Recently, Ray & I stayed in a major (upper end) hotel for a wonderful conference. As dedicated inn-goers, we have not stayed in a big hotel in recent years. What a shock! In this economy, resistance to the rates at the inn are true concerns that we hear. However, check out this comparison of Lookout Point Lakeside Inn and the major hotel.
Upon arrival at midnight, we entered the lobby and our ears were nearly shattered with the noise of 3,000 teenagers shouting throughout the atrium of this 24 story hotel. Lookout Point: quiet.
Hotel Parking: $27 per day Lookout Point:Complimentary
Wireless internet: $12.95/day PER computer Lookout Point: Free
Drinking Glasses: $3.75 for two (there was no glassware, only styrofoam!) Lookout Point: Free
Bottled Water: $6/bottle Lookout Point: complimentary
Coffee: $4/cup Lookout Point: of course, free
Snacks: $9/ea & up Lookout Point: complimentary
Soft drink: $3.50 Lookout Point: free
Bellman: $5 each time Lookout Point: free
Wine per glass: $10-15 Lookout Point: free at Innkeeper’s Reception
Breakfast: $20 per person Lookout Point: Gourmet and complimentary, of course. It’s part of the inn experience!
In-room movie: $15 Lookout Point: complimentary movies
These additional add-ons can easily run beyond $124 per DAY! Holy cow! And the hotel’s daily rate was comparable to Lookout Point’s lower priced rooms (this was the negotiated conference rate). Rack rate was higher than our rooms.
Comparing room rates between an inn and a hotel is like comparing dogs and camels. It’s not the same animal! At inns, including ours, everything except lunch & dinner is included: great breakfast, beach towels, canoe, movies, snack bar with soft drinks, Innkeeper’s Reception with wine & cheese & dessert, bottled water in the room. In addition, the beds are dressed with great linens including fitted sheets. (It just irks me in a hotel to have the sheet pull out because the hotel didn’t bother to use fitted sheets on the mattress.) Plus the towels are fluffy and always in great condition.
As you travel, consider treating yourself to a great stay at an inn or bed & breakfast: you get a LOT of pampering for your hard earned dollars!
If you have stories to share of your own experiences of the differences between hotels and inn/b&b’s I’d love to see your comments posted here. Thanks!
Kristie Rosset
Tags: arkansas, arkansas bed & breakfast, Hot Springs, hot springs bed and breakfast, Lake Hamilton
Pamper Your Parents to say "Thank You"!
You forgot things like dirty bathtubs and floors, uncomfortable beds, and my all time favorite: Bed Bugs at hotels! I have never had to worry at an Inn about bed bugs, but I always worry at hotels, I guess I have seen one too many Dateline specials! Luckily, I have never run into a bed bug yet!
You’re so right! Yuck. We’ve had guests tell us that they travel with their own cleaning supplies, and gladly share that they didn’t need to use them–Lookout Point was (and is) spotless.