FabSwingers.com forum: Basic or 5-star Luxury?

By (user no longer on site) OP
over a year ago

When you go travelling on your own out of your own pocket on holiday, what type of accommodation would you choose and why?

When travelling by car, I would go for budget hotels/motels providing it is clean and has private facilities. I would go out to eat at nearby eateries.

When travelling to a city for short breaks, I prefer to stay in basic city centre hotels in good locations close to shops, restaurants and major attractions.

Air con is a must for warmer months.

View from the hotel room is not important, as I close the curtains as soon as I walk into the room.

Noise is not an issue as I always travel with a pair of earplugs in my bag nowadays.

Don't see the point of having a gym, swimming pool etc. as I shan't use them.

I am unlikely to eat at hotel restaurants unless they are truly great ones. I prefer to go out to eat where the locals would eat.

Food is a major part of what I enjoy the most when holidaying, as reflected by my size! Sight-seeing and shopping is secondary to eating - they allow me to walk off what I have eaten to enable me to eat more!

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By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago

I usually use Hilton hotels for city travelling. If going abroad to a resort usually go 5 star as their 5 star is normally a good 4 star. Anything less and it's not the best.

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By (user no longer on site) OP
over a year ago

I prefer to eat the money I save on using budget hotel instead.

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By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago

im with u pearl .,budget accom works for me .clean sheets is a must tho and the aircon ...i stayed at the shelbourne in dublin a few years ago supposed to be the top hotel in the city 200 quid a night and no aircon ...my partner had the flu really bad and the bed was soaking we asked them to change the sheets and they never came to do it ..so we had to sleep in sweaty sheets ...yuk !!

when im abroad im the same good clean basic 3 or 4 stars ...always find the 5 stars full of germans and russians ..

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By (user no longer on site) OP
over a year ago

London is an exception, as I would only stay in the hotel closed to where I used to live, and it is a 4-star.

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By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago

When researching a holiday we'll have a trawl around the internet for previous visitor comments and make our decision on what we find. One of my bugbears is poor service or shoddy facilities as when I'm laying out my hard-earned dosh I expect exemplary returns for my money. Bearing all that in mind, we usually opt for something more luxurious than a bucket hotel would provide.

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By (user no longer on site) OP
over a year ago

"always find the 5 stars full of germans and russians .."

And loud Americans with equally shirts and brand new trainers!

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By *andKCouple
over a year ago

Norfolk

holiday has to be 5 star luxury, did enough of the budget stuff when the kids were young.

If it's just bed for a night after a club visit, as long as it is clean the cheapest we can find

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By *eighleedsMan
over a year ago

leeds

alwasy go for teh basic option even on holiday abroad, as long as its clean and everything works like showers etc

after all i am only using it to sleep in

prefer to explore not sit in the hotel all day

last holiday was to Gambia, could not understand why so many in the hotel just sat around the pool all day every day,

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By *im halpertMan
over a year ago

redditch

we search on trip advisor ,I dont mind budget,prefer to eat out at different places whilst on holiday,but love camping !

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By (user no longer on site) OP
over a year ago

"we search on trip advisor ,I dont mind budget,prefer to eat out at different places whilst on holiday,but love camping !"

Same here!

My first camping trip this year will be over the Easter weekend, can't wait!

Ooo, thanks for reminding me about leaving feedback for the central London hotel I stayed in recently.

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By *leasureDomeMan
over a year ago

all over the place

"im with u pearl .,budget accom works for me .clean sheets is a must tho and the aircon ...i stayed at the shelbourne in dublin a few years ago supposed to be the top hotel in the city 200 quid a night and no aircon ...my partner had the flu really bad and the bed was soaking we asked them to change the sheets and they never came to do it ..so we had to sleep in sweaty sheets ...yuk !!

when im abroad im the same good clean basic 3 or 4 stars ...always find the 5 stars full of germans and russians .."

yuk on the sweaty sheets ,,i tend to head for the 4 or 5 star in countries i have not visited before and find the sausages at breakfast rough cut and and not so sloppy,.best hotel -food-value so far L'horizon in jersey was 240 per night and got 4 nights for 85 quid inc fantastic help yourself breakfast,Worst Plaza Athene in Paris equivalent of 34 quid for a posh cheese sandwich with a bit of rocket on the side (thank god it was not my bill) lol

PS) Always had a great laff with the Germans never met a bad one yet.

