Help me plan my US trip please [was Hilton or Marriott – best for US stays?]
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I am booking a trip to US, where I would like to use as many award nights as possible, since I am points rich and cash poor at the moment. I have a huge stash of MR points which I am looking to use for this trip.
Both my OH & I value a good breakfast, which quite frankly is a dealbreaker for us. I remember reading somewhere that some chains in the US offer a meagre $10 breakfast credit these days instead of a proper breakfast. I think it was Hilton which did this during Covid, but I am not sure what the current situation is like in the US in terms of free breakfast. If someone can share their recent experience, that would be much appreciated.
Also, we are Hilton & Marriott Gold through Amex Platinum. I know Marriott Gold doesn’t come with free breakfast, but Hilton does. At the same time, I am conscious that a $10 credit is pretty much useless for a breakfast in any Hilton property. Given this, which is a better chain to book for US stays? Should we ditch Hilton for Marriott for our US stays because if you take free breakfast out of the equation, I don’t really have a preference. I just want the best value in terms of the points I will be spending,
In the US Hilton offers daily $15 to $18 F&B credit per guest for up to 2 guests for Gold members. It can be used on breakfast or other F&B, but the implementation is variable. At HGI the credit is $10.
Hilton has never offered full breakfast for gold and diamond, only continental, but most hotels outside the US go beyond what the terms and conditions require them to provide.
We found the 2 x $15 almost paid for one b/f, so just added the price of the other onto the room
price when budgeting/doing calculations (also big breakfast fans!).Of course, the Hampton Inns have b/f included, but maybe not so “good” or “proper”!! Good VFM, though…
Embassy Suites is a Hilton brand with an OK buffet breakfast that should be included (well, it is for cash bookings). Avoid Hampton Inns; they are the pits of American breakfasts.
Homewood Suites (my go to in the US), Hampton Inn (variable quality, breakfast a bit ropey, as above) and Embassy Suites all include buffet breakfast and tend not to levy “resort” fees, though you shouldn’t have to pay these anyway if using points (for now!)
There’s a Marriott chain which offers free breakfast – I think it’s Fairfield Suites. We stayed in one last winter and while the accommodation was ok, the breakfast was very similar to Hampton’s. Also, if the hotel charges resort fees, you will be charged regardless of how you pay. We did a points stay in Key West on the same trip, and the parking charge and resort fees for 5 nights came to nearly $400!
Homewood Suites (my go to in the US), Hampton Inn (variable quality, breakfast a bit ropey, as above) and Embassy Suites all include buffet breakfast and tend not to levy “resort” fees, though you shouldn’t have to pay these anyway if using points (for now!)
There’s a Marriott chain which offers free breakfast – I think it’s Fairfield Suites. We stayed in one last winter and while the accommodation was ok, the breakfast was very similar to Hampton’s. Also, if the hotel charges resort fees, you will be charged regardless of how you pay. We did a points stay in Key West on the same trip, and the parking charge and resort fees for 5 nights came to nearly $400!
Fairfield Penn Station has been one of our NYC go-to hotels since it opened: brilliant location as the name suggests, the great US double-double rooms, and an okay-ish breakfast to at least have something to start the day. Oh, and a VERY nice rooftop bar (with Happy Hour!) to boot. Cash prices vary wildly, the 5-nights for 4 points deal can be excellent.
For anyone that ‘values a good breakfast’ I’d offer that none of the mid range suite hotels come close. Expect low quality sausage, powdered eggs and carbs as far as the horizon. Embassy suites is a little better, in that they typically have an omelette station that offers a step up from the bulk made scrambled eggs of the other options. None of these places have anything close to coffee.
None of these offer anything approaching the quality of a McDonald’s breakfast to offer context.Doesn’t change your brand selection but may change your booking itinerary: remember both Hilton and Marriott offer 5th night free on reward bookings (on booking of 5+ nights cheapest night is free).
Sorry to piggyback on your post OP, but a few mentions of suites, just wondering if these tend to actually have a kitchen/kitchenette? I have a toddler, and having at least a fridge and microwave is essential, (not so much an oven or stove, but nice to have).
Embassy suites?
Homewood suites?
Fairfield suites?Any others?
I tend to favour Marriott for points bookings as you get 5-4-4 even without status, but likely to upgrade to Amex Plat for the current bonus, so would be Hilton Gold through there, and so the 5-4-4 option would be available to me.
The question that hasn’t been asked is where in the US are you going. If you are cash poor and points rich I would say stay at the best hotel in the area you can afford on points and buy breakfast elsewhere in cash. If your hotel is free, you can justify spending a bit more on breakfast?
