is the stay defined by expectations?
Maybe I have impossibly high expectations. And that is why when something is purported to be great (Michelin star, wonderful service) I am almost always disappointed.
Is it possible to enjoy luxury hotels with high expectations? If you think you are paying a lot does that mean setting yourself up for disappointment? Are the people who enjoy the high-end stuff just used to spending lots of money and not thinking it is splurging?
Caveat: I don't know if I've ever stayed at a true luxury hotel, as per this forum. Many were top-end for a chain, the highest being Mandarin Oriental.