Although the russians are a bit stand offish

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By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago

when im abroad im the same good clean basic 3 or 4 stars ...always find the 5 stars full of germans and russians ..

PS) Always had a great laff with the Germans never met a bad one yet.

Although the russians are a bit stand offish "

had a fish and chip lunch in the shelbourne ...all very glamorously presented under a silver platter ...then the reveal ...da da !!!

one piece of cod the size of a fish finger and 5 very carefully stacked chips !!!!

5 of us on the table 19 quid a head ....we were stunned !!!!

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By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago

when im abroad im the same good clean basic 3 or 4 stars ...always find the 5 stars full of germans and russians ..

PS) Always had a great laff with the Germans never met a bad one yet.

Although the russians are a bit stand offish

had a fish and chip lunch in the shelbourne ...all very glamorously presented under a silver platter ...then the reveal ...da da !!!

one piece of cod the size of a fish finger and 5 very carefully stacked chips !!!!

5 of us on the table 19 quid a head ....we were stunned !!!!"

and hungry !!!! we had been up early for the flight missed breakfast so were looking forward to lunch ....

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By (user no longer on site) OP
over a year ago

I seldom eat breakfast except when I go camping, then it will be a fry up to set me up for the day until BBQ in the evening.

Just need a cup of strong, sweet and creamy coffe and I am done.

I bring my own coffee, as I can't stand cheap instants, and there is seldom sufficient sugar or whitener.

I recently invested on some small round Lok & Lok tubs so that I can prepare individual portions, instead of having to carry 3 separate jars containing coffee, sugar and Coffemate - one leaked due to a loose top, and it was a mess to clean up.

When in mainland Europe, I would travel with my own kettle, as their budget hotels do not usually have tea and coffee making facilities.

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By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago

Clean basic, as I usually just use the room when I roll in d*unk at 3am and collapse on the bed and then get up and go out in the morn.

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By (user no longer on site) OP
over a year ago

"Clean basic, as I usually just use the room when I roll in d*unk at 3am and collapse on the bed and then get up and go out in the morn."

I had one of those last Friday, and Saturday was a haze!

Jolly good night though, involving lots of alcohol! Can't do it that often, as my body takes longer to recover as I age!

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By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago

If I was going on an All Inclusive holiday to the Caribbean or in Europe, I would book a 4 or 5 star, depending on the price.

I like a sea _iew on European holidays, especially if Im on a Greek island, love to look out on the gorgeous beaches early morning.

If im in New York I try and get a room on the highest floor possible I will go for budget hotels in New York because I cannot afford to pay $3000 a night for a room at the Plaza. I dont go for the _iew (usually a brick wall anyway) or the restaurant, as long as its clean and comfortable. A lift is essential though

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By *iamondsmiles.Woman
over a year ago

little house on the praire

Depends where we are going and what we are doing, if just going for a couple of days we tend to stay in an ok hotel but longer and its usually nice. I do like thorsby hall that we go to quite a bit but thats a treat, where staying in a nice one when we go barcelona. As long as the room is clean and clean bedding im usually happy.

We always take our own coffee and a tea strainer to strain it through

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By *agman n angelCouple
over a year ago

benidorm

we work for a company booking holidays from the uk to Spain canaries egypt turkey etc

At the moment with some of the deals we can book someone a 3 star all inclusive for a few pounds more than self catering, so depends when and where someone is going its more than possible to have that luxury break as opposed to making do with something a little less oppulant than you would normally accept.

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By *iewMan
Forum Mod
over a year ago

Angus & Findhorn

5* for me..

I am a tad fragile

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By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago

"we work for a company booking holidays from the uk to Spain canaries egypt turkey etc

im just back from a week allinclusive in feurtevetura cost 360 for the week we must have had our value out of that just in drinks !!1 THE ACOMODATION WAS GREAT 1 BED APPTMENT WITH FULL KITCHEN FACILITIES..FOOOD OK DRINKS BRILLIANT STAFF FAB POOL WARM WALK TO THE BEACH IT WAS CLASSED AS 3 STAR BUT WAS AMAZING VALUE..

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By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago

"I prefer to eat the money I save on using budget hotel instead.

