My Kids Think Country Inn and Suites Hotel is as Good as a Hyatt Resort

My Kids Think Country Inn and Suites Hotel is as Good as a Hyatt Resort

By: Leana Storts from Miles For Family!

As a miles and points enthusiast I love scoring nice hotel stays for next to nothing. I’m very stingy with points that can be converted to cash and don’t like to shell out large quantities on fancy shmancy  properties. That’s why I was very excited  to use free hotel certificates from Chase Hyatt Signature Visa on Hyatt Regency Clearwater Beach Resort and Spa.

Basically, you apply for the card, and after spending $2,000, you get two free nights at any Hyatt property, even all-inclusive resorts. I wish we could have used our certificates at the latter, but it would require an expensive flight. Plus, the certificates are good for double occupancy at an all-inclusive property, and we are a family of four. Since we live in Florida, we had to “settle” for a nearby Hyatt  hotel and make a weekend out of it.

Through some highly unusual circumstances, I was able to secure a top tier status with that chain, and it’s good through February of 2017. Mind you, we hardly ever stay in Hyatts because I’m cheap. When we checked in, I was informed that we were upgraded to one of their best suites. Just look at our veranda:

Does it get any more fancy than that? This is a suite that goes for $800 per night, which is an insane price, of course. That’s why I was quite excited to get it in exchange for just one credit inquiry which didn’t hurt my score in the least. Naturally, I thought my kids would be excited too, and they were. We went to the  beach, swam in a pool and even splurged on a private cabana. We also got a fancy breakfast for free due to top-tier status. All in all, it was a fun weekend.

The following month we had to attend an event, so I booked us a hotel for few nights. It was the opposite of fancy: an old, tired property currently undergoing renovation. The furniture  was mismatched/had tears, and the number of the room was written on a piece of paper and taped to the door.

But the room was  clean, plus  I was eager to use up my Club Carlson points which I’ve acquired dirt cheap from various promotions. The hotel was OK and suited me just fine. But it was more than OK for my kids. They went nuts for the humble pool outside. No cabanas here, but they didn’t care one bit. The next morning my son yelled out: this is the best breakfast I’ve ever had! Hmm, he didn’t say that when we stayed at a Hyatt.

The rate at this place runs at $80 per night, but they enjoyed it just as much as the suite that runs at $800. I know that for a fact because I asked my daughter: “Which property did you enjoy more?” Her answer: I liked them both equally.

But it made me think how most kids don’t really care about  fancy lodging. As long as  hotel has  a pool and TV, that’s all they need. As adults, we drive ourselves crazy trying to make sure everything is perfect. But kids? Luxury is wasted on them.

Still, I prefer to vacation at a beachfront Hyatt instead of Country Inn and Suites by the highway. Well, as long as I can do it for free, of course.