Suiteness BlogBudget Hotels vs. Luxury Suites - Why Pay More?Written by Divya MulanjurPublished May 17, 2016

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Budget Hotels vs. Luxury Suites – Why Pay More?

There’s no two ways about it – everyone loves a good bargain. When your vacation is coming up fast and you’re searching online for a hotel, nothing beats the feeling of stumbling upon budget hotels that offer great deals. Who doesn’t love finding a room for $50 a night or a hotel that promises one night free? But if there’s a little voice inside your head that’s telling you to be wary of deals that seem too good to be true, listen to it. The sad truth is that most budget hotels that list rooms at unbeatable prices can only afford to do so because they are skimping on quality in some way. Whether that means hiring untrained people to man the front desk or instructing maids not to replace towels regularly, it’s a safe bet that your bargain hotel will be, well, much less than you bargained for.

Nevertheless, it can still be tempting to take a risk and book that budget hotel room. As long as the bed is free of bed bugs and the shower works, you’re good, right? After all, vacations are for hitting the town, not staying cooped up in your hotel room, right? Wrong.

In reality, a hotel room can make or break your vacation, and choosing the right one is almost as important as choosing the right destination.

Low cost at a Price

Although it might look nice to see that low, low number on your credit card statement – be warned: there are all sorts of hidden costs associated with booking a budget hotel room. It’s likely that many of them will never show up on your bill, but that doesn’t mean that you won’t pay for them in some way.

A hotel room can make or break your vacation.

For example, bargain hotel rooms are much more likely to harbor all kinds of problems that only become obvious once you’ve checked in and unpacked.  We’re talking faulty plumbing, malfunctioning heaters and air conditioners, compromised door security, pest infestations, and even missing essential items like coffee makers, microwaves, and shampoo. And these are just the things you’ll notice. Booking a budget room also risks exposing yourself to a room that may not have been properly cleaned in between guests. Unless you can be fully confident that your hotel’s standards of cleanliness matches yours, you will be sacrificing your peace of mind for the duration of your stay. Chances are that it’s not worth it, no matter how cheap the room.

The Service Problem

In the likely event that you do notice something amiss with your room, it’s highly possible that getting it fixed won’t be easy. Budget hotels are notoriously unresponsive – even contacting the right person could be difficult. But even if you do manage to reach the correct person or department, there’s a chance that you won’t find them particularly accommodating. Since their base rates are so cheap, bargain hotels often can’t afford to spend the money to fix their mistakes. Whether you require an after-hours plumber or a replacement ice bucket, expect a struggle at every stage of the process. If you’re really unlucky, the hotel might find some way to leave you with the bill, and the last thing anyone wants is to find themselves arguing late at night with a stubborn hotel concierge about who should cover the cost. Hint: they should, but it might not work out that way.

More Airbnb Than Hotel

Budget hotels, and the people who book them, might take comfort in the fact that bargain rooms are at least a significant step up from Airbnb. After all, budget hotels are still hotels, which means that their employees do, at least in theory, have the training and accountability that hosts on Airbnb lack. But if you look beyond the label, it becomes clear that budget hotels usually have much more in common with Airbnb than they do with luxury hotels. If you’re skeptical of these Airbnb shortcomings, click here to let Suiteness break it down for you, and you’ll notice the similarities between Airbnb and bargain hotel room pretty quickly. Difficult-to-contact staff? Check. Lack of accountability? Check. Inattention to guests’ needs? Double check.

The Suite Experience

Granted, not all budget hotels are so unpleasant. You might get lucky and receive a room that lives up to all your expectations. But even in a fully operational state, your bargain hotel room will still put a damper on your vacation. That’s because no matter how luxurious and exciting your daytime activities are, it’s impossible to achieve the ultimate vacation experience with the knowledge that you’ll be returning to a dark, dingy hotel room at the end of the day. Luxury suites come with unbeatable service to ensure that your every need is met. Moreover, the incredible amenities that come with luxury hotel suites (think butler service, amazing spa packages, sports car rentals, and more) can completely transform a vacation from average to extraordinary!

Suiteness offers an easy and accessible way for anyone to book the perfect hotel suite.

Two Problems With Hotel Suites

Unfortunately, hotel suites aren’t perfect. They’re often associated with elitism and snobbery, making people hesitant to book them. Beyond reputation, hotel suites can be confusing and hard to book, whether you do it online or over the phone. You might need to make multiple calls and spend several days scouring the internet for a viable option. These difficulties have scared many travelers away from luxury suites and left them wishing that there was a better way. Well, there is now.

The Suiteness Solution

Suiteness offers an easy and accessible way for anyone to book the perfect hotel suite. In less than five minutes, you can create your free account and obtain access to dozens of exclusive suites. Just pick your city, travel dates, and number of guests, and you’ll be shown a variety of rooms available for instant booking that fit your needs and price range!

Suiteness also offers a concierge service to take care of all of your travel arrangements for you. Whether you need to arrange a flight, dinner reservation, or ride from the airport, Suiteness has you covered! It’s the ultimate innovation in travel planning that will make you wonder how you ever made it through before.