Advice: Second Tier Hotels

[FrancoDiSantisxxx]

I am having problems finding a suitable hotel at what I consider a reasonable price for some upcoming travel. My basic requirement (as Devon once famously put it) is high speed (or, at minimum, dependable internet access).

 

Now that many Holiday Inns (especially the newer Holiday Inn Express properties) and Best Westerns offer high speed and/or WiFi access, I wonder what the general consensus on either of these two hotel chains is from anyone who has been to them in the last few years.

 

The locations I am searching for do not have, as Hoo Boy so often recommended, anything considered a four star hotel, except for a few resort properties which do not interest me in the least.

 

Conversely, does anyone know of a good web site that specifically rates or gives travelers (especially say frequent business traveler) feedback on individual hotels.

 

Thank you kindly.

[seaboy4hire]

Franco check out http://www.tripadvisor.com Not sure if this is what you are looking for but it might be a start. Gotta remember take the good and the bad with a grain of salt.

 

Hugs,

Greg

Greg Seattle Wa [email protected]

http://www.male4malescorts.com/reviews/gregseattle.html

http://seaboy4hire.tripod.com

[buzz]

Hi Franco,

 

Have you tried any of the following:

hotels.com

expedia.com

travelocity.com

 

Each one will give you a list of hotels with prices and a description of the establishment.

 

Unfortunately the cost of hotel rooms keeps soaring in a lot of major cities, so the bargains aren't as good as they were only a year or so ago.

 

Holiday Inns and Best Westerns are usually reliable, but they can vary more than you might think. I do a lot of traveling and I agree that Internet access is a MUST accompanied by a clean bed, dry towels, and plenty of hot water.

 

Happy trails!

buzz

[+ ArVaGuy]

Franco,

 

I am an infrequent poster and saw your message so I thought my experience with the hotel industry would help. I am a conference planner by trade and spend most of my time working with hotels planning conferences and setting up room blocks. Here are some basics you need to consider.

 

The hotel industry is trying to avoid the same mistakes the airlines made and have tightened up on the inventory they release to the mass market web sites. They are offering to match any deal on Travelocity, Expedia, Hotels.com and the like on their own sites. However, you have to book the room on their site first and then contact them with the information on the better deal. It has to be an exact match before they will match the price.

 

Also, and most people don’t expect this, hotels dump internet bookings into their lower quality or worst rooms available. When you arrive you are likely to get the room with the worst mattress, pealing paint, leaky faucet, near the garbage dumpster, with internet access that resembles a tin can and string. The room will be so small you have to step into the hall to change your mind. When you complain don’t be surprised to hear “Oh, you booked on the internet” as a response. Why should they give you one of their best rooms when others are paying a higher rate? Its dollars and sense to the bottom line.

 

The two chains you describe are very inconsistent in their quality and services. Go for Fairfield Inn, Hampton Inn, Hilton Garden Inn or MicroTel, are my suggestions. Not much help but something to keep in mind.

 

Keep Buggering On

 

Chaz

[bigguyinpasadena]

I too would like to suggest Hilton Garden Inns as well as Springhill Suites and Fairfield Inns.

These properties might be very"cookie cutter"to some-but frankly that is not always a bad thing.

I am finding many ways to book Marriott properties-my favorite chain(Springhill suites,Fairfield,Residence Inn,courtyard by Marriott,Renaissance-etc,,, at almost the same or sometimes less than Priceline via marriotts own site.And I get "status"Points as well as much better customer service than at most chains.

[trilingual]

Ditto. I've stayed at Holiday Inns, Best Westerns, and Fairfield Inns and they've all been fine. The rooms in virtually all of them were the same as in more expensive hotels, and sometimes more spacious. The only difference between them and the more expensive hotels is that the rooms are usually identical, furniture is a bit less elaborate, the bathrooms are faux marble and linoleum instead of real marble and tile, and there's no all-night room service.

 

On the up-side, you get the same basic amenities as a top-tier hotel, plus a FREE continental breakfast at many of the budget chains (sometimes quite generous) and many of the hotels have an attached restaurant (of the Denny's variety) that's open late or even 24 hours, depending on location. Many of the less expensive hotels offer FREE local phone calls and lower surcharges on long-distance/credit card calls. They also should have high-speed internet access, in most cases, which is likelier to be less expensive than in the top-tier hotels. Some of the chain hotels have swimming pools and/or exercise equipment.

 

Many of the chains offer very good deals on their own websites, but you should also compare the prices you see there with those on Expedia, Travelocity, Orbitz, etc. and pick the best rate. Since the rooms are pretty standard in all of these hotels, with virtually no variation in size or decoration, you're less likely to get a "bad" room than in the more expensive properties.

