For travelers planning an extended stay, whether it’s for business, relocation, or just an extended vacation, Marriott offers two excellent suite-style brands – Residence Inn and TownePlace Suites. Both provide separate living areas, kitchenettes or full kitchens, and the flexibility needed for longer trips. However, there are some key differences between the two that may sway you in one direction or the other depending on your needs and budget. In this comprehensive guide, we’ll compare Residence Inn and TownePlace Suites across all the major factors to help you decide which brand best suits your extended-stay.

Room Types and Amenities

Residence Inn takes a more premium, residential approach when it comes to their suites. Even at the base level, you’ll find generously-sized studio, one-bedroom, and two-bedroom suites that feel more like apartment living than a traditional hotel room. Along with separate living and sleeping areas, Residence Inn suites feature full kitchens with full-size appliances – refrigerator, oven, stovetop, microwave, and dishwasher. This allows extended-stay guests to really settle in and prepare their own meals just like they would at home.

TownePlace Suites rooms have a similar suite-style layout with a living area and sleeping area, though the overall footprint is a bit smaller than Residence Inn. The kitchens are more modest, with just a basic kitchenette that includes a microwave, stovetop, and full-size refrigerator but no oven. It’s suitable for light meal prep and reheating, but not for more elaborate home cooking. TownePlace does offer some suites with separate bedrooms, but the studio layouts with just a partitioned sleeping area are more common.

Both brands feature modern decor and amenities like free Wi-Fi, flat-screen TVs, and workspaces with ergonomic chairs. But you’ll find more premium touches and an elevated design aesthetic at Residence Inn properties.

Dining and Social Amenities

One of the biggest advantages of Residence Inn when it comes to an extended-stay is their free hot breakfast buffet offered daily. Start your morning with a rotating selection of hot items like eggs, breakfast meats, waffles, oatmeal, and more, along with typical continental favorites like pastries, fruit, yogurt, and cereal. It’s a huge convenience for guests, especially those with families, to have a hearty breakfast included instead of having to go out to eat or cook every morning.

TownePlace Suites, on the other hand, offers a very limited free continental breakfast or, at some properties, no breakfast at all. You may find some basic pastries, fruit, coffee, and the like, but nothing hot or substantial. This puts more onus on guests to fend for themselves in the mornings by cooking in their kitchenettes or seeking breakfast from outside vendors.

In the evenings, Residence Inn properties also host a few social hours per week, with free food, beer, wine, and non-alcoholic drinks served in a casual setting. It’s a great way for guests to mingle and also grab a light meal or snacks a couple of nights per week. TownePlace Suites does not offer any evening socials or food/drink amenities.

Both brands provide free coffee and tea in the lobby 24/7, as well as small on-site convenience markets to pick up basic grocery items, microwave meals, snacks, and sundries. There are also typically several nearby restaurant delivery services available.

Service and Upkeep

As you’d expect from the more premium Residence Inn brand, the overall service levels and condition of the properties tend to be a step above TownePlace Suites. With TownePlace catering more to a value extended-stay crowd, corners are sometimes cut when it comes to staffing, housekeeping frequency, and the general maintenance of amenities like pools or fitness centers.

At Residence Inn, you’ll find a staffed front desk around the clock and daily housekeeping services included for all suites. This means your bathroom is refreshed, beds made, and your suite refreshed every day just like at a regular hotel. At most TownePlace Suites, housekeeping only comes through 1-2 times per week to change linens and take out trash. If you need additional services, you’ll likely have to pay an extra fee.

The public areas, guest suites, and amenities at Residence Inn hotels are typically in very good condition, with lobbies and suites having a fresh, modern feel. TownePlace Suites properties can definitely still be comfortable and well-kept, but you may find some deferred maintenance, older fixtures, or areas that just feel a bit more worn and dated.

Elite Recognition and Loyalty Benefits

Both Residence Inn and TownePlace Suites fall under the Marriott Bonvoy loyalty program, so members earn points for every stay that can be redeemed for free nights and other rewards. However, there is one key difference in how points are earned – you’ll only accrue 5 points per $1 spent at Residence Inn and TownePlace Suites. At most other Marriott-branded hotels like Courtyard, Marriott, Westin, etc, you earn 10 base points per $1 as a Bonvoy member.

This means you’re only earning half as many points for the same money spent at Residence Inn and TownePlace Suites compared to other brands. For budget-conscious guests, TownePlace is likely the better value from a points perspective despite their lower nightly rates since you’re earning points at the same rate. But for those who want to earn points more quickly, other Marriott brands offer better returns.

As for elite recognition and benefits, you’ll generally find that Residence Inn is more generous. As a Bonvoy elite member, you’re more likely to be upgraded to a one-bedroom suite at check-in if available. At TownePlace Suites, the upgrades tend to be less substantial if available at all. You’re also more likely to receive hotel lounge access for complimentary breakfast at Residence Inn, while elite breakfast benefits are hit or miss at TownePlace since many don’t have an open lounge or restaurant.

Of course, the standard elite benefits of late checkout, welcome amenities, and bonus points on stays do apply equally at both brands based on your Bonvoy elite tier.

Overall Vibe and Positioning

Ultimately, Residence Inn and TownePlace Suites are going after two different extended-stay clientele. Residence Inn markets itself as an upscale extended-stay brand perfect for families, longer relocations, temporary work assignments, or any situation where you really want all the comforts and functions of home for an extended period. The larger living spaces, full kitchens, robust amenities like daily breakfast and evening socials, and higher service levels all contribute to that residential experience.

TownePlace Suites has a much more basic, value-focused positioning for their extended-stay accommodations. With smaller living spaces, basic kitchenettes, minimal extras, and lower staffing levels, TownePlace aims to provide all the essential functions for an extended stay at a lower price point. It’s a perfectly suitable option for solo travelers, couples, or anyone simply looking for budget-friendly extended-stay accommodations without any frills or extra costs.

Which Should You Choose?

So which Marriott extended-stay brand should you book – Residence Inn or TownePlace Suites? Here are some key factors to consider:

Go with Residence Inn if:

• You want more residential comfort with larger living spaces and full kitchens
• Free hot breakfast and evening socials are important amenities
• You want the highest service levels and amenities like daily housekeeping
• You don’t mind paying a premium for the extra space and services
• You value earning elite benefits like upgrades

Go with TownePlace Suites if:

• You’re looking for basic extended-stay accommodations at a lower price point
• Kitchen functionality is not a huge priority (OK with just a kitchenette)
• You don’t need or want extra amenities like daily housekeeping or breakfast
• Rapidly earning Marriott points is a priority over elite benefits
• Your main priority is just having separate living/sleeping areas on a budget

Residence Inn vs TownePlace Suites Comparison

At the end of the day, there is no definitively “better” brand – it comes down to your travel needs and budget. Residence Inn provides a premium extended-stay experience with more amenities and higher service levels, while TownePlace Suites offers basic extended-stay accommodations at a lower price point suitable for value-conscious travelers. Consider your priorities, weigh the pros and cons of each brand, and make the choice that is right for your next extended stay.