Hilton HHonors - Homewood Suites vs Embassy Suites

I spend a week in Cleveland every month. I like as much space as possible especially in winter since I don't like cold weather and spend a lot of time in the room. I like to shop at the grocery store and prepare food in my room. In the past 9 months, I have switched from a Marriott Residence Inn to an Embassy Suites to a Homewood Suites. I have also stayed at a Hilton but I felt claustrophobic and spent too much eating out.

Verdict:

Residence Inn - Cleanliness challenged. I like the concept, but the execution was lacking. Stayed 40 nights last year and got no recognition beyond Marriott Silver status. Left multiple compaints in suggestion box and got no response whatsoever.

Embassy Suites - Best breakfast of the 3. Got a letter welcoming me back every time after the first visit. Got 2 bottles of water each stay. Treated exceptionally well by the front desk - they bought my dinner at the Hilton next door one Sunday night when room service wasn't available. Only downside is kitchen is limited to small refrigerator (with no freezer) and a microwave. No dishes or utensils unless I nicked them from breakfast (I did).

Homewood Suites - Brand new facility. Nice furniture, Pergo floor in the kitchen, indoor pool (same as ES), clean bathroom. Room seems smaller than RI and ES. Kitchen if fully supplied, if cramped. Roll of paper towels is a nice touch. Either no one has discovered this hotel or no one else was travelling Easter weekend. There were about 20 guests last night. I know this because the fire alarm sounded at 5:30 am and all the guests were gathered in the dining room. Took an hour to isolate an electrical problem and get the darn thing turned off.

Decision: Unless something goes seriously wrong at Homewood this week, I will be back next month. And I will try them anywhere else I find them

I love Homewood too, having the kitchen is a very nice touch, as is the hot snack when you get in at the end of the day.

I stay at Homewood whenever I can, I've never had a problem with them.

I don't understand why they are not much more popular then they are.

Sounds like for your purposes its a no brainer. HW has hot breakfast bar in the morning, manager's reception at night, 500 airline miles/stay, (unless you're a 50% HH points bonus type which I am when its over a couple nights stay). Dunno your status but you'd have a similar room if you were upgraded at ES but for more money I'm sure. I stay at a few HW when I'm meeting people and ask for the fireplace rooms, usually 2 BRs. Sometimes such a good deal that families bring the kids for a getaway for the pool, gameroom and breakfast buffet. Cheaper than taking them out and that makes it annoying. Just make sure the cookie plate is full.

I don't understand why they are not much more popular then they are.

The one near me is almost always sold out, requiring the personal touch ;) to get a reservation opened up. See also: http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/showthread.php?t=132229

DH had to be in Nashville for a week two weeks ago and I looked at all Hilton properties and after reading some reviews decided to book him into the HW Brentwood. Wasn't the most centered location for him, but I knew the neighborhood has lots of restaurants and it's close to the interstate; it also had a promo rate that made it the CHEAPEST property, like $82/nt! (that's why I looked up some reviews to make sure it would be ok). I've stayed in a Hampton suite and tried to tell him how nice they are, but they just don't have them in the small towns he visits, lucky to find a Hampton period. He loved the fridge w/ ice maker because he was tired at the end of the day and liked to just come back to the room and eat some leftover pizza and not have to get ice every day for his drinks. Hasn't stopped raving about how nice it was to have all that sq footage and kitchen. He said he didn't have a fireplace, not surprising in N'ville. Noticed on the receipt they had printed how many HH points he was going to recieve, never seen that on a Hampton receipt, maybe it's just the Hamptons we frequent?

'Roll Tide' BamaVol :D

'Roll Tide' BamaVol :D

Just to be clear:

I live in Alamabama.

I am a Tennessee Volunteers fan ^

The only roll in my house that says 'tide' is hanging on the wall of the outhouse. :p

As a native from Albama I'm mysteefied a Tennersee Vol can't spell better! How far you from Arab !?! ;)

As a native from Albama I'm mysteefied a Tennersee Vol can't spell better! How far you from Arab !?! ;)

DAL, I'd say 80 miles. I live in Anniston. I pass through Arab on my way to Huntsville. I admit there's a lot to like about Alamabama, and the football rivalry is a friendly one on my part. It has to be ... my home office is in a building with about 100 Tide fans, 20 Auburn fans (the engineers) and 3 Vols fans.

As far as my spelling; I'm just ignant. It's a good thing I don't live in Hawaii because I can't spell macamadamia either.

HS is fine, if the dining area isn't too crowded. When I stayed in the one in downtown Chicago last summer, a lot of families were there and I was told I'd have to wait for a table. Grabbed some stuff to go instead. Not a big deal, but I've never encountered anything close to that at an ES.
Still, overall I think HS is a fine brand and usually a very good value for what you get. I wouldn't hesitate to stay there.

i think HS and HGI r hidden gems in hilton's stable. they r basic, but if u're not too snobby abt their lack of stars, i find that they r as gd as, if not better than ES and DT. i've always found that ES/DT on the older side compared to HS/HGI.