Planning an upcoming extended stay for business, relocation, or just an extended vacation? When it comes to suite hotels designed for longer visits, two brands likely top your list – Homewood Suites and Residence Inn. But which one deserves your hard-earned dollars?
As two of the top dogs in extended stay lodging, both Homewood Suites (part of Hilton) and Residence Inn (under Marriott) offer roomy suites with full kitchens, free breakfast, and an array of amenities ideal for stretching out. However, they do have some key differences worth considering based on your travel needs.
In this head-to-head shootout, we’ll compare and contrast Homewood Suites vs Residence Inn on all the factors that matter – from room amenities and complimentary perks to hotel loyalty programs and pricing. By the end, you’ll have a crystal clear picture of which extended stay hotel brand is the better fit for your next trip.
Hotel Brand Overview
Homewood Suites
Part of the Hilton family of brands, Homewood Suites entered the extended stay scene in 1989. This pioneering hotel concept combined apartment-style accommodations with hotel amenities and services.
Today, there are over 500 Homewood Suites hotels across the United States, Canada, and Mexico. The brand primarily caters to business travelers, relocating families, and anyone looking for a home away from home for a week or more.
Residence Inn
Not to be outdone, Marriott rolled out its own extended stay brand – Residence Inn – just one year after Homewood Suites in 1990. Residence Inn properties offer larger suites designed for longer stays.
This Marriott extended stay brand now boasts over 800 hotels worldwide across 16 countries and territories. In addition to business guests, Residence Inn markets itself as a family-friendly option thanks to its residential vibe.
Room Amenities: Your Temporary Home Suite Home
When you’re staying a week or longer, those tiny traditional hotel rooms just won’t cut it. You need space to spread out and amenities to maintain your routine. This is where extended stay suite hotels like Homewood Suites and Residence Inn really shine.
Both brands feature suite-style accommodations with:
– Separate living room with pullout sofa
– Fully-equipped kitchen (full-size fridge, dishwasher, microwave, stove, etc.)
– Work desk with ergonomic chair
– Free Wi-Fi and premium TV channels
However, there are some subtle differences in typical room sizes and layouts between the two extended stay chains:
Homewood Suites Rooms
– Studio, one- and two-bedroom suites
– Around 300-600 sq ft for a standard suite
– Combined living/sleeping areas in studios
Residence Inn Rooms
– Studio, one- and two-bedroom suites
– Around 400-800 sq ft for a standard suite
– Slightly more square footage than Homewood counterparts
While either brand offers ample space for an extended stay compared to standard rooms, Residence Inn takes the edge with slightly larger average suite sizes across all room types.
Free Daily Breakfast and More Complimentary Perks
You know what they say – the most important meal of the day is a free one! Luckily both Homewood Suites and Residence Inn provide complimentary hot breakfast daily to start your morning right.
But the free amenities don’t stop there for these extended stay brands:
Homewood Suites Freebies
– Hot full breakfast
– Evening social hour (M-Th) with food/drinks
– Grocery shopping service
– 24-hour on-site pantry
– Laundry facilities
Residence Inn Freebies
– Hot breakfast buffet
– Evening mixer (M-W) with food/drinks
– Grocery delivery service
– 24/7 laundry room
– Weekly housekeeping for stays 8+ nights
As you can see, the complimentary offerings are quite robust and similar for both extended stay hotel brands. However, Residence Inn has a slight edge by including weekly housekeeping for longer stays over 8 nights.
Property Amenities for Work, Life, and Play
After spending some time on-property during your extended stay, you’ll want convenient amenities to stay productive, squeeze in a workout, and blow off some steam. Once again, Homewood Suites and Residence Inn deliver with an array of on-site facilities and recreation amenities.
Homewood Suites Amenities
– 24-hour business center
– Fitness room
– Outdoor pool and sport court
– Fire pit and grill area
– Convenience store
Residence Inn Amenities
– 24-hour business library
– Fitness center
– Swimming pool and whirlpool spa
– Sport court and barbecue pavilion
– Convenience market
Both brands tick all the boxes for work, working out, relaxing, and snacking in equal measure with their amenity offerings. Unless you have a specific preference like a sport court for basketball or fire pit for s’mores, it’s pretty even between the two.
Loyalty Programs: Hilton Hhonors vs Marriott Bonvoy
If you’re a frequent extended stay guest, racking up points and achieving elite status with a hotel’s loyalty program can pay off big time with perks and free nights. When it comes to Homewood Suites vs Residence Inn, you’re looking at either Hilton Honors or Marriott Bonvoy.
