Escape to Wilkes-Barre: Days Inn's Unbeatable Getaway!
Escape to Wilkes-Barre: Days Inn's Unbeatable Getaway…Or Is It? My Messy, Honest Review.
Alright, folks, buckle up, because I’m about to spill the tea (and maybe a little continental breakfast cereal while I'm at it) on my recent "Unbeatable Getaway" at the Days Inn in Wilkes-Barre. The brochure promised paradise. I, the weary traveler, expected…well, a bed that didn't attempt to transform me into a pretzel overnight. Let's dive in, shall we? And I'm telling you upfront, it wasn't all sunshine and roses.
SEO & Metadata Jumble (Gotta make sure Google finds this train wreck, right?):
- Keywords: Wilkes-Barre hotels, Days Inn review, Pennsylvania travel, Accessible hotels, Pool, Spa, Free Wi-Fi, Breakfast included, Family-friendly, Car park, Meeting facilities, COVID-19 safety, Cleanliness rating, Pet-friendly, Weekend getaway.
- Metadata: Title: Days Inn Wilkes-Barre Review: Unbeatable? Think Again! Description: Honest review of Days Inn in Wilkes-Barre, PA. Includes accessibility, amenities, dining, and COVID-19 safety. Keywords: [listed above].
Okay, disclaimer done. Now for the real deal…
First Impressions: The Good, the Uh…Less Good, and the Questionable
Pulling up, I'd be lying if I said I wasn't a little…whelmed. It’s a Days Inn, you know? Not the Ritz, not the Motel 6. Think beige brick, a slightly weary-looking sign, and a parking lot that's seen better decades. But hey, free parking! And a lot of it, thankfully. They were advertising “Unbeatable Getaway,” so maybe it’d be better on the inside, right?
Accessibility – Did They Actually Try?
Let's get down to brass tacks. Accessibility is a big deal for me, and here’s where the Days Inn mostly scored. They offered Facilities for disabled guests, which is a plus. I didn't personally need them, but seeing ramps, ample parking, and an Elevator gave me hope. The Family/child friendly aspect was definitely there, though, which is important if you're doing a road trip with kids, which is a life and death fight every morning.
On the other hand, the Exterior corridor made me think a bit too much about horror movies. And the vague, "We probably have accessible rooms" vibe at check-in wasn't exactly confidence-inspiring. Someone has to be more specific!
The Room: My Personal Hotel Battleground
Here's where things got messy. My room, let’s just say, had character. Or, as my partner politely put it, “a certain…charm.”
- Available in all rooms:
- Air conditioning: Thank God. Because Pennsylvania summers… hoo boy.
- Alarm clock: Check. A relic from the 80s, but it worked.
- Bathrobes: No. Sorry, I had to settle for my ratty one.
- Bathroom phone: Nope. In fact, the bathroom felt a bit…minimalist.
- Bathtub: Thankfully, yes. Needed a good soak after the drive.
- Blackout curtains: Blessedly dark. Slept like the dead.
- Carpeting: Ah, the joys of questionable wall-to-wall. Let's just say I wore shoes for the duration.
- Closet: Adequate. Kept my suitcase from exploding.
- Coffee/tea maker: Yes! Crucial for survival.
- Complimentary tea: A sad, single-serving bag. But hey, free is free.
- Daily housekeeping: Yes. Though my room didn't always look like it.
- Desk: Basic. Got some work done, but the lighting…wasn't great for writing.
- Extra long bed: Not sure about extra long, but it was comfortable enough.
- Free bottled water: Bless you, Days Inn. Essential.
- Hair dryer: Present, but the kind that feels like it’s about to burst into flames.
- High floor: Nope, ground level. Which, honestly, I was kind of relieved about, given the elevator's… reliability.
- In-room safe box: Nah. I clutched my wallet like a miser.
- Internet access – LAN: (snorts).
- Internet access – wireless: Blessedly, yes. Though the Wi-Fi [free] in the room could be…spotty. Like, "I'm downloading pictures of my cat on dial-up" spotty.
- Ironing facilities: Yes! And I needed them…desperately.
- Laptop workspace: See desk. Adequate.
- Linens: Clean enough. No giant holes.
- Mini bar: Sadly, no. Needed ice cream, stat.
- Mirror: Check.
- Non-smoking: Thank goodness.
- On-demand movies: Nope. Back to the cat pictures…
- Private bathroom: Yes. Thank god.
- Reading light: One. Dim.
- Refrigerator: Yes! Great for keeping your beer cold.
- Safety/security feature: Looked pretty safe except for the fact that it's a hotel and a fire could easily occur!
