A FlyerTalk Posting Legend
Join Date: Sep 2009
Location: Minneapolis: DL DM charter 2.3MM
Programs: A3*Gold, SPG Plat, HyattDiamond, MarriottPP, LHW exAccess, ICI, Raffles Amb, NW PE MM, TWA Gold MM
Posts: 102,617
For 2-3 months, I would want an extended stay property, something like a Residence Inn where (most) rooms have a genuine small apartment feel, including a small real kitchen.
Alternatively, you could get a decent room (or, better yet, suite) at a full service hotel where you get lounge access and ideally at least a small refrigerator or minibar that you can use in the room.
I'd compare rates for a room/suite with lounge privileges at Sheraton/Hilton/Marriott/Hyatt Regency to extended stay places like Residence Inn/element/Embassy Suites/Hyatt House/etc. I would avoid Courtyard if there's a choice and perhaps think of Hyatt Place as a compromise with their refrigerators, wet bars, and suite-like floor plans with free breakfast. Aloft rooms have tiny refrigerators but IMO wouldn't be comfortable for an extended stay.
You could ask if the hotel would permit you to use your own small microwave or toaster oven in the room, especially if it has a wet bar with refrigerator setup.
Since this is FT, think about the points and status that you can earn. Remember that SPG gives no points or night credit AT ALL for stays over 90 days/3 months while in the Marriott family, Residence Inn and a couple other brands earn points at half of the normal rate.
BTW, Marriott also has ExecuStay fully furnished apartments in some areas. There could be similar options if you don't need hotel services, including someone to prepare breakfast.
Note that some "extended stay" apartment/suite style properties attract business travelers during the week but are overrun with large families and unruly kids when weekends and holidays approach. If someone has a lot of kids, it's cheaper to book an extended stay "suite", use the sofa bed and rollaways to pack everyone into a single unit, and take advantage of the free food. Games and streaming movies can make wifi impossibly slow at such times.
Last edited by MSPeconomist; Jan 9, 2015 at 11:00 pm