Fly in style, stay in ghetto. Anyone else do that?

[jase05]

Wow. I’d be interested to know what you’d choose to do if/when you find yourself unexpectedly out of money/points. Would you (re?) learn to enjoy less-than-luxury or would you forsake travel altogether?

I suppose I’m asking what do you mean by “at all cost”? Is this simply a bit of hyperbole, or do you really mean it?

The plan is for the money not to run out thanks to solid investment and financial planning

As it is we don’t travel n anywhere near as much as many on here but when we do we like to travel in comfort and stay at nice hotels.
I don’t have a huge interest in flying First class though , I just need a flatbed and I’m fine.

 

[justinbrett]

I’m more likely to do the opposite. Not stupid expensive hotels but I don’t like to go below 4 star. Always in good locations (no point saving money on hotels if you have to transit an hour to anything worth seeing).

When you think about it, money spent for airline luxury is fleeting, hotel luxury is much more enduring. Though ideally you want both!

 

[I love to travel]

All I care about in hotels is super quiet, and in Asia, have exec kounge.

J and F on anything over 4 hours, but always on points.

When, in the not too distant future, points avenue dries up, my yearly US and Europe trip will need to be paid and travel will be 2-3 years.

I am at the point work is so coughpy would rather retire a year or two earlier than have a holiday each year.

 

[VPS]

Accomodation: Ensuite, clean, near the centre of things, lift if multi-storey, airconditioning if hot climate - all non-negotiable. Don't need fancy room, room service, 24hr reception, porter, breakfast (unless provided free) or frills. Depends on country, holiday budget and cost of accom. Thailand often 4 or 5 star. Switzerland 2.5-3 star.

Flight: Depends on distance to be travelled, availability of points to upgrade, availability of legroom seats, sale tickets, budget for holiday. Every trip is a balance and varies between Y (with legroom) and J. I don't book Y+, don't see the value.

Summary: depending on trip and destination, could be J plus cheap accom, could be Y with 5* accom. Horses for courses.

Backpackers a definite no. Staying on friend's couch definite no.

I haven’t told a friend I’m in London because I just don’t want to stay with her anymore. I could cope with her coughpy rundown flat before but not anymore. I will catch up with her next visit though

 

[p--and--t]

I haven’t told a friend I’m in London because I just don’t want to stay with her anymore. I could cope with her coughpy rundown flat before but not anymore. I will catch up with her next visit though

I book my hotel before I let them know I am travelling to their city and just say already booked and paid for, maybe next time, but next time I "forget" and book a hotel again.

 

[jastel]

It depends on the trip and the destination for me...most of the time Im solo.

Never paid for Business Class but been in there a few times via points, certainly beats Economy. Usually PE on longer flights. First will probably remain a Lotto dream. I try to stay One World when flying but wont pay double for the privilege. Have used overnight trains and ferries, and even taken the Greyhound Bus into Detroit.

Hotels, I like to be central, and near transport. Views are nice but only worth a few bucks more. Breakfast hardly ever...waste of money. Rarely use pools, gyms, and other attractions.
Usually happy at Ibis level but have sometimes splurged due to events and nothing else available. If I am driving will do Motel 6 or whatever I can find when I need it. Any ad with "olde world charm" translates to me as ripoff old place with no parking...avoid that.
Never used room service.
Have stayed with friends, on couches etc before but will limit this to a day or two usually.

I save money on food, hate 5 star stuff with more than 1 set of utensils, if I cant read what it is I dont eat it...pubs/surf clubs/RSL or equivalent is where I like to eat. These can be hard to find overseas so sometimes dinner is a can of coke and a Mars bar if I cant find a reasonably priced steak or any fast food. Alcohol depends on my mood and the company.

I will spend on attractions and tours, that is what I why I am there...

 

[RSD]

Very ghetto this trip.
Burj Al Arab I think the place's name is.
Hope it's OK

That place is the lowest of the low ghettos - you had better be careful!

 

[drron]

When we were travelling to the US in the early days it was Motel 6,Red Roof inns and Travelodge. But after a couple of occasions with drug deals being done over breakfast we went up market to Hampton Inns and Four Points. Then I splurged and bought a time share in the Hilton on 6th NYC. A very good investment. Ended up for the time we had it we only ended up paying $USD 100 for a week in a 1 bedroom suite at the Hilton-club floors.
But now mainly Asia and definitely 5 star. I laugh when anyone tells me by doing so I don't get to know the real people in the city we ae staying in. Just read my TRs. I get into more untouristy areas than most. But great to go back and relax in the lounge.

 

[jastel]

I'd forgotten about Red Roof Inns...used them too.
Drug deals done on every corner in USA now in broad daylight.

I dont want to copy your last Asian Trip Report...

