Lawyers who write about out-of-town trials agree on four things. I found no survey behind them, only practitioners writing in the ABA Litigation Journal, Law360 and the Wisconsin Law Journal. But they say the same four things, and they say them in order.
1. Walk to court
David Oscar Markus, writing in the ABA Litigation Journal in fall 2023, puts it first: choose a hotel close enough to walk to the courthouse. It saves "a lot of time and hassle." A Law360 piece from 2015 adds that a short walk lets you go back to the hotel for lunch.
If the hotel is walkable, you may not need a car at all. That is the cheapest decision on the whole trip.
2. Book when you have a firm date
A lawyer quoted in the Wisconsin Law Journal in 2013 says to reserve as soon as you get a trial date. One who waited ended up in a hotel she called "semi-dumpy." A Law360 litigator tries to book about three months out and brings the client in early, because trial dates move. A Texas Paralegal Journal article tells you to reserve only after the court confirms the trial.
Those fit together if you read the cancellation terms before you sign. I could not find a published cancellation rule for long stays at any brand, so ask the hotel in writing.
3. Get room for a war room
The same sources say the hotel needs a conference room or a suite big enough to work in. Book it through the weekends. Ask for after-hours access. One firm in the Law360 piece sometimes rents a whole floor.
The Texas Paralegal Journal has one rule I would copy: no files or exhibits leave the war room.
4. Keep your team away from the other side
A lawyer in the Wisconsin Law Journal piece once had an opposing witness in the next room. His advice is to book rooms near your war room and away from opposing counsel. If privacy needs a full floor, tell the client why before the bill arrives.
On jurors, the sources I read say nothing about hotels. ABA Model Rule 3.5 bars ex parte contact with a juror during the proceeding. Ask the clerk which hotels jurors may be using, and read your judge's standing order.
Suites for two weeks or more
For a long trial, a room with a kitchen and a washer saves time every night. These are the brand features I could read on the brands' own pages on Nov. 5, 2026:
- Homewood Suites: full kitchen in every suite, free hot breakfast, a free Wednesday evening reception and free guest laundry. Hilton's fact sheet is dated October 2026.
- Hyatt House: full kitchens, self-service laundry on site and free breakfast, which varies by hotel.
- Hyatt Studios: well-equipped kitchens, free grab-and-go breakfast, free fiber internet and weekly housekeeping.
- Residence Inn: full kitchens, free breakfast and free grocery delivery on request. The brand links a "Longer Stay Offers" page. I did not read its terms.
- Staybridge Suites: full kitchens, free 24-hour laundry (fees can vary by region) and a free hot breakfast.
- Embassy Suites: a wet bar with a sink, microwave and mini-fridge, not a full kitchen. Free made-to-order breakfast and an evening reception.
I did not print rates. No brand publishes a rate without a dated search for a specific city, and the rate guides I found were low-quality. Price your city and your dates on the brand's own site.
Wi-Fi and the files on your laptop
Free Wi-Fi at the big chains is usually a loyalty perk. A travel blog reports that Marriott Bonvoy members who book direct get free standard in-room internet. Hilton lists Wi-Fi as a Honors benefit. Hyatt advertises free Wi-Fi at its extended-stay brands. Join the program and book direct. Then ask the front desk for the real speed before you plan a video call.
ABA Formal Opinion 477R says a lawyer decides case by case how to protect client information. It lists secure Wi-Fi and virtual private networks among the safeguards. Formal Opinion 498 says lawyers "should consider using virtual private networks." A personal hotspot is the other answer, and Jeffrey Allen of the ABA GPSolo magazine recommends one over public Wi-Fi.
Two small things
- Stays of 30 nights or more can be exempt from hotel tax in some states. A 2020 Frequent Miler article names Texas and Ohio. Ask the hotel for the exemption in writing and check your bill after day 30. Check your state and city before you count on it.
- A client may look at a Ritz-Carlton and see excess. A Wisconsin lawyer said so in 2013. Ask what your client expects before you book.
Hotel pages and articles read Nov. 5, 2026. Nothing on this page is sponsored. [Confirm nightly and weekly rates, cancellation terms and any long-stay offers with each hotel before publication.]
Sources
David Oscar Markus, "Away Games," ABA Litigation Journal, fall 2023 · Jane Pribek, Wisconsin Law Journal, May 22, 2013 · Brandon Lowrey, Law360, Sept. 15, 2015 (reprint) · Edna W. Garza, Texas Paralegal Journal, April 2017 · Homewood Suites fact sheet, Hilton, October 2026 · Embassy Suites fact sheet, Hilton · Hyatt House and Hyatt Studios · Residence Inn, Marriott · Staybridge Suites · Marriott Bonvoy Wi-Fi, Your Mileage May Vary · ABA Formal Opinion 477R · ABA Formal Opinion 498, ABA Journal summary · Jeffrey Allen, "Mobile Lawyer's Tool Kit," ABA GPSolo, 2023 · ABA Model Rule 3.5 · Frequent Miler, July 26, 2020