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General Discussion => Essentially Flyertalk => Topic started by: Catchacold on January 27, 2011, 03:13:31 PM

Title: hotels
Post by: Catchacold on January 27, 2011, 03:13:31 PM
Hotels are fun.  What's a good hotel you've stayed at recently?

The Drury in Flagstaff is pretty elite.  "The Extras Aren't Extra"  :party:
Title: Re: hotels
Post by: wetwillie on January 27, 2011, 03:15:21 PM
Hotels are fun.  What's a good hotel you've stayed at recently?

The Drury in Flagstaff is pretty elite.  "The Extras Aren't Extra"  :party:

Have stayed at the Ramada in Flagstaff (wouldn't recommend) might be tucky of me but I love Flagstaff.
Title: Re: hotels
Post by: pissclams on January 27, 2011, 03:19:30 PM
i hate hotels.  bed bugs and non-washed comforters.  seriously, gross, but a necessity. 
Title: Re: hotels
Post by: jmlynch1 on January 27, 2011, 03:21:58 PM
Staying at a Drury in downtown St. Louis next week. Free booze sounds nice.
Title: Re: hotels
Post by: steve dave on January 27, 2011, 03:28:06 PM
best business budget brand - Hilton Garden Inn (free business center, free breakfast for hilton golds, easy in and out)

best business regular brand - Embassy Suites (usually will cost a bit more than the local Hilton Garden Inn but the managers reception and free breakfast for all customers are nice.  Also enjoy all the extra room and the fact that they are usually right next to the convention center of wherever you are)

best vacation brand - Westin (always seem to have good locations and usually have trendy bars/restaurants. usually a convenience store type place in house and most have pretty great pool bars)

best higher end vacation brand - Hyatt (pretty much all the same things I said about Westin but a little nicer and a little more expensive.  I usually go with a Westin if both are available unless I can get into a Hyatt at roughly the same price)

best award miles/points program - SPG (rick daris and I have gone over this a lot in the credit card thread but they have by far the easiest to use program with tons of options for using points)

best status program - HH (hilton will give you free breakfasts, upgrades to club floor and additional mileage just for reaching gold status.  You can get extra mileage with other programs but you usually won't sniff club lounge access until you reach their highest tier.  I can't even get a room upgrade as a Hyatt Platinum which is above their gold tier. All they offer is the best available room in my category booked.)

Title: Re: hotels
Post by: j rake on January 27, 2011, 03:32:24 PM
Comfort Suites is amazing.

(https://goemaw.com/forum/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fimg703.imageshack.us%2Fimg703%2F5467%2Fsleep051.gif&hash=3170832e1e4400413971e23b1fc6dac5573e9092)
Title: Re: hotels
Post by: Poster formerly known as jthutch on January 27, 2011, 03:39:07 PM
The Western Holiday On dugan Rd in Wichita is great.  Also the Motel 6  :thumbsup:
Title: Re: hotels
Post by: bakerman on January 27, 2011, 04:05:05 PM
best business budget brand - Hilton Garden Inn (free business center, free breakfast for hilton golds, easy in and out)

best business regular brand - Embassy Suites (usually will cost a bit more than the local Hilton Garden Inn but the managers reception and free breakfast for all customers are nice.  Also enjoy all the extra room and the fact that they are usually right next to the convention center of wherever you are)

best vacation brand - Westin (always seem to have good locations and usually have trendy bars/restaurants. usually a convenience store type place in house and most have pretty great pool bars)

best higher end vacation brand - Hyatt (pretty much all the same things I said about Westin but a little nicer and a little more expensive.  I usually go with a Westin if both are available unless I can get into a Hyatt at roughly the same price)

best award miles/points program - SPG (rick daris and I have gone over this a lot in the credit card thread but they have by far the easiest to use program with tons of options for using points)

best status program - HH (hilton will give you free breakfasts, upgrades to club floor and additional mileage just for reaching gold status.  You can get extra mileage with other programs but you usually won't sniff club lounge access until you reach their highest tier.  I can't even get a room upgrade as a Hyatt Platinum which is above their gold tier. All they offer is the best available room in my category booked.)



^Definitely agree with this. They treat you like a GOD when you hit the Diamond level.

