If there is no EL, and the property does not offer a full breakfast as a substitute, then I typically will stay at a Doubletree (if available in the area). The Doubletree hotels, from my experience, tend to offer their upper-tier members a full breakfast.

If there is no Doubletree and I have to choose between a Hilton Garden Inn or Hampton Inn, I'll suffer the lack of an EL and stay at a Hilton. Just my personal preferences.