Five Tips for Booking With a Hotel Chain

Accommodation can make or break a holiday. No matter how fabulous the décor, an uncomfortable bed and lack of sleep will overshadow the vacation experience.

Consumer Reports, the US-based consumer information magazine, released their 2010 survey by 27,000 subscribers on the hotel chain landscape.

The survey reveals these five tips every consumer should know about hotel chains:

1. Ask for a discount – 35 per cent of respondents asked for a better rate, and 80 per cent of those got the discount or received a complimentary room upgrade. And those who asked ahead of time had a higher success rate than those respondents who waited until check-in.
2. Booking options make no difference – whether a reservation was done with the hotel's website, an independent travel site, via phone or a walk-in, respondents didn't see any differences in satisfaction or service.

3. Go for a suite – All-suite hotels have the advantage with consumers; respondents commented on the additional space and homey feeling found in suite hotels, and mentioned Homewood Suites and Drury Inn & Suites as well-maintained and good value for travellers.

4. The bed is IT - Respondents singled out the luxury chains for their ultra-comfortable beds – Westin, Ritz-Carlton and Renaissance have the best beds and linens according to the survey. Meanwhile Howard Johnson, Travelodge and America's Best Value were handed the worst hotel chains for a good night's sleep.

5. You get what you pay for – Bargain hotels are generally a lure to those trying to save a dollar, but overall earned the lowest scores from respondents according to value, upkeep and ease of check-in and check-out.

Consumer Reports issued the survey this week, featuring 48 hotel chains surveyed between January 2008 and April 2009.
The hotels are found across North America and were divided into five categories: fanciest, luxury, upscale, moderate and budget. Respondents lauded Ritz-Carlton, Homewood Suites, Renaissance, Drury Inn & Suites and Microtel Inn & Suites in the different categories for the variety of services and standards offered to guests.