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I find Homewood Suites consistently a better standard than Staybridge Suites (in the US anyway, the Liverpool one was really nice!)
I paid 28k points for Staybridge Suites for one night at MCO the other week, and that was in the points sale. I’ve seen them much higher than that on some dates. It was fine for one night but a bit ropy.
In terms of pricing for the major chains I use, I’d put them in this order (most expensive to least expensive for typical three- to five-star properties of similar standards):
Marriott
Hilton
IHG
AccorMarriott prices in Europe at least seem to have become disconnected from reality since the end of the pandemic; it’s one reason why I’ve now started looking at Accor as a budget-friendly alternative (massive footprint with lots of budget options).
When I looked at Accor, I was tempted by their low prices but they seem to attach a heavy markup if you want a cancellable booking. At one hotel, the flexible rate was 20% higher than the prepaid one.
Then you have to pay breakfast on top.In contrast, Hotel 17 in Manhattan is $1800 for
the whole month of Oct.! 30 days’ minimum stay
and admittedly for a single with shared bathroom, but still…!!That might work if you were actually 17, @Michael, but otherwise sounds dire 😂
That might work if you were actually 17, @Michael, but otherwise sounds dire 😂
;o)))))))
Don’t like Hilton prices? Don’t stay in a Hilton.
The USA is crazy expensive these days, but the big chains often massively overcharge. Corporate customers may have limited options, expense the bill to their employer, and must be ‘bribed’ with discount schemes and loyalty schemes. Many leisure travellers will overpay because they’re chasing status, want free breakfast, have an upgrade voucher, booked through FHR for extra benefits, have an affiliated credit card, or are too risk-averse to stay in an unfamiliar name.
The cost of all these freebies pushes up the base cost and leaves the casual punter out of pocket. For personal trips, I always look outside the big five, and almost always find better value, better quality, or both.
Economics 101.
Don’t like Hilton prices? Don’t stay in a Hilton.
Economics 101.
Wow sage advice.
I think at least part of my query is around the astounding lack of price competition in this part of the sector, and my original assertion that perhaps I should have focussed on IHG instead, whose prices are more reasonable.
Also it seems the taxes have increased quite a lot with ones around Atlanta adding 15% on top of the indicated price plus another $5 for good measure, and anything near downtown sites is $50 for parking. And compared with European properties the condition and facilities are shit.IHG has definitely been getting my business for 1/2 night cash stays this year. I need quite a lot of airport overnights this year and filter by airport shuttle and/or free parking. Breakfast if included is a bonus, but not essential at this level (they all seem to have free hot & cold drinks in the lobby anyway!) Just from airport stays this year I should get my confirmable suite upgrade. My most recent use of one of these translated to a cash value of around $3k, which is more than the cost of the hotel stays which triggered it!
@RonnieB, what I was trying to say is that the astounding lack of price competition is due to the astounding lack of price sensitivity shown by a large proportion of Hilton customers for the reasons I’ve explained. Other hotels aren’t in that position and must compete on price instead, and that’s where value is to be found.
@RonnieB – I don’t know if it’s relevant, but I was amazed (or perhaps I shouldn’t have been) when looking for a hotel for one night in Buenos Aires next month following a flight cancellation and our ‘go to’ being unavailable that all the big chains were horrendously expensive vs independents.
There’s a hotel – the Alvear Palace which is the ‘grande dame’ of the city which is far cheaper than the nearby Melia, Sofitel, badly located Hilton or Sheraton etc. This can only be driven by points/brand driven punters. We have gone for a small independent that we checked out on our way through the city earlier this month and it’s a fraction of the price of really soulless chains with tiny box rooms but you get a huge suite plus top location.
Yes interesting points of view, similar to the airline status issue.
In general I think Hilton have taken their eye off the ball a little, but there are properties that keep me satisfied, at least in the UK. 30 stays is achievable so still worth it I think at those properties that do look after their regular customers.
My main irritation is simply with the inflated reward night prices, normally in UK I’m a cash buyer
In general I think Hilton have taken their eye off the ball a little,
When they have flooded the credit card market in US with cheap status, it’s not unexpected that they now have a captive audience that can be taken advantage of. Have a friend in the states who got the Aspire card and will only book Hilton even if it’s just the Hampton that is within his budget.
Hyatt have gone for the opposite approach by not giving away status easily. Let’s see who does better in the long run.
There’s a hotel – the Alvear Palace which is the ‘grande dame’ of the city which is far cheaper than the nearby Melia, Sofitel, badly located Hilton or Sheraton etc.
Am curious how you shortlist the hotels or where you start the research.
@RonnieB – I don’t know if it’s relevant, but I was amazed (or perhaps I shouldn’t have been) when looking for a hotel for one night in Buenos Aires next month following a flight cancellation and our ‘go to’ being unavailable that all the big chains were horrendously expensive vs independents.
I did mention this when I was researching my trip. The Marriott and IC wanted 500/night for a basic room. I ended up in an airbnb triplex apartment in Palermo for 170/night. 2 balconies. a roof terrace and a very good parrilla underneath.
You’ll be shocked at the prices of food and that pretty much every restaurant is deserted due to the fact the locals now can’t afford to eat out. Looking at screen shots of menus prices have at least doubled in the last year.
There’s a hotel – the Alvear Palace which is the ‘grande dame’ of the city which is far cheaper than the nearby Melia, Sofitel, badly located Hilton or Sheraton etc.
Am curious how you shortlist the hotels or where you start the research.
If it’s somewhere we don’t know or have any particular recommendation, Booking.com or Agoda (even though it’s the same family) is a good place to start and it was ordering it by price, highest to lowest that suddenly puts all the brand names at the top. I have noticed it in Beijing where the Waldorf Astoria is generally more expensive than the Peninsula which is more or less over the road when the Peninsula is a totally different calibre of hotel.
@RonnieB – I don’t know if it’s relevant, but I was amazed (or perhaps I shouldn’t have been) when looking for a hotel for one night in Buenos Aires next month following a flight cancellation and our ‘go to’ being unavailable that all the big chains were horrendously expensive vs independents.
I did mention this when I was researching my trip. The Marriott and IC wanted 500/night for a basic room. I ended up in an airbnb triplex apartment in Palermo for 170/night. 2 balconies. a roof terrace and a very good parrilla underneath.
You’ll be shocked at the prices of food and that pretty much every restaurant is deserted due to the fact the locals now can’t afford to eat out. Looking at screen shots of menus prices have at least doubled in the last year.
@davefl – I think you were in Bs As during the summer holidays which is why things may have seemed deserted. We have been in Argentina for just over three weeks now and have been pleasantly surprised by the prices generally and restaurants are heaving. I was nervous because inflation was still 100% last year and the currency hasn’t helped us this year.There are places that are attempting to take advantage of tourists and I suspect they aren’t busy, but the stalwarts are just fine. A bottle of decent wine in a smart Recoleta restaurant for £10 still feels a bargain! Around Mendoza remains expensive. Cafayate, with a few dodgy exceptions, remains very cheap. One thing we have noticed is a higher discount than previously for cash, now often 20% rather than 10%.
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