On-the-road hotels: I will never stray form Hampton Inn again

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:We travel 2-6 times a year to Cincinnati (my wife has a medical specialist team there that has been treating her since 2003). We are Marriott Rewards members and prefer Marriott properties.

We like the new Residence Inn in St Clairsville, OH for our midway stopping point. It's very clean and modern. We get a 2 bedroom suite for a very reasonable price and the kids can have a bedroom and we can have a bedroom. Also, since I'm always hyped up on caffeine for driving when we get there, it takes me an extra hour or two for it to wear off and for me to get sleepy so they can all go to sleep and I can stay up in the sitting area until I'm ready to go to bed. Then in the morning, the kids wake up and can play in the sitting area since they get up about 30-60 minutes before I do. Much nicer for us.

OP here. We often stop at the Hampton Inn in St. Clairsville (Pickerington area), but on this recommendation, we may try this Residence Inn next time, just to compare! Thank you.

Who knew so many of us were making the trek along I-70 so frequently?

[Anonymous]

This could happen anywhere but I read it right before seeing this thread and had a good laugh: https://www.usatoday.com/story/travel/news/2019/07/28/memphis-hotel-guest-wakes-up-finds-snake-on-her-arm/1851588001/

[Anonymous]

We just stayed at an element hotel which is a Marriott chain and it was excellent. Very modern and clean.

[Anonymous]

Also loyal to Hampton Inn/Embassy Suites, OP. Plus we have the Hilton Amex so we accrue lots of points. And love free hot breakfast and free wifi.

[Anonymous]

I think it's probably not as "fancy" as Hampton Inn, but we've had really good luck at Country Inn and Suites. They usually have a pool and all the ones we've stayed at have been recently renovated. They have a kids program and often a little library. Free breakfast. Again nothing fancy, but it's been consistently nice for us. We've stayed at these driving south on 95 or out in Virginia.

[Anonymous]

Hyatt Place has been good in my experience.

[Anonymous]

I can confirm that Wyndam's are garbage. Had the unfortunate experience of staying in one in the East Bay suburbs (outside San Francisco) and it was terrible.

Will definitely give Hampton Inn a shot the next time we need a spot to sleep on a roadtrip.

[Anonymous]

Our family is hugely loyal to Hampton Inn!

[Anonymous]

Just reaching out to OP in case you're in Zanesville again. It was the birthplace of the novelist Zane Grey and has a museum that might be fun: https://www.ohiohistory.org/visit/museum-and-site-locator/national-road-and-zane-grey-museum

I pass Zanesville on my bi-annual trips to Columbus, which doesn't really require an overnight stop.

On a trip from Indiana, I stopped in St. Clairsville at a Candlewood Suites (I think) and it was very new and cheap. By the way, St. Clairsville is not near Pickerington (which is outside Columbus), but just west of Wheeling, WV.

[Anonymous]

We prefer Hampton Inn as well for our little trips to the middle of nowhere, but I still think that they can be hit or miss. I think that's just the nature of these small motel type places.

[Anonymous]

I'm loyal to Marriott. Typically I'll stay in a Marriott, Autograph, JW brand but if not available then Courtyard or Residence Inn.

[Anonymous]

Has anyone stayed in one of the new "Tru by Hilton" hotels? I've spotted two recently, one along I-81 in VA. Apparently a new "vibrant, affordable and young at heart" hotel (according to Hilton). Would like to hear from anyone who has stayed in a Tru.

We're Hilton members who always shoot for a Hampton or Hilton Garden Inn but I'm curious about Tru too since I'd still get points there....

[Anonymous]

We really like Homewood Inn & Suites. They have a separated sleeping area so we don’t have to be right next to the kids. Nice breakfast.

[Anonymous]

Love Hampton Inn! Just stayed there in Chicago and it was great.

Also partial to Home2Suites -- huge rooms, great breakfast.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Two of our kids play travel sports, so I've spent a LOT of time in hotel chains in random locales throughout the country. The club always books a block of rooms so we don't really get a choice where we stay (I guess we technically do, but staying at the hotel with your teammates and goofing off is half the fun!)...I always hope for Hampton Inns! Courtyard by Marriott is really nice too, plus Hilton Garden Inns. Comfort Inns are pretty much universally awful. Best Westerns are hit or miss. Hyatt Place is usually pretty good too. Hmm...what else...Doubletrees are great (tho that's a Hilton brand). Country Inn and Suites- usually good. Holiday Inn Express- hit or miss.

Not to get off topic, but every time I travel over the weekend I end up in hotel with travel sports team in town for some tournament. What is the benefit for a kid of being on a travel sports team? Do you travel every weekend in season?

They enjoy it, they learn lessons like working as a team and dedication, it's fun.
No, we do not travel every weekend in season.