The Hotel Monaco, the boutique hotel where we are staying tonight, promotes its Guppy Love program prominently on the web site. Guppy Love delivers a complimentary goldfish as a companion for guests on the road without their pets (the hotel is pet friendly!). Each goldfish is given a unique name. Tonight we have Peter. I do have publically complain here that it took three requests to finally recieve the goldfish. Last time we stayed here, I requested twice, and never got one. My wife thinks I'm being too persnickety--and I rarely complain about things at hotels--but a boutique hotel should be all about the many unusual details that make its experience unique.

- mike lee - washington, dc