Hampton Inn or Fairfield Inn?

[sam_gordon]

It's been a while. I do remember they had those weird commercials where an employee is delivering an omelette, kind of like how someone buys a drink for someone else, although that's complimentary. I thought that maybe some locations had a cook to order bar that I've seen in some hotels.

So you assumed, based on some commercial(?) that Hampton's had a cook to order bar? You've never actually been in one? Unrelated, but it's amazing how many things you "remember".

Maybe one of those waffle makers? I'm thinking Golden Malted? I've seen those over the years at anything from cheap motels to fairly nice places like a Fairfield Inn. I remember one where someone at a family owned chain hotel franchise wouldn't let any guests touch the waffle maker. I guess some have been injured.

"Fairly nice like a Fairfield Inn" I get a chuckle out of. There's nothing wrong with Fairfield, but I wouldn't qualify it as "fairly nice". Then again, I wouldn't qualify a Hampton as that either.

And yes, the waffle makers are in many different types of hotels. Some even have TWO!

 

[Mackenzie Click-Mickelson]

Over the two you listed we'd prefer Hamptons

 

[bcla]

So you assumed, based on some commercial(?) that Hampton's had a cook to order bar? You've never actually been in one? Unrelated, but it's amazing how many things you "remember".

Stayed at one years ago. In Reno at what used to be Harold's Club - attached to Harrah's. But Harrah's eventually turned it into their east tower. But yeah I remember the included breakfast.

Some locations have or had cook to order food. This review says they had made to order omelettes and smoothies.

https://www.tripadvisor.com/ShowUse...ites_Richmond_Glenside-Richmond_Virginia.html

 

[TipsyTraveler]

Never been to a Hampton that had a cook/restaurant. They offer free breakfast, which I know requires heating some things up/putting food out, but not "cooking".

I stayed at a Hampton with a restaurant just last month. Two-year-old menus floating around online, pictured below, show it used to offer a full menu, but currently it’s only offering hamburgers, hot dogs, and chicken tenders. Still has the full bar, though, and the usual hot breakfast options.

(Sorry the image quality is not that great.)

 

[bcla]

I stayed at a Hampton with a restaurant just last month. Two-year-old menus floating around online, pictured below, show it used to offer a full menu, but currently it’s only offering hamburgers, hot dogs, and chicken tenders. Still has the full bar, though, and the usual hot breakfast options.

(Sorry the image quality is not that great.)

I was supposed to be staying at the Hampton Inn in Islamorada - the one I mentioned where the res was cancelled from a storm. But they had an Outback Steakhouse attached to it, although it wasn't serving their breakfast, which was in a separate area.

Looks like the hotel got rebranded, and I'm sure that the Outback is gone.

https://www.goerie.com/story/lifestyle/travel/2015/08/16/the-new-islamorada-is-not/24916985007/​

The renovation race picked up this year as both Amara Cay and Pelican Cove opened after profound gut rebuilds.​

​

Amara was once a Hampton Inn with a big Outback Steakhouse. Now it's an open, airy boho-beachy 110-room hotel with interiors by Edge of Architecture out of Coral Gables. The place strikes a nice balance between elevating its environs, and keeping things accessible -- families loaf at the pool while hip travelers snag beach chairs and veg out with views of the grass flats -- more serene than anything on South Beach. And the property is large enough to support a sophisticated restaurant, Oltremare Ristorante, which plates contemporary Italian fare.​

 

[ncc1701]

Would have no problem staying at either. We have both Hilton & Marriott rewards. Deciding factor would be nearby restaurants for dinner. Most times we prefer Hilton Garden Inns or Courtyards by Marriotts ( next level up). Most we have stayed at have a small bar & better breakfast.

 

[sam_gordon]

I stayed at a Hampton with a restaurant just last month. Two-year-old menus floating around online, pictured below, show it used to offer a full menu, but currently it’s only offering hamburgers, hot dogs, and chicken tenders. Still has the full bar, though, and the usual hot breakfast options.

(Sorry the image quality is not that great.)

Wow, I stand corrected. Thank you!

 

[brockash]

When staying overnight while traveling on 95 to/from WDW, do you prefer Hampton Inn or Fairfield Inn? Other favorites?
Reasons why?
Thanks!

Depends on what the hotels look like. Brands can vary greatly, so I'd either choose the one that's more convenient, better amenities or that looks nicer, brand aside.

