Does anyone NOT prefer expensive hotels? A vent.

[luvmy3]

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

ITA

We are going down to the shoe in a few weeks and staying in one of those older motor inn's. I can't wait, there is something about staying in those kinds of places I love. I think its because it reminds me of when I was a kid, we never stayed in nice/fine/luxury hotels.
I'm not saying those resort hotels aren't nice to stay in but I have no problem with clean and comfort over frills and tons of amenities.

 

[SandrA9810]

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.

Sorry to bust your bubble, but POP doesn't offer the frozen drinks anymore. This disappointed me the last time I stayed there in mid May.
I also don't like the scattered around buildings of value and moderates. I love Wilderness lodge and how everything is inside the one building, and you don't have to get drenched going from your room to the bus stop.

Of course I also love the Fort. Which is completly on the opposite end of the spectrum... but it's in its own class.

 

[Disney Doll]

I'm quite happy in "average" hotels as well, such as a Holiday Inn Express or a Fairfield Inn.

 

[Imzadi]

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

Me too! I'm usually only in the room before bedtime or when I'm finally winding down for the evening. My eyes are CLOSED when I am sleeping. I don't need all the fancy ambiance for that. If I'm not using the extra amenities, I don't want to be paying for someone else to use the sauna.

 

[bookgirl]

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!!!

My nephews were going to play in a tourney in some little town in Kansas. Americas Best was the best rate so the coach blocked off some rooms, when he sent out the info to get your reservation, he said to make sure and call between 9:00am and 2:00 pm...that's when the only english speaking employee would be there. We stayed at the Holiday Inn Express which was considered to be the high dollar rooms. Never heard one good thing about this chain. My ex SIL had been to the same town with her older boy for the same tourney's a few years before, she left right after check in. Two other families slept in thier cars.

Personally I like mid range hotels just fine. I do like upper end ones and tend to stay in them depending on the price or other options. But at least 50% of the time I'm just as good with a LaQuinta, or Amerisuites or the "Express" versions of bigger chains.

 

[torinsmom]

Oh, yes, there was the $10-$15/nt charge for internet at the Marriott and HIlton in DC, while the cheaper hotels had it for free. Same with parking, which was $32/nt at the Marriott. Needless to say, we parked our car at a garage and metroed in.

Marsha

 

[shortbun]

I think it varies hotel by hotel. Some Intercontinentals are old and worn while some Country Inn and Suites are brand new and comfortable. On the other hand, I prefer the higher end properties for the most part. I prefer the room size-has anyone stayed at a Springhill Suites lately? The 1st and last one I booked forced me to turn sideways to get around the bed and into the bathroom and with the sofa bed down in the outer room-we were trapped in our bed....literally had to crawl over the sofa bed from our bed to get to the door. Had there been a fire....not good.

 

[disykat]

I'm happier in a simpler hotel. When we went to WDW, we stayed in SOG (prior to the rehab) and loved it. We toured a bunch of the Disney properties and the only one I didn't like was the Grand Floridian. It was just too fancy for me.

I prefer to stay somewhere that caters to the budget traveler. I have to be careful when people ask for hotel recommendations because people generally aren't interested in the "$39 deal" I got. If it's clean and safe, I'm happy.

 

[Quiksilvr]

I was always in the "a hotel is just a place for me to sleep" camp until I went to law school. When I was a 2L and interviewing at the big firms in NYC, DC, etc., the firms would pay to put me up in very expensive hotels. After the first trip to a Ritz-Carlton in NY, I was hooked. I've been all about the nice hotels ever since. I still hate paying out of pocket for nice hotels (so we don't do it often), but if I ever travel on business I always stay in a place like that.

 

[Laurabearz]

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.

FYI Pop Century took out the slushy machines recently


And Give me an Embassy Suites over anything fancy schmancy.

 

[sewingmolly]

I stayed at the Four Seasons in London on business because I was traveling with executives. The level of service drove me crazy. I needed to work and I was constantly interrupted. They made up the room while I was at breakfast. Then someone came to check that the room was made up properly, then to refill the minibar, then to check that the minibar had been refilled properly, then the four checks at mid-day in case I took a nap or a shower and again in the evening and then turn down service and a check on turn down service. I didn't put out the DO NOT DISTURB sign because I couldn't imagine that they would come back, but they did again and again. I also hate valet parking at hotels.

