Whatsthe

..was it worth it? Now this is a serious question not meant to invoke one-upmanship, but I really want to know, does increased dollars = increased enjoyment? Now you don't have to use your usual address so no one will accuse y0u of bragging, but inquiring minds want to know....

curt

Well, interesting question. I can only say that all of our vacations follow the same pattern (I am talking European trips). We use frequent flier miles to get our coach tickets. We stay in small two, sometimes three, star hotels. We eat in small local places. We either rent a compact car or use rail pass, depending on the trip. So, bottom line is our trips end up being somewhat inexpensive (we usually do about 10 days each trip). We have never done a big buck, top of the line trip to Europe and to tell you the truth I don't think we would enjoy it near as much. We have stayed in the plush five star hotels and so forth, and for our money we enjoy the small places so much more and like to eat with the locals, drink with the locals, and mingle with the locals. Gives one a much better perspective of things we think.

whatsthe

curt, Just as I suspected! While I've stayed in some truly deluxe resorts, (on the company's dime, luckily), My best vacation was a rustic lodge in the Amazon jungle. I ask because some friends we are planning a trip with only want to stay at the most expensive places (ie:Hassler in Rome). I'm trying to convivnce them that it isn't worth it. Unless of course someone can convince me otherwise?

Vita

Maybe you should ask them what they're looking for. If they just want good accommodations and think they have to pay for it, it's better just to get recommendations from people who have been there. I think there are plenty of nice places to stay in Rome that aren't too expensive.

mytrip

10 days in Paris in a suite in a great hotel, dinner every night in a really good restaurant,shopping for presents for each other, getting jewelry and a painting.Yes, we enjoyed it = not because we could not have gone otherwise, but sometimes it is fun to not think about how much anything costs and just buy it or do it and have fun.We still take the same trip every year, just that year it was first class all the way...so it was worth it but I still enjoy it on a lesser budget.

Lexma90

Just depends on how you want to spend your money (assuming you have enough to stay at the Hassler - I could do that, but probably have to sell my car to do so). I feel that my hotel is a place to sleep, and would rather spend more money on food than lodging, so tend to stay at 3-star hotels, but also include some visits to Michelin-rated restaurants in my trips. But that's how I value my travel dollar.<BR><BR>On the other hand, there is some benefit to the services provided by a more upscale hotel, so you might factor your needs for those services in the decision (i.e., concierge).<BR><BR>So if they, or you, want an extremely luxurious hotel, and that's an important part of the travel experience, then the increased dollars = increased enjoyment.<BR><BR>Maybe you and the other couple can stay at nearby hotels (in different price ranges).

amy

Very good question-something I've often wondered about. I think it really depends on the trip. For our honeymoon last year we splurged on a 5 star resort on the quiet island of Anguilla. <BR>Was it worth it....yes. I say this because it was a beach vacation aimed at total relaxation and there wasn't much in the way of sightseeing so a nice room with gourmet food was part of the plan. We now live in London and travel about once a month and stay in 3-4 star places, generally. We can't swing 5 stars on a regular basis, but have friends who insist on it. Sometimes I think it'd be wonderful to stay at one of the gems in a city, you know, the ones that are part of the 'leading hotels of the world' chain, or a smaller one, but I'm truly happy to be able to go on these trips and we tend to spend our money evenly on food/lodging. On one more note, we visited Costa Rica a few years back, and stayed at 3-4 star places throughout but treated ourselves with a great 5 star for the last night-if you're looking for the best of both worlds-this was a great compromise, but definitely the 5 stars are only worth it if you'll have a bit of time to enjoy them!

dd

That depends on destinations. For European sites, the place to stay, for example, that takes lion's share of daily expenses, is more likely to be used to get to somewhere else. It is usually not the destination itself. So in this case, spending more beyond proximity to the destinations, etc. would be more of a personal taste of some kind.<BR><BR>There are other places, however, where the accomodation is the destination such as in tropical islands, then it pays to stay there. At manay places, the best beaches are located at expensive hotels and they make it very difficult for non guests to use the beach.

Capo

Interesting question: "does increased dollars = increased enjoyment?" <BR><BR>I don't eat in pricey restaurants or stay in expensive accomodations, in Europe or anywhere else. It's not that I wouldn't enjoy them, because I'm sure I would. It's just that my enjoyment wouldn't be worth the money so, to me, it's a question of value. <BR><BR>All of my vacations to Europe have been well worth what I've spent.

Judy

In Europe, I too love the smaller hotels and personal recommendations of excellent food at reasonable prices BUT the most expensive vacation I ever had was well worth it! It was a trip to Egypt, fully escorted, expertly guided, top dollar hotels, private charter plane to all the places I wanted to see including the Sinai, all in 14 days time. Six friends went with us, and four of them are even better traveled than my husband and I, and for all of us it was THE trip of our lives. <BR> Now certainly for Europe, I research more modest traveling, and always independtly done. <BR> Judy

Grandma

Have done both. But as my husband and I get older we've been seeking higher end accomodations... mostly for the sense of security (in case of health problems, etc.). I know of young people (in their 20s's) who insist on going first class. Sigh.... they will miss so much. I'd never give up my memories of sleeping in some of the most terrible hotel rooms in Europe... getting lost in the "back" country, etc.<BR>Eating at "truck stops" in France. (great food..) I really envy a young friend who back packed thru Indonesia recently. That part of the world was simply off limits when I was young enough to do such things.<BR>PS That said... staying in a room at La Mamounia in Marrakesh that had not one, but TWO, balconies overlooking the pool, etc. will be not soon forgotten!

Bob C

Most expensive would be any trip to England. Because of exchange rate anything you do cost more. Least expensive would be France (other than Paris).

penname

Took a few Tauck tours of England & Ireland and I have to admit that the extra $ is well worth it. Stayed in all manor homes and it was wonderful. Its nice to see all the historic sites and get to sleep in the historic mansions and castles. Also we were able to visit private estate homes and view private art collections that are not normally open to the public. Last year we took a CIE tour of England & Scotland and enjoyed it too but still missed the accomodations of the other tours. Other than that the itinerary was very good.

travel broke

London! Broke! worth it? YES!!<BR>Met my dream girl.

Traveler

Like many of you, I've done both. I have LOVED! being at top notch resorts in Hawaii, but those are vacations designed for relaxation. My faovirte place in Europe is in a high village in the alps at a hotel where the door didn't close, I had to climb a ladder to even get to the room and of course the bathroom was down the ladder. But the view!? the opportunity to sit and enjoy a beer with the locals!? and the peaceful sound of cow bells as I drifted off to sleep in a bed with a wonderful down comforter, these things make a trip. Although nothing beats having a drink brought to you while you louncge in the surf.

Judy

I would say our first and last cruise, which went from Istanbul to Venice! Nice ship, with high prices and not enough travel satisfaction IMO.<BR>We could have had a 4 regular trips for the price of one cruise!<BR>Judy

Julie

I expect that the most expensive vacation we've ever taken was a cruise from Athens to Istanbul. It was fun but no more fun than our other vacations. We did it more for the convenience it afforded us for the destinations we wanted to see than for the luxury of the cruise itself or the accommodations. So it was worth it from that standpoint. What I find most enjoyable is to vary the level of expenditure within a trip, to eat some meals as picnics or at roadside places and some others at three star establishments, to stay at several less expensive places and then do a splurge or two. Often the splurge is no more fun than the inexpensive but both seem the better for the other. The variety is what keeps things fun. To find joy in the humble and the exalted and sometimes to not be sure which is really which.