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If you hit the Gold level of Hilton Hhonors, you get complimentary breakfast at the Hilton Garner Inns. To get gold, you have to have 20 stays or 40 night in a 12 month period.
We used to be gold when we were still working. It also used to be easier, especially when they had Hilton Senior HHonors program, but those days are gone. I am glad to hear about the gold and the Garden Inns. They do sometimes give us a coupon for breakfast but not always.
I've stayed in tons of lodgings all over the US. I join all the loyalty programs, but honestly...I'm not very loyal.
If I'm going to a scenic location with my family or a group, I want a rental house or condo sort of thing. I did that on the White River at Newland's Lodge in Arkansas, and it was awesome. Gorgeous place in a fantastic setting. Great wifi, too, surprisingly! I do this sort of deal for all beach vacations, too.
Usually when I travel it's to a concert event. For one festival thing we do in Richmond, VA, we (about 60 or so people I know) take over one particular Clarion. It's because they have a central pool that never closes and they let us get away with late night shenanigans. In fact they want to coordinate with me next year for group discounts and a free breakfast buffet. It's not really convenient to our events, but they treat our crazy group well enough, so it's worth an extra 15-20 minutes onto the drive to the event venue.
For most concerts though, I head into the city and stay the night and head home after. I strongly prefer to be close to the event, within walking distance if possible.
Unfortunately since many of these things go down right in the heart of a city, the costs for the hotels can be high...and I do NOT like how more expensive hotels nickel and dime you!! It makes me SO MAD. I'm sorry but if I pay $200 or more for a room, it's just tacky to then charge me for wifi, breakfast, or parking on top of that. And one thing I've learned is to park in a nearby municipal lot when I can and pay for a day's worth of parking, instead of doing valet parking which usually costs more (and requires a tip.) I strongly prefer a good solid chain hotel with the free services and standard amenities.
On road trips I learned to look for small towns right off the interstate (one exit towns) with chain hotels, they tend to be cheaper than anywhere near a bigger city. A nice Best Western right off the highway shouldn't run more than $80, if you're shopping smart on a road trip. I usually am able to get a really nice hotel room in a city for around $150 if I carefully price shop. It's about what I'm paying for the Andaluz in Albuquerque soon, and what I paid for the Omni in Richmond last June.
A couple of my FAVORITE ever hotels:
Fairfield Inn, Tulsa OK (newer hotel, shines like a fancy city hotel but has the 3 big freebies and nice rates.)
Best Western Northwest Lodge, Boise, ID (VERY comfortable beds.)
I will stay at any chain that delivers on what they say at a reasonable price. I am not looking for the cheapest place but I am also NOT going to be nicked and dimed.
What Hilton Garden Inns have you stayed in? We have stayed in none that offer breakfast as part of the rate. Yes, sometimes they will give us a coupon for a full breakfast or the Sunday buffet. They did that just a few months ago as a matter of fact.. I prefer Homewood Suites, but it is up to each to decide what works best for them.
Many. The last three were probably Jacksonville (near JAX), Albany, NY, and Boston or Baltimore, can't recall which.
If you are Gold or above with HH, you get free continental breakfast buffet at them. You can upgrade to the cooked to order for about $7.
If you are HH Gold or above, they should be giving you breakfast. Speak to the manager if they aren't.
One thing I will grant Hilton Garden Inn is that they have never tried to charge me an upgrade fee for getting two beds. Courtyard ALWAYS does (altho they have the pull out bed so not the end of the world). Hyatt place never does either. I'm usually rooming with another person to save money so hate it when hotels do this. If Wal-Mart ever found out how many times I have bought one of their cots and returned it a few days later I'm pretty sure I'd be banned for life lol
"Unfortunately since many of these things go down right in the heart of a city, the cost for the hotels can be high... and I do not like how more expensive hotels nickel and dime you! It makes me so mad. I'm sorry but if I pay $200 or more for a room, it's just tacky to then charge me for 802-11 access, breakfast, or parking on top of that. And one thing I've learnt is to park in a nearby municipal lot when I can and pay for a day's worth of parking, instead of doing valet parking which usually costs more (and requires a tip). I strongly prefer a good solid chain hotel with the free services and standard amenities."
Which means avoiding anything branded "Kimpton", which, from experience, aren't really all that special. Can't figure out why people rave so about them.
Saying of which, their property in downtown Seattle would be good fodder for that other hotel thread...
The cheaper the hotel/motel the better. I have a hard time spending over $80/night for one. I basically never spend time there. I want to be out and about and come back just to sleep.
The cheaper the hotel/motel the better. I have a hard time spending over $80/night for one. I basically never spend time there. I want to be out and about and come back just to sleep.
I feel the same, especially when traveling alone. When two people travel together, it is easier to save.
Just booked 7 nights hotels for Lisbon and Barcelona for about US$300 in total, breakfast included. Both are in fantastic location, walking distance/short subway ride to main attractions as well as easy access to airport with no interchange required, and both have 8+ rating from tripadvisor. They are not 4 star of course but I think it will be good value.
I find hotels in American hotels very expensive - expensive in the sense that they don't have a lot of inexpensive options. In European cities, there are many small non-frill hotels/B&Bs in central location for single travelers. But in American cities, the standard is two double bed, even when you don't need them. Cities like Boston, Chicago and San Francisco are more expensive than say Vienna, Munich and Barcelona.
New York is notoriously expensive. I mean it should be expensive, but it is way more expensive than London. 4 years ago the two of us spent about $100 a night on a 4-star Hilton in central London (two double bed). In New York city it is almost impossible unless you stay at some outlaying burbs in Brooklyn. Staying at a small hotel (private room and bath) cost me about $60 a night in Tokyo, which is supposed to be the most expensive city in the world.
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