Sunday, July 31, 2011
Sticking it to the Man
I don't know that most travelers are aware that nearly all hotels have complimentary deodorant, razors, shaving cream, toothpaste, and toothbrushes behind the front desk. I'll pretty much try to get as many of these as possible at any given stay. i.e. when the clerk in the morning is different from the clerk in the evening...new set! My goal is to not have to buy deodorant or toothpaste for the next 10 years (or give my stash to a homeless shelter. We shall see.) AND to be able to offer all my own houseguests little overnight packs. none will go toothbrushless again!
High-end vs mid-range hotels
If you travel a lot something you'll have noticed is that the nicer the hotel, the less free amenities. You stay at a Hampton Inn, Hyatt Place, Holiday Inn Express, Embassy Suites, Candlewood Suites, Drury, even the Choice hotels and you're getting breakfast, free wifi, heck, sometimes you even get a managers reception with complimentary two-buck chuck and some pretzels and meatballs.
Stay at a Hilton, Marriott, Doubletree, Renaissance, Westin, etc. and you've got a 10.95 minimum fee for wifi per day, definitely no free breakfast--usually their half-assed attempts at expensive modern food, and oftentimes no pool. boo. and double boo if you have kids.
My take is that unless it's an incredible landmark proferring an intensely unique experience, like the Hotel Del Coronado or Waldorf-Astoria, or has some particularly amazing ambience--like the Blackstone in Chicago, or has a to-die-for location, I'd always go midrange. In fact, if it's for practicality and NOT for the experience, choosing high-end hotels is like waving a flag that says "I'm a moron and I like to waste money." we should station robbers outside of them.
Stay at a Hilton, Marriott, Doubletree, Renaissance, Westin, etc. and you've got a 10.95 minimum fee for wifi per day, definitely no free breakfast--usually their half-assed attempts at expensive modern food, and oftentimes no pool. boo. and double boo if you have kids.
My take is that unless it's an incredible landmark proferring an intensely unique experience, like the Hotel Del Coronado or Waldorf-Astoria, or has some particularly amazing ambience--like the Blackstone in Chicago, or has a to-die-for location, I'd always go midrange. In fact, if it's for practicality and NOT for the experience, choosing high-end hotels is like waving a flag that says "I'm a moron and I like to waste money." we should station robbers outside of them.
Holiday Inn Express
It took me forever to realize what the faintly bizarre and offputting smell of the HIE toiletries was, and now I'm pretty sure I've got it: cinnamon. The fact that I could name it made it less weird, but it's interesting to me that if you are a huge mid-range hotel chain you would choose one of the least common scents to be used on hair and body as your go-to smell. Anyway, if this had been driving you crazy for a few years like it had me, I wanted to get it out there. Whenever I'm staying at an HIE I always pack my own toiletries.
That said, the Holiday Inn Express is a pretty solid choice in the mid-range ($89-139/night). The breakfast with hot options is totally acceptable; the one I recently stayed at in Goodland, Kansas had a pancake machine that delighted my 6 year old nephew to no end. Free wifi, free breakfast, usually a pool, coffee all day, and one of my favorite features: the complimentary makeup remover cloths, all make for a perfectly nice stay.
That said, the Holiday Inn Express is a pretty solid choice in the mid-range ($89-139/night). The breakfast with hot options is totally acceptable; the one I recently stayed at in Goodland, Kansas had a pancake machine that delighted my 6 year old nephew to no end. Free wifi, free breakfast, usually a pool, coffee all day, and one of my favorite features: the complimentary makeup remover cloths, all make for a perfectly nice stay.
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