Title: Re: hotels
Post by: gokatgo on January 27, 2011, 04:36:48 PM
Courtyard by Marriott, downtown Denver. Lots of stuff within walking distance which is good because I hate driving drunk in unfamiliar cities
Title: Re: hotels
Post by: ChiComCat on January 27, 2011, 06:44:19 PM
Courtyard by Marriott, downtown Denver. Lots of stuff within walking distance which is good because I hate driving drunk in unfamiliar cities

Just take KSU Brian with you, I don't think he cares how familiar the cities are
Title: Re: hotels
Post by: Ghost of Stan Parrish on January 27, 2011, 08:50:10 PM
Can't recall staying at a hotel I didn't enjoy.  (European hostels I stayed at as a poor college student are a different story.)  Like steve dave, one of my dream jobs would be travel writer.*

*I've realized SD is my total doppelganger on this page.  It's unsettling to me.
Title: Re: hotels
Post by: Dr Rick Daris on January 27, 2011, 09:02:52 PM
Can't recall staying at a hotel I didn't enjoy.  (European hostels I stayed at as a poor college student are a different story.)  Like steve dave, one of my dream jobs would be travel writer.*

*I've realized SD is my total doppelganger on this page.  It's unsettling to me.

you and i both know the husband of a person who used to work for arthur frommers budget travel magazine. damn. missed oppy. she/they still live in new york but when i saw her two months ago she was freelancing now or something. i'll put you in touch if you're actually serious which you might not be.
Title: Re: hotels
Post by: Ghost of Stan Parrish on January 27, 2011, 09:13:28 PM
Can't recall staying at a hotel I didn't enjoy.  (European hostels I stayed at as a poor college student are a different story.)  Like steve dave, one of my dream jobs would be travel writer.*

*I've realized SD is my total doppelganger on this page.  It's unsettling to me.

you and i both know the husband of a person who used to work for arthur frommers budget travel magazine. damn. missed oppy. she/they still live in new york but when i saw her two months ago she was freelancing now or something. i'll put you in touch if you're actually serious which you might not be.

That's great!  But one of my other dream jobs is actually the job I have now, so I guess I'll stay put.  ALTHO, I do appreciate the offer to hook up a broMHSer.   :cheers:
Title: Re: hotels
Post by: steve dave on January 27, 2011, 09:23:58 PM
*I've realized SD is my total doppelganger on this page.  It's unsettling to me.
congrats bro
Title: Re: hotels
Post by: Dr Rick Daris on January 27, 2011, 09:27:50 PM
Can't recall staying at a hotel I didn't enjoy.  (European hostels I stayed at as a poor college student are a different story.)  Like steve dave, one of my dream jobs would be travel writer.*

*I've realized SD is my total doppelganger on this page.  It's unsettling to me.

you and i both know the husband of a person who used to work for arthur frommers budget travel magazine. damn. missed oppy. she/they still live in new york but when i saw her two months ago she was freelancing now or something. i'll put you in touch if you're actually serious which you might not be.

That's great!  But one of my other dream jobs is actually the job I have now, so I guess I'll stay put.  ALTHO, I do appreciate the offer to hook up a broMHSer.   :cheers:

What are your thoughts on staying at a hostel in san diego that was ranked as the #1 hostel in the entire united states of america? would you stay there or pay 1-2 hundred more per night to stay at one of the numerous hotels that surround it? i have a feeling i know but still... :dunno:

http://www.usahostels.com/sandiego/index.html?lang=10



Title: Re: hotels
Post by: yoga-like_abana on January 27, 2011, 09:31:11 PM
stay @ the hostel daris. I wouldn't even consider that one a hostel its just to nice.

also have you seen the expansion being done @ mhs  :horrorsurprise:
Title: Re: hotels
Post by: Dr Rick Daris on January 27, 2011, 09:34:26 PM
stay @ the hostel daris. I wouldn't even consider that one a hostel its just to nice.

also have you seen the expansion being done @ mhs  :horrorsurprise:

yeah that as kinda my thought. it is insanely nice hostel wise (assumption) and in the heart of the place i am already staying at/want to stay at. plus, i can be like oh yeah man, crap bro, i stayed at a hostel in san diego once and....

not sure about the mhs expansion, i mean i drive past it whenever i go to the zoo and stuff but not totally sure what all is going on. where is everyone going to park?
Title: Re: hotels
Post by: KSUTOMMY on January 28, 2011, 05:41:47 AM
Stayed in a hotel in MD that had the elite sleep number beds... unbelievable!!!
Title: Re: hotels
Post by: Jeffy on January 28, 2011, 07:30:08 AM
Western Hills in Hill City.
Title: Re: hotels
Post by: Ghost of Stan Parrish on January 28, 2011, 10:38:42 AM

What are your thoughts on staying at a hostel in san diego that was ranked as the #1 hostel in the entire united states of america? would you stay there or pay 1-2 hundred more per night to stay at one of the numerous hotels that surround it? i have a feeling i know but still... :dunno:

http://www.usahostels.com/sandiego/index.html?lang=10


Go forth and conquer that hostel.  I only stayed at a hostel once in the U.S. -- it was years ago in Boston, and it was basically empty because it was January/February and wicked cold.  It seemed like the hostel would be "good enough" even it was full, though.  Ya know?  I'm also like you in that I can appreciate a little pain if it leads to a good story.  (Like last month, when I got locked out of my apartment and almost missed a morning flight because I didn't realize until I got home @ 3 a.m. that I had lost my keys riding a mechanical bull.)

