Premium economy or 5 star resort?

[queendisney]

yep I am also in the Hotel not flight camp..no competition on that front. 9 hours or 14 nights! Even if you are tall/wide/long legged or broad shouldered like my DH it is only 9 hours and you can always get up and stretch...you may be lucky and be on flight that has loads of spare seats that you can spread out into!

 

[steve_rob]

I wouldn't pay for business class to Florida, no matter how nice it is, because it's just TOO much money. But if the question was as the thread title, Premium Economy vs 5 star hotel, then I'd go flight EVERY time.

I understand what everyone is saying with regards to how much time you spend in the air (2 x 9 hours) versus how much time you spend in your hotel, but do you REALLY spend any time in your hotel? I don't.

I immediately rule out hours sleeping - no matter how much the hotel costs, all of them are the same with my eyes closed. As long as the bed is comfy, I'm happy. Then I'm in the parks or shopping or eating or driving around for much of the rest of the holiday - I'd say the amount of time in the hotel is probably about 2 hours a day maximum (and most of that is getting showered and changed).

Most of the difference between say a 2/3 star and a 5 star hotel are the facilities: a slightly better pool, a restaurant on site, things like tennis courts, smarter decor in the room, better quality of bathroom supplies. None of these really appeal to me - my primary wants from a hotel is that it is clean and in a good location (safe, close to attractions).

Whereas a flight upgrade is something I feel I can make use of. I'm only 6 foot tall, but I must have big knees or something as I feel cramped in economy (and DW isn't exactly small either), so more legroom and a wider seat are a recipe for starting a holiday off the right way and a chance to unwind on the way home. Extra luggage allowance on the way home is a godsend (yes, I know you can pay for that separately, but if you get it for free, that's all the better). Getting off the plane first at MCO to avoid the immigration queues is also something that appeals - that's one line I can't get a fastpass for!

So yes, if you do spend a lot of time at the hotel, then that's a worthwhile upgrade, but for me, I'll stick to flying in style...

 

[Fantasia Sam]

Oh this one is a no brainer for me more so because as much as I LOVE to stay at The Grand Floridian or The Ritz Carlton I actually much prefer to fly Business Class than economy any day and it's got more to do with the size of my butt than the length of my legs LOL plus I just love that whole luxury feel of business class travel....and staying in any hotel to me even Pop Century feels like luxury to me.

Looking at our Business Class flights in August - we're only paying £260 more each round trip for our seats over the Economy return trip. That's just an extra £5 pp a week each if saving over a year - I spend more than that each week on coffee drinks which I can cut out so I didn't pass that Upgrade up!

 

[Trevski220]

There seems to be some confusion here ref the flights, premium economy is not business class, you may get a PE upgrade for perhaps 250 pounds per person
One way, a buisness class upgrade is going to be more like 800-900 pounds per person one way!

My opinion is my comfort on the flight is more important than having a 5 star hotel room which I only intend to sleep in! I'd maybe look at extra leg room rather than an upgrade to PE or UC and try and upgrade accomodation as well

 

[wayneg]

One way, a buisness class upgrade is going to be more like 800-900 pounds per person one way!

Never paid more than £1170 for business class with Delta. Thats not upgrade price. Book when offers are on. BA were doing from £995 return to Miami recently.

 

[Danauk]

For me I would take the 5 star hotel over the upper class flight. DH and I are not tall so the size of economy seats does not bother us. We travelled PE once to try it, but decided that, for us, the extra cost was not worth it. However, we do appreciate hotel facilities, room size, view etc and when ever we travel we choose to stay 4 or 5 star when ever possible. 8 - 12 hours (or even 27 hours when we travelled to Australia) in economy is worth the 2 or 3 weeks in a 5 star hotel for us. I guess it is down to personal preference though, it is nice that people have so much choice in regards to travel and accomodation.

 

[Fantasia Sam]

There seems to be some confusion here ref the flights, premium economy is not business class, you may get a PE upgrade for perhaps 250 pounds per person
One way, a buisness class upgrade is going to be more like 800-900 pounds per person one way!

My opinion is my comfort on the flight is more important than having a 5 star hotel room which I only intend to sleep in! I'd maybe look at extra leg room rather than an upgrade to PE or UC and try and upgrade accomodation as well

Yup I was talking about Business Class and I have got my hubby and I flights for £900 each Return Business Class with British Airways - total for the two of us £1800 in August. It was original £1000 each in the sale but we're BA shareholders so we get a further 10% discount. The current economy price for a return is £640 so yup just £260 NOT £800 to upgrade both ways so there are deals to be had out there for sure.

November I have a business class return to Orlando for £1400 with BA again.

As Wayne says these were not upgrade prices but actual prices in the sale.

