I travel a good bit for buisness and try to stick with one brand to build points so I can have some free nights for family use I always had good luck with Holiday Inn.

Me and my wife usually stay at Marriott’s since We can get a free night from reward points after paying for several nights. The nicest hotel I have ever stayed in was probably a suite in the Fairmont Hotel up on Russian Hill in San Francisco, CA. Stayed in several of the deluxe resorts at WDW and they are very nice stays as well. Probably the craziest experience I have ever experienced at a hotel stay was in San Simeon, California on Pacific Coast Hwy 1. The hotel is The Morgan at San Simeon Hotel. We did not have reservations so We pulled in to see if We could stay. There was availability so We unloaded Our suitcases and put up stuff in room. The time of year We stayed there was off season for tourist so this part of California was deserted. The crazy part of stay was We were the ONLY guests staying at this hotel. Very strange! We went and ate at a little place real close by and there were a couple of people drinking at the bar but Me and my Wife were the only people eating in the restaurant. We get back to hotel and the lady running the front desk asked Me and my wife if We would like some milk and cookies. I politely said” No thank You”

Just call and tell them you want the government rate and tell them you’re on business. They never check your Gov ID

Hilton hotels for me. I have yet to stay in one that was not comfortable, quiet, and secure. Sometimes, I need to stay in an area that only has one locally owned hotel. I have had some miserable nights in such places due to rowdy noisy tenants in adjoining rooms. It amazes me how people will act up at a hotel knowing full well there are people there trying to get some sleep.

Safe part of town, breakfast . If it's at a destination we're staying a few days , is it near attractions , restaurants. And it will be clean. My wife worked 28 years as a public health nurse for the state, she'll rip the bedspread back and check for bed bugs in a heartbeat. If there's several in close together that meet the requirements then price comes in play.

As said above those in the Hilton chain are usually good bets. Any newer ones , in a good location in the Choice Hotels company are usually good. Little Mom and Pop's will work after the Mrs. inspects them .

The cleanest room we ever stayed in was a Mom and Pop about 20 years ago in Fairview OK. There was only one in the town. The room was hospital clean and even smelled like disinfectant , super cheap too.

Watch for ones that are literally right on the interstate, especially if you are booking last minute. If you get a room facing the interstate (especially as cheap as most are built), you’ll hear the road noise all night. I’ve had it at times where I couldn’t sleep hardly.

I look for:
1) Hilton
2) Marriott
3) Good reviews of the area/safety
3) doors where you enter from INSIDE/ not outside if I go off brand

Only seal from hotel or other folks also?

Gray Bar Hotels are free and comes with three meals a day

And someone to cuddle with!

Undercover cops

Clean bed sheets

Toilet paper

Soap with wrapper

Ice machine

-safe part of town
-read the online reviews focusing on cleanliness
-how close it is to whatever event I’m in town for
-quality of restaurant choices close by

I stay at a cheap hotel 6.

Check for bed bugs FIRST thing

Y’all really like Hilton over Marriot? I’ve been a Marriott guy but have never had a bad experience at either.

Bedbugs. That's the first thing I look for before anyone but me or any baggage steps in the room. There is a story. No need to retell it. I don't trust hotels.

I travel 100+ nights a year. I stay at IGH which is normally holiday inn stay bridge or Hilton brand. Hilton gardens.
I cook at the motel a lot. You’d be surprised how good a “home” cooked meal is when you been on the road 2-3 weeks! I always get a suite with a cook area, fridge and hopefully a grill outside to cook out.

Only take's one to ruin your home life

The wife actually booked us a room in Atlanta once that turned out to be some kind of high dollar freak place. One whole wall of the shower was a glass wall that faced the bed. Mirrors all over the walls, etc…. They were having some kind of “event” in the lobby when we walked in. All the lights in the lobby and hallways turned down low, dancing, etc… The lady that showed us to our room knew we weren’t their typical type customer but was very nice and showed us to our room. When we walked in and I saw the glass wall in the shower, she said that was in case someone wanted to watch tv while taking a shower. Uh-huh…yeah. It was clean and in an upscale part of town so the wife and I laughed about it and went to sleep.

Same. I was out of town working many years ago and they had booked a hotel for us. I got a case of them and threw everything I had with me away. I wouldn’t bring any of it home. Suitcase, clothes, boots, everything. Only the clothes on my back and they went in the garbage can outside before I walked in and went straight to the shower.