The 10 Best Hotel Chains for Holiday Travelers

If you are traveling this holiday season to visit relatives and planning to stay in a nearby hotel or if you will need a hotel for a night along the way, there are several good options available depending on your needs. Some of these hotels are a great deal if you have kids, while others are better for a couple or a single traveler. Each has a special perk that makes it worth your consideration for your holiday traveling needs.

1) Homewood Suites offers bedroom suites with kitchen areas and a pullout couch. Also included are a free breakfast buffet seven days a week and, Monday through Thursday, a light dinner and drinks, including beer and wine. This is a great option for those on a budget. You might also want to consider this if you are in the area visiting relatives for the holiday. Since large festive meal preparation often takes all day, there may not be much food available before the big meal. The free food options at Homewood Suites allow you and your family to eat and stay together for a very reasonable price without being a burden to relatives who might not have the stamina or space to feed and entertain small children or several people.

The hotel typically has a game room that contains a pool table and a large living room public area with a fireplace and big comfy lounge chairs. Movies are available to borrow and the rooms have VCRs. The rooms are not as cheap as a Super 8 or Howard Johnson hotel, but remember to factor into the price how many people will fit into a suite and the amount of food that is available for free to your family. You can also check your email using the free wireless high speed Internet access and use the free office facilities of a fax, computer and copier. The amount of free food and frequently free snacks like peanut butter and saltines, donut holes and pastry and coffee that are always available in the lobby between meals and the roominess of the hotel suite makes this my favorite choice, since there are activities for kids and adults without being too expensive.

I once arrived at a Homewood Suites at 2 a.m. after a very long trip. All the local restaurants were closed and the manager pointed out the coffee, peanut butter and crackers and pastries on the tabletop. After a long day's travel, it was wonderful to have these available to me before I even got to my room.

2) For grandparents visiting the kids, several hotels start senior discounts fairly young - even as early as age 50. If you wish to use the senior discount, try to make reservations as far in advance as possible since most hotels only allocate a certain number of discount rooms. The Radisson features the comfy sleep number beds with down pillows and a premium down-filled comforter, some rooms with Jacuzzis, suites and breakfast-in-bed packages. This season they are offering a 20-percent off package for a suite with dinner when you stay two nights, ranging from $99 to $159. Senior rate brings the sleep number bedroom rate down to $89 at the Boston Radisson. Inquire at your Radisson of choice about any special rates for seniors, as well as entertainment club members and military.

3) Holiday Inn hotels often have a sauna and whirlpool available, free Internet, fitness center, 24-hour lounge and kids eat free, which can be a real savings for your family. Holiday Inns that are near an airport often run the "Stay, Park and Fly" Package; it features deluxe overnight accommodation at the hotel for up to four people, hourly airport shuttle services to the airport and, in some cases, complimentary parking.

4) Ramada has the option of booking online via a travel route or finding hotels proximate to an airport. They also offer a special in which they give you a $25 gift card when you stay with them twice - inquire when you make arrangements to stay or book your room online. Staying there twice will be easy for you if you are planning to stay in a hotel both on the way to and from your holiday destination. Senior discount is available and some rooms have a Jacuzzi. There is typically a restaurant and a pool (although sometimes just an outdoor one) in Ramada Inns.

5) Most Clarion hotels have many of the amenities of a more expensive hotel, such as room service or a concierge, but at a Howard Johnson's price tag. If you want some special services but don't need a fancy hotel room or a fancy restaurant (just a good one), Clarion is an ideal option.

6) Homestead Studio Suites, which are part of the Extended Stay Hotels, have free breakfast and a manager's reception on weekdays for a light dinner. You get a suite that is the size of a large studio apartment with a television, sleeping area and kitchen area. They are more geared towards the business traveler so there are limited onsite activities for kids, but children are welcome and two meals a day are free.

7) Residence Inn hotels have fully equipped kitchens with full size refrigerators, coffeemaker, microwave, dishwasher and cooktop. They have free high-speed Internet and a work desk with an ergonomic chair. A great feature if you are traveling is their complimentary grocery shopping service where they will stock your refrigerator with the grocery list you give them in advance of your arrival. You will not have to fight the crowds at the grocery store once you arrive and food will be there no matter what time you get to the hotel. They also have a free breakfast and discounted rates for longer stays.

8) If you are stuck in a hotel overnight due to unexpected flight delays on your way to staying at a relative's house, you are probably not thinking about the little necessities that you were expecting to use at your destination, like toothpaste and shampoo. While several hotels like Hilton and Omni have small shops for necessities, the Courtyard Marriott gives you a free full bag of toiletry goodies - toothbrush, shaving cream, shampoo, toothpaste, razor, lotion, comb, shower cap, etc - just ask at the front desk for any items you have forgotten and they will give you a gift bag full of goodies. Brands are generally Neutrogena products. Courtyard Marriott also has free coffee, tea, hot cocoa and cookies or fruit in the lobby for guests. If you sign up for the Marriott rewards program online you earn ten points per dollar redeemable for merchandise or free stays. A full gym is free to guests. There is complimentary wireless in the lobby and in-room Internet for your laptop. Suites have a king size bed and a pullout couch in a separate room with a refrigerator and microwave so parents and children can stay in the same room and have privacy at a reasonable price. Suites typically cost $40 to $50 more per night than regular rooms.

9) If you are busy with relatives during the day or just need a hotel for a night, Super 8 has limited activities and amenities to entertain you, but they do have free continental breakfast and free Internet for rates of $65 to $85 a night even in peak season without any other discounts.

10) La Quinta amenities include lounges, guest laundry, complimentary continental breakfast and free newspapers. Pets are allowed. They have modem/data port, high-speed Internet and are wheelchair accessible. La Quinta has reasonable rates.

Visit each hotel's respective Web site for details on special travel packages and availability.

Have a safe and happy trip!