 

[QueenIsabella]

So you assumed, based on some commercial(?) that Hampton's had a cook to order bar? You've never actually been in one? Unrelated, but it's amazing how many things you "remember".

"Fairly nice like a Fairfield Inn" I get a chuckle out of. There's nothing wrong with Fairfield, but I wouldn't qualify it as "fairly nice". Then again, I wouldn't qualify a Hampton as that either.

And yes, the waffle makers are in many different types of hotels. Some even have TWO!

We stayed in the Residence Inn in Mystic, CT a couple weeks ago, and they had 2 waffle makers--one for a big waffle, the other for 4 mini waffles. Both were very popular. I even had a big waffle with blueberry sauce (my favorite). I think the type of topping changed daily, but they also had stuff you could add, like coconut flakes and chocolate chips. Naturally, my kids glommed all the chocolate chips.

 

[TipsyTraveler]

I was supposed to be staying at the Hampton Inn in Islamorada - the one I mentioned where the res was cancelled from a storm. But they had an Outback Steakhouse attached to it, although it wasn't serving their breakfast, which was in a separate area.

Looks like the hotel got rebranded, and I'm sure that the Outback is gone.

https://www.goerie.com/story/lifestyle/travel/2015/08/16/the-new-islamorada-is-not/24916985007/​

The renovation race picked up this year as both Amara Cay and Pelican Cove opened after profound gut rebuilds.​

​

Amara was once a Hampton Inn with a big Outback Steakhouse. Now it's an open, airy boho-beachy 110-room hotel with interiors by Edge of Architecture out of Coral Gables. The place strikes a nice balance between elevating its environs, and keeping things accessible -- families loaf at the pool while hip travelers snag beach chairs and veg out with views of the grass flats -- more serene than anything on South Beach. And the property is large enough to support a sophisticated restaurant, Oltremare Ristorante, which plates contemporary Italian fare.​

I’ve realized my comment wasn’t very clear. The bar/restaurant didn’t serve breakfast, just lunch and dinner. It was on one side of the lobby and the breakfast buffet was on the other side with a large seating area between the two. The restaurant was fully within and part of the hotel, though, not adjoined as in the case of your Outback example.

 

[DodgerGirl]

I wouldn't recommend Holiday Inn Express anywhere because they are the weakest hotel chain in the world. My parents and I stayed at Holiday Inn Express once and we encountered nothing but problems from the elevator broken to broken curtains and a flooded bathroom and I can't figure out why Holiday Inn Express is still surviving in business. But whenever my parents and I would travel our hotel chain of choice was always Marriott and Residence Inns are my favorite because they look cool and I get my own room there with my own television and each television has Youtube and HBO Max free with your stay and the beds are comfortable there and my dad loves the pillows Residence Inn has and in fact the very first time we stayed at Residence Inn my dad liked the mattress so much he wanted to buy the same mattress for my parents bedroom. Courtyard By Marriott is alright but in my eyes they have so much problems with their rooms because when my parents and I stayed at one we encountered a flooded room and a leaky roof and a fire drill and the TV didn't work and we had to change rooms three times because they were remodeling the hotel. The only great thing about our Courtyard experience was the hotel was directly within walking distance of Kmart which made it our choice because I LOVED shopping Kmart every week. Hampton Inns I've never stayed at but it seems that Hampton Inn And Suites is growing big and becoming very popular than Hampton Inn and are they better than Marriott Hotels? Because my mom and I have only seen the commercials for Hampton Inn on TV. But have never tried Fairfeld Inn by Marriott

 

[bobbiwoz]

Usually a Fairfield, but there’s one city in VA where the common area floors were so dirty, and when I mentioned it at the desk I was told that they were cleaned that morning, I knew I wouldn’t stay there again. So, in that city, we always stay at the Hampton! Just did earlier this month and we were pleased as usual!

 

[DisneyOma]

We drive down 95 every time we go to WDW and stop at the same Sleep Inn every time. DH loves the waffles.

Which city? We've stayed at two along the way, and both were so dirty that I vowed to never stay in one again.

I now just stay at Best Westerns.

 

[HeatherC]

We collect Marriott Points, so usually try to stay at one of their properties. We like Springhill Suites or Residence Inns most. But we have driven countless times to Florida from Massachusetts and I can say confidently, that there is very little if any difference between most Hampton and Fairfield Inns. It is entirely site specific. One location may be great and another total crap. Just check the reviews on TripAdvisor, etc before you choose.

