Could you live in a hotel?

[Jeffrey O'Neill]

Hotel room probably not, but I've stayed in some nice apartment style rooms and I could definitely cope with living in them. A nice 1 BR with fridge and basic ability to cook if desired, though when in Asia why would I want my mediocre green curry when I can get one by a Thai mum who's had 20 years to perfect the flavour

Throw in being close to where you want to be, pool and gym access, and the ability to move about freely. Stay one place 6 months to pack up and try somewhere else. Get a feel for a city, or cities if ya able to wander around.

 

[eosphoros]

I stayed at The Olsen in South Yarra for about six months. It was great as a temporary solution. The thought of living there for 12 years is quite frightening. Then again, the idea of living anywhere for 12 years is frightening.

I should add that the room had a kitchenette, so it wasn't just a microwave.

 

[medhead]

Currently on my 6th year of living in a hotel in Paddington, Sydney 3 nights a week.

Free wifi, access to kitchen, foxtel, 10% discount at the pub next door, swimming pool makes for a good experience. Even been invited to drinks for staff Christmas and for staff farewells.

 

[Reise]

I tried exceptionally hard to get my client to put me up at the Airways. 1 bedder dropped to a bargain of PNK22000/month. I was unsuccessful.



Gads :shock:.....The rooms I've had there are small and horrid....I hope he has something better than I did. I do however like the art that gets displayed on the fence across the road. I bought a fabulous painting from a guy named Taiya Kurumba which everyone who sees it loves. The colours are nothing short of stunning and it certainly stands out in a crowd. He's often there outside the HI or down at Ella Beach markets.

@ swanning_it I must have something better than you did, 2BR brand new in the suites block. Been here for a bit over a year and it is a significant improvemetn on the Gateway (was there for a year and a half)... and I have underground parking. All said and done it is pretty hard to fault.

 

[Febs]

I wouldn't want to "live" in a hotel, but I did spend Mon-Fri in hotels in Melbourne for 7 continuous months. It was fine, but it doesn't really count as "living" I guess as most weekends I went home. Plus I had SPG Plat, Hilton Hhonors Diamond and Hyatt GP Diamond at the time, so wherever I stayed I had a nice room and lounge access (well except the Westin). Westin was "home", but I also spent a decent amount of time at GH, PH and Hilton South Wharf.

I do prefer hotels for work trips, over serviced apartments, even for extended trips (I like the points, status and lounges ) but still couldn't live in one full time.

What would be lovely are the "residences" that they have above the Mandarin Oriental in New York. Spectacular views over Central Park. $25 million!!!
Would be very nice living in one of those. The privacy and space of your own apartment but the services and facilities of a 5 star hotel

Agreed, something like this (or the W residences) is about the only way I could do it, but they're basically apartments with the amenities and service of a 5 star hotel (and a price tag to match ).

Cheers,
Febs.

 

[QF029]

I stayed at The Olsen in South Yarra for about six months. It was great as a temporary solution. The thought of living there for 12 years is quite frightening. Then again, the idea of living anywhere for 12 years is frightening.

I should add that the room had a kitchenette, so it wasn't just a microwave.

Interesting. I live very close to the Blackman and have often thought if I returned from living overseas in the future (not owning furniture etc) that this would be a viable option. I like the idea of a minimalist lifestyle so it would be mainly clothes and computer gadgets in my possession. I also like the idea of checking out when going on longer holidays and moving around the 3 different hotels to shake things up a bit!

 

[Deleted member 29185]

That's quite a depressing lifestyle, only a single person can live like that

Or a married one with 3 kids !

Seriously though, is there much difference between someone who struggles with long hours and little time for family or one who works away and ALL the home time is relaxed with family!

 

[Atleastonce]

Not a hotel room, but I could probably live in a balcony room on a cruise.

 

[Deleted member 29185]

@ swanning_it I must have something better than you did, 2BR brand new in the suites block. Been here for a bit over a year and it is a significant improvemetn on the Gateway (was there for a year and a half)... and I have underground parking. All said and done it is pretty hard to fault.

No "suites block" for me I'm afraid. Just dingy rooms that overlooked the pool. They were dark and very uninviting. Is the HIX finished yet?

 

[Jleno]

Currently on my 6th year of living in a hotel in Paddington, Sydney 3 nights a week.

Free wifi, access to kitchen, foxtel, 10% discount at the pub next door, swimming pool makes for a good experience. Even been invited to drinks for staff Christmas and for staff farewells.

