Escape to Colorado Springs: Luxurious La Quinta Inn & Suites Awaits!
Escape to Colorado Springs: La Quinta Inn & Suites - Did It Live Up to the Hype? (Spoiler Alert: Kinda)
Okay, buckle up, buttercups, because I just got back from a little Colorado Springs escapade and let me tell you… this La Quinta Inn & Suites? It's a trip. The website promised "luxurious," and well… let's just say luxurious is a relative term when you're talking about a La Quinta. But hey, I'm nothing if not a glutton for punishment, and I live for a good (or bad) hotel review. So here we go, diving deep into the messy, honest, occasionally snarky truth about my stay.
First Impressions – The Arrival:
The exterior wasn't screaming "luxury," let's be honest. It's a standard, slightly-worn La Quinta facade. BUT! They had a decent-sized parking lot (free of charge, bless their hearts!), which is a win in a tourist-heavy city like Colorado Springs. Getting around? Easy peasy. Car park [on-site], car park [free of charge]: Check. And they even had a car power charging station - score for the electric vehicle crowd!
Accessibility: A Mixed Bag (Like My Emotions):
Okay, this is important. I'm not mobility-impaired, but I always pay attention to accessibility features. The elevator was a lifesaver because, let's be real, climbing stairs after a day of hiking is not my idea of fun. They did have facilities for disabled guests, which is good. I couldn’t personally test everything, but it looked relatively accessible. However, I didn't notice any obvious ramp access to the pool, so, uh, that's a potential downside for some. CCTV in common areas and CCTV outside property added a layer of, well, security (and maybe my paranoia, who knows?).
My Room – A Tale of Blackout Curtains and Questionable Carpeting:
Okay, the room. Let’s talk room. There was air conditioning, thank God, because Colorado can be a scorcher! Air conditioning in public area: Check. Blackout curtains were an absolute godsend for sleeping in after a rough night of stargazing. I appreciated the coffee/tea maker - crucial for my morning ritual. Free bottled water? Another win! Free Wi-Fi in all rooms!: Absolutely. I hate hotels that nickel-and-dime you for internet. Internet access – wireless was my best friend. I even had Internet access – LAN, but honestly, who still uses Ethernet cables in 2024? The desk was functional, and the laptop workspace allowed me to pretend I was productive while scrolling on TikTok.
Now, the downsides… the carpeting. Oh, the carpeting. It looked like it had seen things. Things I didn't want to imagine. I tried to focus on the positive – the extra long bed was comfy – but the carpet's ghostly presence always reminded me of the potential for hidden horrors. The linens were clean, thankfully. The private bathroom was adequate, but seriously, do we need a bathroom phone? Who am I calling? Ghostbusters?
Amenities – The Sparkly Stuff (and the Not-So-Sparkly):
Alright, the fun stuff! The swimming pool [outdoor] was… well, it was a pool. Clean-ish. The pool with view? Okay, maybe the view wasn’t exactly epic, but it beat staring at a parking lot. I didn't use the fitness center, but it was there. Gym/fitness, Check. The website mentioned a spa, but it turned out to be more of a "spa-adjacent" situation. No body scrub, no body wrap, no real spa experience. Disappointing, but not entirely unexpected for the price point.
Dining – The Buffet from the Abyss:
The breakfast [buffet]… where do I even begin? Buffet in restaurant: Check. Breakfast service: Check. The good: They did have a buffet. The bad? Let's just say the food was… abundant. And by "abundant," I mean it looked like it had been sitting there since the dawn of time. The scrambled eggs were suspiciously yellow. The waffles were… well, they were waffles. I may have spotted a questionable sausage. I tried a piece of fruit, hoping for a taste of sunshine, but even that was a little… sad. There was, thankfully, coffee/tea in restaurant, and I chugged it down like my life depended on it. I also believe there was vegetarian restaurant service.
There was also a snack bar and a poolside bar. I peeked into the pool bar, and it looked lively, but I only went for caffeine, I did not make it to the booze area.
Fortunately, there were restaurants nearby, so I took my breakfast woes elsewhere. Room service [24-hour] was an option, but given the, ahem, quality of the buffet, I chose to brave the outside world.
