Choice Hotels Property Review Thread
#16
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jan 2004
Location: About 45 miles NW of MCO
Programs: Acapulco - Gold, Panama - Red, Timothy Leary 8 Mile High Club
Posts: 29,238
Quality Inn Airport CLE
This one may be a No-tell Motel by now. Lodged there on an overnight bump last summer. Got up in the middle of the night and the carpet crunched under my feet.
#17
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jan 2004
Location: About 45 miles NW of MCO
Programs: Acapulco - Gold, Panama - Red, Timothy Leary 8 Mile High Club
Posts: 29,238
Stayed at Comfort Inn - Pittsfield MA for 2 nights this week. Nothing special, which isn't unexpected. I went with it because it beat any chain property in the area by $20-30 a night. I paid $71/81 (2 doubles) for Thursday/Friday nights. Only complaint was what appeared to be white paint on the carpet & bedspread. Cont breakfast consisted of coffee, juices, danish, make your own waffles, cereal & yogurt. Quiet room, but a not very full hotel. Small fridge and microwave. Tiny bathroom, sink outside. 2 newspapers available in the lobby - 2 copies, one each of the Berkshire Eagle and USA Today. That's pretty cheap, but didn't prevent me from reading one. Would have stayed with relatives if I wasn't allergic to their 5 cats.
Next trip, might look into Patriot Suites up the road.
Next trip, might look into Patriot Suites up the road.
#18
Join Date: Jul 2007
Location: stuck at home now.
Programs: status-less.
Posts: 486
Did a quick weekender and stayed in three Choice properties.
Comfort Suites RTP/RDU (Raleigh/Durham): All-around good property. Clean, everything worked, nice room. Staff extremely helpful including sending the airport shuttle to get my wife from the airport the next day AFTER I'd checked out (she was voluntarily bumped off the flight the night before). Breakfast included real eggs and real bacon. Only down side is that pool area is only open Memorial-Labor days, a fact not noted on the website.
Quality Inn North Raleigh: Worn out old place. Breakfast was non-existent (at 9AM on a Saturday, no coffee or milk). Many items in our room non-functional and requests to get things fixed didn't get addressed. It's functional but no better than any Motel 6. Lots of basic maintenance/repair needed (paint, caulk, stairs, etc.).
Rodeway Inn @ International, Orlando: If you get a top-floor room, nice. Lower floor rooms, no. They tried to put us in 207 that shares a wall with all the elevators; we asked for a different room due to noise and they put us in 921 instead. Much better. Eat across the street, it's cheaper. High floor rooms can get free wireless internet by tapping into servers from adjacent hotels.
Comfort Suites RTP/RDU (Raleigh/Durham): All-around good property. Clean, everything worked, nice room. Staff extremely helpful including sending the airport shuttle to get my wife from the airport the next day AFTER I'd checked out (she was voluntarily bumped off the flight the night before). Breakfast included real eggs and real bacon. Only down side is that pool area is only open Memorial-Labor days, a fact not noted on the website.
Quality Inn North Raleigh: Worn out old place. Breakfast was non-existent (at 9AM on a Saturday, no coffee or milk). Many items in our room non-functional and requests to get things fixed didn't get addressed. It's functional but no better than any Motel 6. Lots of basic maintenance/repair needed (paint, caulk, stairs, etc.).
Rodeway Inn @ International, Orlando: If you get a top-floor room, nice. Lower floor rooms, no. They tried to put us in 207 that shares a wall with all the elevators; we asked for a different room due to noise and they put us in 921 instead. Much better. Eat across the street, it's cheaper. High floor rooms can get free wireless internet by tapping into servers from adjacent hotels.
#19
Join Date: May 2006
Programs: Amtrak, AA, USA, DL, UA, MW, SWA, MW, AirTran, Priority Club, Marriott, Hilton, Chc Prvlgs, BW
Posts: 101
I have checked in and out of Choice properties 3 times in last 3 weeks. I am Elite Plt and have found it very diffcult to stay at Choice now. properties are dumps and find myself not even looking anymore. It is easier to stay with hilton or marriott.
Is there some way to build a spreadsheet of properties to stay away from?? Man I could put down dozens not to stay at!
Is there some way to build a spreadsheet of properties to stay away from?? Man I could put down dozens not to stay at!
The best Choice hotels in Fla. are the Choice Suites. These are usually newer properties. The one in Fort Pierce near the Interstate is good, as is the new one in Fort Myers off the Interstate.
You know they're newer with the "Choice Suites" in the name.
I never stay in Quality Inns. Too run down.
#20
Join Date: May 2006
Programs: Amtrak, AA, USA, DL, UA, MW, SWA, MW, AirTran, Priority Club, Marriott, Hilton, Chc Prvlgs, BW
Posts: 101
The Quality Inn on the east side of Jacksonville, Fla., off I-95 is a dump.
The hotel looks okay from the outside, but the rooms are older and dumpy. The toilets and showers may not work well.
