Gary Leff spouted off this morning about La Quinta Inns being an unsuitable hotel chain for the way he likes to travel. My god, they don’t even have room service!

And even though he has never slept at a La Quinta Inn, he implies the housekeeping staff does not clean the rooms to the same standard a guest will find at a full-service hotel chain like IHG, Hilton or Hyatt.

Yet, he has no problem being a member of La Quinta Returns loyalty program to collect free points.

Here is my rebuttal for you Gary and a reason to build your account balance beyond 300 points.

Waldorf-Astoria Resorts – here we come with ice coolers.

Here is a Loyalty Traveler lesson in cheap value for travelers who can get by without room service morning coffee for hotel stays at La Quinta Inns & Suites.

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Waldorf Astoria is Hilton’s luxury hotel brand.  Two rebranded properties in Europe resulted in two new Waldorf Astoria Collection hotels.  The Hilton Cavalieri rebranded last fall into Rome Cavalieri – Waldorf Astoria Collection, and the rebranding of the Westin Trianon Palace to the Waldorf Astoria Trianon Palace Versailles, France.

Trianon Palace has four night reward discounts of 20% for stays booked and stayed by July 15, 2009.  The 40,000 points per night low season awards ended February 28, 2009.  The discounted per night rate was 32,000 points or 128,000 points for four nights in low season with a TR4LS Reward. 

Through July 15, 2009 the rate is a 20% discount on 60,000 points per night or 48,000 points per night.  The four night reward stay TR4HS is 192,000 points.

The Hilton HHonors Offer:

“Enjoy a 20% discount on reward stays of four nights at any of four luxurious Hilton Family hotels in the world’s most romantic city, including our newest addition to The Waldorf Astoria Collection. Offer valid for reward stays booked and completed between now and July 15, 2009.

 *TR4LS valid for reward stays between January 19 and February 28, 2009.
**TR4HS valid for reward stays between March 1 and July 15, 2009.Special Offer

Dates: January 19 – July 15, 2009

http://www.trianonpalace.com/specials-and-packages/index.cfm

New Launch special rate of 279EUR per night includes breakfast buffet and spa pool access for Trianon Palace guests who prefer to earn points than spend points for the hotel stay.

I speak from experience when I dole out my advice:

Don’t book a Paris four night stay at an airport hotel.