as a Celebrity Lifestyle Manager Like a billionaire, I’m often tasked with planning global trips to exotic locations.Every time a client and I plan a trip, we always discuss whether we should stay in five star hotel Or rent a villa. Both options have pros and cons, so let’s look at the caveats.
There are many advantages to staying in a luxury hotel, but you won’t be able to fully appreciate them all unless you’re staying in a luxury vacation rental and don’t have them. Let’s take a look at the most important considerations, along with the pros and cons of each.
cost
Unless you’re a billionaire, cost is always a consideration, so the other 99% of us have to.On a recent trip, I took a Forbes listed family, there were five of us in a row. We started our trip in Los Angeles, where entry-level rooms at 5-star hotels cost around $1,000 per night, or $5,000 per day ($35,000 per week). Needless to say, even a 5-star hotel in Beverly Hills doesn’t expect entry-level rooms to wow.
On the other hand, there is the option of renting a luxury vacation home. For the same $35,000 a week, we could build a mansion in the hills of Hollywood overlooking the city. From a footprint perspective, a luxury vacation rental villa is a smart choice, as it is much larger than five hotel rooms combined and even has a swimming pool. In hotels, of course, you have to share a pool.
Bellman
Families take more luggage than ever on vacation these days, and after a long day of airport travel, the last thing anyone wants to do is lug their bags out of the car and into their accommodation. There were five of us – each with two large suitcases and two carry-ons – with a total of 20 bags, some of which were very large suitcases.
At a full-service luxury hotel, a small team of bellmen can quickly handle 20 bags. Not only will they send each item to the correct room, but they will also unpack your luggage for you so the unpacking process can begin.
Unfortunately, in a luxury vacation rental, every man, woman and child is to himself; and with the bedrooms usually upstairs, moving heavy luggage up is no easy feat. With this in mind, if you decide to buy a villa, make sure it has a lift so this aspect of your vacation is less of a hassle.
concierge
Concierge service available Assistance with planning local excursions and dining out is an invaluable service. Experienced concierges know the ins and outs of the city and can help travelers customize their vacation experience.
When staying at a luxury vacation home, travelers rely heavily on Google to learn about options in the area. A big downside to this approach is that “tourist traps” spend a lot of effort on SEO and tend to rank high in search results, so “hidden gems” that only locals know about can easily be missed.
Housekeeping and room service
Last but not least is the extra support staff in a luxury hotel. Being able to pick up the phone to ask housekeeping to make up the room or bring more towels is invaluable. Likewise, the ability to order breakfast, brunch, lunch, dinner or snacks in the comfort of your room 24 hours a day is a must for almost any vacationer.
The biggest downside when staying in a luxury vacation home is the lack of Five-star hotel-owned support staff, including security personnel. Owners of most luxury vacation rentals do have the option to pay extra for a private chef, daily housekeeping, and even private security, but that can skyrocket the cost, possibly even more than the money you were trying to save by staying in the villa in the first place.
In the end, every family must weigh the pros and cons of staying in a five-star hotel or luxury vacation home.
