When is a Holiday Inn better than a Hilton?

[Liv]

It was around 2003 in a giant 1979 Chevrolet Malibu wagon tethered to a U Haul, and stuffed with 2 cats, a rabbit, my spouse and our child when we made our way across the country from Arizona to North Carolina. We were poor, desperate, young and naive. We pulled in to Albuquerque one night to stay at the Interstate Inn (click link for it's demolition), a $12 a night hotel with no refunds. The room, a second floor unit had drug dealers and prostitutes hanging out on the railings. The floor had holes in it down to the first floor, and the bathtub was stained with a substance unknown to any of us at the time. This is when I swore I would never spend a night in a cheap hotel again.

After experiencing a 4 star hotel many years later, I swore I'd never spend the night in anything less. As I got older, it seemed I was demanding better for myself. I'd tell myself, "You've earned it, you're worth it", and really- if I think about it... I really am. I rarely buy myself anything. The ability to relax, and have something completely unnecessary to pamper yourself, really is an indulgent joy I rarely partake in.

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However when I got to Dallas, going with this life's mantra I booked a night at the Hilton. (Hilton Dallas Lincoln Centre) It's a beautiful building, stunning lobby, and you're checked in by people in suit-ties and accents. (fake) I showed up in a hoodie, jeans with mud on them (my car went into the ditch back in Greensboro) and a old t-shirt. Everyone was nice, but the hotel was amazingly something you'd imagine on a Hollywood elite reality show. A pub in the lobby, restaurants, ball-rooms, pretty neat stuff. I couldn't care though I just wanted to get to my room. When I got there, all the pzazz kind of stopped. Sure I had a coffee machine, tea, cable TV ($15 pay-per-view) and a comfy bed.... but as I would soon find out, none of it was all that impressive. In fact there was a giant stain in the hallway carpet as I went to go get ice. I mean it was a far cry from Interstate Inn but I was paying out the ass, not mentioning paying $12 just to park the rental car on their property. I decided not to book another night with them.

My room did not have the big comfy chair, nor the gifts upon arrival.

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The next two nights were at a 3 star Holiday Inn Express in Addison. The lobby was simple. A Continental breakfast area, chocolate chip cookies on check-in, and very, very friendly staff who weren't being strangled by a penguin. My room was on the first floor not the fourth, had a living room, a kitchen, and overall what I considered in my opinion, a cleaner room than the Hilton. Furthermore everything worked, unlike the Hilton which left me showering in a tub full of water because the shower valve didn't fully engage. The Holiday Inn also provided me a "gripe sheet" if I had any issues with the room. The other benefits of the situation is I didn't feel like a complete redneck bringing in food from outside of the Hotel. Me and Shan have stayed at 4 stars several times before, and they highly frown on outside food.... and don't even think about ordering pizza... they want you to use room service and charge a minimum 21% service fee along with a $3.00 built in tip. No freaking way, Jose! $12 for 2 eggs and toast + fees at the Hilton? Come on! I went to McDonald's instead.I however had no guilty feelings or embarrassment about ordering pizza (as mentioned here) at the Holiday Inn. They even endorsed the place by putting a placard in my room.

So bottom line, is the Holiday Inn was better for me. For what I spent at the Hilton, I got two nights at the Holiday Inn. The room was cleaner, the shower worked. I got free cookies at check-in, and ordered pizza without the stigma of not looking like Paris Hilton. In the end, when I go back, guess who I'll be booking with? I proved myself wrong, as a 4 star isn't always necessary for myself to indulge, and more importantly I've learned nothing beats a pizza from some local pizza place after a long day in some really weird town.

Don't steal anything!!!

[BecauseHeLives]

Last year I stayed at the Dall Hilton at Lincoln center for an entire week while on business. It is certainly a vary nice hotel and it's very close to some nice shopping and excllent restaurants. All of my meetings were in the attached Lincoln center so that made it very convenient as well.

I'd gamble to say that most of the people who stay there at the Hilton aren't paying for the rooms themselves. They also stay there because of it's business location and convenience.

[Liv]

Yeah that's what I gathered.... There was some sort of "Tech Conference" going on there while I was there, but it all seemed silly to me. Definitely a feeling in the air as if everyone had to impress everyone else... I just wanted a food, bed and a shower.

