Thursday, October 10, 2024

Frugal Travelers Love These Economy Hotel Chains

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Frugal travelers in their hotel room
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Frugal travelers are always looking for a bargain on a hotel room, and a few chains still offer that magical combination of low prices and great service.

Recently, J.D. Power asked more than 33,000 people who had stayed at a hotel in the prior year about their satisfaction with the following aspects of hotels:

  • Communications and connectivity
  • Food and beverage
  • Guest room
  • Hotel facility
  • Staff service
  • Value for price

Read on to learn which economy hotel chains stood out from their competitors — as well as the top-ranked chain of every other type, from midscale to luxury.

WoodSpring Suites

Woman unpacking her suitcase in a hotel room
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Overall customer satisfaction score: 609 out of 1,000 possible points

Type of hotel: Economy extended stay

WoodSpring Suites offers extended-stay lodging for travelers who expect to remain in one place for a while. It has 200 locations across the U.S. and promises “home-like comforts and hotel-like conveniences.”

It’s also the only economy extended stay chain included in J.D. Power’s survey that earned an above-average score. (Its competitors Extended Stay America and InTown Suites earned customer satisfaction scores of 583 and 579, respectively.)

Americas Best Value Inn

Americas Best Value Inn hotel
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Overall customer satisfaction score: 637 out of 1,000 possible points

Type of hotel: Economy

Americas Best Value Inn is a chain of locally owned and operated hotels with a simple slogan: “The Best Value. Period.” You can find locations in every U.S. state and most Canadian provinces.

The chain is one of two that tied for the top spot in the economy category.

Microtel by Wyndham

Microtel by Wyndham hotel
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Overall customer satisfaction score: 637 out of 1,000 possible points

Type of hotel: Economy

Microtel By Wyndham is the chain that tied with Americas Best Value Inn for the top spot in the economy category.

At this chain, you get a great price and plenty of perks, including free breakfast and Wi-Fi. There are more than 350 locations across the U.S., Canada and other countries.

The best in other categories

Waldorf Astoria hotel
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J.D. Power also ranked hotels in categories other than economy. The top hotel in each of these categories, and their overall customer satisfaction score, are:

  • Luxury: Waldorf Astoria (788 out of 1,000 possible points)
  • Upper Upscale: Hard Rock Hotels (723) and Margaritaville Hotels & Resorts (723)
  • Upscale: Cambria Hotels & Suites (738)
  • Upscale Extended Stay: Hyatt House (729)
  • Upper Midscale: Trademark Collection by Wyndham (762)
  • Upper Midscale and Midscale Extended Stay: Home2 Suites by Hilton (681)
  • Midscale: Tru by Hilton (708)

To see how all hotel chains ranked, check out the charts in J.D. Power’s 2023 North American Hotel Guest Satisfaction Index Study — they start on Page 3.

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