How important is it to stay in a charming hotel?
Aug 31st, 2011, 06:53 AM
#1
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How important is it to stay in a charming hotel?
Do you think it is best to stay at local non chain hotels in europe? I am not keen on the cookie cutter approach but wanted to save money and use Hilton points.
Unfortunately, you miss so much local flavor at a large institutional hotel.
Unfortunately, you miss so much local flavor at a large institutional hotel.
Aug 31st, 2011, 07:12 AM
#2
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Free is often better. 
Negatives (relatively so) might be location: is the Hilton located in business district or a quaint neighbourhood?
In my view, unless I am spending LOTS of time at a hotel (a nd since I am on holidays..), it is just a place to store my stuff and have a comfortable sleep. I don't need pool, room service, Wi-fi,CNN, etc.
Negatives (relatively so) might be location: is the Hilton located in business district or a quaint neighbourhood?
In my view, unless I am spending LOTS of time at a hotel (a nd since I am on holidays..), it is just a place to store my stuff and have a comfortable sleep. I don't need pool, room service, Wi-fi,CNN, etc.
Aug 31st, 2011, 07:13 AM
#3
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We avoid large international chain hotels in favor of small (too small for a tour group) hotels with lots of local color, preferably family-run. The one exception -- for us -- might be in a large, confusing city, like Tokyo or Istanbul or Beijing or Palermo.
You could mix it up, stay in Hiltons in expensive cities, look for smaller charming hotels elsewhere.
You could mix it up, stay in Hiltons in expensive cities, look for smaller charming hotels elsewhere.
Aug 31st, 2011, 07:15 AM
#4
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For me, this always depends on city. Every Hilton and Hilton brand is not created eqaul.
Using points for nights that must be spent at an airport is a good way to use them in Europe.
I would stay at the Hilton Mulino Stuckey (sp.)in Venice. Seems to have plenty of charm.
Also, location is important. Some European towns and cities have well paced Hiltons, some don't. Location is more important to me than the charm of the hotel. If it is in a good central spot, and available on points, I would probably consider it.
To make a long post short, I think it depends on too many variables for one answer that applies to all of "Europe."
Using points for nights that must be spent at an airport is a good way to use them in Europe.
I would stay at the Hilton Mulino Stuckey (sp.)in Venice. Seems to have plenty of charm.
Also, location is important. Some European towns and cities have well paced Hiltons, some don't. Location is more important to me than the charm of the hotel. If it is in a good central spot, and available on points, I would probably consider it.
To make a long post short, I think it depends on too many variables for one answer that applies to all of "Europe."
Aug 31st, 2011, 07:54 AM
#6
Some of the Hiltons in London are fabulous --some definitely not.
You can't make sweeping assumptions that every Hilton is impersonal/huge and all local places are better.
It depends mostly on which cities you are visiting (and how many points you have) . . .
You can't make sweeping assumptions that every Hilton is impersonal/huge and all local places are better.
It depends mostly on which cities you are visiting (and how many points you have) . . .
Aug 31st, 2011, 08:14 AM
#8
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I think you should weigh what you are looking for and what your trip is. If you are taking a city break, just how much time are you going to be spending in the room/hotel and just how much local charm is it really going to have? I've stayed at some well-reviewed "charming" hotels in Europe and, while they were fine, I don't think the "charming" aspects really added anything of note to my trip. I'd consider trading for location, but not charm on a city trip.
To be brutally honest, I find "local charm" is often code for "cheaper than a chain".
To be brutally honest, I find "local charm" is often code for "cheaper than a chain".
Aug 31st, 2011, 08:26 AM
#9
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The majority of hotels aren't charming any way you look at it IMO. Being a local hotel doesn't make you charming. Some of them are distinctly noncharming and worse than any chain hotel you have seen. Besides, being a chain hotel doesn't mean a lot in some cases, as certain "chains" simply are marketing consortiums that local hotels belong to. A lot of people confuse those two points (ie, Best Western and even Quality Inn and Comfort are in that category, I believe). Hilton probably not, and a few others like that.
This issue also is confusing a chain hotel with being "nonlocal." there are plenty of local chains in European countries, not sure what the point being asked about really is. Is it really Hilton per se and not the issue of charming or chain hotels? I like Accor hotels, for example, and they are a chain in France, and I've stayed in local chains in Spain, also. Actually, I stayed in some Germain chain hotel once, also, as well as in Poland. There are really lots of local brands of chain hotels, presuming you mean any place that has more than one hotel under its label.
The OP is also combining large hotels with the concept of charming and chains, these are all different issues. Lots of chain hotels are small.
This issue also is confusing a chain hotel with being "nonlocal." there are plenty of local chains in European countries, not sure what the point being asked about really is. Is it really Hilton per se and not the issue of charming or chain hotels? I like Accor hotels, for example, and they are a chain in France, and I've stayed in local chains in Spain, also. Actually, I stayed in some Germain chain hotel once, also, as well as in Poland. There are really lots of local brands of chain hotels, presuming you mean any place that has more than one hotel under its label.
The OP is also combining large hotels with the concept of charming and chains, these are all different issues. Lots of chain hotels are small.
Aug 31st, 2011, 08:32 AM
#10
We love small charming hotels but have problems with some in city centers as their windows were not sound proofed like the more modern buildings. Mix it up and use your points if it saves a bundle.
Aug 31st, 2011, 08:38 AM
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The more important consideration is a charming location.
