Hilton vs. Marriott

[NCherches]

I am currently a Hilton guy but am thinking about switching to Marriott. Seems like they have more properties and it also seems like their points go a little further.

Opinions?

 

[LRplt]

Marriott. Ever since I stayed at the Trinidad Hilton I have been a devout Marriott fan!!

 

[jonjuan]

Might want to ask the road warriors the same over on the flyertalk board. Pretty in depth and informative.

 

[StarHustler]

If I fly into a city I usually try and book Hilton first, Marriott second, or Priority Clubs third. Pretty much I am covered by at least one of the three. I am Hilton Diamond and Marriott and Priority Club Gold. I use the points to take family trips. It used to be easy to make Hilton status (before they switched to a calender years instead of a 'rolling' year). It takes a lot of night to make Marriott Platinum, that is really my only complaint with them. Priority Club (Holiday Inn and affiliate properties) are pretty generous, but then again, they have to be, LOL.

 

[ksu_aviator]

I prefer Marriot, but I haven't gone wrong with Hilton either.

My "hell no" hotels are:
Holiday Inn (not Holiday Inn Express)
Motel 6
Super 8

Everything else is ok usually.

 

[NCherches]

Holiday Inn's are so hit or miss... some are nice and others are roach motels... I am a fan of Hampton Inn's.

The only thing that sucks is I am a silver member with Marriott and hate to wait to get to platinum status. I am a Diamond Member with Hilton so making the switch is a tough choice. I don't think I fly enough to maintain Platinum & Diamond but maybe so.

 

[landlover]

hilton vs. marriott. you're splitting hairs. I just saved about 3500 american yankee dollars on vacation by using hilton free night certificates awarded by signing up for promotions. Marriott also has promotions where you can earn more points. Location, time of year and level of hotel will dictate the amount of points needed for a free night.

 

[semperfido]

We try to stick to one chain to maximize the points. Marriott.

 

[batsky2000]

By far the Hilton Program is the BEST!!! No one else offers both points and miles, I prefer to stay at Hiltons first for that reason, Marriotts second and Priority Club Third.... Plus I have a Hilton Visa Card and get 3 points for every dollar spent, My current Hilton Honors account is up to over 1 Million points, all being saved for when I retire

 

[LegacyDriver]

Hilton. Double dip. Free booze and breakfast at Embassy Suites.

 

[CA1900]

Free booze and breakfast at Embassy Suites.

And all the running, screaming children you can ask for, at no extra charge.

I'll pass! Give me a regular Hilton any day.

 

[satpak77]

I have found Embassy Suites to be a has-been chain of yesteryear. Mostly dumpy and/or tired properties.

As far as Hilton/Marriott, you can tell both points programs to default to your favorite frequent flier account, so its all the same in the end.

Marriotts are more liberal with a cancel before 6P policy, Hiltons are different from one property to the next, typically 3 PM.

The ones I have stayed at; Hiltons are newer, Marriotts older.

I tend to avoid Residence Inns because they tend to be a white-trash crowd, not that anything is wrong with that, but, just saying....

But I agree, you are splitting nano-hairs

** there are some newer Holiday Inn Express hotels (McAllen for one) that are actually pretty nice and good for that last minute trip or weather diversion.

 

[NCherches]

The embassy on Swensen in LAS is the best hotel ever. Nice rooms and I have the bartender's phone # on my speed-dial. Good times!

 

[Bleeds On]

Homewood Suites(Hilton). Every one I've been to is silent and have yet to find better rooms.

 

[landlover]

Homewood Suites(Hilton). Every one I've been to is silent and have yet to find better rooms.

i concur

 

[NCherches]

Homewood Suites are awesome, especially Mon-Thursday since they have free dinner (decent meal actually) and usually free booze without all the head-aches of Embassy Suites.

 

[Gulfstream 200]

We usually stay at the best hotel we can in the area, regardless of chain...and often thats not a Marriott or a Hilton..

Drive 30mins past a great hotel in a great location to stay at some pilot ridden beat up Marriott so you can get a free hotel on your annnual disney pilgrimage w your brats?? Nope!...-- and no question about it -- I WILL sleep in the car or the FBO before staying in an Embassy F'n Suites Day Care Center.


We wont hire or tolerate hotel point sluts.


:laugh:

 

[BoilerUP]

We primarily use Hilton properties but Marriott properties are excellent too; kinda depends on a given destination.

Another vote for Homewood Suites...comfortable rooms/beds, reasonable rates, and no Girl Scout conventions/Little League tournaments staying there that I've ever seen...

 

[XTW]

Hilton Garden Inn.

Clean.
Quite.
Comfortable beds.
Free Internet.
Good breakfast.

In that order.

X

 

[satpak77]

Hilton Garden Inns are very good in my opinion. They beat the Courtyard or Fairfield (similar level Marriott brands) hands down

 

[semperfido]

We wont hire or tolerate hotel point sluts.


:laugh:

If you were part of our little club. You'd have to reform and be a slut.

 

[Gulfstream 200]

If you were part of our little club. You'd have to reform and be a slut.

There's worse things than being a slut I suppose.

 

[relaxedone]

One things to consider... I was both a Marriott and Hilton user for years at a corporate position...Hilton points expire..or at least I believe they still do. Marriott points do not. If for some reason you aren't active in your Hilton Honors account you'll end up losing them

 

[ip241au]

One things to consider... I was both a Marriott and Hilton user for years at a corporate position...Hilton points expire..or at least I believe they still do. Marriott points do not. If for some reason you aren't active in your Hilton Honors account you'll end up losing them

Hilton points do expire if you don't have activity in 12 months. I was gold level for years and Hilton sent me an email last month saying account activity or loose your points.

I've been a Marriott guy since 1986. Left them once for Priority Club (due to their 5000 points Points Break program) and went back.

 

[NCherches]

...Not going to lie... Im a point whore. But im going back home and using points for my free SWA ticket and my 5 nights in a courtyard. Being a whore does have its benifits

 

[rumrnr78]

Marriott hands down!

 

[ILOVEBEER]

I am so over the Hilton BS.

We stayed in Marriotts for years and loved them. The Platinum override is a great benefit, and it works. The company I work for recently setup some corporate deal with Hilton and so we changed. We have had nothing but headaches since. I have tried on SEVERAL occasions to get a Diamond override, and every time they have some excuse why they can't do it. Yesterday was the most recent. The hotel we wanted was sold out and they told us that they won't allow overrides. Again? WTF??? Fine. I called the Marriott next door which was also sold out and guess what, no problem, we'll get you right in.

Hiltons website sucks, their cancellation policy sucks, their point program sucks, their internet connection speed REALLY sucks, their late checkout policy sucks, etc, etc, etc. The list goes on and on.

If you don't spend more than a couple nights a month in a hotel and don't have to handle making your own reservations, it probably won't make a big difference to you.... but if you spend a lot of time on the road and have to deal with all the BS yourself, do yourself a favor and switch to Marriotts.

 

[CA1900]

I WILL sleep in the car or the FBO before staying in an Embassy F'n Suites Day Care Center.

:laugh:

Well put.

 

[Count Dracula]

Hilton points do expire if you don't have activity in 12 months. I was gold level for years and Hilton sent me an email last month saying account activity or loose your points.

I've been a Marriott guy since 1986. Left them once for Priority Club (due to their 5000 points Points Break program) and went back.

100% agree....

 

[satpak77]

Hilton website does indeed blow fat rooster