 

[MelbFlyer]

Absolutely I'd travel in style where possible and then spend less on hotels.

My take on it is this:

- 95% of my FF points are from CC sign-up bonuses and I usually time my cards on when I know I'll have mandatory bills / spending (ie. I won't go out of my way to spend unnecessarily just to get points) so in a way, the points are worth "less" to me / are passive
- In addition to that, generally the taxes on reward seats are a fraction of what a paid fare would be, so again, "more value" for less

and

- I generally spend very little time in hotel rooms apart from showering and sleeping, so it's even more reason to spend less. As long as it's clean, in a relatively good location, I don't need 4-5 star amenities

Basically I see it as, a $5k paid seat = some points (a sign-up bonus where I would have had to spend money anyway) + a few hundred dollars, whereas a hotel room worth $300/night, is $300.

The perceived value of a premium reward seat worth more than the money I've paid, is more worth it to me.

 

[docjames]

In the late 90s I overnighted in downtown Nice once in an absolute dump near the train station - inclusive of attempted 2am break-in into my room. It was cheap and was pretty much all that was available arriving into town near midnight and not wanted to roam aimlessly with luggage at that time of the morning. Remembering it wasn’t as easy to check availability back then without widespread online options.

It was thus a pleasure to head at ~6am to NCE to checkin for my (J) connection to LHR, at which point I enjoyed the concorde room before boarding BA F back to SYD……

I think next time i’d just head to the airport and sleep in the terminal!

 

[WilsonM]

I generally spend very little time in hotel rooms apart from showering and sleeping, so it's even more reason to spend less

THIS - this is what I want from both flights and hotels.

The problem is on a plane, it's slightly' more expensive (I haven't had a shower onboard yet though). But showering can be done in lounges.

So I'll stay in hostels with shared bathrooms with no problem, and then catch my premium flights. Kinda harder to explain to people in said hostels, but that's a different problem.

That being said, I'd also happily fly long-haul Y due to other reasons like availability or cost.

I guess its all about individual value.

 

[Seat0B]

Over the last couple of years, just using my stays with the Accor chain as an example, I have happily stayed in everything from Ibis through to Pullman, Sofitel and MGallery - they must be so confused trying to pigeon hole me and market to me! Ibis Bratislava was a stand out, and so was Ibis Styles Nagoya.

I like to fly J - for me this is the sweet spot. I've been lucky a couple of times with OPUPs to F (including on one spectacular occasion all the way from SYD-LHR on QF1 - long story involving QF1 being cancelled for maintenance and us being calm and OK with the delay to the next day, and turning up to the gate with BP beeping and a new one provided - straight to F ), but I don't feel that the jump between J and F is worth the extra $$ or points. For me, it's definitely worth it for the jump between Y or PE and J though. I hate arriving at the start of my holiday feeling absolutely wrecked.

Hotels are a bit of a mix for me - I'm another one who's more interested in location of the hotel and cleanliness rather than fancy facilities, although I do love these when I have access to them. The other things I am interested in include the size of the room (we usually travel together, and 12 sq m rooms are a just bit too squeezy for us), that the bed is not pushed up against the wall (I hate having to climb over Mr Seat 0A in the middle of the night when I need the loo or vv), the overall cost and if I can get any loyalty points for the stay, pretty much in that order.

Over the years, we have stayed in Motel 6, Red Roof Inns and similar places when we were younger, had less $$ and took the family with us, and many of these were excellent - clean, well located, spacious for a family and cheap. But now I am getting soft in my older age I prefer a bit more luxury. As per @jase05, we have planned to have enough cashola for both things to be possible.

Like others here, we also economise on food when we are away, rarely eating meals in hotels or expensive restaurants, and relishing the opportunities provided by street food vendors, little unassuming local restaurants, department store basements and supermarkets.

 

[DC3]

I hate having to climb over Mr Seat 0A in the middle of the night when I need the loo or vv

Just trying to picture that. Perhaps too much information.

 

[n7of9]

When roadtripping in Australia I'd rather stay at a caravan park than a hotel, but overseas it's 4 star, absolute minimum. I've never regretted staying in a nice hotel, but still remember that creepy room I had in Florence in 2011 that felt like I was falling asleep in a coffin, and that damn lumpy pillow in Cuzco in 2007...I still hate that pillow so much!

 

[MARTINE]

My take

Always J - it’s stressful enough at it is and a flat bed means less jet lag and I don’t arrive feeling like a human piano accordion.

Hotels:
Now that I am older (and retired) the priority is travel thats as stressless as possible (until we cannot anymore due to inevitable decline). So…..Having stayed in fleapits (literally) as a post-uni tourist I refuse to do that again. Yes with nocturnal hourly rooms, unwanted pests (of the human variety) and shared bathrooms across two floors the size of a MRI tunnel with a holy face washer for a towel.

