The Courtyard, Fairfield, Residence Inn and Springhill are all part of the Marriott family. Which if as you say you like to stay with them I do also, however for three I prefer Residence Inn. You get a 2 bedroom for less than two seperate rooms at the Fairfield most of the time.
I haven't stayed at a Springhill but I believe they are actually studio suites. The Hampton Inns are part of Hilton and compare with Courtyard and Homewood Suites also part of Hilton is similiar to Residence Inn. The one drawback to Homewood and Residence is not all have pools and the ones that do are mostly outdoors.
If privacy isn't an issue than save the money and get one room at Fairfield otherwise I would look at the Residence Inn.

I don't like Fairfields. I have had problems at the ones I've stayed at (cleanliness).

I like Springhill Suites very much.

I like the concept of Residence Inns, but many of the ones I have stayed at have been a bit "tired".

Of the ones you mention, I would pick the SpringHill. My favorites are Hilton Garden Inns and Homewood Suites. I also like the suite rooms at Hampton Inn and Suites, but not all Hampton Inns have them. Ditto the LaQuinta Inns and Suites - and they have a very good free breakfast including make-your-own waffles.

Thanks for the input, hulajake.
The Marriott owned chains seem to have the best coverage in the area I'm looking at, often with several different chains practically next door to each other). I didn't see any of the other hotel chains you mention as comparable in that area, and I've never stayed in any of them either, so it's hard for me to compare or get a feel for them
One advantage of the Springhill and Residence Inn locations is that both have rooms that are 2 queen beds or a King bed and a sofa bed in a separate room(the suites part). The Fairfield Inn had a room that would fit us, but be more of a squeeze.
The free breakfast is fine, but not at all essential.
Residence Inn vs Springhill, then--how do they compare? Are either "more upscale" than Fairfield Inn ?(it's relative, I know...)

thanks too, starrsville--our posts must have crossed

I am with Starrsville. I have never stayed at a Fairfield that I like. Clean enough, adequate, but nothing more. The Springhill's I have tried and tired and minimal. I frequent Residence and am OK with their rooms and breakfast. Likewise, I have never been disappointed in a Hilton Garden Inn. Always recent vintage. Internet included. Acceptable breakfast. Bar if you want.

I stayed in a Fairfield Inn once, and it looked fine but smelled as though someone had urinated in the heat/ac unit! I love Residence Inns ... have stayed in several, and was happy in all of them!

I stayed in a two bedroom Spring Hill Suites in South Carolina that was new and very, very nice. Then I stayed in a two bedroom Residence Inn unit in Maryland that was gorgeous. I think it depends on the age of the place more than anything.

I have been disappointed in many of the Residence Inn and Courtyard products. My 2 experiences with Towneplace and Springhill have been fine but I honestly prefer a well maintained LaQuinta Inns and Suites (not the old ones). They are cheaper and have those awesome waffle makers.
I agree that much depends on when the hotel was build or fully rennovated.
There are a lot of recently refurbished hotels being rebranded Hyatt Place.
I saw a prototype which was pretty nice.
Here's a description of the concept from the hyatt-place.com site:
We are pleased to introduce Hyatt Place, a new kind of hotel that puts style, innovation and The Hyatt Touch® within everyone's reach. Our guests will enjoy a spacious guestroom with a 42" flat-panel HDTV, our signature Hyatt Grand Bed™, a plush Cozy Corner oversized sofa-sleeper that is separated from the sleeping area, and complimentary high-speed Wi-Fi internet access throughout the hotel.
Guests at Hyatt Place may purchase signature hot breakfast entrées along with Starbucks® specialty coffees or enjoy a free continental breakfast. Hyatt Place also offers a variety of freshly prepared, café quality items, including made-to-order entrées, sandwiches, soups, salads and pizza which guests can order 24 hours a day, seven days a week via a touch screen menu in the Guest Kitchen or from the Gallery Host.

We have stayed at several Springhill Suites and like them very much. They do vary by which room you get tho - some are larger than others. All we have stayed in have been relatively new and very clean. We also have stayed at Residence Inn and have liked them a lot but some can be old and tired. Overall have most space. We recently stayed at Hyatt PLace and liked it very much. It was much like Springhill Suites. I believe it had previously been an Amerisuites but you'd never know as they really totally remodeled this hotel. We have also stayed at several Hilton Suites and love them. Their rooms are large and spacious and have a separate bedroom and bathroom (much like Residence Inn). Also like Hilton Garden Inn, but prefer Hilton Suites.

Thanks everyone for your input.
The problem I'm having is that the places that many of you (and I ) prefer, like Hilton Garden Inn aren't available in my location
SO, It sounds like Fairfield Inn is off my list,and I need to pick the "lesser of two evils"-- Springhill Suites or Residence Inn

Residence Inn's tend to be larger, but older. Springhill Suites tend to be newer but smaller than Residence and Fairfield are usually the marketed towards the more "budget minded" of the three.

What area are you looking at? Do they have Embassy Suites, or Studio Plus? The later of the 2 are totally no-frills, but I have stayed in them on several occasions due to the best price for what I needed (like you, basically a bed when I was visiting relatives). They do have small kitchenettes.

Also - if you sign up on their website (Stuido Plus) to be a frequent traveler they email you a $10 coupon that you can use on your stay!

