Haven’t even stayed there yet, just booked the room. I think it's ridiculous to spend $1,200 for five nights in a very standard 3-star hotel when the room is barely being used. When I'm on vacation, I'm out exploring, sightseeing, eating at local restaurants, and actually enjoying the destination. The hotel room is simply a place to sleep at night and take a quick shower in the morning before heading back out.
I'm not sitting in the room all day using the Wi-Fi, watching cable TV, ordering room service, or taking advantage of most of the amenities that are supposed to justify the high cost. In fact, I spend very little time there at all. The room is essentially a temporary place to store my luggage, sleep for a few hours, and get cleaned up.
I also don't create extra work for hotel staff. I don't request room service, I don't make special demands, and I always leave the room clean when I check out. From my perspective, paying $1,200 for five nights feels like paying $240 per night just to use a bed and a shower. When I look at it that way, it's hard for me to see the value. What makes it even harder for me to justify is that I'm spending roughly the same amount—another $1,200—on everything else that actually makes the vacation memorable: attractions, activities, lunches, dinners, gas, and tolls. In other words, half of the total cost of my trip goes toward a hotel room that I barely use, while the other half goes toward the experiences I'm actually traveling for.
I understand that hotels have operating costs, employees, maintenance, insurance, and other expenses built into their rates. But as a traveler who spends nearly all day outside the room, it still feels excessive to pay that much money for something I use so little. I'd rather put more of my vacation budget toward experiences, attractions, food, and activities that actually make the trip memorable than spend a large portion of it on a room I'm only in while asleep. Clearly there’s nothing I can do it about it besides complain, so here I am.
Update:
The breakfast was late most days, the elevator didn’t work most days, and at one point the side door entrance wouldn’t open with a key. It was also very, very loud in the mornings.