1) Free WiFi: and not just any WiFi, I want connectivity that is reasonably fast and reliable. In many of the cheap hotels in Asia you are seeing this listed as an amenity as more people are traveling with their net books, smart phones and WiFi enabled lap tops. The laptops and net books are usually setup for free WiFi but the smart phones you almost always have to pay extra with the sim card provider- mobile phone service provider.
2) Air con: Have you ever been in South East Asia in April, enough said!
3) Hot water: Have you ever been in South East Asia during a particularly cool monsoon? Enough said, actually that would be the cheap way out. I like having the option of a hot shower sometimes I don’t use, but I like having the choice.
4) Comfortable Beds: Hey that is the main reason you get a hotel for is to sleep right!
5) Sheets and pillows: I know you are saying hey that is part of the bed but you can have a comfortable bed and scratchy sheets or pillows that are hard as rocks.
6) In Room Safe: I rarely use the hotel safe as I feel that I am opening my self up to more risk by identifying to those prone to evil that are watching, that I have something of value to protect, which could make me a later target!
7) Quiet: Nothing worse in my opinion than having a rooster start 2 hours before sunrise right outside your window. Yes they do start that early, believe me!
8) TV: With English channels including a couple of international news channels, Discovery and a couple of decent movie channel like HBO and Star Movies. Bonus points if you have a DVD in the room.
9) Water Feature: Can be a pool or Jacuzzi or Multi-head in room shower. I relax best in the water, a pool that is at a comfortable temperature, please remember I am not a seal or a penguin, I am a temperature sensitive baby, and a cold pool is right up there with a noisy rooster or voracious mosquitoes as far as I am concerned.
10) Online reservations: I like booking direct with the hotel or guesthouse; I don’t like paying commissions to booking engines, why because I am a Cheap Charley! So please reserve my room with a credit card, and then let me pay cash when I get there.
This will work for everyone including my cheap lawyers friend!