Originally Posted by
bhrubin
I agree with robyng that many luxury hotels can be a unique experience for many reasons and difficult to compare.
while this thread does say "best hotel" and not "best hotels" it does easily allow comparison between hotels in particular categories/types/etc.
there are also threads like "best city hotel", and "favorite hotel" which is interesting because its not about best. but i find "THE hotel not to be missed" most interesting because it is not best nor favorite but something much more abstract / complex / emotional. more emotional than simply favorite. favorite could be for a fairly simple reason, or even a mundane reason like going there the most often, possibly for business. (although i dont recall such a mundane reason being posted in a "favorite hotel" thread.) also, someone does not have to have visited a huge number of properties to have come across a favorite or "THE hotel." whereas "best hotel you've ever been to" will be constantly changing, unless the person is front-loading their upcoming travel with a string of the world's best hotels. on the other hand, many/most may not have a "THE hotel."
Originally Posted by
bhrubin
I also found it useful to read what people thought were the standout qualities that made certain hotels "tops" for them--allowing me to judge whether those same qualities mirrored my own preferences or whether they were lower in priority for me.
that, as well as simply getting to know people in general, and the occasional controversy (or side-discussion like dress codes) may be some examples of other reasons that this thread and other "best hotel" (or "favorite hotel") threads are usually popular/active here/elsewhere.