With just enough time left of this summer to plan one more beach weekend get-away, I'm asking myself where can I go for an enjoyable weekend away from home for a decent price? Aside from the gas it will take to get there, the biggest expense is the hotel.
With hotels, it's obvious that you get what you pay for. I've found that the less I pay for my room, the less relaxing and stress-free the weekend becomes. But on the other hand, the more I pay for my room, the more stress my bank account feels.
My priorities when it comes to hotel rooms are cleanliness and location. I won't sleep on dirty sheets and I definitely won't walk more than a block to get to the beach.
Most hotels look pretty good from the website, but it's past guests that can tell you whether it's really worth your stay. To help me decide where to reserve a room for my weekend at the beach, I checked out what hotels our users are searching for. There was a huge variety in the results. Marriott topped the list with Holiday Inn right behind it. Other top searched hotel chains included Hilton, Best Western and Motel 6.
Do you know of any other hotel chains that did not show up on our list? If so, please tell us about them. Try searching for hotels on AOL Search or check out AOL Yellow Pages to find a hotel in your desired area.
Top Searched Hotel Chains on AOL Search:
1. Marriott
2. Holiday Inn
3. Hampton Inn
4. Hilton
5. Best Western
6. Comfort Inn
7. Days Inn
8. Motel 6
9. Hyatt
10. Sheraton
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COMMENTS
Super 8 should be on this list; rooms are a little larger than at Motel 6 and still a pretty good deal
By Beverly on Aug 24th 2008 at 6:22PM
My husband refinishes furniture in hotels and resorts, so he and I have seen just about everything...good and bad. There are some great hotels across the country, but as far as hotel chains go, Embassy Suites cannot be beat for service, comfort, cleanliness, and a great cooked-to-order-breakfast. As for great individual hotels...our favorites are The Jefferson in Richmond, VA and the Amway Grand Plaza in Grand Rapids, Michigan.
By D. Fulgham on Aug 24th 2008 at 7:14PM
I travel a lot and schedule my stop overs around the locations of Hampton Inns. I've never had a bad experience. Rooms are clean, staff is professional and friendly and I love their "cloud nine" beds/bedding. No need to sacrifice comfort when you're traveling.
By sydnie on Aug 24th 2008 at 6:31PM
Does anybody know of any good quality, non-Taji (i.e. foreigner operated) hotels? They are quickly becoming a scarce item. It seems that the foreigner operated hotels are quickly getting a reputation for very low-standard quality and I, for one, am sick of taking my family to them.
By NaturalBornAmerican on Aug 24th 2008 at 6:40PM
i stayed at the holiday inn in cocoa beach weekend before last and for the price it wasn't bad at all. i got to hang out on the beach, kids got to play on their pirate ship kiddie pool and we played some tennis and shuffleboard. it's an older hotel but it was clean and cheap. i wish i could have stayed instead of going back to work!
By shaylovesjoe on Aug 24th 2008 at 6:38PM
im surprised that Econo Lodge isnt on here! I went to the one in Windsor Locks, CT and their rooms were VERY VERY clean. Their staff was friendly, and although i couldnt find the way to the pool, it was a great place to stay!
By corrin_marie on Aug 24th 2008 at 9:13PM
I always like the Sheraton or the Westins anything that is the starwood family. Very clean and friendly staff.
By Ren on Aug 24th 2008 at 7:00PM
We stayed at a Clarion hotel near Indianapolis, IN Air Port. Hotel was very hard to find. and outdated. I tried to use the Business center but could not read my email.
We also stayed at a Holiday Inn in Duluth, MN VERY nice. We spent a week there on a business trip. Very nice.
By Harold on Aug 24th 2008 at 6:59PM
I have always like the starwood brand, Sheraton, Westin. Very clean rooms and very friendly staff.
By Ren on Aug 24th 2008 at 7:00PM
have to tell you Hampton is fabulous. Stopped there the morning of New Year'e Eve, 3:AM. Beautiful room, clean, and wonderful. My husband and I were so tired. We slept. Then had a great breakfast and we were on our way, and the price was OK. They are fantastic!
