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When you’re traveling you want to make a memorable experience. So you want to get out of your homey situation into a stylish, temporary one with boutique hotel budget travel that brands your trip. You want to get into your surroundings and stylish room furnishings.
…And you often can get that in $200-$250 per night stay if you’re a little creative or get recommendations. The sweet spot is value and getting high return for the lowest amount.
And if you’re weighing whether to take day trips or a travel and stay, the hotel is going to be the biggest expense next to any airfares. So that’s why I recommend finding the best hotels at the $200ish price point.
For a nice hotel stay, you can split the cost with another person that will get you there… or if you’re on a once-in-a-lifetime solo trip, or with your partner, then splurging a little can pay off.
The rest of the year, you go vacation-free or take day trips.
In July 2023, 46.2% of American travelers surveyed reported that high travel prices have deterred them from traveling in the past four weeks.
And around a $200 price point, you can find great boutique hotels. Like this one I stayed in for a fun weekend in New York City where hotels don’t come cheap. New York City is the #1 or #2 most expensive U.S. hotel city depending on who you ask. But you will get the modern character, crown molding charm, and even bullseye ◎ molding in the historic buildings and designs.
And these days, inflation is impacting travel prices all around. People are spending less and shorter stays. Most traveling are spending less than $1,000 or $2,000. That could be a weekend trip.
So being choosier is smart. You’re not spending time in your hotel but it’s part of the experience you want to remember.
If you’re on budget to spend $500 a day total for vacation spend, then that’s about 50% of your costs when you factor in taxes and additional fees. You want to have a leftover budget for nice meals and some entertainment that can cost.
Most people forget to add hotel or lodging taxes that are higher than local sales tax (for food and souvenirs).
And you don’t need a $500 per night extravagant hotel when you’re in a city trying to explore, or out all day in outdoor excursions.
When you’re looking for a spa experience, that’s when you want to find the right hotel to match your trip’s purpose. Then the hotel could be the spa destination you capture in memory.
And, boutique hotels don’t usually have spas or restaurants feeding non-staying customers… so with less overhead costs, they can charge less for rooms.
With boutique hotel budget travel you’re dealing with small business owners compared to the big-name franchise ones that get booked up by business travelers… and, so often at boutique hotels, you can get lower and very competitive rates.
It’s like a bottle of wine. At a certain price past $15, you may not see a return in value. And there are many fine bottles under $15 if you know where to look or get a recommendation from someone who has already done the research with similar high tastes and sensibilities.
In hotels, consider fewer nights. And find hotels that will hold your bags on checkout day if you are leaving until evening.
I stayed at this one Paris hotel where they held my bags. That made my week at that hotel extra special.
And because it was $300 and under in the prime May month when I went, I could get a few extra days in to see more museums and take in the Paris vibes. I ate at cafes and bistros where no reservations were needed.
When you’re traveling alone, hotels are definitely the way to go. The extra service, greeting, and help are nice so you have someone on the ground to talk to. And when you’re on a romantic trip you want to have a cab out front and a local who can give you walking distance restaurant recommendations.
When you enter a lobby with high ceilings and clean floors, you feel like you’re on vacation or luxury, even if you’re traveling within a budget.