If I have a very specific need and a 400€ room will satisfy it, then I will get it. When security is a question (particularly body guards or need for adjoining rooms), it is generally true that the more expensive hotels are able to accommodate, and when it comes to security, who wants to cut corners?

Also, to address the "people like you comment". . . try spending a huge wad only to find out that the noise upstairs is coming from the random famous singer on tour. . . that happened to me once and I seriously wanted to just die. Sometimes bling can be way worse than sketch.

We are looking in the 60 to 120 euro per night range for our stay in Paris this Sept.

to tomboy

"Wow. I've never seen "effort" used as a verb before (see KarenE's post above), particularly when used to mean "possessing the abiity to pay for something". I'll have to axe my English professor about this new usage."

Thanks for helping me improving my English (I´m German). I got my vocabulary mixed up a little, meant to say afford, as most people would have known. How many foreign languages do you speak (and write) perfectly, tomboy?

I can't imagine why we would consider spending that kind of money to show off to others or get away from them. It would take a lot more than 400€ to get away from other people in Paris. We do spend that kind of money for two reasons-we found a hotel we love that charges that and we think we are worth it and also my husband is an insomniac and having a larger room is worth it for both of our comfort.

I just remembered...about 5 years ago i was sent to Chicago on business trip and Hyatt hotel's room my Co booked was $450.00 per night.
I was soooo looking forward for jacuzzi and think again...it was as standart as it gets, convention season price per regular room!!!
I've stayed in Atlantic City brand new Flagship Resort's room with HUGE balcony, oceanview from EVERY room, huge contemporary resort accomodation for about $100...
So do your homework before you spend!

What a long (and interesting thread). After spending a week in a dump in Rome (previously posted sleepinitaly fiasco), I can understand why anyone who can afford to stays in a "posh" hotel. Why not! You're pretty much guaranteed a great room.

When we left our awful apartment in the morning, our goal was to stay out as long as we could. NOT a nice way to vacation.

One thing I've never understood is what people have against new, sterile looking "convention" hotels. I like them. I've never understood the attraction of "charm," unless it is a very expensive "charm." :)

Celiaanne--it's a matter of personal preferance. My not understanding why someone does something (or doesn't do something) does not invalidate what they choose to do or not do.

But one reason we prefer "charm" is that we like to get at least a glimpse of what it's like to live in the places we visit--and staying in a B&B or other accomodation in a more traditional building adds to that glimpse just a bit.

That's not important to other people, and that's fine with us.

Grammatical note: <b>effort</b> has been in common use as a verb (at least among <i>est</i> graduates) since the '70s. It means &quot;wasting your energy without producing a result&quot; - and is not A Good Thing.

There must be many choices of places to stay in between a &quot;dump&quot; of an apartment and a 400 euro hotel room!

I think many people in this thread is talking about paying a price when you have the chance to choose of paying it or not...and forgetting that many of us don't have that chance.
I mean, I probably would like the Ritz rooms...but a night there is my budget for the whole trip.. it's not only a matter of taste.
Of course, I'm not going to bash anyone who has a bigger budget, why should I ? :)
On the other hand, I probably spend more money in hotels than other people with my budget because of my disability. I do need an elevator,an ensuite bathroom and a twin bed (because I travel with friends). I also try to be as central as possible because in some places I cannot use public transport and taxis get expensive if you have to run a long distance, not the case in Paris (I hope).
But as Neopolitan said, I'm European and I really don't like very much what most of you call &quot;charming&quot; hotels :)
I just don't see the charm... but sometimes I have to look at them for prices.... .
So, many times I go where I can afford..not exactly where I would like to go but if the counterpart is stay at home , I have no doubt :)

RufusT, Of course! We all have different opinions and are entitled to them. I was just stating that I like &quot;big&quot; hotels in certain circumstances and just don't understand what people have against them -- not that they should want to STAY there, but I hear them criticized often and I just don't get it.

But, to be fair, that doesn't take place on this Europe site, and I don't ever stay in big hotels in Europe. I stay in apartments, if at all possible, and have stayed in many B &amp; Bs while in Ireland.

Just stating an opinion -- not trying to change anyone's.

My husband is very tall and muscular, so we pay extra to stay at places with good beds - firm matresses that are replaced often, before they have any sag in them. Otherwise, he gets back pain when sleeping. Also, the bath and showers in the moderate hotels tend to be larger than the budget hotels. He think the extra money is worth it.

When I travel without him, I stay at cheaper places. I do not spend lots of money to eat in gourmet restaurants. No matter how good the food, it is never memorable to me, as my brain does not record that type of info beyond short-term memory. And, I have found VERY ggod food at moderate prices in Europe. Everybody is different.

...I hear them (big hotels) criticized often and I just don't get it....

When/if I criticize the poor ambiance of an impersonal big hotel with hundreds of people milling around the lobby waiting for their tour bus....what about that don't you get?

Fidel, This is silly. I won't go any further with it.

Oops! Didn't mean to sound so...short. I just don't think the topic is worth any argument and I'm bowing out! :)

Celiaanne--I've never understood the attraction of &quot;charm,&quot; unless it is a very expensive &quot;charm.&quot;

I can't believe this silly old thread has been brought back up.
Why not ask all the similar questions:

Why do you buy a nice car when you can get a cheap one that will get you where you're going?
Why do you worry about a nice house or apartment, all you need is a roof over your head?
Why do you buy nice clothes, you can buy still good ones from a thrift shop and they'll still do the job -- covering your body.
Why do you sometimes go out to dinner, when you can surely cook at home for less money?
None of these are any sillier than the original question.

Surely people should understand that not everyone has the same priorities! No?

A better question IMO is, &quot;Why are some people so jealous of people who spend a lot of money on hotel rooms?&quot;

Rufus, it was me, not Celianne :) And I fully agree with you ...the concept I have of &quot;charm&quot; and a 2 star hotel don't match at all :) That's what I don't look too much at the &quot;charm&quot; thing when I look for hotels...

Dukey, that has a very easy answer...because everybody likes beautiful surroundings and luxury but most people cannot afford that :) I don't think it's a bad jealousy ..just &quot;I wish I could someday&quot;