Planning an extended stay? You’ve got options, my friend! Home2 Suites and Hampton Inn & Suites are two heavyweights in the extended stay hotel game. But which budget-friendly brand will make your longer trip a home run? 🏡✈️ Let’s break it down!
What are Home2 Suites?
Home2 Suites is Hilton’s hip and trendy extended stay hotel brand. These all-suite properties offer a modern residential vibe with stylish decor and amenities tailored for longer stays.
Each suite features a full kitchen with a refrigerator, microwave, dishwasher, and utensils – perfect for whipping up meals just like at home. You’ll also enjoy separate living and sleeping areas to truly spread out.
Complimentary perks include free breakfast, WiFi, fitness centers, outdoor living spaces like fire pits and grills, and even a pet-friendly policy at most locations. Home2 hits that sweet spot of hotel convenience meets apartment living.
What is Hampton Inn & Suites?
On the other hand, Hampton Inn & Suites is Hilton’s classic extended stay hotel offering. While still geared towards longer trips, Hampton maintains more of a traditional hotel feel.
The suites provide separate living/sleeping areas like Home2, but the “kitchen” is really just a kitchenette – no oven or dishwasher. You get a mini-fridge, microwave, and sink, but more limited cooking capabilities.
Hampton still delivers Hilton’s signature amenities like free hot breakfast, WiFi, fitness rooms, and that warm hospitality you expect. But the overall vibe trends more corporate compared to Home2’s residential polish.
Room Amenities Compared
This is arguably the biggest difference between Home2 Suites and Hampton Inn & Suites. Home2’s full kitchens make the suites feel like luxury apartments, allowing you to cook full meals during your extended stay.
Meanwhile, Hampton’s kitchenettes mean your “cooking” will be more along the lines of reheating leftovers or simple microwave meals. The convenience is still there, but not nearly as residential.
Both provide HDTVs, separate living and sleeping quarters, and Hilton’s crisp bedding. But Home2’s decor has a decidedly more modern, hip aesthetic with pops of color and sleeker lines. Hampton leans towards traditional hotel design.
Complimentary Perks
When it comes to free amenities and perks, Home2 and Hampton are more comparable:
– Free hot breakfast included
– Free WiFi to stay connected
– Fitness centers to stay active
– Pool at many locations
– Outdoor spaces like patios or grills at some properties
However, one advantage Home2 has is those trendy outdoor living areas like fire pits, grills, and stylish patio spaces. These offer a cool place to unwind that you won’t find at every Hampton Inn.
Locations
With over 470 locations open across the United States and more in development, Home2 Suites is rapidly expanding to meet demand for upscale extended stay lodging. You’ll find properties in most major metro areas.
However, Hampton Inn & Suites still leads the way with a massive 2,000+ locations globally. So in terms of widespread availability and choice of destinations, Hampton’s distribution is hard to beat.
Best for Business Travel?
Traditionally, road warriors and business travelers have gravitated towards Hampton Inn’s more corporate hotel feel during longer work trips. The brand’s reliability and consistent amenities appeal to this crowd.
However, Home2’s modern aesthetic and residential vibe could make it an intriguing option for millennial business travelers who appreciate trendier design and apartment-style living. Those outdoor living spaces are also a perk for remote work.
Best for Families?
For families taking extended vacations or relocating, Home2 Suites seems to have the edge here. Those full kitchens make it easy and affordable to whip up family meals rather than constantly dining out.
The separate living areas create more space so you don’t feel cooped up. And kid-friendly amenities like grills and fire pits provide ways to make memories. Hampton’s kitchenettes limit your meal prep abilities.
Best Value?
In terms of nightly rates, Hampton Inn & Suites does tend to be slightly more affordable on average compared to Home2 Suites – often $10-20 less per night for comparable suites.
However, you could argue Home2 provides more value in terms of residential-style amenities like full kitchens, living areas, modern decor, and outdoor spaces. So while Hampton is cheaper, Home2 gives you more bang for your buck feature-wise.
Conclusion
So which extended stay hotel is the winner – Home2 Suites or Hampton Inn & Suites? Honestly, there’s no definitive answer! It ultimately depends on your budget, priorities and travel style.
Home2 Suites offers a trendier, more residential vibe with full kitchens, living areas, and hip amenities that could appeal to modern business travelers, digital nomads, families, or anyone seeking apartment-style living. You get more space and features, but rates are typically higher.
Meanwhile, Hampton Inn still delivers outstanding value with Hilton’s signature hospitality and quality. The traditional hotel experience with kitchenettes meets the needs of budget-conscious extended stay guests perfectly fine. You sacrifice some home-y amenities, but pay less.
Weigh the pros and cons to decide which brand matches your travel needs and budget. Either way, you’re getting an excellent extended stay experience from two of Hilton’s leading brands. Safe travels!