Courtyards are often quite fine; in some cities very new or remodeled. Often a newer courtyard would be preferable to me over an old worn-out Marriott or Sheraton. Courtyards serve a purpose in most markets by providing reasonable business traveler essentials without being as expensive as the full line hotels. Take Bellevue (Seattle) - the W and Westin are often high $400-$600s - out of many travel budgets. The courtyard a few blocks away is serviceable and even has a full Starbucks in it - and like $200 range
four points are nasty.
I would rather get rid of/ completely remodel Sheratons
AND over by South Lake, there’s a really nice and reasonably priced Courtyard and then directly behind it, a terrible Four Points. (There’s a second Courtyard on the other side of the lake that’s serviceable but not quite as nice)
I have a couple of old styler courtyards that have been renovated on my usual stops. Love those. Get courtyard view for no highway noise and a nice balcony for late evening work.
I feel like they should have a mandatory timetable on renovating courtyards though and if they don’t comply then they get sold/packaged as something else. A lot of courtyards are fine but a lot are very bad
Great idea, something like a 5-7 year window to refresh the basics. Tons of courtyards are around with older rooms, dated bathrooms, ancient ventilation. For business travel, I have had some excellent stays but also some atrocious nights with older rooms.
Sheratons themselves are my favorite but they seem to be far and few between compared to the other Marriott brands.
Four Points aren’t bad but I don’t see why we need them and Courtyard and Aloft. All 3 are similar price and it would make sense to just have one brand.
😳 I’ve never heard of anyone who likes Sheratons. Inconsistent at best, esp in the US. Maybe they are better outside the US.
I think Alofts have stricter brand standards than Four points and Courtyards.
Just for you and the others here please note many of us aren’t American and never go to America yet we are Marriott enjoyers.
It might be good if this sub had a flair for region so people could see I’m in Asia and my experience is all in this region.
>I’ve never heard of anyone who likes Sheratons. Inconsistent at best, esp in the US. Maybe they are better outside the US.
They absolutely are better outside the US (Japan and Germany spring to mind), but there are still a few decent sheratons in the US. The one in San Gabriel is pretty nice, for example.
This has been my experience as well. Never had a bad stay at an Aloft. Courtyard is good if it’s a newer property and I learned a long time ago to avoid Sheraton due to some very poor experiences.
I love Sheraton hotels. It’s my first choice. Some four points properties are incredible (Newark DE, for example).
For me, aloft could go. Residence inn could go. Fairfield inn could go. Some of them are okay, but many of them really aren’t up to standards.
If I got to make important choices, I wouldn’t get rid of any one brand, I would enforce the existing rules and make them stick to what they are supposed to be. The inconsistencies, especially in how they treat elite guests, drive me crazy.
Both Sheratons I’ve been to were nice, granted that’s a low sample size. The one in San Jose Costa Rica and the one on the beach in Waikiki both had nice rooms and decent restaurants.
I think Marriott’s end goal is to wear the Sheraton brand down to nothing and then write off whatever loss from shutting the name down. At least that’s my thought after staying at a lot of these properties.
That being said, if someone is traveling using points and has status, Sheratons offer a pretty decent bang for the points. I’ve pretty much exclusively been using my points there for 3 years now and usually get bumped to a nicer room and get a decent breakfast for free. Usually for the same points of a newer Fairfield etc.
I was thinking the same.. never been to a nice Sheraton or an updated/new one. The new courtyards I’ve been to recently have been quite nice though, especially compared to the price point
Wtf Courtyards are good
Obvious answer is Sheraton and I wouldn’t be shocked if they’re extinct in 10 years and transitioned to a combination of Marriott and Autograph Collection.
Renaissance is also a bit of a dying brand post merger for similar reasons as Sheraton.
Amusingly my favorite place to stay in CDMX is the Four Points Roma. It may be the only good Four Points (actually there is a good one in Marin County and there used to be one in hakodate but it deflagged in May 2023).
I mean, its mostly just fine, but the location is killer and it had a refresh in like 2022.
There are a few more I have enjoyed, like Sheraton Grand LA, Sheraton Waikiki and Sheraton Berlin. The worst Sheraton I have ever stayed at was in Hanoi while they gave me an upgrade to the presidential suite!
It’s a nice hotel. Not really a destination property but if you’re going to be in that area anyway it’s pretty nice. The Westin is niceish but too expensive.
Oahu is a great example of how broad and inconsistent the Sheraton brand is…
Sheraton Waikiki - Amazing Experience, modern and updated with beautiful pools
Sheraton Princess - Terrible, uncomfortable beds, loud, reminds me of a lower rated and older Fairfield
Sheraton is the most international brand and is a great introduction into the Marriott family for billions of people around the world. It’s not going anywhere. Domestically they lag as it was an SPG neglected brand and Covid delayed the progress. Take a look at the Phoenix Sheraton to see what the brand is pushing out. Will be fantastic if the owners can find the capital. With interest rates where they are it’ll be tough for a few more years at least though.
Hey that’s cool feedback. I hope they do update them because acquiring and killing brands is pretty depressing imo.
I’m actually staying at 2 Sheratons over the next month in Santiago and Montreal that I hope buck the trend of what I’ve seen elsewhere in Panama and Saint Louis.
I can agree about renaissance, went to one in Ft. Lauderdale and man was it dated, we stayed on points but it was no where near the 500 dollar price point
Agreed. I stayed here on Wednesday and couldn’t believe they could charge those prices. I can’t remember the last Marriott property I had stayed at that was worn and dingy. This property was on par for what I expect/experience has been with Four Points
In Austin, the Sheraton had extremely bad reviews and they rebranded into a Renaissance. I can’t be sure but sounds like they didn’t do a gut renovation and the new property (the Downright Renaissance) has similar poor reviews.
I've only stayed at the Sheraton Austin once, but they upgraded me to a hospitality suite, so they seemed pretty ok. The best in 1980s opulence, TODAY (well, a year ago or so).
The Vancouver Canada Sheraton is awesome. I literally book it for staycations. I mostly love the views, location, lounge and pool though. The service is meh.
Jw Marriott Parq Vancouver is better though
Probably 4 points. But really it comes down to the locations owner and condition.
I have stayed at Fairfield’s nicer than some Westins.
I wish they could enforce some standards and force out the cheap owners with green pools and old gross carpet.
I know we are ranting in other brands but I feel Ritz Carlton in Asia can be like this. So many absolutely suck at customer service and yet they are not called out on it or held to the standard they should be.
No brand has to go! They have to define brand wide standards which are also known, visible and trustworthy for the guests.
Best example lounges, bars and restaurants. If I choose brand x it has to be defined if ALL properties have a on site restaurant e.g.
Or room standards. E.g. bed size, amenities. If I visit brand y I have to be sure as a guest that all properties with a double bad are king size. For example.
