What You Need To Know About The Top Budget Hotel Brands

From rural communities to big cities, mid-tier and budget hotel brands don't get quite as much attention as their upscale counterparts, but they're still providing solid, basic hospitality to travelers with uncomplicated needs. Most brands in this tier offer comfortable accommodations, and WiFi and breakfast often come standard, but there are some differences from brand to brand.

Read on to discover a selection of budget and mid-tier hotel brands, many of which benefit from the resources and know-how of the world's largest hospitality companies.

Part of Intercontinental Hotels Group's "Essentials" brand, Holiday Inn Express has nearly 3,000 properties worldwide. Originally conceived as a lower-frills version of the popular Holiday Inn brand, the two brands have grown somewhat similar over the years, with Holiday Inns and Holiday Inn Express properties often being found in similar locations with similar amenities.

Guests at Holiday Inn Express can expect comfortable accommodations with included breakfast, and there is often a workout room on site.

Comfort Inn and Comfort Suites properties have strong brand pillars that are common to each location. These included 100% smoke-free properties worldwide, free hot breakfast, free WiFi, and an all-new look and feel to guest rooms after a brand-wide refurbishment. Comfort Inn/Suites properties are part of the Choice Hotels brand, which specializes in mid-tier accommodations worldwide.

Red Roof Inns include more than 650 properties in the US and Canada, Brazil, and Japan. Red Roof properties are basic and comfortable, with varied amenities, typically in rural or suburban areas or near transportation hubs. Red Roof embarked on an overall redesign of guest rooms in 2013, investing $150 million to renovate existing properties and develop a prototype guest room for new-build motels.

Ibis is a brand of economy hotels within the Accor family and includes the Ibis Styles and Ibis Budget brands. Ibis has over 1,200 properties in Europe and Asia but does not operate in the Americas. The hotels feature contemporary, art-forward design in a nod to the brand's born-and-bred French heritage, and can be found in city centers and suburban areas.

Best Western is one of the world's largest hotel brands, and roughly half of the 4,000 branded properties in the portfolio are in North America. The core Best Western brand offers a modest level of accommodation, while the Best Western Plus and Best Western Premier brands tier room amenities upwards. At all Best Western properties, guests can expect a minimum of complimentary WiFi and breakfast.

Designed with a number of different (intimate in size) room styles ranging from bunk beds to single kings, Motto hotels are designed for younger, budget-conscious travelers who want city center accommodations with plenty of local color. Most properties feature a distinctive on-site coffee or bar experience, and Motto Commons, a lobby-slash-communal area-slash-dining venue. Motto also allows large groups to combine up to nine modular rooms into one super accommodation.

Tru by Hilton is designed with cost-conscious travelers in mind, replacing other Hilton brands that had evolved away from the moderate tier. Guests can expect Hilton standard accommodations in convenient locations. Standard amenities include convivial lobbies with marketplace dining options, a "Top It" breakfast bar, and fitness centers with the latest trends in workout equipment.

Founded in 1987 and now with over 1,000 properties in worldwide, Fairfield Inn & Suites properties focus on "the beauty of simplicity". Guests can enjoy free WiFi and a complimentary hot breakfast, and the brand's primary touchpoints are warm hospitality and family treatment. Fairfield Inns & Suites occupy Marriot's Classic Select brand tier.

Asking guests, "Why Settle?" Hyatt Place is Hyatt's mid-tier brand. Properties and guest rooms are thoughtfully designed with distinct guest room and public spaces designed for work, relaxation, and fun. Most properties have pools, and the 24/7 Marketplace makes fresh food available to guests at all hours. Guests also enjoy free WiFi, workout rooms, and minifridges standard in all accommodations.

Part of the Radisson brand family, Country Inn & Suites offers guest rooms and public spaces designed with business travelers and families in mind. A hot breakfast is a standard amenity, as is WiFi and in-room extras like coffeemakers. Business travelers can take advantage of printer and computer access in business centers or with business services available from the front desk.

IHG Hotels and Resorts launched Avid Hotels (styled avid hotels) in 2017 as a modern brand at a somewhat lower price point than IHG's established Holiday Inn and Holiday Inn Express brands. Guest rooms are still quite modern, with wired extras like the ability to stream content from a device to the in-room television, and bathrooms designed to re-energize guests with a fresh, bright design. The brand has already grown to 34 locations in North America, with almost 200 more under development.

So-named because rooms at the original Aberdeen, South Dakota property debuted in 1974 with a room rate of $8.88 per night (just over $50 in 2021 dollars), the brand is today part of the Wyndham umbrella with over 2,000 properties across four continents. Free WiFi and breakfast are standard, as the brand today touts its locations as "a place to rest up and refuel."