- Satellite/cable channels: Yep. Comfort TV.
- Scale: Nope. Ignorance is bliss, folks.
- Seating area: Small, but functional.
- Separate shower/bathtub: No, it was either/or.
- Shower: Adequate pressure.
- Slippers: Lol. No.
- Smoke detector: Praying it works!
- Socket near the bed: Yes! Thank the heavens.
- Sofa: Nope. Just a chair.
- Soundproofing: Meh. Heard…everything.
- Telephone: Yup. For…calling the front desk about the Wi-Fi, mostly.
- Toiletries: Basic. BYOS (bring your own soap).
- Towels: Clean.
- Umbrella: No, but it didn't rain, so…score?
- Visual alarm: Nope.
- Wake-up service: Yes. But I just used my phone.
- Window that opens: Hallelujah! Fresh air is a luxury these days.
Cleanliness and Safety – The COVID Factor
Okay, this is important. Days Inn tried. I saw signs about Anti-viral cleaning products and Daily disinfection in common areas. They offered Hand sanitizer and Sanitized kitchen and tableware items. I will give them credit for the Physical distancing of at least 1 meter, even if it wasn't always followed. The Rooms sanitized between stays, they claimed. I hope so. Staff trained in safety protocol. Fine. However…the lingering smell of cleaning products in the hallway felt a bit…heavy. I also opted to Room sanitization opt-out available, which was nice.
Dining, Drinking, and Snacking – Where Dreams Go to Die (or at Least Turn Slightly Soggy)
Breakfast. Ah, the Days Inn breakfast. The Breakfast [buffet] was… an experience. Let’s just say, don’t go in expecting gourmet. There was Breakfast [buffet] with choices that had seen better days. Cold, congealed eggs, rubbery bacon, and the kind of coffee that'll wake you up, alright, but might also send you into a panic attack. Breakfast takeaway service wasn't an option. The Coffee/tea in restaurant was mediocre. I ended up hitting the local diner for a decent meal. The Restaurants were decent, but the Poolside bar wasn't available, and not much was going on, to be honest. The Happy hour didn't exist. While there was a Snack bar, I wasn't going to be eating any of it.
The Pool and Spa – The Silver Lining? (Maybe?)
The Swimming pool [outdoor] looked… inviting. If you didn't mind a bit of questionable…well, you know. I didn't dip a toe in, but I saw others enjoying a swim. It was the Pool with view of the parking lot, so there's that. There was a Spa/sauna, but I didn't bother. There was a Fitness center you could utilize, as well.
Services and Conveniences – The Good, the Bad, and the "Meh"
- Air conditioning in public area: Yes. Thank goodness.
- Cash withdrawal: Didn’t
Alright, buckle up buttercups, 'cause this ain't your grandma's perfectly-planned itinerary. This is more… existential travel, with a healthy dose of Days Inn, Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania. Let’s do this, shall we?
Days Inn by Wyndham, Wilkes-Barre, PA: A Spiritual Journey (More or Less)
(Warning: May contain excessive caffeine intake, questionable fashion choices, and an overwhelming desire for a decent waffle.)
Day 1: Arrival and the Mystery of the Missing Remote (and Maybe a Meltdown)
1:00 PM: Arrive at Days Inn. Okay, first impressions… the carpet has seen things. Things. Like, maybe the birth of a thousand dust bunnies and the slow, agonizing demise of a spilled soda from '98. The lobby smells faintly of disinfectant and… is that sadness? I kid, I kid (mostly). Check-in is… efficient. No smiles, no frowns, just the stoic silence of a seasoned desk clerk who's clearly seen it all. I get my key, a room on the second (or maybe it’s the ground floor? Who can tell in these places?).
1:30 PM: The room! Ah, the sanctuary. The air conditioning wheezes like an asthmatic walrus. (I kind of identify with it). I unpack, throw a judgmental glare at the decor (generic framed prints of… something…), and then, the crisis. The remote. Where is the damn remote?! This is a tragedy. I'm on a trip, I want to get in my comfy spot and just binge-watch and let time past in a blurry state.
2:00 PM: Search for the remote continues. Under the bed? Nope. Behind the curtains? Nope. Between the… dear god, are those stains? I try not to think about it. Deep breaths. I consider the possibility someone from the housekeeping did stole it, but I want to give them the benefit of the doubt.
2:30 PM: Find the remote!! It's tucked between a brochure for a… ahem gentlemen's club and the complimentary Bible. (Okay, Days Inn, you’re full of surprises). Remote secured. Channel surfing commences. The existential dread starts to melt away, replaced by the sweet, sweet joy of reruns.
