Winging It

Up until a year ago, I did approx. 100 nights a year on the road. As you mentioned, I was one of those constrained to the Marriots, Sheraton and Hilton's of the world.

I found that the name places were in many ways no better than the also rans, depending on the city. I wound up in an Embassy Suite and have to say that I have been more than satisified over 16 stays. Rooms are suites, decent breakfast in morning, beds, batrooms are Ok. Only complaint is the low wattage lights but they have replaced when I have asked. Plus you get Hilton points, so not a bad deal.

I just stayed at a Drury Inn in Colorado Springs. Wow! I had never heard of them before. I read about them on tripadvisor, and sure enough, I had a nice big room, comfy bed, free internet, free sodas, lots of things, for $50/night. Too bad they are not in this area of the country... yet.

Glad you asked ... For years, beginning in the 1970s, I have made a practice of leaving items behind in my room after checkout to discover whether or not hotel staffs would (1) call me and/or (2) mail my belongings to my home or office ... The Sheraton in Washington, DC, once mailed a suit at no charge, for example, and the Ritz-Carlton in San Francisco mailed a wristwatch ... I am not crazy enough to leave expensive watches or clothes in my room; usually my tests include an old shirt and tie, or a watch made by Lorus or Timex -- items I would not miss ... In any event, over the last 10-15 years, the "return rate" has fallen from 80-85% to about one or two percent. I figure that housekeeping crews now believe in the game of Finders Keepers and hotel management is less than interested in preserving honest customer service. (Remember when shoes could be left outside a hotel door at night and they would be shined and returned at no charge?) ... Meanwhile, I now give careful consideration to hotels based on whether or not they provide bathrobes/slippers, room service that allows me to determine gratuities and smoke-free environments ... In a few weeks, I will go to Chicago. While I was once a fan of the Drake and its shabby elegance, the hotel subsequently flunked the robe test. The last time I was booked at the Ritz-Carlton, the folks at the front desk were not familiar with the differences between north, south, east and west room exposures. So, I will bed down at a Kimpton (Burnham) hotel; this chain seems to appreciate what halfway sophisticated travelers expect from check-in to checkout ... (I was once given a Sheraton room in which there was a hole in the wall where an air-conditioning unit had been removed; the checkout staff was unapologetic. That was the beginning of my hotel testing.) My favorite? Still the Hay-Adams.
///burke stinson

Here are my hotel selection criteria from 1001 nights in various places in 81 countries.

Look at the discount sites, Hotwire in the U.S. and Octopus travel in Europe to see what they have to offer.

Here are a lot of little things that all hotels should have: short check-in line and auto checkout; free wifi at least in lobby, a mattress that is not worn out or even worn, no need for a bellman, free small breakfast, a window that opens, nice people on the staff, prompt room service.

The rest is unimportant if the price is right for the number of stars.

Best hotels I have been in were the Dusit Thani in Bangkok and the Oberoi in Colombo Sri Lanka (it is no longer an Oberoi due to the civil war there). But I have been perfectly happy in lots of Hamptons and Holiday Expresses.

Because I stay well over 100 nights per year in hotels, I read with great interest your article from last Monday. I am not too picky, but below is my “wish list.”

· #1 - A good fitness room with an Elliptical machine from either Life Cycle or Precor (those Star-Trac machines don’t cut it)

· #2 - Since my company does not allow wireless internet access, it is crucial for me to have a wired connection. If the hotel only has wireless, they must be able to provide a wireless to wired converter.

· A large desk with an ergonomic chair with a good view of the television

· Multiple outlets ON the desk (or the lamp, but definitely not behind it)

· A side table or ottoman on which I can lay out papers or a soda.

· A good firm bed

· Bathroom sink area with a large countertop surface

· A shower with good water pressure and the shower head higher than mine

· A “self-contained” bathroom with a shower, sink, commode all in one room BEHIND a door (this is EXTREMELY important when traveling with my wife).

· Enough hangers without having to call down for more

· Television with all the major sports channels, CNBC, and the Weather Channel

· A “club lounge” for breakfast/nighttime snacks and sodas for the frequent traveler

And one thing that really annoys me – an automated welcome message that is waiting when one first gets into the room.

There are probably more, but that is enough for now.