help me understand luxury hotels

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I don’t understand the focus on room service. Before doordash and the like, sure, but now you have far better choices available to you faster and cheaper than whatever the hotel would serve you.

Doordash and Uber won’t deliver to your room and set everything up with real plates, real silverware, cloth napkins and glasses for your wine.

[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.

Attractive, spacious rooms
Luxurious bedding
Spotless (hopefully)
Excellent personalized service
Nice touches like towel warmers, turn down service etc
Anyway this is a dumb question. If you have ever spent time in a crummy hotel like I have the difference is far and wide…

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

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.

Attractive, spacious rooms
Luxurious bedding
Spotless (hopefully)
Excellent personalized service
Nice touches like towel warmers, turn down service etc
Anyway this is a dumb question. If you have ever spent time in a crummy hotel like I have the difference is far and wide…

I've spent time in both, which is why I'm wondering. I dislike hotels as a rule and see them as a place to sleep. The idea of a resort where you never leave the property seems restrictive, like I said.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

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?

Why do you care?? FTR, Residence Inn-Amelia Island doesn’t have a beach and has a teensy little pool and hot tub area. No restaurant onsite, and it’s located quite a distance from the main drag. Perfectly fine place to stay (stayed there must once!), but not comparable at all to the Ritz or Omni on AI.

Just curious about other perspectives. Full disclosure, we own a house there - and have no issues going out for dinner or to a public beach. I guess I didn't realize people see hotels as a destination in and of themselves. Seems...restrictive. That's all!

Luxury hotels are indeed destinations in and of themselves. You honestly don’t even want to leave them. They take care of you, you feel pampered. Low grade Hampton Inns and Courtyards will never give you that cozy fuzzy feeling.

Also luxury hotels make your vacation far easier than using regular lower end hotels. They have every convenience you can think of, including activities for adults, kids, the family. My easiest and most relaxing vacations have been at higher end properties.

[Anonymous]

Luxury housekeeping was never shut off during the pandemic.

It is every three days if you have a long day, or at check out for the other hotel tiers.

This is the same with all luxury products; why would you buy a Maserati when you can get a Ford focus that takes you to the same place. Why would I buy a Louis Vuitton or Chanel handbag when I can get an H&M bag that is just as functional.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

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?

Why do you care?? FTR, Residence Inn-Amelia Island doesn’t have a beach and has a teensy little pool and hot tub area. No restaurant onsite, and it’s located quite a distance from the main drag. Perfectly fine place to stay (stayed there must once!), but not comparable at all to the Ritz or Omni on AI.

Just curious about other perspectives. Full disclosure, we own a house there - and have no issues going out for dinner or to a public beach. I guess I didn't realize people see hotels as a destination in and of themselves. Seems...restrictive. That's all!

Luxury hotels are indeed destinations in and of themselves. You honestly don’t even want to leave them. They take care of you, you feel pampered. Low grade Hampton Inns and Courtyards will never give you that cozy fuzzy feeling.

Also luxury hotels make your vacation far easier than using regular lower end hotels. They have every convenience you can think of, including activities for adults, kids, the family. My easiest and most relaxing vacations have been at higher end properties.

Makes sense, thanks. Not my thing (I hate being pampered), but makes sense.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Luxury housekeeping was never shut off during the pandemic.

It is every three days if you have a long day, or at check out for the other hotel tiers.

This is the same with all luxury products; why would you buy a Maserati when you can get a Ford focus that takes you to the same place. Why would I buy a Louis Vuitton or Chanel handbag when I can get an H&M bag that is just as functional.

I am sorry, but every three days is not regular housekeeping. Even a Motel 6 did more pre-pandemic.

[Anonymous]

we are in the same boat and trying to plan, we'd rather stay at an airbnb instead of luxury hotel with nothing included. We're looking at all inclusive but they seem a bit more pricey than they used to

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote: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.

Where are you finding JWs for that low price $350?? Unheard of these days. Double that.

That’s the PP’s whole point. They’re $800/night these days and not really worth it.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:we are in the same boat and trying to plan, we'd rather stay at an airbnb instead of luxury hotel with nothing included. We're looking at all inclusive but they seem a bit more pricey than they used to

All inclusive seems very Carnival Cruise Lines.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

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.