I really like the Holiday Inn Express, but I will pay extra for atmosphere at a historic hotel or the Polynesian.

 

[Camicar]

A few years ago I stayed at a vedddy expensive and famous hotel in Beverly Hills. OTOH, the room was lovely, the pool area was lovely, the food was good.

The service? Less than stellar. We got there at 5pm. Check in was supposed to be 3pm. We were told our room was not ready and to go to the bar. No apologies and no comped drinks were offered. We had to wait nearly 45 minutes -- standing up, because all of the seats in the lobby were taken by others also waiting for their rooms. My friend is a computer consultant and she was shocked to find that the internet connection was NOT free -- it cost $10 per day. And then the constant tipping... got old.

Have to say, however, that we also stayed at the Beverly Hills Hotel -- it is famous for a reason. The place is fabulous and the service was like nothing I've experienced in my life before or since. I am a big nobody and they made me feel like an A list celebrity every minute I was there.

I have had, I should point, out some truly crappy service at 'normal' hotels like the Fairfield. Last year I was at a Fairfield in Madison, WI and late at night after I was in bed, some men were pounding on my door screaming and yelling. I called the front desk and their response, "Well, tell them to go away. What do you want me to do about it?" When I responded, "Then I guess I'll call 911!" Well, then they decided to send someone up.

 

[Cool-Beans]

I like room service, valet parking and bellmen. I like those things a lot. Especially bellmen, God bless their souls.

I wish there were valet parking everywhere. If every single place I went, someone was at the door saying, "Go on in. I'll park the car for you," I'd be in heaven.

I also like the servibars. Rarely do I buy a Snickers bar in regular life...but once I see it in the servibar, I MUST HAVE IT!

I generally do not like the more expensive restaurants. Much happier in a Cracker Barrel or Bob Evans. So I totally get that what one person is happy to have will cause another to say, "No, thanks."

Not liking more expensive stuff is simple. You just don't buy it.

 

[MrsPete]

I don't know . . . I enjoy both.

I like Holiday Inn, Hampton Inn, Best Western type places because they're a good bang for the buck -- especially when there's a refrigerator in the room and a breakfast included in the price.

But I do also enjoy staying in a full-scale resort with fantastic grounds, pools, etc.

I'm perfectly happy in any vacation arrangements, whether it's a tent or a swanky oceanfront suite.

 

[etoiles]

In general I like the cheaper hotels as well. I have found that price does not always equal service. One time we stayed at a fancy ritzy hotel in downtown Cinncinnati and it turned out to be the worst hotel experience. It looked fancy in the lobby, marble everywhere, etc... and the rooms appeared modern but on closer look the bathrooms were completely dirty. If I put a wet towel against the wall and rubbed dirt appeared... a dirty napkin was left by the coffee maker. Only valet parking so we parked for $9/night a block away at the garage. Sign in the lobby said 'no coolers or outside food or beverage' so we had to smuggle in our freezer bag with chocolates we had purchased so they wouldn't melt in the car...

Was sooo nasty. I know this was just a bad experience.

We have stayed in a pricey hotel downtown Chicago at a nice hotel and it was really nice, no problems. Just did not like the huge parking fee and $$ mini bar. I do enjoy getting the free internet and free breakfasts at the cheaper places.

 

[BabyPiglet]

You are not alone. I'm an average kinda gal, too.

 

[My2Cinderellas]

I grew up staying in motel 6 and best westerns all over the country when we vacationed. Now I have changed my motel tastes and have eliminated some chains that used to be ok.

Days Inn - nope
Rodeway Inn - nope
Ramada Inn - nope
Travelodge - nope
America's Best - NO NO NO and NO
Econolodge - nope

I'm sure there are a few good ones in these chains, but I haven't found them.

I am now a bed snob. I tend to stay at Hampton Inns when possible because the beds are wonderful. If not Hampton Inns, then something equivalent. They are a level above basic accomodations. I appreciate the friendly service I've always received, the free internet, free breakfast (not great but it's hard to screw up cereal and toast). When the kids are with me I make sure there is a nice pool to use. I travel with the girls and DH doesn't always come along - so an inside corridor is a must for safety.

High end hotels are nice - but usually the mid range 3 stars suit us best.