The high price of high-price hotels

[AaronK]

After reading today's column, I am forced to agree with Tim on his assessments. I have found most to be true, that I get better bang for my buck at the more moderate priced facilities than I do at the luxury places.

I have witnessed cabbies handing doormen tips. It always bothers me that when I stay at a Courtyard, I get free internet access, but when I'm paying more to stay at a full blown Marriott, its 10 bucks a night.

I can also say that non-rev customers seem to fall under the "priceline" policy. I recently had to travel to New Orleans for a funeral. I was only there one night. The hotel that my relatives were staying in was a Residence Inn, so when I made my reservation, I used points that I had to redeem an award night. My room was on the top floor, all the way at the end of the hall. My cousins, who paid for their room and arrived 3 hours later (I assure you my arrival wasn't early), were on the first floor "around the corner" from the main lobby area. Granted, other than a long walk, my stay was the same as I have experienced at other Residence Inns, but I just found it odd that I was up in the corner.

[tdew]

I agree too.
Another charge the high end hotels often add is a parking fee, while their more modest relations don't. In May I'm heading to a conference in Kansas City. The Conference hotel rate is $129.
That's not an unreasonable rate, but it's a full service Hyatt Regency Crown hotel. Instead, I've booked a Residence Inn right nearby for a little bit more.
The hotel here includes a full breakfast each morning, free internet access, free parking, etc. There's a full kitchen if I want to just have something in the room in the evening, and I get my Marriott points.
It just makes more sense to me.

[AaronK]

Ahh, the infamous parking fee......

Depending on location, even the moderate price hotels charge a parking fee.
Though, I think it is mainly to keep others out of the lot.

[Ned]

Tim said,
Travel magazines wow us with beautiful photos of luxury hotels, breathlessly telling us about turn-down service, high-thread-count sheets, and opulent grounds or public spaces designed for lingering. Somewhere there will be a small notation reading something like "doubles from $499." Of course that's before taxes, tips for bellman and housekeeping staff, the resort fee, the Internet access charge, the fee to use the gym, and the room-service surcharge.Yep, all of that is absolutely true.

For me, I don't care about the turn-down service, and in fact usually put my "Do Not Disturb" sign on the door to keep them out. I always use the Internet service, and sometimes the parking garage/lot. I don't care about the high-thread count bedding, per se, but very much care about the overall comfort of the bed. I'm aware of the cost of tips at a W., versus a Hampton Inn. I'm also aware of, as Tim puts it, the "unseen luxury tax," which is very real.

If you go in knowing that your room rate is only part of the story, and you expect to keep opening the wallet wide for the unseen luxury tax, you will probably have a better time than if you are already scraping the bottom of the barrel just to come up with the room rate.There are plenty of luxury hotels that are way above anything I would consider comfortable for my wallet, with or without the extra charges and "luxury tax."

In fact I agree with every point Tim makes, except...sometimes I conclude that, for me, the luxury hotel can be a better value than the one which is a notch lower.

I couldn't care less about the parking fee, the Internet fee, or the cost of breakfast eggs at the W, versus the Hyatt, versus having a free, though mediocre breakfast at the Hampton. I'm more than aware of what's included, versus, what's extra.

Sometimes I stay at Hampton Inns, and sometimes I stay at Sofitel or W. In each case I'm looking at the bottom line value to me.

I consider what I'm going to be doing while in a location, what I'm going to be doing in the hotel, what services I need from the hotel, etc., then evaluate the bottom line per day.

When I'm in Los Angeles, I usually stay at a Hampton Inn, unless I'm there for a specific event, conference or convention which causes me to evaluate for that specific stay. I stay at the Hampton, because:
I'm rarely actually in the room
It's part of the Hilton loyal program
It's 10 minutes from my kids' home
It's 15-20 minutes from LAX
It's near appropriate "freeways" for where I usually go
I get great service there when needed
It has great beds
It has a decent gym
It's 5 minutes walking distance from the best breakfast restaurant in LA County
It's close to 30 excellent restaurants for dinner, some terrific shopping areas, Fryes, and REI.When I'm in NYC, I usually stay at the Sofitel, which is considerably more expensive than many hotels I could choose, but cheaper than some too because:
Safety - This hotel has much better security than other NYC hotel in which I've stayed
I get great service there when needed
It's right in the heart of the theater district
It's near two of the best breakfast restaurants in NYC
It's near many of my favorite dinner restaurants in NYC
I get a wonderful free house wine drink from them as thanks for staying there
It's a hop, skip and a jump to the subway to get to Zabars
It has a very good gym
It has the best beds of any hotel I've ever stayed at in NYC
If the hotel is even somewhat inexpensive in NYC, it sucks (please excuse the language)
Location, location, location.