 

[queendisney]

For me I would take the 5 star hotel over the upper class flight. DH and I are not tall so the size of economy seats does not bother us. We travelled PE once to try it, but decided that, for us, the extra cost was not worth it. However, we do appreciate hotel facilities, room size, view etc and when ever we travel we choose to stay 4 or 5 star when ever possible. 8 - 12 hours (or even 27 hours when we travelled to Australia) in economy is worth the 2 or 3 weeks in a 5 star hotel for us. I guess it is down to personal preference though, it is nice that people have so much choice in regards to travel and accomodation.

Yep with you on this one..personally I don't go with the saying 'its just somewhere to sleep'..I love the fact that we can go back to a really nice room for 3 weeks with good facilities in a really nice area with a beautiful pool and good places to eat. I like waking up in beautiful places it all adds to the overall holiday experience for me and would forefit not upgrading on the plane to do it. Our hotel choice is very important and the flight just isn't. I'll happily sit with my knees under my chin in return for luxury..

 

[Trevski220]

Yup I was talking about Business Class and I have got my hubby and I flights for £900 each Return Business Class with British Airways - total for the two of us £1800 in August. It was original £1000 each in the sale but we're BA shareholders so we get a further 10% discount. The current economy price for a return is £640 so yup just £260 NOT £800 to upgrade both ways so there are deals to be had out there for sure.

November I have a business class return to Orlando for £1400 with BA again.

As Wayne says these were not upgrade prices but actual prices in the sale.

Yes I was aware of the BA and Virgin sale, on both Miami and Orlando, my comment was more in relation to a few comments from people saying they had upgraded on the day to premium for 250 per person, which isn't buisness it seemed that people were infering that premium economy was a buisness class product, and upgrades to buisness at the airport are More like 800-900 pounds as the sale fares are not available due to advance purchase requirements, perhaps I misinterpreted, either way I wasn't looking for an argument

 

[Fantasia Sam]

Yes I was aware of the BA and Virgin sale, on both Miami and Orlando, my comment was more in relation to a few comments from people saying they had upgraded on the day to premium for 250 per person, which isn't buisness it seemed that people were infering that premium economy was a buisness class product, and upgrades to buisness at the airport are More like 800-900 pounds as the sale fares are not available due to advance purchase requirements, perhaps I misinterpreted, either way I wasn't looking for an argument

Awww I know you weren't looking for an argument I just wanted to be sure the OP knew that it didn't have to be that expensive and yes absolutely agree no way is Premium Economy a business class product... although I have to say years ago it sure felt more special to me than I regard it now ha-ha

I have upgraded to Upper from Premium one way once for something like £180 at the airport but that was going back a lonnnnnnng time ago and then it was an offer that they were pushing at check-in.

 

[torsie24]

Hotel no brainer.

PE isn't close to a business class service, and you're only on the plane for a few hours, but you're at the resort for 2 weeks.

Also, we enjoy spending a lot of time at the resort, so you need to factor that in. If you only use it to shower and sleep then I'd say fly economy, stay at a Value or Mod, and save the extra to spend on experiences or souvenirs or your next trip.

But we flew PE last trip, and while it was nice sitting upstairs I didn't sleep any better, and the flight didn't seem any shorter. Jack's 6'4" and he agrees we're better putting the money towards the hotel/tickets/spending money.

We love love LOVE staying somewhere a bit luxurious, it's a big part of our trip.

 

[stevechase]

Sorry, not sure if anyone has put this, I havnt read all the replies as I am trying to book my flights, but keep getting engroused in this site!

I would stick with ecomony and a lesser hotel for more time there, I would take the extra hols time every time.

I have never flown anything other than economy so I cant compare to be fair, but the way I look at it is, I am terrified of flying and you are still in the air the same time, so lump it in the normal seats, walk around a bit more and take the extra week at a 3 star hotel. We are going for best part of 5 weeks this time, now we could have had 2 weeks and been carried shoulder high to the plane, but its still 35000 feet , 600 mph and 8 hours of anyones money.

Just my opinion of course, but at the end of the day, we are spedning the whole summer hols in the States. Now tell me, if you could swing the time off work, which of you wouldnt do the same?

Steve (bloody exctited, no, seriously, bloody excited) Chase

 

[queendisney]

.

Just my opinion of course, but at the end of the day, we are spedning the whole summer hols in the States. Now tell me, if you could swing the time off work, which of you wouldnt do the same?

Steve (bloody exctited, no, seriously, bloody excited) Chase

actually no I wouldn't..I prefer a shorter time in a 4 or 5* hotel. Honestly after 3 weeks I have seriously had enough and want to come home..
I think I would go crazy any longer then that and I need to come home to normality.

 

[torsie24]

Just my opinion of course, but at the end of the day, we are spedning the whole summer hols in the States. Now tell me, if you could swing the time off work, which of you wouldnt do the same?

Nope, I'd much much much rather have 2 weeks at AKL or the Floridian than longer at a cheaper resort.

 

[wayneg]

actually no I wouldn't..I prefer a shorter time in a 4 or 5* hotel. Honestly after 3 weeks I have seriously had enough and want to come home..
I think I would go crazy any longer then that and I need to come home to normality.