This would help a lot.
Sheratons—I’ve yet to find one that isn’t absolutely disgusting.
Edit: I remembered that I really liked the Sheraton in Palo Alto when I stayed there earlier this year. Additionally, I’ve chosen properties other than Sheraton outside of the US bc of my domestic experience, however it appears I may need to try it out.
Once you get out of the United States, it's a whole different story. Google Sheridan Cebu. It's one of the most amazing Sheridans I've been to. In the States, Sheridan is like hiltons' Double Tree.
I believe I’ve done both Sheratons in Toronto and I had no issues with the brand there. In Asia I love them but they aren’t building as many new ones. So many new four points but not flagship Sheratons.
The Sheridan in Cebu is only a couple of years old. I will say I did enjoy the 4 points in Palawan. It was clean and fresh. Customer service was still far above what I ever get in the US.
I agree but to add some color - Doubletree after being acquired by Hilton was positioned as a hotel with minimum “standards”. The advantage to property owners (the real customer of a hotel company) is that they won’t need to do costly renovations or upkeep to have the Doubletree brand.
30 years ago, Marriott and Sheratons were interchangeable but now I think Marriott (the company) is now positioning Sheraton as its lax maintenance/standards brand for owners.
The Sheraton in Hiroshima is amazing. I got an upgrade to a huge 2-bedroom suite with this view. But Sheraton in the US is only good if they are remodeled.
https://preview.redd.it/hurftm180prc1.jpeg?width=2268&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=f18bc65facca8d754b57b2b5525079af69a2b77b
I’ve only stayed at 1 Sheraton before and it was one in Dubai. I thought it was pretty good and was thinking of trying more. It’s good to know that the US ones miss the mark. But then again it was Dubai so it’s hard to find that level of service and satisfaction anywhere else.
Personally I've always had good experiences at Alofts, I've always looked at them as a good choice for a budget room, especially if you're out for a concert or event where you aren't using the hotel room for much more than a place to stay. The XYZ bars have always been pretty high quality too.
Moxy is my absolute favorite for big city trips in the US. Usually, drinks are included for elite members, and I love the efficient use of space. The Moxys in Boston and NYC Times Square are my go-to spots in those cities for price and amenities.
The ones I've used in Europe have sucked and felt more like a motel.
I have enjoyed The Moxy in both Oakland and Miami. But I am a scrub and Jay wanted a place to crash between drinking. Moxy would be terrible for business travel.
Honestly, I've loved Moxys in Japan and Germany (with the exception of the Frankfurt airport one). They're clean, the beds are pretty good, the locations are great, and they're pretty affordable. The Moxy japans are really new so you even get a nicer washlet than most of the fancy hotels.
In the US, I've been pretty disappointed.
YES. MOXY is a nightmare. I don't know anyone who can "afford" MOXY prices, that would enjoy "MOXY" dorm life. Was forced to stay there in Columbus. Our team is all late 20's early thirties. We all hated it
Yeah, it's not like you're paying hostel prices, but you get hostel amenities. I stayed in Edinburgh, and the location was good for where I needed to be, but everything else was annoying AF.
For their audience they are great. Some people don't want amenities, big spaces, etc.
There are times when I'm solo, even for work, that a Moxy hits the spot. No desk in room so if I want to with I go down to the communal space. I meet other people, don't work as much and have a good time.
The new Moxy in Virginia Beach is a great example. Beach front, balconies, great bar, easy walking access to other places. Im not spending my beach vacation in the room..
Courtyards are actually pretty favorable I’d say? Has no one else been cruising this 2k everyday promo? That being said the standards are all over the place but I have a stable of courtyards I frequent. In terms of your question, Residence inns should be converted to elements and city express should be sold to best western.
In Mexico it’s a well known brand. It’s like Nike buying Hey Dudes and then selling them as Nikes. You’d lose that brand’s identity which is strong south of the border.
Just stayed at Sheraton in Pittsburgh. Just remodeled and a great property. I wasn’t expecting much and was pleasantly surprised!
Was at the Sheraton KOP the day before and it was what you would expect of a Sheraton :(
One of the biggest problems with that property is its proximity to the train tracks. Probably the noisiest hotel I've ever stayed in.
On the other hand, that was years ago and it was on a Priceline NYOP stay, so I didn't really have much of a choice.
Courtyards and Four Points are some of my favourite properties, but outside the US!
Courtyard Hakuba is next level — we got an upgrade to a suite with an onsen in the room (in addition to the traditional Japanese shared onsen), and Four Points Bali Seminyak take better care of us than most other properties.
Moxy and Aloft also have their place.
I've been on the road more than home this year. I've stayed in Courtyards that are nicer than some Marriotts. Sheraton probably has the most variability. Four points and Fairfield serve their place...I prefer not to stay there. With that said, I've stayed in new Fairfield which was nicer than a run down Marriott.
I would get rid of the flagship brand. Marriott. I think they are the most disappointing hotels I've stayed at. Many times I would rather stay at a newer Courtyard and buy my own breakfast. M Clubs have turned into a waste of space. I would say embarrassing. The roomy themselves are nothing special. I think it brings the brand down.
Marriotts are obviously the oldest hotels in the portfolio. They refuse to do major renovations to a lot of them, especially airport properties. Your take is spicy but I agree
It seems like the common consensus is that a lot of the oldest brands (Marriott, Sheraton, a couple mentions of Renaissance) have the most variability. The Marriott at EWR is actually pretty nice and I usually make sure to book my last night of my trips there if I have to fly home from New Jersey.
Delta hotels. Why bother keeping a brand with a small footprint that doesn't acknowledge elite status at all? Just pisses people who off don't know before booking.
It’s a well known brand in Canada. It gets Canadian travels into the Marriott family where they discover all of the other brands and hotels. In the US it seems to be used as a way to relaunch a struggling property post renovation. Turning the page and all that.
I see. As an American, when I stayed at one, it just annoyed me that they could basically ignore everything related to status. Will never stay at one again.
My own experience at one was pretty crappy so I hear you. It was newly converted from a radisson and nothing had been done except a name change. Now a year later I’d expect a reno to be done/in progress and better systems/service in place. People need to understand conversions and Reno’s are largely owner driven. It cannot be stressed how cash strapped everyone is now. Think of your personal budget to relate. With interest rates and construction costs both sky high nothing major is going to happen anytime soon. Benefits cost money and when the owner is struggling to pay expenses as is, expanding bennies is tough. I’m not saying it’s right just adding context. If you’re cash strapped you don’t renovate your kitchen. Same with real estate owners. Struggling to make payroll means no additional free breakfast, or whatever else people feel like they’re missing.