Do they offer you good rates? I'd love to find a hotel in Sydney that can match a one bedroom / studio apartment rent!

 

[Reise]

No "suites block" for me I'm afraid. Just dingy rooms that overlooked the pool. They were dark and very uninviting. Is the HIX finished yet?

I had one of those 'dark rooms' when I first arrived here years ago but mine was overlooking the garden on the outside so I can appreciate your experience.

As to the HIX - it is is effectively finished, certainly the outside has been finished for months and I understand the rooms as well. However, there is some internal issue to do with the lobby/restaurant area, as I understand it. There opening date is continually being pushed out an it is now planned for April. On the up side the Gekko Bar is now open for business again - I think it was commissioned at the end of January. The menu at the Kopi Bar could do with an upgrade and I am keenly waiting for the new restaurant in the bottom of the HIX to open and hoping that they opt to refurbish the night club as a restaurant/function room as well.

 

[Reise]

I do prefer hotels for work trips, over serviced apartments, even for extended trips (I like the points, status and lounges ) but still couldn't live in one full time.

Agreed, something like this (or the W residences) is about the only way I could do it, but they're basically apartments with the amenities and service of a 5 star hotel (and a price tag to match ).

Horses for courses, last few times I stayed in hotels I had to put up with coughpy lighting and desks that would probably only work for basketball players (and I'm not exactly short). At least with apartments you usually end up with a dining table that you can set to work on.

 

[wanderer_au]

A variant to this theme is the old tradition of members living at their (private members) club - like the Australian Club, the Melbourne Club etc. There is one club here in Sydney that has a member in his nineties living at his club, although this practice is not common nowadays.

 

[wooley]

How many nights a year on avg would people on this forum be away? For me it would be ~100.

I'm going to be running about 220 nights away this year... which will actually be more once I take into account holidays.

I live in a "resort", but luckily where we're located is all permanent residents.

After reading this thread, and realising how much I'm away I should probably look into hotel rewards programs...

 

[Reise]

I'm firmly committed to a hotel rewards program. Having said that, while it influences my decisions about where to stay it doesn't dictate them. Sometimes you can get bargains that sit outside the reward program and as such I like to keep my options open.

But at 220 nights - if you can lock them into a program you will find that the points will accumulate pretty quickly - and then you can share with family and win brownie points to boot.

 

[Deleted member 29185]

I'm going to be running about 220 nights away this year... which will actually be more once I take into account holidays.

I live in a "resort", but luckily where we're located is all permanent residents.

After reading this thread, and realising how much I'm away I should probably look into hotel rewards programs...

You don't have a rewards membership going! :shock:

Watch out someone doesn't stuff you and hang you on a wall as an exhibit of a very rare animal indeed!

 

[Awesom Andy]

After reading this thread, and realising how much I'm away I should probably look into hotel rewards programs...

You may need to split your bookings though. Some have rules where if the booking is over a certain length/nights, they will stop accruing points/status.

 

[wooley]

I'm firmly committed to a hotel rewards program. Having said that, while it influences my decisions about where to stay it doesn't dictate them. Sometimes you can get bargains that sit outside the reward program and as such I like to keep my options open.

But at 220 nights - if you can lock them into a program you will find that the points will accumulate pretty quickly - and then you can share with family and win brownie points to boot.

I'll have to look into it a little more, every area I go has a different chain, but on that note, I return often enough that it shouldn't matter in terms of accruing points.

You don't have a rewards membership going! :shock:

Watch out someone doesn't stuff you and hang you on a wall as an exhibit of a very rare animal indeed!

I suppose it all just seems like added hassle, because while I regularly stay in cities, I just as often find myself in the country, which means earning hotels.com "free nights" seems to work best.

I'm definitely a rare breed

You may need to split your bookings though. Some have rules where if the booking is over a certain length/nights, they will stop accruing points/status.

Not a problem for me, If I'm in one place for more than 3 nights I'm not doing my job... or I better be doing a bloody good job.


I suppose to make this work I'll have to compile a new list of preferred accommodation in each city, and town. I better get onto it!

 

[Cynicor]

International or within au?

Hiltons are probably best represented in AU, but SPG and IHG are other contenders for international chains where status may be useful for overseas holidays.

Rurally, you'd be hard pressed to find anything much, and then hotels.com or a similar rewards program would be of use. You can often combine these with cash back sites too.