IMO, La Quinta has made it way too easy to obtain Elite Status, which now is 25 nights or 7 stays. You can make 7 stays on a week long road trip easily. The only problem I have with La Quinta is that room and hotel quality run the gamete. One night I could be sleeping in a room that smells like dog with a crappy breakfast, while the next night I could be staying in a beautiful clean room in a location with an amazing breakfast and an evening reception. My experience with Elite upgrades are that I get them around 50% of the time, and often I have to ask for them. Also, I only get the water and snack at check-in about 65%-75% of the time, and it's usually not worth complaining if I don't.

The one disadvantage to the guaranteed availability that comes with Elite is that it can only be booked at BAR and I can't use my corporate rate. Also, it's only good for a "standard room," which is up to the hotel's interpretation whether or not that is a 2 double/queen or king room.