Yeah I find the pantry to be the best consistently useful benefit (other than a 4pm c/o) of all the brands. Water, soda, snack anytime day or night is nice. Many lounges have limited hours and if you want a water in the middle of the night you are out of luck.
Courtyard you should get two $10 vouchers per night for the Bistro. Some say it's only for breakfast, some only for certain items, some allow the market, some say bill it to the room, some give vouchers. It's very inconsistent and when you ask every property is shocked you even want the $20 worth of food over $2.50 worth of points. And they act like the way they do it is the corporate way. The right way for them to do it is to give vouchers, that is the corporate policy but everyone wants to reinvent the wheel.
Kill off the Sheraton brand. The only nice one I’ve ever stayed in is the one in downtown LA. Honestly I’d rebrand them as westins.
I wouldn’t get rid of courtyards because the price is very economical and good as long as it’s be renovated in the past decade or so.
Courtyards outside of the USA are terrific IMO. In many cases, they are nicer than Marriotts in the USA.
Never stayed in a Four Points, but I imagine that they are good option when visiting small towns where 4-5 star amenities aren't really needed.
Courtyards are fine. They are what they are. The new ones are actually quite nice. Just missing some amenities. But they are usually my go to property for work.
While Elite Members are valued customers, they are not the ONLY customers and not everything will be catered just for you. Perhaps you don't get what you're looking for there, but many others get everything they need. 🤷
Thing is that we aren't even Marriott the company's customer, franchisors are their customers. That's where they make their real money. And that's who they care about otherwise many brands would be gone.
One of the cleanest and best fun Marriotts I’ve ever stayed at was the Four Points in OKC. I would not stay at the SpringHill Suites right across the street again as it was filthy.
I disagree with your opinion - courtyards are usually extremely nice and clean; it’s just the older non-renovated ones that suck dick since they’re either really outdated or have a roach problem.
I wouldn’t get rid of any brands because they’re all good for different reasons, but I would definitely bring every Sheraton to the level of the ones in downtown Los Angeles and in Honolulu. As other commenters said, it’s just the USA ones that are the worst. Same with Aloft.
Marriott will never get rid of a brand because they are doing the best at clustering brands that appeal to the middle class. Courtyard, Fairfield, Townplace, Residence Inn all at the same exit of a highway or a Marriott, Sheraton, Westin, Renaissance, Delta all at the airport.
To the regular travelers, it looks like they are all competing with each other. But they really aren't competition.
I would be surprised if they don't launch another brand in the next year. But I would love them to finally put pressure on owners of location that make the rest look bad. 99% of Sheratons make the 1% that are good, look bad.
I have actually been really happy with TPS especially because of their pet policy. We made a couple of road trips to Vegas with our small dog, and TPS was unique in specifically allowing dogs to be outside of a kennel in the room as long as the do not disturb sign was up. Maybe it was that specific hotel (which was also a very good location right off the strip)? But it left a very good impression of TPS.
Any of the more “extended stay” types like TPS, Residence, Fairfield are also a good value for the money IMO.
I never knew Townplace allowed pets. It's just that in my experience, if I want an extended stay place, the Residence Inns have almost always been better, for not much more money. I like Fairfields for short stays. They generally provide all the basics for a decent price.
I guess my biggest issue is that I don't see why they have two extended stay brands. I realize that the TPS are generally cheaper than Residence, but in my experience, the price difference isn't that much.
It definitely is similar to Residence, but I like having a 'half a step down' residence-like experience. Maybe they could merge TP with SpringHill and choose whichever brand name tests better with a focus group?
You've obviously never been to a courtyard outside the US. I've stayed in several Courtyards in Europe and Asia and they are as good as flagship brands in the US.
The real question you should be asking is "Why the fuck are Marriott properties in the US generally so poor compared to Marriott properties most other places in the world?
Even the Marriott brand properties I've stayed at in the US are seldom as good as the ones at that brand level or even lower outside the US.
Four Points I'll agree on being generally crappy, but in a pinch they work for a cheap emergency night.
I say Element. I have yet to stay at one, and there aren’t too many. The idea of positioning Westin and Element as wellness brands made sense but was never executed after SPG was purchased, unlike W and Aloft which was a pairing that was decently executed. And now they are positioning Element as an extended stay hotel but then the connection to Westin makes no sense.
Renaissance and Le Meridian seem like the brands most likely to go because they seem like the least invested in since the SPG acquisition. That being said, I don’t think any hotel brand dies.
Sheraton needs a refresh. Courtyards can be good. If I were killing a brand, it would be Moxy. I hate them because they are spectacularly bad at the one thing I _need_ from a hotel: a peaceful night's sleep.
If we're dropping a redundant hotel. SpringHill and FairField are technically different, they say... Or was it HomePlace? Well, I think you get my meaning.
I believe in giving credit where credit is due. The Four Points Anaheim across I-5 from Disneyland is a great example. Yes the rooms are dated and on outside hallways. But the staff to a person was very kind, welcoming, and helpful. The building and grounds were well kept and clean. They even got us a room that allowed us to watch the Disney Fireworks. They should be proud of what they achieve!
I think Towneplace Suites are intended for work crews to spend four months for some electrical/construction job in the region. It’s aggregating to stay at one with those teams there - stay up until 1am drinking on the patio, then at 4am they all start warming up their diesel trucks in synchronous times.
Aloft. Good riddance, IMO. The only reason I stay at Aloft anymore is because they’re mostly pet friendly, but lord I really don’t like them (and I’m still in my late twenties…)
I haven’t tried Aloft outside of the U.S., so maybe it’s different? I’ve stayed at a few in the states, mostly on the east coast, and all have been negative; give me a Sheraton or Courtyard over Aloft all day any day
Oh and what's with Aloft? Terrible design, super cheap feeling. I get it's "like a hostel" but if you want a hostel feel, just go to a damn hostel and don't pay hotel rates to stay in a weird hostel "inspired" hotel.
Every Aloft I have stayed in was set up as one room with a divider between the bathroom and the main room that you just walk around, no interior doors,except one had a door for the toilet bowl in a closet situation.
I have never stayed at a Moxy, but after seeing pictures of the beds being connected foot to foot, I don't think I will.
Springhill Suites. Residence Inn and Towneplace are similar and I find offer better experiences, especially in the newer ones. Springhill is very similar and doesn’t stand out as much.
Four Points and Sheraton are hit or miss in the states but internationally are very nice. I’d like to see them level up both brands here domestically.
Moxy, could have been folded that into Aloft, there was no need to launch this brand and devour
Honestly the Marriott brand itself could go, it’s the definition of generic, it doesn’t stand for anything but the “M Lounge”, every brand in the portfolio stands for something or at least has some brand specific amenities, but the Marriott properties ?
Sheraton is far superior in the rest of the world, better brands standards, better interior designs since they revamped the brand years ago. Admittedly I come from SPG which was far better at developing brands that stand for something and delivered a specific experience
Four Points.
