Many options are available when choosing a place to stay while traveling, which range from bare-bones basic to the ultimate in luxury. Each lodging option has trade-offs, though; and selecting one which fits your criteria can be daunting and confusing. Although not perfect, consider 7 reasons why mid-range hotels are the best value.
7 Reasons Why Mid-Range Hotels Are The Best Value
Examples of mid-range hotel brands include but are not limited to:
- Hampton Inn & Suites
- Fairfield Inn & Suites
- Holiday Inn Express & Suites
- Hyatt Place
- Comfort Inn
- La Quinta
The reasons why hotel properties of the aforementioned brands are the best value include:
- Breakfast, which usually includes one or two hot items, and an assortment of juices, fruit, pastries, breads, yogurt, tea, coffee, toppings, condiments, and other items.
- Free items in travel sizes, which usually includes toothpaste, deodorant, toothbrush, shaving cream, razor, comb, and other items. Simply ask for what you need at the front desk. Why pay usurious prices for toiletries in travel-sized containers?
- Amenities. In addition to soap, shampoo, conditioner, tissues, and other amenities, an increasing number of mid-range hotel properties currently include microwave ovens and miniature refrigerators in rooms, which can potentially decrease the cost of dining. Access to the Internet via Wi-Fi is included as well; and speeds range from respectable to excellent.
- Comfort. Beds and other furnishings in rooms have steadily improved over the years. Climate control systems have arguably improved as well. Towels have also improved.
- Convenience. Mid-range hotel properties can be found in the center of a city; adjacent to the off-ramp of a highway; or near an airport — often with a shuttle service at no extra charge. Many mid-range hotel properties offer free parking.
- Consistency. Guests know what to expect at mid-range hotel properties and are usually not unpleasantly surprised — though some people might consider consistency as boring and unexciting.
- Price. The room rate includes the aforementioned reasons as to why mid-range hotel properties are usually the best value. Room rates can range from less than $70.00 per night to as much as $400.00 per night, depending on a variety of factors; but they usually range between $90.00 per night and $150.00 per night.
Final Boarding Call
Budget hotel and motel properties offer the absolute basic items for a decent overnight stay — but their lack of certain options and conveniences may not always justify their arguably lowest prices, which therefore potentially diminishes their value.
Luxury hotel and resort properties may be in ideal locations and offer services and amenities that are designed to ensure that a stay is opulent and memorable in a positive way — but they can be significantly more expensive. Worse is that some luxury hotel and resort properties may offer only little more than what mid-range hotel properties include, which may not justify spending more money when staying at them.
Mid-range hotel properties are certainly not perfect; and they do not appeal to everyone — but they have significantly improved overall in recent years; they have become more stylish and comfortable; and they do seem to offer the best value of other lodging options.
Just watch out for any sneaky fees which might be added on — such as a Parking Recapture Fee…
All photographs ©2023 by Brian Cohen.