If breakfast is that important to you, most places free breakfast is not going to be amazing. If wherever you are going had a Marriott and a Hilton and they are about the same in terms of qualify and location then maybe choose Hilton with the breakfast credit and see if you like it, if not then from day 2 go elsewhere as the credit is free.
@aq.1988 – Homewood Suites have a full kitchen and most suites have separate bedroom and living room with sofa bed which makes them ideal for families. I am a very big fan, especially as they can be a steal on points – as low as 35k pn for some properties.
@aq.1988 – Homewood Suites have a full kitchen and most suites have separate bedroom and living room with sofa bed which makes them ideal for families. I am a very big fan, especially as they can be a steal on points – as low as 35k pn for some properties.
Thanks @NorthernLass, that’s useful to know.
I’ve also managed to find the below link which I’ve saved for later.
https://upgradedpoints.com/travel/hotels/hotel-brands-with-kitchens/
Thanks every one for your responses. It was really helpful. I have always overlooked Homewood and Embassy Suites until now, but I will give them a due consideration this time. Thank you.
@Reney: The list of places we are doing is rather large so I skipped it. But here’s the list: SFO, LAS, LAX, SAN, HNL, ORD, IAD, IAH, MSY, MIA, MCO and BDA.Also, can I clarify on something please? If I skip the breakfast at the Hiltons, can I use the breakfast credits for ancillary services like laundry or room service?
Thanks.SFO, LAS
I’d suggest picking your SFO hotel based on where youre wanting to do things. Dont pick a downtown hotel if most of what youre doing is in wharf or the piers, its a pita moving between the two.
And I wouldnt pick a hilton/marriott in vegas (cant comment on resorts world tho as Ive not been there but the location is too far out imo). Theres so many more fun/nice/interesting hotels.
I did 1 night at the embassy suites in vegas, they had a free drinks hour.. nothing says class more than serving wine in a paper cup 😀
Thanks every one for your responses. It was really helpful. I have always overlooked Homewood and Embassy Suites until now, but I will give them a due consideration this time. Thank you.
@Reney: The list of places we are doing is rather large so I skipped it. But here’s the list: SFO, LAS, LAX, SAN, HNL, ORD, IAD, IAH, MSY, MIA, MCO and BDA.Also, can I clarify on something please? If I skip the breakfast at the Hiltons, can I use the breakfast credits for ancillary services like laundry or room service?
Thanks.Hilton credit only valid on Food & Beverage spend
SFO, LAS
I’d suggest picking your SFO hotel based on where youre wanting to do things. Dont pick a downtown hotel if most of what youre doing is in wharf or the piers, its a pita moving between the two.
And I wouldnt pick a hilton/marriott in vegas (cant comment on resorts world tho as Ive not been there but the location is too far out imo). Theres so many more fun/nice/interesting hotels.
I did 1 night at the embassy suites in vegas, they had a free drinks hour.. nothing says class more than serving wine in a paper cup 😀
I’m actually a fan of Resorts World. All the hotels are new, it smells smoke-free due to newer air flow tech, it’s away from the crowded part of The Strip but still only 2 blocks to Fashion Show Mall and across to the Wynn and Palazzo. Also the Resorts World outdoor area is not overshadowed by any nearby edifice.
Thanks every one for your responses. It was really helpful. I have always overlooked Homewood and Embassy Suites until now, but I will give them a due consideration this time. Thank you.
Thanks.
I don’t want to labour the point but if you value a good breakfast and describe it as a deal breaker then this class of hotel makes no sense. If what you meant was a free breakfast, then it makes perfect sense. I’m not snobby about it and have stayed in all these brands. But they simply do not offer a good breakfast. You will get a better breakfast at any fast food chain or diner.
One of them, I think Homes2Suites by Hilton, offer plastic wrapped pastries and microwaves, it’s really the poorest option. Close behind is I think Springhill Suites (Marriott) which guarantee one hot item, which at the bottom end can mean egg one day and sausage the next. Many individual hotels exceed the brand minimum, but I’ve stayed in at least one where the breakfast was this poor (Albuquerque if it matters).
@Tiger that looks like an amazing itinerary you have put together! I am sure that with your destinations now listed you may get some execellent specific recommendations from all the helpful experts on here 🙂
Let me start you off with the Oceana Santa Monica, a Hilton LXR redemption, if you fancy pushing the boat out a bit! 100k points per night but this compares to cash rates of >GBP1k per night. We were there last October iirc and points redemptions book into lovely suites. There was a daily USD50 F&B credit that would just about cover a breakfast dish each but we used it on their ruinously expensive bottles of house wine in the evenings! In any event, we preferred to head down to the beach or into town to eat.