Cleanliness and Safety – Trying to Stay Positive:
Okay, this is where La Quinta did get points! They were going hard on the safety protocols. Staff trained in safety protocol: Check. Daily disinfection in common areas: Check. Rooms sanitized between stays: Check. Anti-viral cleaning products: Check. They even had room sanitization opt-out available. Hand sanitizer was everywhere. So, while the carpet may have haunted my dreams, I felt relatively safe from, you know, the stuff that makes you sick.
Services and Conveniences – The Good, the Bad, and the Extra Towels:
Front desk [24-hour]: Very helpful, thank goodness. Daily housekeeping: My room was cleaned, but frankly, I wasn't sure how much that helped. Luggage storage: Always appreciated. Concierge: I didn't use one. Cash withdrawal: Nope. Did they have cashless payment service? Yep! They do. The convenience store came in handy for snacks.
Things to Do, Ways to Relax (Or, at Least, Try):
Okay, so the hotel itself wasn't exactly a relaxation paradise. But Colorado Springs! That’s a different story. I saw the Cripple Creek & Victor Narrow Gauge Railroad, went hiking at Garden of the Gods… just. Stunning views. Amazing experience. Cripple Creek & Victor Narrow Gauge Railroad, Garden of the Gods were what made the trip.
Overall Verdict – Would I Stay Again? (Maybe, But with Low Expectations):
Look, the La Quinta Inn & Suites in Colorado Springs isn’t going to win any awards for luxury. But it's clean (ish), relatively safe, and in a fantastic location for exploring a beautiful city. The price is decent, the staff is friendly enough, and the free parking and Wi-Fi are major pluses. The breakfast buffet? Well, let's just say, pack some granola bars.
So, would I stay again? Possibly. If I was on a budget and wanted a convenient base for exploring Colorado Springs, sure. But if I’m looking for a truly luxurious experience, I'll be looking elsewhere. But hey, at least I have a great story to tell! And isn't that what travel's all about?
Escape to Paradise: Courtyard St. Augustine Beach Awaits!
Okay, buckle up, buttercups. This isn't your momma's perfectly planned itinerary. This is my attempt at a Colorado Springs adventure, all starting from the glorious, slightly-stained, hopefully-not-haunted halls of the La Quinta Inn & Suites North. Prepare for a rollercoaster of emotions, questionable decisions, and a healthy dose of rambling. Let’s go!
Day 1: Arrival, Existential Dread, and Questionable Pizza Choices
- 1:00 PM - Check-in (La Quinta Inn & Suites North, Colorado Springs): Ah, yes. The official start. Truth be told, I’m already running late. Traffic on the way in was… well, let’s just say it gave me a taste of the existential dread I suspect I’ll be wrestling with the entire trip. Found the place. Looks… like a La Quinta. Standard. The front desk lady seemed nice enough, though she did have that slightly glazed-over look of someone who's seen it all. I'm suddenly VERY aware of all the germs I possess just from typing that line. Good start.
- 1:30 PM - Room Reconnaissance: Room 217. Eh. Carpet is a little… plush. Not in a luxurious way. In a "I bet this has seen things" way. Unpacked (minimally). Immediately realized I forgot my phone charger. This is going to be problematic. Pro tip: pack a charger. Seriously.
- 2:00 PM - Lunch Quest (Failed): Google Maps promised me a fantastic local diner nearby. Promised. Lies! Turns out "nearby" translated to "a death march across a busy highway." I was STARVING. My stomach began a low, rumbling protest. Decided instead to succumb to the siren song of a chain pizza place. Bad choice. Should have walked the death march. The pizza was… pizza-shaped, I guess. The less said, the better.
- 3:00 PM - The Garden of the Gods (First Attempt): Okay. Here’s where things went sideways in spectacular fashion. I'd heard amazing things – red rocks, majestic vistas, the whole shebang. I GOT LOST. In a park. With directions. My sense of direction, apparently, is on par with a goldfish. Spent a good hour wandering aimlessly, muttering about landmarks that didn't exist and feeling increasingly like a sweaty, confused blob. Found the visitor's center eventually. And a map. Doh!
