Planning an extended trip but torn between Home2 Suites and Residence Inn? Choosing the perfect home away from home can feel overwhelming, kinda like deciding between pizza and tacos (why not both?).
But fear not, my fellow travel enthusiasts! I’m going to lay out the key differences between these two extended stay hotel chains. By the end, you’ll know which brand better suits your needs – whether you’re a family on a lengthy vacay, a corporate road warrior, or just someone who values their personal space (and a decent kitchenette).
What are Home2 Suites?
Home2 Suites by Hilton is the modern extended stay hotel brand under the Hilton umbrella. As the name implies, these all-suite hotels are designed to be your home away from home, minus the chore of vacuuming every weekend.
Every room is a suite equipped with a kitchen, living area, and workspace – perfect for longer stays or anyone who likes a little extra breathing room. You’ll find handy amenities like free breakfast, an outdoor pool/patio area, and fitness center to stretch those road trip legs.
One major perk? Home2 is pet-friendly at most locations, so Fido can join the extended stay fun! Traveling with furry friends makes a hotel feel even more like home.
What is a Residence Inn?
In the other corner, we have Residence Inn by Marriott – the extended stay offering from the Marriott hotel empire. Similar to Home2 Suites, Residence Inn provides suite-style accommodations ideal for longer visits.
The rooms feature separate living/sleeping areas and fully-equipped kitchens. You’ll have all the conveniences of home, minus your neighbor’s obnoxiously loud lawn mower at 7am every Sunday (sorry Steve, we know it’s you).
Residence Inn extends the home-y vibes with free hot breakfast every morning and free evening social hours during the week. Guests can also take advantage of the sports courts, pools, and fitness centers commonly found at these properties.
As part of the Marriott Bonvoy rewards program, you can rack up points for free nights and elite benefits on future travels. Love ’em or hate ’em, hotel loyalty programs definitely sway some extended stay decisions.
Head-to-Head Comparison
Enough with the intros, let’s get down to the nitty-gritty! How do these extended stay titans really stack up in key areas?
Room Types and Amenities
Both brands focus on all-suite extended stay accommodations, typically offering studio, one-bedroom, and two-bedroom layouts. The rooms are equipped with kitchens, living areas, and workspace setups suited for longer stays.
However, Home2 Suites leans a little more modern and minimalist in its decor and design compared to Residence Inn’s traditional apartment-style vibe. Residence Inn may edge out Home2 in total living space for larger suites, but Home2’s open layouts can feel bright and airy.
Outside the room, you’ll find fairly comparable amenities across both hotel chains – free breakfast, pools, fitness centers, laundry facilities, and the like. Though Residence Inn stands out with its evening social hours during the week, a nice perk for working travelers.
Pricing and Value
Pulling up a random weekend in Atlanta, I’m seeing standard room rates hovering around $120-150/night for both Home2 Suites and Residence Inn. Prices can spike up during peak travel seasons and major events of course.
For Hilton Honors members, Home2 can provide better value through points redemptions and stacked promotions/discounts at times. The same applies for frequent Marriott guests able to leverage Bonvoy elite benefits at Residence Inn.
Overall, you’re likely to find very comparable pricing between the two brands for similar room types and locations. Tight budget? Try increasing flexibility with your dates or exploring nearby suburbs. Hooray for savings!
Locations and Destinations
With over 800 properties worldwide for each brand, both Home2 Suites and Residence Inn provide solid coverage in major cities, airport corridors, and suburban markets across the U.S. and beyond.
Residence Inn has a slight edge in total geographic distribution, reaching more international destinations. But in most major U.S. metro areas, you’ll likely have location options for both brands.
For families, Home’s exterior corridor layouts and direct outdoor access can provide a nice residential neighborhood feel. While Residence Inn’s interior corridors and centralized amenities may appeal more to corporate travelers and longer-term guests.
Ultimately, the location choice will come down to proximity to your specific destination, whether visiting family or exploring a new city. Always inspect those hotel parking situations too!
Guest Ratings and Reviews
Both Home2 Suites and Residence Inn hold very respectable guest ratings hovering around 4/5 or higher across major travel sites like TripAdvisor and Booking.com.
These high ratings reflect the brands’ emphasis on clean, comfortable extended stay accommodations with functional in-room amenities tailored for longer visits.
Home2 seems to get bonus points for modern designs, ample living space, and pet-friendly policies. While Residence Inn often impresses with spacious layouts, robust free breakfasts, and those evening socials.
That said, you’ll encounter the occasional nitpick about thin walls, inefficient AC units, or subpar housekeeping quality. Hey, no hotel brand is perfect!
Reading through individual hotel reviews for your prospective destination can provide more localized insight. Just take those over-the-top 1/5 rants with a grain of pricey-hotel-breakfast-buffet salt.
