Clark55

When I go on shopping weekends which is usually 3 or 4 nights for the 1st nights I book into a cheap hotel then for the last night the best hotel in town. For example I always go for the weekend to London before Christmas & go for a priceline hotel it's usually a Thistle hotel & I pay around €80.00 per night then for the last night I book into the Ritz for €400.00 LOL First of all I couldn't afford the Ritz for 4 nights & anyway I always think for the 1st 2 or 3 days I'm never in the hotel whereas the last day I've usually done all my shopping & can really enjoy the atmosphere of a luxury hotel. My husband can't understand this & says I must have some kind of Disorder. LOL Am I really a bit strange or do other people do this?

SAnParis

Wouldn't be worth the time to move for me + I spend so little time in the room anyway... We have also started staying in Apts. in lieu of hotels. Why not take a look at that ?

L84SKY

If I'm staying in the same city, it's the same hotel. If I'll be moving about then I book a nice hotel for the 1st night when I might be a little jet lagged and need a pool and a work out room.

CRAZY4TRAVEL

I echo SAnParis...I don't like to move around on a short stay so I would likely pick a moderate property for the entire stay. I don't spend much time in my hotel on a city stay so I would never likely book a Ritz.

suze

Nah, not for me. I wouldn't want to pack up and move but more important no hotel would be worth 400 bucks to me. I'd rather feel comfortable and places that expensive would only make me nervous.

Clark55

I never do this for a long stay, only weekend breaks so I only have a trolley for luggage & I always choose hotels that are near. The Thistle Piccadilly & Thistle Trafalgar square are 5 minutes walk from the Ritz. After breakfast I walk to the Ritz, around 9.30, check in & by 9.45 am. I'm walking up Regent St to the shops. Up until now I've always been able to check into all the hotels straight away bcoz they always have rooms free, probably bcoz of the price they're hardly ever full, but even if I couldn't check in I would just leave my trolley there & collect it when I got back to the hotel. I know it seems like a waste of money but I always have a budget of around £100 per night so if I stayed in a medium priced hotel for all 4 nights I would still be spending the same amount but I wouldn't have stayed in all those amazing hotels around the world.

tcreath

Definitely not me. If I'm in the same city I would never want to switch hotel rooms. I would never stay in a hotel that expensive anyhow. We just don't spend a lot of time in our room when on vacation, so it would be a waste of money. And like SAnParis, we too tend to favor apartments.

Tracy

Neopolitan

I guess I just don't understand the whole concept. Are you saying that the cheaper hotel makes you miserable, and that's why you want to move to a grand hotel the final night? If so, wouldn't it make more sense to pick a confortable middle-of-the road hotel for the whole trip so you can be comfortable the whole time, not just one night? Or if you're saying that the cheaper hotel is fine, then wouldn't you keep asking yourself the whole time you're in the expensive one, "is this really worth that much more money, when the other hotel was perfectly fine?

In other words, I guess if I had a budget of 600 euro for four nights, I'd probably be happier spending the time in a 150 euro hotel room, instead of three nights in a skimpy one, and just one night in a really nice one.

And where did Clark or anyone else mention staying in any hotel room they couldn't afford? Did I miss something?
Just because a person can't afford a six week luxury cruise, doesn't mean they can't afford a week long one. Just because Clark can't afford four nights at the Ritz, doesn't mean he/she can't afford one night there. What does this post have to do with people buying things they can't afford?

starrsville

I agree, Neo.

Amazingly, there are Americans who CAN afford to spend $$$ on trips without charging (and carrying a balance) on a card. They still make decisions on HOW to spend the money they want to spend.

On the board today, someone who took a "budget" trip to Alaska, but happily splurged 20% of the budget on something they really wanted to do.

If Clark wants to stay one night at the Ritz - and doesn't mind moving hotels- why would anyone be critical (and condescending) of that decision?

snackman

I have never done that but it actually sounds like a good idea.

ma23peas

I don't know if you're the only one, but I think it's a little eccentricity that makes you unique! We all have little things like that...I wouldn't worry about being considered strange...I think it's charming. I would probably do the same thing..if I didn't have to keep up with my 3 children..might be rough moving them around..but I actually think my kids would look at it as an adventure and an opportunity to experience a different side of London! You may have only been referring to the Ritz because of the reputation...but if I were you I'd research around to find the mom and pop (non-chain) hotel that has the highest standards (a plus if it's solidly English in tradition..meaning been there a long time) and I bet you'll get an even more unique experience than staying in a top notch chain hotel. The Goring comes to mind...and there are several others...go to www.tripadvisor.com and check some of them out by price...you'll notice names that aren't chains...I'd go with you!
Have a great trip!
Tara

sheila

I wouldn't do it, Clark, but I understand why you do....

RonZ

The OP really enjoys the Ritz, so based on that I think it's a fine idea. Now about this shopping disorder...

seetheworld

Clark, do you have American Express reward points? You can use them at the Ritz London. We did - it was worth every point IMHO.

MelissaHI

I don't think I'd do this for a 3-4 night trip, especially in the same city. However, I've done this on trips where I've been in different cities. I'll stay in budget hotels during my vacation and on the last night in the final city--IF it's only one night there--I'll splurge on a more expensive room. I figure, why not end the vacation with style? And, as you say, at the end you are able to enjoy the luxury of the hotel. I don't think you are making yourself "miserable" with a cheaper hotel, you're just treating yourself at the end with the luxury hotel.

Heck, I'll go shopping with you!

peppermintpatti

Hi Clark55, Hey, you finally found someone who does this too!--ME!! I don't do it every trip. But when we travel for our anniversary, we usually book the last nite or two at a better hotel. I actually have done trips where the hotels get progressively better with each stop. So if you are strange, then I just might be even stranger! (My husband actually likes when we do this)

Neopolitan

Now that I think about it, is this so different from looking for inexpensive restaurants most nights so that you can splurge on one really fantastic meal at an expensive restaurant perhaps on your final night somewhere?

susanteach

I don't think I personally would do this on a such a short trip, BUT... this is indeed a common practice on tours. The best hotel is always last so that you leave with the latest, best experience in mind and travel with them again.

cmt

I don't. I don't go away on shopping weekends, I don't switch hotels while in the same city unless there has been some problem, and I never book rooms that cost 400 euro.

starrsville

Well, after posting to another thread, I realize I've done this too. 7 nights at the Hilton on the Big Island before 4 nights at the Four Seasons - for exactly the same reason. We did all (well, most) of our sight-seeing while using the Hilton as a base. It was nice - but not "blow you away nice". Even left the room for one night to go to Volcano on the other side of the island.

So, when it was time for the 4 nights at the Four Seasons, we REALLY enjoyed being on the resort and took full advantage of the resort. Pool, beach, spa, private tennis lessons, snorkeling, etc - all at the resort.

It WAS a great way to end the vacation.