I do NOT stay at upmarket hotels when I'm traveling on vacation, but I did have a job that involved business travel and the service usually booked us in 'upper tier' hotel chains such as Hilton, Marriot, etc. First of all, the big chains nickel and dime you to death. EVERYTHING is extra, and meals, drinks at the bar, etc. are always expensive. Not worth it, in my opinion. I've been in smaller independent hotels, or some of the less expensive chains such as Hampton Inn, Sleep Inn, Microtel, and the rooms are basically comparable. As long as it is clean, the bed is comfortable - what more do you really need???   So that is what I seek out. Even Travelodge is fine - I don't usually spend much time when I am on vacation in my hotel room so as long as there is a reasonable bed and bathroom I'm quite satisfied.

When I used to go to Mexico City on business most people stayed at the Nikko - an elegant, but sterile hotel that at the time was almost $400 a night. Our Mexican agents stayed at a small independent hotel and suggested we try it instead. It was so much nicer. For $90 a night we got a lovely room with a Jacuzzi, the staff knew us and greeted us by our names, and there was a reasonably priced bar and excellent, moderately priced restaurant on site. And it was located in a great area on Paseo de la Reforma.

BTW I feel the same way about super expensive restaurants, which I had ample opportunity to sample when I was on an expense account. Mostly rip offs - what can they really do to food to make it so delicious that it costs a weeks averag wage????

And i agree with Sapper on business travel. Even if you stay someplace comfortable, it's grueling!