To think expensive hotels are always a disappointment

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My work includes fairly frequent hotel stays and I'm always a tiny bit excited when I end up being booked in nicer hotels than the nearest travelodge. That's until I get there, they always end up being a massive disappointment.

Business orientated hotels with crappy wifi and gyms/pools that are only open during the hours people are most likely to be in work. Can't get Film4 on the TV or a whole number of freeview channels. One tiny milk container in a room for 2

I'm sure these places only survive on the back of businesses picking up the bill, surely nobody would spend £130 on a room where the only extra over a travelodge is a few toiletries?

You've obviously not stayed in the Oyster Box in Durban.

One night there and you would only want to stay in expensive hotels!

It all depends on where

We are going to Congleton for the Jazz and Blues festival this weekend. We are staying in a boutique hotel, 15 rooms, with breakfast for £69 per night (for both of us).

We stayed in some fab places in Thailand for about £20 per night

We toured in South Africa and never spent more than £20 per night and last year went to China, the hotel was pure luxury, roof top pool and fab room breakfast was bizarre though all for less than £30 a night.

BUT, in Central London, £130 a night is NOT expensive. I pay virtually that for Premier Inn. Have paid more, and got less at so called luxury hotels. The point is, it is all down to location. Pity the poor tourists coming here!

Last night dh and I were in Cardiff celebrating our wedding anniversary, I booked a "secret hotel" via last minute.com knowing full well that it could only be the 5 star St Davids hotel & spa in Cardiff bay - it cost £85 for a standard king sized room including breakfast which is usually £18.50 each. It was a bargain at that price, lovely views great location but I've had much better breakfasts and the spa was ok but a bit grubby. I would go back there again if another bargain came up but I wouldn't pay the standard rate!!!

I've stayed in some gorgeous hotels and the more expensive 5* are wonderful. I wouldn't justify paying it myself but when work have picked up the tab it's a real treat. £130 is a cheap hotel in my experience. Although you would get a good breakfast I'm sure so I'd be happy:)

The last hotel dh and I stayed in, for the first night away on our own without the dc in literally years, turned out to be a christian conference centre. Which would have been fine if you were expecting that. Unfortunately we were expecting something along the lines of a bit of country house hotel luxury ...

YANBU if you are disappointed by the usual corporate chains. I used to stay at the Novotel / Mercure / DoubleTree Hilton regularly for work because they were reliable and (usually) in convenient locations. They have massive corporate deals and so little incentive to care about any individual traveller.

On my own £££, I tend to avoid them if at all possible as they are nothing special.

To be honest in Europe I usually go 5 star these days if I can, but even that doesn't guarantee 'luxury' IME, so I tend to look for deals then pick the trade-offs I'm most comfortable with (luxury room / hotel amenities / location / food / balcony etc.) and make a judgement call as I certainly don't have £300 a night to spend on the hotel alone for a week's holiday!

I have stayed in some pretty dismal accommodation for £130+ a night in London.

Juan, I'd love to know how you ended up there...

Well we were going to an old school friend's birthday party so choice of locality was made for us. I booked the hotel through booking.com, on which no mention was made of the Christian conference centre status. However, to be fair, I have to say if you Google the hotel it's pretty easy to find out what it is. Unfortunately I didn't. Dh can book next time we get a child free night. In about ten years ... :)