You can stay in a 5 Star hotel and have the trip you deserve.

The big secret is it's not all about your travel budget...

It's all about MINDSET!

Bear with me for a moment to set the scene and explain...

I grew up in humble circumstances, my dad died when I was 10 and we were left homeless as a result.

My mother did an amazing job of raising my 5 brothers and me but I grew up very conscious of being “poor”. 

I’ve had the great privilege to have a career and businesses that allowed me to save money and to travel but to this day I consider myself middle class at best.

So, the whole idea of...

• flying business/first class

• staying in a 5-star hotel 

• heck even using a private car service…

Would always bring me back to that old money mindset gremlin of…

• Can I really afford this?

• What else could I be spending or saving that money on?

• Do I deserve this?

It’s our money mindset, not the actual dollars we do or don’t have in the bank!!!

Wowza, when I realized that for myself and other women, the floodgates opened to more travel and travel that included some level of a 5-star experience.

So keep on reading for the 5 key reasons why a 5-star hotel experience makes sense in your travel plans.

Oh and hint, hint...

These same 5 reasons can be used to enable you to book that business/first class flight or a private guide and so much more.

But let’s first get you that 5-star hotel reservation.

No 1. Safety

Let me set the scene here.

I spent 20 years traveling on my own each week to work across the country or in other countries so staying in hotels was my standard accommodation.

So I’ve learned a lot as in heaps about being safe in hotels.

So now fast forward to where I was planning a solo leisure trip to Thailand that included staying in Bangkok. 

It’s sad to say all the horror stories about the seedy side of Bangkok and Thailand flashed into my mind rather than the amazing warm and wonderful people and experiences you can have in Thailand.

I knew my flight would be arriving late at night so my old hotel safety guidelines kicked in.

• I wanted to ensure my taxi would be driving me to a safe area of the city… ding, ding a good quality hotel

• I was in Bangkok on my own and would need help. A concierge at a good hotel can be your travel BFF!

• I wanted to know that if I needed a taxi to go explore the city that the hotel staff would help me not only get that taxi but help me with what it was going to cost and translate to the driver where I wanted to go

• I wanted to be in a hotel where the hotel staff were used to, and it was the “norm” to see women traveling on their own and go out of their way to help them

• I wanted to be in a safe area to come back to after exploring the city during the day and night

• I wanted to know that when took the elevator to my room that I would be safe and have a good night’s sleep

• I wanted to know if I needed help the front desk where at the end of the phone waiting to help me when needed

All of these factors added up to me knowing I would need to book a 4–5-star hotel.

Those extra dollars I was about to spend on that reservation were going to make the difference between me feeling safe and enjoying my stay to the maximum.

No 2. Allocating Your Travel Dollars

So, let’s talk dollars and SENSE.

Half the battle of doing the mindset switch is to get practical and tactical. 

There is always a solution, and you always have choice how to spend your budget.

You might decide to have that 5-star hotel experience its worth flying economy to get to your destination. 

Staying at a 5-star hotel more often than not will put you in a neighbourhood where...

• You are going to feel comfortable walking in the area

• Enjoy new experiences that are right outside your doorstep with out the added travel expense of getting across the city etc.

That 5 star-hotel in addition to being safe and helpful to you may also contain amenities that add or are on your travel experience list. 

Case in point, for me the hotel I chose had this amazing infinity pool on the 18th floor overlooking Bangkok.

I love swimming so I was not only safe in a fabulous hotel but had jaw dropping views while I experience my love of laps in the swimming pool.

In addition it had rooftop restaurant and spa.

Depending how long your stay is you might make the decision to only stay for part of your trip in the 5 star hotel and move to a different hotel once you have oriented yourself and feel comfortable getting around on your own.

No 3. Not All 5-Star Hotels Are The Same

*** Read this twice! Super big travel tip here!!!

Not all 5-star hotels are equal

A 5-star hotel in Fort Worth Texas is not necessarily the same as a 5-star hotel in Bangkok owned by the same hotel chain.

Let me explain…

You will find hotels chains in Asia and Europe that are US owned by brands…

Let's use Marriott as an example.

They have great hotels in amazing locations and often a for less than their counterpart in the US. 

🤗Your dollar may well stretch further than you were thinking.

Based on where they are located, how close they are to attractions and experiences you want to enjoy, how safe a neighbourhood are they in, the amenities the provide can be very different and in price.