Attractive, spacious rooms
Luxurious bedding
Spotless (hopefully)
Excellent personalized service
Nice touches like towel warmers, turn down service etc
Anyway this is a dumb question. If you have ever spent time in a crummy hotel like I have the difference is far and wide…

I've spent time in both, which is why I'm wondering. I dislike hotels as a rule and see them as a place to sleep. The idea of a resort where you never leave the property seems restrictive, like I said.

It's one kind of vacation. You also don't never leave the property. Are you out from 7am to 10pm? No. Then it wouldn't be worth it.

I agree these luxury brands in a city are a bit more questionable value. For our family, who will spring for luxury for a certain type of vacation, in a city setting we're just going for decent and clean and a good location.

[Anonymous]

The rooms and property are a feast for the eyes, and every staff person there is motivated to make your stay special. You wake up and have an amazing breakfast to eat so you get a hassle free, delicious and often healthy meal to start the day, open when you need it to be. If you need something, the staff will bend over backwards to help you with it. If you have children, there will be nice little touches like a special welcome for them or special treats left in the room for them. The pools are usually simply amazing. The Grand Hyatt on Kauai is my favorite restaurant in the world. Four Seasons are great. We stayed in a new luxury hotel in Bora Bora - where the over water bungalow and resort and view was the nicest I've ever experienced and so was the snorkeling off of the deck to our room. The coffee table is glass and you can remove the top to see the mantas, rays and other fish swimming below. You get on a bike and go wherever you want; all is part of the experience. We can't always afford this, but when we can it's a HUGE difference. And we don't stay in the hotel the entire time, but a lot of our trips we do want some downtime at the pool (we have kids) to balance out the sight seeing. I grew up poor and have been in all levels of hotels - there's nothing like a fine hotel or resort to feel "ahhhhh" while on vacation.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:The rooms and property are a feast for the eyes, and every staff person there is motivated to make your stay special. You wake up and have an amazing breakfast to eat so you get a hassle free, delicious and often healthy meal to start the day, open when you need it to be. If you need something, the staff will bend over backwards to help you with it. If you have children, there will be nice little touches like a special welcome for them or special treats left in the room for them. The pools are usually simply amazing. The Grand Hyatt on Kauai is my favorite restaurant in the world. Four Seasons are great. We stayed in a new luxury hotel in Bora Bora - where the over water bungalow and resort and view was the nicest I've ever experienced and so was the snorkeling off of the deck to our room. The coffee table is glass and you can remove the top to see the mantas, rays and other fish swimming below. You get on a bike and go wherever you want; all is part of the experience. We can't always afford this, but when we can it's a HUGE difference. And we don't stay in the hotel the entire time, but a lot of our trips we do want some downtime at the pool (we have kids) to balance out the sight seeing. I grew up poor and have been in all levels of hotels - there's nothing like a fine hotel or resort to feel "ahhhhh" while on vacation.

Um, sharing a room with your children is not luxury, Bora Bora or not. Sorry.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The rooms and property are a feast for the eyes, and every staff person there is motivated to make your stay special. You wake up and have an amazing breakfast to eat so you get a hassle free, delicious and often healthy meal to start the day, open when you need it to be. If you need something, the staff will bend over backwards to help you with it. If you have children, there will be nice little touches like a special welcome for them or special treats left in the room for them. The pools are usually simply amazing. The Grand Hyatt on Kauai is my favorite restaurant in the world. Four Seasons are great. We stayed in a new luxury hotel in Bora Bora - where the over water bungalow and resort and view was the nicest I've ever experienced and so was the snorkeling off of the deck to our room. The coffee table is glass and you can remove the top to see the mantas, rays and other fish swimming below. You get on a bike and go wherever you want; all is part of the experience. We can't always afford this, but when we can it's a HUGE difference. And we don't stay in the hotel the entire time, but a lot of our trips we do want some downtime at the pool (we have kids) to balance out the sight seeing. I grew up poor and have been in all levels of hotels - there's nothing like a fine hotel or resort to feel "ahhhhh" while on vacation.

Um, sharing a room with your children is not luxury, Bora Bora or not. Sorry.

And the Grand Hyatt in Kauai is fine, but it isn't luxury. Its a family resort factory (but still a fun experience!)

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I don’t understand the focus on room service. Before doordash and the like, sure, but now you have far better choices available to you faster and cheaper than whatever the hotel would serve you.

Doordash and Uber won’t deliver to your room and set everything up with real plates, real silverware, cloth napkins and glasses for your wine.

That all seems unnecessary...