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Candlewood Suites vs MainStay Suites

Averages across 464 Candlewood Suites and 168 MainStay Suites hotels, and a head-to-head in the 63 cities where both brands have a hotel.

IHG Hotels & Resorts

Candlewood Suites

Average guest rating
8.5
Hotels tracked
464

Choice Hotels

MainStay Suites

Average guest rating
8.1
Hotels tracked
168

The short answer

On the numbers: Candlewood Suites

Candlewood Suites leads on 4 of 5 measures. Average guest rating differs by 0.44 points.

Every measured fact

Averages over each brand's hotels. A dot marks the better figure.

Candlewood Suites vs MainStay Suites: which hotel brand is better?
Candlewood Suites vs MainStay Suites: which hotel brand is better?Candlewood SuitesMainStay Suites
Guest ratings
Average guest rating 8.53 +0.44 8.09
Rated 8 or more 81% +21% 60%
Rated below 7 3% 13%
Average Google rating 4.12/5 +0.27 3.85/5
Guest reviews behind the average 5,516 3,028
Same city, head to head (cities where both are rated: 27)
Cities where it is rated higher 13 12
The hotels
Hotels tracked 464 168
Countries 7 4
Usual check-in 15:00 15:00
Usual check-out 12:00 11:00
Hotels that list it
Free breakfast 2% 74%
Swimming pool 45% 60%
Gym 84% 77%
Free parking 97% 90%
Pets allowed 4% 5%
Shuttle 14% 22%
Laundry 98% 89%
Hot tub 8% 27%
Restaurant 2% 2%
Bar 66% 67%
Kitchen 52% 26%

Both brands, same city

The best-rated hotel of each brand in cities where both have one. Open a match-up for the full hotel comparison.

Candlewood Suites or MainStay Suites: common questions

Is Candlewood Suites or MainStay Suites better?

On average, Candlewood Suites hotels score 8.53/10 from guests and MainStay Suites hotels 8.09/10. Candlewood Suites leads on 4 of the 5 measures we compare. Average guest rating differs by 0.44 points.

When both are in the same city, which is rated higher?

In the 27 cities where both have rated hotels, Candlewood Suites has the higher average in 13 and MainStay Suites in 12.

Do Candlewood Suites and MainStay Suites hotels include free breakfast?

2% of Candlewood Suites hotels and 74% of MainStay Suites hotels list free breakfast, counting hotels with a complete amenity list. Check the page of the hotel you book.

Which brand has more hotels?

StayVersus tracks 464 Candlewood Suites hotels in 7 countries and 168 MainStay Suites hotels in 4 countries.

Do Candlewood Suites and MainStay Suites belong to the same company?

No. Candlewood Suites belongs to IHG Hotels & Resorts, MainStay Suites to Choice Hotels.

More brand match-ups

Updated 6 Oct 2026. Averages over the hotels StayVersus tracks: guest ratings from Agoda (hotels with 5+ reviews), Google ratings from public Google Maps listings (hotels with 20+ reviews). A hotel counts for a brand only when its name confirms it. How we score