The Room: Very simple considering the hotel location and remarkably different from the vibe you get from walking through the lobby. With an all-orange bathroom and blue/white everywhere else, the decidedly retro color scheme gives rooms this room the only charm it needs to keep from being just “standard”. Rooms are clean enough, but with Hollywood being Hollywood You might be forced to wonder what happened in your room last night. In most rooms you’ll have either a patio or a small balcony, a nice way to enjoy the excitement by the pool (on the first floor) or a view of the neighborhood. (1st floor rooms with patios are subject to some noise, but seem to quiet down after 11pm).

Service: Front desk service has always been great. It may be that I’m staring at the human aquarium behind the front desk or distracted by the seemingly endless party by the pool, but I always seem to be greeted with a smile and friendly attitude.  Room service is slightly pricey but always quick and tasty. Over a few visits I’ve had  standard breakfast and coffee service, both were acceptable to good. The valet was particularly helpful and speedy…Good with directions and treated my rental Kia like it was something much nicer.

Perks: No real extras unless you want to pay for the aromatherapy candle or mix CD you can buy from your rooms mini-bar/snack/goodies supply. Very simple setup.

Location: Above Average. The Standard is a reasonable distance from tourist attractions. You can get to them easily by car or taxi, but not a simple walk. Personally, I prefer having a car when in LA.

Lobby: The lobby is pure LA trendy. From the aforementioned human aquarium to the lively bar/pool area… you’re certainly not in Kansas anymore.

Parking:  Average. $29 a night for Valet. Expensive, but good service for the price in my experience.

Overall: Average. The Standard’s website claims that they are “anything but”, which I can agree with…except when it comes to the guest rooms. The lobby/bar/restaurant are fun and flashy, but the rooms are quite standard aside from the retro curtains, orange bathroom and ikea furniture. One extra note: I’ve recently read guest reviews that mention the “creepy” hallways. They ARE dark and a little drab…That said,  I rarely find myself spending much time in the hallways of hotels.

The Deal-How I got it: Booking with the hotel directly seems to get you an upper level room away from the noisy pool area. Booked once on Orbitz and got a first floor room with a patio separated from the pool area with a tall fence with a thick mesh fabric so outsiders can’t see in. Paid roughly $120 for the first level special on Orbitz and have paid up to $175 for higher level and sometimes slightly larger rooms.

Rating: 3.5 Hops (out of 5)

Service: Basic to Above Average. Love the warmed chocolate chip cookie you get at check-in, it’s a nice touch. The desk staff was quick getting me checked in with a smile, verified that my frequent guest points had been applied to my stay and directed me to the business center so that I could log-on and print out directions home (I drove from NYC). I also used room service for breakfast and the server was extremely cheery and set everything up nicely (I tipped nicely for a change).

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Location: It may not be such a stretch to use this hotel as an alternative to the pricier inner-city hotels when visiting the Wasington DC area. While it’s a suburban hotel, the Downtown Bethesda Metro stop can take you right into the heart of DC and it’s surrounding attractions. Bethesda itself has decent shopping and some nightlife (although if you’re willing and able, I’d recommend DC for both). If you’re in town for a wedding (as I was) or another event that’s actually IN Bethesda, the location is okay. Situated just on the outside edge of the downtown area, it’s a short hop to anywhere you’ll need to be.

Restaurant/Bar: The have a nice looking cafe but did all of my dining away from the hotel.

Lobby: With a 70′s grandeur-style (albeit updated) circular staircase as the centerpiece, the lobby serves more as a hallway out of the hotel than a place to relax or meet friends or relatives. The cafe is a nice place to sit and chat, but it’s design makes  you feel a bit more like you’re just loitering if you’re waiting on someone. Otherwise a welcoming experience with no real complaints.