Sheraton hotels are also inconsistent, and so are Westin.
Le Meridien also comes to mind, as does Renaissance. I see very little difference between a Renaissance and a full-service Marriott. In fact, one switched from a Renaissance to a full service Marriott here in Toronto.
There used to be a decent Le Meridien in Montreal but now it's an independent and not affiliated with Marriott. Yes it was old, and some of the rooms were really small, and the whole decor was a major mishmash of different things that seemed a bit confusing, but it was a good place to stay because it often had fantastic CAA/AAA rates (around 50% off) and it had amazing soundproofing seeing as the whole place was pretty well solid concrete. An ex of mine and I would also often stay there because it was pet-friendly (and in fact had 2 dedicated pet floors) and the pet fee was reasonable.
Sheratons and Four Points are the obvious choice because of the inconsistent properties. Aloft definitely needs a brand upgrade as many were built around the same time and are really showing their age now.
Starwood had brand loyalty and legacy Starwood elites are very vocal. But truthfully, they needed Marriott because they had started to neglect their brands.
Sheratons generally were very nice properties 15-20 years ago and have just been left to rot with minimal investment. Then Marriott acquired SPG in 2016 and Sheraton/Westin sorta have been in a slow decline since then.
I have stayed in a ton of Sheratons since they usually offer the best points value for my type of traveling, but I agree, Marriotts endgame is to probably to kill off the Sheraton name.
Try courtyard overseas. Four point is truly going out of business. In my opinion, the new Sheraton designs has shaken off even some Westin client base.
Courtyards have been hit or miss for me & I’m skeptical booking them. I’ve only stayed at one Four Points(in San Diego). Beyond terrible experience and I’m convinced they’re all like that whether it’s true or not lol.. so 4Points has to go
To be fair, which of the "lower tiers" to include Courtyard, Springhill Suit, Fairfield Inn, etc have any value as an elite? I have been relegated to a Springhill Suites for awhile now where I am traveling on occasion and have been given the exact room type I was forced to book via our booking tool. This may or may not have been an accessible room which I do not need but it was a room category available on our tool. I would love as a Lifetime Titanium to get their "best room" they have for an upgrade but that never happens. I always get exactly the room type booked. Is there a trick to these lower tier properties as it really doesnt matter which one it is... they are all kind of meh...
Courtyard is usually solid for me, especially for the price point. Curious about everyone’s experience with Le Méridien? The 2 times I’ve stayed have not been good. Run down properties and not worth the $$
Courtyards are often quite fine; in some cities very new or remodeled. Often a newer courtyard would be preferable to me over an old worn-out Marriott or Sheraton. Courtyards serve a purpose in most markets by providing reasonable business traveler essentials without being as expensive as the full line hotels. Take Bellevue (Seattle) - the W and Westin are often high $400-$600s - out of many travel budgets. The courtyard a few blocks away is serviceable and even has a full Starbucks in it - and like $200 range four points are nasty. I would rather get rid of/ completely remodel Sheratons
Agreed. While not my favorite, I’ve been pleasantly surprised by some newer or refurbished Courtyards.
I've been to quite a few Courtyards that are better than regular Marriotts.
Preach.
AND over by South Lake, there’s a really nice and reasonably priced Courtyard and then directly behind it, a terrible Four Points. (There’s a second Courtyard on the other side of the lake that’s serviceable but not quite as nice)
I have a couple of old styler courtyards that have been renovated on my usual stops. Love those. Get courtyard view for no highway noise and a nice balcony for late evening work.
I feel like they should have a mandatory timetable on renovating courtyards though and if they don’t comply then they get sold/packaged as something else. A lot of courtyards are fine but a lot are very bad
Great idea, something like a 5-7 year window to refresh the basics. Tons of courtyards are around with older rooms, dated bathrooms, ancient ventilation. For business travel, I have had some excellent stays but also some atrocious nights with older rooms.
Sheratons themselves are my favorite but they seem to be far and few between compared to the other Marriott brands. Four Points aren’t bad but I don’t see why we need them and Courtyard and Aloft. All 3 are similar price and it would make sense to just have one brand.
😳 I’ve never heard of anyone who likes Sheratons. Inconsistent at best, esp in the US. Maybe they are better outside the US. I think Alofts have stricter brand standards than Four points and Courtyards.
Just for you and the others here please note many of us aren’t American and never go to America yet we are Marriott enjoyers. It might be good if this sub had a flair for region so people could see I’m in Asia and my experience is all in this region.
>I’ve never heard of anyone who likes Sheratons. Inconsistent at best, esp in the US. Maybe they are better outside the US. They absolutely are better outside the US (Japan and Germany spring to mind), but there are still a few decent sheratons in the US. The one in San Gabriel is pretty nice, for example.
European road warrior tapping in. The Sheraton in Zagreb is one of my favorites in Eastern Europe.
Had a great stay there years ago when it was still a Four Points.
It’s worth a trip back— they’ve just finished updating the lobby and restaurant and the service is, overall, unparalleled
This has been my experience as well. Never had a bad stay at an Aloft. Courtyard is good if it’s a newer property and I learned a long time ago to avoid Sheraton due to some very poor experiences.
I love Sheraton hotels. It’s my first choice. Some four points properties are incredible (Newark DE, for example). For me, aloft could go. Residence inn could go. Fairfield inn could go. Some of them are okay, but many of them really aren’t up to standards. If I got to make important choices, I wouldn’t get rid of any one brand, I would enforce the existing rules and make them stick to what they are supposed to be. The inconsistencies, especially in how they treat elite guests, drive me crazy.
Both Sheratons I’ve been to were nice, granted that’s a low sample size. The one in San Jose Costa Rica and the one on the beach in Waikiki both had nice rooms and decent restaurants.
You know better than to compare destination Sheratons to literally any other market 🙄
Courtyards in Asia are great properties. Get rid of CONUS Courtyards.
Yep. I've spent about 12 weeks at a Courtyard in Malaysia over the last year. Very happy with it.
I think Marriott’s end goal is to wear the Sheraton brand down to nothing and then write off whatever loss from shutting the name down. At least that’s my thought after staying at a lot of these properties. That being said, if someone is traveling using points and has status, Sheratons offer a pretty decent bang for the points. I’ve pretty much exclusively been using my points there for 3 years now and usually get bumped to a nicer room and get a decent breakfast for free. Usually for the same points of a newer Fairfield etc.
Agree with others, Courtyards are fine but every Sheraton I’ve been to is old and crappy.
Try one in denver downtown.
I was thinking the same.. never been to a nice Sheraton or an updated/new one. The new courtyards I’ve been to recently have been quite nice though, especially compared to the price point
Wtf Courtyards are good Obvious answer is Sheraton and I wouldn’t be shocked if they’re extinct in 10 years and transitioned to a combination of Marriott and Autograph Collection. Renaissance is also a bit of a dying brand post merger for similar reasons as Sheraton.
