justcurious

This question is prompted by a discussion about how to get a great hotel price. Assuming a city, such as Paris, where $100 will buy a clean room with bath (and even little soaps), what does $300-$500 buy you? I've never stayed in such a high-priced room and cannot fathom that the extra $200-$400 would bring you an incrementally better room. I suspect you would get a larger room, with a more ornate bathroom, perhaps with breakfast included (but even small hotels/pensions often include breakfast). Maybe a more central location, though I paid $85 for a clean hotel in the 7th. But is that worth the extra money, particularly if you are spending most of your time sightseeing? Or is it just a status thing? One explanation is that a more expensive hotel pampers you. But how? Do they literally wait on you? This is an honest question, though troll-like.

justplainmath

The difference between a $100 hotel and a $500 hotel is $400. <BR> <BR>What is this a math quiz?

xxx

The quality of the sheets, the service, the size of the room...

location

Location, location, location. A $500/day room across the street for Central Park in NY might be only slightly nicer (and in a prettier buidling) than a $100 room in Passaic, New Jersey.

Rachel

Although my visits to $500/night rooms are very limited, it is the size of the room, the fluffiness of the towels, the softness of the sheets, the firmess of the mattress. It is also the little amenities they provide, like the toiletries might be Bulgari, the bathrode may be Frette, the slippers may be . . . I don't know any high end slipper makers. <BR> <BR>It is also the quality of the service. They are always available to make reservations, organize tours, carry your bags, get a cab, or just point you in the right direction. And everything is done in moments, no waiting around. <BR> <BR>The lobby is well furnished and large, often appointed with antiques (as your room may be). The bathrooms are full of marble and typically very large. <BR> <BR>Overall, everything is just nicer. Is it worth it? Soemtimes it is nice to be so well taken care of, other times it just doesn't matter.

Erlsegaard

A much better, more serious class of human beings. The riff-raff and the petty bourgeois are finally starting to get squeezed out at $500 a night, and you can get back to some sense of refuge among the type of people for whom travel--particularly European travel--was originally intended. Of course even at these places, unless you're taking out a suite for at least a month (unless you are visiting to receive a medal or seal a multimillion dollar transaction or some such thing), it's hard to really take you seriously as someone who is going to contribute much to the great feast of life that makes it worth such a small fortune to spend the night in any place.

ohoh

haha hahahahhahahahhahahah, Oh, Earlsegaard, you are such a card!

ohoh

OK, now that I've stopped laughing, I'll respond properly: When traveling on business, I like that I get to stay in 4/5 star hotels. It means great mattresses, lots of pillows, all kinds of ammenities (internet access, stereo CD players, VCRs with tapes from room service, really good food from room service), fluffy towels, bathrobes, sometimes magnificent views, quiet air conditioning/heating...if you are on the road for an extended time, or on a stressful visit, these amenities are really appreciated. Plus being able to detail all the above to a spouse at home with teenagers is (as the ad says) "priceless." On vacation with my spouse, the amenities aren't as necessary, as the stress isn't there and the daily task is simply to enjoy ourselves. But once in a while it is nice to Splurge and enjoy it together. (However with all the "points" systems around, it is possible to get that $500 room for $250 or maybe even free.)

elaine

<BR>Your question is interesting because <BR>phrases like "incrementally better" and <BR>"worth the extra money" and "pamper" <BR>could be answered very differently by different people. To some (and Rick Steve's travel philosophy comes to mind), being pampered is being in a clean bed and paying as little as possible for it. To others, even those who have to scrimp and save in order to travel, when they travel they want something different from every day life, so they may not want to watch every penny when it comes to their hotel, they'd prefer to feel luxurious during this vacation. Others would prefer to scrimp on the hotel and blow most of their money on great restaurants. Still others don't care much about food, they'd rather spend their money on theater tickets or buying gifts, or buying themselves a leather jacket. It's the same question as to whether or not haveing a view, or being close to the beach, or being next to the metro station or having air conditioning is "worth it"; some will say yes, some will say no. <BR>In general, hotels in big cities cost more than hotels in small towns, because <BR>the economies are different, and also because there are more visitors willing to pay the higher prices in big cities. <BR>Other responders above have mentioned some of the services and amenities that one is likely to get in a more expensive hotel. Frette sheets, and 24-hour services, and telephones in the bathroom, and a large room with antiques may not seem worth it to some. Is an Armani original outfit "better" than an outfit from Walmart? They are all clothes, some would say the Armani is worth it, while some would say "never", even if they can easily afford it. <BR>Don't we all have some things that we splurge on, and other things that we pinch pennies on. I have an especially wealthy friend who owns two homes and has many luxuries on an every-day basis, yet she clips coupons for the grocery store.

