Hotel thoughts

[GracieB]

Do you feel a hotel is "just a place to sleep"? I am traveling to Disneyland with an old friend, and she is balking at paying for anything higher than $90 a night! Her theory is, we are just going to sleep there, so the full-service, nice grounds, better bedding, higher end surroundings, lounge, etc., do not matter anyway. I disagree! She also thinks it is crazy that the Hilton, Marriott, etc., charge a parking fee, whereas the cheap motels don't. Her other contention is the free continental breakfast, which she feels is a "must have", along with free parking. I don't feel it an issue. Most free breakfasts are not that great anyway, with the exception of Embassy Suites, so what is the big deal? We could always grab Denny's or IHOP, or something from La Brea when we get to the parks.

So my question is, if you were traveling with someone who wanted to stay in a $60 Motel 6, and your taste runs more to Hilton, Marriott, Embassy Suites--how do you compromise?

Thanks for any thoughts!

 

[janatmovies]

I would compromise with a hampton inn. I stayed at the hampton inn Anaheim and yes the room was just a room! But clean, however. Pool was just a pool. Breakfast was good. Parking was free. Shuttle to the parks every hour. Friendly service. But I think it's more than 100/night.

 

[texasroni75]

For the most part, yes I do feel a hotel room is just a place to sleep. That said, I don't want to feel unsafe or sleep in a room that is dirty, smells of cigarettes, or is full of sketchy clientele either.

We had some really nice stays at Super 8s on our last two roadtrips. But we also had a some unpleasant and borderline scary stays at Motel 6 and other frugal places to stay . There can be a huge difference in quality of a room by raising your hotel budget by just $20-$30 a night.

I would do some extensive research and find something in the middle. Marriotts can run upwards of $160/night, but a LaQuinta Inn, Comfort Suites, etc. will cost a lot less and are pretty darn nice!

 

[chloelovesdisney]

Are you sharing the room? I'd pay the difference or find a compromise.

 

[chloelovesdisney]

Can you Priceline that area? You might get lucky.

 

[kymom99]

I was also going to suggest paying a bigger portion yourself. I don't like motel 6, etc. Best Western and others like it are fine with me. In Anaheim, the hotels closest to DL cost more even though they may not be much better than a Motel 6. That is to be expected. But if you go farther out, you can get a nicer place that includes breakfast and free parking. It just depends on your preference.

You can't make someone pay more, so if staying at a more upscale place is a must for you, I would offer to pay more to make up the difference.

 

[GracieB]

I have had this issue before. She won't let me pay the difference. I suggested that instead of the $94 La Quinta, we splurge on the $130 Sheraton (plus parking and breakfast) and she said, "But La Quinta IS a splurge!"

I am already surprising her by paying for the Fantasmic Dessert seating and possibly Blue Bayou.

 

[tvguy]

I haven't seen a $90 a night motel anywhere near Disneyland since Disney bought them all up and tore them down when they built the parking structure 15 years ago.

We are just back from Houston and Phoenix and have become huge fans of Holiday Inn Express.

However for Disney, I can see a "just a bed motel" because we are Disney maniacs........in the park from 630 am until closing, only leave because it is closing time. Also one of the folks mad that the park doesn't stay open until 1 am anymore.

 

[tvguy]

I have had this issue before. She won't let me pay the difference. I suggested that instead of the $94 La Quinta, we splurge on the $130 Sheraton (plus parking and breakfast) and she said, "But La Quinta IS a splurge!"

I am already surprising her by paying for the Fantasmic Dessert seating and possibly Blue Bayou.

You got a good rate then. I show La Quinta's cheapest room being $135 to $195 on Hotels.com.

 

[KalamityJane]

Best Western Stovalls is cheap, clean and has a free breakfast. You could get it for 90/nt, we paid something like 70/nt 2 years ago.

 

[jm0925]

Do you feel a hotel is "just a place to sleep"? I am traveling to Disneyland with an old friend, and she is balking at paying for anything higher than $90 a night! Her theory is, we are just going to sleep there, so the full-service, nice grounds, better bedding, higher end surroundings, lounge, etc., do not matter anyway. I disagree! She also thinks it is crazy that the Hilton, Marriott, etc., charge a parking fee, whereas the cheap motels don't. Her other contention is the free continental breakfast, which she feels is a "must have", along with free parking. I don't feel it an issue. Most free breakfasts are not that great anyway, with the exception of Embassy Suites, so what is the big deal? We could always grab Denny's or IHOP, or something from La Brea when we get to the parks.

So my question is, if you were traveling with someone who wanted to stay in a $60 Motel 6, and your taste runs more to Hilton, Marriott, Embassy Suites--how do you compromise?

Thanks for any thoughts!

I honestly agree with how you feel. I can't bring myself to stay at just any cheap motel. Regardless if its just a place to sleep, I still want to make sure it is a place that is clean, in a nice area, decent beds..etc, etc. A nasty hotel would ruin my happy vacation mood. Walking the parks gets very tiring. It is a great feeling going back to a nice hotel to rest up from the day.

My advice would be before deciding on any hotel, not just lower rate hotels, make sure you read other traveler's reviews of the property first. Trip Advisor.com is great. Hotel photos are so deceiving. It's very re-assuring to read other people's experiences so you know what to expect before you get there. You never know, maybe you can find a lower rate place that is great. It would be a win win for both of you.

 

[dawnhaze]

In general, I don't like to spend more than $120/night on a hotel anywhere, because I do just see it as a place to sleep, shower, and maybe leave my stuff while I go do something.

I've stayed in some very nice Motel 6/Super 8/etc locations, and I've stayed in some that made me want to run screaming into the night. So, as far as the $60 motel issue, it would depend on the specific location more than the chain.