Even if the hotel room itself isn't "charming" it's nice to be based on a cute pedestrianized, cobble stoned, old narrow street lined with 500 year old buildings. Although if the neighborhood is filled with centuries old buildings, then the odds that a hotel will be charming goes up. It's also likely to be a closer walk to the more interesting parts of the city and the tourists sites.
You're going to spend a lot of time in the your hotel's <b>neighborhood</b> with repeated trips from and back to your hotel (varying the routes to see as much as possible). The big chains typically are NOT located in these quaint little squares/streets/neighborhoods.
Points shmoints - you're on vacation. Stay in a nice area.
Even if the hotel room itself isn't "charming" it's nice to be based on a cute pedestrianized, cobble stoned, old narrow street lined with 500 year old buildings. Although if the neighborhood is filled with centuries old buildings, then the odds that a hotel will be charming goes up. It's also likely to be a closer walk to the more interesting parts of the city and the tourists sites.
You're going to spend a lot of time in the your hotel's <b>neighborhood</b> with repeated trips from and back to your hotel (varying the routes to see as much as possible). The big chains typically are NOT located in these quaint little squares/streets/neighborhoods.
Points shmoints - you're on vacation. Stay in a nice area.
Aug 31st, 2011, 08:42 AM
#13
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I have got 125,000 Hilton Points. Enough for approximatley 4 nights at a Hilton. The Hiltons in Lyon and Strasbourg both seem to be in business areas and not well placed.
I wasn't planning on spending much time in the hotel - but I have fond memories of a family owned hotel in Florence that had a beautiful rooftop terrace where I had evening cocktails after touring all day and leisurely breakfasts where I could sit for long as I like and soak up the ambinece while writing in my journal . I was so inspired I even wrote poetry!
has anyone stayed at the Hilton Lyon or Hilton Strasbourg?
I wasn't planning on spending much time in the hotel - but I have fond memories of a family owned hotel in Florence that had a beautiful rooftop terrace where I had evening cocktails after touring all day and leisurely breakfasts where I could sit for long as I like and soak up the ambinece while writing in my journal . I was so inspired I even wrote poetry!
has anyone stayed at the Hilton Lyon or Hilton Strasbourg?
Aug 31st, 2011, 08:43 AM
#14
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When walking through Prague i found a Hilton and a Marriott on the same street, nice and centralish but not directly by the main tourist attractions so i imagine they were quieter at night and the location was fairly charming but then most of central Prague looked fairly charming
Aug 31st, 2011, 08:45 AM
#15
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How much more does charm cost?
We can count how many times we have stayed at a chain in Europe. But there are mini-chains like Room Mate hotels in hotels that do not feel like a chain and then there are the luxury chains as well.
We can count how many times we have stayed at a chain in Europe. But there are mini-chains like Room Mate hotels in hotels that do not feel like a chain and then there are the luxury chains as well.
Aug 31st, 2011, 08:53 AM
#16
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<i>"I wasn't planning on spending much time in the hotel"</i>
Again, that's beside the point. You'll spend more time in your hotel's <b>neighborhood</b> than any other neighborhood simply because you'll be going to/from it multiple times. The other neighborhoods in the city you'll visit maybe once during your visit.
Again, that's beside the point. You'll spend more time in your hotel's <b>neighborhood</b> than any other neighborhood simply because you'll be going to/from it multiple times. The other neighborhoods in the city you'll visit maybe once during your visit.
Aug 31st, 2011, 08:58 AM
#17
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I've stayed in a chain hotel in Lyon, across from the train station. Price was good, and metro ('T') was right there. I spent almost no time in that area, but headed off to the 'good stuff'. I had booked hotel as part of a SCNF travel site deal.
The Hilton in Lyon(Quai Charles de Gaulle?) looks to be quite a distance from the interesting areas, and no T statonn nearby, and a long walk to get anywhere. River nearby though.
The Hilton in Lyon(Quai Charles de Gaulle?) looks to be quite a distance from the interesting areas, and no T statonn nearby, and a long walk to get anywhere. River nearby though.
Aug 31st, 2011, 09:12 AM
#18
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<i>It's also likely to be a closer walk to the more interesting parts of the city and the tourists sites.</i>
In many cities the former (interesting parts) and the latter (tourists sites) are not the same thing. In particular, the best dining and nightlife options are often in more residential neighborhoods, while the tourist districts offer lesser options.
Moreover, some cities are simply massive, and you can't be near even all of the tourist sites. Take Barcelona for example. From the base of Las Ramblas to Sagrada Familia is roughly 2.5 miles walking. Or London, where the walk from Buckingham Palace to the Tower would be 3.2 miles.
In many cities the former (interesting parts) and the latter (tourists sites) are not the same thing. In particular, the best dining and nightlife options are often in more residential neighborhoods, while the tourist districts offer lesser options.
Moreover, some cities are simply massive, and you can't be near even all of the tourist sites. Take Barcelona for example. From the base of Las Ramblas to Sagrada Familia is roughly 2.5 miles walking. Or London, where the walk from Buckingham Palace to the Tower would be 3.2 miles.
Aug 31st, 2011, 10:50 AM
#19
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To clarify I meant to say Hilton and not all chain hotels. My question is multi dimensional in that location and non Hilton like ambience is important to me but at what cost?
I will be staying at the Marriott Arc de Triomphe in Paris during this journey and I am concerned that i will feel like I am on a business trip rather than on vacation.
I agree that the area around the hotel is important.
Merci.
I will be staying at the Marriott Arc de Triomphe in Paris during this journey and I am concerned that i will feel like I am on a business trip rather than on vacation.
I agree that the area around the hotel is important.
Merci.
