laurent Perrier Brut Champagne ~£18 per glass.
• Dessert referenced around £11.
• Total mentioned: £51.75 for one set meal/order (chips/salsa + mains + dessert context).
• Service was repeatedly praised as fantastic/on point.

Breakfast routine (next morning)

• Breakfast was ordered via the hotel app.
• A delivery tray charge was mentioned: £3.50.
• Service/tipping charges discussed:
  • An automatic service charge appears on bills (e.g., 12.5%, sometimes varying by hotel).
  • Advice to avoid “double tipping” because there may be service charge plus separate tip lines.
• Breakfast described as nice, though the eggs were slightly overcooked.

“Five-star vs four-star” lifestyle/travel advice (main takeaway)

The creator questions how useful the five-star rating is and suggests evaluating the actual standards a hotel provides rather than relying on the label.

Research point / decision approach

• Five-star requirements are described as confusing and not clearly understood by consumers.
• The host may treat some properties as essentially four-star quality when key luxury expectations are missing.

What matters for “five-star” value (examples)

They would look for:

• A spa and/or a swimming pool that’s free
• High-quality food
• 24-hour room service (called out as a major differentiator; they’ve paid ~£800–£1,000/night in the past and sometimes felt it didn’t deliver much)
• Exception-level service, not just pleasant staff at the entrance
• More consistent special treatment without needing a suite

Things noted as missing vs higher-tier expectations

• No porter/doorman help with bags on arrival (called one of the biggest gaps)
• No dramatic/glamorous lobby experience
• No turn-down service
• Concern about thin walls and noise (described as “paper mache thin”)

Travel practicality & app sponsor (data before trips)

• Recommendation: avoid buying SIM cards abroad.
• Use Saylite app (over 200 destinations) for eSIM data plans
  • Mentions Saylite Ultra with VIP perks like airport lounge access and fast-track
  • Mentions Saylite credits for future purchases
• Promo: 15% discount using the promo code/name mentioned in the video.

Notable locations / products / brands / people (as mentioned)

• Oxford Circus (nearby)
• The Langham (across from the hotel; referenced from past stays)
• Views/nearby landmarks: BT Tower, Euston, King’s Cross, Centre Point, Tottenham Court Road, UCL, BBC building
• Roof bar name: “the Nest”
• Hotel: Treehouse
• Bathroom/room product brand: Remington (hairdryer)
• Champagne: Laurent Perrier Brut
• Sponsor/app: Saylite (eSIM/data app)