When my travel needs required a night in Phoenix prior to a business trip the next day, I chose the Springhill Suites Phoenix Tempe/Airport as it was on the company’s list, and was “reasonable”. (As you may be aware, hotel rates in the Phoenix area begin to skyrocket in October.) My previous experience with Springhill was at Springhill Suites Phoenix Downtown. I expected the same service and amenities between the two; after all, they are both owned by the same franchise. I was wrong.

I will continue to recommend the Springhill Suites Phoenix Downtown as a great alternative to the more expensive hotels in the downtown Phoenix area. The staff is very friendly and attentive; the premises are clean; the location meets most needs; and, the price is moderate.

I would recommend, however, that the Springhill Suites Phoenix Tempe/Airport be avoided. The staff seemed to care less about the guests. The room, though clean, felt very cheap. The curtains were not made to cover the windows; just a foot or so on either side. (Mrs. AZ was able to rig them to cover most of the way.) The plumbing in the hotel was very noisy, so that you would wake up if your neighbor flushed. The bed was not comfortable. Finally, there was no closet... just a pole on the wall. Mrs. AZ made the comment that the Fairfield Inn Scottsdale North was much nicer... and cheaper!


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Bob
[This message has been edited by AZ_MISMAN (edited 10-14-2003).]

You may want to try the Sheraton Tempe sometime. Its usually very cheap on weekends (unless there is an ASU game), probably even cheaper than the Springhill Suites. The Marriott at PHX (Tempe) tends to be expensive however.

I can also recommend against the SpringHill Suites Rancho Bernardo/Scripps Poway (San Diego). This place has the smallest rooms of almost any hotel I have ever seen.

ON the other hand I have nothing but good things to say about the Springhill Suite in Gaithersburg MD. I stayed there for about 3 months at the beginning of 2003. Top notch, from the housekeeping staff to manager.

Not much has changed here in 8 years. Small rooms, old and uncomfortable beds. I stayed at a SHS in Potomac Mills and loved it. When I booked Scripps I was thinking I'd have a similar experience. Boy, was I wrong!

I greatly enjoyed the Spring Hill Suites in Vegas (across from the Hilton) when not wanting to spend a chunk of change at the famous hotels. Nice hotel and great view on the 24th floor pool/balcony.

I've stayed at the SHS at N. Dearborn street in downtown Chicago and the staff is very friendly, always greeting you with a smile. Great views of downtown area too and cheaper rates than the next door RI.

I stayed at 4 SHS during our latest trip to the US and all of them are nice except the one in Prescott AZ. I would avoid that SHS in the future.

The nice ones are: Flagstaff, Kingman, Ridgecrest

I like the SHS and RI concept and I prefer SHS over RI mostly because of the earning ration with MR.