3:30 PM: I grab my purse and my phone, I went through the local stores, just for a casual walk. I was greeted by the heat, and the overwhelming happiness of the people in the stores.
6:00 PM: Dinner at a local diner. Okay, I thought the hotel was the place where the time stopped by, but this… this is something else, this is something beautiful. The food is… substantial. As in, I'm pretty sure I ate enough calories to feed a small village. The waitress, bless her heart, calls everyone "honey" and refills my bottomless coffee cup with the unwavering devotion of a saint. It's… comforting. And a little bit sticky.
8:00 PM: Back in the room. Bed. Remote. Bliss. Maybe after this, I don't want to explore nothing, I hope to wake up and just… stay in this place.
Day 2: The Waffle Debacle and the Ghosts of the Wyoming Valley
7:00 AM: Wake up. Coffee is a necessity. And the free breakfast… the siren song of lukewarm scrambled eggs and… let's be honest… questionable waffles. The promise of a waffle is what gets me out of bed.
7:30 AM: Breakfast. Oh, the breakfast. The scrambled eggs are… vaguely yellow. The toast is… toast. But the waffle situation… This is the heart of the matter, the core of this whole trip. The waffle iron is a relic. A beast of a machine that looks like it was salvaged from a nuclear power plant. The batter spews forth like… something unpleasant. After much effort, I managed to produce something resembling a… circular, semi-edible… thing. I cover it in syrup and pretend it's delicious. (It's not. Not really.) But I ate it. I ate the waffle. I conquered the waffle.
8:30 AM: After eating, I decided to go for a walk, this time to the downtown. I explored the city, went to the park, and saw the "Pioneer cemetery." After the visit, I was overwhelmed with the feeling, that history is alive in a way that I can't see through the hotel's windows.
12:00 PM: Late lunch. I went for the same diner as before, and ordered the same food as before, I just can't get tired of that place. I'm starting to feel like I'm fitting in.
2:00 PM: Back to my room, and I started to feel bored, I can't stay here any longer! I take a bus, and I went to the malls, and then, at some point, I found myself buying the hotel's souvenir.
6:00 PM: I have a nice evening dinner, I'll try to think about the time I had here, and how I will get out of here.
8:00 PM: The last night in my room. I get in bed, and start to organize my stuff, and I'm just excited. At the same time, I'm feeling blue because the end of the journey is getting closer.
Day 3: Departure and Existential Ramblings (and a Final, Desperate Plea for Decent Coffee)
7:00 AM: Wake up. The lingering smell of… something… permeates the room. Is it sadness? The ghosts of past guests? Who knows. But the important thing is that the coffee situation hasn’t improved. I brew some of the hotel coffee. It tastes like… disappointment. I think about going back to my place and starting all over again, but I think I need to go and deal with the life, I'll be ready after this.
8:00 AM: Checkout. Said goodbye to the stoic lady behind the desk. I ask myself if she sleeps there, but I choose not to ask that question. I made sure I didn't forget any of my stuff.
8:30 AM: Hit the road. Or, you know, the highway. I drive away from the Days Inn, Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania. I look back… no tears. Just a faint sense of… weirdness. And a lingering craving for a good waffle.
10:00 AM: Finally, I'm back home. I can sleep in my own bed. I can eat the food I love. I can… just… be. And maybe, just maybe, I learned something. Or maybe I just need a nap.
11:00 AM: I'm already thinking about my next trip.
Final Thoughts:
The Days Inn Wilkes-Barre was… an experience. It wasn't glamorous. It wasn't perfect. But it was real. And sometimes, isn’t that all we can ask for? And hey, at least I survived the waffle. That’s gotta count for something. Now, where did I put that coffee maker…?
Edison, NJ's BEST Extended Stay? Raritan Center Secret Revealed!
Escape to Wilkes-Barre: Days Inn's Unbeatable Getaway! (Or Is It?) - Your Messy Guide!
So, is this "Unbeatable Getaway" REALLY unbeatable? Like, are we talking Fort Knox security and a Michelin-star chef?
Okay, let's be real. "Unbeatable" might be stretching it. Think more... "Pretty darn good for the price." I mean, it's a Days Inn. Not the Ritz. But, that's Wilkes-Barre for ya – a city with its quirky charm. I went in expecting, well, *expecting* a slightly less-than-luxurious experience. And guess what? I got it! But that's not necessarily bad. More on that later. The "security" was...well, the front desk guy looked like he'd seen some things, and the keycard worked (mostly). As for a Michelin star? Ha! You'll be lucky if the breakfast buffet isn't ravaged by the time you get down there.
