Luxury Escapes - The People You Don't Meet

[lovetravellingoz]

But I can't help but feel that there is something-not-quite-right about the other patrons.

I would not consider it in that light.

I think it is more that is a combination of factors such as they are not after the casual social interaction as much, and that 5 star accommodations are more set up to maintain privacy.

 

[sjk]

All these people, paying a pretty penny to do their own thing, and still getting judged for how they do it...

 

[Renato1]

I would not consider in in that light.

I think it is more that is a combination of factors such as they are not after the casual social interaction as much, and that 5 star accommodations are more set up to maintain privacy.

I gave one example of the something-not-quite-right earlier about the people who lived a few roads away from us.

Another example. At Hua Hin an English chap started talking to us down at the beach for about 20 or 30 minutes. Later we see him at the VIP area with his wife. We say "Hi, how's it going?". He says fine, but his wife doesn't look up and acknowledge us. We see him again there with his wife or by himself several times in the next few days, and he avoids eye contact. Becomes a stranger again for the rest of the stay. Something-not-quite-right.

Another example. Fairmont had Balinese cooking classes.My wife wanted to go and I said fine, have a great time. She said "What about you?" . I said that's a women's thing isn't it? So she went by herself. Where it transpired that all the other women on the LE package had taken their husbands with them. While there she made friends with a couple from Queensland.

So I met them at breakfast most every day or other day we were there - and they were very happy to chat - for three minutes, then seemed to be itchy to break off conversation should it stretch to somewhere approaching five minutes. I said to my wife that it was kind of odd how they came over all chatty - for three to five minutes - and then wanted to get away. Anyhow, one day they mentioned wanting to see the island, but how expensive the hotel's rate for a driver was (around $160 to $200 a day depending on where the drive was to). I said no problem, if they used our driver it would only cost them $60 and he does that job for the hotel as well.

Later I went to our room, got the driver's contact details, walked over to their room, they weren't there and shoved the paper with details under their door. Saw them again a few days later. In the three to five minute conversation they said goodbye as they were leaving next day. We catch up with our driver a day later, and while he's driving us around, he mentions having a good day driving the Queensland couple around. I said to my wife - "Hmmm, you'd think they could have mentioned using the driver I recommended, perhaps even thanked me for saving them over a hundred bucks". Something-not-quite-right.
Regards,
Renato

 

[Pushka]

I gave one example of the something-not-quite-right earlier about the people who lived a few roads away from us.

Another example. At Hua Hin an English chap started talking to us down at the beach for about 20 or 30 minutes. Later we see him at the VIP area with his wife. We say "Hi, how's it going?". He says fine, but his wife doesn't look up and acknowledge us. We see him again there with his wife or by himself several times in the next few days, and he avoids eye contact. Becomes a stranger again for the rest of the stay. Something-not-quite-right.

Another example. Fairmont had Balinese cooking classes.My wife wanted to go and I said fine, have a great time. She said "What about you?" . I said that's a women's thing isn't it? So she went by herself. Where it transpired that all the other women on the LE package had taken their husbands with them. While there she made friends with a couple from Queensland.

So I met them at breakfast most every day or other day we were there - and they were very happy to chat - for three minutes, then seemed to be itchy to break off conversation should it stretch to somewhere approaching five minutes. I said to my wife that it was kind of odd how they came over all chatty - for three to five minutes - and then wanted to get away. Anyhow, one day they mentioned wanting to see the island, but how expensive the hotel's rate for a driver was (around $160 to $200 a day depending on where the drive was to). I said no problem, if they used our driver it would only cost them $60 and he does that job for the hotel as well.

Later I went to our room, got the driver's contact details, walked over to their room, they weren't there and shoved the paper with details under their door. Saw them again a few days later. In the three to five minute conversation they said goodbye as they were leaving next day. We catch up with our driver a day later, and while he's driving us around, he mentions having a good day driving the Queensland couple around. I said to my wife - "Hmmm, you'd think they could have mentioned using the driver I recommended, perhaps even thanked me for saving them over a hundred bucks". Something-not-quite-right.
Regards,
Renato

Because people like to be friendly and say hello and not make people they meet for a couple of days their best-ever friends?

 

[YSSY]

I'm unfortunately one of those people who sometimes just doesn't feel like talking, and the worst part is I must have the kind of face that says 'talk to me, talk to me!' because people often try to strike up a conversation. I also have a slightly unusual and interesting job which tends to field a never ending list of questions from middle aged and elderly men, my wife now knows never to tell anyone my occupation.

The worst scenario on plane with headphones on when a pleasant elderly couple just didn't take the hint and keep trying to talk to me, but I just don't have the heart to tell them to bugger off. It's much easier with obnoxious people.

 

[Denali]

........ cooking classes.My wife wanted to go and I said fine, have a great time. She said "What about you?" . I said that's a women's thing isn't it? .....

And people dont want to get to know you better... dont understand why

....I look at it as - is something not-quite-right when the people you get on very well with in five stars resorts are the staff......

Thats because staff are paid to be friendly to you, while wishing you will drink your coughtail and STFU so they can go home.

I too can be exceptionally friendly if you pay me for it... which is why its called work.

