Making a Case for Lower Tier Hotels

All the major hotel chains have different levels of hotels, yet they all fly under one hotel banner. There is the luxury, full-service, mid-range, extended stay, and the budget hotels, with a few variations in between. The major hotel chains usually have their flagship brand tied to a full-service brand like Marriott, Hilton, and Holiday Inn. Then they have luxury hotels which are step above like Marriot has the Renaissance brand, Hilton has the Conrad, and Holiday Inn has the Crowne Plaza. Under the full service level there is the mid-range brands where Marriott has the Courtyard and Hilton has the Hilton Garden. Then the hotel chains also have extended stay hotels as the Residence Inn for Marriott, Homewood Suites for Hilton, or Staybridge for Holiday Inn. Finally, there is the economy or budget hotels where Marriott has Fairfield Inn, Hilton has Hampton Inn, and Holiday Inn has Holiday Inn Express.

The oddest occurrence is the lower you go on the hotel tiers, the more you receive. The higher you go on hotel hierarchy, the less you receive for a stay. It is very likely that if you stay at a luxury hotel (like those mentioned above or Sheraton's Westin brand) you will be charged for each phone call (even local) and Internet access. There will be no complimentary breakfast. And the number of television channels will be limited. This is what you get for a luxury hotel and the high price.

Stay at a budget hotel (like those mention above or Sheraton's Four Points Hotels) and you will receive free local calls and free wireless Internet. There will be a hot continental style breakfast. And usually you will have a full array of cable channels. Additionally, it is more likely a microwave and/or micro-fridge will be in the room, whereas in the top tier they will not be part of the room.

Seemingly one of the differences between a mid-range and a budget hotel is the rooms are a bit bigger, the breakfast a bit better, and often the pool is indoors. Very often in budget hotels the pool is outdoors meaning seasonal.

What you give up in staying in the lesser brands is style points. The room will be less appointed with more basic bedding and towels, plastic or Styrofoam cups, no spa style soaps and shampoos, and no restaurant on-site for room service. Also there will be less staff available so there will be no bell service, no one to bring toiletries to the room, and one person manning the front desk. Still for spending less and getting more, the lesser brands are amazing when compared to their pretentious big brothers.