Originally Posted by
j2simpso
From my experience staying at Best Westerns, the inclusion of breakfast and how elites can vary wildly between hotels, even in the same city! I've stayed at Best Westerns that have had breakfast included (i.e. Best Western Kitchener/Waterloo), locations where no breakfast or restaurant was onsite, and locations where breakfast an optional extra either payable at booking or during check-inAs a Diamond Elite (BW's highest status) I've received everything from upgrades to the best room and gifts upon check in to no recognition at all (i.e. here's your key, have a nice day!). This to me is one of the biggest downsides to staying at a Best Western, whereas I know darned well that I'll get a breakfast if I stay at a Hilton or Marriott (I'm Gold in both programs) and that I'll be recognized for my status, the same can't be said for Best Western.
That being said, Best Western is a good option when the recognized hotel brands (i.e. Marriott, SPG, Hilton, etc.) aren't priced reasonably (i.e. around $100/night) since you can be somewhat certain you'll at least get a decent quality room to say nothing of the points earnings.
Best Western is also often an option in small towns where there what you call the "recognized" hotel brands don't have a presence at all. You alternatives then might be only Choice or WyndhamRewards, which are no better with elite benefits.
But you haven't traveled far and wide enough if you think that you can't find anomalies in those "recognized' hotel programs. Fairfield Inn is a Marriott program brand that has breakfast for all, right? Except that there's a Fairfield Inn in Anaheim that has no breakfast at all for anyone! Your Marriott Gold status will do you no good at that particular Fairfield Inn.
The difference is thus just one of magnitude. The exceptions in those "recognized" programs are much rarer than the exceptions in the Best Western program.