I am trying to decide whether to go with Hilton Honors Gold, Starwood Gold or Priority Club Gold (with a likelihood of ending up Platinum). I think Marriott Gold would be a little too hard to reach.

My hotel stays are almost always a single night. For the most part I would be staying at the lower end Hilton or Starwood brands or Holiday Inns with Priority Club. I'm looking to maximize the elite benefits (free internet, room upgrades) rather than earning points for reward stays.

From what I gather, Hilton Honors Gold seems to hold more benefits that *W Gold and Priority Club has essentially no elite benefits. Based on this, I'm leaning towards focusing on Hilton. Does this sound reasonable? Thanks for your input.

It might depend on where you're going, but basically you're on the right track with HH. At the very least, Gold status gets you free breakfasts. And it has a lot of decent lower end properties in lots of different locations.

HHonors Gold gets you free breakfast.

Starwood Gold gets you 4pm checkout (though the Starwood Amex card gets you Preferred Plus and that same benefit).

You won't get much in the way of upgrades either way at the Gold level, and the only similar level offering free internet is Hyatt Platinum. But many of the lower end properties offer internet free anyway.

I had a lot of upgrades as HHonors gold; and as gleff said, it gets you free breakfast. Plus Hamptons, the lower end brand, are a lot nicer than most Holiday Inns and Four Points.

Priority Club Gold doesn't belong in this discussion. While nominally "mid-tier" it's truly an entry level status and effortless to obtain. I suggest you think of Priority Club Platinum as the mid-tier and recognize that the program simply does not have a higher tier (unless you stay at Intercontinental brand properties often enough to earn Royal Ambassador status.)

+1 Hamptons are often listed with brands such as Marriott Fairfield Inn and Holiday Inn + Holiday Inn Express. Hamptons IME are much better. That brand is the main reason why I defected from Marriott Rewards to HH. Courtyard is almost always, IMO, too expensive for what you get. So that left the Fairfield and lower Marriott brands. Also, Hilton Garden Inn is quite consistently nice.

If HI and HIE were more consistent I might stay at them more often. But I have been burned too many times with HI/HIE. Such a shame because I love the Priority Club program.

If you're stayin at the lower ends, I'd go Hilton as I've found most Hamptons and Hilton Garden Inns to be quite nice. Plus, if you stay at Hampton Inn & Suites as a Gold, upgrades can happen with decent regularity.

Hamptons all have free breakfast and a business center. Embassy suites have a restaurant with free breakfast (and are better than Hampton Inn at times) There is also a managers happy hour in the evenings (2 free drink max).
The 4 Points Sheraton where we stayed in SFO did not have any free BF and for a family of 4 that came to 60$ easily.

Thanks for all the help. I've decided to go with Hilton Honors and have signed up for MVP program promo that will give me gold status after my next four stays which should happen by the end of the month.

Depending on chain, i.e. HIX, Residence Inn, many lower tier properites already provide free breakfast so that benefit is a bit illusory. As for upgrades, does it really matter at a Hampton, v. an inner city Westin where the difference could be a quiet room with a view v. a dark hole next to an elevator? And for 1 night stays I'd bet the 4pm checkout isn't worth to much - as most of the time that means flying in the night before an early meeting, and then straight to the airport to get outta dodge.

To me, all the lower end Hilton, Marriott, SPG, IC and Hyatt chain properties are a dime a dozen - there just ain't much difference between any of them and all provide free internet, breakfasts, etc. For that reason I think you would be better off looking at maxing the potential awards from one night stays (though apparently that isn't your goal). For me that would mean taking advantage of Hyatt's FFNs (or whatever they renamed it) and similar promos from SPG and Hilton that will get you free nights to use for leisure.

Hilton Gold is probably the right choice; Hamptons are nice enough and an occasional cheap HGI stay with the free breakfast is a good bonus.

I'd seriously consider Priority Club as I personally like the average HIX bed, shower, and breakfast better than those of the average Hampton. I'm upgraded to a suite much more often at HIX than Hampton, regardless of what the program terms require. Should be able to get to Platinum without much trouble given all the promos.

Maybe start with Hilton Gold and switch over to PC later to give it a try.

Realize Hilton also runs quarterly promos - right now it's either doubled base points or airline miles. Check here for more info:

http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/hilto...r-hhonors.html

Also here if you're in the mood for more of the program nuts & bolts:

http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/hilto...red-guest.html