 

[drron]

And people dont want to get to know you better... dont understand why




Thats because staff are paid to be friendly to you, while wishing you will drink your coughtail and STFU so they can go home.

I too can be exceptionally friendly if you pay me for it... which is why its called work.

Though Renato was answering my post and I can assure you very few of the guests in both places that I referred to get treated the way we get treated and we have not paid any extra for that.In fact we have never tipped in the 2 hotels yet others have but still don't get treated the same way.
The one noticeable difference I see is that we never talk down to the staff,many do though.

 

[Renato1]

Though Renato was answering my post and I can assure you very few of the guests in both places that I referred to get treated the way we get treated and we have not paid any extra for that.In fact we have never tipped in the 2 hotels yet others have but still don't get treated the same way.
The one noticeable difference I see is that we never talk down to the staff,many do though.

My Rule No.1 in life is to be extremely wary of, and avoid if possible, people who do not treat waiters and staff with respect.
Regards,
Renato

 

[Renato1]

Because people like to be friendly and say hello and not make people they meet for a couple of days their best-ever friends?

I think you seem to confuse friendly sociable acquaintance type banter with best-ever friends.
Regards,
Renato

 

[Renato1]

And people dont want to get to know you better... dont understand why

If the Resort had offered Pole Dancing classes, I wouldn't have attended those either.
Cheers,
Renato

 

[Pushka]

I think you seem to confuse friendly sociable acquaintance type banter with best-ever friends.
Regards,
Renato

Friendly banter means a greeting on seeing for the first time, sharing a few minutes if you have somethiing to say - eg weather, nice restaurant found last night, then moving on. Thats all I am interested in doing unless there is a significant spark in the conversation that makes you wnt to engage further. For what its worth we have made lifelong friends on a holiday but that was because there was an immediate rapport. We also are friendly with others we meet but that is limited to the first scenario.

 

[tgh]

sigh.. it rolls on ….
We can't prescribe or package or mandate or judge ...social interaction
I opine that It's a bit like sex.. or seduction… spark .. and it's on .. no spark .. and it's not.
Some folks present as a primary pita's .. the op may , or may not be so.. but there will be a message if one listens..

 

[ALH]

I'm unfortunately one of those people who sometimes just doesn't feel like talking, and the worst part is I must have the kind of face that says 'talk to me, talk to me!' because people often try to strike up a conversation. I also have a slightly unusual and interesting job which tends to field a never ending list of questions from middle aged and elderly men, my wife now knows never to tell anyone my occupation.

The worst scenario on plane with headphones on when a pleasant elderly couple just didn't take the hint and keep trying to talk to me, but I just don't have the heart to tell them to bugger off. It's much easier with obnoxious people.

I get it. I’m constantly mistaken for someone who is a good listener and sympathetic to others. Worse still I must seem to enjoy their boring anecdotes. Errr. No! Please move on!

However, I have made life-long friends with people from many walks of life around the world, after a 5 minute conversation.

 

[amaroo]

From what I've seen I would not equate luxury escapes with 5 star!

 

[Cossie]

Done a few recently including some that most people would regard as 5 star, but of course your mileage may vary. We talk to people at breakfast and acknowledge them if we see them elsewhere, if's it's obvious that they want to be left alone, that's fine by us as well.

We may come across as being aloof, but to be honest the only things we have in common with a lot of people we meet are that we are from the same country and booked through L.E.

We do collect emails but to date we have not followed up with anyone, it just seems to be a polite thing to do.

Of course, you do get the odd pretentious person who thinks they are so much better than anyone else, always gloating about something or another, and what such a great deal they got doing whatever, but fortunately it's a rarity.

The tours we go on with rallying trips are very different, we have made life long friends all over the world and we do keep in touch and visit where possible. We have a similar interest in rallying, dare say if we meet people on LE trips with similar interests, we'd keep in touch as well.

 

[Pushka]

sigh.. it rolls on ….
We can't prescribe or package or mandate or judge ...social interaction
I opine that It's a bit like sex.. or seduction… spark .. and it's on .. no spark .. and it's not.
Some folks present as a primary pita's .. the op may , or may not be so.. but there will be a message if one listens..

I got exactly that today. Heard a song I’ve heard many times before, but in the supermarket and because of stuff happening with family I just burst into tears. Oh dear. And which of course has nothing to do with LE but just the way life tumbles us.

 

[drron]

Well we did an LE stay at Southern Ocean Lodge and there have been deals for Saffire.I would rate those 2 as definitely 5 star.

 

[Pushka]

Well we did an LE stay at Southern Ocean Lodge and there have been deals for Saffire.I would rate those 2 as definitely 5 star.

Six I’d say.

 

[Isochronous]

From what I've seen I would not equate luxury escapes with 5 star!

Well I suppose you're not going to find the Peninsula or the Rosewood on LE...but you will find a few gems like Park Hyatt Maldives advertised from time to time.

 

[Renato1]

Well, this has been an interesting thread.

Some responses are in general agreement with what I raised - that there doesn't appear to be much by way of social interaction among guests at five star places.

Other responses are along the lines that they are there on vacation to relax, and don't want to interact much with other guests - which in effect supports my observation in relation to five star places too.

It's not often that we get such a relatively strong concurrence on an issue.
Regards,
Renato