The manager was helpful and allowed me to check out about five other rooms before moving, but the hotel isn't worth your time.
Avoid at all costs.
The hotel looks okay from the outside, but the rooms are older and dumpy. The toilets and showers may not work well.
The manager was helpful and allowed me to check out about five other rooms before moving, but the hotel isn't worth your time.
Avoid at all costs.
#21
Join Date: Nov 2007
Location: Downtown Denver
Programs: WN A-list/CP, HHonors Diamond, IHG Plt,*wood Plt,F9 Summitt, Hyatt Diamond,
Posts: 391
Comfort Inn- Cottage Grove, OR- Dump and should be closed.
Quality Inn Airport-El Paso, TX - Wow, this place was really bad-avoid
Cambria Suites-Boise-Excellent, hope choice builds a bunch!
Quality INN-1-25 Denver, Checked in and out in 20 minutes!
frankly I am staying at Hiltons all most all the time. Choice can't bribe me with the points any more.
Quality Inn Airport-El Paso, TX - Wow, this place was really bad-avoid
Cambria Suites-Boise-Excellent, hope choice builds a bunch!
Quality INN-1-25 Denver, Checked in and out in 20 minutes!
frankly I am staying at Hiltons all most all the time. Choice can't bribe me with the points any more.
#22
Join Date: Mar 2007
Location: Florence, SC
Programs: Choice Privileges Diamond, Hertz #1 Gold, National EA, Avis First, HHonors Silver, Delta Skymiles
Posts: 121
Comfort Suites Knoxville Airport/Alcoa TN
I stay here every time I go home for a visit. It's usually under $70 if you use that Smarter Travel link posted in another thread. It's now 100% non-smoking and the rooms were remodeled in February. Never had a bad experience here.
#23
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Aug 2001
Location: RSW
Programs: Delta - Silver; UA - Silver; HHonors - Diamond; IHG - Spire Ambassador; Marriott Bonvoy - Titanium
Posts: 14,185
Comfort Inn - Reno, NV
New property - October 2007.
Shuttle arrived at airport about as fast as possibile without speeding (10 minutes). Check-in was fine; I'd forgotten to provide my airline info (wish Choice would let one do that at reservation!), but remembered the next morning.
My king room was as expected: bed; night-table either side, clock radio with mp3 jack (yay!); desk with free, wired hi-speed access (I had no laptop with me); double bureau with drawers in one side and fridge/microwave in other; flat screen TV with local cable lineup. Bathroom okay.
Breakfast (6 - 9 AM daily) comparable to Hampton/Holiday Inn Express: fruit, breads, cereal, juice coffee, "omlettes", hashbrowns, sausage, bacon. They use real mugs, plates, cutlery - not plastic/styrofoam. Desktop computer and printer in lobby.
Local shuttle service to casinos and downtown strip site, as well as airport. There's a 24/7 grocery and drugstore on next block. Same block includes strip mall with Costco and a couple of restaurants - including an excellent Indian choice; there's a Denny's on the block, too.
Franchisee managers do the grunt work themselves (driver, busboy, etc.) - there's a Hampton-esque statisfaction guarantee. I chose it as the Hampton is way out-of-town (without wheels), and would stay at this property again.
Shuttle arrived at airport about as fast as possibile without speeding (10 minutes). Check-in was fine; I'd forgotten to provide my airline info (wish Choice would let one do that at reservation!), but remembered the next morning.
My king room was as expected: bed; night-table either side, clock radio with mp3 jack (yay!); desk with free, wired hi-speed access (I had no laptop with me); double bureau with drawers in one side and fridge/microwave in other; flat screen TV with local cable lineup. Bathroom okay.
Breakfast (6 - 9 AM daily) comparable to Hampton/Holiday Inn Express: fruit, breads, cereal, juice coffee, "omlettes", hashbrowns, sausage, bacon. They use real mugs, plates, cutlery - not plastic/styrofoam. Desktop computer and printer in lobby.
Local shuttle service to casinos and downtown strip site, as well as airport. There's a 24/7 grocery and drugstore on next block. Same block includes strip mall with Costco and a couple of restaurants - including an excellent Indian choice; there's a Denny's on the block, too.
Franchisee managers do the grunt work themselves (driver, busboy, etc.) - there's a Hampton-esque statisfaction guarantee. I chose it as the Hampton is way out-of-town (without wheels), and would stay at this property again.
#24
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jan 2005
Location: home = LAX
Posts: 25,932
Choice uses that earning preference only for the reservation default.
Unfortunately, there's no way to do it right inside the reservation process, nor does it use it when you modify a reservation. So if you want to change the earning preference on an existing reservation, then you have to either cancel and rebook, or change it at the hotel.
#25
Join Date: Jul 2007
Location: stuck at home now.
Programs: status-less.
