What Hotel Chain Do You Like?

[momrek06]

OP HERE: It is Friday afternoon and all my DISer's are still going strong with this THREAD!!!

THANK YOU SO MUCH!!! I am loving all the responses. DH's partner is in Maine right now and I heard DH reading some of the responses over the phone to him!!

DH is also LOVING this THREAD.....

OMG...I will have to give all of you a FREE NIGHTS STAY!!!!!!

 

[horseshowmom]

Holiday Inn Express would be at the top of my list. I've never had a bad stay in one of those (and I've stayed in a bunch of them).

I like Hampton Inn, but only if I'm alone. For some reason, they put full size beds in their rooms, and DH and I like more room than that . I know they have king beds, but if DD is with us, we need two beds.

I've had varied experiences at Best Western - some great, some not so great. I don't generally stay at one sight unseen without some investigation ahead of time.


Edited to add: My brother travels a lot and prefers Hampton Inn, but that's because he's generally alone. When his family is with him, he stays somewhere else (because of the full bed instead of queen situation).

 

[Marseeya]

We typically try to find a Comfort Inn wherever we go when we need to stay inexpensively -- under $100 a night. I used to like Sheraton, but the last few stays haven't been too great for us. Hampton Inn is great too, but not if we want to stick to the under $100.

 

[DisneyJen0504]

Hotels-Hyatt and Westin
Food-Panera, TGIFridays, Coldstone Creamery are all good !

 

[NAB]

We stay at Best Westerns and Hampton Inn. Best Western gives us points but we haven't used them so either one will do for us. If it has a pool and contential breakfeast we are in.

 

[AuroraluvsPhillip]

Another vote for Hampton Inns. Whenever we travel, we go to their website to find the closest one. One a rare occasion, we'll get a dud, maybe one that needs refurb, or a grouchy desk manager, but the MAJORITY of the time, the place is very clean, rooms are clean, good size bathrooms, free internet, good breakfast buffet, friendly staff, 24 hour coffee and tea, cookies in the evening! We get a AAA discount, and if you are a HiltonHonors cardholder, you get USA Today delivered daily to your room. A previous poster said that they only have 2 double beds in a room, some do; I've stayed in rooms with 2 queen beds as well.

All of those restaurants sound good. I prefer Olive Garden to a steak place, but either would be fine.

Good luck with your DH's business venture!

 

[monarchsfan16]

I've had varied experiences at Best Western - some great, some not so great. I don't generally stay at one sight unseen without some investigation ahead of time.

That's been our experience with Best Westerns too. There's a gorgeous Best Western not far from where I live, and we stayed in a decent one in Mystic, CT, but driving across the country we stayed in two TERRIBLE Best Westerns, two days in a row. After that we decided to go back to Hampton Inns because we'd had only consistent stays with them, and it was a great choice. Best Westerns are just so varied now that I think my dad has actually said he'll never stay in one unless he's seen it prior to staying there. The two we stayed in driving across the country were absolute pits. If it weren't for the fact that we got to each after 8 at night and had no idea where any other hotels were, we would have left
I already put in a vote for Hampton Inns but would just like to add a bit more reasoning. Love the free breakfasts. They really always have a great variety. They're always clean, and they're all very very similar, which isn't a bad thing. One of the ones we've stayed in actually put out cookies and milk around 8 at night as a pre bed treat They're great for business travelers but there's nothing wrong with them for families either. Oh and not all have only full beds. We've stayed in several that have two queens in the room. That's pretty much the only variable thing about Hampton Inns. One of the ones we stayed in that only had fulls was in a city that in all the hotels in it not a single one had a room with two queens So I guess it must vary

 

[jimmalru80]

1) Courtyard by Marriott.
2) Hampton Inn.

 

[Chicago526]

Another suggestion. If this hotel is going to attract families and/or leisure travelers, get an INDOOR pool and hot tub. I guarantee you, it will pay for itself. I always look for hotels with indoor pools and hot tubs and all other things being equal, will pay more money to stay at one (within reason, of course!).

If this hotel is going to attract mostly business travelers, you may want to put in a small exersise room with some equipment, and also a hot tub (can you tell I like hot tubs! ). People on business often like to keep up with their exercise routine (for those that have a routine, that is ) while they are on the road.

