I stay at Rens and full service Marriott's exclusively for business travel 11 months of the year. The other month, I am traveling with my family on points and have historically stayed at RI properties.

This summer, I have spent a lot of time at Spring Hill Suites properties and I really like them for family travel. Once I came to terms with needing two rooms since I couldn't get an upgrade (the rooms are all the same!), I realized it was worth it. I've stayed at two of the new "hip and cool" style ones and it's amazing what a few hundred yards of gauzy curtains can do for a place. Sure, its no Hotel Delano, but that's not a Marriott property and there is NO WAY I would bring the kids there. (but it is a cool hotel.)
These new style Spring Hill's (I think there are 5 so far) are very airy and calm. The entrance was identical for both that I stayed in, but thats what happens when you have a formula... in this case it works.

The Spring Hill in New Bern, NC served hands down one of the top 10 free breakfasts I have at any Marriott property in 5 years of Platinum.

Yea, I know this is crazy talk. But it's true! Try them out.