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Looking for a hotel brand that provides a standard of comfort, extra space and all the other things you would expect at home? Then make sure to look into Homewood Suites, your new vacation home away from home.

Traveling families know the difficulties of vacation life: the cost of three full meals a day for mom, dad and the kids; lack of space in a tight hotel room for the entire clan; and loss of the basic comforts of home that young children, especially, are accustomed to. As an option for families who would like to limit the downsides of travel, Homewood Suites, a Hilton Hotels brand, is a great choice, offering spacious accommodations, plus services and amenities that will make your family feel right at home.

Known as an "extended stay" hotel chain, the average length stay at a Homewood Suites hotel is 11 nights, and that is probably because 80% of guests across the brand are business travelers.  But that statistic is not one that should keep a family away.  In fact, a large family has similar needs to those of a traveling businessperson: space, food and convenience. 

Considered to be in the top tier of extended stay hotels in terms of service, amenities and décor, Homewood Suites currently has 270 hotels opened throughout North America.  Seven of these are located in Canada and there are also two in Mexico.  As of the summer of 2009, there are more than 120 hotels in development and the plan is to continue expansion with more than 500 hotels expected to be operating by 2014.

Spacious Suites Sleep Big Families

Growing up within a family of five, sleeping and showering in a hotel room for me was always an event, and not necessarily a fun one.  My brother, sister and I would fight over who would have to share a bed and who would get stuck on the cot that would be by the bathroom door.  Then there was the inevitable territory debate over who would get one of the limited drawers or space on the bathroom counter.

After a recent stay at the Homewood Suites Markham (905/477-4663), in a suburb just north of Toronto, Ontario, my mother and I realized that if such a hotel existed during my childhood, such arguments would have not have occurred.  Every Homewood Suites hotel offers guests three different suite options: Studio (350-square-feet in size), One-Bedroom (500-square-feet) and Two-Bedroom (600-square-feet).  The ample space provided by all of the choices allows for a family of any size to be comfortable in their lodging as 4 individuals can fit in the Studio; 4-6 individuals can be accommodated in One-Bedroom Suites, and up to 8 adults can stay in the Two-Bedroom option.

The layout of each room is consistent across the brand, no matter which Homewood Suites you find yourself in.  Two-Bedrooms Suites are less common than the other two choices and are not readily available at all locations, so make sure your larger family inquires in advance.

The Homewood Suites standard demands that every suite be equipped like your home.  There is a full kitchen with a microwave oven, full-size refrigerator, dishwater, a stove, and coffeemaker, as well as all the utensils and plates that a family would need to have a meal in their own dining area.  Each suite also features at least one television and movie player (some even have a video game console attached).  Finally, for families that like to stay connected while vacationing, there is complimentary high-speed internet in all rooms, as well as two telephones.