Hilton Honors (Homewood Suites)
– Free internet for all members
– Points worth 0.4-0.6 cents each
– Elite tiers: Member, Silver, Gold, Diamond
– Points transfer to airline/rail partners
Marriott Bonvoy (Residence Inn)
– Free internet after booking direct
– Points worth 0.7-0.9 cents each
– Elite tiers: Member, Silver, Gold, Platinum, Titanium, Ambassador
– Points transfer to airline/cruise partners
While both loyalty programs are robust, Marriott Bonvoy tends to have a slight edge with more valuable points and additional top-tier elite levels. But Hilton Honors has great global partners like Virgin Atlantic.
For most casual extended stay guests, either program provides a clear path to free nights and added perks like late checkout and premium internet. But frequent travelers may prefer the potential for higher returns with Bonvoy.
Pricing: Getting Value from Your Extended Stay
At the end of the day, pricing and overall value will likely be a driving factor in choosing between Homewood Suites and Residence Inn for your extended stay. These suite-style hotels are more affordable than a traditional room for longer visits.
Average Nightly Rates
– Homewood Suites: $120 – $350
– Residence Inn: $120 – $400
Across most markets, you’ll find very comparable nightly pricing between the two extended stay brands when comparing similar room types and locations. Rates can vary drastically by area, dates of travel, and how far out you book.
Both brands run frequent promotions and discounts that can often score you 20-30% off rates. If you have elite status or book far enough in advance, you can snag relative steals for roomy digs with a kitchen compared to booking multiple standard rooms.
> Pro Tip: Join the rewards program and use a rate calendar to find the cheapest nights for flexible extended stays.
While rates fluctuate, you can generally expect to find comparable prices between Homewood Suites and Residence Inn for similar quality extended stay accommodations in the same area.
Location, Location, Location: Where to Find Them
No matter where your temporary housing needs are for work, family, or travel, chances are you can find a conveniently located Homewood Suites or Residence Inn to fit the bill.
Homewood Suites Locations
– Over 500 hotels across the U.S., Canada, and Mexico
– Found in most major cities and suburban areas
– Airport, CBD, and near major business parks
Residence Inn Locations
– Over 800 hotels in 16 countries/territories
– Strong presence across North America and in Europe
– Near airports, offices, tourist areas, and residential
Both extended stay chains have blanketed most major markets across the U.S. and Canada you’d need for business or leisure extended stays. However, Residence Inn does edge out Homewood Suites with a stronger global footprint outside of North
America if international extended stay travel is in your future.
The Verdict: What Guests Are Saying About Homewood vs Residence Inn
At the end of the day, actual guest satisfaction and reviews should carry a lot of weight in deciding between Homewood Suites and Residence Inn for an extended stay. Let’s look at how these suite hotels stack up based on review scores from major travel sites:
Homewood Suites Reviews
– TripAdvisor: 4.5/5 (Ranked #2 Hilton brand)
– Google Reviews: 4.3/5
– Common Praises: Great value, friendly staff, full kitchens, social hours
– Common Complaints: Dated decor at some properties, consistency issues
Residence Inn Reviews
– TripAdvisor: 4.5/5 (Ranked #1 Marriott brand)
– Google Reviews: 4.4/5
– Common Praises: Spacious suites, fantastic breakfast, clean rooms
– Common Complaints: Parking fees, lack of spa/pool at some locations
Both extended stay brands enjoy glowing reviews in the 4.5/5 range across major platforms from past guests. While Homewood is a bit more affordable, Residence Inn has a slight edge in overall guest rankings and satisfaction scores.
Common themes emerge like the value and home-like amenities of these suite hotels. But each has its own minor areas for improvement as well based on guest feedback.
Which Extended Stay is Right for You?
After thoroughly evaluating and comparing Homewood Suites vs Residence Inn, it’s clear that both are exceptional extended stay hotel brands with a lot to offer amenity-wise. But depending on your specific travel preferences and habits, one may be the superior choice.
Reasons to Choose Homewood Suites
– Looking for the most affordable rates
– Prefer Hilton Honors loyalty program
– Homewood has presences in areas Residence Inn lacks
– Evening social hours are a priority
Reasons to Choose Residence Inn
– You’re a frequent Marriott/Bonvoy guest
– Need guaranteed weekly housekeeping for longer stays
– Drawn to Residence Inn’s slightly larger suite sizes
– Reviews show a minimal edge in satisfaction
At the end of the day, you really can’t go wrong with either extended stay brand for a week or longer visit. Both deliver the residential-style suite experience, complimentary amenities, and recreation facilities that extended stay guests crave.
The decision may ultimately come down to your existing hotel rewards allegiance, nightly pricing differences in your travel dates/location, or personal preferences on factors like suite sizes or social hours.
No matter which you choose, an extended stay at Homewood Suites or Residence Inn will likely be leagues better than a cramped traditional hotel room for a week or longer trip!