[wrp96]

In each case I'm looking at the bottom line value to me.


Ned, I think this is the thing all of us should be looking for. For example, a few weeks from now, I'm overnighting at DFW on my way to Hawaii. I could get a much cheaper hotel room offsite of DFW, but instead am paying more to stay at the Grand Hyatt DFW which is in Terminal D at DFW. Why? The convenience of not having to wait for a hotel shuttle to get to the hotel and then one again at 0'dark 30 in the morning to check back in. All we have to do is go down an escalator and we'll be at the check-in desk. I also know that they have a good bar and a nice restaurant for me to have a birthday drink in, the beds are comfortable so we'll have a good sleep before the long flight, and the rooms and bathrooms are large enough that 3 adult women won't be killing each other in the room. If we had a later flight in the morning, it's highly likely we would've stayed at a La Quinta Inn to save more than a few dollars.

[Loonbeam]

Generally speaking, I follow the same rule...

If I am on vacation, I usually pay the premium. I am there to relax and be comfortable, not to count pennies. For disney, upcoming, we are staying at the Polynesian, strictly because of location (MK view from room and access to the monorail). In NY on leisure, we stay at the Doubletree times square as we like the extra space and location.

At the airport, when we have a gawd-awful early flight we stay at the Marriott, because we can walk right into terminal C bag check.

For business, I usually prefer an upper-budget or lower-moderate hotel that offers free breakfast, internet and a clean room. (Hampton Inn, some Residence Inns, Fairfield Inns, etc).

[the dark knight]

I absolutely go for the best value. Most leisure travelers, unless they must have a high-end/luxury hotel do the same. I have had the opportunity to stay at a few Hiltons, DoubleTrees, Homewood Suites, and at a Renaissance and a Courtyard by Marriott, and even a Radisson overseas in the last 3-4 months, plus a night or two at "lesser" places like a Red Roof Inn and Motel 6, just for a quick night of rest for last minute travel. Define that how you like....lol. I have also stayed at or visited friends staying at most of the other major chains at least once or twice in the last three years each (Holiday Inn, Sheraton, Crowne Plaza, Country Inn and Suites, full-service Marriotts and so on), both on working trips and for pleasure. I have even visited a resort or two.
Some corporate clients want value, some want luxury, almost all want to earn a lot of points/miles fast and be comfortable. Unless they have a bad experience at a specific hotel, are stedfastly loyal to one (or two chains) wherever they go, unless they are forced to do otherwise. Some clients even get annoyed if you suggest a alternative hotel, even if the rate is a lot cheaper and/or has better amenities that the client would like.
I usually do not use Marriotts (though they are all nonsmoking...good thing) because they usually charge extra for parking everywhere (not just at downtown locations), and Internet access, and are usually not even wireless in the rooms. I can go wired, but I much rather go wireless, since I do that at home and other hotels allow such for free (Hilton properties).
Overall value, price, comfort, location, (free) parking and (wireless)Internet, frequent traveler program, and amenities are my considerations, in that order. I am usually driving anyway, so airport shuttles mean little to me. When I travel alone, I am (slightly) less picky. When I have family, especially my parents and/or kids and/or friends traveling with me, comfort and amenities means more in the equation, but I am not going crazy on price, even then. My parents would yell at me if I did otherwise, whether I could afford it or not...lol.

[Loonbeam]

In all honesty, this goes back to a theme that's repeated on here. Most frequent travelers and competent travel professionals are capable of doing a cost/analysis on the various options available to them.

Many high end travelers (the 'rich') don't particularly sweat a few hundred dollars, and hotels that cater to them price accordingly.

The budget traveler looks only at price (and usually gets what they pay for).

BTW, I will take parking fees out of the equation. I've spoken with the manager at the Phila. Marriott many times. He's pretty honest in that the fact they charge so much is that space is limited and they want to reserve the spaces for their better guests.

Another sub topic. A lot of the high end business-oriented hotels charge as much as they do because they know that many of the charges will be expensed, and that people are always willing to spend OPM.

[Ned]

I think your analysis is right on the money.

