For the last few years, I have worked as a traveling sales representative, serving as a liaison between the heads of different regions. In many ways, it is a terrible job. To say that it has put a strain on my relationships is putting it mildly. It has ruined more than one relationship. I simply can't devote enough energy to keeping things going when I am gone three weeks out of four! Nevertheless, it does have some perks. I get to meet interesting people from all over the world, I make great money, and best of all I get to enjoy amazing accommodations.

If you have never stayed at luxury hotels before, you really don't know what you are missing. As a matter of fact, before I stayed at luxury resort hotels, I didn't know there was anything to it. Even though I had enough money to afford staying somewhere nice, I usually would keep it pretty simple. A clean room, a bed to sleep on, and maybe a continental breakfast were enough for me. My business trips changed all that. The first trip, I got to stay on a luxury beach hotel in Mali! I had the ocean right outside my front window, and every day I got to watch the sunrise over the waves. There was a pool, spa, and even a free massage included! Before I stayed in that luxury hotel, I didn't know what living well was.

Nowadays, when I am traveling on my own during the few weeks of the year when I don't have anything business-related to attend to, I still usually stay at luxury hotels. I won't necessarily choose one of those great four-star luxury hotels that my company usually puts us up in, but I still feel like I should stay somewhere nice. I guess I have gotten a little bit spoiled, to tell you the truth. The money is great, but being treated like royalty by the hotel staff is even better. Luxury hotels inflate your sense of ego until you really can't travel without them.

Nonetheless, some trips I long to not stay at some luxury resort. Everything feels so stuffy and formal and everyone tries so hard to make you happy. As a sales representative, I am never allowed to be anonymous and just do my job. Either I am trying to impress someone, or someone is trying to impress me.