jtwiz

Pros: can take my 80-year old (increasingly forgetful) Mom to FL and share 2 bedroom, 2 bath suite. I can keep an eye on her but not have to share a room.

Cons: none, in this particular case!

CIT85

I never paid attention to the 1/2 earn rate! I'll be more careful next time I consider a RI.

ryw

The older RIs (with outdoor corridors) also have 2 story loft suites which can be quite nice to get! Especially if the property is well maintained.

CCIE_Flyer

Although I haven't stayed in an older RI in quite some years, when nearly all of my Marriott stays were split between RI and TPS, I found this to be spotty at best. Like literally a single washer and dryer or maybe a pair shared by a very sizable property.

Not too long ago (1.5 yrs?) I was given a personal tour of a yet-to-open "next generation" (or whatever they're calling it) RI, and I confess to being impressed (don't recall that I checked on the laundry situation, however!). Very sleek furnishings (particularly in the kitchen), everything of seemingly high quality by extended stay standards, built to feel solid, open and close smoothly and quietly, and probably to last. I had already made my exodus to SPG by that point, but even at half points I must admit that it was tempting to take my weekly business there (this was in Doral, FL).

Moral of the story: As far as I know, there are almost two completely separate RI sub-brands/generations, and the differences are stark.

darthbimmer

I know it's a minority opinion on FT, but past a certain threshold choosing hotels based on points earning is letting the tail wag the dog. Other things being roughly equal, sure, I'll choose the hotel that pays more points. But when an RI is non-trivially cheaper or nicer than other hotels where & when I'm staying, I book it and swallow the fact it pays half points.

stvr

There are three flavors of residence inn.

1) original bungalow style
2) Version 2.0, with interior hallways
3) urban reuse of older buildings

tough to generalize therefore.

orca15

I find (anecdotally of course) that status goes further at RI, maybe because it is not a business-type hotel. The couple I visit when the wife comes along seem to always have a nice upgrade, unlike the rest of the Marriott world where upgrades are unicorns.

JW6130

There is a fourth flavor of Residence Inn. The Andell Inn outside of Charleston, SC is like a Residence Inn on steroids. Room structure is similar to others, but everything is upgraded. Toiletries are huge. Lots of artwork. Breakfast looks like a standard Residence Inn at first (with the standard people cleaning it out like a pack of starving hyenas), but includes homemade biscuits, bacon, and mimosas. Pool is actually heated, unlike many Marriott properties.

For Version 2.0, there is the old red/orange style, or the newer blue/gray style. If they are still using the old red/orange design, the property likely is in desperate need of a renovation. The blue/gray style means the property has been recently renovated. (This is a similar trick you can use for Courtyards.)

CKDGM

born sleepy

Ugh, yes, I stayed at the Fremont CA CY which was very orange/brown. It was like re-living the 1970s. A few weeks later I was at a CY in the Minneapolis area (St Louis Park? I forget) that was brand new and quite gorgeous, attached to a new Marriott with a nice restaurant. The brand is very inconsistent.

I'm at a RI in Louisville CO (not Kentucky) next week for 14 nights and I'm sort of dreading it. There's a CY there too but based on the pics neither property has been renovated. Not knowing about this point earning discrepancy when I booked so maybe I'll switch to the CY.

stvr

Youre right. Good point. Trio Healdsburg comes to mind in thinking of other hotels in that fourth category.

Ryno1234

I will fully admit to being a "point whore": i travel what i think is a ton for work(130+ nights a year) and I want to make the silver lining to that dark cloud as bright as possible. So, when its a paid stay, I will rarely if ever stay at a RI. However, when the family and I are traveling and I am using points, RI is ALWAYS my first choice. I love the properties and their offerings. But for me, the point earn difference between RIs and the other brands is a huge deal breaker.