We took our first European trip last year and flew free, so we felt we had "extra" to spend on 4* hotels. It seemed to be an important part of my trip memories to stay in a really nice place. Unfortunately, some of the nicer places was not that great, just more expensive. For our next trip, next spring, I will be haunting Fodors looking for the reasonable, clean places that other travelers recommend. Expensive does not necessarily make a good memory, but charm does.

Safe, clean, convenient. if I hear it one more time I swear I'll spend even more on my next trip. Time to trot out Rick Stee/aves and he'll give us even more tips on being cheap. Fodors Editors, please delete - the pain is growing worse.

Although the original poster has made for some interesting discussion of personal travel styles & preferences... as a frequent internet travel BB poster I have a suggestion:<BR><BR>When you post a question be VERY specific what you are looking for, i.e., don't say "anyone know of a good, cheap hotel in Paris?" rather "I'm looking for a double room en suite in the Latin Quarter for 75-150 Euros per night."<BR><BR>If you are really curious & wanting to start a discussion thread on why some people like to (or are able to) spend more for their accomodations, then that's fine too I guess. Depends if you're seeking philosophy or facts ;-)

Another northerner checking in. Count my husband and I in to the group who wants to spend less than 100 euros a night on accommodation. Not that long ago, we used to share bathrooms and stay in very very basic places, climbing lots of stairs etc. to save money. We still want to save money so we can afford other trips and now our only "must have" is the private bathroom. Otherwise, if it's clean and well located, we're happy. I really resent spending big bucks on a place that I spend so little time in...would rather have a nice meal, wine and buy something nice to take home with me. So Carol...I'd sure be interested in the places you stayed at in Spain that were clean and inexpensive. Could you share that info please for my trip next year? Thanks.

I've been reading this forum for several years, and I think there's a good mix of traveling styles. Everyone has personal (read: private) reasons for traveling the way they do; I would never question personal preferences - I certainly wouldn't want mine questioned. What IS unnerving are the people who want to know how everyone can afford traveling, then respond with "well I have to have room service". What they honestly want is magic - much like the folks who want to know how to travel light with 8 pairs of shoes, ballgowns and full-sized hairdryers. Magic.<BR><BR>The common theme (besides the traveling obsession) for just about everyone is bang-for-the-buck; hence the questions about the quality for 4* hotels (they might be willing to spend 300?, but they don't want to waste it on a hotel with less-than-tip-top amenities). <BR><BR>Some of the money-saving ideas on this forum are wonderful, everything from Nigel Doran's "hey Britrail's practically giving away tickets!" posts to trip reports that include 1/2 price or free days at various museums to new transportation or sightseeing passes.<BR><BR>If the forum is attracting more "up-scale" travelers than previously, then we must be in a good place - everyone's finding useful information and valuable help from all who post.

Hello carol & all -<BR><BR>This reminds me of a fight my folks must have had dozens of times. Dad: "I want to travel like the people!" Mom: "So do I: the rich people!"<BR><BR>I think the question of lodging rests, as bettyk suggests, on the whole travel experience we are seeking, or why we travel to Europe. <BR><BR>For those who want adventure, or maybe for those doing a first visit, a budget or adequate hotel will be good because they’ll be out most of the day sight-seeing, exploring, seeking new adventures or new vistas. <BR><BR>But those who are over 40 years old OR those who find daily life sufficiently challenging, maddening, and adventurous may need a Zen model of serenity in their European travels. In other words, I’m old and/or burned out, and I need a place to sit still and re-charge! I usually “need” a water-view, good food, and invisible service to do this, and I find it most often in 4-star hotels. I’ve found that if I compromise on my lodging, I come back with the feeling that I’ve missed “it,” and that the vacation was wasted. So spending around $200/night for a hotel is better than wasting the entire vacation.<BR><BR>Interestingly, I don’t find it in 5-star hotels either, or at least the ones I’ve been able to stay at. I recently bagged a great deal at the Hotel Sacher-Salzburg with a suite overlooking the River for $150/night, but I couldn’t relax for a week! I kept feeling that I had to measure up, somehow. <BR><BR>s<BR>

Speak for yourself, s: I'm 53 and don't feel burnt out and in need of coddling yet! Good thing, too, since I wouldn't be able to travel at all if I "needed" water views, fancy service, etc.

elvira, I relate. I usually do not bring a hair dryer because we have had a "no-electrics rule" to minimize the luggage we bring. But next time I am bringing one. I could not stand how my hair looked half the time on our trip.<BR><BR>But I would hazard a guess that frugal travellers also are frugal with their bags. We took two small cases and two small day-packs and that was it.<BR><BR>Canuck, I will check the hotels. In Spain, the bargain hotels at around 30-50 euros are called Hostals or Pensiones. In Portugal, Pensaos or Residencials.

my opinion: people who like spending more money on their vacations tend to belittle those who don't, rather than the other way around.