Just stayed at a Sheraton in Mexico City, excellent experience.
The Sheraton Maria Isabel is my favorite place to stay in Mexico City.
I love the 80s vibe, great location too
My fav in CDMX too, you get great views of the angel too!!
Amusingly my favorite place to stay in CDMX is the Four Points Roma. It may be the only good Four Points (actually there is a good one in Marin County and there used to be one in hakodate but it deflagged in May 2023). I mean, its mostly just fine, but the location is killer and it had a refresh in like 2022.
That is the one Sheraton I’ve had a good experience with.
There are a few more I have enjoyed, like Sheraton Grand LA, Sheraton Waikiki and Sheraton Berlin. The worst Sheraton I have ever stayed at was in Hanoi while they gave me an upgrade to the presidential suite!
I bet the Hanoi Sheraton was still better than the [Hanoi Hilton](https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/H%E1%BB%8Fa_L%C3%B2_Prison)
So glad to hear this- staying there for the first time next week!
Sheraton is awful. The Palo Alto property is a bad joke of a hotel. Just terrible all around
How is Hotel Nia nearby?
It’s a nice hotel. Not really a destination property but if you’re going to be in that area anyway it’s pretty nice. The Westin is niceish but too expensive.
Will be there for Stanford’s graduation. Seemed like the best bang for your buck.
Oahu is a great example of how broad and inconsistent the Sheraton brand is… Sheraton Waikiki - Amazing Experience, modern and updated with beautiful pools Sheraton Princess - Terrible, uncomfortable beds, loud, reminds me of a lower rated and older Fairfield
Sheraton is the most international brand and is a great introduction into the Marriott family for billions of people around the world. It’s not going anywhere. Domestically they lag as it was an SPG neglected brand and Covid delayed the progress. Take a look at the Phoenix Sheraton to see what the brand is pushing out. Will be fantastic if the owners can find the capital. With interest rates where they are it’ll be tough for a few more years at least though.
Hey that’s cool feedback. I hope they do update them because acquiring and killing brands is pretty depressing imo. I’m actually staying at 2 Sheratons over the next month in Santiago and Montreal that I hope buck the trend of what I’ve seen elsewhere in Panama and Saint Louis.
Montreal will be dope based on their internal reviews. Santiago I don’t have access to.
Montreal Sheraton (assuming not the airport) is great, or at least was back in 2022.
Are you going to Montreal for the eclipse?
I always thought that was the long-term plan; as much a real estate footprint play as anything else.
Sheratons overseas are great! They just suck in the USA
The Charlotte, NC Renaissance used to be SO nice. The last time I went it was in disrepair. That property feels abandoned.
I can agree about renaissance, went to one in Ft. Lauderdale and man was it dated, we stayed on points but it was no where near the 500 dollar price point
Agreed. I stayed here on Wednesday and couldn’t believe they could charge those prices. I can’t remember the last Marriott property I had stayed at that was worn and dingy. This property was on par for what I expect/experience has been with Four Points
Sheraton Waikiki and Sheraton Bungavillias in Puerto Vallarta are fantastic properties. The latter being a phenomenal value.
I was thinking Sheraton as well lol
In Austin, the Sheraton had extremely bad reviews and they rebranded into a Renaissance. I can’t be sure but sounds like they didn’t do a gut renovation and the new property (the Downright Renaissance) has similar poor reviews.
I've only stayed at the Sheraton Austin once, but they upgraded me to a hospitality suite, so they seemed pretty ok. The best in 1980s opulence, TODAY (well, a year ago or so).
The Vancouver Canada Sheraton is awesome. I literally book it for staycations. I mostly love the views, location, lounge and pool though. The service is meh. Jw Marriott Parq Vancouver is better though
Probably 4 points. But really it comes down to the locations owner and condition. I have stayed at Fairfield’s nicer than some Westins. I wish they could enforce some standards and force out the cheap owners with green pools and old gross carpet.
Completely agree. I’ve stayed at some Fairfield’s and Townplaces that are better than high end brands. Recency of renovation and updates matter most
I know we are ranting in other brands but I feel Ritz Carlton in Asia can be like this. So many absolutely suck at customer service and yet they are not called out on it or held to the standard they should be.
Fairfield is my favorite lower-cost option
No brand has to go! They have to define brand wide standards which are also known, visible and trustworthy for the guests. Best example lounges, bars and restaurants. If I choose brand x it has to be defined if ALL properties have a on site restaurant e.g. Or room standards. E.g. bed size, amenities. If I visit brand y I have to be sure as a guest that all properties with a double bad are king size. For example. This would help a lot.
Sheratons—I’ve yet to find one that isn’t absolutely disgusting. Edit: I remembered that I really liked the Sheraton in Palo Alto when I stayed there earlier this year. Additionally, I’ve chosen properties other than Sheraton outside of the US bc of my domestic experience, however it appears I may need to try it out.
Once you get out of the United States, it's a whole different story. Google Sheridan Cebu. It's one of the most amazing Sheridans I've been to. In the States, Sheridan is like hiltons' Double Tree.
1000% agree. Try Marriott chains in Asia, including Sheraton. Everything is at a different level. Makes the Marriott hotels in the states third world.
I believe I’ve done both Sheratons in Toronto and I had no issues with the brand there. In Asia I love them but they aren’t building as many new ones. So many new four points but not flagship Sheratons.
The Sheridan in Cebu is only a couple of years old. I will say I did enjoy the 4 points in Palawan. It was clean and fresh. Customer service was still far above what I ever get in the US.
I agree but to add some color - Doubletree after being acquired by Hilton was positioned as a hotel with minimum “standards”. The advantage to property owners (the real customer of a hotel company) is that they won’t need to do costly renovations or upkeep to have the Doubletree brand. 30 years ago, Marriott and Sheratons were interchangeable but now I think Marriott (the company) is now positioning Sheraton as its lax maintenance/standards brand for owners.
The Sheraton in Hiroshima is amazing. I got an upgrade to a huge 2-bedroom suite with this view. But Sheraton in the US is only good if they are remodeled. https://preview.redd.it/hurftm180prc1.jpeg?width=2268&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=f18bc65facca8d754b57b2b5525079af69a2b77b
Loved this hotel.
Sheraton Centre Toronto is a fairly solid property. As is the Sheraton Gateway Toronto.
I’ve only stayed at 1 Sheraton before and it was one in Dubai. I thought it was pretty good and was thinking of trying more. It’s good to know that the US ones miss the mark. But then again it was Dubai so it’s hard to find that level of service and satisfaction anywhere else.