- 4:00 PM - Garden of the Gods (Take 2): Armed with an actual map, I finally found the damn rocks! And… they were pretty impressive. Seriously, the scale of those things is bonkers. Felt a sudden, overwhelming wave of… awe. Not gonna lie. The colors, the light… it was actually beautiful. Started pondering things like, "What if aliens built this?" and "Am I going to get eaten by a rogue prairie dog?" (The answer to the latter is probably yes, given my luck.) Took way too many pictures. Had a minor existential crisis about the fleeting nature of human existence while looking at an especially majestic rock formation.
- 6:00 PM - Dinner & Despair (Maybe): Still starving. Contemplating the pizza place again, which is a sign of serious desperation. Might just order a burger from Uber Eats and curl up in a ball on the "plush" carpet. Feeling the need for a strong drink. Or three.
- 7:00 PM - Evening Debrief (Hotel Room): Turns out, I did find a convenience store and bought some instant noodles. The noodles are sadly not good. I’m also on Reddit, lamenting my lack of social skills and the fact that I’m alone in a hotel room. I have a feeling this solo trip is going to be a wild ride of self-discovery (and potential self-loathing).
Day 2: Altitude, Animals, and a Mountain of Regret (Possibly)
- 8:00 AM - Breakfast (La Quinta Continental Chaos): Free Continental Breakfast! This is either a blessing or a curse. The waffle machine may have defeated me once. Striving, struggling… The coffee is weak (as expected). I'm starting to suspect I'm allergic to the sun. Waffle defeat.
- 9:00 AM - Pikes Peak Prep: Did some research. Apparently, Pikes Peak is no joke. The altitude can be a serious problem. So, I'm chugging water and trying to convince myself I'm not going to spontaneously combust. This is going to be, like, a really long hike. I should have trained. I'm going to need my inhaler. It's on top of the car.
- 10:00 AM - Drive to the Pikes Peak Highway (Failed Attempt 1): Decided to embrace the adventure. I heard the road up to it is something else. Nope. Closed. "Adverse Weather Conditions." Of course. Just my luck. The mountain is basically flipping me off.
- 10:30 AM - Cheyenne Mountain Zoo (Attempt 1): Okay, plan B. I love animals. This should be fun. I had read some amazing things about it. Arrived. Huge lines. “Sold out.” I was not shocked. The animals will have to wait.
- 11:30 AM - Lunch (Failed Attempt 2): That aforementioned burger at the hotel. I’m starving. This is becoming a theme. I don’t like being hungry. I’m cranky when hungry.
- 12:30 - Cheyenne Mountain Zoo (Attempt 2): Determined. I am going to see the animals. I called ahead and got a ticket. This time it worked!
- 1:00 PM - Cheyenne Mountain Zoo (Success!): Finally! This zoo is amazing. I spent some time wandering, watching the monkeys, and getting way too close to a giraffe (almost got spit on!). The gorillas. The penguins. The little kids! They are all so cute, running around, giggling, and playing. I love this. Found a little picnic spot and snacked on something. Life is good. For a short time.
- 4:00 PM - Manitou Springs: It was beautiful. A cute little mountain town, with shops and art and whatnot. Lots of tourists. Had a scone. Good scone.
- 6:00 PM - Dinner (Mediocre Mexican): Found a place that promised delicious Mexican food. The food wasn’t the focus, the tequila was. And the margaritas. I'm pretty sure I’m legally drunk. I'm seeing double.
- 7:30 PM - Hotel Room: I've managed to stumble back to my room. I think I walked in circles for a while. Now I am crashed and ready to sleep. Maybe I'll try and work out this whole "solo trip" thing. Maybe not. Maybe I'll just sleep.
Day 3: Goodbye, Colorado Springs (And Hello, Sanity?)
- 8:00 AM - Breakfast (Desperation Edition): Waffles AGAIN. I'm starting to question my life choices. The coffee is now objectively terrible.
- 9:00 AM - Pikes Peak (Take 2, Maybe?): The mountain's calling! (Maybe). Weather check… still closed! I'm beginning to develop an unhealthy obsession with this damn peak.
- 10:00 AM - Check Out: Well, it's over. Time to wrap it up. Checked out. Goodbye. This La Quinta Inn was really not bad at all. It could have been far worse, I think.