 

As an example, when I was still working I often stayed in Washington at the Holiday Inn at 6th & C, S.W., which had a government rate and was the closest hotel to our departmental HQ. The rooms are decent but cookie-cutter identical, for the most part. On one occasion, involving a last-minute trip, the Holiday Inn was booked up and the only hotel I could find with an opening inside the Beltway was the Ritz-Carlton Pentagon City. Imagine my disappointment when my room was smaller than the one at the Holiday Inn! The furniture was of marginally better quality, and the bathroom was all tasteful gray marble instead of formica, but otherwise it wasn't any more comfortable or appealing than the Holiday Inn! The breakfast buffet at both hotels (not free) was very similar, except that the one at the Ritz-Carlton was considerably more expensive. For an evening meal, the restaurant at the Holiday Inn was affordable, whereas the Ritz-Carlton was a budget-buster that far exceeded the allowable per diem. Fortunately the hotel is part of the Pentagon City shopping complex, where there are numerous less expensive eating options in the mall.

 

Hope this helps. By and large, you'll find the less-expensive chains very similar to the more expensive places, and unless the hotel itself is your destination (particularly on a vacation when you're looking for something like a golf resort) the difference in price between the top-tier hotels and the less expensive ones just isn't worth it, and particularly when you're picking up the tab, and not your employer.

[ted]

All of the above have provided good and accurate info. Best Western is probably the most variable "chain"; they have some very nice properties and some not so nice, so you need to do your homework more than with the Marriott or Hilton "affordable" chains. I do like Hilton Garden Inns as they are very consistent; Hampton Inns are a little less consistent, but have some very nice properties too. Marriott Courtyards and Fairfields are their equivalents in my book, but the Hiltons are usually just a little cheaper. But if you are looking for a downtown hotel in a major city these days the prices have escalated dramatically in the last 15 months. Lastly, there are some very definite perks to attain status in a hotel award program if you can. At the top level they nearly always upgrade you to the best room available, which means I can usually book the cheapest room and end up on the executive floor, always have at least a free continental breakfast, and often a full breakfast, and I just spent 10 nights in Europe, 8 in suites, for free.

[buttnovice]

When on the road, sometimes the only thing outside of major cities are the 2nd tier offerings. They are very practical. I notice the furnishings are basic, the beds not so comfortable, usually a thinner type mattress and less bedding, and limited decorating.

 

The contintental breakfast is a mixed bag. Coffee and juices,cereals and assorted breads and limited fresh fruits. Some are now offering a hot dish. Hampton Inn likes those molded scramble egg things that are nuked, SpringHill and Farifield those make it yourself waffles. Remember, there is no kitchen at these places, just refrigeration and a microwave.

 

Personally, I find Courtyard to be a better bargain. The chain is undergoing total renovations. The new rooms are pretty spiffy and toney, and all Courtyards offer free high speed internet in all rooms.

 

By the way, what is it with these major chains (Hilton, Marriott) that offer free HSI at their lower priced properties and have the nerve to charge $10 a day at their premium properties, often 3 times the price per night. At a Hilton in LA, I was charged $10 a day for access PLUS $10 a day to use a bridge because my laptop does not have wi-fi.

 

I've gone on too long!

[Steven_Draker]

Franco,

Which location are you looking for ?

I spend a lot of time in hotels and I know what you're talking about.

 

Steven Draker ~

[Steven_Draker]

>I just spent 10 nights in Europe, 8 in suites, for free.

 

Nothing is free, Ted :o

[KY_TOP]

I spent over 100 nights last year in a Marriott Brand Hotel. Most of those were at Courtyard and Fairfield Inns. They have all been very good quality, free internet plus free breakfast at the Fairfield Inns. I would highly recommend them. The Marriott brands have raised their prices abit so I have used Hilton brands some this year. I found the Doubletree I stayed at a little worn, but the Hampton Inn's I stayed at, that had the updated decor, are extremely comfortable. The Hampton Inns also had free internet and breakfast. I am trying Hilton Garden Inn on a trip next week.

[doctordoctor]

yeah, usually nothing wrong at all with the second-tier hotels if you don't need to impress yourself or somebody else...but be ready for, sometimes, more perfunctory service, less flash, carrying your own bags, and an eclectic mix of guests...also be ready for very convenient locations, cleaner/newer rooms, free food and coffee, easier access to the front door and parking, no tipping...the top hotels very often can get away with nickle-and-diming you to death because many of the guests are on expense accounts or at conventions...as one here said, the only really good reason to stay at an expensive place is if it's a destination resort-sort of place, where you'll enjoy the facilities, relax, and hang around the place for several days...

[Rick Munroe]

>My basic

>requirement (as Devon once famously put it) is high speed (or,

>at minimum, dependable internet access).

