We rarely spend more than 3 days in any one spot before moving on, which is a good part of the reason why rentals don’t really make sense for us. This might change with the munchkin around now, so ask me this question in a couple of years and my opinion might be different.

My approach in most places I go is also a little different, I guess you could say. Since I don’t have the benefit of elite status from frequent business travel, I usually end up at a smaller boutique hotel/B&B, where the service is more personalized. Often the hotels I end up at don’t even have a full-service restaurant, so the front desk truly does offer genuine suggestions. Even when I stay at a chain, I am obsessive about planning, you might say to a fault, and will research restaurants I want to try before even leaving home.

Yeah, I’ll take interactions with people not used to visitors any day over a concierge or tour guide. Great comment!

I guess I’ve had a different experience. I’ve had similar maintenance issues with hotels (hot water not working, weird smells, wi-fi unusable), don’t really need my sheets washed more than weekly or biweekly and I only cook my own food when I want to (eating out gets old / stumbled upon a farmers market — going to grocery stores in other countries can be quite a treat — as the comment below mentions!).

I especially get annoyed when I ask the concierge for a specific recommendation (“quick place to find a sandwich and coffee?”) and get directed to the overpriced hotel restaurant. Some chains, notably Kimpton and Mandarin Oriental, Andaz put a lot more thought into the restaurants they partner with, but I’ll skip the time wasting concierge in favor of google in almost any case.

I am curious, how long are your trips? I find rentals way more cost effective for longer stays.

That being said, I share your affinity for smaller boutique hotels, where I think it’s possible to deliver more local flavor without the hassle of a rental. As an amateur foodie, I’d love it if a small boutique can weave in a local food experience. Perhaps something as simple as organizing a group dinner at a popular neighborhood restaurant for any guests that are interested. The trick is making these truly unique and local, instead of a cheesy tourist trap experience.