Best hotel/motel chain as timeshare alternative

[dazzlingheart]

I have to admit, it's a bit of a mindset change to plan to cook on vacation. Eating out multiple times a day was always part of the vacation experience. However, once I got into timesharing and actually started looking this way, it is an important added cost. Any meal you eat in is likely to save you at least $60 for multiple people. I know for 3 people even at take out places it's easy to hit $75 a dinner and $40 a lunch. Even just having the fridge you can bring back leftovers can often save a bundle cause many meals at a restaurant are actually enough for 2 meals.

Cooking on vacation is a different mindset for me also, but at least with a fridge, toaster, and microwave, we can save on breakfast and lunch. I think we will try some grilling, too, at locations with outdoor gas grills.

As far as hotel chain vs timeshare, I like Hilton brand hotels. If you get one of the Hilton Honors credit cards, you can really rack up the points for free stays using points.

 

[Brett]

I like Marriott and Hilton but my wife prefers Marriott for their bed's mattress

 

[claraj]

I am staying at the Residence Inn in French Quarters (New Orleans) and staying here makes me wish I was in a proper MVC. The kitchen is not fully stocked (only 2 pots and no kettle), the silverware could use another wash and the metal shower caddy in the shower is totally rusted out. I still prefer this over a regular hotel room though. Oh and there's no safe in this room!

 

[austdav]

I love the choice hotels system. They also bought out Radisson. So, lots of choices on where to stay. If interested they have a great credit card, the one is $90 a year but it gives you 90,000 points the first year and 30,000 a year after that. You can easily stay 2-3 times traveling near the highway with 30,000 points. They also have a no fee card with lesser points. I use it for traveling to and from my timeshares mostly, and it works great.

 

[Skyyblueplaya]

I can't say much for other brands: Hyatt, IHG and Marriott but I work for Hilton, namely HGV and I work here BECAUSE the benefits are amazing to the consumer. It's enticed me enough to continue working for them so I can enjoy the same cool amenities at a MUCH less price. That being said: I would say Embassy Suites would be my favorite one to tell people to look for.

The name says it all EMBASSY. SUITES. The rooms are always a SUITE. Meaning you walk into the "living room" and you've got your sofa and small kitchenette area (microwave and fridge included!) and the bedroom door in the back leads to your private SLEEPING area. ALWAYS a must for travel! I dont want people sitting on my bed while im trying to sleep in it!

The evening reception: HAPPENS EVERY NIGHT thats open bar for usually about 4-5 hours, in the lounge lingering with the other guests (if thats not your thing you can take you drinks to go too) and in the morning OMELETS ARE MADE.... made to order fresh free omelets. Lots of breakfast options: Bacon, sausage, biscuits and gravy (sometimes) I mean its not 5 star dining but it's a great spread that you dont have to cook yourself of pay $15 a person for.

AGAIN... im not being paid to say this LOL and my boss doesn't GAF im here. Obviously I like this brand thats why I continue to work here and sell their name, I like what they're selling!





I will be honest tho, I hear that Marriott properies are where you go if you wanna be SPOILED but again, as someone else mentioned: Hilton properties are EVERYWHERE.

I didnt grow up with anything marriott in my childhood. Never heard of them until I left North Carolina. But EVERYONE has stayed in a Hampton Inn.

If i've ever stayed in a HOLIDAY INN i alwasy regarded it as the "less fancy, cheaper" option. Sometimes, especially lately many Holiday Inns are being made more in the fashion of a Hampton, therefore elevating the experience of what mid-range travel hotels should be. Holiday Inn was always closer to a Motel 6 IMHO

 

[Skyyblueplaya]

Regardless of the points required, the biggest issue for me with Hyatt is the small footprint in term of locations.

With any of the chains, it may really come down to which one has hotels in places you want to visit.

PLACES YOU WANNA VISIT

THIS IS THE PART people fail to realize.

Same with timeshares.

Sometimes its not even where you WANT to visit.... its places you HAVE to.

 

[Dori]

As a special treat, we have stayed at Embassy Suites in Niagara Falls, Ontario. Accommodations were excellent and the breakfast was delicious!

Dori

 

[Brett]

I can't say much for other brands: Hyatt, IHG and Marriott but I work for Hilton, namely HGV and I work here BECAUSE the benefits are amazing to the consumer. It's enticed me enough to continue working for them so I can enjoy the same cool amenities at a MUCH less price. That being said: I would say Embassy Suites would be my favorite one to tell people to look for.

The name says it all EMBASSY. SUITES. The rooms are always a SUITE. Meaning you walk into the "living room" and you've got your sofa and small kitchenette area (microwave and fridge included!) and the bedroom door in the back leads to your private SLEEPING area. ALWAYS a must for travel! I dont want people sitting on my bed while im trying to sleep in it!

The evening reception: HAPPENS EVERY NIGHT thats open bar for usually about 4-5 hours, in the lounge lingering with the other guests (if thats not your thing you can take you drinks to go too) and in the morning OMELETS ARE MADE.... made to order fresh free omelets. Lots of breakfast options: Bacon, sausage, biscuits and gravy (sometimes) I mean its not 5 star dining but it's a great spread that you dont have to cook yourself of pay $15 a person for.

AGAIN... im not being paid to say this LOL and my boss doesn't GAF im here. Obviously I like this brand thats why I continue to work here and sell their name, I like what they're selling!





I will be honest tho, I hear that Marriott properies are where you go if you wanna be SPOILED but again, as someone else mentioned: Hilton properties are EVERYWHERE.

I didnt grow up with anything marriott in my childhood. Never heard of them until I left North Carolina. But EVERYONE has stayed in a Hampton Inn.

If i've ever stayed in a HOLIDAY INN i alwasy regarded it as the "less fancy, cheaper" option. Sometimes, especially lately many Holiday Inns are being made more in the fashion of a Hampton, therefore elevating the experience of what mid-range travel hotels should be. Holiday Inn was always closer to a Motel 6 IMHO

I'm not sure Holiday Inn is close(er) to a Motel 6 but if you work for Hilton then I understand you're probably going to recommend Hilton

 

[jp10558]

I'm not sure Holiday Inn is close(er) to a Motel 6 but if you work for Hilton then I understand you're probably going to recommend Hilton

I don't work for Hilton, but I do recommend it as a real sweet spot between price and quality AND availability (in the hotels). Though Embassy Suites aren't everywhere, I do need to remember to look for that on my next overnight trip to a timshare. I should compare with the longer stay hotels here.

 

[VacationForever]

I'm not sure Holiday Inn is close(er) to a Motel 6 but if you work for Hilton then I understand you're probably going to recommend Hilton

We did a roadtrip about 15 years ago and we booked at 2 Holiday Inn Express and that would be the last time we ever did that. The beds were as hard as wooden planks. I used to stay at Holiday Inn hotels, not Express, occasionally for work and it wasn't bad. I think the Motel 6 comparison would be valid for Holiday Inn Express hotesl.