I stayed in 5-star hotels for the first time after years of booking cheap Airbnbs. Here are 15 things that surprised me.

Fast-forward six months, I explored three more five-star accommodations during a work trip to Australia and New Zealand.

I spent two nights in Auckland, New Zealand, at Hotel Britomart, where prices range between $250 and $2,000, depending on the room and time of year. After flying to Sydney as part of the same trip, I spent a night in Crystalbrook Albion, a boutique, five-star hotel in the city’s Surry Hills neighborhood, which cost $240. I also stayed two nights at The Darling, a five-star hotel that cost a total of $650. 

I felt like royalty throughout these stays.

My friend and I eagerly bought prosecco to celebrate the ritzy Fairmont Chateau Lake Louise. In Aspen, I felt like I fit in with the town’s rich vacationers whenever I told someone I was staying at The Little Nell. And I lived like a celebrity at The Darling, which is rumored to have hosted names like Leonardo DiCaprio, George Clooney, and Stevie Wonder.

While high-end hotels won’t likely work with my itinerary or budget for each — OK, most — trip I plan from here on out, I know I’ll never look at lodgings the same way again. If you’ve ever flown first class and then had to make the long walk back to coach the next time, you’ll understand what I mean.

Here are the things I found most surprising about trading cheap motels for five-star luxury hotels.

When I stepped inside The St. Regis Aspen, I was asked if I wanted a glass of Champagne before I was asked for the name under my reservation.

My answer, of course, was yes. I thought it was a smart move on the hotel’s behalf. As I waited for a handful of other guests to check in, I easily fended off any impatience with sips of bubbly.

Alcohol seemed to be a theme throughout many of my five-star stays. The Crystalbrook Albion, for instance, has a daily gin and tonic happy hour that coincidentally aligns with the hotel’s check-in time. Here, guests can purchase a $10 handcrafted cocktail.

Besides Champagne on arrival, The St. Regis Aspen also serves bloody Marys each morning, where guests are welcome to put their own spin on the cocktail created by the hotel brand.

Since I grew up staying in budget hotels and motels, plastic cups wrapped in plastic were the norm, cheap ice buckets were expected, and there was always a microwave in the room.

Fast-forward to staying at The Little Nell, and it felt like something was missing. It wasn’t until my friend got cold tomato soup from a restaurant that we realized there wasn’t a microwave in sight. 

All six luxury hotels I stayed at lacked an in-room microwave, which felt surprising considering other appliances like coffee machines and dehumidifiers were provided.

I later learned that most hotels have microwaves available, you just have to request one from the front desk. 

Dial phones often feel out of place, but I was even more surprised to find phones next to the toilet in both of my Aspen hotels.  

This is a common item many hotels added to indicate luxury in the 1980s and 1990s.

“Originally phones in hotel bathrooms were installed for the convenience of guests who might be expecting a call, but the safety aspect of having a hotel bathroom phone was also very apparent and this remains the case today,” Jonathan Toni, CEO of London-based Hotel Technology International Ltd, which makes and supplies hotels with toilet telephones, told The Telegraph.

The telephone in The Little Nell’s bathroom was the only one I could figure out how to work. So when I had a question about the hotel’s valet service, I went to the bathroom to make my call. 

My bathroom at The St. Regis Aspen Resort was filled with floor-to-ceiling marble, but what excited me more than the grandeur was a little tray of extras. 

In this bathroom, I was given a miniature sewing kit, lotion, and nail file. At the Fairmont Chateau Lake Louise, guests like me were also provided cotton balls, a shower cap, and mouthwash. Forgot toothpaste? Call the front desk and they’ll bring it right up.

I even spotted a sewing kit during my trip to Aspen. No, I did not need it, but I still eagerly stashed it in my bag for the next time I needed to repair a button or hole. 

The thoughtful items only added to the feeling of opulence — grand tubs and incredible showers certainly didn’t hurt. 

Before five-star hotels, the only time I remember expecting a fluffy robe was inside a cruise ship cabin. 

But by the time I got to The St. Regis Aspen, my third five-star hotel, I had expectations to find a robe in my room’s closet.

And sure enough, two robes were waiting. And there hasn’t been a single five-star hotel I’ve visited that was without robes for guests. 

On my trip to Keystone, I was crushed, but not surprised, to learn that there weren’t any robes for guests in the 16-person condo. Instead, my friends and I had to make a mad dash to and from the hot tub in 20-degree weather with our beach towels from home. 

I found that the luxuries of five-star hotels often extended well beyond my hotel room.

At the Fairmont Chateau Lake Louise, my friend and I went to the concierge desk to ask for hike recommendations. While there, a staff member let us know that we could rent microspikes, which are helpful for hiking in the snow, for free.

We grabbed two pairs and headed out. The hotel also served free s’mores by fire each night, operated its own ski rental shop, and had an indoor pool. 

In Aspen, both The Little Nell and The St. Regis Aspen advertised free car rentals for guests. Although I didn’t take advantage of the perk, I could’ve saved money during my trip to the ski town by not bringing my car. Guests here also had access to babysitters, an electric vehicle charging station, and shoe shines. 

The Little Nell also offered amenities like oxygen rentals to combat altitude sickness, local newspaper delivery, unpacking services, and an on-call physician.

At Hotel Britomart in Auckland, I spent an afternoon exploring by bike, which was rented by the hotel for free.

And when I went to the gym at The Darling in Sydney, I spotted luxe free perks like ice-cold bottles of water, a bowl of fruit, towels, newspapers, and spare headphones — all complimentary for guests. After running a quick 5K, I made sure to take advantage by grabbing an apple and newspaper on my way out. 

While the services and amenities felt “free,” I was, of course, paying for them. Many hotels have mandatory resort fees on top of expensive nightly rates. For instance, at The Little Nell, I paid a $42 resort fee in addition to my $719 room cost. 

When I stepped out of the rain into my room at the Crystalbrook Albion, the TV beamed. On the LED screen was a homepage with my name included. On a table next to the TV was a handwritten note, again welcoming me to the five-star boutique hotel. 

At The Little Nell, it seemed as if everyone somehow learned my name after check-in. The valet drivers called me Mrs. Humphries, the concierge desk remembered my name from our quick email exchange, and anyone staffed at the check-in desk seemed to know exactly who I was. With so many guests checking in and checking out of the hotel, I was shocked that the staff could remember everyone’s name.

Hearing my name and receiving handwritten notes felt like a special touch. Instead of feeling like I was in an unknown place in an unfamiliar destination, it felt like I was staying with friends or family who were excited to have me visiting.

Before exploring Lake Louise, Aspen, Auckland, and Sydney, hotels had one purpose for me — a place to sleep.

However, my mindset changed after staying in high-end hotels. Whether I soaked in a hot tub, indulged in truffle fries at a hotel restaurant, or popped prosecco in the room, I realized that a hotel can be a destination on its own.  

By no means are five-star hotels accessible to most travelers — including myself. They’re reserved for those who can afford $60 valet fees, $150 meals, and luxury spa services.

Realistically, I’ll be sticking to affordable Airbnbs for most future trips, but I do plan to save up for the occasional splurge on a five-star experience in an incredible destination. After all, I’m looking forward to cozying up in one of those robes again.