Best for Families
Let’s be real – keeping the whole fam happy on an extended trip is no easy feat. Between packing, entertainment, and attempting sanity, you deserve some peace of mind with your accommodations.
For families, Home2 Suites could have a slight edge with its physical separation from disruptive noise (exterior corridor access FTW!) and pet-friendly policies at most locations. No need to board the furry family members!
Home2’s suites also generally feel a bit more residential and honey compared to the classic apartment-style Residence Inn – those little nuances that kids tend to appreciate.
That said, Residence Inn still makes a strong case for families with its often-larger suite layouts, indoor pools/play areas, and evening social hours that add convenience for busy parents.
Best for Business Travelers
Corporate road warriors and frequent business travelers know the importance of an accommodating extended stay experience. You need the right surroundings to maximize productivity while still retaining some sense of comfort and work/life balance.
In this arena, Residence Inn could appeal more with its traditional interior corridors, centralized business amenities, and Marriott Bonvoy rewards benefits for loyal guests.
The evening social hours let you network with other travelers or simply transition into “home mode” with a refreshing beverage. Add in spacious work areas within each suite and solid meeting facilities at most Residence Inn hotels.
However, Home2 Suites’ upscale yet affordable vibe and functional suite designs could definitely appeal to budget-conscious business travelers or startups as well. Plus no one’s gonna judge if you work in your PJs from the comfort of your home-y suite!
Best for Long-Term Stays
When an “extended” hotel stay turns into weeks or months, little conveniences become major amenities. You’ll prize having that full kitchen for home-cooked meals and residential feel for your mental sanity.
Both hotel brands deliver in this department, but Residence Inn may have an upper hand for true long-term stays with its slightly larger average suite sizes and established community vibes through evening get-togethers.
The Marriott rewards program and elite benefits can make those lengthier stints more rewarding too. Little perks like free breakfast and grocery delivery can make a huge difference.
Home2 Suites still competes as well, particularly for price-conscious or pet-friendly extended stays. The fresh, inviting suite designs avoiding that temporary corporate housing feel.
Best for Short Stays
For those shorter weekends or work trips under a week, Home2 Suites could offer a smidge more inherent value and convenience.
With no-frills designs yet functional suite layouts, Home2 delivers all the essentials without necessarily paying for excess amenities you may not utilize. Those saved funds can go towards treating yourself to some local cuisine!
However, Residence Inn’s evening social hours can be a nice perk even for short stays – a chance to unwind with fellow travelers over complimentary drinks and light bites.
Making Your Decision
With all those comparisons out of the way, how do you decide between Home2 Suites vs Residence Inn for your particular travel needs?
Firstly, get really clear on your priorities for this extended stay:
– Are you looking for maximum living space and residential comforts?
– Will you need accommodations for pets?
– How important are amenities like free breakfast, pools, evening socials?
– Do you have an existing hotel rewards program affiliation?
– What’s your typical budget range for nightly rates?
Once you identify the amenities and vibe that resonate most, you can narrow it down. Check out some actual hotel photos and room layouts for properties in your destination.
Don’t just read marketing fluff – dig into those detailed guest reviews! They’ll give you a true sense of what to expect from each hotel’s strengths and quirks.
At the end of the day, there’s no definitive “better” brand between Home2 Suites and Residence Inn. It comes down to personalizing your travel party’s distinct needs and aligning with the appropriate brand experience.
For instance, maybe Home2 Suites hits that sweet spot for your upcoming family vacation – spacious but modern suites, pet-friendly, thrilling outdoor pool for the kids. While frequent business travelers might prefer the consistent Residence Inn amenities and Bonvoy rewards earning potential.
Conclusion: No One-Size-Fits-All
Well folks, I could ramble about Home2 Suites vs Residence Inn all day like a travel guidebook on extra-strength coffee. But I’ll wrap it up in favor of you making your own informed, personalized decision.
The main takeaway? There’s no definitive “best” between these extended stay titans. It truly depends on your specific accommodation needs, travel style, budget, and various priorities.
Don’t be afraid to mix and match! Try out Home2 Suites on an upcoming family trip, then test drive Residence Inn for that next work relocation. You may find you love the unique perks and vibe of each brand.
At the end of the day, extended stays are all about finding those comforts of home while still embracing a spirit of adventure. No matter which you choose, Home2 or Residence Inn will provide spacious suites and residential amenities to make your “temporary home” feel a little more…well, homey.
So relax, do your research, and enjoy that extra breathing room compared to those cramped traditional hotel rooms! The extended stay community is waiting with open arms (and possibly a free breakfast burrito). 🌯
Safe travels, and may your suites be ever spacious!