[BecauseHeLives]

Yeah that's what I gathered.... There was some sort of "Tech Conference" going on there while I was there, but it all seemed silly to me. Definitely a feeling in the air as if everyone had to impress everyone else... I just wanted a food, bed and a shower.

There are lots of Tech companies that have offices at Lincoln center. You should see the place during a weekday. That place is hopping and very crowded. Even though they had a shuttle and I could have used the rental car it was just as easy to walk to two malls from the place. One mall stood out because it was a VERY high end mall. Padded Carpet throughout and absolutely no teen stores were there. Interesting concept. Even the restaurant were high end as well.

[SouthernFriedInfidel]

Generally when I travel, I view a hotel as a place to sleep. Because settling down in a bed is pretty much the only thing I do in them. If they have internet, or a continental breakfast, so much the better. Now, if I"m going to make it my home for a week or so, then yeah, some extras are nice, and worth considering paying for. But just to have a place to crash at night? Nah... I'll get to a Holiday Inn Express and save my money for better stuff.

[Liv]

Well what I thought was interesting is they don't tell you at all the additional charge to park when you reserve. I guess they're assuming if you're staying there you don't really care. I did enough internet searching to know it upfront, and honestly in a big city I've come to expect that... but if this was my first time away from the farm I would find it a bit shocking that you have to pay them $12 to park your car.

[SouthernFriedInfidel]

Well what I thought was interesting is they don't tell you at all the additional charge to park when you reserve.

I've never seen any hotel mention parking fees, other than valet parking. In some places it seems that all hotels charge for parking, which I consider ridiculous. If they charge for parking (which patrons may or may not use), they should also charge for pool use, access to any exercise facilities, etc.

[A Person]

It's strange but in the US my experience is that the more expensive the hotel the more they try to nickel and dime you with silly charges - or $10 and $20 you.

Microsoft held their Convergence conference at the Gaylord Palms in Orlando - the rooms were $265 per night - and they had the cheek to add $25/night 'facilities fee' which they explained was for a 'free' bottle of orange juice and to be allowed to use the pools and restaurants. Then there's extra for WiFi, a newspaper I didn't want (USA Today) but had to tell them in advance otherwise they delivered it and charged me a buck.

Frankly I avoid the expensive hotels, I haven't found them to be any nicer and I would rather take the money I save and go and buy a really nice meal.

[Liv]

I thought Sheraton's 35 dollar a night wi-fi was too much... but wow. $300 for a room?

I believe the most I've ever spent was $200 on a single night down at (oddly enough) Kitty Hawk last minute. It was a full apartment with ocean views and all that....

[A Person]

Oh and they left a chocolate on the pillow. Which I didn't notice the first night. It went under the covers and my body heat melted it. In the morning there were brown streaks all over me and the sheets.

Serves them right, but I bet the maids were worried when they saw it.

I was on expenses but it is a silly price. When I took the family down to Orlando for a vacation we rented a 4 bedroom house with a pool for less.

[Liv]

They've just upped their price at the Sheraton in London we usually stay at... they got their 4 star back apparently after the renovations. I mean it's a nice hotel, but neither it nor the Hilton appear to be a four star IMHO.

Makes me wonder what a 5 star is like. Never been at one, but must be nuts.

[BecauseHeLives]

They've just upped their price at the Sheraton in London we usually stay at... they got their 4 star back apparently after the renovations. I mean it's a nice hotel, but neither it nor the Hilton appear to be a four star IMHO.

Makes me wonder what a 5 star is like. Never been at one, but must be nuts.

I've been to two five star hotels (at least they were 5 stars when I was there). The Greenbriar and Hot Springs. There is a big difference between 4 and 5 star resorts typically.

[Liv]

The only thing I can imagine is possibly so great as to pay $500 a night for a 5 star is that they must dip you in chocolate upon arrival and provide John Barrowman to lick it off.

[A Person]

That sounds a bit like my experience, but without the licking. Stay in a 4 star one and use the difference to hire a lookalike for the evening

Star ratings are very iffy IMO. Some of my best experiences have been in smaller non-chain hotels who don't get the 4 star rating because they don't have 24 hour room service (for example) but still offer a luxurious experience

5 star hotels may offer a choice of pillows and a cheese omlette at 3am, but they are usually large and impersonal. I remember one in Boston, because of air delays I didn't get there until midnight. I was going to order room service - but when I saw the price I went out and found a lively all night oyster bar - and had a great evening.

