What's your preferred "budget" IHG hotel? HI/HIE/Staybridge/Candlewood?
May 2, 2019, 7:06 pm
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: Nov 2014
Location: MCI
Posts: 698
What's your preferred "budget" IHG hotel? HI/HIE/Staybridge/Candlewood?
Traveling through the midwest in some smaller cities this year where the only IHG brand options are HI / HI express and Staybridge/Candlewood or sometimes it just makes sense to go a bit more budget for that trip/location and no need to do luxury or "nice" rooms.
Is there any major differences between those brands or are they essentially the same experience? Seems like HI Express and the Staybridge/Candlewood has free breakfast usually included ('breakfast')
Is there any major differences between those brands or are they essentially the same experience? Seems like HI Express and the Staybridge/Candlewood has free breakfast usually included ('breakfast')
May 2, 2019, 7:27 pm
#2
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Join Date: Jan 2005
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Candlewood Suites serves no breakfast at all, and yet has no restaurant either (just a pantry, and you have mini-kitchen in your room). It feels "functional", like it's designed for people who have to do temporary work in a location, not so much for vacationers.
StayBridge Suites tends to be the nicest of these 4. Its' all suites, and it serves a breakfast buffet that's definitely better than what HIX used to be, I haven't compared them since the HIX breakfast upgrade about a year ago. They may also have an evening social some weeknights with light food.
HIX upgraded their breakfast about a year ago so that the hot eggs and potatoes taste way better than at most other non-suite hotels that offer free breakfast to all.
HI has a restaurant and charges for the all meals. Some are nice while some are kinda yucky old and decrepit ones, so more so than the other 3 brands here you have to check the reviews.
StayBridge Suites tends to be the nicest of these 4. Its' all suites, and it serves a breakfast buffet that's definitely better than what HIX used to be, I haven't compared them since the HIX breakfast upgrade about a year ago. They may also have an evening social some weeknights with light food.
HIX upgraded their breakfast about a year ago so that the hot eggs and potatoes taste way better than at most other non-suite hotels that offer free breakfast to all.
HI has a restaurant and charges for the all meals. Some are nice while some are kinda yucky old and decrepit ones, so more so than the other 3 brands here you have to check the reviews.
May 2, 2019, 8:27 pm
#3
Join Date: Aug 2017
Programs: Hilton Diamond, IHG Spire Ambassador, Global Entry
Posts: 2,840
If there's a Staybridge, that is usually my choice. The rooms are fantastic (even if they weren't budget rooms) and you get a full breakfast. However, the new Holiday Inn Expresses aren't too shabby either. There's really no time I ever consider Candlewood.
May 3, 2019, 11:23 am
#6
Join Date: Jan 2009
Location: OKC
Programs: IHG Spire, National Exec, AA Plat
Posts: 2,274
Staybridge is my favorite - free breakfast and social hour (with alcohol) a few nights a week. The ONLY downside is the 5x points earnings vs 10x. If it wasn't for this, I would almost exclusively stay at Staybridge.
Candlewood is my go-to if I need cheap. Never had an issue, but you get what you pay for and they aren't fancy.
HI/HIX isn't that big of a difference to me. HIX breakfast has always been pretty bad to me so that doesn't matter. I find most of my stays here though because of the 10x points at these brands. HI can have some older properties as mentioned above, so you have to check reviews. Most HIX are newer it seems and generally a safe bet.
Candlewood is my go-to if I need cheap. Never had an issue, but you get what you pay for and they aren't fancy.
HI/HIX isn't that big of a difference to me. HIX breakfast has always been pretty bad to me so that doesn't matter. I find most of my stays here though because of the 10x points at these brands. HI can have some older properties as mentioned above, so you have to check reviews. Most HIX are newer it seems and generally a safe bet.
May 3, 2019, 2:02 pm
#7
Join Date: Jul 2013
Posts: 1,872
I wanted yo use my IHG free night and points for our upcoming week long days in San Diego.There are few HIE and staybridges too. Wanted one with breakfast and cheaper parking. Might stay at the HIE in old town or StayBridge suites but it looks like it is in middle of no where.
May 3, 2019, 4:02 pm
#9
Original Poster
Join Date: Nov 2014
Location: MCI
Posts: 698
Candlewood Suites serves no breakfast at all, and yet has no restaurant either (just a pantry, and you have mini-kitchen in your room). It feels "functional", like it's designed for people who have to do temporary work in a location, not so much for vacationers.
StayBridge Suites tends to be the nicest of these 4. Its' all suites, and it serves a breakfast buffet that's definitely better than what HIX used to be, I haven't compared them since the HIX breakfast upgrade about a year ago. They may also have an evening social some weeknights with light food.
HIX upgraded their breakfast about a year ago so that the hot eggs and potatoes taste way better than at most other non-suite hotels that offer free breakfast to all.
HI has a restaurant and charges for the all meals. Some are nice while some are kinda yucky old and decrepit ones, so more so than the other 3 brands here you have to check the reviews.
StayBridge Suites tends to be the nicest of these 4. Its' all suites, and it serves a breakfast buffet that's definitely better than what HIX used to be, I haven't compared them since the HIX breakfast upgrade about a year ago. They may also have an evening social some weeknights with light food.
HIX upgraded their breakfast about a year ago so that the hot eggs and potatoes taste way better than at most other non-suite hotels that offer free breakfast to all.
HI has a restaurant and charges for the all meals. Some are nice while some are kinda yucky old and decrepit ones, so more so than the other 3 brands here you have to check the reviews.
May 3, 2019, 8:41 pm
#13
Join Date: Dec 2016
Location: Plainfield, IN
Programs: IHG Platinum / HHonors Diamond / Hyatt Globalist / AA EX Platinum
Posts: 200
Depends on price of course. I do like Staybridge, then I look for HIE, the HI, I don't care much for Candlewood, but will stay there if that's the coice.
May 3, 2019, 8:49 pm
#14
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CP would be considered a full service hotel, although below IC. Some such as SIN airport are nice. Suite upgrades might be available for high tier elites, but their normal rooms are not suites or junior suites.
May 4, 2019, 3:08 am
#15
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Geography and location play a great part in this.
In parts of the world, particularly in Asia, the HIX offer can blow most US Holiday Inns and Crowne Plazas out of the water.
I've just finished a stay at a Beijing HIX. Not he ritziest HIX in the region, but comparing it to, say, the SFO Crowne Plaza would be a chalk and cheese exercise.
In parts of the world, particularly in Asia, the HIX offer can blow most US Holiday Inns and Crowne Plazas out of the water.
I've just finished a stay at a Beijing HIX. Not he ritziest HIX in the region, but comparing it to, say, the SFO Crowne Plaza would be a chalk and cheese exercise.