From 5 Stars to 3 and a half

We're planning a little get away on top of a little get away for Parents' Weekend at Sonny boy's college. Last year our hotel was across the street from the campus but was so funky, I rebelled and now we'll have to walk 6 blocks to see the big game. So for our little extended trip I go directly to Expedia and pick a picturesque sea resort. Hubby goes to the closest to find all of our maps. He finds 50 maps from 20 years of trips, including crossing the US, but can't find one for California. It's pretty funny. I know we have about 12 California maps lurking somewhere. We even needed to buy one on our last trip because we screwed up somehow getting on and off the main highway. How, I'll never know, and where that map has gone is an eternal mystery, like where do socks go?
Expedia finds me 47 matches for the town and dates I'm looking for. I scroll straight down to the 5 star resort. Hubby's eyes bulge. then he laughs and asks me, "don't they have the 'I feel like staying someplace cheap section?'"
I've paid my dues with those years. Really. Paper thin walls, rusty sinks, loose balcony railings, noisy pipes, all the lovely features of the cheap ticket. After a 10 day cruise on a luxury liner a couple of years ago, our flight was cancelled from NYC to California. The airline put us up at a hotel, and as we walked down the hallway to our room examining the thread worn carpet, chipping paint, and non existent molding around the door frames, Hubby says, "back to reality." Our perfect cruise stateroom with a marble appointed bathroom and walk in closest melted away to the obligatory hold over hotel that cuts a deal with the airline. This is life.
Years ago I accepted our state of finances and appreciated our chance to travel. So being a responsible consumer, never went over our budget. Now, as an empty nester, even in these days of lack, budget crisis, recession, I want a nice place to lay my head. We get so many mixed messages...SAVE, SPEND, which is it? I think I'll consider it while I gaze at the ocean from my beautifully appointed 3 1/2 star balcony.