HotelChatter

Although we were disappointed to learn that the complimentary wireless was "the result of a system glitch" and that there was in fact no WiFi at all (we plugged in and paid for it), it wasn't until the end of our stay that the service at Perth's Sheraton wowed us.

And what's more, it was the staffer manning the guest services desk -- not the executive lounge staff! -- who sent us packing with the kind of smile that is usually followed by a cigarette.

The story: after checking-out, we asked the charming Aussie at the guest services desk if we could leave our luggage for about an hour or so and nearly fell over when he responded, "You must be waiting for Paul. He's going to be about 20 minutes late."

Indeed, we were waiting for our friend Paul to pick us up and we couldn't have been more stunned that this hotel employee -- any hotel employee -- would have even remembered the message that our friend's wife called and left for a guest who he didn't know.

But then, the caller did have laryngitis and no doubt left quite an impression on that young Aussie with her husky new sexy operator voice. Come to think of it, he was certainly quick about carrying our bags out to the car.