{"id":23885,"date":"2019-12-03T13:15:26","date_gmt":"2019-12-03T19:15:26","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/burgersdogspizza.com\/?p=23885"},"modified":"2019-12-03T13:15:26","modified_gmt":"2019-12-03T19:15:26","slug":"choice-hotels-review","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"http:\/\/www.peterstromquist.com\/?p=23885","title":{"rendered":"Choice Hotels Review"},"content":{"rendered":"

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Choice Hotels Review<\/h2>\n

For most of my career, I traveled the world, mostly staying in the finest hotels an area had to offer. Many 5 stars, some purporting to be 7 stars. Of course, there were some that claimed “5 star” and that simply meant there was a door with a lock on it, or glass in the window.<\/p>\n

Domestically, both with planes and hotels, I fall into a pattern where I’m terribly loyal to one company or another, for an extended period of time, then something happens, and I’m off to another company.<\/p>\n

With national chains in the US, consistency can sometimes be uneven, since the hotels are owned by franchisees.\u00a0 Of course, they are supposed to maintain the standards set forth in their agreement, but it doesn’t always happen.<\/p>\n

I have found that isn’t the case with the dozen brands owned by Choice Hotels<\/a>.\u00a0 I have found the inns of the chain to be very consistent, even tho the different brands are geared to different price points, to cover the entire spectrum of travelers.<\/p>\n

In the past week, I’ve stayed in a “Sleep Inn,” “Comfort Inn and Suites,” and “EconoLodge.”<\/p>\n

My experience in each of them was excellent. Friendly, personable staff, clean rooms, tastefully decorated with the latest amenities – all included a large screen TV, microwave, mini-fridge, complimentary coffee maker, iron and board, hairdryer.<\/p>\n

All included complimentary hot breakfasts, at the “higher end” of the range of this offering in all hotels.\u00a0 Included are: hot eggs, breakfast meats, biscuits and gravy,\u00a0 \u00a0hot and cold cereal, hard-boiled eggs, yogurt, made to order waffles and syrup, sweet pastries, slices of bread, bagels, muffins, fresh fruit, several juices, coffee, tea, cocoa, milk. “Extras” include cream cheese, peanut butter, fruit spreads, honey, hot sauces, salt and pepper.<\/p>\n

I imagine this can vary by location.\u00a0 I\u00a0 know I was in an EconoLodge this summer in a small town in Iowa, and the hot breakfast was mostly prepared in-house from scratch.\u00a0 That was wonderful.<\/p>\n

Some hotels have indoor pools, some outdoor, some don’t have them.\u00a0 Everyone I have been in had excellent free wi-fi throughout the building.<\/p>\n

Their loyalty program “Choice Privileges<\/a>” is good, with lots of partners and it’s easier to earn free nights than with most programs I’ve been a member of.\u00a0 Choice Hotels is also now in the vacation rental business<\/a> if that’s your preference for stays away from home.<\/p>\n

The company began as a non-profit referral group for seven Florida hotels in 1939. Today, the complete list of Choice’s brands includes the following brands, in 41 countries, with 560,000 + rooms:<\/p>\n