 

[FairestOfThemAll37]

While a hotel may be "just a place to sleep" you have to use their linens, shower, toilet, etc.

I am a Marriott and above kind of girl. I have done a Hampton inn a few times and was very happy with it but only because I searched the area and it was the newest hotel around.

In addition to checking trip advisor for reviews, I would recommend looking at all the options and see which in her price range is the newest or has been refurbished as it really does make a difference especially at lower levels.

For me seeing banged up furniture and worn carpet and drapes just gives me the feeling that it's not clean and leaves me feeling icky.

Good luck! I've always paid more to stay where I want. I'm not sure what I would do if that wasn't an option. I can understand her not wanting to feel like somebody else is paying, but it's tough when it's at your discomfort then.

 

[GracieB]

I have stayed at Stovall's, and it was fine. But it is running about $125 for our stay, plus parking.

 

[Marionnette]

Do you feel a hotel is "just a place to sleep"? I am traveling to Disneyland with an old friend, and she is balking at paying for anything higher than $90 a night! Her theory is, we are just going to sleep there, so the full-service, nice grounds, better bedding, higher end surroundings, lounge, etc., do not matter anyway. I disagree! She also thinks it is crazy that the Hilton, Marriott, etc., charge a parking fee, whereas the cheap motels don't. Her other contention is the free continental breakfast, which she feels is a "must have", along with free parking. I don't feel it an issue. Most free breakfasts are not that great anyway, with the exception of Embassy Suites, so what is the big deal? We could always grab Denny's or IHOP, or something from La Brea when we get to the parks.

So my question is, if you were traveling with someone who wanted to stay in a $60 Motel 6, and your taste runs more to Hilton, Marriott, Embassy Suites--how do you compromise?

Thanks for any thoughts!

I have had this issue before. She won't let me pay the difference. I suggested that instead of the $94 La Quinta, we splurge on the $130 Sheraton (plus parking and breakfast) and she said, "But La Quinta IS a splurge!"

I am already surprising her by paying for the Fantasmic Dessert seating and possibly Blue Bayou.

You've had this issue before. Why didn't you expect the same thing for this trip?

I won't insist that someone spend their hard-earned money on something that I place a value on but they don't. If you value her companionship, you should be the one to "bend" and stay somewhere that is within her budget. Disney will always be there and you can stay at the Sheraton some other time when you travel with someone who has similar taste in hotels.

 

[FairestOfThemAll37]

You've had this issue before. Why didn't you expect the same thing for this trip? I won't insist that someone spend their hard-earned money on something that I place a value on but they don't. If you value her companionship, you should be the one to "bend" and stay somewhere that is within her budget. Disney will always be there and you can stay at the Sheraton some other time when you travel with someone who has similar taste in hotels.

I agree with the first part, but she's really not asking her friend to spend her money on something she doesn't value. IMO Op was the one to "bend" by saying she'd pick up the difference to stay somewhere nicer. To me, that's a win-win and everybody gets what they want. It seems to be that her friend is the one saying I don't want to pay but I won't let you pay to be more comfortable for you.

This issue is close to my heart lol and I feel your frustration OP. Especially as for me, staying somewhere I'm not comfortable really does make it difficult to enjoy the vacation.

 

[Marionnette]

I agree with the first part, but she's really not asking her friend to spend her money on something she doesn't value. IMO Op was the one to "bend" by saying she'd pick up the difference to stay somewhere nicer. To me, that's a win-win and everybody gets what they want. It seems to be that her friend is the one saying I don't want to pay but I won't let you pay to be more comfortable for you.

This issue is close to my heart lol and I feel your frustration OP. Especially as for me, staying somewhere I'm not comfortable really does make it difficult to enjoy the vacation.

Yes, but the OP has traveled with the friend before and has run into this same issue. She should have anticipated it. If she values the company of this friend more than the choice of hotel, she will go along with what the friend wants. If the issue is extremely important to the OP, she should find another traveling companion.

 

[nunzia]

I'd rather stay at a hotel in decent walking distance than judge by cost. As I've gotten older I do Disney different, and hotel ambience is very important to me. For the most part, I will only stay on site now. But..ther are several OK hotels close by, so can you look into those? Carousel and Tropicana can be pretty cheap and are very close. Jolly Roger is even walkable, and I've stayed there for an Expo at a really good rate.

 

[msmama]

If I don't have a clean, modern hotel then I feel like I never sleep, plus I feel like I never get clean in their showers and that leaves me feeling icky for a whole trip.

While I don't have Marriott tastes, necessarily, I do need it to be nice and kept well (like another person said, if carpets are worn, that's a no-no for me).

I don't know hotels around Disneyland well enough to suggest any but maybe you can emphasize convenience over price? Maybe you could find one with a better breakfast that you can sell her on? Could you try to convince her that a more expensive hotel has something she can't live without?

 

[eliza61]

I'd have to ask a couple of things.

1) How long are we staying there. I've done those "free" continential breakfasts. ok for 1 day, not some thing I want to do 7 days. full disclosure: we are a breakfast eating family. Personally I'd much rather simply find a cracker barrell and have a decent meal. When I dropped my son off at college the breakfast buffet was horrendous. then to add insult to injury, the plates were these thin foam plates, so you couldn't cut on them without them springing a leak.

2) where is the motel 6 located. One year while driving to florida we pulled over to a Motel 6 off of I-95. Had to sleep with a chair under the knob. Sorry if I have to barricade myself in at night, I'm moving. LOL.

Travel in general for me is important. so my attitude is generally I like to make sure I'm at least comfortable. even when I'm sleeping.