downtownbrown

Am interested in your opinion on what you think is the consistently best hotel/motel chain in the US. I guess I should define "best." What I mean is "best value." Obviously, if you pay $500/nt to stay at a Waldorf, you expect more than what you get at a Motel 6. But which one is, dollar for dollar, the best value?

I realize that quality can vary greatly from one place to another (and someone in the industry once explained why to me), even under the same name. But which chain do you think is consistently the best?

My nominee: Fairfield. I started using them a lot for stopovers on long trips because I'm a Marriott points member. I've been impressed with their staffs, breakfasts, and overall good condition of their hotels -- often for prices in the range of $75-$85. Hampton Inn is pretty good, too, for a slightly higher price.

Ackislander

When I traveled constantly on business, I almost always stayed at Courtyard since if perfectly matched my needs and was usually convenient to the local technology/business park in which I was working.

Then one time I stayed in a Courtyard in Denver and the next night in a Courtyard in Dublin, Ohio, with exactly the same bedspread and curtains and furniture and pictures on the wall. 1300 miles and no difference. Soon after, I decided to change jobs.

bumper

I really enjoy Marriotts. For a big city, I think Marriott or JW Marriots are the best, even though expensive. But overall, as we travel across the country, I seek out Courtyard Hotels.

downtownbrown

Ack: Your post about furnishings made me think of Holiday Inn's old slogan: no surprises.

nytraveler

Mandarin Oriental, Four Seasons, Ritz Carlton are all excellent chains and IMHO worth what you pay for them.

Have used JW Marriott and Grand Hyatt for business purposes and they were by and large acceptable.

IMHO I don;t like any of the budget/modest chains - have used them at times when there were no other options and found they ranged from bearable to awful. This includes furniture and fittings that were worn, frayed dirty and sometimes even broken, very poor service (I'm talking about impolite and/or useless - not that there wasn't a 24 hour concierge), lacking amenities they claim to have ( a "business center with 1 broken printer and a computer that we couldn't even load modest files into) - and don't even start on the stained and musty conference rooms and the incredibly bad food.

At one place I ordered a continental breakfast for 20 people to the conference room (the night before) and was delivered one small urn of coffee and 25 mini-muffins. Not even enough coffee for each to have 1 cup, no milk or cream, no tea at all, no juice and a 2 bite muffin per person. (The CB listed for room service was fresh juice, muffins and scones and a pot of coffee or tea.) Don't even ask how that conversation went. We had to send 3 people out to Starbucks to bring in breakfast - and the hotel claimed we weren't allowed to bring in food from outside. But they couldn't give us any more without 3 hours notice!

sf7307

Courtyard and Hampton Inns are consistently decent or better.

abram

We've recently been happy with the Country Inn & Suites chain. For a modest price, you get a genuine one bedroom suite, with a door between the LR & BR. I can stay up late without disturbing DH and he can get up early without disturbing me. we like having a couch, chair, desk, frig and coffee maker outside of the bedroom.

jamie99

I have always had good luck with Best Westerns (each one is individually owned) and many serve expanded continental breakfast which is nice.
Residence Inn is nice also the few times we stayed there.

cmcfong

I am a big fan of Kimpton's. They have all kinds of nice little perks for regulars (free internet, vouchers for the minibar), a free wine and cheese hour, cool furnishings and a very good(consistently so) service level.
I have a Hyatt credit card which gives me a free night at each year (well worth the $75 annual fee). I have yet to be disappointed by one of them.

obxgirl

I agree with cmcfong about Kimptons though they're a smaller chain only in major US cities. I might not have classified them as "dollar for dollar, the best value" in this post but they do get my business when ever possible!

In the $100/night range I look for Hampton Inn's. Like Fairfield and Residence Inn too.

kureiff

Kimpton is also my favorite for staying in a city. Otherwise, I'd say Hampton Inn is a good value. Fairfield, too.

travelgourmet

Obviously, "best" can mean a lot of things, but here are my thoughts...

1) I think that the US does the value chain very well. Fairfields are fine, but so are a whole slew of other value chains, including Courtyard, HI Express, Hilton Garden Inn, even Hampton Inn. All of them tend to deliver a clean room of a decent size. The downside is typically an inferior location when in large cities. You are also on your own, but I don't think that tends to matter for most travelers and if you are trying to run a conference in a Courtyard, I'd have to ask why.

If I had to pick a favorite, I have tended to have the best experiences at Hyatt House and Hilton Garden Inn. A bit pricier, I really like Element, too.

2) Among the upscale chains, I tend to find as much intra-chain variability as inter-chain variability among Westin, Sheraton, Marriott, and Hyatt. If pressed, I'd give a nod to Marriott or Hyatt as being more consistent, but only slightly.

3) If spending for a luxury hotel I would research and choose the best in the city. Most of the chains do a good job, but each city has their own "best" hotel.

downtownbrown

Interesting that several people mentioned Hyattt. A friend of mine has a saying about that chain: You pay extra for the lobby.

travelgourmet

A friend of mine has a saying about that chain: You pay extra for the lobby.

The same is true, IMO, about a lot of the upscale chains. For a lot of travelers, just how often do you need a concierge or the "services" offered by an upscale or luxury hotel? Beyond that, how much would you expect them to differ between the various upscale or luxury brands?

HappyTrvlr

Hyatt, Hilton and Marriott have a broad range of properties at all prices under their names..Such as Park Hyatt to a Hyatt Place.,Hilton has Waldorf Astoria to a Fairfield Inn, JWMarriott to a Courtyard by Marriott, etc... All have decent loyalty programs too.

Rich

For one night stays ( which most of ours are ) it's hard to beat Holiday Inn Express. Nice, comfortable rooms with decent free breakfasts.

palmettoprincess

I like the cookies at Doubletree. Because I'm Hilton Honors Gold I'm treated like royalty. I often get a free full breakfast, Sunday newspaper, a goody bag.

JanetKMR

Kimpton as a smaller chain.

Then the Marriott group, particularly the Courtyard Hotels.

Hampton Inns are consistently good as well.