I don't see the value of a back-up. Once I hit Diamond (which I have already done this year), I want to continue to receive the benefits. I tried doing Marriott as a back-up. I found the hotels similar on average, and I didn't see any advantage in it, since there's almost always a Hilton property whenever there's a Marriott property.

I figured the advantage would be if I had status in both then I could just pick the one with the better rates.

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.

I got Silver in Marriott, by virtue of a 10 day long work meeting at a Renaissance property (10 days of my life I'll never see again, btw.). And then my low-level status on Delta got me Gold in Carson.

Realistically, I'll never use the benefits in either of my back-up plans. Hilton's broad enough to have a place that's convenient for me to stay, and it seems that most of the other programs are devaluing in order to race each other to the bottom.

I really do question whether hotel loyalty matters at all, these days. I'm a Diamond, and I rarely get upgrades at most properties.

Other programs aren't better. My spouse is staying at Courtyard Marriott for anywhere between 2 and 4 days a week, every week, all year long--but only one stay a week. So, minus vacation, that's 48 weeks, and he'll never get beyond Gold with Marriott... even though he's staying with them, more often than he's home.

I really am starting to think that loyalty doesn't matter to hotels the way it does to airlines.

[QUOTE=nlkm9;21199897]I wanted ihg as a backup because the resorts are really nice and I wanted to build some points there. I would love to learn more about this LNf guarantee and what it entails... Courtyards make me crazy


Ok, well I gave the courtyard another shot and went down to lobby today and NO COFFEE...I had to wait on a long line and pay for my coffee--doesnt sound like much but that is such a basic amenity , even if you do not have status.
I know its such a small thing......but this irritates me so
I gave it a shot.....never again!

[QUOTE=nlkm9;21217062]Well you gave them a chance. That's all that matters. The small things do add up after awhile.

[QUOTE=nlkm9;21217062]I just don't get the appeal of CY.

Maybe i am missing something.

Can someone please explain to me.

Maybe i am just not smelling the coffee...

Lol....too funny..

I will say that I frequently find CYs to have the lowest rates, especially on weekends, as compared to other hotel brands. So, that is definitely a benefit as a fully leisure traveler.

CYs gouge business travelers during the week--but I do not understand why business travelers "take the bait" when there are vastly better alternatives out there.....

When business travelers whose companies pay the bill disappear over the weekends, there is only one way CYs will be able to entice leisure travelers to their crappy properties--LOW rates.

my hubby was very annoyed, i have put him up at many hotels, he said "are you kidding me, this hotel does not have coffee in the lobby???"
he made me promise NEVER to book CY again. I can keep that promise

I like the CY on Yonge street in Toronto when I have a weekend stay on my own dime. Pretty nice property, free wifi, great location and a lot of times I get breakfast included in the AAA rate which is a great full buffet better than any Hilton buffet I have ever had (with the exception of the former LV Hilton).

For my backup hotel program though I prefer SPG if possible and it's a great chain if you have status with Delta. As a PM or DM with Delta, even with no SPG status, you get a guaranteed 4 p.m. checkout at most properties, free wifi and if you call in advance many properties will give you a great upgrade if it's available.

If you stay at Hyatt's even a couple times a year it pays to get their credit card. You get PM status which gives you free wifi and a 4 p.m. checkout and the 2 night signup bonus and the yearly free night more than make up for the annual fee. I have had no issues using the free nights at the Andaz in West Hollywood when rates were around $300 a night.

Consider the in-room coffee maker. It's my lifeline in US hotels--and fresh rather than lying around for hours. For strength, I use two coffee sachets (never a problem to get from the housekeepers in the morning.

In Europe I take my own french press and ground coffee. Almost every hotels provides kettles.

Now you do not have to worry about "coffee in the lobby", and can maintain your marriage....

LOL.... I am lazy, and despise in room coffee.
I do love french press coffee-fabulous!