Any suite/Executive level rooms include breakfast. No need to haggle.

At the Prague Hilton Executive Lounge one can practically put the wallet away during the stay.

Free top of the line booze, great selection, great food throughout the day, etc....

The Budapest Hilton Castle lounge is nowhere as great, but it is still free booze and some lite snacks.

I have stayed at Conrads all over the world and the lounges are outstanding.

I imagine that a guest staying at one of the top rooms at RC or 4Seasons gets the same treatment.

People spend their money in many different ways. Some people probably take loans out to go on vacation..who knows...



Who are all of the people buying million dollar condos in major cities all across the world? Why are very expensive restaurants in many major cities booked weeks ahead? Why is there a waiting list for Hermes Birkin bags?

I do not understand why anyone thinks they would feel "uncomfortable" in a 5-star hotel....what is it about a top hotel that would make a guest uneasy?

If I were to guess, someone who worries about being uncomfortable might feel that the staff and the guests are judging them for their lack of savoire fare and general unfashionableness. Having someone jump to take your bags could be uncomfortable.

As a frequent business traveler, I look to see if I can get "bargains" on 5 star hotels. My company had a certain, unwritten, budget for hotels. If I could prove I could get an equivalent or better price at a 5 star hotel, then it was OK.

I used to stay regularly at the Vier Jahreszeiten in Munich because I could get a better price than the Sheraton. The hotel was also within walking distance of the Marienplatz, so we also saved cab fare. I've also stayed at the Ciragon Palace in Istanbul, as I could match the price of a Sheraton. One trip an associate was bumped to a suite in the original palace.

On airplanes, it helps if you are loyal to an Airline and fly enough to make one of their premium levels. I've been bumped to Business from Coach internationally many times on AA. A couple of times I was bumped to First from Business class. One rule on upgrades, always be pleasant,respecful and smile, it works wonders.

Not me. (In responsed to OP's question.)

I also feel uncomfortable staying at 5* hotels.

One time I did was staying at the Ritz Carlton in Philadelphia because they had a great deal. It was rather stupid because I lived in Philadelphia then and the hotel is less than 4 blocks from my apt building.

Anyway, even though we had no luggage (except for a backpack), the hotel staff still came up to us and insisted on carrying the backpack for us. I just don't need all this attention.

The only other time I can think of, is staying at the Fairmont Hotel in Dallas for our wedding night. I don't think Fairmont is truly 5*, but it certainly is higher than 4*. Well, I enjoyed all the attention I got that time, with valet parking my car, bell boy helping me with my wedding dress etc. But of course, being the bride makes me want to be the center of attention.

I think a lot has been said is true. Most wealthy people (lawyers, financiers) work a lot and rarely have time to travel. So I can see why they can justify spending $500+ a night for a 5* hotel room on their once-a-year vacation. Afterall, they won't have time to research good restaurants and call ahead to reserve, but they can rely on the concierge to do that for them.

I travel for work and earn massive amounts of points. 4 and 5 star is norm for my wife and daughter now! Kid complained about a free weekend in NY at a 4 star, god forbid!!!

Ira, I once thought of doing that -- living in a hotel -- not a 5* by any stretch, but it was a nice 3* Hyatt at our airport (PIT).

I got it on priceline for $27/night and realized it would be cheaper to move in there than live in our house! :)

I have the money to do 5* exclusively when I go which I do 2 to 3 times a year. I am single, make a high six figure salary, and luxury and pampering are nice especially when you're trying to wind down from working 80 hour weeks.

>what is it about a top hotel that would make a guest uneasy?

>... someone who worries about being uncomfortable might feel that the staff and the guests are judging them for their lack of savoire fare and general unfashionableness. <

I yield to no one in my savoir faire, sang froid and general je ne sais quoi.

As long as they provide proper service, I certainly don't care if the staff find me different from their run-of-the-mill, nouveau riche louts. :)

>Having someone jump to take your bags could be uncomfortable. <

And stuff of that nature.

I abhor "body servants" and being fauned upon.

If I wish to carry my camera, I don't need a lackey to carry it for me.

I don't leave my clothes on the floor to be picked up by a maid.

I don't require someone to unpack my suitcase for me.

Sometimes, I even pour my own wine. :)

I realize that there are folks who have very stressful jobs and wish to be pampered now and then.

It's just not for me.

((I))

ira, you abhor being fauned upon may be because you haven't been fauned upon enough ;) It takes a little getting used to.

Well I used to have a very good job as a VP with a multi-national consultancy firm. That often meant attending events or client meetings in the 5* and de-luxe resort hotels. Very nice too and I am happy to have had the experience. On the back of this (and a lot of stays in regular business hotels) I collected an awful lot of loyalty points for some chains (Starwood for example)- and used these to experience some great vacations (The Orchid at Manau Lau, Hawaii for example). Of course the "free" points get you there - you still spend a lot more when you are there (higher meal and drink prices).

