Luxury Hotels - The best things in life aren�t always free

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Luxury Hotels - The best things in life aren�t always free

We were driving from Dorset to North Wales, possibly heading for Ireland, it depended, on how we felt, on how much time we could afford away from the farm; we had cover but it was costing us hundreds by the day, and weren�t sure even as we left whether we would cut it short or long. By the time we saw the mountains of Snowdonia we knew it could be a week. We hadn�t booked anything, and for the first time ever, we felt like taking the best luxury hotel we could see. We found a mountainside hotel 10 miles from Bangor, it had views, but was lacking in luxury. An evening stroll, a reasonable meal, a good night�s sleep and the next morning we found ourselves at sea, heading for Dublin.

When we worked in London, we�d often be abroad, staying in Paris luxury hotels or New York and had gotten so used to the high standards and ultra-professional service it became the norm, but never something you could quite take for granted. Although it would always go on the company�s expense account, it still felt like an expense, a treat of sorts.

It was a late, sun-kissed afternoon that graced Dublin�s inspiring, �on the move� ambience. We chose a hotel near Phoenix Park, and while the views were just about satisfactory, the interior and atmosphere was perfect; it allowed us to completely escape and inhabit a world far away from the daily life on the farm, although I sensed that by the end of the week, we would miss our home, despite our relaxing and welcoming surroundings.

Apart from Paris and New York I couldn�t exactly compare our hotel to one in Florence or even London, as our city jobs didn�t really focus on Europe. This was only my second trip to Ireland and it was so far, very unlike the previous stay in an remote holiday cottage in Cork. The paintings, classical interior decoration, and beautifully presented gardens, together with certain aspects of the Dublin skyline, was enough to make you think you were in a luxury hotel in Rome.

The food was served with impeccable courtesy and looked expensive, tasted expensive, and was expensive. It wasn�t worth it of course, but then holidays are often a surreal time, when money takes on a different value and you almost are resigned to going over budget.

In the event we stayed just three, yet pleasant and rejuvenating days. A luxury hotel almost tires you out with it�s abundance of staff, facilities, and gadgets constantly there to save you time and energy and nearly any type of hassle you�d usually take for granted.

As we headed back for the ferry and then the rolling hills of Dorset I remembered how little I really noticed when staying in a luxury hotel in New York or Paris, and how much more I appreciate now I�m living the rural life.