You know I really enjoy Woody's movies but, I am about to get flame posts for this, he probably didn't have to try too hard to look like a bum ?:)

Schuba is right. Unless born with a silver foot in your mouth (per Late Ann Richards), it takes some getting used to because you may feel out of place. And once you are used to it, it really hurts to go the occasional other way!

I think it's an insorrect assumption that those of us who don't stay in 5-stars can't afford to. While it would stress the budget for me to stay in one every time we travel and for every night, I can certainly afford a 5-star occasionally. I choose not to stay in them because it's an atmosphere that would make me uncomfortable. It really isn't always a matter of who earns what.

Well I had no silver foot - my parents worked very hard for not much money and I paid for my own education with scholarships, student loans and working both during the school year and summers (2 jobs a couple of summers).

I had no choice but to get used to 5* very early because my job required it. But - I can;t say that even in the beginning, when I was young, not very well-traveled and naive, anyone ever made me feel uncomfotable. In fact, in several cases concierges went out of their way to show me a better way to get what I needed in a 5* venue.

Well, as a self-made woman, I chose to sink all my potential 5* hotel money into an old stone wreck in the Dordogne, thereby making it nigh impossible for me ever to aspire to luxury hotels again. But I don't care. I got what I want, and I'm happy.

But truthfully, even if I could afford 1,000 a night for a hotel, I'd never (well, almost never) do it. I'd be thinking about all the other things...mainly food...I could be buying with that kind of money. And I'd also probably be thinking of what I might donate to others who could never even afford to travel.

Those comments about not wanting someone else to carry your camera are silly. As NYTraveler said, great service, regardless of the amount of stars, is tailored to the needs of the guest. If one wants to be left alone, the staff at a fine luxury hotel (regardless of the amount of stars) will quickly intuit this and behave accordingly. In any case, no one has ever offered to carry my camera and if they did, and if I wanted to carry my own camera, I would say so. And I have NEVER had a staff member offer to unpack my suitcase for me; I don't travel with a personal maid! And I would guess that in virtually any decent hotel if a guest were to leave an article of clothing on the floor, whether a Mickey t-shirt or Brioni jacket, there is a good chance that it would picked up and folded.

I understand not wanting/not being able to pay the costs of the legendary luxury hotels (I agree in general) but to dismiss them because of some of the reasons mentioned above seems to miss the point. And we have not even touched upon the rooms themselves as far as decor and comfort...and the overall experience beyond the service. Not all 5-star hotels are large and modern, as another poster seemed to state; often they are small properties located in breautiful and historic older buildings.

Ira..you ate lunch at Taillevent. Did the experience make you uncomfortable because someone poured your wine? Or refolded your napkin while you stepped away from the table?

I agree with aa AA Frequantflyer.Prague Hilton, it is worth paying for the executive rooms as the free bar in the lounge is from 1800 - 2200 and the snacks are like tapas, both hot and cold. You would spend more than the difference in room rate on dinner AND have a lesser room

I network a lot for 5* hotels at 4* rates. Our travel guide in Wales last year was able to get all of our hotels significantly discounted because he negotiates special prices for his tours. We either got a lot off the room or a suite.

Also I know plenty people on this website are opposed to guided tours but when we went to Italy with Maupin our hotels ended up being about $200 less per night with meals and sightseeing vs. booking direct. I do a lot of research ahead of time to find the lowest rate.

Finally www.luxurylink.com offers 5* hotels, and at least if the room is not significantly reduced through an auction you can sometimes get top notch places with meals included.

Compared to most people in the world, all of my accomodation is 5 star.

I can bet what someone in the Third World might speculate about my standard of living. What might they conclude as they see my house, the dishwasher, the vacuum cleaner. I suspect that merely knowing I manage and/or operate these things myself, as opposed to paying someone else to do so, would not be sufficient for them to conclude that I am not living luxuriously. As for the rest, I can imagine the response: "You travel places not to sell things, or to look for work, but just to look around.....forgive me, but how does one make a living doing that?"