Now we have "escaped" the corporate rat race (hurrah) and run a small vineyard - so have not managed a vacation in 3 years let alone in a luxury hotel.

Some of the responses amaze me.

The truth is folks, that a true 5* hotel will give you as much or as little attention as you require. That's a sign of a true 5* hotel. Nobody is going to fight you for your bag if you don't want anybody to carry it for you. Nobody is going to kiss your arse just because. It's the way the service is anticipated, completed and if not necessary, left alone. Recognition of what's needed for each and every individual guest is the true art of service in a truly top class hotel.

A true 5* hotel trains their staff to anticipate any needs of the guests but not to crowd them at the same time.

Hi schuba,

>ira, you abhor being fauned upon may be because you haven't been fauned upon enough. It takes a little getting used to.<

You are correct.

I hope that I never do come to like it. :)

((I))
"As I would not be a slave, so I would not be a master". A. Lincoln

Yes, I stay at 5 Star and luxury hotels. It started innocently enough - just on a special occassion, then for that special trip, a couple times I used my hotel and airline miles, then it became the norm and now I've made a career out of it.

I started staying at them exclusively about five years ago and recently I started my travel review site Bombastic Life http://www.bombasticlife.com

I don't get a free stay to do a review of their property as some would think. I haven't been offered that yet, but as tempting as it would be I would have to turn it down so I don't appear biased.

The question people ask - is it worth the money? What it comes down to is priorities.

I have friends that choose to spend their money on cars and electronics and the such, I choose to travel. It's all about choices and what one's defination of a Bombastic Life is will vary from person to person.

Thanks for allowing me to share my thoughts! Great question rbnwdln!

Someone asked "Who is dining at Per Se and French Laundry regularly?"

It is a very similar question to the original, Who pays for a 5 star hotel?

Again, most people dining, and staying, at luxury establishments are there on someone else's dime.

As you may recall Jack Welch (former chair of General Electric) has an apartment in a Trump building above Jean George's restaurant. It was disclosed during his divorce proceedings that GE is paying for the apt and his account at Jean George (ie. the equivalent to Per Se when he retired).

If you pay attention to the NYTimes you will see that many executives (and even non-profit employees) are often exposed for "extravagant" expenses. The hotel industry certainly knows that most of their business comes from business, and markets accordingly.

Enjoyed the discussion,

Thanks

A dinner for two or a couch which looks good and lasts for years...an interesting choice to (be able to) make

AAFF is right about the service at true 5-star hotels. We've stayed at a few, mostly in Germany and Austria, and never had that "fawned over" experience and most definitely not the "master and slave" experience Ira suggested. The service has simply been whatever we wanted at the time. Sometimes it's been a lot (when traveling my 79 yo mother) and sometimes it's been very little.

Our favorite hotel in Europe is a 5 star in Baden-Baden, Germany. We've been there so often that we're known by most of the staff (they know our dog, too) and hanging out in the hotel bar has become more like a house party. But we've never paid anything close to the rack rates.

We've never paid 1000.00 for a room, but have stayed in a few 5*s when there was a special on through Amex. Two being the Georges V and Le Meurice in Paris. I think the rooms worked out around 500 per night. We had a really nice room at the Georges V and a pretty crappy one at Le Meurice that was in dire need of refurbishing.

I've always said that I would much rather stay in the best room at at 3* than the lowest category room at a 4*.

Come to think of it, I have stayed in many expensive places (Savoy in London, Four Seasons in SF, Ritz-Carlton in Chicago, and Shutters-on-the-beach in Santa Monica come to mind) that ARE five stars but I don't think I have ever paid $600 for a room much less $1000! Most were/are paid by my employer so price really wasn't a concern (I say this because I wasn't looking for cheap fares through expedia or whatever).

For a $1000, I would want someone in my toilet handing me a towelette to dry my face. Heck, I want him or her to dry my face for me! And if it is the latter, may be say something soothing in my ear as I head out to face the big world! Sort of like the Pretty Woman. Just kidding :)

I'm not sure why anyone would be uncomfortable in a 5* hotel. The staff are not slaves and they don;t "fawn on" you. They're trained to give you exactly as much service as your want.

They do take your luggage (unless you tell them not to bother) but I've never had one try to take my camera or purse out of my hand.

And no one has ever picked my clothes or a towel up off the floor - since that's not where I leave them. (Once the maid in a 3* hotel in Lucerne did lay out my nightie for me. In my rush to leave in the am it had gotten mixed in with the duvet, so I forgot to put it back in the drawer. She laid it out very prettily on the bed, poofing out the top to make a figure - as in fancy lingerie stores. Luckily that night I had worn a real nightie instead of my mickey mouse tee shirt.)

And I have seen people dressed even less than casually in 5* hotels - saw Woody Allen once in the Danieli in Venice and he looked almost like a bum - so there's no need to wear formal clothes at all times.

I can understand saving the money to spend on other things - but to me - that;s the only reason not to enjoy the luxury.