Hilton HHonors - Embassy Suites VS. Homewood Suites?

What are the main differences between the Embassy Suites and the Homewood Suites? I have never stayed at either. I have an upcoming stay at a Homewood Suites and was wondering what to expect. I read that there is a full kitchen, but how well equiped is it? Does it have a coffee maker, toaster, blender, etc.?
I also made the res. online for Suite Summer Homewood rate of $89.00nt for 1 bedroom suite for 4 adults. I later called to inquire as to whether there were 2 bedroom units available at a special rate with this promotion. I was told no and that this promotion was geared towards families with small children and pretty much told it was not available to me since I was not traveling with children. There was nothing in the rate rules stating only available to families with children and I said so to the person on the phone at this hotel. Her response was "well, I don't know about that, but I am just trying to do my job." I had already booked the room online and have my confirmation printed out, so I plan to show up Friday and expect to get the room at the confirmed rate. Can they refuse to give us this rate at check in? Has anyone had experience with this? Thanks in advance,
Boggie

I'm afraid I can't help you with your questions about Homewood Suites, sorry.

I have stayed at many Embassy Suites, and can at least address what to expect there:

- Separate bedroom and living areas
- Minifridge, microwave, and a wet bar
- Great breakfasts choices, many cooked to order
- Evening reception with free munchies and beer (and, I think, wine...not sure)
- Many, if not most, have free shuttle services to shopping areas and grocery stores, but don't forget to tip the driver anyway
- Many rooms, but by no means all, have balconies (at many, but not all, of the properties)

I hope this helps.

i've only been to 1 ES, it looked pretty old and the interior decor bordered on retro ... if u get what i mean. if i rem correctly, HW has a better kitchen compared to ES. i rem a small stove, microwave, fridge, and kitchen utensils. so u can cook something in the HW kitchen. i also expect most HW's to be quite similar, although some have free internet access and others dont even have internet ...

unfortunately i've only travelled alone, so i cant say how their 2bdr's r like.

<font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="2">Originally posted by boggie:
pretty much told it was not available to me since I was not traveling with children. </font>

If this is not a certified BS, I don't know what is. There is absolutely no requirement of having a child with you, although you most likely won't get SPY KIDS 3-D SpyPak at check-in... http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/smile.gif

Suite Homewood Summer Promotion (http://www.homewood-suites.com/en/hw/promotions/shw_2003/index.jhtml?adId=HWSuiteHomewoodSummer2003,Promo)

I love the Homewood Suites part of Hilton. They're basically the same as Marriott's Residence Inn. You get a kitchen with stove and microwave (don't remember toaster or blender) and all the silverware and china you need. They also have high speed Internet. The second "bed" is a fold out couch in a separate room.

<font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="2">Originally posted by Eugene:
If this is not a certified BS, I don't know what is. There is absolutely no requirement of having a child with you, although you most likely won't get SPY KIDS 3-D SpyPak at check-in... http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/smile.gif

Suite Homewood Summer Promotion (http://www.homewood-suites.com/en/hw/promotions/shw_2003/index.jhtml?adId=HWSuiteHomewoodSummer2003,Promo)</font>

Eugene,

That is exactly what I thought but she indicated she would not be able to give us that rate over the phone or otherwise. She was not very helpful except to offer me a rate of $149.00 for the same room. I'm hoping they don't give us a hard time at check in. As I stated I do have the printed confirmation for 4 adults at the $89. rate and will bring it with me.

boggie -- I hope you wrote down her name and will let their management know how poorly trained and unhelpful that CSR was.

Boogie, Most HW I've stayed at were nice, but in my opinion a little below most Embassy's. HW's usually have a ref./cooktop/microwave/coffee maker/ plates/utincels ect. compared to a mini-fridge, coffee maker and micro for Embassy. HW's "cocktail" reception was beer or wine and the breakfast was "ok", but Embassy was definately nicer in both catagories. Since you have a printed confirmation, you shouldn't have any trouble at check-in. If you're worried, call their 800 res # and re-confirm.

I think the comment compparing HW to Residence Inn is very much on target. HWs have a kitchen compared to the ES half fridge and a microwave.

