Does the whole hotel thing drive anybody else crazy? Determining a vacation destination is hard enough, but then the hotel search begins.
BUDGET usually determines where I will stay. I grew up in a large family of six, and my parents didn't have much money. When we traveled, we went b-b-b-b-budget all the way, driving halfway across the country to see relatives, and staying in skeevy motels and eating in cheap restaurants. So that works. But then one day I tried a NICE hotel, and it kind of messed me up. Nice hotels are REALLY, REALLY NICE. But paying for them ISN'T. So most time I pretty much try and split the difference -- avoiding the super cheap options and not even bothering to check on the really expensive places. But I tend to get angry paying over $100 for a place that is just so-so and generic [I'm talking about you, American chain hotels]. Does that make sense? At least give me a CUTE ROOM if it is going to be any amount over super cheap, otherwise why should I bother?
Do a hotel's looks/accommodations reallllllly matter? It is just a place to sleep, right? How much time do you even spend IN the hotel room? I guess it is like saying any clothes will do as long as they cover a body, or any food will do as long as it provides nourishment, but that is sort of MINIMALIST thinking. Sometimes it is nice to indulge in things that go beyond what we really need. Ugh. It all drives me crazy!
I also struggle with how much to spend on a vacation. One week's pay? Two? Three? More? The boyfriend and I were considering taking a trip to Amsterdam next year, but I choked when I saw flight prices. $1800 round trip. For ONE. UGH. Then throw in hotel, food, entertainment, etc. and you are looking at one VERY EXPENSIVE TRIP for a week or ten days. UGH.
Needless to say, I am trying to plan a summer vacation, and I am getting overwhelmed. Budget and fear of flying dictates that it can't be too far away, or for too long, or very expensive [grumble grumble -- this happens every year and will most likely continue unless I budget funds better or win that frigging Powerball], but we will see what materializes. Or maybe I'll just go on the cheap and have a staycation with little road trips on the side. Humph.
Horrifying hotel story for you....my co-worker mentioned that he and his girlfriend were sleeping in a hotel one evening -- I think it was in Amsterdam -- when he heard someone opening their door in the middle of the night. !!!!!!!!!!!!! He yelped and told the would-be intruder that the room was occupied, and thankfully the person just closed the door and left. YEEEE-IKES!!!!! When I relayed this story to my boyfriend, he said this same exact thing had happened to him in two different hotels. !!!!OMFG!!!! Way to make me want to travel more!
ANYWAY! Do YOU have any interesting vacations planned for the year? Any fab or horrifying hotel stories? Details, por favor!
P.S. If you like the looks of any of the hotels above, hover over the picture to find the name and destination. Links are listed below.
Alila Villas Uluwatu, Bali
Amangiri Resort, Utah, USA
Adrere Amellal Ecolodge, Egypt
Angsana, Marrakech, Morocco
Barin Ski Resort, Iran
Buqshan Hotel, Yemen
Burj Al Arab, Dubai
Boat Hotel, Cocoa Island Hotel, Maldives
Crazy Bear Hotel, UK
Eco Camp Patagonia, Chile
Fairy Chimney Hotel, Turkey
Four Seasons Resort, Bora Bora
Heidelberg Suites, Germany
Hotel Areias do Seixo, Portugal
Hotel Endemico, Mexico
Hotel Le Bellechasse, Paris
Hotel Le Moulin du Roc, France
Huvafen Fushi Resort, Maldives
J.K. Place, Capri
Katikies Hotel, Santorini, Greece
La Mamounia, Marrakech, Morocco
Llandudno Lighthouse Bed and Breakfast, Wales
Magic Mountain Lodge aka Montana Magik Lodge, Chile
Marrakech Hotel, Morocco
Marataba, South Africa
One and Only, Capetown, South Africa
Oyster Box Hotel, Umhlanga Rocks, South Africa
Parador de Ronda, Spain
Perivolas Hotel, Santorini, Greece
The Pierre, New York
Saguaro Hotel, Palm Springs, California, USA
Seixo, Portugal
Taj Lake Palace, India
Tree House Point, Washington, USA
Ubud Hanging Gardens Hotel, Bali
Vedema Resort, Santorini, Greece
Whitepod Hotel, Switzerland
W Hotel, Istanbul
W Hotel, Los Angeles, California, USA
Wildflower Hall, Shimla, India