Posts: 486
Comfort suites, Castro Valley, CA
Two night stay on government business. Hotel honored government rate. Received king bed room with sofa/table plus a one-person whirlpool tub in addition to tub in bathroom area. Extremely courteous staff, breakfast above average for Comforts, including rotating hot entrees each morning. Didn't get to take advantage of it but a flyer at the hotel indicated they are starting to serve a light dinner in the early evenings, too. Recommend this one.
Two night stay on government business. Hotel honored government rate. Received king bed room with sofa/table plus a one-person whirlpool tub in addition to tub in bathroom area. Extremely courteous staff, breakfast above average for Comforts, including rotating hot entrees each morning. Didn't get to take advantage of it but a flyer at the hotel indicated they are starting to serve a light dinner in the early evenings, too. Recommend this one.
#26
Join Date: Mar 2007
Location: Florence, SC
Programs: Choice Privileges Diamond, Hertz #1 Gold, National EA, Avis First, HHonors Silver, Delta Skymiles
Posts: 121
Rodeway Inn and Conference Center, Orange Park, FL
Needed a last-minute place to stay last week, and I had stayed here several times when it was a Quality Inn. Before I left home, I saw a $52.74 business rate but didn't book it then. I saw on their reader board "ask about our special rate" so I walked inside and did just that. The young lady at the front desk quoted me a $59 rate to which I replied I had found a $52 rate online but didn't want to get out my laptop to book it. She countered with a $49 rate and I took it. I gave her my Visa and my Gold card at received a NS King facing the pool, which from my previous experiences here are the rooms CP members get-Joe Public gets rooms facing the parking lot. Even with the "downgrade" to Rodeway, the rooms are as before-a place to sleep. The Comfort Inn across the street is $76 online so I think I got a good deal.
#27
Join Date: Apr 2006
Programs: Amtrak Guest Rewards, US Airways Dividend Miles, Choice Hotels, Hertz #1
Posts: 148
Quality Inn, Taos, NM
Burned 16000 points last weekend for two rooms. Nice bar, pleasent front desk staff, decent dbl rooms with hallway and poolside access. Nice place, would stay again.
#28
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Nov 2002
Location: Freeload Univ. Where are you sitting?
Posts: 14,818
I have stayed in over 20 choice hotels in the past 12 months, I will list the best and worst 3 in my experience'
Best 3
1.Clarion Jaksonville Airport (Jacksonville, FL) Premium breafast buffet
2.Comfort suites Universal studios (Orlando, FL)-Clean and nice staff
3.Sleep inn DFW airport( Irving, TX)- Neat
worst 3
1.Quality Inn & Suites (Warren, MI)
2.Comfort Inn North (Columbus, OH)
3.Rodeway Inn (Houston,TX)-Trash
Best 3
1.Clarion Jaksonville Airport (Jacksonville, FL) Premium breafast buffet
2.Comfort suites Universal studios (Orlando, FL)-Clean and nice staff
3.Sleep inn DFW airport( Irving, TX)- Neat
worst 3
1.Quality Inn & Suites (Warren, MI)
2.Comfort Inn North (Columbus, OH)
3.Rodeway Inn (Houston,TX)-Trash
The CI around the corner is nicer, but the breakfast is more standard, with hard boiled eggs instead of cooked. However, they have a manager's reception at night (M-W?) which takes care of dinner.
BTW, directly across the street from the QI is an old Greek resto called Telly's where they serve food in bushel baskets and you pay in pennies (OK, somewhat of an exaggeration, but their breakfast specials are really good ... and cheap!)
#29
Join Date: May 2001
Location: Plainfield, IL- 60585
Programs: Hilton Gold; AA Platinum;Marriott Gold; Hyatt Diamond
Posts: 353
Choice Hotel excellent property- BDL
Stayed in a new Comfort Suites hotel near BDL (Hartford, CT) back in 2006 when it was brand new. Very nice properties with comfortable rooms, and I believe flat screen TV's.
Staying in a very old Clarion Hotel in Cedar Rapids, IA that it appears has not been renovated since the 80's. Claim to fame is that this hotel apparently hosts all the visiting football teams that play the University of Iowa. In my opinion the reason visiting coaches may want to stay here is that there is nothing at the hotel to distract the players.
Staying in a very old Clarion Hotel in Cedar Rapids, IA that it appears has not been renovated since the 80's. Claim to fame is that this hotel apparently hosts all the visiting football teams that play the University of Iowa. In my opinion the reason visiting coaches may want to stay here is that there is nothing at the hotel to distract the players.
#30
formerly known as Frugal Travel Guy
Join Date: Jul 2001
Location: Greenville, SC
Programs: UA Gold, HH Gold, SPG Gold, Marriott Silver, Hyatt Platinum
Posts: 1,925
Two that come to Mind
Christchurch NZ Clarion Suites very nice, walking distance to downtown. Suite was like an apartment. I'll go back.
SFO Comfort Suites in San Bruno. Very adequate for points charged. Close to airport with shuttle. Another do over anytime.
SFO Comfort Suites in San Bruno. Very adequate for points charged. Close to airport with shuttle. Another do over anytime.