STORM2K

Only 7 WEEKS till vacation "WAAhoooooooo!" FINALLY, after one of the busiest years in my life, new job, graduating with my Bachelors degree, it's TIME!! We're going to ALBQ New Mexico (of course) and we're staying at the Holiday Inn Express, I LOVE it there!! FANTASTIC rooms, free breakfast etc. Where do you stay on vacation and which hotel/motel chain is your favorite?

We're hoping to go away next year somewhere, but the few times we went to go somewhere overnight, the Hampton Inn is the best!

the nations innkeeper of course! Holiday Inn! lol

Hampton or Sleep Inn

I love the Holiday Inns as well. We usually stay at the Holiday Inn Resort when we go to Cocoa Beach. They have everything you need there, and the bonus is the mini kiddie water park pool area. Too bad it has gotten so expensive in the past few years, we may never go back now.

You must have lucked out O Town, we had stayed at 3 different Holiday Inns up here and each one had very bad mold in the bathrooms and one had really bad carpets, the type of carpets you would expect to see in a house that hasn't changed their carpets in 30 plus years, very dirty and worn out, we'll never go back to Holiday Inn again!

When I'm paying, I tend to stick to Hilton brands, usually Hampton Inn but sometimes more upscale brands in the chain like Embassy Suites or Hilton itself, if the price is right. Lately I've been trying out the much less expensive Choice hotels chain (Comfort Inn, Sleep Inn, etc) with good luck when I'm paying, and even when I travel for business.

I also collect Starwood Hotel (Westin, Sheraton) points from using the Starwood Hotels American Express card as my primary credit card, and we often squeeze in a night or two at a really nice Starwood hotel on our vacations for no charge.

I like Westin if I can get a good price. It's all about the bed.

Oh yeah Westins are sweet. I can never see parting with the dough for them. That's why I use the Starwood AMEX card and stay there for free a few times a year.

Of all the places we stayed that I like the best is the Furnace Inn in Death Valley, California. We spent four days there. There are only about 60 rooms in two buildings. It is in the middle of the desert and has a golf course and a small ranch town with old buildings and restraunts. The whole place is the very small and very isolated. There are only about 30 rooms in each ranch, adobe type building. When we were there, Martin Sheen and his wife came in and registered. The bell boy told us that Ben Afflick and his friends were there a couple weeks ago. He said stars come here so they can have privacy, golf, etc. and not be hackled. Martin ate in the same restraunt as us. Everyone should try it at least once. There is no town around. Fun.....

Also, we love the Lodge at Pebble Beach. We had a fireplace in our room and opened the sliding doors to the 17th hole. What a way to drink coffee in the morning. John and I spent our honeymoon there. He is addicted to golf.

To those of you who stay at the Holiday Inn Express, do you actually feel smarter? lol. I just had to say it.

LOL.....

I prefer Comfort Suites when traveling a lot. If it is a single destination then I try for Westins.

One of the best ones I have ever stayed in was a Microtel, they gave out free freshly baked chocolate chip cookies in the evening and a free breakfast. Room was spotless and super quite. Best part, it was only $49.95.

My folks and I went to check out a room one time at a Microtel and found too much a feeling of claustrophobia.

Comfort Suites is a really good brand to stay at.

Dennis......DO NOT stay at any Red Roof Inn near any interchange!!

A few years ago, when we were moving our daughter to Mesa, Az. our huge 15 passanger rented van was broken into during the night. They took almost EVERYTHING.....all the stuff she was taking out there....all of our suitcases....they only left a small dresser of clothes that we had set with drawers facing the inside of the van. About 4 other vehicles were attacked that same night...the police (when they finally got there 3 hours later) thought it may have been an inside job; the robbers friends with the desk clerk. What a huge challenge that was for us....but mostly my daughter. She was devistated to loose her belongings.

We've always been happy with Best Western and AmericInn.....p

Has to be a Hilton if I am in a major city. Otherwise, Hampton Inn and Comfort Inn score big points with me.

Best hotel I ever stayed at was the Mena House in Cairo, Egypt. Truly one of the world's great hotels, and the best part was that while others were paying $300-$500/night for their stay, I got one of the best rooms for 3 nights for only $40/night. That's cheaper than many chains in America!!