Also, have you considered IHG too? I know it is not as easy to convert AMEX MRs to IHG points but it can be done at 1:1 via Virgin. We found the HIEs servicable in many places in the US and they always include breakfasts. Similarly, the Kimpton Alton SFO, was a good redemption – decent rooms and a free wine hour and convenient location for Fishermans Wharf- what’s not to like 😉
We stayed once in Residence Inn (Marriott) Boston Waterfront. The room was superb (a small apartment) but included breakfast was abysmal. Fortunately there was a Cafe Nero in the same building which had better food esp. muffins than in the UK.
You also need to remeber that each have multiple brands with many hotels in each which are owned and managed separately from Hilton or Marriott.
If you can Use IHG for IAD
This from our Jan 23 trip where we stayed in The Willard “Amazing hotel with room upgrade, complimentary drink and a credit of 41US$ PPN towards breakfast which saved us a fortune!” plus the breakfasts were amazing.
Agree The Willard is wonderful, you need to be IHG Diamond to get the room credit (or free breakfast at other properties apart from HIEX/Staybridge).
On our first IAD trip we stayed at the Homewood Suites in a place called Church Falls between IAD and the city. The breakfast was better than average (the local cops came in to eat!), there was free and plentiful parking and also takeaway hot drinks in the lobby which saved us a bit on Starbucks etc.
@slidey Fortunately, we have friends in SFO who have graciously invited us to stay with them. So we don’t need to book SFO hotels. But we do intend to go around the California state, where we will need the hotels. From what our friends have told us, we shall travel to Lake Tahoe, Mt Shasta, Burney Falls, McCloud Falls and Yosemite National Park. I am letting them take the lead on planning the itinerary for our time in SFO. Once I have a clear dates, I will book hotels for both families as a token of reciprocity of their kindness to let us stay with them.
Thanks for your tip on avoiding Hilton & Marriott in Vegas. We will look at other options. And going by your experience, Embassy suites in Vegas is a no go area for us. 😬@BlairWaldorf Salad Thank you.
@dougzz99 I did mean both free and good breakfast. 😛 I just completed a home renovation project, so I am little tight on cash at the moment. Since, we will be on the road in the US for almost 50 days, I want to save wherever possible. Thanks for sharing your experiences about various brands. It certainly made me feel like I am expecting too much from US hotels.@GuernseyGlobetrotter Thank you. It is a hard work I quite enjoy doing, planning trips for both of us. I will keep Oceana Santa Monica in mind when booking Los Angeles and nearby hotels. I honestly would have preferred IHG myself in some on these cities but I burnt my stash of IHG points which admittedly were milked from the Creation card, during our trip to Asia earlier this year. Now I am left with circa 1000 IHG One points. Unless I buy IHG points during those points sales, I don’t reckon I can run such high balances ever again without any credit card options. I would certainly have a look at The Willard in Washington as @RichardPeters and @NorthernLass suggested.
Duplicate post
On our first IAD trip we stayed at the Homewood Suites in a place called Church Falls between IAD and the city. The breakfast was better than average (the local cops came in to eat!), there was free and plentiful parking and also takeaway hot drinks in the lobby which saved us a bit on Starbucks etc.
Falls Church I think. You clearly were not a JAG fan.
Only narcissists link to their own threads. So: if you want some random opinions on California Hiltons (and the US Hilton experience by extension) then here are mine:
https://www.headforpoints.com/forums/topic/central-california-hilton-tour/
The Hilton credit depends on the hotel. For example the Oceana Santa Monica gives you $50 which, even at their prices, will get you a plate of food each for breakfast, at least.
I’d strongly agree with the point raised above about mid-market brands in the US. Attempting to pick brands that come with breakdast included will be poor value, or disappointing, or most likely both. Unless you think eating stuff made from powder and UHT off paper plates and bowls with a plastic fork and spoon is going to tick your boxes. Don’t pick hotels just for free breakfast unless they were the best option anyway. If you’re staying anywhere midmarket (or upmarket where the credit won’t cover it for that matter) then forget the hotel (just use Hilton’s scabby credit to have a beer in the evening and then a free coffee the next morning with anything left over). America is packed with excellent breakfast options everywhere; many bakeries, deli’s and diners are outstanding and breakfast is priced as the cheapest meal of the day by quite a distance. Post any random town or neighbourhood here and you will get at least one and likely several suggestions for places that are really good. Given typical portion sizes, you will only need two meals a day – it will save you the cost of lunch.
I can’t be bothered to work out all those airport codes (this isn’t Flyertalk – some of us don’t talk that lingo!) but from the ones I recognise, that looks like a truly amazing trip – many of those places and their environs could keep you engaged for a fortninght or more on their own! Enjoy!
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