Overall: While just outside of the main downtown area of Bethesda, The Doubletree serves as a good mid-priced hotel for people attending events in the nearby area or want an alternative to the more expensive DC hotels without giving up the comfort. The feel of the hotel is more businesslike with an “express” style woven into the more traditional ballroom and buffet business model. My room was spacious, updated  and comfortable and the service was above average. For the price, the Doubletree Bethesda delivered all that I needed…and a cookie.

Rating: 3.5 Hops (out of 5)

Location: Centrally located in Downtown Minneapolis, The Westin is steps away from shopping, major sporting events, nightlife and entertainment. Thanks to the city’s downtown skyway system, you don’t even have to step outside to get to most of it!

Service: Basic to Above Average. Minimal exposure to front desk staff but they were friendly and helpful when requesting amenities (forgot a toothbrush). Upon arrival we were greeted professionally, but with a somewhat cold approach. Nothing VIP-like about it. Housekeeping staff was warm and friendly by contrast (we tipped them well).

The Room: Somehow I thought, considering it’s historic setting, the rooms would have something unique. Perhaps something that projected the history of the building, the city or anything local. What we found was a room that could be best described as “mildly elegant” or “a comfortable bunker”. Most everything was hovering just above acceptable; Good sized flat-panel TV, Spacious bathroom (but with surprisingly small shower), comfortable beds and work area, well stocked mini-bar and amenities. What surprised us was the odd, square window that faced the reflective glass of the building just across the back alley of the hotel. What’s odd about the view is that it’s not half-bad as it reflects a pretty nice panorama off of the aforementioned reflective glass (see the picture below). That said, we didn’t get much light in the room, making it a little bunker-like. The beds were of Westin’s standard “Heavenly” variety. I slept well…especially with such little light getting in the room.

Restaurant/Bar: Only had 1 drink at the bar during my stay and didn’t have time to sample the lobby restaurant although it looked elegant and reasonably comfortable. No sign of a rate-inclusive breakfast (continental or otherwise).

Lobby: Interesting layout. Guests must navigate around the lobby bar/restaurant to get to 2 small kiosks that serve as the front desk. Not sure if it’s permanent or if there are future plans for something more elaborate. Business center and relaxation area exists as you further navigate your way toward the elevators near the very back of the main floor.

Overall: A great choice if convenience matters. With so many new options in Downtown Minneapolis, however, I might be tempted to try something els next time. Rooms are comfortable, clean and offer up mini-bar snacks and “heavenly” beds, but if you’re after a view (and sunlight), ask for a room in the front of the hotel.

Rating: 4 Hops (out of 5)

1. Research.

Make good use of hotel ratings and reviews online. I’ve yet to find a reasonable competitor to tripadvisor.com. The site allows you to search by destination, then arrange by overall rating. From there, you can scroll through and find the best rated hotels while looking at their average price. I recently found a great, centrally located hotel in Barcelona with a top 20 rating whos average nightly price had come down considerably because of ongoing construction of the hotel restaurant. Tripadvisor also provides user pictures and videos for an unbiased real-world look at the facilities.

2. Book early, change later.

When you find a hotel you like at the right price, book it. Just make sure to check (and re-check) the cancellation policy first. With the exception of some online deals that require you to pay up-front, most hotels will let you cancel without penalty as long as you cancel within the allowed time before the reservation (usually 24 hours). Then keep your eye out for specials and remember to cancel your existing reservation if you find a better deal.

3. Join Loyalty Programs

Hotel loyalty programs are becoming (or..are) far and away superior to airline programs. In addition to having points stack up toward free stays, it may often get you a free room upgrade just for being a member. During a recent stay at a Holiday Inn in Florida my Priority Club membership got me an upgrade to an ocean view room with patio and easy beach access. Nice. Of course, upgrades only happen when they’re available (but they do happen!).

In all, personal preference is going to win out in choosing a hotel room. You can find great value if you do a little homework and apply patience to the reservation process. Keep an eye on modhop for trip reports and our visitor reviews!