Originally Posted by
beachmouse
And many a hotel restaurant, even a luxury one in the broader discussion, rather cruises along on a presumed somewhat captive audience that wants an easier option and isn't necessarily on par with the independent restaurant in a similar tier or type down the road.
I'm not much of a fine dining person but the time we do, it's very unlikely to be at a hotel restaurant.
As for 'act like you've been there before', I've actually had good luck over the years going the other direction, and very politely saying we don't usually do X, but if you wanted something special, what would you do. Seeming humble is apparently enough of a novelty for someone who usually gets been there-done that crowd that they'll give me good advice just for the heck of it.
Sorry, probably didn't make my meaning clear--I don't mean that a tourist should fake the knowledge and not try to get some local flavor from a reliable source. Gosh, taking the time to learn a little bit about the place you're visiting before you get there can really open doors with locals who appreciate that you've taken the time to learn about their place. I just meant that this guy seems to be just the kind to act just like a caricature of a tourist--notice that when he got comped a drink, he gravitated to the most expensive thing on the menu, that he knew nothing about (and then complained about), rather than having something that he might know he would like or asking for a recommendation from the bartender.
I get the impression that the main reason he went to Paris was to go to the Vendome, not that he had a strong desire to go to Paris. When I suddenly had time open up over the Fourth of July weekend, I decided to fit in a trip to a place that I've looked forward to seeing for years but that no blogger would probably ever try to pump as an "aspirational" destination--Halifax and Nova Scotia. I'll fly there by points--United has decently timed service through EWR although I'm likely not getting "high value" for my points--and I'll use UR points to rent a car.
But I bypassed using chain hotels in Halifax although there are some decent options, choosing instead to use university accommodations at Saint Mary's. In addition to VRBO and airbnb, I've found that summer stays in many cities can be done very cheaply at university dorms. Not luxurious although not totally spartan either as I'll have a bath in the room rather than on the hall, and the location, just off downtown Halifax is extremely central for my purposes. And once I go into rural Nova Scotia, there won't be a chain hotel anywhere.
Who knows? I may be disappointed. Maybe my image of Nova Scotia won't fit the reality. But I'll be going somewhere I really think I want to visit.
And I won't come close to any McDonald's while there.