Parking fees can be a real cost for many, however. If I was going to Philadelphia, unless, I was going to really need a car, to travel out of the City, I'd skip it and use my feet, taxis, trains, or the subway. A rental car in the City, including the cost of gas and parking is not inexpensive.

When I'm in NYC I never have a car. I don't ever drive to NYC either. When in NYC I walk, take the subway or taxis.

I think you're right about business oriented hotels, they charge what they think their customers will pay, considering they aren't paying for it directly. The thing is, many businesses are clamping down in the current economy. It will be interesting to see if any of the hotels respond to that pressure.

In all honesty, this goes back to a theme that's repeated on here. Most frequent travelers and competent travel professionals are capable of doing a cost/analysis on the various options available to them.

Many high end travelers (the 'rich') don't particularly sweat a few hundred dollars, and hotels that cater to them price accordingly.

The budget traveler looks only at price (and usually gets what they pay for).

BTW, I will take parking fees out of the equation. I've spoken with the manager at the Phila. Marriott many times. He's pretty honest in that the fact they charge so much is that space is limited and they want to reserve the spaces for their better guests.

Another sub topic. A lot of the high end business-oriented hotels charge as much as they do because they know that many of the charges will be expensed, and that people are always willing to spend OPM.

[DCTravelAgent]

As far as I'm concerned what's most important is location, location, location and personal security.

I can't tell you how many times I run into people visiting Washington (DC) who have chosen a hotel based on price - you can get rooms for $45 on New York Avenue, but ............... I wouldn't even WALK near there let alone spend the night! And it always seems that these people are from Idaho, upstate NY, rural PA, etc.... Basically if you MUST stay in DC proper, you'd best NOT take a room for less than $150 and still, you might not be in a great location! You can go down into the $90s if you're willing to do a suburban property near a Metro, but most likely even for that, you'll pay $120.

[Annette]

Oh of course location is a definite factor! But I find for instance when looking for hotels for the various conferences my husband and his staff go to that for some reason the hotels that the conference committees have negotiated rates at are all the higher-end hotels. And I'm sure that's fine for many conference travellers - in fact some of his colleagues wouldn't dream of staying at anything other than a luxury hotel when away on business. But for hubby and his staff I know what their requirements are, and what they'll be using, and always look for a moderate hotel like a Residence Inn. I look for things where Internet is included, because almost all of them bring their laptops with them not only for work but keeping in touch with home. Wireless internet means that more than one person in the room can be online at the same time, whereas if it's a wired connection then only one can be connected at once. His staff are also university students, and they're on a per diem for meals that's low enough that frankly they could easily use it up on dinner. For some of them the difference between an included breakfast or not is the difference between eating breakfast or not. So I always take things like that into account when looking at hotels for them. What are the options close to the conference centre? What are the amenties offered by each? Does the pricing difference make up for other things? Are there any drawbacks to being at something other than one of the negotiated hotels? etc.

[Ned]

I'm with you. Security is a given and trumps everything else. Then location is definitely at the top of the list. Location has a great deal to do with security, and time factors as well. I know of many people who come to visit Philadelphia over a several day period, for example, but who stay in hotels located in the Burbs or New Jersey, just to save a few dollars, and then waste hours every day traveling back and forth into and out of the City, pay exorbitant parking fees, and end up saving nothing. What's the point? If they stayed in center city, they wouldn't need that rental car, they'd already be precisely where they are primarily visiting, and they'd have many more options for eating and entertainment, just to name a few advantages.

As far as I'm concerned what's most important is location, location, location and personal security.

I can't tell you how many times I run into people visiting Washington (DC) who have chosen a hotel based on price - you can get rooms for $45 on New York Avenue, but ............... I wouldn't even WALK near there let alone spend the night! And it always seems that these people are from Idaho, upstate NY, rural PA, etc.... Basically if you MUST stay in DC proper, you'd best NOT take a room for less than $150 and still, you might not be in a great location! You can go down into the $90s if you're willing to do a suburban property near a Metro, but most likely even for that, you'll pay $120.

[Loonbeam]

Linksys makes a lovely palm-size switch that works very well with most hotel wired connections. I keep one in my laptop bag...

[Ned]

I assume you're talking about the Linksys WTR54GS Wireless-G Travel Router with SpeedBooster. I use it all the time too. It's a great product. I can set it up at the desk in the room, but sit in bed and work.

Linksys makes a lovely palm-size switch that works very well with most hotel wired connections. I keep one in my laptop bag...