The first thing to understand is that Meliá Elite Luxury isn't one experience. That's actually what we like about it. With some hotel companies, moving into the luxury tier means increasingly expensive versions of essentially the same hotel. Bigger lobby. Better restaurant. Nicer sheets. Add a spa and another hundred dollars to the rate. These three brands have actual personalities.

Gran Meliá is sophisticated. This is where we're looking for the luxury resort, the beautiful city hotel, the elevated service and the vacation where slowing down feels like part of the plan. Our scorecard gives it five stars for both Service and Cleanliness, with our highest $$$$$ price designation.

ME is nightlife. Not necessarily nightclub every time, but there's an unmistakably more social, fashionable and contemporary energy. These are hotels where we're paying attention to the bar, who's downstairs, what's playing and what we're wearing when we leave the room.

Then there's The Meliá Collection. Its word is Historic. This is the brand for travelers who don't necessarily want their luxury hotel to feel like every other luxury hotel they've visited. Boutique character, architecture, local culture and properties with an actual sense of place are the appeal.

So choosing between these three isn't really about deciding which is the “best.” It's deciding: What do we want luxury to feel like this time?