;)

Here's a true example of 5 star service. The bartender in the American Bar at the Stafford in London had a guest return after a couple of decades. When the man returned after this long absence & walked into the bar, the bartender immediately poured his favored drink just as he had like it 20 years before.

That bartender died a few years back but the story was told to me by the Assistant General Manager of the hotel who had witnessed it.

Nice story, Carrybean, but I can tell the bartender what I want and save $500 a night. Somehow the bartender remembering my drink after 20 years just doesn't to it for me.

I know I can decline the services I don't want and yes, I can carry my own camera, but then why would I want to pay those higher rates?

Hi BT,

>never had that "fawned over" experience ... Ira suggested.<

Thank you for pointing out my misspelling in such a polite way. :)

Definitely 5*.

((I))

>saw Woody Allen once in the Danieli in Venice and he looked almost like a bum ..<

That's another reason why I don't care for 5* hotels.

The eurotrash clientele. :)

((I))

>Ira..you ate lunch at Taillevent. Did the experience make you uncomfortable..<

Touché, ek.

Dinner, too.

But my motto is "Fly cheap, sleep cheap, eat well". :)

((I))

>When the man returned after this long absence & walked into the bar, the bartender immediately poured his favored drink just as he had like it 20 years before.<

And the man said, "I haven't had one of these for a dozen years. Give me a Johnny Walker Blue - up".

((I))

OOPs,

Johnnie Walker.

Good recaps, specially the one on the bartender serving the same drink after 20 years!

Could it be that the AGM had a reason to tell the story? And was it exactly 20 years or couple years plus/minus?:) Just kidding.

Actually, Ira, I wasn't trying to correct your spelling at all. I don't believe in harrassing fellow Fodorites about spelling and grammar--for some of them, English isn't their native language, others may have reading/writing problems, arthritic fingers, clamorous spouses, kids, pets that ruin concentration, whatever, and others (like me) just make whopping typos from time to time. As long as I can follow what people are saying, I don't bother about the spelling. I have no intention of ever joining the Fodorite Red Pen Brigade (audere once went absolutely ballistic on me over my placement of the word "even" in a sentence--it wasn't an intentional insult, just my Pennsylvania German roots bubbling up to influence syntax).

But I still think you're wrong about 5 star hotels! :-)

Ira, (or anyone else who cares to respond) I would like to read an account of your stay at a 5-star European hotel at which you were made to feel uncomfortable..what was the hotel and what did the staff do (or not do) to generate those feelings??

ekscrunchy,
Why does it matter? Isn't it enough for me just to say I don't feel comfortable there? Or 'at home'? Sometimes it's not a specific thing, but an atmosphere. I don't get the impression that anyone here is asking those who prefer 5-stars to defend their position so why do those of us who don't prefer them have to defend ours with a list of experiences?

No, of course not! I was interested in Ira's reponse in particular but do not want to put anyone on the spot. Just curious to learn which hotels made people feel this way and why..

Actually if we dig a bit deeper here, I am trying feverishly to find reasons to postpone packing for my own trip which begins tomorrow.... would love to extend this discussion in order to justify my typical procrastination..

Why is this so hard for some to understand? Some people aren't comfortable when they visit friends who have new white carpet and upholstery and clearly put napkins down whenever they move a glass.

Some people aren't comfortable in a restaurant where there is a host seating you, a captain, a wine steward, and a couple of additional waiters. It's just too fussy for them and they would be far more comfortable just dealing with one person -- or even doing a buffet or cafeteria where they don't have to interchange with anyone.

Some people want to go to their hotel room, sit in their underwear, prop their feet up on a coffee table, plunk a bottle of water down on a table, and just relax, and some people do not feel comfortable doing that on fine upholstery and with elegant antique furniture.

Some people refuse turn down service, thinking it's a total invasion of their space.

