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Readers Tell Us Their Favorite Hotel Chains!

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    I really like hearing from y’all about how you like to use miles & points.  So I loved reading your comments from a recent Club Carlson giveaway!

    We asked what your favorite hotel chain is.  And we received a LOTS of answers!

    My Favorite Hotel Chain Is Hyatt. But Lots of You Had a Different Opinion!

    The giveaway is now closed.  But if you’re trying to decide which hotel brand you want to use, here are some suggestions from other Million Mile Secrets readers!

    What’s the Difference Between Hotel Chains?

    Link:   Which Hotel Brand Is Best for Value and Comfort?

    There are lots of hotel brands out there!  And they all want your business.

    Because of this, hotels try to differentiate themselves from each other.  And have different award charts, points redemption options, and elite status perks.  For example, reader Matt points out that some brands have a better hotel experience, while others have better value.

    So which hotel chains do Million Mile Secrets readers like the most?  Let’s find out!

    1.   Club Carlson

    Several readers chose Club Carlson as their favorite hotel group.

    Readers Ali and Martin remind us that Club Carlson is a great option for folks visiting Europe.  While there aren’t too many Club Carlson hotels in the US, there are plenty in Europe.  And many are in locations that you will NOT find many other hotel chains, like Ireland and Scandinavia.

    Club Carlson Hotels are Primarily on the East Coast and in Europe – Though There Are Some Exceptions, Like the Radisson Blu Aqua Hotel Chicago

    Reader Chris likes how easy it is to earn Club Carlson points.

    And Peggi has always received great customer service!

    There are a few credit cards that will help you earn Club Carlson points faster.  Check out the Club Carlson℠ Rewards Visa® Card, Club Carlson Premier Rewards Visa Signature® Card, and US Bank Club Carlson Business Rewards.

    2.   Hilton

    I was surprised to see how many Million Mile Secrets readers love Hilton!  The first hotel points I collected were Hilton points.  So I was especially interested in these answers!

    Readers Mark and JS like Hilton because their hotels are conveniently located, and have lots of different brands directed at different kinds of travelers.  Hilton is one of the biggest hotel chains, so there’s likely a Hilton hotel nearby, no matter where you’re traveling!

    Hilton Hotels Are Everywhere, Including the Middle of the Indian Ocean!

    Hilton points are not nearly as valuable as hotel points you’ll earn at other hotels, like Hyatt and Starwood.  But reader Eric shows us that you can earn Hilton points MUCH faster than many other hotel chains.

    And Oliver likes the value you can get with Hilton through frequent promotions, AMEX Offers, and Hilton credit cards.

    Terry likes Hilton’s easy-to-earn elite status.  The benefits that come with it, like free breakfast, can save you a lot of money!

    I also appreciated Michael commenting about the great memories he’s made during Hilton stays.  Sentimentality can certainly play a role in your hotel loyalty!

    If Hilton is your go-to hotel chain, check out the Hilton Honors Card from American Express and Hilton Honors™ Surpass® Card from American Express to earn points even faster.

    3.   Hyatt

    Hyatt is my favorite hotel brand, because I think they have the perfect balance of value and comfort.  And as Ernest says, the points are relatively easy to earn, because you can transfer Chase Ultimate Rewards points to Hyatt at a 1:1 ratio!

    Ernest Likes the Andaz Brand, and So Do I! I Enjoyed My Stay at the Andaz 5th Avenue in New York City

    Reader Kristin likes Hyatt’s high-quality hotels and top-notch service.

    And Lily loves Hyatt because it costs relatively few points for amazing hotels!

    Earning Hyatt points is easy.  You can apply for the Chase Hyatt credit card which comes with 40,000 points after meeting minimum spending, or you can apply for a Chase Ultimate Rewards points earning card, like the Ink Business Preferred, which comes with 80,000 points after meeting minimum spending.  Then transfer those points to Hyatt for Big Travel!

    4.   IHG

    Most of y’all chose IHG as your favorite hotel chain!  AndrewOnTheRoad loves IHG because it’s easy for him to earn points through the various IHG promotions for work stays.  And then redeem the points for luxury hotel stays with his wife.

    Reader Jonny likes IHG’s quarterly PointBreaks promotion!

    IHG PointBreaks Make Select Hotels More Affordable, Like the Amazing Intercontinental Maracaibo in Venezuela
    Cynthia and PT appreciate that IHG hotels are almost everywhere, which is convenient for road warriors.

    And Ernest likes the hotel experience and the customer service of IHG hotels.  He also likes the annual free night at any IHG hotel in the world that comes with the Chase IHG card!

    If IHG is your favorite hotel brand, take a look at the Chase IHG card!

    5.   Marriott

    Marriott also received a few votes from readers like Christopher and Steve, also because they are easy to find.  Because Marriott is merging with Starwood, Marriott is the largest hotel brand in the world!

    You Can Find a Marriott Hotel in the Middle of the Action, No Matter Your Destination

    Reader Margaret likes Marriott because she gets a lot of value from her elite status!

    6.   Starwood

    Starwood has some fantastic hotels around the world, but is a very small brand compared to Marriott, IHG, and Hilton.  GetToThePoints and Elan like Starwood because of the valuable points you earn for your stay, like the ability to transfer them to airline partners!

    You’ll Usually Find Starwood Hotels in Bigger Cities or Popular Destinations Like Disney World
    Ian points out that even low-category hotels are very high quality!

    If you want to collect Marriott or Starwood points, take a look at the:

    You can transfer points between Starwood and Marriott at a ratio of 1:3 (1 Starwood point = 3 Marriott points).  So earning Starwood points is one of the fastest ways to earn Marriott points!

    Just remember, as reader Susan points out, hotel programs are only valuable if you can use it!  So while some hotel chains might have better award redemptions than others, you should only invest in them if they are practical for you.

    Bottom Line

    Thanks everyone for all your feedback, and telling other readers your favorite hotel chain.  It looks like Hilton and IHG were the winners!

    Lots of folks value different things in a hotel brand.  But one common theme in the comments was customer service!  If you find a brand that consistently treats you well, that could be a brand worth giving your loyalty.

    Editorial Note: We're the Million Mile Secrets team. And we're proud of our content, opinions and analysis, and of our reader's comments. These haven’t been reviewed, approved or endorsed by any of the airlines, hotels, or credit card issuers which we often write about. And that’s just how we like it! :)