Lots of hotels have spacious guest rooms, central locations, pretty décor and appealing views. What sets a recommendable property apart from the rest often comes down to small but important touches. A hotel that gets the details right is much likelier to get the big things right, too. We editors pay close attention to all aspects of service, and some of what we look for may surprise even longtime members.

1. You had me at “Hello”

The warmth of the greeting by the front desk staff is often a harbinger of the service to come. Do they seem pleased to see you and happy to help? Or is it clear they’d rather be off work and enjoying the destination? The first few words are always revealing.

2. Keeping it real

One subtle indication of good hospitality is an arrangement of cut flowers or well-tended potted plants in public spaces. Greenery creates a more welcoming and relaxing atmosphere, and you can assume you’ll be in good hands at a hotel that chooses fresh over faux.

3. Sparkle that lasts

When booking through my travel advisor, I am often rewarded with perks like early check-in, late checkout and, most delightful, a welcome bottle of sparkling wine waiting for me in my room. But once opened, bubbly doesn’t keep — unless you have a proper stopper. When I find one beside the ice bucket, I feel thoroughly looked after.

4. Their bath products

Does a hotel put out Gilchrist & Soames or Molton Brown, or something like Bulgari or Acqua di Parma? A property clarifies how many stars it aspires to reach by the brand it chooses.

5. Your bath products

Certain housekeepers will organize your personal items on the vanity, arranging your toothpaste, floss, razor, makeup and so forth into a pleasing composition, often on a small towel. Some of my friends don’t like this service, but nevertheless, it signifies someplace that takes service seriously.

6. No wire hangers

Precious few hotel closets have enough coat hangers. The ones that are there, however, send a signal. The handful of times when I’ve discovered narrow metal hangers, I know I’m not in a recommendable property. Wooden hangers — ideally some with clips for pants — are the minimum, and extra-wide ones, perhaps with felt at the ends, are always reassuring to see.

7. All tied up

The housekeeper who takes the time to coil and fasten my nests of charging cords with a neat little tie, sometimes embossed with the hotel’s name or logo, is a housekeeper who takes pride in the details. When I find my cords tidied on the nightstand, I know I am somewhere that sweats the small stuff.

8. Clear vision

I always travel with multiple pairs of sunglasses, and I love returning to my room to see that the housekeepers have cleaned my lenses and supplied me with a new microfiber cloth, perhaps branded with the hotel name.

9. Turning up turndown

I always appreciate coming back from dinner and finding not only a sweet treat (and perhaps a note) at my bedside but also the shades pulled down and the curtains drawn. A proper turndown seems increasingly optional these days, but a property that skimps on this service is bound to skimp elsewhere, too.

10. Bath timing

Many a luxury guest room has an inviting statement tub, but too often, it takes ages to fill the thing. Sometimes I’ll just give up entirely. A property with tubs that fill quickly is a property I’m more likely to recommend.