Some people aren't comfortable in a hotel where you are greeted by three people on your way to your room who constantly ask if they can do anything for you. Some people love that attention, others find it obtrusive.

I even know a couple who stayed at a small three star Paris hotel who HATED the fact that they greeted them by name whenever they entered. They felt their privacy was being invaded and the staff was being too familiar.

We all have different "comfort levels". And while some people can't understand why everyone wouldn't prefer that level of opulence or service, it really ISN'T always about money!

Some people love room service, maybe even breakfast in bed. I despise that and find nothing more depressing than food wheeled to my room and eating there -- even it is is the Presidential Suite.

I really do understand. While I do still enjoy a 5 star hotel from time to time -- it would not always be my choice -- even if free! And if I had all the money in the world, I still wouldn't feel comfortable driving around in a Rolls Royce. Nor having a butler or valet hanging around me all the time.
Or even a chef coming in to do all my cooking. I'd HATE those things.

As a $100-$150 per night traveler, I can tell you that 5* hotels are not even on my radar. But I can relate to those who say they wouldn't feel comfortable staying at one. I'm guessing it's the same reason why I don't like eating at fancy restaurants. I feel like I'm a) playing a role that doesn't fit me b) spending my money, even if I have it, recklessly and c) trapped in a weird parody of being a grown-up who goes to fancy restaurants--I find it hard to take it all seriously. I suppose I'm revealing more about my own psychology here than anything about high-end dining or hotels, but that's that. Give me my oeuf et crudite baguette in Luxembourg Gardens and I'm just as happy as anyone at Jules Verne. Same with my cozy room at the Hotel Familia.

I am a 37 year old woman. I most often travel alone and I have stayed every where from hostels to 5 star places. For me, it depends on the purpose of the trip. As an example, last November I spent 2 weeks in Rome. For the first part of the trip, I stayed at Hotel Columbus near the Vatican. I was very busy sight-seeing not enjoying the hotel. (Although the hotel was fine. I wouldn't call it luxurious or somewhere I wanted to spend hours hanging out.) I spent two nights in Naples and then returned to Rome. I spent 2 nights at the Hassler. I found a great deal on it on the internet. For this part of the trip, I wanted to enjoy the hotel, shop, relax.

Finally, I find that in a truly luxe place, the service is never intrusive. It is friendly and adjusts to your individual needs. I have had much snooty service from mid-level places with pretensions of grandeur than at any truly 5 star place I have stayed.

In my starving student days I stayed in all manner of hostels and spent more than a few nights for free outdoors. (Does anyone else remember the free Olympic field in Rome?)

Now we are staying at 5 stars, mostly thru points acquired thru corp. travel. I can't say whether I had a better time traveling with a backpack and no reservations, or going first class now. Travel is always what you make of it.

I genuinely love luxurious bedding, bathrooms, and the tranquility of the 5 stars after a day of shlepping around sightseeing, however. To not enjoy, and appreciate, our hard earned money seems silly. Sort of like being offered a gondola in Venice and saying, "Oh no thank you. I'd rather swim".

If the above opinion allies me with the Ancien Regime so be it. You can start the tumbrel rolling, and get out the guillotine, just give me one more night at Shutters on the Beach!

Just realized my reply didn't answer your question: Who stays at 5 star hotels?

There are a fair number of guests who travel internationally on business. The preponderance of these jobs appear to be in sales. Large corporations often have deals with certain hotels and get rooms at a reduced rate. It also makes sense for corporate travellers to have reliable internet access, FAX machines, etc. 5 stars also have ballrooms and meeting rooms available. These hotels can cater to a single traveller or a convention.

I've also noticed an increasing number of wedding parties at 5 stars. So I assume event planning is a career with access to 5 star perks.

Truthfully, the guests seem to run the gambit. Old & young, families, couples. The only thing I've noticed they all have in common, is very nice shoes.

I hope you get to stay at the Hotel Splendido in Portofino one day I always say, "If you dream, dream BIG". Go for it!