Vacation buyer’s remorse?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:There's really nothing worse than a tired/worn but yet pricey hotel.

We spent something like $600/night for the Lowe's Miami last spring. I must have read 500 of the thousands of online reviews. Our room was priced roughly $1500/night on peak weeks (our week was not peak).
Anyway, it was fine but sort of worn plus not particularly clean: fingerprints on elevator doors, dirt on carpets. I notice these things far more when I'm paying $600/night then when I'm paying $100. I'd honestly rather be in a new $100/night Embassy Suites alongside a highway--I'd rather be pleasantly surprised then disappointed.

Breakers in Palm Beach is sort of like that. Beautiful setting/beach/grounds, but the building needs major refurbishment. For what people pay, including food, it is not good (was there for a work conference).

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:There's really nothing worse than a tired/worn but yet pricey hotel.

We spent something like $600/night for the Lowe's Miami last spring. I must have read 500 of the thousands of online reviews. Our room was priced roughly $1500/night on peak weeks (our week was not peak).
Anyway, it was fine but sort of worn plus not particularly clean: fingerprints on elevator doors, dirt on carpets. I notice these things far more when I'm paying $600/night then when I'm paying $100. I'd honestly rather be in a new $100/night Embassy Suites alongside a highway--I'd rather be pleasantly surprised then disappointed.

Breakers in Palm Beach is sort of like that. Beautiful setting/beach/grounds, but the building needs major refurbishment. For what people pay, including food, it is not good (was there for a work conference).

I grew up in FL and my parents still tell me stories about their amazing work retreats at the Breakers back in the ‘70s and ‘80s (they met at work). Disappointing to hear it’s gone downhill.

[Anonymous]

I will say that we have enjoyed our several trips to Homestead over the year (though COMPLETELY agree that the hotel is shabby and in need of more extensive renovations). For a family with small kids, it is pretty great. We've done summer and winter trips, and I think of them fondly (albeit the drive is a touch too long, and the cost a touch too high). We loved all the activities (pools, tubing in the winter); my kids love that they can go to the arcade while my husband and I sit in the bar; the movie theater is a nice touch.

Re: Omni - we have been to nicer Omni properties like the Sagamore. It is heads and tails above the Homestead, so hopefully it moves more in that direction.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Boar's Head Inn, I'll never go back. Was told they don't like to seat "women who are alone". This was the dining room.

They thought I was a hooker? Idk

When was this? And did you ask for a manager?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:There's really nothing worse than a tired/worn but yet pricey hotel.

We spent something like $600/night for the Lowe's Miami last spring. I must have read 500 of the thousands of online reviews. Our room was priced roughly $1500/night on peak weeks (our week was not peak).
Anyway, it was fine but sort of worn plus not particularly clean: fingerprints on elevator doors, dirt on carpets. I notice these things far more when I'm paying $600/night then when I'm paying $100. I'd honestly rather be in a new $100/night Embassy Suites alongside a highway--I'd rather be pleasantly surprised then disappointed.

Plenty of reviewers state the issues you mentioned. I just checked. I don't believe that you read 500 reviews and didn't see this. I read like, 10.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I go to trip advisor and read the most recent reviews and also the worst reviews. You can usually get a sense of the place that way. I always look at traveler photos as well- not just what the hotel shares.

There are lots of recent bad reviews of the Greenbrier on TA, many are very detailed with pictures.
https://www.tripadvisor.com/Hotel_Review-g59644-d100352-Reviews-The_Greenbrier-White_Sulphur_Springs_West_Virginia.html#/media/100352/700812515:p/?albumid=101&type=2&category=101

I'm really sorry, OP, that it ended up being the opposite of what you hoped for. We went years ago and it seemed tired then, but DH's client was paying so we enjoyed the bunker tour, a round of golf, and a spa treatment. I remember the food not being very good, the green carpet, gaudy wallpaper and noisy AC. Why can't they refresh those things at least?

[Anonymous]

We just returned from an amazing trip to the UK. One evening we splurged for a 5-star highly rated stay in a castle. Everyone said…”you have to”! So we spent almost $800 on one night. With that price, I should have known nothing would have lived up to my expectations. The property was nice, the lodging was nice…but I didn’t leave feeling good about spending all that money on one night. Going forward, I’ll be less likely to splurge like that.

To the OP, I understand your disappointment.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Sorry, OP. My husband rented a “cute little artist cottage” in Broadkill beach for a whole week in August 2021. It was infested with flies, furniture was ripped, linens were old, TV didn’t work, just a total dump. I’m actually mad just thinking about it.

Broadkill can be amazing or terrible, depending on which way the breeze is blowing.

Bc those bugs can ruin the day if its coming from the wildlife refuge.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:There's really nothing worse than a tired/worn but yet pricey hotel.

We spent something like $600/night for the Lowe's Miami last spring. I must have read 500 of the thousands of online reviews. Our room was priced roughly $1500/night on peak weeks (our week was not peak).
Anyway, it was fine but sort of worn plus not particularly clean: fingerprints on elevator doors, dirt on carpets. I notice these things far more when I'm paying $600/night then when I'm paying $100. I'd honestly rather be in a new $100/night Embassy Suites alongside a highway--I'd rather be pleasantly surprised then disappointed.

Breakers in Palm Beach is sort of like that. Beautiful setting/beach/grounds, but the building needs major refurbishment. For what people pay, including food, it is not good (was there for a work conference).

I grew up in FL and my parents still tell me stories about their amazing work retreats at the Breakers back in the ‘70s and ‘80s (they met at work). Disappointing to hear it’s gone downhill.

It has. Eau, a few miles away, is much nicer, in my opinion, though the food is lousy at both resorts

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Yeah, that's basically how I feel about our international trip over the summer. We vetted everything, planned a lot, but our kids just didn't like the destination that much and it felt kind of like a bust. Like you, we made the most of it and still managed to have fun, but it wound up being a lot of money for less fun than we've had for much less money.

But I don't really regret it. I think with time, the fun memories will stick out more because we were in a far flung place we'd never been before, and the struggles will fade a bit. I also view it as a lesson in what works for our family. I'm already planning our next big trip and I've decided to do something super kid-centric. DH is a bit resistant, but I think this trip helped him realize that making the kids happy can make our experience a lot better too. Maybe these next few years we do more kid and family oriented stuff, and then once the kids are middle schoolers, we can try another international trip.

What was the location? Just curious.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:We just returned from an amazing trip to the UK. One evening we splurged for a 5-star highly rated stay in a castle. Everyone said…”you have to”! So we spent almost $800 on one night. With that price, I should have known nothing would have lived up to my expectations. The property was nice, the lodging was nice…but I didn’t leave feeling good about spending all that money on one night. Going forward, I’ll be less likely to splurge like that.

To the OP, I understand your disappointment.

See, this is exactly my point. $800 hotels are not for the masses to “splurge” on - that is just what Instagram wants you to believe. If you stay in your comfortable price range, you are far less likely to be disappointed.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Hershey Lodge. We went for two nights back in March. The indoor pool area was a ZOO. It was too crowded to be enjoyable and a waste of time and money.

Used to be one of my favorite resorts. Then they did some minor upgrades, and doubled the prices.
No thanks.

[Anonymous]

My entire honeymoon. Totally bamboozled.