By Marion Bell on Aug 24th 2008 at 7:02PM
Hampton Inn definitely has my vote as the best chain hotel. Almost always clean and comfortable and most have the guarantee if they don't. Only problem is they are starting to get pricy.
Marriott is my second choice.
By Spike Wheeler on Aug 24th 2008 at 7:18PM
I am a traveler and while I found the Hampton in Concord, NH adequate, I will never stay at another Hampton or it's affiliates as I had jewelry stolen from my room while my "do not disturb" sign was hanging. To the best of my knowledge the girl still works there and while I did get aknoledgement from the chain via email, and the management called me, (I was still staying there), I never understood why he just called and didn't stop by my room and say "so What?" to my face.
I recommend the fireside inn and suites. I have stayed with them for several visits to New Hampshire and also know they are located in other area of the states also American inn is usually pretty good. Reasonable with good, clean rooms. I too find the quality of hotels have become shoddy with the purchase of them from Middle Eastern families. Many owned by them are also housing several generations right on the grounds.
By connie on Aug 24th 2008 at 7:41PM
I'm a big fan of Hilton Family hotels - especially Hampton Inn. I always try to stay there for business trips. Plus, Hilton Hotels has a great points program that gives you free nights stays and other great perks such as guaranteed reservations.
By Erin on Aug 24th 2008 at 7:36PM
Hampton Inns are very well kept and the rooms are consistent across the chain. Every once in a while I will stay at one that does not meet the same standards as the others. avoid the older Hampton hotels around the airport in Houston. They are using older beds,lower quality furniture and the breakfasts are not the standard offerings at other Hampton Hotels. Try the brand new Hampton in Corpus Christi!! its a little out of the way but the staff and the facility are top notch.
By rsz on Aug 24th 2008 at 7:37PM
Ever stayed at a Staybridge? 10 times better than a Residence Inn
By GMan on Aug 24th 2008 at 7:38PM
The new Hilton Garden Inns is now my new, favorite hotel. I accidently found one while looking for a Marriott Hotel. It was late, I was tired and could not find the Marriott, but drove past the Hilton. I decided to stop, and was so impressed when I walked in. When I went into my room, I was so surprised how large and clean it was. The mattress was SO comfortable, that I have decided to buy their mattress. You can buy them online. I was so impressed, that it is now where I hope I can stay when I travel.
By dee on Aug 24th 2008 at 7:50PM
The Starwood hotel chain is very nice. I've stayed with them at Disney and in San Francisco and always found that they go above and beyond to make your stay a good one.
By elynn on Aug 24th 2008 at 7:53PM
Enough already about Hampton Inns. Sure they put cookies out at checkin, but just misplace even so much as your wallet and even though you paid for your room with a credit card and your a steady customer, believe me they will not even give you 20.00 cash to pay for that meal you ordered in. They put that stuff out at breakfast and shuffle it back to give it back to you the next day. It is not an honest company in that it honestly does not care about you. Just your guaranteed room. As far as that goes, Motel 6 will guarantee you a room with a credit card or debit as well. For some where around 100.00 cheaper. Minus the shampoo of course. As a traveler I do like the Holiday Inns. Express and what not. Drury Inns is also very nice. I have stayed at several Residence Inns, and Extended Stays I would recommend but not the Extended Stay in Bakersfield, CA. The rest of the chain is superb for a day a week or more. My Favourite place has and will always be Fireside Inn and Suites in West Lebanon, NH. If I could transplant that place everywhere I go, along with it's staff, I couldn't ask for anything else.
By connie on Aug 24th 2008 at 7:54PM
We used to stay at nothing but Holiday Inn Express, but have since discovered LaQuinta to be an equally good value - nice breakfast and good mattresses - very friendly and accommodating and we have stayed at them in numerous locations since we travel with a Standard poodle. The Residence Inn in Loveland, CO us also very very clean and friendly.
By dee on Aug 24th 2008 at 7:59PM
was just reading comments. must add to vivain's comments about days inn. i also arrived late at a day's in with my 2 children. when we got in the room, i swear it had been rented for a half night before us. it was dirty and had the smell of fresh cigarette smoke. checked in around 11pm, checked out at 5 am it was discusting. called local and national offices, no responses. would never stay there again!!!!
By tom on Aug 24th 2008 at 8:04PM