What's the deal with the breakfast? Is it a total egg-splosion of awfulness?
Oh, the breakfast. This is where things get...interesting. Look, the continental breakfast *is* there. The waffles are, let's say, *ambitious.* I tried making one. It emerged looking less like a breakfast treat and more like a topographical map of the moon. But, you know what? They had coffee. Strong, slightly bitter coffee, which is essential for facing the day, especially after a drive. And the other guests? They were a diverse bunch – families, couples, truck drivers with epic mustaches. It becomes a sort of shared experience, this breakfast ritual, a bonding through lukewarm scrambled eggs. You laugh, you commiserate – it's a spectacle. Don't expect gourmet, bring your own fruit if you're picky. But, hey, it’s included! Can't complain *too* much. Besides, there’s a little convenience store right around the corner – for real coffee and pastries, you know.
What are the rooms *actually* like? Are we talking roaches and peeling wallpaper, or just...standard Days Inn?
Okay, this is important. I’m happy to report NO roaches. Phew! Mostly. Look, the wallpaper *might* have a slight curl in the corner. The carpet? Probably seen better days. The furniture? Functional. But the bed? Surprisingly comfy. I mean, I slept like a log! And the bathroom? Clean-ish. Honestly, it wasn’t fancy. It wasn't Instagram-worthy. But you know what it *was*? A place to crash, scrub off the road grime, and recharge. That's really all I needed, right? Plus, there was a decent, albeit slightly wonky, TV. I watched a lot of trash TV, which is, let's be honest, a vacation essential.
Let's talk about the location. Is it a total dead zone or is there ANY life in Wilkes-Barre?
Alright, Location. This is a big one. The Days Inn, from my own experience, is *conveniently* located... if you're happy to drive everywhere. It's not exactly a walk-everywhere kind of place. There's... a gas station. And, uh, a diner. (Which, by the way, is a *must*. Greasy spoon perfection!). Wilkes-Barre itself? It has a certain... character. I wouldn't call it a bustling metropolis. It’s got a history, you can feel it in the old buildings, the slightly faded glory of the downtown. There's a cool little art museum. And the people? Friendly. Seriously, everyone I bumped into was super friendly, even when I was clearly lost. So, yeah, you'll need a car. But the drive to anywhere is never too far. It's worth it. The diner alone is worth it.
Okay, you’re saying...it’s not a bad experience? Even with the questionable wallpaper? Give me the emotional core of this Wilkes-Barre trip!
Honestly? I actually *liked* it. I went in with low expectations, and that, arguably, helped. It wasn’t luxurious, but it was *grounded*. The other guests, the slightly-off coffee, the wonky TV – it was all part of the experience. It made the whole trip…authentic. Maybe it was the escape from the usual, sterile hotel experience. Maybe it was the sheer, unpretentious-ness of it all. I'm not saying it's for everyone. If you demand perfection, avoid. But if you're open to a little adventure, a little quirkiness, and a good dose of reality? The Days Inn in Wilkes-Barre, imperfections and all, actually provided exactly what I needed. A break. A place to reset. And I’d totally go again. (Maybe I'd smuggle in my own coffee... or maybe not.) The emotional core? It was the un-glamor – and that's a beautiful thing.
Let's get specific. Is there anything *really* bad? Anything that nearly ruined the trip?
Okay, the *one* truly bad thing? The internet. The Wi-Fi was... unreliable. Almost comically so. It would cut out mid-scroll, mid-email, mid-streaming. It was a constant source of frustration. I almost lost my mind trying to upload some photos. This is a major flaw, especially in the modern age. I ended up spending more time staring at the buffering circle than, well, anything else. That part? Nearly ruined it. Seriously, bring a hot-spot.
Alright, spilling the tea: What's a MUST-DO while you're there to maximize enjoyment (after getting decent Wi-Fi, of course)?
Okay, here we go. MUST-DO. Besides eating at the diner (seriously, order the pancakes – they’re fluffy, divine, and the perfect antidote to questionable hotel coffee), you HAVE to go to the Coal Mine Museum. It's not just educational; it's deeply moving. You’ll get a real sense of the area's history. And it’s *fascinating*. I spent hours there. Also, go to the River Common. Its a cute park. Take a walk. Breathe in the air. And just...be. Wilkes-Barre is about slowing down, not rushing around. And try to be nice to the front desk staff. They’re probably dealing with worse, believe me.
What about the "Unbeatable Guarantee"? Did you get any free upgrades or anything?
Let's just say I didn't see anyStay By City
Post a Comment for "Escape to Wilkes-Barre: Days Inn's Unbeatable Getaway!"