Do it!
Title: Re: hotels
Post by: steve dave on January 28, 2011, 10:39:22 AM
I had lost my keys riding a mechanical bull

Title: Re: hotels
Post by: Ghost of Stan Parrish on January 28, 2011, 10:40:41 AM
*I've realized SD is my total doppelganger on this page.  It's unsettling to me.
congrats bro


The really disturbing part is that you say what I'm thinking, except in a much more clever way.   :embarrassed:
Title: Re: hotels
Post by: Dr Rick Daris on January 28, 2011, 10:43:25 AM
*I've realized SD is my total doppelganger on this page.  It's unsettling to me.
congrats bro


The really disturbing part is that you say what I'm thinking, except in a much more clever way.   :embarrassed:

sd wouldn't stay in that hostel though. maybe i am your doppleganger but just not as clever.  :dunno:
Title: Re: hotels
Post by: Stupid Fitz on January 28, 2011, 12:09:22 PM
best business budget brand - Hilton Garden Inn (free business center, free breakfast for hilton golds, easy in and out)

best business regular brand - Embassy Suites (usually will cost a bit more than the local Hilton Garden Inn but the managers reception and free breakfast for all customers are nice.  Also enjoy all the extra room and the fact that they are usually right next to the convention center of wherever you are)

best vacation brand - Westin (always seem to have good locations and usually have trendy bars/restaurants. usually a convenience store type place in house and most have pretty great pool bars)

best higher end vacation brand - Hyatt (pretty much all the same things I said about Westin but a little nicer and a little more expensive.  I usually go with a Westin if both are available unless I can get into a Hyatt at roughly the same price)

best award miles/points program - SPG (rick daris and I have gone over this a lot in the credit card thread but they have by far the easiest to use program with tons of options for using points)

best status program - HH (hilton will give you free breakfasts, upgrades to club floor and additional mileage just for reaching gold status.  You can get extra mileage with other programs but you usually won't sniff club lounge access until you reach their highest tier.  I can't even get a room upgrade as a Hyatt Platinum which is above their gold tier. All they offer is the best available room in my category booked.)



^Definitely agree with this. They treat you like a GOD when you hit the Diamond level.



Marriott is the same with Platinum level.  I could kill the maid and they would give me extra points for my "inconvenience"
Title: Re: hotels
Post by: slucat on January 28, 2011, 03:42:21 PM
Diamond status Choice Priviliges...
 :goodbyecruelworld:
Title: Re: hotels
Post by: ChiComCat on January 28, 2011, 05:26:45 PM
Stayed in a hotel in MD that had the elite sleep number beds... unbelievable!!!

Crowne Plaza by chance?  A lot have sleep numbers
Title: Re: hotels
Post by: steve dave on January 28, 2011, 05:28:14 PM
Stayed in a hotel in MD that had the elite sleep number beds... unbelievable!!!

Crowne Plaza by chance?  A lot have sleep numbers

Hilton Garden Inns have their signature bed of some sort with adjustable firmness but I don't know what kind of bed it actually is.  Westin's and some Sheratons have the Westin Heavenly bed that's not adjustable but is pretty nice. 
Title: Re: hotels
Post by: Pete on January 28, 2011, 05:54:37 PM
Here's the thing, most of the people I work with are either huge Marriott people, or huge Hilton people....it's very divisive when you are traveling in a group and want to have common arrangements.  I land in the middle.  I enjoy both a great deal.  I hate it when I have to stay in a brand outside of those two families.  However, I have had some very, very good Starwood experiences.
Title: Re: hotels
Post by: steve dave on January 28, 2011, 05:59:01 PM
Here's the thing, most of the people I work with are either huge Marriott people, or huge Hilton people....it's very divisive when you are traveling in a group and want to have common arrangements.  I land in the middle.  I enjoy both a great deal.  I hate it when I have to stay in a brand outside of those two families.  However, I have had some very, very good Starwood experiences.

yeah, starwood is the best, for business though they just don't have the footprint.  They are much more of a vacation brand imo.  But, for work, Hilton, IHC and Marriott are the players.  They have the most locations and brands that go up and down the sliding scale of cost/niceness.  Once you choose one, you have to stick with it for status/points.  I chose Hilton right out of college and have stuck with it.  The only IHC property I really ever stay at is the one in Manhattan though I like a lot of their properties. 
Title: Re: hotels
Post by: Pete on January 28, 2011, 06:01:15 PM
Here's the thing, most of the people I work with are either huge Marriott people, or huge Hilton people....it's very divisive when you are traveling in a group and want to have common arrangements.  I land in the middle.  I enjoy both a great deal.  I hate it when I have to stay in a brand outside of those two families.  However, I have had some very, very good Starwood experiences.

yeah, starwood is the best, for business though they just don't have the footprint.  They are much more of a vacation brand imo.  But, for work, Hilton, IHC and Marriott are the players.  They have the most locations and brands that go up and down the sliding scale of cost/niceness.  Once you choose one, you have to stick with it for status/points.  I chose Hilton right out of college and have stuck with it.  The only IHC property I really ever stay at is the one in Manhattan though I like a lot of their properties. 

