We are Marriott Rewards members and Marriott Vacation Club Owners - so it's Marriott all the time!

Homewood Suites are great for families.

I'm not tied to any particular chain but choose hotels that offer a free breakfast. It makes things so much easier in the morning. Hampton Inn offers a hot breakfast, so that's usually a good choice.

In the mid-tier places, it probably makes most sense to try to get points as there are so many different brands under an umbrella like Marriott, Hilton or Choice that you should be able to find something that works for you. I think if you know what are mid-tier (Courtyard/Hampton) as opposed to low tier (Fairfield Inn), they are generally fungible but safest bet is always to choose a new property, and actually new as opposed to taken over from a prior brand. Newer trumps brand loyalty almost all of the time.

Anonymous wrote:I've never had bad luck with Choice hotels, sorry OP. We always go with them because 90% of them are pet friendly and we frequently travel with our big dog.

I really think it depends on the specific hotel - many of them are franchises so standards may be different. I stayed in a Hampton inn in NJ last summer and it was really run down. Stayed at another Hampton inn in PA and it was spotless. Also depends on the age of the hotel itself and if it's been renovated recently.

I've never had bad luck with Choice hotels, sorry OP. We always go with them because 90% of them are pet friendly and we frequently travel with our big dog.

We primarily stay at Marriott brands--we have a large family so we prefer to stay in larger suites at Residence Inns, but depending on where/when we go that isn't always possible--so we've stayed at almost all levels of the Marriott brand.

A few times we've stayed at Hilton brands--Hampton Inn or Embassy suites--that's generally our second choice.

We've only had once experience with Choice hotels; we were driving to Florida and needed a place to stop the night and stayed at one along I95, I think in NC? I wish I could remember which one because it was actually a very positive experience--the hotel was very clean and comfortable and the front desk employees super nice. It was in some town where they were having some type of auto race, I think? I just remember because all the local hotels were completely booked.

Now that I have children I always gravitate towards an Embassy Suites, Homewood Suites, and Marriott Residence Inns. They're my go to family friendly hotels because of the extra space, complimentary breakfast, etc.

I also like the fact that in "some" cities Homewood Suites and Residence Inns offer two bedrooms/ two bathroom suites, free parking , weekly evening meals, free internet access in the business center, free use of the exercise room, they come with a kichenette (So, I could stock up on snacks, salad, fresh fruit, sandwiches, and other goodies. etc. If I don't like the evening meal offerings at the hotel and I don't feel like going out to dinner, then at least I could prepare a small meal some nights.

loved Embassy Suites. Roomy and cheap, relatively.

Westin for nice but not too expensive. Four Seasons for luxury. Homewood Suites for cheaper.

Anonymous wrote:Well, the four seasons. But that's not where I actually stay.

+1

For family travel we like Residence inn, Towneplace suites, and Hampton Inn. Although some are nicer than others. We like hotels with free breakfasts and a pool.

I stay a whole range of places. I like Super 8 at the low end and Fairfield Inn or Holiday Inn in the middle.

Agree with PP, though I've only stayed at 2 in my life.... Honeymoon and vacation the year after. Being a DINC was so awesome. Sigh....

Well, the four seasons. But that's not where I actually stay.

When road-tripping, or staying somewhere without luxury hotels, which chains or hotels do you gravitate towards? We are doing a big road trip this summer and would like to know what ones you've had luck with, in case our "go-to" chains (Courtyard or Residence Inn by Marriott or the Hilton chains - Homewood Suites, Hilton Garden Inn) aren't available. We've had really bad luck with the "Choice" hotels - Comfort Inn, Quality Inn, etc.