I'm a luxury travel expert – you should never book five star hotels as it will ruin your trip | The Sun
A LUXURY travel expert has revealed why she thinks five-star hotels are not only a waste of money, but could actually end up spoiling your holiday.
When planning a trip away, it may seem tempting to fork out extra on upgrades to make the experience that little bit more memorable.
However, doing so may actually be detrimental to the enjoyment of your trip, according to Monica Humphries, a travel journalist who has stayed in her fair share of luxury accommodation.
She believes that, unless you're staying for an extended period of time, a five-star hotel just isn't worth the price tag.
In Monica's opinion, a fleeting stay won't allow you to make the most of the accommodation you've spent so much on.
She told Insider: "To take advantage of all you're paying for, you need time. Meanwhile, most hotels have a check-in time that starts around 4pm, while checkout is typically around 11am the next day.
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"If I'm factoring in eight hours of sleep (which I typically am in a hotel bed with high thread counts and down pillows), that means I'm left with less than a full day in the hotel."
Meanwhile, paying for a luxury room could also tempt you to spend more time inside and less time exploring your new destination.
Monica continued: "I typically stay in five-star hotels in new cities, which makes every decision more challenging.
"Do I spend time enjoying the expensive hotel I spent hundreds of dollars on? Or do I explore a new destination that I might not visit again anytime soon?"
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A five star rating might not actually be all that worth paying attention to either, especially if it's from a review online.
Award-winning travel writer Brandon Presser said places that get top marks on sites like TripAdvisor aren't likely to be resorts offering unique experiences.
Instead, he said he looks for places that some people might not enjoy staying in, simply because it's not a typical hotel that could be found anywhere in the world.
He told Bloomberg: "Personally, when I'm booking a hotel based on reviews and intel, I’m looking for a bit of controversy.
"I want a property that’s garnered praise from nine out of 10 people, and I want that 10th person to absolutely hate it.
"That’s how I know that it’s not a staid, could-be-anywhere hotel, but is taking a risk and making a statement instead, making it more memorable."
There are also underhand reasons why people might give a five-star review to a hotel as well, including free accommodation in return.
Instead, travel journalist Michael Gebicki recommends people look at the four-star reviews instead, saying they will often offer a more honest assessment of a hotel.
Travel journalist Michael Gebicki said that five-star reviews can also seem like the reviewer is hoping for something in return, regardless of whether they actually enjoyed the experience.
He told the Sydney Morning Herald: "Five-star reviews tend to be bland and gushing, making you wonder what’s in it for the writer.
""Are they expecting a room upgrade on their next stay, a better seat on the flight? But that undermines the notion of a fair review, freely given.
"Too many five-star reviews look suspicious, and people ignore them. What they read are the four-star reviews, they’re more honest.”
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