Holiday to think room is important?

[Tinkerblonde1]

People say its just a room to sleep in but to me the accommodation actually makes my holiday.

I mean if it was a drunken one night in a dodgy hotel well...I can manage that (just) and have done. Maybe even two at a push but not anything over that.

I can't imagine getting on a plane all excited and the room being a 70-80s shrine when I arrive, this would really put a downer on my holiday. I know that I could stay out all day but I do like to sit, sleep and get ready in something that doesn't look like my Grandma's living room from 86.

My oh thinks I am ridiculous and thinks the money saving is worth it as the price difference would pay for several nights out. I don't agree. For me the accommodation can make or break a holiday. I have always felt like this and so does my sister. Our husbands think we are ridiculous.

I agree with your DH to an extent. It depends what you need in a holiday. Speaking from experience just because accommodation is posh/plush/swanky/5* doesn't mean you will enjoy the holiday any more than staying in a more basic clean property. We've done both extremes. As long as it's clean, has the right room layout and a nice pool I'd be happy. If you can afford it regardless however then go for it it's a holiday after all

This.

I tend to say “I won’t sleep anywhere shitter than my own bed”.

We’ve been on holiday this year, stayed in a lovely villa, yes, it was a bit pricey, but not outrageous. I’m off to Ottawa soon for the Bingham cup, some of the lads have gone mega bargain, I’ve booked a really nice serviced apartment for not a great deal more.

I disagree. But I understand your point.

when tracking with work it’s on them to provide decent accommodation. For me when I’m somewhere at my own cost happy to slum it provided it’s clean and kept.

why because for me a holiday is about exploring, seeing some sights but also just being out and about in the area you are and experiencing that.

I don’t understand why people do a package holiday to a hotel resort and literally just go fro home to airport to resort to airport to home. (I’m not saying people are wrong doing that it’s just I cannot comprehend it)

It depends on how bad we're talking. I remember staying at an IBIS hotel for a wedding and although modern, it was a poky box with a cupboard for a bathroom. I'd rather pay more next time. I'm not too bothered by most other rooms as long as there's space and it's not mouldy or filthy. That being said, DH is currently insisting on an overwater villa for a big holiday to the Maldives. I'm going to enjoy it but I would have been happy with a standard beach villa as I plan to spend most of my time on the beach or in the water. It's going to add an extra 1k to the holiday and I'm not the sort of person who spends 1k total on a holiday normally.

Totally agree. I'm happy with a Premier when we go to London but I have much higher expectations otherwise.

Depends on the holiday for me. If it’s a beach/pool type holiday where the entire purpose of the holiday is to relax and I’m likely to spend a few hours every day in the room then I totally agree with you. Spacious room with plenty of light and nice decor is a must, although I’m not bothered if it’s basic. If it’s a city break where I’m going to be up early and out exploring all day I am less fussy on the accommodation.

The room makes a big difference.

Absolutely agree which is why we go on short holidays only once or twice a year.

It depends on the type of holiday and duration.
We are going to France in 2 weeks. The first 2 nights are a city break to split the drive. We will barely see the inside of the room as we want to explore, and will have a separate small bag for this part of the trip so no real need for it to be spacious. I want cheap but clean, centrally located, and a good breakfast. We will use the money saved for attractions and 2 really nice dinners out (and hopefully shouldn't need lunch due to the good breakfast!). After that we are going somewhere self-catering. We have paid for a 5* site with excellent facilities and nicer accommodation because we are there 8 nights and it is a different style of break. We will be using the accommodation at different periods throughout the day to cook, eat, and relax so we want something better. I want a nice veranda I can sit out on for my breakfast and to read in the evening.

I agree with you op.
I've noticed a lot of Italian hotels especially look like they were last decorated in the 90s.