+1 from me! I don't go on holiday to stay inside the hotel the whole time. I get the cheapest room I can find and I'm only in there to get changed and sleep. I often travel round the country, and stay in a few different places rather than the same hotel. Depending where I am, and how much money I've got left I might spend the last couple of days relaxing in an all inclusive 5* with it's own private beach, but it needs to be somewhere like Thailand or Cuba where it's afforfable!

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By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago

"I usually use Hilton hotels for city travelling. If going abroad to a resort usually go 5 star as their 5 star is normally a good 4 star. Anything less and it's not the best.

Same here.

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By *agman n angelCouple
over a year ago

benidorm

"we work for a company booking holidays from the uk to Spain canaries egypt turkey etc

Yes the accomotaion etc is there if people know how and where to search, and flexibility is the key if people are prepared to go from a different airpot flights can differ by up to 300 quid.

recent booking we did was for a couple and a child to tenerife, all inclusive 5 star for 7 nights, got it for £475 absolute bargain

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By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago

"..............

when im abroad im the same good clean basic 3 or 4 stars ...always find the 5 stars full of germans and russians .."

That's the problem with 5* digs - there's usually little about the place to give you any idea which country you've woken up in.

They're often identikit hotels run by identikit companies catering for identikit guests and charging a premium for the so-called privilege.

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By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago

"...........

recent booking we did was for a couple and a child to tenerife, all inclusive 5 star for 7 nights, got it for £475 absolute bargain"

Kids in a 5 star hotel? If there isn't a rule about that there ought to be.

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By (user no longer on site) OP
over a year ago

"...........

recent booking we did was for a couple and a child to tenerife, all inclusive 5 star for 7 nights, got it for £475 absolute bargain

Kids in a 5 star hotel? If there isn't a rule about that there ought to be. "

I take it you are not keen on children.

I shall be camping over the Easter weekend, self-inflicted I know, however, it is too good a weekend not to go camping, so I have to grin and bear the kids running around me!

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By *orks funMan
over a year ago

Sheffield

always stay in a hotel with leisure facilities in the uk,

its good to tease !

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By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago

basic accomodation does me as I am never in the room much anyhows and when I am I am usually flaked out. As long as it is clean it's fine.

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By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago

What we like doing is going on sites finding good deals ..Last minute sites on the net can get 5 star pay very little in a deal ...... we do this with holidays too. End up going to some lovely places ...

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By *i 1 Get 1 FreeCouple (MM)
over a year ago

birmingham

For leisure, we use 4 / 5 * star hotels, but very seldom pay rack rate

We use Priceline.Co.UK where you can name your own price

Some great savings can be made, providing you know how to play the game

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By *umpkinMan
over a year ago

near the sounds of the wimborne quarter jack!

Generally, a hotel from either Travelodge or Premier is good enough for me as long as I can park the car cheaply, if not free and I can get a good cooked breakfast. However, there are two "budget" hotels I will never use when I go to Plymouth. One doesn`t have a car park and is used by all of the coach tour circuit people, the other is crumbling due to concrete cancer, plus it`s on the city boy racer curcuit! The one I use in Plymouth is right at the top of the shopping precint and is admittedly a little more expensive that most. It does have velour upholstry on the furniture which feels dead sexy on your skin when your nekkid!

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By *umourCouple
over a year ago

Rushden

We only ever stay in good budget hotels and never pay out for some misguided idea of luxury! Our rooms are for sleeping in on holiday and nothing else, so why would we want anything other than a comfortable bed and a clean room?

When travelling down to the South of France we use Etap hotels and have their gorgeous cold buffet breakfast. Never stay in anyhing other than self catering as we tend to be out rather than wasting time round some noisy pool!

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By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago

When i go abroad i go with the idea that as long as they are very clean and tidy (beds) then im ok with it.

Like you say, your out most of the time so just need a base to lay your head.

Oh but has to have air con

The one im going to sept is lovely and family run also.

