Choosing Between Chain and Boutique Hotels

While planning our trip we batted around lodging choices and even considered camping along the way.  Somehow that got nixed so we’ve been staying in hotels. This is how we’ve been choosing between chain and boutique hotels.

It’s a balance between budget, comfort, safety and hopefully a little charm if we can find that too.

Over the years traveling for work, I’ve primarily been a Marriott person.  Their reward program is good and their smaller chains such as Fairfield are easy to find in smaller locations where my job often took me.

Frankly, over the past two years, though they claim to be super clean, they’re not cutting the mustard.  Umm, well, I wouldn’t let somebody stay in my house with baseboards and bathroom corners that look like theirs have.  And I don’t think my standards are that high.

So while I still somewhat consider myself a Marriott person, I am very open to staying other places.

But I will say those reward points are a hook in the lip when making the final decision.

Night 1 we stayed in a Best Western in El Paso and it was fine.  We booked through Hotels.com and I’m working on building some rewards with them.  By fine, I mean it was clean and quiet and the staff was nice.  By fine I also mean the room was a little funky and the sheets were so thin my side had a hole in it.

But the sheets smelled faintly of bleach and I love that.

Then we sort of fell on some good old Marriott properties.  There is a lot of comfort in knowing what to expect and after some long days on the road, that really fit the bill.

And then.

We were taking an evening walk in the French Quarter of New Orleans when a kind stranger invited us to tour the new Virgin Hotel New Orleans.  It is all sorts of adorable.

Virgin Hotel

With fantastic staff who gave us a personal tour, took our pic on the rooftop patio and showed us what they have in store for upcoming Mardi Gras visitors.

Virgin is a well-known name, but it’s most certainly a one-of-a-kind property.  There are all sorts of cool things included in your stay (like yoga mats) and prices are very in keeping with other moderate hotels in the area.

If you’re heading to NOLA, this is a recommend for sure!

White House Hotel

In being so inspired, while driving along the beach in Biloxi – our next stop – we saw a gorgeous white house with wide verandas and stunning grounds.  And it’s a hotel.  And it’s on Hotels.com and it’s reasonably priced.

The White House Hotel, built in the 1890s, is completely remodeled and decorated modern glam.  Guest rooms are huge, free internet, coffee in the room and friendly staff.  The linens are clean and comfy.

Another recommendation if you’re visit the gulf coast.

Anthem Health & Wellness

For locals, Wednesday February 16^th Anthem Health & Wellness Club is presenting two speakers:

Jamie Bradshaw – Exercise for Cancer, and Maura DeShay – Plant Based Nutrition.  I know both of these speakers personally and am excited about their talks.  I’m not sure where I’ll be when I miss it, but I’ll be there in spirit.

If you can attend or want to pass on the details, visit the site and register – it’s no charge!

I’m going to do a quick pop on in a separate post to share our Louisiana leg because this is so long.  Thanks for sharing our journey and blessings for a wonderful weekend.