This is something I have done before....depending on your schedule, and the hotel's cancellation policy. Do a "site inspection". Make a reservation at all three - tell the hotel you want to check out the rooms before you check-in, if you don't like it, cancel. If they are smart you will get to see some of the best rooms they have to offer if they know they will lose the sale. Just be sure to cancel the room you don't want!!

cfntmpn... You are a hoteliers nightmare! (Make 3 reservations)
They have cancellation policies that will probably NOT accomodate that strategy.
The only way you could do this is if they have a 6pm day of arrival policy.
Read the tripadvisor reviews, with a grain of salt...
TELL US THE DESTINATION!
Maybe one of us will have information about the hotels you are looking at.
Seriously... no offense, but why do people omit the destination name.
Do you think we will stalk you? An unnamed, unknown person, traveling on an unknown date.
You say "The problem I'm having is that the places that many of you (and I ) prefer, like Hilton Garden Inn aren't available in my location"
Why couldn't you just say The problem I'm having is that the places that many of you (and I ) prefer, like Hilton Garden Inn aren't available in Lawton, OK"?
Just curious why so many posters feel the need to omit a huge, important piece of information.
Watch this:
This week I am going to Berlin and staying at the Mandala Suites. I am a female traveling alone.
I like living dangerously.

Janie, did I miss the specific location you're looking at? That does make a difference. I would agree with the generalities that Fairfield tends to be the smallest rooms and most budget oriented of the group, and that Springhill is their newer group so often are fresher, but it really depends on where you're talking about. Perhaps the Residence Inn there is brand new and nicer, although our experiences have probably been the worst from the four (also including Courtyard) at the Residence Inns, often we've gotten them that really needed redoing.

The best hotel is the one that opened yesterday. A brand new Motel 8 is better than an old Fairfield. LOL

TxTravelPro and NeoPatrick,
You are right I did leave out my location, intentionally.
No, I'm not paranoid and I usually do indicate my locations in postings here, because I know that it is helpful and does impact the answers I'll get.
This time I'm leaving it out because I'm trying to keep parts of this trip secret from family members who I know read Fodors! But I do understand the actions of anyone who chooses to leave out (or include) as much or as little information as suits them.
General information about a chain's reputation is also helpful even if , as you've reminded me, it's good to check on the age and other factors of a specific hotel location.
Thanks to you 2, and and everyone who's helping me with this choice

janie, the problem is that most hotels are not owned by Marriott Corporation but are owned by other companies.

While they do have to keep up certain standards in order to fly the Marriott flag, hotels standards can vary greatly.

janie, I don't know if you've used google maps to help choose hotels. I just love it. Enter the address, create a map and then search for hotels with the "businesses" option. It has been great to see what options I have - and some even have reviews. Be forewarned, all the closest hotels don't necessarily appear on the first page. Most chains with "and Suites" in the name have the room option you are looking for. Give them a call to confirm.

Regarding "suite" hotel chains, I have to say that in many cases it's a lot of hotair about nothing. While I like Springhill Suites, the ones I've stayed in have a sort of jogged wall half way separating the tiny living area from the tiny bedroom. I'm not so sure that overall the total square footage is much different than perhaps a Fairfield Inn which is just one larger room. Since there is no door or real separation of bedroom in the "suite", often I feel the results of breaking up a room into two semi-separate areas just makes for a more broken up and more "cluttered" or "tight" feeling space.

Neo, we are talking about the hotels that offer a living room separated from the bedroom by a "real" door. Some just offer an enlarged room with minimal kitchen facilities. Others offer separate rooms.

Gee, Starrsville, I thought we were talking about Residence Inn and Springhill Suites. I've stayed in at least 6 to 8 of each variety and have NEVER had a Springhill Suite with a real door between bedroom and living room. I suppose some larger units may have them, but it is not the typical unit. I have stayed in Residence Inns where there was a door to the bedroom, but again, not all their "suites" are like that. They sometimes do a half open bedroom area, sometimes offset at a sort of angle.

I know, Neo. I think I just said that.

Janie,
Are you already on Marriott's points system? They work for these brands as well.
Agree the newer the better but not always an option. Another hotel chain we have used before is the Drury Inn it's not nationwide. Embassy Suites are good usually but aren't most a queen or king and a sofabed. They are also part of the Hilton Family.

Neo, the Residence Inn accommodation you describe:

"They sometimes do a half open bedroom area, sometimes offset at a sort of angle."

That's what they describe as a studio. We always get a 1 or 2 BR, which is really an apartment. I've never stayed at a bad R.I. Didn't like the manager in one place, but liked the apt.

Fairfield has been the best. Residence Inn?? over loaded with young student tech workers from India and Korea. Very, very smelly, I mean the WHOLE hotel stank of curry and kim chee. Not kidding. Wanted to puke. I will never stay at a Residence Inn again. La Quinta? are you kidding? Might as well stay at at motel 6. Horrible experiences with La Quinta, very dirty and completely beat up. Damp and dank like staying in a bad basement. Never again.
Kids love the waffle makers at Fairfield, can get a suite for a reasonable price and the breakfast include some egg sandwiches, etc. For family, I always use my points to stay at Fairfield Inn.

Gee teune, you don't think you may be generalizing from one experience do you.
We are having a large event and need to house the family whose home we are using in a hotel--4 small children. We took a tour of our Residence Inn for it, and my co-chair and I WANT to move in ourselves!! Beautiful accomodation, full breakfast, fitness center, afternoon bar, and even complimentary BBQ some days.

Gee. I wonder where Janie finally stayed back in 2007, and why Teune decided to resurrect a five year old post.

Teune is a brand new poster who has only commented on this thread...things that make you go, hmmmmm...

OH, geez. another gotcha.

I know...so irritating isn't it?

Residence Inn for me...have gotten some great rates. Just stayed in a RI 2 bedroom suite in Anahein for 128.00 per night.