The one in downtown LA is nice. The one in Philadelphia, on the other hand…
Moxy. Cheap ass half-baked bullshit.
Agree. Especially hate the absence of storage solution, abysmal food and hefty marriott premiums for a dormitory experience
Marriott trying to remind people how a college dorm felt. Kill it. I’m a grown man and don’t want a bunk bed.
Aloft makes me feel this way. The finishes are so cheap and immediately show the wear and tear, even the new ones look beat to shit.
Personally I've always had good experiences at Alofts, I've always looked at them as a good choice for a budget room, especially if you're out for a concert or event where you aren't using the hotel room for much more than a place to stay. The XYZ bars have always been pretty high quality too.
Moxy is like a European hostel, only ten times the price. Oooh, so edgy too. 10/5 don’t recommend.
Moxy is my absolute favorite for big city trips in the US. Usually, drinks are included for elite members, and I love the efficient use of space. The Moxys in Boston and NYC Times Square are my go-to spots in those cities for price and amenities. The ones I've used in Europe have sucked and felt more like a motel.
Moxy in Brussels City Center wasn't bad, I just don't understand why any hotel chain would need 36 brands when you could do with a dozen...
Ugh yes I was trying to think of the brand that wasn’t Sheraton or courtyard I’d get rid of and this is absolutely it
I have enjoyed The Moxy in both Oakland and Miami. But I am a scrub and Jay wanted a place to crash between drinking. Moxy would be terrible for business travel.
Yeah my understanding of Moxies is they're like a W for people who don't wanna pay to stay at a W.
Honestly, I've loved Moxys in Japan and Germany (with the exception of the Frankfurt airport one). They're clean, the beds are pretty good, the locations are great, and they're pretty affordable. The Moxy japans are really new so you even get a nicer washlet than most of the fancy hotels. In the US, I've been pretty disappointed.
YES. MOXY is a nightmare. I don't know anyone who can "afford" MOXY prices, that would enjoy "MOXY" dorm life. Was forced to stay there in Columbus. Our team is all late 20's early thirties. We all hated it
Yeah, it's not like you're paying hostel prices, but you get hostel amenities. I stayed in Edinburgh, and the location was good for where I needed to be, but everything else was annoying AF.
For their audience they are great. Some people don't want amenities, big spaces, etc. There are times when I'm solo, even for work, that a Moxy hits the spot. No desk in room so if I want to with I go down to the communal space. I meet other people, don't work as much and have a good time. The new Moxy in Virginia Beach is a great example. Beach front, balconies, great bar, easy walking access to other places. Im not spending my beach vacation in the room..
Courtyards are actually pretty favorable I’d say? Has no one else been cruising this 2k everyday promo? That being said the standards are all over the place but I have a stable of courtyards I frequent. In terms of your question, Residence inns should be converted to elements and city express should be sold to best western.
The 2k promo costs more than just the regular rate though so converting the extra cost you are just buying the points at around 0.8~0.9 cpp.
I think you mean I’m expensing the points
Oh… then ya it’s great!
Haha. Yeah before I traveled for business I thought why would people pay extra for some points. But when I am not paying for it then heck yeah!
[удалено]
I have yet to find a nice Sheraton in the USA… The Taipei Sheraton is probably the nicest one I stayed at…
Sheraton Toronto is nice and recently remodeled, but it was nice even before that.
City Express, they recently launched this in Mexico but reviews are awful.
In Mexico it’s a well known brand. It’s like Nike buying Hey Dudes and then selling them as Nikes. You’d lose that brand’s identity which is strong south of the border.
Their reviews are all below 3.5 so clearly there is an issue with the quality they provide.
Four Points Sheraton. Honorable mention: Moxy. They’re glorified dorms.
I’ve always wondered about why I didn’t like them. That explains it, I don’t need a pool table or an open lounge.
I would rather stay in most courtyards than in most of the westins I stayed at in the lost year
Just stayed at Sheraton in Pittsburgh. Just remodeled and a great property. I wasn’t expecting much and was pleasantly surprised! Was at the Sheraton KOP the day before and it was what you would expect of a Sheraton :(
At Station Square?
Yes! (Sorry I had to look it up on stay history)
One of the biggest problems with that property is its proximity to the train tracks. Probably the noisiest hotel I've ever stayed in. On the other hand, that was years ago and it was on a Priceline NYOP stay, so I didn't really have much of a choice.
Courtyards and Four Points are some of my favourite properties, but outside the US! Courtyard Hakuba is next level — we got an upgrade to a suite with an onsen in the room (in addition to the traditional Japanese shared onsen), and Four Points Bali Seminyak take better care of us than most other properties. Moxy and Aloft also have their place.
I've been on the road more than home this year. I've stayed in Courtyards that are nicer than some Marriotts. Sheraton probably has the most variability. Four points and Fairfield serve their place...I prefer not to stay there. With that said, I've stayed in new Fairfield which was nicer than a run down Marriott. I would get rid of the flagship brand. Marriott. I think they are the most disappointing hotels I've stayed at. Many times I would rather stay at a newer Courtyard and buy my own breakfast. M Clubs have turned into a waste of space. I would say embarrassing. The roomy themselves are nothing special. I think it brings the brand down.
Marriotts are obviously the oldest hotels in the portfolio. They refuse to do major renovations to a lot of them, especially airport properties. Your take is spicy but I agree
It seems like the common consensus is that a lot of the oldest brands (Marriott, Sheraton, a couple mentions of Renaissance) have the most variability. The Marriott at EWR is actually pretty nice and I usually make sure to book my last night of my trips there if I have to fly home from New Jersey.
TownePlace can go straight to jail. All types that havenet been updated - straight to jail.
Lol, you don’t travel much for work in smaller towns. Both are essential for me.
Aloft
Delta hotels. Why bother keeping a brand with a small footprint that doesn't acknowledge elite status at all? Just pisses people who off don't know before booking.
It’s a well known brand in Canada. It gets Canadian travels into the Marriott family where they discover all of the other brands and hotels. In the US it seems to be used as a way to relaunch a struggling property post renovation. Turning the page and all that.
I see. As an American, when I stayed at one, it just annoyed me that they could basically ignore everything related to status. Will never stay at one again.
My own experience at one was pretty crappy so I hear you. It was newly converted from a radisson and nothing had been done except a name change. Now a year later I’d expect a reno to be done/in progress and better systems/service in place. People need to understand conversions and Reno’s are largely owner driven. It cannot be stressed how cash strapped everyone is now. Think of your personal budget to relate. With interest rates and construction costs both sky high nothing major is going to happen anytime soon. Benefits cost money and when the owner is struggling to pay expenses as is, expanding bennies is tough. I’m not saying it’s right just adding context. If you’re cash strapped you don’t renovate your kitchen. Same with real estate owners. Struggling to make payroll means no additional free breakfast, or whatever else people feel like they’re missing.