[Liv]

@holidayinn So let me start off with the fact it's been about 36 hours since I've slept. (forgive spelling and grammar) I realize I've interrupted my Cairo blogging- but I was forced out of town on business as a part of the annual Greensboring shareholder meeting. (They're an angry bunch.) I promptly hopped in a car at noon yesterday and drove straight here: Dallas. (Not sure why we meet in Dallas) 18 hours of driving straight through. That's 1/2 the country in one day. Upon arriving at 8:00am I broke out the cell phone, went to Hotwire and booked the 3 star I (thought I) knew was the Holiday Inn. I've written rave reviews about the Addison one, but I got the "Select" this time. (Which is code for HolidayInn Posh) Worse yet when attempted to check in, or should I say failed to check in with the worst counter agent in the world a little bit early I was told to leave. Now I realize I came in tired, I look like crap and I'm wearing flip flops and a tank top, but for godsakes it's a Holiday Inn not the Savoy. See I got here and was told fairly rudely I shouldn't expect to check in before 3pm. Okay, I get that... and though he probably misjudged my character I've stayed at 3 holiday inns within the last three weeks, one on the trip to NASA a month back, and several of their 4 and 5 star Crowne Plazas (that's super posh Holiday Inns) in Europe, and I'm also aware of their Priority Club Rewards 8:00am check in policy. I've never had a problem before- ever. I understand that the policy is that if it's available of course but I swear I heard crickets in the lobby when I arrived. Of course I was told it wasn't available as a gentleman in a suit and tie was given a key just prior to my arrival requesting a similar service. Am I back in a Muslim country?. No problem I thought as I tried to explain why he was forced to look at my reservation to decide if I was "special" enough to get it. I went over to Wal-Mart for an hour got some soda, swung by Starbucks and spent a couple hours chilling out in their garden. (It's posh 90210 stuff over here.) Even tweeted Holiday Inn hoping to see if I could get a response. (I'm no Britney Spears but I do have 500+ followers yet 0 response as of this moment from their customer service) That's when I swung back over and planned just to check on it. I figured if it wasn't available I'd find a lounge and get on my laptop. And it had been about three hours... surely the maids cleaned at least one bloody room? So I casually swing by the counter and ask the gentleman "any luck?" he's response in a firm parental condescending tone:

"I told you not till 12!"

That pushed me over the top. I asked "Are you getting an attitude with me?" with as much self-control that I could garnish. However I already knew he was... I was just being too kind, and sort of in disbelief that a he was judging me on my appearance. His response "EXCUSE ME?" I responded "I was just checking, and it seems like you've got an attitude." I spent about 30 minutes prior talking to the shuttle driver out in the parking lot about our recent travels to Egypt, and Brussels. She seemed to confirm my feelings (professionally) when I explained to her that I felt the short Mexican guy seemed he was being discriminatory. We went on to have a wonderful talk... and it's her who should be working behind the counter not the short Mexican Room Nazi. For anyone who doesn't know me and thinks I'm being racist, I explained the situation to my Hispanic spouse and she agrees fully with me. Not that I need to justify myself here.

What really bugs me is not that I felt the "attitude" the first time around, and ignored it trying to prevent confrontation but that this is a large hotel, and I'm looking at the parking lot- It's empty. (proof attached of parking lot taken in both directions)

I have a feeling he had a room ready the first time but was applying his personal prejudices against me for looking "homeless" (no not really... just like I've been on the road for 24 hours). When I presurred him the second time, he gave me a room hesitantly by saying "it's on the 5th floor..." I couldn't care if it's in Kansas as long as it has a bed and shower... Of course the fact he had one proves my point. After quickly accepting the horrid 5th floor room he made it a point to express loudly, how I booked the room for 1/2 off on Hotwire. Then when I asked for the Internet code he goes "It's only good for 24 hours." "No crap Sherlock." Like the whole point of me booking the room was to steal your internet!? He followed up by saying sarcastically "Oh and it's only wireless." Like I can't afford wireless laptop? Dude was seriously poor example of customer service. I very rarely complain, but telling someone they don't have a room when they do is enough to really get me in a tizzy. I won't be booking Holiday Inn next time in Dallas....and if you ever stay here and see a short Mexican behind the counter whose last name begins with "V", then tell him you heard all about him from reading Liv's review.

[DeannaB]

Welcome back to the states

[Liv]

The A/C has stopped working now.