Does anyone NOT prefer expensive hotels? A vent.

[ckay87]

We're just home from a multi-destination vacation where we stayed in 4 different hotels. Note that we payed for NONE of them because DH travels a lot for his job and accumulates points for free stays. I wanted to say that so as not to seem like I'm bragging about stays in expensive hotels.

2 of our hotels were just the mid-range, clean and comfy type (Holiday Inn, Fairfield Inn) and 2 were extremely nice (a spa/resort in Niagara Falls and an Intercontinental in Motreal). I can now say that I flat-out prefer to stay in the less expensive hotels.

First, what is it with the more you pay, the less you get? For example, free breakfasts at the cheaper place vs. mini-bars and $10 water bottles at the expensive places?

And tipping everyone you come in contact with gets irritating to me. Parking my own car is not a problem in my daily life and it's not a problem on vacation. But we had no choice on either of our 5-star stays, thereby necessitating multi-tips for a service that was just NOT a convenience (quite the opposite in fact....where the heck WAS our car anyway?? )

Don't even get me started on the creepy pool experience in Montreal ....to0 much service, leave me alone!

So yea, I've come to the conclusion that I'm just a simpleton, I guess. I don't find value in any of the services that people seem eager to spend SO much money on. (side note while I'm sounding like a total hillbilly, can someone explain to me the appeal of a "sauna"??)

That's all.

 

[Angelhalo]

Oooooh the sauna is our favorite part of cruising! We always make sure we have the rainforest room pass for the entire week on Disney Cruises. It just relaxes me to no end!

 

[torinsmom]

I understand what you're talking about. We bid on a hotel in DC and got the Marriott Wardman Park. I loved it but some things drove me crazy, like the vending machines only took credit cards I told someone else that I guess I am from the sticks, because I have never seen that.

Marsha

 

[Gabes_mommy]

I'm the same way! Like for trips to WDW I just love the Moderate Resorts. To me the extra money is just not worth it.

 

[eeyoremum]

Not quite on the same scale but when we were at Disney in April I decided to surprise my family with a hotel upgrade. We always stay at POP. This time we stayed at POR. They all hated it. They could not get tirmisu they could not get slushies. The pool was too far away...yada yada yada.

Next time we are going to POP again.

 

[ckay87]

I understand what you're talking about. We bid on a hotel in DC and got the Marriott Wardman Park. I loved it but some things drove me crazy, like the vending machines only took credit cards I told someone else that I guess I am from the sticks, because I have never seen that.

Marsha

I actually think I would have liked that because it was difficult to come up with $3.50 in change whenever we wanted a soda! Sometimes we could scrape it together and then we'd all pass the drink around and share it. Oh yea, we were living the high life!

 

[luvmyfam444]

- I thought I liked the average ones UNTIL I stayed in an American's Best last week (it was a former Motel 8 - didn't know when it was booked) the bed's were HARD as a rock & then there were centepedes in the room with us - GROSS!

I will stick to the Marriot's thank you - My dh worked for them for a couple years & got us spoiled & after staying at that last dump I'll be scraping up the extra $ to stay at a Marriott!

 

[luvavacation]

I so agree!!!!

We are members of multiple hotel reward programs, but mostly we stay at Marriott reward properties, with Hilton reward properties our second choice.

I LOVE Residence Inns, Hampton Inns, Fairfields, Towneplace Suites, Springhill Suites, Embassy Suites, you know, the ones that give you rooms with microwaves and fridges and the free breakfast. Throw in the evening snack/manager's reception at some of them, and even better! Why on earth would I use more points (or pay more if I am using cash) for a higher tier hotel when no breakfast is included, nor internet, nor parking? For example, we once stayed in a Renaissance, and while it sure was nice, we felt so out of place bringing in our cooler so we could keep our milk and other perishables cold since there was no fridge. No way we were going to pay for breakfast at that hotel!

If I have enough points, I do enjoy the Embassy Suites hotels, those free breakfasts are fantastic, and the manager's reception is every night. Sure, wireless in room is not free, but so far we have always been able to use the complimentary business office, so we can check email or weather if we are driving. That is our big splurge for hotels!

I figure staying at the lower tier hotels helps me save more money so we can take more vacations!

 

[ckay87]

How could I forget the ultimate convenience...fridges and microwaves which the pricey places NEVER provide. I'm so lost when I can't take a doggie bag away from a restaraunt.

 

[wdwmom2]

- I thought I liked the average ones UNTIL I stayed in an American's Best last week (it was a former Motel 8 - didn't know when it was booked) the bed's were HARD as a rock & then there were centepedes in the room with us - GROSS!

I will stick to the Marriot's thank you - My dh worked for them for a couple years & got us spoiled & after staying at that last dump I'll be scraping up the extra $ to stay at a Marriott!

DH and I stayed at an America's Best last year, and it stunk of curry soooo badly that I refused to open my suitcase! I was afraid the smell would permiate my clothing. I like curry well enough, but this went WAY overboard!!! Thank goodness we were only there one night!!!

 

[C.Ann]

Clean and comfortable will get my vote every time.. Basically I just need a room to sleep in - no frills necessary..