That's the bitch of it for me...I have to basically go at the whim of my clients or partners when it comes to hotel selection.
Title: Re: hotels
Post by: steve dave on January 28, 2011, 06:02:06 PM
I almost bailed on Hilton though when they devalued their points about a year ago.  Pissed me off like you wouldn't believe.  Basically every property went up in price (in reward points) by 25%.   :dubious:
Title: Re: hotels
Post by: steve dave on January 28, 2011, 06:05:23 PM
Here's the thing, most of the people I work with are either huge Marriott people, or huge Hilton people....it's very divisive when you are traveling in a group and want to have common arrangements.  I land in the middle.  I enjoy both a great deal.  I hate it when I have to stay in a brand outside of those two families.  However, I have had some very, very good Starwood experiences.

yeah, starwood is the best, for business though they just don't have the footprint.  They are much more of a vacation brand imo.  But, for work, Hilton, IHC and Marriott are the players.  They have the most locations and brands that go up and down the sliding scale of cost/niceness.  Once you choose one, you have to stick with it for status/points.  I chose Hilton right out of college and have stuck with it.  The only IHC property I really ever stay at is the one in Manhattan though I like a lot of their properties. 

That's the bitch of it for me...I have to basically go at the whim of my clients or partners when it comes to hotel selection.

yeah, that sucks.  we have our own expedia style travel website through american express where the properties will say if they qualify for my company's travel program.   They are ranked 1-3 stars by the requirements they meet (I think the only requirement is price actually but they don't come out and say it) and I am supposed to choose one from category that has the most stars.  Luckily, most of hotels anywhere I go get 3 stars and I stay pretty much wherever I want.
Title: Re: hotels
Post by: pissclams on January 28, 2011, 06:05:51 PM
i heard that if you get to the Hilton Diamond Club that you get to sex paris.  roll cats roll.
Title: Re: hotels
Post by: steve dave on January 28, 2011, 06:08:37 PM
i heard that if you get to the Hilton Diamond Club that you get to sex paris.  roll cats roll.

fear the beard
Title: Re: hotels
Post by: Stupid Fitz on January 29, 2011, 11:26:24 AM
Here's the thing, most of the people I work with are either huge Marriott people, or huge Hilton people....it's very divisive when you are traveling in a group and want to have common arrangements.  I land in the middle.  I enjoy both a great deal.  I hate it when I have to stay in a brand outside of those two families.  However, I have had some very, very good Starwood experiences.

Yep, strictly Marriott for me and I get all  :chainsaw: if I am somewhere that I have to deviate.  The good thing about Marriott is that this rarely happens.  Even in the crap towns you can usually find a Fairfield which are crapty, but still Marriotts. 
Title: Re: hotels
Post by: Dr Rick Daris on January 29, 2011, 11:50:50 AM
i love starwood. everything about them. just love it. i think maybe the website and how gosh darn nice and friendly it is makes me like their properties even more. plus that william guy on flyertalk. i mean holy cow they really know how to do it up right. hiltons and marriots and everywhere else are just like, gosh...why don't you guys try a little harder. i mean really.
Title: Re: hotels
Post by: Dugout DickStone on January 29, 2011, 12:36:53 PM
Can't recall staying at a hotel I didn't enjoy.  (European hostels I stayed at as a poor college student are a different story.)  Like steve dave, one of my dream jobs would be travel writer.*

*I've realized SD is my total doppelganger on this page.  It's unsettling to me.

you and i both know the husband of a person who used to work for arthur frommers budget travel magazine. damn. missed oppy. she/they still live in new york but when i saw her two months ago she was freelancing now or something. i'll put you in touch if you're actually serious which you might not be.

Who?
Title: Re: hotels
Post by: steve dave on January 29, 2011, 01:47:31 PM
i love starwood. everything about them. just love it. i think maybe the website and how gosh darn nice and friendly it is makes me like their properties even more. plus that william guy on flyertalk. i mean holy cow they really know how to do it up right. hiltons and marriots and everywhere else are just like, gosh...why don't you guys try a little harder. i mean really.

this is a good summarization