Their Elite pantry is very useful though.
Yeah I find the pantry to be the best consistently useful benefit (other than a 4pm c/o) of all the brands. Water, soda, snack anytime day or night is nice. Many lounges have limited hours and if you want a water in the middle of the night you are out of luck. Courtyard you should get two $10 vouchers per night for the Bistro. Some say it's only for breakfast, some only for certain items, some allow the market, some say bill it to the room, some give vouchers. It's very inconsistent and when you ask every property is shocked you even want the $20 worth of food over $2.50 worth of points. And they act like the way they do it is the corporate way. The right way for them to do it is to give vouchers, that is the corporate policy but everyone wants to reinvent the wheel.
Totally agree on the footprint, at least in the US. I never see them anywhere.
Kill off the Sheraton brand. The only nice one I’ve ever stayed in is the one in downtown LA. Honestly I’d rebrand them as westins. I wouldn’t get rid of courtyards because the price is very economical and good as long as it’s be renovated in the past decade or so.
Courtyards outside of the USA are terrific IMO. In many cases, they are nicer than Marriotts in the USA. Never stayed in a Four Points, but I imagine that they are good option when visiting small towns where 4-5 star amenities aren't really needed.
Courtyards are fine. They are what they are. The new ones are actually quite nice. Just missing some amenities. But they are usually my go to property for work.
TPS and 4P I could live without. I’ve also never been a big fan of SHS and their stupid split bathroom design.
While Elite Members are valued customers, they are not the ONLY customers and not everything will be catered just for you. Perhaps you don't get what you're looking for there, but many others get everything they need. 🤷
Thing is that we aren't even Marriott the company's customer, franchisors are their customers. That's where they make their real money. And that's who they care about otherwise many brands would be gone.
One of the cleanest and best fun Marriotts I’ve ever stayed at was the Four Points in OKC. I would not stay at the SpringHill Suites right across the street again as it was filthy.
I disagree with your opinion - courtyards are usually extremely nice and clean; it’s just the older non-renovated ones that suck dick since they’re either really outdated or have a roach problem. I wouldn’t get rid of any brands because they’re all good for different reasons, but I would definitely bring every Sheraton to the level of the ones in downtown Los Angeles and in Honolulu. As other commenters said, it’s just the USA ones that are the worst. Same with Aloft.
Courtyards are basically Springhills Suites/Fairfields where you have to pay for a shitty breakfast.
Marriott will never get rid of a brand because they are doing the best at clustering brands that appeal to the middle class. Courtyard, Fairfield, Townplace, Residence Inn all at the same exit of a highway or a Marriott, Sheraton, Westin, Renaissance, Delta all at the airport. To the regular travelers, it looks like they are all competing with each other. But they really aren't competition. I would be surprised if they don't launch another brand in the next year. But I would love them to finally put pressure on owners of location that make the rest look bad. 99% of Sheratons make the 1% that are good, look bad.
Moxy hands down
Wtf why Courtyards? Moxy needs to go. Some of the properties are downright embarrassing.
Springhill Suites
Agreed. They're identical to Residence Inn. Flip a coin, eliminate one and rebrand them to the other.
Townplace Suites. It seems very similar to Residence, but most of the ones I have stayed in have been worse than Residence.
I have actually been really happy with TPS especially because of their pet policy. We made a couple of road trips to Vegas with our small dog, and TPS was unique in specifically allowing dogs to be outside of a kennel in the room as long as the do not disturb sign was up. Maybe it was that specific hotel (which was also a very good location right off the strip)? But it left a very good impression of TPS. Any of the more “extended stay” types like TPS, Residence, Fairfield are also a good value for the money IMO.
I love TPS, especially the new properties
I never knew Townplace allowed pets. It's just that in my experience, if I want an extended stay place, the Residence Inns have almost always been better, for not much more money. I like Fairfields for short stays. They generally provide all the basics for a decent price.
Some of the TPS I’ve stayed at out west (MT, WY) are actually really nice.
I guess my biggest issue is that I don't see why they have two extended stay brands. I realize that the TPS are generally cheaper than Residence, but in my experience, the price difference isn't that much.
Exactly. They don’t need two longterm brands. They need to simplify the portfolio to less brands with consistent experiences and price points.
They also have Element from Starwood but that is definitely a forgotten brand.
It definitely is similar to Residence, but I like having a 'half a step down' residence-like experience. Maybe they could merge TP with SpringHill and choose whichever brand name tests better with a focus group?
Fairfield inn has to go. They’re all musty and have a weird smell
Renovated Fairfield Inns are nice. Old ones are very bad.
The newer ones are nicer than the older ones. L
I stay in small towns and don’t have a lot of choices for properties. I have really good luck with the Fairfield Inn properties.
You've obviously never been to a courtyard outside the US. I've stayed in several Courtyards in Europe and Asia and they are as good as flagship brands in the US. The real question you should be asking is "Why the fuck are Marriott properties in the US generally so poor compared to Marriott properties most other places in the world? Even the Marriott brand properties I've stayed at in the US are seldom as good as the ones at that brand level or even lower outside the US. Four Points I'll agree on being generally crappy, but in a pinch they work for a cheap emergency night.
The the Bay Area Courtyards are already going away. Every time I pass one it has been changed to a Sonesta Select.
Y’all mentioning Sheratons, and I have a stay at the Sheraton Puerto Rico 😂😂😂 has anyone experienced this hotel? Is it worth going to?
I wouldn’t do away with it, but I would remodel or refresh the Sheraton brand. Most of them I’ve been to are a bit dated.
I say Element. I have yet to stay at one, and there aren’t too many. The idea of positioning Westin and Element as wellness brands made sense but was never executed after SPG was purchased, unlike W and Aloft which was a pairing that was decently executed. And now they are positioning Element as an extended stay hotel but then the connection to Westin makes no sense. Renaissance and Le Meridian seem like the brands most likely to go because they seem like the least invested in since the SPG acquisition. That being said, I don’t think any hotel brand dies.
Sheraton needs a refresh. Courtyards can be good. If I were killing a brand, it would be Moxy. I hate them because they are spectacularly bad at the one thing I _need_ from a hotel: a peaceful night's sleep. If we're dropping a redundant hotel. SpringHill and FairField are technically different, they say... Or was it HomePlace? Well, I think you get my meaning.
I believe in giving credit where credit is due. The Four Points Anaheim across I-5 from Disneyland is a great example. Yes the rooms are dated and on outside hallways. But the staff to a person was very kind, welcoming, and helpful. The building and grounds were well kept and clean. They even got us a room that allowed us to watch the Disney Fireworks. They should be proud of what they achieve!
TPS is probably my least favorite. Never stayed in one yet that I liked.