 

For me, it's fluffy feather pillows and nice herbal shampoo.

[FrancoDiSantisxxx]

Hilton Gardens vs. Marriott Courtyards

 

The two particular properties I am looking at are both 3 diamond hotels, the Holiday Inn express is brand new and this particular Best Western is in the business park area and all the rooms are rated good. Both hotels would be booked directly from the chains, not on a third party site.

 

My own personal preference is always to stay at Hiltons, Hyatts or Marriotts, as I mentioned in another thread, and I have the best personal experience at Hyatts, but have enjoyed a number of the Marriotts I have stayed in. Hiltons seem to be older, less refurbished and less value, at least in the cities I have stayed in, although I did enjoy the outdoor swimming pool at the "Hinckley" Hilton in D.C.

 

My two experiences at Hilton Gardens were in smaller cities, which I rarely travel to, but they were fine. Only one had high speed internet access, and the second one also only had Wi Fi, so if I did not have the card, I would also have had to pay for the "bridge."

 

The Courtyard in Toronto was exceedingly convenient and the breakfast was fine; but the building was older and the rooms definitely need refurbishing, although it is listed as 2.5 star property. The one in D.C. was essentially the same thing, rooms only so-so, great location, but the building was newer.

 

Where I am specifically traveling this time, both the Garden Inn and the Courtyard are MORE than the downtown Omni, and both are considered 2.5 properties. So, this particular Best Western and this particular Holiday Inn Express seemed like a worthwhile try.

 

But thank you to everyone for your advice and comments, I greatly appreciated. It is one of the things that makes this a really great and worthwhile community.

[FrancoDiSantisxxx]

Hilton Gardens vs. Marriott Courtyards

 

The two particular properties I am looking at are both 3 diamond hotels, the Holiday Inn express is brand new and this particular Best Western is in the business park area and all the rooms are rated good. Both hotels would be booked directly from the chains, not on a third party site.

 

My own personal preference is always to stay at Hiltons, Hyatts or Marriotts, as I mentioned in another thread, and I have the best personal experience at Hyatts, but have enjoyed a number of the Marriotts I have stayed in. Hiltons seem to be older, less refurbished and less value, at least in the cities I have stayed in, although I did enjoy the outdoor swimming pool at the "Hinckley" Hilton in D.C.

 

My two experiences at Hilton Gardens were in smaller cities, which I rarely travel to, but they were fine. Only one had high speed internet access, and the second one also only had Wi Fi, so if I did not have the card, I would also have had to pay for the "bridge."

 

The Courtyard in Toronto was exceedingly convenient and the breakfast was fine; but the building was older and the rooms definitely need refurbishing, although it is listed as 2.5 star property. The one in D.C. was essentially the same thing, rooms only so-so, great location, but the building was newer.

 

Where I am specifically traveling this time, both the Garden Inn and the Courtyard are MORE than the downtown Omni, and both are considered 2.5 properties. So, this particular Best Western and this particular Holiday Inn Express seemed like a worthwhile try.

 

But thank you to everyone for your advice and comments, I greatly appreciated. It is one of the things that makes this a really great and worthwhile community.

[KY_TOP]

RE: Hilton Gardens vs. Marriott Courtyards

 

>The two particular properties I am looking at are both 3

>diamond hotels, the Holiday Inn express is brand new and this

>particular Best Western is in the business park area and all

>the rooms are rated good. Both hotels would be booked directly

>from the chains, not on a third party site.

 

I recently stayed at a new Holiday Inn Express in Ohio and was pleasantly impressed but had some trouble with their internet. It was very comparable to a Fairfield Inn. Since the Holiday Inn Express is new you probably can't go too wrong with that choice.

[FrancoDiSantisxxx]

Marriott Courtyard Mayo Clinic

 

>I recently stayed at a new Holiday Inn Express in Ohio and was

>pleasantly impressed but had some trouble with their internet.

>It was very comparable to a Fairfield Inn.

 

Well, patience and persistence just paid off and I got a great deal on Priceline just moments ago: 70% off the posted rack rate on the Marriott web site OR on Orbitz or Expedia at the Courtyard by Marriott by the Mayo Clinic, which is five miles from the beaches, has a fitness center, an outdoor pool, and high speed internet access!

 

Thanks to everyone for your comments and advice.

[buttnovice]

RE: Marriott Courtyard Mayo Clinic

 

If you're talking about the Courtyard Mayo Clinic in Jacksonville, FL and I think you are, it is in the middle of NOWHERE! Well hidden on the campus of the clinic, I had to drive about 10 minutes just to find something to eat. I remember the driving directions from the Marriott site were horrible and I had to call the hotel twice just to find it. It is a typical refurbished Courtyard. . . but the location!!!