Nope, I'd much much much rather have 2 weeks at AKL or the Floridian than longer at a cheaper resort.

Just shows how different we all are, AKL is a great hotel but 3 nights was enough at those prices, we paid £70/nt for savannah view, now its probably double that, I can almost get a week offsite for 1 night at AKL.

Longer the better for me, this time its 3 weeks at OKW and 3 nights offsite at Fairfield Inn, I would be 100% just as happy doing the whole trip at Fairfield Inn. As I put in earlier post, it depends what you use the hotel for, doesn't matter to us if we pay £30 or £300 we still get in late at night goto sleep get up and leave.

 

[Trevski220]

Awww I know you weren't looking for an argument I just wanted to be sure the OP knew that it didn't have to be that expensive and yes absolutely agree no way is Premium Economy a business class product... although I have to say years ago it sure felt more special to me than I regard it now ha-ha

I have upgraded to Upper from Premium one way once for something like £180 at the airport but that was going back a lonnnnnnng time ago and then it was an offer that they were pushing at check-in.

Fair point, well made

I've also seen once or twice very good deals on the day, usually associated with them having oversold one of the cabins, and trying to recover some money from upgrades instead of doing op-ups

 

[Fantasia Sam]

Fair point, well made

I've also seen once or twice very good deals on the day, usually associated with them having oversold one of the cabins, and trying to recover some money from upgrades instead of doing op-ups

Yeah I love those upgrades whereby you think you're getting something really good but actually the airline is just playing us LOL because if they don't sell them by a certain time the parties behind you get the upgrade for free



OMG I have done 4 weeks in Disney twice and loved it - with some great AP rates I hasten to add and I was working for the UN back then so I also got an incredible rate at the Swan and Dolphin but I did have to move a lot on both trips. I never get tired of staying in Florida but I do miss my dog when I'm away so 2 weeks is probably about my max these days but I could push to 3 IF I knew that the DH was back at home looking after the dog for at least one of those weeks LOL

 

[stevechase]

Hi all

Suppose its all down to personal choice. I love staying in real nice hotels, but to be honest, if the places I am visiting are as exciting as you are lead to believe, I only want the room to be clean and have a descent bed. I suppose it comes down to, is the holiday more about the place or the hotel, for me it is the place and I would have thought it was for most people.

We have been to some fantastic places in the last ten years, but when we talk about them, we say, "yeah the hotel was clean and nice" but the emphasis is always on the place itself (if that makes sense)

The other things for me are that I really dont like flying at all, so rather than do say 2 or 3 trips a year, I like to get my time in the air done and dusted as quickly as possible. As well as this, my wife has a pretty stressful job (999 emergency calls for West Mids Ambulance) I bout a business 2 years ago with a colleage, which creates stress levels that you cant imagine. So for us to shut off for all of the summer hols (apart from the odd email) with the kids is an absolute dream.

I am sure no matter how long you go for, as long as you enjoy it, in your own way, thats what is important.

Off to book flights now, cant risk waiting any longer. Love VA, but why are they so much more than the others?????

Steve 'in a very rainy, dark black country' Chase

 

[queendisney]

Hi all

Suppose its all down to personal choice. I love staying in real nice hotels, but to be honest, if the places I am visiting are as exciting as you are lead to believe, I only want the room to be clean and have a descent bed. I suppose it comes down to, is the holiday more about the place or the hotel, for me it is the place and I would have thought it was for most people.

Its equally important to me and I would have thought to about 50% of people on here that the hotel is a good one given that you are spending a fair amount of time in it even if like you said its only for sleeping. Having seen where a lot of the hotels are in Orlando I would be extremely careful where you chose..the Comfort Inn springs to mind (think its changed its name now) but its right next to the I4 and there's a constant noise, day and night! A lot of the hotels down I-Drive also back on to the I4 as do some in LBV...I want my hotel tobe away from that kind of noise. I also think going back to a really good hotel adds to my holiday experience and waking up in beautiful surroundings is part of that as well. Walking out into beautiful grounds with the sound of birds singing on a hot summers morning and going to sit by the pool for a while in its quiet landscaped surroundings is all part of it too.
But you are right it is down to personal taste and everybody has a different take on it. TBH if I could afford to upgrade I would but certainly not at the expense of a lovely hotel in fab surroundings.

 

[stevechase]

I would point out here, by cheaper, I am still talking about the likes of the value resorts, we have only ever stayed on site, ASMovies, Port Orleans Riverside and this year the Cabins. I would I think draw the line and the really cheap motel ones, I wouldnt stay at some hole in hell, just to have 6 weeks away. But as I said, as long as its clean thats the main thing for us.

We stayed in the Affinia Shelburne in NY 3 years ago and it was a fabulous suite, but we woke up, we went out, we got back, we went to bed and did the same again the next day. It would have been nice to stay in a suite at the Waldorf Astoria, but we still got to see the whole of the city. Its definately more about the place than the hotel for us.

Hope you all have fun

Steve