The worst was when I stayed at this 4 star Italian hotel on the beautiful Island of Ischia that I think was supposed to have a cute country look and all the rooms were their own self contained bungalow type things dotted about the landscaped gardens. It felt grubby and horrible to me. The bed had a nasty carpet bag type throw on it, the armchairs had a similar fabric on them, like a granny lived therThe lady curtains too.
The walls were really roughly plaster so it looked like bogies wiped everywhere then painted white.
Worst of all was roomkeeping used a noxious cloying rose scented toilet cleaner. It was grim.

I agree with you, OP. Going on a camping holiday, where the point is ‘roughing it’, is one thing. It is quite another to fly halfway around the world to a hotel that is worse than your house. The whole point of a holiday is to have a nice getaway in an environment that you wouldn’t normally get to enjoy!

If it matters to you, it matters! It's your holiday. You have different priorities for a holiday than your husband does, but nobody is being "ridiculous". Lodging's a hard thing for a couple to compromise on - unless you change hotels partway through, and then someone's unhappy each half of the trip.

I usually end up somewhere in the middle - I pick out the cheapest that seems reasonable and has everything I "need" (want, within reason) and good RECENT reviews, and use that as a benchmark - if there's somewhere I like more I decide if the price difference is worth it to me. If there's somewhere with most of what I want that's a lot cheaper, I look for the "gotcha!" but might choose it anyway.

As for why I'd pay to stay someplace worse than home - well, accom for a couple of days or weeks is always going to be more expensive per night than wherever you live longterm. And most people have both costs, as you're probably not renting out your house while you're away. I'd pay it because I want to spend time someplace else for those few days/weeks, and I can't take my house with me or teleport home every night.

Rubbish/basic room is a general reflection tho isn’t it on the hotel and facilities? If those things don’t matter because you aren’t spending time there then ok, but with young kids meals/ facilities/ pool etc are important. Pre kids yes, I did the eye wateringly awful hotels/ rooms in Vietnam and Prague and spent 18 hours a day out of the hotel. But since having young kids I want a high end breakfast, pool, bar and dinner facilities (if I choose to take that up.) plus a mini bar and nice room if the kids have conked out in the evening and DH and I want (or rather have to) drink in the room.

depends on your circumstances. Ultimately doesn’t matter does it so long as you both agree??!

It should be clean and comfortable, but I don't give a shit about fashionable.

Good amenities in a hotel room are worth spluring for, but spending more just to have decor which matches current trends seems really weird to me.

For example its not even basic thats the problem. I like the below hotel pics. Basic but ok.

But this one makes me feel sick. There are many worse ones.

This was the shower of a hotel I stayed in one night.

Awful! Couldn't shower without oh nearby.

I am weird.

Meh, I can do basic as long as its clean, Comfortable and in the right place. I'm there for the location and I don't waste time of hotel facilities and services.

I agree. I need a nice room with a nice view. Although I like to chill in the room. If you're the type of person that is out at the pool or beach all day then bars all night then I get it but I like to take a drink to the room and chill on the balcony

I've worked in travel a long time and found this to be a pretty much 50/50 split. Some would rather go for the cheapest room and spend money on other things, stating it was only somewhere to sleep, whereas others wouldn't go unless they could have the best room upgrade available.
Same with cabins on cruise ships.

I was there yesterday!!!

Exactly this.

It’s the most important part of my holiday, I’d rather not go at all than compromise.

A million times, yes. YANBU. I don't want even during a city break where I'm out admiring architecture all day to be dreading going back to a dreary unwelcoming room. It doesn't have to be luxurious, but characterful is important to me. That often makes it expensive...

Absolutely zero chance I will be roughing it again in basic hostels but then level of luxury depends on the trip. We like to stay equivalent of 4* and above whether apartment or hotel and expect it to be spotless but don't tend to pay for the larger rooms or sea views as we don't spend enough time in the room to justify the cost. If a city break then would be in the room even less. Both DC are under 6 so we also don't pay for them to have a separate room - extra beds in ours is adequate.

I do find that no hotels we stay in are nicer than my bed and room at home though and I like it that way - we spend 95% of nights each year at home so it should be our favourite bed!