Here's Where To Check In & Where To Avoid Having To Check Out Early
Not every hotel experience can be at a chic little-known boutique hotel you've been quietly recommended by your hip friend. Sometimes when you're on the road, you need to rely on one of those huge chain companies that seem to own half of America. While some should be avoided with a ten-foot pole, others are the epitome of opulent luxury. These latter have an international reputation that proceeds them. But don't worry, you can still have a nice hotel experience without forking over a fortune. From Best Western to the Four Seasons, here's where the biggest hotel chains in the US rank.
1. Motel 6
The "6" in Motel 6 signified the cost for a night's stay when it first opened in the 1960s. If that were still the price, we might be more lenient in our judgment. Today, it costs about 10 times that but the terrible quality is just the same.
2. Super 8
A step up from Motel 6, a night at the Super 8 was $8.88 when it first opened in the 1970s. It's now far beyond that price but has the same paper-thin pillows and mattresses with springs you can feel in your back.
3. Days Inn
Days Inn is more or less the same price as Super 8 but it has consistently poorer ratings. With its no-frills approach to hospitality, the hotel chain doesn't pretend to be anything fancy, but after staying in an extremely basic and uncomfortable Days Inn hotel room, you'll learn to appreciate the one or two frills at other places a little more.
4. Red Roof Inn
Another economy hotel chain in the US that opened in the 1970s, the Red Roof Inn has become an American roadside staple with over 300 locations across the country. The chain offers cheap, zero-frills nightly accommodation, but it's also been embroiled in legal issues due to its habit of allegedly turning a blind eye to sex trafficking on the premises.
5. Quality Inn
The ironically-named Quality Inn is anything but, with its damp and depressing, poorly lit and uncomfortable rooms. Because of the cost of real estate, Quality Inns are also generally found in run-down and sketchy corners of cities.
6. Travelodge
The best thing to be said about Travelodge is that some stays at some locations are sometimes fine. The general experience here is less than fine, with rooms of questionable cleanliness, and uncomfortable, it doesn't even meet the incredibly low bar that a cheap hotel should.
Mary and Angus Hogg on Wikimedia
7. Best Western
While some people have good things to say about some Best Western locations, the quality at this hotel chain is notoriously inconsistent. While some locations have been updated, others look like the 1980s threw up everywhere inside. Despite its branding as a mid-range option, Best Westerns generally have a lower-tier feel, especially the locations that are poorly managed.
The Library of Congress on Wikimedia
8. OYO Hotels
OYO Hotels is an Indian multinational hotel chain that more recently opened locations across the US, often taking over older, run-down motel buildings. Having opened its first American location as recently as 2019, it didn't take long for this hotel chain to garner an awful reputation for its unclean hotels with strong odors and poor maintenance.
Oyo Hotel & Casino on Wikimedia
9. Wyndham
Wyndham branded hotels are proof that higher costs don't always translate to a better experience. Wyndham is now the umbrella company that owns many of the lesser-quality hotel chains in the US. The Wyndham Grand is branded as an upscale hotel option but it more often than not leaves guests disappointed in terms of value and consistency, especially when factoring in the high price.
10. Econo Lodge
Econo Lodge provides ultra budget-friendly accommodations, providing nothing more than the essential. The properties are often old and dilapidated, poorly maintained, and unpleasant. Complaints of bed bugs and cockroaches aren't uncommon here.
Now that we've discussed some of the most disappointing accommodations to avoid, here are some that you'd be pleased to find yourself in.
1. Hyatt
The Hyatt is a mid to upscale hotel chain with a concentration on providing a consistently elevated experience. Hyatts are known for their friendly and accommodating staff, modern design aesthetic, comfortable rooms, and quality amenities.
2. Hilton
The Hilton brand offers a variety of experiences from the more casual Hilton Garden Inn to the luxury Waldorf Astoria. No matter what level you choose, you can expect exceptional service, comfortable and modern rooms, and wonderful amenities.
Kenneth C. Zirkel on Wikimedia
3. Marriott
Marriott is the largest hotel company in the world with more than 9,000 properties. However, even with that quantity of properties, it's never at the price of quality. Whether you're staying at a Courtyard Marriott or you've splurged for a more boutique experience at a JW Marriott, you can expect a consistently high-quality hotel experience.
4. Four Seasons
It doesn't get much better than the Four Seasons in terms of luxury. Staying at a Four Seasons anywhere in the world, you know you can expect exceptionally attentive service, personalization, exquisite design, world-class amenities, and five-star dining experiences.
5. Ritz-Carlton
The Ritz-Carlton doesn't quite have the same reputation for excellence as the Four Seasons, but it gets pretty close. An internationally recognized ultra-luxury hotel, the Ritz-Carlton is known for its stupendous staff, classically elegant aesthetic, and incredible amenities always in the most prime locations.
6. Holiday Inn
If you don't feel like dropping upwards of $600 a night to stay at the Ritz or Four Seasons but still want a good hotel experience, the Holiday Inn is here for you. Holiday Inns offer more frills than the cheapest of the cheap economy options but are often not much more expensive. Most locations offer excellent amenities and they're almost always conveniently located.
7. InterContinental
Just one small step below the Ritz-Carltons and Four Seasons of the world, the InterContinental is firmly situated in the luxury hotel category. It's known for its dedicated and knowledgeable concierges, prime locations, elegant designs with exceptional attention to detail, and luxurious facilities.
8. Radisson
The Radisson is a mid-level hotel chain with a premium feel. It's known for its friendly staff, contemporary aesthetic, extensive amenities, and great on-site dining, all for a reasonable price point.
Immanuvel Arokiyadass on Wikimedia
9. Fairmont
You'll be hard-pressed to find a large, beautiful heritage building located in the center of a city in North America that isn't a Fairmont. It's a destination hotel usually tucked into the most iconic historic buildings a city has to offer. It's known for its impeccable service, gourmet dining options, and timeless elegance.
10. DoubleTree
DoubleTree is one of the Hilton brand's many offshoots. It's a mid to upscale hotel offering known for its welcoming staff who famously welcome guests with a warm cookie. It offers extensive amenities, comfortable rooms, inviting decor, and consistent quality for a reasonable price.