So, it worth the time in research and I will help as best I can with my personal experiences.

Let's use my example of selecting a 5-star hotel in Bankgok.

A lot of the 5-star hotels are right on the river in Bangkok.

But in doing my research I chose to be in a Marriott 5-star hotel a short 5 minute ride away from the river.

Here were my reasons:

• The hotel had that drop dead gorgeous infinity pool on the 18th floor

• It had a rooftop restaurant

• It had a spa

• It had this great character and ambience

• There were plenty of dining options

• If I took a taxi they would know where to find the hotel and recognize that it was a 5 star in a good area

• The hotel was a short 5 minute taxi ride from the hub hub of all the places I wanted to visit

• The hotel was smaller and more intimate compared to the hotels on the river. One of my safety guidelines is to not be in such a large hotel even if it is 5-star hotel that the Concierge, bell-hop and front desk don’t recognize me amongst the hundreds of other guests.

• The hotel was located in a safe area surrounded by corporate offices area I knew on the weekend it would be quieter and I would have even more recognition and attention from the hotel staff

• And… it was less expensive than the big more impersonal hotels located on the river

No 4. Finding Creative Ways To Extend The Budget

Ok, now you’re excited I can see you reaching for the google search to look at 5-star hotels that you would love to stay in at the destination you’re planning on. 

But I can see that furrowed brow you have; you’re still thinking about the dollars, aren’t you?

The best ways you can extend your budget beyond the hold cold currency of cash are…
Be a loyal guest.

I do have the advantage of having traveled in business for many years in business and leisure.

But it’s a little like saving for retirement once you stay with a hotel brand once, do it next time and next time and you will be surprised how quickly they recognize you as a loyal guest.

Now that doesn’t just mean earning hotel points. 

I have found as a woman traveling on my own that I have been given great rooms and views and upgraded.

Not just because I am a repeat guest but because ladies we have an advantage…

If you are polite, professional and patient you will be surprised at the unexpected perks, upgrades and bonuses you might receive. I know right!

By just being the best we can be and always striving to be better people respond in kind.

😊 A smile, please and thank you especially in the local language is currency as in GOLD!!!

Unfortunately, too often in my business and leisure travel I have seen my male counterparts be brusque all the way to being outright obnoxious. 

Not all men but enough that I see they do it waaaay more than women.

Ok, but we’re not done yet. 

A MUST DO is to join every and any loyalty program offered to you.

From hotels to airlines to rental cars to credit cards to your local supermarket just DO IT!

The only cost to you is to sign up and receive some promotional / marketing emails and…

So many programs offer opportunities to transfer points between programs.

So even though you might think you only have a few points here or there you can consolidate those points.

Still looking for ways to make that 5-star stay a reality?

If you plan on traveling with a girlfriend as in the right girlfriend (more about that in another blog) than the old pooling of resources can allow you both to have that 5-star experience you both deserve.

Or,

Maybe you have a girlfriend that has a hotel loyalty status where she can book both rooms. She gets the points you get the experience and get to enjoy it with her!

Timeshares friends / family – offer to pay their annual maintenance…

No 5. Beating The Scarcity Gremlin In Your Head

Ladies, can we have a little chat here… and I say this with love and way too much experience in this department? 

We seem to have been raised with a truckload of guilt even when there is none to be had.

We are hard wired to help others and in the process often sacrifice ourselves.

But nobody tells us in the “Book of Life” that we all seem to be subscribing to when the heck is it our turn…

After all we’re in our 50’s plus now.

So if not now, when exactly is it your turn.

Too often it takes a life altering situation for us to realize that we only have one life and we need to live it right now…

Like losing a loved one, going through divorce, getting ill ourselves, the list goes on.

Here are a couple of simple questions I ask myself: 

• Will I regret NOT doing this?

• Why should I say YES to this vs. all the reasons why I could say no?

• If I do this, where else can I save money on my travel budget or regular budget to make this happen?

If you are ready for a 5-star hotel stay what about a full on wellness retreat?

Check out my blog on choosing the ideal Wellness Retreat to travel to solo 😉 here's the link👇:

9 Insider Tips For Choosing The Ideal Solo Wellness Retreat🤗🤗🤗

If you found this blog valuable head on over to my YouTube channel, here's the link👇:

Female Travelers Over 50 By Raewyn Crist: @FemaleTravelers50Plus