When people check into a hotel, you’d think everybody is equal. After all, whether you’re staying in a standard room or the presidential suite, everyone has to stop at the same front desk and go through the same basic process.
But hotel employees quickly learn otherwise.
Front desk agents, concierges, bell staff and valets spend all day interacting with travelers from every income level imaginable. Over time, they start noticing patterns. Some are obvious. Others are surprisingly subtle.
And while none of these are guaranteed indicators, there are a handful of things people do at check-in that can give away a lot about their social status—or at least how much money they’re used to having.
The name your reservation is under
I’m a nobody and have no qualms about using my real name to make hotel reservations. A famous person, though? Very different story.
Fans or the paparazzi knowing you’re staying at that hotel could make the difference between enjoying some privacy and being hounded. So it’s not surprising that some famous people will have their reservations under a different name than how they’re typically known.
How you respond to the deposit hold
When you check in, hotels typically put a hold on your card for incidentals.
If you don’t stay at hotels very often, a $100 or $200 hold on your card might come as an unpleasant surprise, especially if you’re traveling on a tight budget.
Meanwhile, travelers who are accustomed to frequent hotel stays often barely notice the hold at all because they expect it.
Reserving the rooms on either side of you
If someone cherishes their privacy and is wealthy enough that “money is no object,” they may reserve not only their room, but the rooms on either side of them. That way no one can hear their conversations through the walls.
Of course, this isn’t limited to the wealthy. Celebrities, politicians, executives and others with privacy concerns sometimes do the same thing.
And if you reserve the entire FLOOR? Well, then you’re probably looking at privacy AND safety. That’s how Princess Diana reportedly wound up staying at Disney World back in 1993 – they rented out the entire fifth floor of the Grand Floridian Resort Hotel and stayed in the Presidential Suite.
Asking about upgrades
Some guests ask if any complimentary upgrades are available.
Others don’t.
People who travel frequently in higher-end circles often assume that if they’re entitled to an upgrade, it’ll be offered automatically because of their status, booking category, host, travel advisor, or loyalty program. They don’t usually feel the need to negotiate.
Meanwhile, less experienced luxury travelers may spend considerable time trying to angle for an upgrade, mentioning special occasions, dropping hints, or asking multiple times if anything “better” is available.
Of course, neither approach is right or wrong. But seasoned luxury travelers often know exactly what benefits they’re entitled to—and which ones they’re not.
Acting rich
One would assume that if you’re staying at a very high-end hotel, you can afford it. But some people can afford it more than others.
Bragging about your stock portfolio and the 14 Porsches you have at home? Showing off your 16 carat diamond ring? Ironically, people who are genuinely wealthy are often less likely to talk about their money at all. As the saying goes, money talks, but wealth whispers.
How you respond to the valet
People who are used to having their car valeted act differently around the service. They have a specific place where they keep valet tickets so they can quickly access them. They have their tip money ready (or an app downloaded to tip electronically). And they certainly don’t make a big deal about using valet service – even if something happens to the car, they have more than enough money to repair it.
Folks who don’t use valet very often tend to throw their valet ticket anywhere and then have to search for it. They may or may not have tip money. And letting someone else drive their car might be a little stressful for them.
Of course, none of these are 100% foolproof.
Some wealthy people are incredibly frugal. Some people of modest means save for years to splurge on a luxury hotel. And some travelers simply have personalities that don’t fit any stereotype at all.
But hotels are fascinating places because they bring together people from every walk of life. The front desk agent checking you in might help a celebrity, a billionaire, a family on their first vacation in years, and a business traveler on an expense account—all in the same hour.
And after seeing thousands of guests come and go, hotel employees often become surprisingly good at spotting the little clues that reveal who’s accustomed to a certain lifestyle…and who’s just visiting it for the weekend.
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