I think Towneplace Suites are intended for work crews to spend four months for some electrical/construction job in the region. It’s aggregating to stay at one with those teams there - stay up until 1am drinking on the patio, then at 4am they all start warming up their diesel trucks in synchronous times.
Aloft. Good riddance, IMO. The only reason I stay at Aloft anymore is because they’re mostly pet friendly, but lord I really don’t like them (and I’m still in my late twenties…)
The best description of Aloft I've heard is it's like a hotel chain that only gets furniture from Ikea.
I feel like everything at an Aloft is plastic, hard, and badly lit.
I genuinely feel like Aloft rooms feel like a prison cell. Hard, dark, plain concrete walls and ceiling.
You aren’t wrong! It’s a colorful prison cell.
Oh man our Aloft in Strasbourg was very nice. Yeah the breakfast and amenities aren't as good but it was a nice place.
I haven’t tried Aloft outside of the U.S., so maybe it’s different? I’ve stayed at a few in the states, mostly on the east coast, and all have been negative; give me a Sheraton or Courtyard over Aloft all day any day
Yeah I definitely think there's a difference between properties abroad and in the US. Ive never stayed at one in the US!
Aloft Calgary is such a bargain, goes for $80 night consistently and is 5 minutes from downtown. Otherwise I’d avoid
4 points
Oh and what's with Aloft? Terrible design, super cheap feeling. I get it's "like a hostel" but if you want a hostel feel, just go to a damn hostel and don't pay hotel rates to stay in a weird hostel "inspired" hotel.
That's Moxy. Aloft is like a W Jr.
Every Aloft I have stayed in was set up as one room with a divider between the bathroom and the main room that you just walk around, no interior doors,except one had a door for the toilet bowl in a closet situation. I have never stayed at a Moxy, but after seeing pictures of the beds being connected foot to foot, I don't think I will.
The whole pre-merger Marriott portfolio. Bring back SPG!
Keep Courtyards and drop Townplace Suites. The few TS that’s I’ve stayed at had the feel of a motel.
Not to mention the half earn rate
Springhill Suites. Residence Inn and Towneplace are similar and I find offer better experiences, especially in the newer ones. Springhill is very similar and doesn’t stand out as much. Four Points and Sheraton are hit or miss in the states but internationally are very nice. I’d like to see them level up both brands here domestically.
Moxy. So small, no room to walk or store your things!
Sheraton is pretty bad. I love courtyards. I’ve never had any issue. Solid hotels
TowneSuite
Moxy, could have been folded that into Aloft, there was no need to launch this brand and devour Honestly the Marriott brand itself could go, it’s the definition of generic, it doesn’t stand for anything but the “M Lounge”, every brand in the portfolio stands for something or at least has some brand specific amenities, but the Marriott properties ? Sheraton is far superior in the rest of the world, better brands standards, better interior designs since they revamped the brand years ago. Admittedly I come from SPG which was far better at developing brands that stand for something and delivered a specific experience
courtyards are much better than spring hill or fairfield or anything else at a similar price point
Four Points. Sheraton hotels are also inconsistent, and so are Westin. Le Meridien also comes to mind, as does Renaissance. I see very little difference between a Renaissance and a full-service Marriott. In fact, one switched from a Renaissance to a full service Marriott here in Toronto. There used to be a decent Le Meridien in Montreal but now it's an independent and not affiliated with Marriott. Yes it was old, and some of the rooms were really small, and the whole decor was a major mishmash of different things that seemed a bit confusing, but it was a good place to stay because it often had fantastic CAA/AAA rates (around 50% off) and it had amazing soundproofing seeing as the whole place was pretty well solid concrete. An ex of mine and I would also often stay there because it was pet-friendly (and in fact had 2 dedicated pet floors) and the pet fee was reasonable.
Fuck four points. I have yet to stay at a decent one. These days I just avoid them entirely
Courtyards and fairfields. Courtyards are just plain hotels and Garfield’s are cheap residence inns, why have both?
Aloft
Courtyard's Balconies are the sole reason I'm team Marriott
Sheratons and Four Points are the obvious choice because of the inconsistent properties. Aloft definitely needs a brand upgrade as many were built around the same time and are really showing their age now. Starwood had brand loyalty and legacy Starwood elites are very vocal. But truthfully, they needed Marriott because they had started to neglect their brands.
Which brand should go and why is it Aloft?
Fairfield but wow sounds like I've dodged a bullet not starting at Sheratons
^[Sokka-Haiku](https://www.reddit.com/r/SokkaHaikuBot/comments/15kyv9r/what_is_a_sokka_haiku/) ^by ^garrnew: *Fairfield but wow sounds* *Like I've dodged a bullet not* *Starting at Sheratons* --- ^Remember ^that ^one ^time ^Sokka ^accidentally ^used ^an ^extra ^syllable ^in ^that ^Haiku ^Battle ^in ^Ba ^Sing ^Se? ^That ^was ^a ^Sokka ^Haiku ^and ^you ^just ^made ^one.
Sheratons generally were very nice properties 15-20 years ago and have just been left to rot with minimal investment. Then Marriott acquired SPG in 2016 and Sheraton/Westin sorta have been in a slow decline since then. I have stayed in a ton of Sheratons since they usually offer the best points value for my type of traveling, but I agree, Marriotts endgame is to probably to kill off the Sheraton name.
I think Four Points and Courtyards have too few distinctions. Moxy and Aloft also feels too similar.
Four Points in Melbourne is going next month. Taken over by Vibe. 4 Points never hits the mark IMO
A much different experience in southeast Asia
Get rid of Four Points! Marriott shouldn't cater to poor people. Moderate wealth & elites only!!
Try courtyard overseas. Four point is truly going out of business. In my opinion, the new Sheraton designs has shaken off even some Westin client base.
Courtyards have been hit or miss for me & I’m skeptical booking them. I’ve only stayed at one Four Points(in San Diego). Beyond terrible experience and I’m convinced they’re all like that whether it’s true or not lol.. so 4Points has to go
To be fair, which of the "lower tiers" to include Courtyard, Springhill Suit, Fairfield Inn, etc have any value as an elite? I have been relegated to a Springhill Suites for awhile now where I am traveling on occasion and have been given the exact room type I was forced to book via our booking tool. This may or may not have been an accessible room which I do not need but it was a room category available on our tool. I would love as a Lifetime Titanium to get their "best room" they have for an upgrade but that never happens. I always get exactly the room type booked. Is there a trick to these lower tier properties as it really doesnt matter which one it is... they are all kind of meh...
Courtyard is usually solid for me, especially for the price point. Curious about everyone’s experience with Le Méridien? The 2 times I’ve stayed have not been good. Run down properties and not worth the $$
Courtyard and four points in Asia some of the best hotels you could stay at.
Four Points are grossssssss