🌟 Luxury without borders: what luxury hotels offer
Premium hotels are traditionally considered a very expensive vacation. Indeed, living in such a place can cost up to several thousand dollars a day. But it happens that, having paid a lot of money, you end up not getting the level of comfort that you expected. So is it worth overpaying? Or are you just unlucky? Let's try to find out how much accommodation in luxury hotels corresponds to their cost.
Understanding the concepts
Firstly, do not confuse the classes of hotels and rooms – these are completely different things. In a luxury hotel, service, food, accommodation, entertainment and much more are always at the highest level. In addition, guests are provided with a range of services that go beyond the “standard”. For example, a personal concierge, secretary or limousine.
But the luxury rooms are not on the first line in terms of comfort. Yes, everything will be very good inside, but there are categories of rooms “Apartment” and “Suite”, which differ in size, amenities and everything else for the better. The hotel itself with such rooms will not necessarily meet the highest requirements.
For example, in France there is a separate category of “Palace” hotels. By choosing such a hotel, be sure that you will receive quality service at the highest level. There are several specially trained staff per room.
Counting the stars
It would seem that we chose a five-star hotel and that was the end of it. But here, too, not everything is so simple. Stars are an international standard that was approved in 1989 by the World Tourism Organization. However, it is advisory in nature. And there are still no clear criteria by which these stars are assigned. Therefore, five-star hotels in the emirates can differ significantly in the level of service and comfort from hotels in Bulgaria or Greece.
Keep in mind that not all countries use this classification for hotels. For example, in Great Britain they use crowns instead of stars, in Sweden they use keys, and in Greece they use letters. If you come across a hotel with five crowns in London, then know that this is the level of a four-star hotel.
In addition, you can find hotels with 6 or even 7 stars. This is more of a marketing ploy to show that the level of comfort in such places is much higher. For example, Burj Al Arab in Dubai is one of these. The room will cost a little over 1 thousand dollars per night, but you will receive the highest level of service.
You shouldn’t rely only on the stars when choosing a hotel. You should always read guest reviews. However, there is a catch here too. If all the reviews are only positive, perhaps the hotel took care of this by removing all the negativity. So look for reviews on neutral platforms.
What should you expect from staff?
Suppose you are lucky with your choice of hotel, and it actually meets the stated requirements. What awaits you upon arrival? First, a premium taxi that will take you from the airport to your hotel. There is also no need to worry about the time of arrival – check-in occurs at any time without complex and tedious procedures.
In the hotel itself, expect to see a very responsive and friendly staff who understands what you need almost by looking at them. The staff is always ready to help resolve any issue, regardless of who you contact. In addition, guests can directly contact the manager and give him recommendations for improving the quality of service.
When you come for the second time, they will definitely remember you and know all your preferences. It's not a matter of good memory, but a special database into which important information about all guests is entered. Don't be alarmed even if they call you by your first name on your first visit. Knowing your guests is a common sign of a premium hotel.
And with a personal concierge, you literally don’t have to worry about anything, because he is able to fulfill any request, even the most specific one. If you want to rent a helicopter or plane to see the sights from above, please, if you need an interesting city tour, no problem.
What's in the rooms?
A distinctive feature of premium segment hotels is not only luxurious rooms with rare furniture and free Wi-Fi, but also the atmosphere of the hotels in general. As a rule, these are hotels with an unusual concept or designer interior.
For example, the concept of Kudadoo Maldives Private Island, a luxury hotel on a private island in the Maldives: “Anything, anytime, anywhere.” All-inclusive meals can be booked at any time and anywhere on the island, and unlimited spa treatments and personalized entertainment are included in the price. Yes, but accommodation costs about 3 thousand dollars per day.
We also recommend reading: Maldives: family holiday to Vagaru at the JW Marriott Maldives Resort & Spa
Another option would be to live in an old castle or surrounded by rare works of art. At The Dolder Grand Hotel in Zurich, paintings by Salvador Dali, Andy Warhol and other famous artists hang on the walls. Prices here are lower: about $700 per night.
Luxury hotel rooms are distinguished by sophistication, comfort and a set of additional pleasant things. These include personal bathrobes and slippers, expensive branded cosmetics, and a comfortable large bed with the best mattress. You can find hotels that offer a huge menu of pillows: orthopedic, with natural fillings, of all shapes and sizes – all for your convenience.
The rich and famous are not used to living an ordinary life, so room service is provided 24/7. You can order food to your room at any time of the day.
As a rule, hotels charge an additional fee for a beautiful view from the window. The premium segment of hotels is not without this drawback, but is capable of providing truly stunning scenery. The windows of one of the most famous hotels in Greece, the Royal Olimpic Hotel in Athens, overlook the Temple of Zeus, but despite this, guest reviews are average.
Location
Often, luxury hotels are located in unique places that are not always easy to get to. It could be a small private island or a mountainous area with a unique landscape, or an ancient former monastery. The Palazzo Venart Luxury Hotel in Venice looks more like a private mansion: no signs, no reception. Only those who are expected there can get inside. Guests are greeted by name, and any premises are accessible to visitors both day and night. Average price per day: 1 thousand dollars.
Let's sum it up
To ensure that you receive the highest comfort from your vacation, the staff does a tremendous job. This is a complex calibrated mechanism where every screw is in its place. Don’t forget about the additional services included in the price, SPA centers, fitness clubs and swimming pools, which are available at any time. If you have chosen the “right” hotel that meets all the requirements and adheres to high standards of service, then a vacation in such a place is undoubtedly worth the money. It all depends on your desires and whether you were able to satisfy them.