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By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago

never do all inclusive think there tacky holidays sooner book 5 star hotel do my own thing eat out and drink out ...could never be tied to all inclusive holiday to be honest with you .I like to get up and go out and explore nice places to eat and drink abroad ........

if in this country i dnt mind as long as clean mostly stop in premier inns ,hilton,crownplaza,quality depends where iam to be honest at home .but i like to eat out not in hotels was in malmaison few weeks ago was lovely hotel . but each to there own i suppose

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By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago

I stay out in hotels a fair bit, Premier inns are fine for me

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By (user no longer on site) OP
over a year ago

"We only ever stay in good budget hotels and never pay out for some misguided idea of luxury! Our rooms are for sleeping in on holiday and nothing else, so why would we want anything other than a comfortable bed and a clean room?

I made the mistake of lifting the sheets off the bed at a Premiere Classe hotel once, and have never stayed in another since.

My hotel chain of choice when I am in France is Ibis, good clean rooms and excellent showers.

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By *agman n angelCouple
over a year ago

benidorm

"...........

recent booking we did was for a couple and a child to tenerife, all inclusive 5 star for 7 nights, got it for £475 absolute bargain

Kids in a 5 star hotel? If there isn't a rule about that there ought to be. "

Many people still take thier kids on holiday, and yes many people take them to a 5 star hotel, why do you think that is so wrong? do you have something against kids?

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By *he tactile technicianMan
over a year ago

the good lands, the bad lands, the any where you may want me lands

All incluive including kids? No, I like kids, can't eat anymore than one per sitting mind

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By *agman n angelCouple
over a year ago

benidorm

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By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago

"never do all inclusive think there tacky holidays sooner book 5 star hotel do my own thing eat out and drink out ...could never be tied to all inclusive holiday to be honest with you .I like to get up and go out and explore nice places to eat and drink abroad ........

naaa doesn't matter where you stay, (as long as clean) its about what you do with your time! yaaaaaaay holidays luv em all. x

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By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago

we go to the madives been over 8 times now it all inclusive very very high standeds and we only book about 2 weeks befor we fly as know the places we are going to and get really fab deals 1000s off alot of the time ... the food is out of this world and the drinks and most 4/5 stars water villas ,, fingers crossed i am going very soon again love diving and being a beach bum x

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By *umourCouple
over a year ago

Rushden

"I made the mistake of lifting the sheets off the bed at a Premiere Classe hotel once, and have never stayed in another since.

My hotel chain of choice when I am in France is Ibis, good clean rooms and excellent showers.

Ooohh!! Not a good thing to happen! We do stay in Ibis hotels and will be in June in Paris. Same group as Etap (Accor Group) But Etap are cheaper and clean. Only ever in em overnight so not really bothered..

Must say, as someone else said, we also find all inclusive holidays tacky! Only people we know who have been on them are gluttons who try to make up the cost in food and drink alone!

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By (user no longer on site) OP
over a year ago

Never been to an all-inclusive holiday, as I am a free spirit, and like to do as I please and eat whatever I feel like eating/drinking etc...

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By *ophieslutTV/TS
over a year ago

Central

I'm a big fan of 5 star hotels, and top level frequent stay guest level at some, giving me extra perks, such as free meals, suite upgrades, unlimited alcohol etc.

I do like to have home comforts, and 5 stars offer most of what you can have at home, without scrimping on stuff, such as poor bed comfort, in room decor being scruffy and, well, bad taste. For the same reason, I've also been very happy at upscale B&Bs too, where you get to spend time with other guests and the hosts, but there's a homely feel to the place.

If I didn't get the upgrades etc, then 5 stars can be a little impersonal: generally, the higher up the star level, the less friendly that guests may be. I always look for lounges, where frequent guests etc can spend time, as these are often very sociable, and I've made some good long term friends in them.

As for noise levels, I choose not to wear ear plugs, as I select hotels etc that are in quiet spots. Even in major cities this is still possible, if a little research is done.

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By *irtyGirlWoman
over a year ago

Edinburgh

I'm having 5 star luxury this weekend! Can't wait!!

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By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago

"I'm having 5 star luxury this weekend! Can't wait!!

"
lucky you xxxx have fun

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By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago

I have in the days of my marriage done the 5* holidays and then I moved in with Fatprick. We did nearly 2months in Europe last year, mostly Italy in our shagmobile. Went from 5* hotels lying by a pool having peops coming round with ice cold cloths to cool down with to being on a beach washing my clothes in a box under a shower. I loved my adventures in Europe. Waking up on the edge of a mountain, or being the only people on a beach. Give me the laid back European travel in the motorhome then 5* pampering round the pool any day

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