In general I prefer Hyatt and Marriott over Hilton, but there are cases where Hilton is a much better deal. I have a week long trip in the PDX, SEA area and eastern WA state area coming up. All of the paid nights are with Hilton while 3 award nights are with Marriott. I found the Hilton properties to be much cheaper than the Marriott ones in PDX. The first night is in the Hampton Inn in Clackamas for $72 with the MVP rate. I will drive up to Redmond and spend 3 nights using award certificates at the Redmond Town Center Marriott. Then, I will go to Yakima for 2 nights at the HGI and drive to Walla Walla for one day to visit. The nearest Marriott there is a Fairfield Inn that is 2 hours in the wrong direction from Yakima. The Hampton Inn in Walla Walla is expensive (about $50 more a night & the HGI Yakima gives free passes to the YMCA nearby), so I'm staying both nights in Yakima. I finish my trip with 2 nights at the HGI PDX for $79.20/night with the MVP rate. The closest Marriott property is over $105.

Hyatt has only one property in PDX, and it is quite expensive. Hyatt and Marriott are nonexistent in Eastern WA state. The Hyatt Houses in Redmond and Bellevue WA are almost as expensive as the FS Marriott in Redmond if you are paying for the rooms. In that case, I'd rather pay for the Marriott since that Marriott has a great executive lounge.

Of course, it is the opposite for my trip to Anchorage in late September. The SpringHill Suites has an elite rate of about $110/night while limited service Hilton properties are coming up around $200-220. The FS Marriott is $297, and it seems to be mediocre based on FT reviews.