Luxury hotels, and the moments when the extra money actually shows

Luxury hotels are easy to admire and harder to justify. The question we keep asking is simple: what does the extra money buy that you'll notice? Sometimes the answer is obvious, like a view you'll remember for years, a pool that stays calm at noon, or service that fixes a problem before you finish describing it. Sometimes the answer is marble, a famous name, and a breakfast you could beat two streets away.

We look at which room category is worth paying for and which is just a label. We check whether the location helps the trip or only looks good on a postcard. And we're honest about who luxury hotels suit. A resort built for long, slow days can feel wasted on someone who'll be out from breakfast to midnight.

Expect resorts in Mexico and the Caribbean, grand city hotels in London, New York and Los Angeles, and the occasional splurge we think earns it. Expect, too, a few polite notes telling you to skip the upgrade.