I've spent about 7-10 nights at that SH since 2002. Sure, there ware some noise problems because one of my stays was on New Year's Eve and a couple have been over the Memorial Day weekend (kids softball tournaments) but on balance I love that hotel.

I am premier platinum so I have stayed at a lot of Marriott properties. The one in Louisville is very nice, recently decorated. Valarie, the front desk manager is really great! I would walk in Monday mornings over the last six months and she would greet me with a smile and my room key. I would definately recommend this propery!^^

Just got back from weekend at SHS in downtown Chicago. Very, very nice. Comfy bed, great room, upgraded as a Plat to corner. Breakfast became repetitive but still good. Would definitely recommend.

Best of the MI family overall IMO.
Better than most of the FS properties room wise.
A few of the newer Renaissances and JW's are really wonderful but as a rule I prefer SHS-especially for weekend stays.I wish there were more of the newer ones out there.

Wow...I totally forgot: I actually stayed at that SHS in downtown Chicago last year on the night before the Chicago Marathon. It completely slipped my mind... It's a dual property: one set of elevators for SHS; one set for Residence Inn. Shared common area. Great location downtown (easy walk to Grant Park).

Yes, I recall that this particular property is a major upgrade from my older SHS experience. It was a Cat 5 if I recall correctly...a little on the steep end for an SHS, even in Chicago, but on marathon weekend rates are high and Priceline is not a good option so I was happy to be able to use my Visa certificate.

I recall that our room was not terribly large...it was kind of a funky layout that is probably atypical for the brand. I think we had a corner room. Modern decor, we had HDTV, and the breakfast area was open extra early for the marathon...we were eating at 5:30AM and the place was packed. No hassle getting a late checkout - perhaps the most important thing of all for a marathon weekend.

Anyway, just wanted to modify my earlier opinion about SHS: it does appear that the new ones are worth a look.

My one Spring Hill experience was last summer in Galveston, TX. I wasn't overly impressed with the room style (I was expecting something closer to an Embassy Suites) and I was annoyed the front desk was unable to give me a receipt on a cash purchase I made from the store. Also, I was less than impressed with the breakfast food options. Still, the staff on hand was good and I did get HBO...plus being as I was in Galveston the options were severely limited.

I will be staying at the SpringHill Suites at BDL next week. It was a Cat 2 hotel, but is brand new appearently. The reviews at TripAdvisor (all two of them) said, however, that it is a top notch property.

I'm actually sat on a comfortable king bed at the SHS BDL as I type!

Yes, it is nice. Very modern. Not sure when it opened but it still has that "new hotel smell" about it. Can definitely recommend.

That's good news, cause I'll be there in July.

Does it actually look like:

Yes, it looks exactly like that! Apart from the big bunch of flowers (probably added for effect).

The 'new' SHS motif is awesome. On a whim, I booked a stay in a new SHS in Sioux Falls, SD because it was close to the client. One word about this hotel chain: Sold!

It's funky, modern and most of all - functional. Smaller cities in the midwest seem to be getting brand new SHS hotels -- there is brand new one in Wichita as well. Does anybody have access to a list of nation-wide new/upgraded SHS properties? I haven't stayed in an older property and don't care to.

The SHS concept greatly outpaces the new CY concept (which, honestly feels a bit schlocky, if you ask me, on par with a redesigned Hampton Inn). Not having easy access to many SPG properties, I really like that SHS matches them in terms of design language.

I'm glad to have finally found a favorite in smaller markets.

i lived in a shs for 2 years, and i LOVED it. it was my favorite hotel. every room has a microwave and fridge. since i was there 5 nights/week, it was nice to have an area that could be used to store food, have takeout etc.

the breakfast is the best of all the non full service hotels. the service was the best. every friday, i'd leave, and i'd bring my luggage downstairs. they woudl store it, and when i came back sunday night, it was in my room with a little note welcoming me back, with fresh cookies, milk, and anything else i ever wanted.

when i check in, instead of a bottle of water and cookies, they let me take anything i wanted from the snack bar. so since i was there 5 nights, i'd take 5 liters of water, 5 snacks, and maybe 1 other item. they were so great.

now and then i'd forget to make a reservation, and when i checked out they woudl ask me "do you need a reservation for next week? i didn't see one" - or if they didn't, and i showed up on a sunday and they were already overbooked, they would give me a room anyway and i don't know how they worked the rest out.

the only thing i wish they had was room service, but i could live without.

oh ps - i do agree the walls are a little thin. i just made sure they put me on the top floor every time, so i never heard any toilets flushing like someone else mentioned.

I'd love to have the answer to this as well. The new design looks very clean and appealing versus some of the CY and TPS that I have been staying in.

the things that annoy me about the new SHSs are that they have removed the ottomans, the sofa is less comfy and they are tending to only put 1 TV in the rooms....makes it tough if i want to watch something and mom wants to watch a different program...also makes it hard sometimes to see the TV from one of the beds....

i also think the rooms rendd to be smaller....

call me nuts...i would rather morph some of the old features into the newer hotels...............