It's human nature to try and cut corners and to take the best deal whenever and whereever possible. I'm sure you've heard the expression: "If it's too good to be true, then it probably is". I don't want to take that expressions directly in context and relate it to travelling because it doesn't directly apply! What I do want to do though is point out that being super budget when you travel doesn't really add up.
Your about to book a trip to your favorite holiday destination. Let's say it's Cancun, Mexico. You're online, or with a travel agent, finding cheap tickets, and looking at all of your different options for accomodations. You're looking at things like star ratings and facilities, and most importantly prices. At any major travel spot their is a huge array of differences in accomodations, which equivalates to a huge difference in pricing across the spectrum. Unless you're swimming in money, you're probably going to think: I want to get the most from the hotel and amount of stars for my money.
You take middle of the road: three. Your eyes are dazzled by the stars, and now you're quickly going throught he list looking for the cheapest hotel rated three stars. Why? Maybe it's because you're cheap, but most likely it's just because you're human. You want more, for less.
You've found it. You wait for the time to pass until you embark on your journey. Flights, airports and taxis later and you arrive at your hotel. I'm going to pick on all inclusive because it's in those where the greatest differerence I feel lies within the star rating. When you're staying at a hotel for a night, and eating out,etc there really isn't that much of a difference (at least to me), between having marble floors, and carpet. But when you're at a resort for a week, and the food is barely edible, the service is non-existant, and you're worried about leaving you're room in fear of you're contents going missing - the difference all of a sudden becomes of the richter. The first day is tolerable, the second and third are working there way steadily down hill, and by the end of the week it's miserable and you're ready to go home. You've save yourself probably a few hundred dollars, but instead of having the vacation of your life and not being able to wait to get back, you're at the end of your stay longing to be home. Home, the place you couldn't wait to get out of just a week before.
There isn't many circumstances when a little price difference isn't justified. If you're going to spend $2000, spend $2500, and a few extra days when you get back or before you leave. It's worth it; you're worth it!