Until a couple years ago, I stayed at a certain RI 5 nights a month. Then, I had so many unresolved issues with Housekeeping in 1 week, that I abandoned ship. I took my business to Hilton properties and was happy.

For whatever reason, Marriott renewed my silver status for this year and I decided to requalify for next, having HH Diamond well in the bag already. The first 8 nights have been ok. In fact, 2 nights at the Marriott in Huntsville were superb. The other 6 were spent at a couple Courtyards and a Springhill. Nothing to write home about, but expectations were met.

This week, I decided to secure the final 2 nights and ended up at the RI that drove me away 2 years ago. There's a new GM, but after the first night I remember why I bailed.

1. The smells: There is a cultural cross section staying here. The smells in the hallway at dinner time were bizarre. I had to put a towel across the crack under the door to keep them out.

2. The noise: My room faced the courtyard. There is a gazebo under my window. Last night it rained and a rowdy crowd congregated in the gazebo. The noise did not abate until past 11:00.

3. Everything else. Breakfast is weak. The snack was chilidogs and salad. The pillows are hard. The internet is wired.

If I need a suite with a kitchen, I'm going back to Homewood Suites. Residence Inns are for people who need to stay there. Not me. Only way I'll renew Marriott status again next year will be at Marriotts!

What I can't fathom about Residence Inn is that they have a full kitchen in the room and you get breakfast 7 days a week and some sort of evening "meal" four days a week. Courtyard offers neither a full kitchen nor breakfast (on some room rates) nor an evening meal

The catch with Residence Inn is that the brand is now...what...20 years old? I notice a lot of RI's out there that are reaching that point where they need a major refurb. New mattresses, new decor, new furniture - major overhauls or else they are in danger of dropping from their leadership perch in the long-stay category into a fray with about a dozen other chains that seek to imitate Residence Inn.

The good Residence Inns are one of my favorite things about the Marriott chain. But the tired, old ones can be painfully bad. Marriott's hallmark is their consistency and quality control at their full-service properties. I wish they'd apply the same level of quality control to the lower brands like RI, CY, and TPS.

I've stayed in a Homewood or two and they are fine, but they are fewer and farther between than RI. Most places I go these days, there is no Homewood.

JS is that you? How did you get bama's log in info?

is the point structure. Sure, if I'm on a $49 a night extended stay rate, I can probably see a little bend to it, but if I'm on a $179 a night Residence Inn stay, why should I only receive 5 points for base versus the 10 of a Courtyard (like in Houston where the RI and CY downtown are in the same building and utilize the same kitchen. I just have no reason to frequent one for that standpoint alone.

This is my primary beef with RI.I actually emailed Marriott Rewards asking why they only gave 5 points for RI-they said RI offers more amentities than their other brands ,thus the lower point earnings.No more RI for this Gold

More amenities? By that logic, a paid stay at the JW Marriott should deduct points from your account!

On a serious note: if a RI offers more amenities, then that is reflected in the room rate. We pay more for an RI than, say, an Amerisuites because we like the RI amenities. (In theory.) I agree with you guys that the awards program should simply offer the same rewards regardless of which brand you use.

Especially these days where RI has moved up directly into the same price range as a full-service Marriott in many markets. I don't think of them as having more or less amenities - just different amenities. It's a trade-off, but to me it should be unrelated to Marriott Rewards.

Unfortunately, I imagine that they get this complaint often and aren't about to change it.

I have a reservation for next June to stay at the new RI opening up near Times Square. I'll be interested to see early feedback on this property. I think it opens in November.

Residence Inns are really great if you have children.

Well, maybe so, maybe no.

For another perspective on this, check this thread I started a long, long time ago --->http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/showthread.php?t=139127

Please note posts #3, #4 and #5. In post #5, socrates basically agrees with NJUPINTHEAIR's post #3 and Lex's post #4. I know post #5 was deleted; you'll have to take my word for the content, as it was a long time ago, and is to the best of my memory.

Don't worry about all socrates' deleted posts, BTW. They were the result of off-topic stuff and he is still here, still posting and alive & well. ^

Uh, it sounds to me like the OP should have merely named his post "I hate one particlar Residence Inn" not just "I hate Residence Inns" since he he seems to have a problem with only one particular property. And to be frank, anyone who bases their loyalty decision on ONE property alone is really not all that rational anyway. Its like me deciding to jump ship from Hilton based on the one dumpy Hilton that's a few minutes from my house...silly.

RI's offer less points because they offer more FREE amenities. I agree, they tend to be higher priced, sometimes to a full serve level, but they have free HSIA, free b-fast, free evening reception, free grocery service and are all suites. A JW or full serve may have more amenities but you are definitely paying for everything and then some. If RI's offered 10 pts, why would anyone ever stay at a CY? I know I wouldn't, which is probably why they do it. As for the OP, it is a bit ridiculous that you make such a general statement about a whole brand based on 1 hotel. The snacks vary per RI, some RI's have wireless, some have great b-fasts, some have the new bedding package with soft pillows, etc. You would not know that because you claim to have only stayed at one. I have stayed at far more inferior Homewoods than RI's. Just my 2 cents.

Count me as another one who will not stay at RI. I did when I first started all my stays and was young and naive and didn't realize that FT was there to show me the way. But as soon as I looked at the terms and saw it was only 5 points, I left and haven't been back. There are too many other places (Marriott and non-Marriott) that offer most of the same things, that I need, as does RI and still offer full points.

You're right, of course. I was probably too steamed to think clearly.

I probably should have taken it to Travelbuzz and titled it "I hate long-term accomodation properties that are not business-traveller focused".

I have stayed at a couple RI's, a couple Homewood Suites and 1 Extended Stay America. Not a broad survey, but enough to begin forming an opinion. I have had no problem with the Homewoods. The others have been more like hobo camps than business class hotels.

And the 5 points really ticks me off, too. I forgot that when I made the reservation.

That's silly. SpringHill Suites offers all of the amenities that you listed for RI (except for grocery service) and you get the full 10 pts./dollar. Amenities are not the reason.

I avoid RIs solely because of the 5 pts./dollar.