 

[SydneyFalco]

So yea, I've come to the conclusion that I'm just a simpleton, I guess. I don't find value in any of the services that people seem eager to spend SO much money on. (side note while I'm sounding like a total hillbilly, can someone explain to me the appeal of a "sauna"??)

That's all.

In most of North America, there's little point in the more expensive hotels, except for matters of location.

In Disney, maybe, if, like the wife and I, you love them monorail.

In Cuba and Mexico, it really, really matters. That last star makes a big difference.

In Australia I really don't know. Just don't stay at my friend Tom's house.

And the appeal of the sauna are all the young, attractive, sexually liberated swingers who are never in it. The reality of the sauna is the bald guy who is, or, if you're lucky, the five minutes you'll have alone until he shows up.

 

[LindaR]

To each his own!!! It is REALLY a matter of what YOU are comfortable with and what you want (level and variety of services).

Stick with what you like. I have my favorite hotel chains (fairly consistent style and service) and usually stick with them. Like you, I have stayed at some places before that was just so horrible that even the offer of a free stay to get me to come back, could not fix what they did wrong to begin with! (A particular so-called 5 star resort in Scottsdale.....)

There is NOTHING wrong with knowing what you like and sticking with it! Who are you trying to impress? Who cares? As long as YOU are happy!!!!

 

[Robinrs]

I prefer 3 star hotels MAINLY because they don't nickel and dime you for every single thing.

Last month I stayed in Houston at the Hotel Derek. $550 a NIGHT in TEXAS????? what the...????

Fancy, maybe, comfortable, sort of... I'm still waiting for my $450 in change!!!

I've stayed in some really amazing hotels. What I prefer before luxury is a suite, free breakfast and internet, and a very comfortable quiet place to sleep. Otherwise I'd stay at a condo or a house.

 

[ckay87]

In most of North America, there's little point in the more expensive hotels, except for matters of location.

In Disney, maybe, if, like the wife and I, you love them monorail.

In Cuba and Mexico, it really, really matters. That last star makes a big difference.

In Australia I really don't know. Just don't stay at my friend Tom's house.

And the appeal of the sauna are all the young, attractive, sexually liberated swingers who are never in it. The reality of the sauna is the bald guy who is, or, if you're lucky, the five minutes you'll have alone until he shows up.

You have some good points there.

 

[SydneyFalco]

You have some good points there.

Yes, trust me: you do NOT want to stay at Tom's house.

 

[Handbag Lady]

I like using valet service if I have a lot of luggage or if the self-park is miles away.

I hate using it when I just have an overnight bag and the self-park is in the same lot as the valet.


So, I guess when I travel long distances, I like and use valet. When I'm just at Disneyland for the night, I'll take Hojo's.



We do Priceline and we get a nice hotel in Newport Beach twice a year to just get away and relax. I LOVE their sauna and I love the valet and I love the expensive bottles of water and I love paying for a nicer stay.

But what really gets under my skin is when you stay at a hotel, any hotel, and they make you pay the service fee that includes parking and a newspaper and pool use, etc. I'd rather not get the newspaper and park my own car and save $24 a night. (It is worse when we fly and don't have a car!!)

 

[NotUrsula]

I like nice; a bit of style is good, but don't overdo it, and space trumps all. I tend NOT to like seriously high-end, because too much "service" gets cumbersome and intrusive after a while.

Example: The Chicago Hyatt. The beds were comfortable, the view was lovely. The total lack of ice machines and vending machines was a PITA. If I want a Coke, I really don't want to have to tip $4 and wait 30 minutes for someone to bring it to me (on the 9th floor) from the bar in the lobby. (And no, minibars are not a good alternative. The motion sensors in those stupid things drive me insane.)

I like the new Hamptons better than the old ones, and I'm not really fond of Fairfields, though Courtyards are fine. A good mattress is a MUST, as is decent water pressure.

It cracks me up that higher-end hotels (which ostensibly are catering to upper management business travelers) charge a daily fee for internet use, while mid-range properties don't. Paying for it doesn't make it secure -- making it secure makes it secure, and EVERY hotel with any pretention to serving business travel ought to have free wireless that will accept a secure VPN connection. It's as basic as electric lights.

My own favorite company is Starwood, though I'm not a real big fan of W's for the most part. (Being cutting-edge stylish is the last of my issues when I travel, and the light in their rooms is hopelessly dim.) I just recent stayed at one of Starwood's new Element properties. It was very different, but overall I liked it.

 

[MonicaInFlorida]

I stayed at the Fairmont in Chicago. Ugh, way too stuffy. I much preferred the Hyatt.

It was the same with the Landmark in London... beautiful 5-star hotel, but I found the service revoltingly obsequious.

 

[LindaR]

Starwood is my favorite, too! Last month my daughter stayed at an aLoft in Tempe. She absolutely LOVED it! Told me that *I* would love it too so I will give it a try sometime soon.

I like Westins but not W (same as you)

And the property that I had MAJOR issues with last summer.....was a Starwood property. Complained. They tried to give me a few free nights, but..no thanks...has not kept me from other Starwood properties, though!