My SIL advised me yesterday that she and her husband paid $779.00 per night for lodging at the Greenbriar Inn last weekend.

I was appalled, although I was careful not to reveal it to my SIL.

She told me that this rate was for . . . lodging . . . nothing else. It did not include a spa treatment or meals or anything.

They stayed two nights for more than $1600. Where could I go for $1600??????

I did not comment other than to say that I hope they enjoyed themselves, but . . .

Golly, gee, and little green apples, don't you think this is way over-the-top for a nice bed (nice though it may be) and a separate tub/shower???????

$779/night is too rich for my blood in any part of the world, no question.

However, what is "too much" depends entirely on where you are. I used to travel to West Texas a lot on business, and out there if you paid $150/night, then you've paid too much, since there are many nice hotels to be found for a lot less. However, when I paid $150/night for a room just off Times Square in NY, I felt like it was a steal. So it's all a matter of perspective.

Can they afford it? If so, don't worry about it.

I wouldn't pay that much and you obviously pay that much, but if I could afford it, maybe I would pay that much.

To each his own. I personally could never imagine spending more than $400/night for lodging alone. But I feel sick after I spend too much money even if I can afford it.

I hosted an event for 100 Ford Dealers at the Greenbrier and payed $325 per night - including B'fast & Dinner - and my room was $175. But....I guess if your sil thought it was affordable for HER budget, that's all that counts.

I know, I know, it was not my checkbook, but I really do believe this is way over the top.

I have been fortunate enough to stay at some very, very fine places, but never came close to paying $779.00.

In a kind way, I pressed her for what that included and honest to goodness, all she said was the room.

Now someone turned her bed down and left a nice chocolate on the pillows, but . . .

YE GODS AND LITTLE FISHES . . . for $779.00 a night, I would expect someone to at least rub my back for an hour, sing me to sleep and fix my breakfast.

Sigh. I suppose high dollar lodging is beyond my comprehension, and I will never experience paying out the ying-yang for a HOTEL ROOM!

My husband is very grateful.

Hey, I was just looking at Trip Advisor for comments on New York's Mandarin Oriental and I came across a post which read something like "I didn't mind paying $2100 a night but. . ."
You'd be amazed what some people pay for a hotel.

I think the bottom line is you're looking at it all wrong. First of all it isn't for everyone. Just as not everyone wants to drive a Rolls Royce or would be comfortable doing so even if they could afford it. But you say "don't you think this is way over-the-top for a nice bed (nice though it may be) and a separate tub/shower???????" If all you care about is a bed and separate tub/shower then of course you'd be crazy to spend that kind of money.

I would hope to get a peek at the bomb shelter for $779! My fiance and I want to stay there for our short honeymoon (weekend in Oct, the longer one in June) because we are cold war buffs (hence the screen name) and they have that bomb shelter but geez that's a lot. We are hoping for something nice there but not that much.

Gee, I'm trying to figure out what they got for that. I went to the Greenbrier site and entered a bunch of different dates in May and June (high season) and on all of them got a range from $389 for a standard to a top price of $594 for one of their cottages. They have many package plans that include meals or other benefits. Why did their room cost that much?

Coldwar, look at their website. It shows honeymoon weekend packages for $389 a night including flowers, chocolates, champagne, and a photograph.

$250.- was the most I spent. I tend to run in the $75.- to 150.- range.

Unless you are paying for it, I wouldn't worry about how much a hotel room costs or what I get. And if it were my sister, I would definitely keep my questions to myself.

What state is the Greenbriar Inn in? I see more than one.

West Virginia.

www.greenbrier.com

Thanks Neo. The misspelling got me to the wrong one.

Unless they are showing up on your doorstep begging for rent money, I am trying to figure out why you even care what your SIL paid for a hotel room. I find that once what each individual finds they need/want for food, clothing, shelter on a daily basis, if they are fortunate enoughto splurge on something, that is also very individual.

Friends think we are nuts to spend on vacations and sports tickets. But they prefer to spend their money on other things (big screen TVs, for example).

I am going to take a leap here and guess that it was your SIL and not your brother who chose to spend this amount of money and there may be other issues going on there.

We spent that much on a room at Pebble Beach. It did not include golf, meals, spa treatments, etc. We did those things but paid separatly for them. It did include a fabulous view of the Pacific ocean and golf course, a huge room with sitting area and fireplace, luxury bathroom, etc. and the use of a convertible Lexus for a drive along 17 mile road.

It also included three times a day maid service. Morning-the usual towels, bed, clean up. Afternoon-straighten room, bring ice and build fire. Evening-more towels, turn down, and a $300.00 piece of Godiva chocolate on the pillow. LOL!

Would I pay that much again? Possibly, but I would have to think long and hard. Did I admit to anyone in my family that I paid that much? Of course not. I wouldn't have even dreamed of telling anyone. How tacky. Of course now I have told everyone who reads this! Hope you can keep a secret...

It's the Greenbrier.
As for the 100 Ford dealers, you can bet that was the corporate discount rate.
We have stayed at the Greenbrier for a meeting and paid much less than that.
We stayed in a room at the Little Nell in Aspen that rents for $5-600/night. We didn't pay that because our son was working there, but other people did. And that was the low rent district of that hotel.

People go to the Greenbriar to be pampered not becuase they need a hotel room out in the mountains in temiddel of nowhere.

That $779/night (before taxes) is just the tip of the iceburg of what your DB & SIl spent. Execpt for walking the grounds, the gym and the pool - EVERY leisure activity is an extra charge.

Then there are the meals, while they have a cafe option and while breakfasts and lunches are less, they can easily spend $500 for a formal dinner for two (the food IS exquisite - they always import the best European chefs money can buy).

With staff always at hand to cater to your every need, you easily spend $50 in miscellaneous (not meal) tips.

When I first arrived, my jacket and tie were packed - I had to enter through the back (servants?) entrance and was not allowed on the main floor until proerly attired.

All in all great fun but maybe I enjoyed myself so much because I didn't spend a penny. Otherwise I would have spent three days saying "that's outrageous!!" ALL costs were paid as it was a corporate event

No more than $100/night. I like the places when I go to the beaches that aren't oceanfront which are alot cheaper. However, I'm going inland and traveling west and south within the next year and plan not to spend more than $50-80 if possible. I go to hotels/motels to sleep and shower and that is about it.