On the Road-Northwest U.S. lodging

August 21, 2009

Lodging in the Northwest August 2009

We are visiting scenic destinations with basically no advance reservation and having no problem finding lodging. For downtown Seattle and for Saturday nights, I have books a day or 2 beforehand. Generally, we pull up to a place that has a coupon for discounted or is written up inAAA and look at the room and choose before we book.

Difference between the 2 diamond hotel and the diamond.
We only stayed in one four diamond and that was by accident because I wanted to be downtown Seattle and figured this to be a pricier area so I put in $125 for a three diamond place on Priceline and they gave us a 4 diamond Shearaton. But from earlier experiences I can say that nicer places a high sheet threed count, more abundant towels, elevators that are always at your floor. There are glass glasses, ceramic cups and henerally a lot less plastic in your room. You get a bell man, a concierge, and doormen. There is good food at the dining room or surrounding restaurants.

The two diamond places always have in room wi-fi, a microwave, a tv, a refrigerator and a free breakfast; which is not always true of the fancier hotels and inns. The 2 dia;mond places are sometimes in more industrial areas. We have not stayed in any chain consistently getting 2 diamonds from AAA but the smaller establishments with 2 diamonds can be fine. It seems that the AAA gives chains the same ratings for very different places. For example, all the Best Westerns get 3 diamonds but lodging places vary greatly. The Red Lions often have 3 diamonds and they seem to be a better value than other 3 diamond places.