We want comfort, proximity and a haven wherever we are (and yes luxury).

When we travel now its a min of four days at a time so we like to have early breakfast and lots of touring in morning so nice to return to a lovely quiet room in the afternoon in nice surrounds (always like a garden in a central location). Would rather walk everywhere than use pub transport.

For me that costs and its worth it (thats me).

I hate air b’n’b (just my opinion) as they ruin towns and are defacto unlicensed hotels. But I don’t judge others who do. Also I want to get away from daily drudge like cooking and have my bed made/place cleaned.

I’m too old now to not enjoy my creature comforts.

Choices in travel (and experiences) were always an important goal for us in our working life.

Traveling to me has become more challenging/demanding (security/crowds/uncivil behavior) or maybe I just became that grumpy old woman. Other way choice to minimise the hassle is worth paying for.IMHO

 

[Cessna 180]

At work we have a couple of company houses at our main places. When in other towns I prefer something with self catering. (Oaks/Quest or similar). I seldom eat out in Australia any more. I just cannot see value in the price places charge for what I receive. Don't get me started on the price of booze! Not that I cannot afford it, more that it just feels like a blatant rip off.

If it is just for one or two nights, so long as there is some fresh air and a decent/clean bed I do not mind.
I do not get a lot of enjoyment out of fancy big name city hotels, where everything is sterile and no fresh air to be able to hear and feel the atmosphere of the place.

When on holidays last year in Balkans: I used booking com a fair bit and found good places, well located for $80-100/night quite easily. In fact I was really impressed with most of the places I stayed. Clothes washing, kitchen etc. Message sent with details of where to find the key. Now I know some of these website are a bit parasitical but it served my needs and in my mind was better value than hotels.
I did eat out a lot more there and was fairly impressed with the quality and the bill was sometimes half to three quarters of what I would pay for a pub meal here. Eating out seemed to more of a thing there, small towns still seemed to have cafe lined streets.

When it comes to flights, I hate being squashed up next to someone. Even on short flights. As someone else mentioned above, if we are able to judicially harvest points at a low price then I consider upgrading to be decent value.
When it comes to long haul I still really enjoy the J experience. I have mentioned elsewhere that whilst I enjoy the fancy catering, the priority for me is the space around me and the flat bed. I don't see the big deal around doors and other gimmicks. If someone wants to look at me asleep then that is a compliment There are people in the rows behind me shoulder to shoulder with their neighbor.
I consider myself extremely lucky that the few long trips I have done have all been in J due either classic upgrades or outright CR redemption.

The points job is getting harder so when I can no longer find rewards or run out of points, I do wonder if I will be able to convince myself that a 10k ticket to Europe is worth it?
I somehow think I will..... It can be strange what we all differently perceive as value..........

 

[Flyfrequently]

My take

Always J - it’s stressful enough at it is and a flat bed means less jet lag and I don’t arrive feeling like a human piano accordion.

Hotels:
Now that I am older (and retired) the priority is travel thats as stressless as possible (until we cannot anymore due to inevitable decline). So…..Having stayed in fleapits (literally) as a post-uni tourist I refuse to do that again. Yes with nocturnal hourly rooms, unwanted pests (of the human variety) and shared bathrooms across two floors the size of a MRI tunnel with a holy face washer for a towel.

We want comfort, proximity and a haven wherever we are (and yes luxury).

When we travel now its a min of four days at a time so we like to have early breakfast and lots of touring in morning so nice to return to a lovely quiet room in the afternoon in nice surrounds (always like a garden in a central location). Would rather walk everywhere than use pub transport.

For me that costs and its worth it (thats me).

I hate air b’n’b (just my opinion) as they ruin towns and are defacto unlicensed hotels. But I don’t judge others who do. Also I want to get away from daily drudge like cooking and have my bed made/place cleaned.

I’m too old now to not enjoy my creature comforts.

Choices in travel (and experiences) were always an important goal for us in our working life.

Traveling to me has become more challenging/demanding (security/crowds/uncivil behavior) or maybe I just became that grumpy old woman. Other way choice to minimise the hassle is worth paying for.IMHO

I agree @MARTINE
(but not the grumpy old woman bit!)

 

[Flyfrequently]

My take :

Seriously, we have worked hard over our nearly 50 years together, crazy hours, weekend/shift/on call work like many of you here.
Along with rising mortgage rates in the '80's, school fees etc, we shared as many wonderful experiences with our children as we could afford and they have given us their blessing to now do what we want, when we want and how we want to do it.

Screen grab courtesy Surfer Flyfrequently - gotta love the Flyfrequently offspring!