elvira

Due to acute stupidity, I had to stay in a $300 room at the Sheraton-Roissy Airport for one night in Paris (the little grey cells were seriously impaired). <BR> <BR>I got blonde maple furniture that matched, a king sized bed with real pillows, a 19" color TV (cable with MSNBC and the BBC), fax/computer hookup, a huuuge bathroom with a deep tub and gushes of hotwater, designer soaps and toiletries, big fluffy terrycloth bathrobe and slippers, about a dozen thick towels of various sizes, and stationery. In the morning, the hotel shuttle took me to the airport terminal. <BR> <BR>It was worth it not to have to get up at 3am and catch a cab at 4am to the airport from the city. Unless I'm squeezed again, I will NEVER pay that much for a hotel room...the amenities were more than I needed. I'm sort of a clean bed and bathroom down the hall kinda gal, so it was all pretty much wasted on me. And I kept thinking "it's 7 nights' budget!". <BR> <BR>On the other hand, I'll spend $300 on a pair of shoes without batting an eyelash. So, see, no brickbats for how anyone spends their money. <BR> <BR>

AGM/Cape Cod

What $200 more bought me was a little sitting area for my insomniac husband so I could get a good nights sleep! That to me is a worthwhile luxury!

anembarrassed

I'm staying at the Georges V (its a loooooong story) on my next trip to Paris after always staying at 2 star hotels. It should be really interesting to see not only the differences in service, but my whole attitude and impression of the city.

Meg

Extra room to spread out, a living room (possibly), a half bath (really nice thing to have), heated marble floors, fogless mirrors, a big tub and a shower stall, chocolates, extra pillows, triple sheet service, robes & slippers, two TVs with VCR/DVD (maybe another TV in the bathroom - this only happened once), stereo, fruit basket, fresh flowers, a big closet, a soundproof room, the front desk knowing your name as you come and go - these are just some of the things that come to mind - although my experience in $500 a night hotel roomsin Europe is limited to a few nights at Le Crillon - which, I must admit - was a bit of a disappointment. The very best hotels I've stayed in are in Asia, where the level of service is absolutely fabulous.

xxx

Another difference is that if you choose the $500 room, you'd better keep it to yourself, or people on this board with too much time on their hands will flame you mercilessly.

Art

Who can afford $100/night. Actually I try to stay in private rooms. No there often not as comfortable, but I feel I get a much better feel of the culture/people etc. It also gives me a chance to have conversations with people that live there. <BR>The Bear

odd

I have stayed in every price range of hotel. Of course you do get fancier rooms, lobbies, furniture, etc. in the expensive ones. But you know one thing that I have noticed and find very interesting? It seems that the higher the price the less you actually get in return. I have always thought it odd that the cheaper places, both here in US and in Europe, may include such things as free parking, free breakfast, coffee maker in room, etc. all for the basic price of the room. However, it seems that the more expensive places hit you for parking fees (often very high rates), breakfast, and provide nothing but the room. Just always seemed odd to me. I paid $850 a night at the Bristol in Paris and if I wanted a cup of coffee in my room I had to order through room service, pay their outlandish prices, plus tip the waiter. Why is that?

Theresoneborn

Bull---I stayed in the hotel David in Florence last year.It was less than $130 for three people. It had ironed high end sheets. The room was huge and had 12 foot cielings and moldings . The bathroom was all pink marble even the tub--It had a towel warmer. There was free parking and a free wonderful breakfast with eggs.It had a lovely sitting room. The manager spoke English and was so helpful she make reservations at the museum and wrote out directions to a great restaurant-No there werent any fresh flowers in our room only in the breakfast room .Do you think that's worth $300-400---people that spend that kind of money deserve to relieved of their cash because they are too lazy to do the research

elaine

I just don't understand why anyone feels qualified to make pronouncements about the motives, annual income, intelligence, or even the research done by people they don't know. Everytime an "opinion" question comes up on this board, eventually name-calling rears its ugly head. <BR>It just comes down to choices, which are personal. Just because, as stated, the original poster "cannot fathom" spending a lot of money on a hotel room doesn't mean it's wrong, and the original question wasn't asked in a mean way at all. <BR>If spending money on X seems silly to you, then by all means don't do it. <BR>elvira spends $300 on shoes, I don't. <BR>She doesn't mind a bathroom down the hall, I do. There are no conclusions to be drawn, other than she may have nicer shoes and I may have nicer hotel rooms. <BR>Or not. <BR> <BR>

justcurious

Thanks for all of the responses. I agree it is a matter of opinion. I just wanted to see what I was missing. It sounds like there are a few more amenities for the extra dollars, but not enough IMHO to make it worth the extra dollars for me (and that's the key here, it depends on the person). That doesn't mean others shouldn't pay that amount, it just will not enhance my travel experince proportionately.

XXX

IT all depends on you itineraries if its just a place to hang your hat for the night while you are out on the town of if it is a leisurely trip where you will be spending time in the hotel then it is worth the extra money