Suzy:<BR><BR>Catch the "OR"?<BR><BR>I'm only 47, but I've had fun, travel, adventure for most of my adult life (20 years in the Army). I AM burned out. And I know what I NEED.<BR><BR>Hats off to you if you aren't and don't.<BR><BR>s

We choose moderate to inexpensive hotels for our stays. Our criteria is that it be clean and safe and we do want an in-room bathroom. The one time we used a B&B with the bathroom down the hall my niece ended up locked out in the hall with a towel--it's a long story. On meals we eat most meals cheaply; others are splurges. I like to use not only Fodors recommendations because they are reliable, but we also use a lot of Rick Steves for penny pinching. M.

You are absolutely correct, you do not need to spend alot to enjoy Europe. Granted, it is a bit more expensive in Switzerland than in parts of Spain, but why not do some good homework and try to get by on as little as possible as still see as much as the others spending so much more.<BR><BR>What so wrong to get a lower class hotel, even if the bathroom and shower is located outside of the room, and save enough in room costs to splurge on nicer things during your trip?<BR><BR>I have crunched my numbers dozens of times and I am convinced that I'll be doing 13 days, 12 nights in Germany and Austria this September for $1,500 a person. This will include airfare, (as long as the tickets get down to $600 roundtrip), hotels, train passes, spending money, and food. <BR><BR>Might even be cheaper than that if a few things break my way the way I think they will.<BR><BR>A few years back a friend got married and took himself and his wife to Rome. Flew 1st class, stayed in 1st class hotels and ate in the hotel restaurants. Went on those canned tourist excursions, did the post cards, the souvenirs and took taxis everywhere they wanted to go. Came back nearly $25,000 poorer for the both of them. Ended up hating Europe becasue they claim that all they saw were other Americans and visitors from other countries.<BR><BR>Refuses to do Europe ever again. In fact, he turned down the offer to join my group of 12 this September.<BR><BR>Go figure.....<BR><BR>

Carol - went to Italy last summer for five weeks and spent a total of 3500 CAD incl. everything...<BR><BR>I don't care where I stay as long as it isn't a hostel and I've never had a bad experience with 'cheapie' rooms!

Hotel means service. You don´t need a trouser press or hair dryer? That´s your problem. You have already paid for it. Pension, residencial, hostal, bed & breakfast, zimmer frei, private accomodation, rom ledig, sobe or whatever, you don´t get any service. Much cheaper.

Say what you will, it still boils down to "choice". I choose to stay in hotels with private bath that have a few amenities and a central location. but have NEVER paid more than $200 for a hotel and I've only done that once -- in Hawaii. But, I certainly wouldn't knock anyone who chooses to spend more (or less) than I do. It's really none of my business how people choose to spend their money.

Thanks Carol..I'm particularly interested in Barcelona and Seville. So if you stayed at either I'd really like your info.

Daniel, remember, you pay for those little services on top of the basic rate for your hotel. For example, it costs about 10X as much to get clothes laundered in a hotel as it does to drag a couple of loads to a full-service laundry. And though all of us would love to have the budget to be pampered, for some of us it is a choice. I would rather take the 10 minutes to drag it down to the laundry.<BR><BR>And yes, I anticipate a greater need for comfort as I age. I may even start to go on bus tours when I can no longer handle my own luggage.<BR><BR>Canuck, I can't help you. We did not go to Barcelona and our hotel in Sevilla sucked.<BR><BR>I find you have to spend more in the cities. I would not spend less than 50 euros in Sevilla. We spend 35 and got what we paid for. It was our one bad hotel of the trip.

Thanks Carol but could you share with us your "bad" hotel name so no one makes the same mistake!?

Hostal Virgen de la Luz.

canuck,<BR>You want cheap and decent, even comfy and atmospheric? <BR>In Sevilla, try <BR><BR>Hotel Amadeus**(double, 76 euros)<BR>www.hotelamadeussevilla.com<BR><BR>Hoste ria del Laurel (57 low, 84, high)<BR><BR>La Rabida (53 low, 96 high)<BR><BR>Hotel Simon (57 low, 78 high)<BR><BR>