Originally Posted by
djohannw
Well, you should note however that Intercontinental Hotels are also part of the Priority Club loyalty-scheme, and they have some decently impressive properties and resorts as well (like the IC Bali Resort, the one in Cyprus or Miami to mention something within the US). So including these and also those Crowne Plazas that offer reasonable quality I would rate Priority Club on par with Hilton or Marriott.
On a more general note, I just went through my stay-listing for the recent year and found only a single Courtyard stay..
As mentioned before by others the lack of breakfast is the deciding factor for me. When in the US I usually stay at Residence Inn properties for the added space and the full-size refridgerator (besides free breakfast), when in Europe it is mostly Full Service because of the free breakfast and lounge access as a Platinum.
Have tried a Springhill Suites in the US recently (a newly renovated one) and was positively surprised by the value I received...if only their room-descriptions would actually match reality (the one-bedroom I reserved was actually what one would consider a studio at a RI).
Greetings - Dirk
There is no doubt that there are awesome properties associated with that brand....there has to be merely by default! But the point is that I would have to make this my preferred hotel chain of choice in order to rack up enough points/status to experience some of those "awesome" properties and it is not feasible to cease staying @ Marriott or Hilton properties in order to do that.
Maybe it is the old feeling of the "Holiday Inn" of years ago, but I just don't see it being on par w/Marriott and/or Hilton for that matter. But that is probably because I have not experienced many of them because I would only stay at one if there was no Marriott or Hilton.
I have only stayed in one CY myself...it was okay, but I didn't have a microwave and they charged for breakfast (I do like to get some fresh fruit/yogurt). But there were always better choices for me...like I said in the OP, I don't know why anyone would pick a CY over a RI (other than the 50% reduction in points).
But the bottom line is, for me anyway, I can't maintain Plat in Marriott and Diamond in Hilton consistently. I will likely lose my Diamond w/Hilton this year as I have basically turned the corner and have been staying mostly at Marriott properties, hence the Plat. I have a better idea of the true differences between the two brands now and they both have pros/cons.
This will be my first year trying a Marriott outside the country as Plat (Australia) so I will really be able to compare apples w/apples in a couple of months.
Dawn