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Beverly Hills hotel says good-bye to old-fashioned keys

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If so, hurry up and check into the L'Ermitage Beverly Hills, which still hands out metal keys.

In September or October, this famously discreet hotel tucked away on a quiet, palm-tree-lined street will sadly do away with its metal keys.

The keys could be the same ones held by Julia Roberts, Lady Gaga, Angelina Jolie or any other number of celebs (well, maybe their bodyguards) have held in their palm.

L'Ermitage general manager Sal Abaunza told me yesterday that he'll miss the keys but he doesn't have a choice.

"Unfortunately, the company (that operates the key system) went out of business," he told me during our chat in the hotel's serene lounge.

The keys, you see, aren't completely old-fashioned. They unlock doors with an electronic code that L'Ermitage front-desk clerks assign to each blank key. That means that if the computerized key system - for whatever reason - fails, fixing it could pose real headaches for guests and hotel management. The system was installed in 1998, when the hotel underwent its last major renovation.

Still, doing away with the keys will remove yet one more, beloved symbol of hotel history.

"I will be sorry to see them go," Abaunza told me, as Hollywood agents sitting on couches across the room chatted away. "There's something about an old-fashioned key.""

L'Ermitage will replace the keys with newfangled key cards that communicate with door locks via radio frequency, so - unlike magnetic strip key cards - they'll still work even if you store it in the same pocket as your cell phone.

Abaunza and I talked about how some outdated things - like record players - are making a comeback and he joked that the hotel keys may at some point become trendy again.

"I wouldn't be surprised if in five years, you're doing an article where the keys are coming back!" he told me.

I'll tell you more about L'Ermitage - where Lady Gaga, Eminem and other stars partied at Interscope Records' Grammys after-party back in February - in a future post.

Here's a brief update, though, so you don't have to wait: Viceroy Hotels and Resorts took over management of the hotel a year ago, following a decade of it operating as Raffles L'Ermitage. Viceroy is in the midst of orchestrating a major refurbishment - beginning with the restaurant - this fall. Next year, the hotel will begin a significant renovation, which will mean updates for its soothing-but-dated guest rooms, fitness center, lobby and more, Abaunza tells me.

DIY Travel Expert : Hotel general tips and safety

Hide room number

Keep your room number hidden as you move about the hotel.  This will prevent unwelcome calls or visits, particularly for female guests.  It will also help prevent other guests from charging things to your room.

Do not advertise where you are staying

It is inadvisable to display the name of the hotel you are staying at when you are out and about in the town.  Do not display the key-card or material showing the name prominently.  You do not want to be noticed as being from out-of-town, and it is wise to minimise the risk of being followed or ambushed.

Secure the door

If you are worried about a hotel employee entering your room while you are asleep, carry a plastic door-wedge with you in your luggage.  Push the pointy end under the door when you go to bed.

In some countries it is possible to purchase a special strong strap that prevents the dead-lock from being opened from the outside.  This only works when you are inside, of course!

Use a door alarm

You can buy an inexpensive personal alarm that kicks up a rumpus when the door is opened.  These either have a magnetic strip or a pin that pulls out.  Attach it to the door and if the door opens the alarm will sound.  If you use one of those you will need to take some Blu Tack, or similar removable putty (Prestik, Zorkai, Tack-it, Poster Putty, etc.) to make it easier to hold it in place.

Check the fire exits

As soon as you get into your room, locate the fire exits.  In many countries it is customary to have a map of the fire exits on the back of the door.  Secure the room and go to check the exits.  Check if the fire door is blocked or locked and complain if either of those is the situation.

If there are no notices, check the signage in the passage.  If that does not help, ask at reception.

Beware the sensored mini-bar

Beware of the mini-bar – some Dubai hotels and others have scanners built into the fridge, and if you take anything out you are automatically billed for it.  The scanner does not put it back in stock if  you return the item to the fridge.

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