help me understand luxury hotels

[Anonymous]

Pre-covid, I guess they kind of made sense. But these days, with limited housekeeping, spas still closed, limited room service, etc. - I don't understand. You're paying, say $800 for a room with a bed at the Ritz Amelia Island when you could paying $180 up the road at the Residence Inn. What am I missing?

[Anonymous]

That you are a troll

[Anonymous]

That everything has reopened?

[Anonymous]

Better chance of it being clean. Sure you can and people do get bedbugs at the Ritz Carlton but I bet it’s a whole lot rarer.

[Anonymous]

But none of that is the case anymore? You are more likely to have limited housekeeping and restaurant hours at the Residence Inn than the Ritz.

[Anonymous]

None of the things you are saying are true in terms of reduced services and haven't been for a while.

Weird post.

[Anonymous]

What's wrong with the Ritz Amelia Island? I have to go there for work in a few weeks. Is it that bad?

Overall I agree with you - I stay in a lot of high end hotels and don't mind a nice Hampton Inn with the free breakfast on occasion. They aren't that different. The only hotels that are worth it are ones that provide something in addition to the room. I stay in ski resort hotels that have breakfast buffets, car service to town or skiing, ski storage or ski valets, cookies and hot chocolate at the end of the day, etc. That is worth paying extra for.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:None of the things you are saying are true in terms of reduced services and haven't been for a while.

Weird post.

Really? I haven't looked at high-end hotels since last summer. Assumed nothing had changed, since I couldn't even get room service at a Marriott last week.

But I guess the question still remains. I don't much time in a hotel room (and prefer a VRBO so I have space, quiet, and the ability to cook dinner or spread out and eat takeout), so I'm curious what people in these luxury hotels.

[Anonymous]

I have stayed in luxury hotels and the Holiday Inn Express. I stay in both in my life on an ongoing basis for various trips/needs.

A true luxury hotel is MUCH DIFFERENT. The room and space is a lot nicer. In warm places, there is often nice outdoor space. The bed is much more comfortable. The bedding is higher quality. The bathroom is much nicer. The service is excellent. Usually you'll have a butler or concierge assigned to you who can assist with all sorts of things...activities, reservations. The amenities are amazing. Pool, spa, grounds, food available (some complimentary as part of the stay), programming for kids, and on and on.

The Holiday Inn Express is a clean room and a breakfast buffet included with some food that is edible. That's it. Gets the job done. But different.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I have stayed in luxury hotels and the Holiday Inn Express. I stay in both in my life on an ongoing basis for various trips/needs.

A true luxury hotel is MUCH DIFFERENT. The room and space is a lot nicer. In warm places, there is often nice outdoor space. The bed is much more comfortable. The bedding is higher quality. The bathroom is much nicer. The service is excellent. Usually you'll have a butler or concierge assigned to you who can assist with all sorts of things...activities, reservations. The amenities are amazing. Pool, spa, grounds, food available (some complimentary as part of the stay), programming for kids, and on and on.

The Holiday Inn Express is a clean room and a breakfast buffet included with some food that is edible. That's it. Gets the job done. But different.

So it's a destination itself?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:None of the things you are saying are true in terms of reduced services and haven't been for a while.

Weird post.

Really? I haven't looked at high-end hotels since last summer. Assumed nothing had changed, since I couldn't even get room service at a Marriott last week.

But I guess the question still remains. I don't much time in a hotel room (and prefer a VRBO so I have space, quiet, and the ability to cook dinner or spread out and eat takeout), so I'm curious what people in these luxury hotels.

You're more likely to not be able to get service at the mid to low end hotels these days. Luxury stuff is fully back. Because, as you note, that is their differentiator and why people are going there.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I have stayed in luxury hotels and the Holiday Inn Express. I stay in both in my life on an ongoing basis for various trips/needs.

A true luxury hotel is MUCH DIFFERENT. The room and space is a lot nicer. In warm places, there is often nice outdoor space. The bed is much more comfortable. The bedding is higher quality. The bathroom is much nicer. The service is excellent. Usually you'll have a butler or concierge assigned to you who can assist with all sorts of things...activities, reservations. The amenities are amazing. Pool, spa, grounds, food available (some complimentary as part of the stay), programming for kids, and on and on.

The Holiday Inn Express is a clean room and a breakfast buffet included with some food that is edible. That's it. Gets the job done. But different.

So it's a destination itself?

Yes, exactly. I wouldn't bother to stay in one if I was going to be off at a conference all day. But say at a beach/restful vacation, it is a great experience. Usually the pool and beach service at these places is also amazing.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I have stayed in luxury hotels and the Holiday Inn Express. I stay in both in my life on an ongoing basis for various trips/needs.

A true luxury hotel is MUCH DIFFERENT. The room and space is a lot nicer. In warm places, there is often nice outdoor space. The bed is much more comfortable. The bedding is higher quality. The bathroom is much nicer. The service is excellent. Usually you'll have a butler or concierge assigned to you who can assist with all sorts of things...activities, reservations. The amenities are amazing. Pool, spa, grounds, food available (some complimentary as part of the stay), programming for kids, and on and on.

The Holiday Inn Express is a clean room and a breakfast buffet included with some food that is edible. That's it. Gets the job done. But different.

So it's a destination itself?

Yes, exactly. I wouldn't bother to stay in one if I was going to be off at a conference all day. But say at a beach/restful vacation, it is a great experience. Usually the pool and beach service at these places is also amazing.

Interesting. Seems very "contrived" to me (not a great word, but you get my drift, hopefully), but I prefer to just disappear into the local community. Thanks for the explanation!

[Anonymous]

I love luxury hotels but do feel like hotel prices lately are not consistent with their quality. I could totally understand paying 180 for the Hampton inn vs 350 for a JWMarriott or something but now the JW is like 800 and the really unique non-chain high end hotel is 1300. It’s hard for me to find any room no matter how fabulous to be worth 800 plus a night.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Pre-covid, I guess they kind of made sense. But these days, with limited housekeeping, spas still closed, limited room service, etc. - I don't understand. You're paying, say $800 for a room with a bed at the Ritz Amelia Island when you could paying $180 up the road at the Residence Inn. What am I missing?

Everyone has different priorities of what they are willing to spend money on. Some people will splash out on a nice car because that's their thing. Some people really want that feeling of everything being taken care of, everything being in great shape, etc, that a high end hotel brings. Not important for me, but different strokes, etc.

I am happy that those people exist, because they create the profit for the industry that makes things like points/miles possible so I can get a free room every so often. Thanks!