The Ultimate Self-Booker’s Manual: Avoiding the Trap of Fake Luxury
Do not Take Boutique Hotels for Granted
Many boutique hotels may look humble from the outside, but once you're booked and settled, you'll be glad you did. The only caveat is that many hotels will claim to be one, but they actually are not. I consider a few things when determining whether a boutique hotel is worth booking.
Customer Service: The number one thing we look for when choosing a hotel supplier is customer service. I look for a hotel that has gone above and beyond to make its clients' stays memorable.
Room Count: A boutique hotel typically has fewer than 40 rooms. If it has more, it may not provide the intimate, personalized experience that boutique hotels are known for. If it is in an area away from the city, there must be ample room on the ground to explore.
Amenities and Resources: Not all boutique hotels are created equally. Some may lack the more vital things, such as a gym or amenities you would typically expect everywhere, such as televisions. If the boutique hotel checks off all your boxes, it's the right one to book.
Hotel Size: If the hotel has more than 300 rooms, you should reconsider booking if the service is not top-notch. It is difficult for larger establishments to satisfy travelers in such an ample space, and it is even harder to keep it clean. Many establishments this size will forgo cleaning the sheets to save time and resources. Resorts with more than 500-1000 rooms generally prioritize profit and often struggle with cleanliness, maintenance, or guest satisfaction.
2. Beware of tiers: Verify “Exclusive” Experiences
These places also tend to create fake tiers to make you feel like you're participating in something exclusive. This is not always bad, but sometimes the price you pay is not worth it. Some places will sell add-ons and upgrades that are underwhelming, to say the least. Tiered pricing is an effective gimmick for selling you a crappy vacation. If you find a place with clear distinctive tiers or service levels or if their tiers are built into the pricing much like cruise lines or all-inclusive hotels, bets are that you will receive excellent service.
3. Images are unreliable
Remember that pictures are ineffective in determining whether a resort or hotel is good. Pictures can be misleading,e so to combat this issue, it is best to search the web for guest images of the rooms and hotel areas to get a better idea of the layout. When images are taken by hotel staff, they are typically from angles you wouldn't stand or walk through. Many hotels and resorts combat this issue by providing 3D-rendered walkthroughs of the space on their websites. Fake opulence often relies on flashy but low-quality materials. Look closely at photos for cheap, gaudy furnishings, overly staged design, or excessive use of artificial materials like plastic or faux marble.
4. Read about the food
Most of the fake opulence hotels fail to provide good dining options. Most of the hotel’s dining options can have surprisingly high costs while serving you dog food. If the food is not good, the hype is not accurate. You'll need to continue your search if the food is described as subpar or disgusting by previous guests. Hotels and resorts that take pride in the food they serve can be trusted.
5. Question the Price-to-Quality Ratio
If the property markets itself as luxurious but offers suspiciously low rates, it may lack genuine quality. Luxury properties often justify prices with top-tier service, amenities, and exclusivity. If the hotel claims to be a luxurious retreat but is located in a noisy or overly crowded area, it may be leveraging location convenience over a genuinely indulgent experience. Their monthly rent doesn’t come cheap, so they need butts in beds, and service is usually lacking as a result.
