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Marriott Has 37 Hotel Brands — Families Only Need These 4 + New Referral Program
Skip the overwhelm. Here are the Marriott brands that actually matter when you’ve got kids, limited time, and want real value.
Jeff Rehmar
September 18, 2025
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The Family Traveler's Guide to Marriott's 37 Brands
Which ones actually matter when you've got kids, limited time, and want real value
Marriott has 37 different hotel brands. Thirty-seven!
Most travel sites will walk you through every single one, ranking them by points value and elite benefits. But when you're planning family trips with limited PTO and a real-world budget, you don't need to know about all 37.
You need to know which ones deliver what you actually care about: value, reliability, and experiences your family will remember.
Let me break this down the way I wish someone had explained it to me.
Table of Contents
The Only 4 Categories That Matter
🏨 The "Safe Bet" Brands - When you need reliability above all else
🌟 The "Special Occasion" Brands - For milestone trips worth splurging
💰 The "Smart Money" Brands - Maximum value for regular family travel
🏠 The "Extended Stay" Brands - For longer trips or when you need space
The Safe Bet Brands: Your Go-To Options
Average: $120-200/night
Marriott Hotels
What it is: The original - reliable, predictable, everywhere
Perfect for: Business trips, weekend getaways
Family reality: Solid breakfast, usually has a pool, nothing fancy
Courtyard by Marriott
What it is: The workhorse of family travel
Perfect for: Road trips, sports tournaments, suburban stays
Family reality: This is probably where you'll book 60% of your stays
Quick tip: Properties built after 2014 have much better room layouts.
What it is: Clean, minimalist design that actually works
Perfect for: When you want modern style without luxury prices
Family reality: I've stayed at AC Hotels in Irvine, CA and Beaverton, OR – both were excellent choices. The European breakfast is a nice change.
The Special Occasion Brands: When You Want Magic
Average: $300-600/night
JW Marriott
What it is: The brand that makes your kids say "whoa"
Perfect for: Anniversary trips, milestone birthdays, that one big vacation per year
Family reality: Yes, expensive. But the service and amenities create memories that last decades.
Personal favorite: JW Marriott Desert Ridge in Phoenix has incredible pools and mountain views.
Ritz-Carlton
What it is: The gold standard
Perfect for: When you want to feel like royalty
Family reality: Worth it for special occasions, but your kids might prefer the JW Marriott pools
Autograph Collection
What it is: Unique, independent hotels with character
Perfect for: Destination trips where the hotel IS part of the experience
Family reality: Hit or miss, but when they hit, they're unforgettable.
Where I got married: Koloa Landing Resort in Kauai - absolute perfection.
The Smart Money Brands: Where Value Lives
Average: $100-180/night
SpringHill Suites
What it is: Suites with separate living areas at regular hotel prices
Perfect for: Any trip longer than 2 nights
Family reality: I've stayed in $400/night hotels that felt more cramped than these $150/night suites. Space changes everything with kids.
Residence Inn
What it is: Apartment-style with full kitchens
Perfect for: Week-long vacations, extended family trips
Family reality: Cook breakfast, save money, let kids spread out
Fairfield Inn & Suites
What it is: The underdog that often outperforms
Perfect for: Budget-conscious families who still want consistency
Family reality: Free hot breakfast, pools at most locations, rooms that don't feel cramped
TownePlace Suites
What it is: Extended-stay feel at regular prices
Perfect for: Longer trips where you want to feel at home
Family reality: Full kitchens, weekly rates, perfect for destination weddings
*I’m staying at a new this weekend. Free with Marriott Bonvoy points!
The Extended Stay Brands: When You Need Real Space
Average: $90-150/night
Residence Inn (Extended)
What it is: Your home away from home
Perfect for: Business trips where family tags along, relocations
Family reality: Full kitchen saves money and sanity
Element
What it is: Eco-friendly extended stay with wellness focus
Perfect for: Health-conscious families on longer trips
Family reality: Bikes to borrow, healthy breakfast options
Skip These (For Families)
Sheraton: Inconsistent quality - some are great, others feel stuck in 1995
DoubleTree: The cookie doesn't make up for dated rooms
Moxy: Fun concept, but rooms are genuinely tiny. Skip if you have more than one kid.
My Go-To Hotels by Trip Type
Weekend family getaway: Courtyard or SpringHill Suites
Week-long vacation: Residence Inn or JW Marriott (budget depending)
City break: AC Hotels (seriously underrated)
Disney World area: The Inn at Celebration - charming walkable town, easy access
Beach vacation: Look for Autograph Collection properties
Desert getaway: JW Marriott Desert Ridge - trust me on this one
International Reality Check
A Courtyard in Mumbai feels like a luxury hotel. A Ritz-Carlton in some European cities might feel dated compared to local options.
Don't get hung up on brands when traveling internationally - focus on recent reviews, location, and what matters to your family.
The One Thing Most People Miss
Always sign up for the rewards program.
I don't care if you think you'll never stay there again. It takes 30 seconds and often unlocks free Wi-Fi, late checkout, and sometimes room upgrades.
For Marriott, it's called Bonvoy - sign up before you book.
The Bottom Line
You don't need to memorize 37 brands. Pick 4-5 that match your travel style, learn what they offer, and book with confidence.
The best hotel is the one that lets you focus on why you're traveling instead of worrying about where you're staying.
Your family deserves great trips. Start with the right hotel choice.
Want My Secret Travel Strategies?
If this saved you time on your next family trip, share it with other families who'd benefit.
Here's what you unlock:
🎯 3 shares → My Secret Travel Vault (25+ hacks I've never shared publicly)
📮 5 shares → Personal postcard from my next trip (handwritten, obviously)
📞 25 shares → 30-minute travel planning call - we'll map out your next adventure together
Start sharing here →
Every family deserves to see more of the world. Let's help each other get there.
Next Week: Hilton. A simple guide to their 22 brands.
What’s your go-to Marriott brand? Hit reply. I read every response and often feature them in future issues.
Until next Thursday,
Jeff