Why I prefer limited-service hotels over luxury brands.

When I started exploring points and miles in 2011, the allure was booking luxury hotels at a discount.

Fast forward nearly ten years, and I now find myself more attracted to limited-service hotels than to full-service or luxury ones. Luxury hotels are often chosen for award redemptions because they seem to offer the "best value." After all, if a hotel costs over $1,000 per night, redeeming 30,000 Hyatt points gives you more than three cents of value, which is impressive. So, why not save your points for these top-tier awards?

Of course, you can do that. But surprisingly, you can often extract equal or even greater value from limited-service options like Hyatt House and Hilton Garden Inn. Here’s why I’d choose these hotels over full-service ones anytime:

They're typically less expensive and often newer.

Limited-service hotels are almost always more affordable than mid-range and upscale hotels in the same areas, whether you're using points or cash. This is a well-known fact. However, chains like Hyatt House often feature newer facilities and can be, in many respects, more appealing than their higher-end rivals.

This trend is due to several hotel brands recently expanding their extended-stay offerings, while many high-end resorts have been established for a longer period. In some cases, these limited-service hotels may even surpass the quality of luxury hotels in the same region if the latter haven't been updated lately.

For instance, I recently stayed at a luxury hotel that required 70,000 points or more than $400 a night during peak season. Though relatively new, this hotel was about three times pricier than a Hyatt House I visited a few years earlier. Guess which one was cleaner and in better condition? The Hyatt House.

In fact, I was quite surprised by how similar the two properties were: the bathroom floors, bedding, and even the furniture looked like those at the nearby Hyatt Place. The main difference? The luxury hotel’s room was poorly cleaned, and the pool area was in disarray, with stained loungers and crumbs all over the seats—yet it was significantly more expensive.

The Hyatt House provided a room of comparable size, with similar amenities and complimentary breakfast, making it a much better value than the luxury hotel. This isn’t my first experience with this problem. The pandemic has allowed many full-service hotels to reduce standards and housekeeping frequency, but even considering that, I’ll choose the limited-service option next time.

More space, perfect for larger groups and families.

When traveling with a big group or family, I always opt for limited-service and extended-stay hotels.

Many of these hotels feature two queen beds plus a sofabed, providing ample space for four or more guests. When I travel with my sister and her kids, they all prefer to share a room. Hotels like Hyatt House allow for that with rooms spacious enough for families.

It’s not just kids who need more space. On a recent trip with four others, we decided to stop for the night in a college town with various hotel choices. The Hyatt House Davis turned out to be the best option, accommodating all five of us in a single room with two queen beds and a separate living area with a pull-out couch.

The room included a fully-equipped kitchen with an island, complete with all the outlets needed for a workstation. Most hotels would have required our group of five to reserve two rooms, but we managed to book just one, providing ample space for everyone.

The best part? Everyone enjoyed complimentary breakfast the next morning, with no special status or room rates needed.

Practical food choices.

I would happily forgo room service for something straightforward yet satisfying from Hyatt's Gallery menu. I’ve stayed at numerous full-service hotels, including some high-end ones, and I can’t recall ever enjoying a room service meal, especially given the cost. Room service has been convenient after late check-ins when I was too tired to seek alternatives, but it often felt overpriced and disappointing.

I've come to truly appreciate the convenience of to-go options available at Hyatt's limited-service hotels. With food delivery apps reaching even the most remote suburbs, there's no need to settle for a mediocre room service menu when delicious local cuisine is just a tap away.

Useful amenities.

Although labeled as "limited service," hotels like Hyatt House, Hilton Garden Inn, and Springhill Suites do offer several amenities and services that are often absent in higher-end hotels—like laundry facilities. As someone who travels light, access to laundry ranks high on my list of desired amenities for longer stays.

I've experienced full-service hotels where laundry costs $15 or more per item. Honestly, I can’t think of any piece of clothing I have that’s worth that price for cleaning. Carrying a laundry bag halfway across town to a laundromat isn’t ideal either, although I’ve done it in my younger days.

I genuinely appreciate hotels that provide convenient on-site laundry, even if it costs a few quarters. Places like Hilton Garden Inn and Hyatt House usually offer laundry facilities that are either free or inexpensive. I’d much prefer that over some hidden amenity that adds an extra $35 or more to my nightly rate.

Amenities like fully-equipped in-room kitchens are a great addition. Families with young children or those looking to save on dining will likely find this even more beneficial than I do.

As someone who frequently works while traveling, I appreciate that limited-service hotels are incorporating public workspaces in their lobbies. Full-service hotels haven’t widely adopted these areas, even among renovated properties. While these spaces aren’t as relevant during distancing, I expect to utilize them more once the pandemic subsides and travel resumes its normal pace.

Another financial benefit of choosing limited-service hotels: no resort fees.

Aside from places like Hawaii and, to a lesser extent, Orlando, you generally won’t encounter those annoying resort fees at limited-service hotels. High-end hotels can charge anywhere from $50 to $100 per night in resort fees, even for award stays. However, most limited-service properties offer amenities like pools, gyms, and Wi-Fi without imposing a resort fee.

Complimentary parking.

While there are exceptions, most limited-service hotels provide free parking that's conveniently located right outside. I prefer to park my own car and have quick access to it, especially when I inevitably forget something like my charger in the middle of the night. Waiting for a valet or trekking to a distant parking garage isn’t ideal.

If I can park directly across from the hotel entrance without paying $35 or more per night for the privilege, I’ll happily opt for the limited-service hotel.

In summary.

My travel habits have evolved over the past decade. While I still appreciate nice things, I now prioritize value over mere luxury. With lower prices, often larger rooms, newer properties, and more practical amenities, limited-service hotels like Hyatt House and Hilton Garden Inn frequently align better with my travel needs.

Contrary to common belief, choosing these hotels doesn’t mean sacrificing location. In major cities like New York City and San Francisco, you can often find Hyatt House properties in sought-after areas, offering more reasonable rates compared to their luxury counterparts.