 

[shamrock30]

I love the Hampton Inn brand, as I know exactly what to expect: clean, comfortable, and safe. My only problem with them is that they can sometimes be a bit too pricey on the east coast, and that will sometimes force me to seek another option.

 

[momrek06]

Another suggestion. If this hotel is going to attract families and/or leisure travelers, get an INDOOR pool and hot tub. I guarantee you, it will pay for itself. I always look for hotels with indoor pools and hot tubs and all other things being equal, will pay more money to stay at one (within reason, of course!).

If this hotel is going to attract mostly business travelers, you may want to put in a small exersise room with some equipment, and also a hot tub (can you tell I like hot tubs! ). People on business often like to keep up with their exercise routine (for those that have a routine, that is ) while they are on the road.

OP HERE:
ABSOLUTELY, with the INDOOR pool! We also figured in our area with NO hotels for MILES AND MILES..that the pool would not only be an attraction to our guests BUT I was thinking we could even offer it to the local boy scouts/girl scouts, any group if they wanted to rent the pool for an evening as a FUN NIGHT...even thought of schools...like a for an older class (6th or 7th) grade on a Friday night in the winter!
And there has been some discussion on a CANOPY for the front entrance...ABSOLUTELY as well because on rainy or snowy days and nights...not fun having to load and unload in inclement weather.

Ahhh..you guys are the BEST!!! Loving the REPLIES!!!

 

[MoniqueU]

Any hilton or any of their cobrands.

 

[CheshireVal]

Hampton Inn. I've never stayed in a bad one.

 

[Jennifer48]

I've always had good luck in Courtyard Marriotts. They have been clean and the indoor pool is a plus!

 

[tar heel]

We like Hampton and Summerhill Suites best of the moderate price chains. Will his hotel be the only one or will there ultimately be several?

I live at an exit with six hotels and 50+ restaurants. Olive Garden is probably the busiest restaurant day in and day out. Panera Bread is much less busy. The other always-busy places include On the Border, Red Lobster, Cracker Barrel and Applebees.

I'm not sure how Coldstone would do as a stand-alone. Ours is busy, but it's in a very busy mall. Would the one you're talking about have seating?

 

[momrek06]

We like Hampton and Summerhill Suites best of the moderate price chains. Will his hotel be the only one or will there ultimately be several?

I live at an exit with six hotels and 50+ restaurants. Olive Garden is probably the busiest restaurant day in and day out. Panera Bread is much less busy. The other always-busy places include On the Border, Red Lobster, Cracker Barrel and Applebees.

I'm not sure how Coldstone would do as a stand-alone. Ours is busy, but it's in a very busy mall. Would the one you're talking about have seating?

OP HERE: we live in South Central MA on the Northeast CT border and their are literally NO hotels at least 15 miles from us N-S-E-W!! We have been here 15 years and everyone keeps saying THERE ARE NO HOTELS around you! Hence, the decision with the hotels. As the news is spreading of the pending hotel...EVERYONE is excited.

GOOD POINT about COLDSTONE...we need to re-think that one. AND of recent the RED LOBSTER idea has been another good option. There is an Applebees, Chilli's, Pub 99, Outback in the immediate area like within 10 miles of this location. Thank You!

 

[bekkiz]

I would pick the Holiday Inn Express. I've stayed there a few times, love the beds, the showers and the cinnamon buns in the morning

I'm not really a fan of Olive Garden, just don't like the food, but I LOVE LOVE LOVE Panera.

 

[LoveWDW]

We like Embassy Suites.

Although we had an odd experience at the Embassy Suites in Crystal City, VA. We sat on the sofa to watch some TV and found the seat was very uncomfortable. So we checked the sofa, which was a sofa bed (the suite had a king-sized bed in the bedroom) and the mattress was gone. We called housekeeping and told them it wasn't acceptable since it made the seating very uncomfortable, and they seemed to think that we had stolen the mattress! Anyway, by the next day they had replaced the mattress, but it was a very odd experience.

 

[Dopey Sharon]

I'd have to go with Embassy Suites also. They have a GREAT free breakfast and a so-so manager's reception each evening.

Hampton Inns are pretty good for a regular room.

I would also suggest a Cracker Barrel for the restaurant. I have never eaten in one that wasn't at least 3/4 full.

Good luck and I wish you much success!

 

[Kitty 34]

Loved the Drury Inn in New Orleans!!