Hotels: What I Learned

Reflecting back on my trip I have learned some things about hotels and me.

1. We all have different priorities for hotels, learn your priorities and then choose your hotel based on those priorities.

I learned my priorities on this trip since I stayed in 15 different hotels.

My priorities are:

a.) non-smoking
b.) clean
c.) inside door access

I prefer if a hotel has or is:

a.) in a decent neighborhood
b.) self parking
c.) an exercise room with at least a treadmill
d.) near something decent to eat

2. Read customer reviews, the good ones and the bad ones. Both may be untrue.

3. Look at the pictures of the rooms on the website. Look at the television in the room. Is it an old TV? Think about your priorities.

4. Full non-smoking hotels are the only way to be sure you are getting a truly non-smoking room.

Chains I liked...

Holiday Inn Express: consistent across the country, the breakfast will get you started, full non-smoking hotel, always inside door access, most of these are very new. Price ranges from $80 - $200 depending on location. They are everywhere.

Comfort Suites: consistent, old TVs (but I didn't care), clean, non-smoking, inside door access. Price $60 - $90, so they were good if I needed a cheaper stay.

Candlewood Suites: consistent, clean, non-smoking, inside door access. They have kitchens in the rooms. These are great for staying a couple of days because of the kitchen. They also have FREE laundry facilities. They also have a pantry that is on the honor system. The wifi can be a bit weak as business people stay at these hotels so the wifi is under heavy use. Price $90 - $120. Wish there were more of these.

La Quinta: Be careful...I had a great experience. These hotels can sometimes have bad reviews. I found them to be quite nice. Sometimes outdoor room access. I found them clean and adequate. Non-smoking WAS truly non-smoking. Cheap stay at $50 - $70.

Sheraton: I stayed in two of these. Both were spur of the moment decisions based on switching from awful hotels. Both in Oklahoma City. Both had all of my priorities but the one by the airport was a step down from the one away from the airport. Not expensive at $80 - $100.

The Ritz Carlton: Obviously the best possible experience. It was great fun. The entire experience including the spa, etc was around $1400... But recall that was for TWO.

Chains I didn't like...

Red Roof Inn: I'm not saying you can't find a reasonable one, but I won't bother with this hotel chain ever again. My experience was DIRTY, SMELLY, SCARY. I would prefer to sleep in my car. Even if you read good reviews....RUN!!! Cheap...but it's even cheaper to stay in your car.

Travelodge: same as above.

Rodeway: same as above.

In the end, I don't care where you stay, there is no place like home :)