- 10:30 AM - Final Reflections: This adventure… was a mess. A beautiful, messy, chaotic, and utterly perfect mess. I got lost, ate questionable food, failed at things, and made questionable decisions. All of this made me happy. I had the time of my life.
- 11:00 AM- Airport: I’m ready to go home, but I’m also a little sad. I already miss the freedom and the chaos. Until next time, Colorado Springs. Maybe next time, I'll actually make it to the top of that damn mountain.
Escape to Colorado Springs: Seriously, La Quinta Inn & Suites? (My Brain's Got a Lot to Say)
Okay, so you're thinking about Colorado Springs, huh? And La Quinta? Let's be real, you're probably picturing budget motel chic. But hold on, because this whole experience... *that* La Quinta in Colorado Springs... it’s got me thinking and feeling all sorts of things. So, buckle up, buttercups. There's a lot to unpack here.
Is this La Quinta REALLY luxurious, like the ad says?
Luxurious? Well, let's not get ahead of ourselves. "Luxurious" might be a *slight* exaggeration. Think "comfortably above average" with a hint of "maybe they put a new mattress in recently?" Look, it’s a La Quinta. The sheets weren't silk, nobody offered me a butler, and the minibar was sadly lacking in artisanal cheese. But – and here's the kicker – it *was* clean. Seriously clean. And after a day hiking in the Garden of the Gods, clean is practically a luxury in itself. Remember that time I stayed somewhere… *shudders*… let's just say, clean is a gift. I swear, I saw a tiny, almost microscopic, dust bunny. But, I am getting ahead of myself.
Okay, so what's the *good* stuff then? What actually made you happy?
Okay, this is the *really* important part. First thing, the breakfast. Free breakfast, people! I practically inhaled the waffles (I swear, they're magically fluffy). Also, the staff. They were genuinely nice, which makes a huge difference. You know, the whole "Colorado hospitality" vibe? Yeah, they nailed it. I actually had a chat with the front desk guy, a guy named Kevin. He helped me with directions, and he didn't even pretend to ignore my rambling about how much I’d walked during the day. That made my day. That really did. And the pool... I didn't get in (cold!), but it looked inviting. Which is a win in my book. You know, at the end of a long day, it’s nice to just… have a moment to feel relaxed, even if you are staring out the window. The small things, honestly. Those are the important things.
Anything... *bad*? Be honest.
Ugh, okay. The parking. It was… tight. Not a deal-breaker, just slightly annoying after a long drive and trying to get your stuff inside. Oh, and my room faced the highway. Traffic noise. It wasn't *awful*, but bring earplugs if you're a light sleeper. Okay, Okay, there was one thing. The coffee. It was… motel coffee. You know the drill. Weak. Watery. I ended up hitting the local Starbucks almost every morning. Also, I would have liked a hot tub... I mean, I *really* would have liked one. I’m getting ahead of myself again. But the parking… It was truly a test of my patience! You know, the little daily struggles are the ones that end up staying in your head, aren’t they?
What's the best way to describe the location? Colorado Springs in general?
The La Quinta itself? Pretty central, actually. Easy access to Garden of the Gods, which is STUNNING (seriously, go!). Lots of restaurants nearby and a quick drive to downtown. Colorado Springs itself? A bit sprawling, I guess. You could probably spend a week there and still not do everything. Definitely nature-focused, with plenty of hiking and outdoor activities. It’s got that laid-back, yet slightly touristy vibe. And the air is thin, so take it easy, ESPECIALLY if you are not used to the altitude. I learned that the hard way. Almost fainted at the top of Pikes Peak. Not my finest hour. But the views… OH! The views!
Would you stay there again? The La Quinta, I mean.
Honestly? Yeah, I probably would. Especially if I was on a budget and wanted a decent, clean place to crash after a day of exploring. It's not going to win any awards for "most luxurious," but it's reliable. And the staff were genuinely friendly, that’s worth a lot to me. If you are looking for a fancy schmancy place, look elsewhere. But the waffles? The LOCATION?! Seriously, the location, the waffles, the friendliness… yeah. I’d go back. Maybe I’d bring my own coffee pot, though. And definitely earplugs. And maybe some artisanal cheese… Just in case. But yeah. Definitely would go back. It served its purpose. It was a good hotel. And that is all that matters. Right?
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