 

[Jennasis]

Which city? We've stayed at two along the way, and both were so dirty that I vowed to never stay in one again.

I now just stay at Best Westerns.

In Walterboro, SC.

 

[ralphie]

We stay at pet free hotels, which are harder and harder to find. We have switched from Hampton to Fairfield because of this issue.

 

[gncntry]

Hampton for the points and because now all of their hotels seem to allow pets. We drive frequently between Maryland and Florida with our small dog.

 

[sam_gordon]

I wouldn't recommend Holiday Inn Express anywhere because they are the weakest hotel chain in the world. My parents and I stayed at Holiday Inn Express once and we encountered nothing but problems from the elevator broken to broken curtains and a flooded bathroom and I can't figure out why Holiday Inn Express is still surviving in business. But whenever my parents and I would travel our hotel chain of choice was always Marriott and Residence Inns are my favorite because they look cool and I get my own room there with my own television and each television has Youtube and HBO Max free with your stay and the beds are comfortable there and my dad loves the pillows Residence Inn has and in fact the very first time we stayed at Residence Inn my dad liked the mattress so much he wanted to buy the same mattress for my parents bedroom. Courtyard By Marriott is alright but in my eyes they have so much problems with their rooms because when my parents and I stayed at one we encountered a flooded room and a leaky roof and a fire drill and the TV didn't work and we had to change rooms three times because they were remodeling the hotel. The only great thing about our Courtyard experience was the hotel was directly within walking distance of Kmart which made it our choice because I LOVED shopping Kmart every week. Hampton Inns I've never stayed at but it seems that Hampton Inn And Suites is growing big and becoming very popular than Hampton Inn and are they better than Marriott Hotels? Because my mom and I have only seen the commercials for Hampton Inn on TV. But have never tried Fairfeld Inn by Marriott

I don't think you can take an issue at a single hotel and use it to describe an entire chain, much less wonder how the chain "is still surviving".

As mentioned, Hampton and Fairfields are pretty comparable.

 

[QueenIsabella]

I wouldn't recommend Holiday Inn Express anywhere because they are the weakest hotel chain in the world. My parents and I stayed at Holiday Inn Express once and we encountered nothing but problems from the elevator broken to broken curtains and a flooded bathroom and I can't figure out why Holiday Inn Express is still surviving in business. But whenever my parents and I would travel our hotel chain of choice was always Marriott and Residence Inns are my favorite because they look cool and I get my own room there with my own television and each television has Youtube and HBO Max free with your stay and the beds are comfortable there and my dad loves the pillows Residence Inn has and in fact the very first time we stayed at Residence Inn my dad liked the mattress so much he wanted to buy the same mattress for my parents bedroom. Courtyard By Marriott is alright but in my eyes they have so much problems with their rooms because when my parents and I stayed at one we encountered a flooded room and a leaky roof and a fire drill and the TV didn't work and we had to change rooms three times because they were remodeling the hotel. The only great thing about our Courtyard experience was the hotel was directly within walking distance of Kmart which made it our choice because I LOVED shopping Kmart every week. Hampton Inns I've never stayed at but it seems that Hampton Inn And Suites is growing big and becoming very popular than Hampton Inn and are they better than Marriott Hotels? Because my mom and I have only seen the commercials for Hampton Inn on TV. But have never tried Fairfeld Inn by Marriott

First off, paragraphs are your friend.

I'm sorry you've had bad luck with Holiday Inn Express. We've only had good luck there. A lot of them are individually owned, so it's up to the owners to keep them in good shape.

OTOH, we DID have issues with the Residence Inn-Mystic when we stayed there a couple weeks back. The plumbing in one bathroom was leaking. They made a couple attempts to fix it, but it was still problematic when we left. They gave my DH 5000 points (Bonvoy, maybe?) as compensation. We would still stay there again--we like the hotel generally, and have had good experiences there in the past (I grew up in the area--this is the hotel we stay in when we're there).

 

[QueenIsabella]

We stay at pet free hotels, which are harder and harder to find. We have switched from Hampton to Fairfield because of this issue.

I can understand this since I'm allergic to dogs. I will say, though, that it's never been an issue, either with allergies or noise, for me. And our DD20 (who has anxiety and hates car trips) LOVES seeing dogs--it really perks her up. She doesn't car-ride well.