More than a few respondents to our recent Members’ Choice Awards survey told us that high hotel rates were a source of irritation. Just a few years ago, a price of $1,000 per night seemed quite extravagant, reserved for high-end safari lodges and a few other superstar luxury escapes. Now it barely raises an eyebrow. Some of our longtime recommendations have doubled or even tripled their rack rates. We Andrew Harper editors can certainly empathize with the sticker shock.

When we evaluate hotels, we pay the regular price and stay incognito, posing as regular Harper members. I know of precious few other publications that still pay the full cost of a stay, as we do, to maintain objectivity and full editorial discretion. It’s become unaffordable for most, even though prices now seem to finally be stabilizing. The inflation of room rates in the past five years has been the most dramatic I’ve seen, particularly in the world’s most popular destinations.

Now more than ever, we consider not only whether a property delivers a recommendable experience but also whether it offers an appropriate value. We’re also redoubling our efforts to find notable hotels in wonderful less-crowded destinations where demand hasn’t yet pushed rates into the stratosphere.

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