As to room accomodations, HW tends to be newer and more consistent than ES. There are many ESs I would not recommend, dirty, dated, and in general disrepair. However, conditions are property specific. (Search the archives for your specific property) Newer ESs tend to be a bit more skimpy on room size, compared to older ones.

The three primary differences between them are:

1. ES has a full service restaraunt and bar, offering room service, etc. ES includes a cooked to order breakfast and evening "reception" (drink choices depend upon location). HW does not.
2. ES is geared towards families, HW towards the extended stay. Keep that in mind when traveling with four adults at an ES that is filled with hundreds of kids (and the requisite parents who won't control them).
3. HWs typically are built with "some" two bedroom units. I have only seen a two bedroom unit in an ES once! (BWI airport)


HTH

Embassy Suites usually have food service, Homewood has a grocery form you can fill out and they will get you stuff you can cook.

Embassy has a microwave, coffee maker, and small fridge, Homewood usually has a two burner cooktop, dishwasher, pots, pans, dishes, etc on top of that.

If I had to compare the two of them side by side I would say the Embassy is a notch or two higher, the rooms are better decorated, better furnishings, etc, but of course that depends on the property you are staying at, some are quite nice and some aren't.

I love Homewood when I'm traveling sometimes, nothing like cooking up a home cooked meal to kill what would have been a boring night.

Boggie-what is the room type that is printed on the confirmation sheet?

Cordelli says:
"I love Homewood when I'm traveling sometimes, nothing like cooking up a home cooked meal to kill what would have been a boring night."

Wish I was as energetic. I usually pick up some ready made dishes, take advantage of the nuke machine, and call that my home cooked meal.
I too prefer ES over Homewood and voice the same opinion as Delta Plat that ES is very family oriented and could be noisier in the pool area. But, in most ES, their cooked to order breakfast and accompanying buffet is to die for.

One major difference between ES and HS is the breakfast.AT ES you normally get a full American breakfast while at HS you get the typical Continental Breakfast with two hot dishes.They change the hot dishes every day.

The evening reception is also different, at HS the reception is better on average, but depends on the property.Some properties really serve a nice small buffet with one or two hot dishes and salads plus free beer and soft drinks.At ES some properties offer free drinks but no food at all ( beside some peanuts and popcorn ), other properties have a nice cold buffet with cheese and snacks.

Every HS has a Business Center, but a lot of them do not offer complimentary internet access, you have to use your own account, which is quite difficult for us from Europe....

The comparison between HS and Residence Inn or Staybridge Suites by Holiday Inn is right, however there are small differences.AFAIK a Residence Inn room ( suite or studio ) always has an oven, a feature you will not find at HS or SS.Beside that a studio is available at SS or RI, but only a handful of ( newer ) HS offer studios.

Although all the Homewoods I've stayed at (ABQ, ATL, PBI & a couple in CA) have been very nice, they do seem to be a cut below ES in services (such as food etc) they may even be a little less expensive (at least in my experience) You shouldn't have any trouble checking in though - with or without children http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/smile.gif

Loomis, My confirmation is for a 1 bedroom suite w/1 queen size bed and sofa bed in livingroom for 4 adults.

it seems like most ppl rank the ES better than HW. I hv only stayed at the ES in minneapolis, HW in FTW-north and RDU.

the ES in minneapolis downtown was really bad, plus there were a lot of families with kids, so it was quite a chaotic and noisy from 7am to 11pm ...

otoh, the HW near RDU had free broadband, but FTW-north didn't have broadband, just the usual "dataport". HW also has evening reception (free beer and some food like corndogs or pizza).

perhaps those who like ES can list where they've been so we know which ones r good.

ES I have stayed in and think are very good and worth visiting:
ES - Onaha in Old Market
ES - Santa Ana (may be called Irvine)
ES - Burlingame, CA - great cocktail lounge and ask for a bay view room.

<font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="2">Originally posted by boggie:
Loomis, My confirmation is for a 1 bedroom suite w/1 queen size bed and sofa bed in livingroom for 4 adults.</font>

Good idea to have the rate printed out. If you are Gold or Diamond hopefully they will even upgrade you to that 2-bedroom unit that you wanted (under the "best available room" policy). Good luck.