Holbrook's Hidden Gem: Super 8 Review & Booking!
My Messy, Honest, and Totally Unprofessional Take on… (Let's Just Call It "The Place") - A Review That's Probably Too Long, But Hey, You're Here!
Okay, buckle up buttercups, because I'm about to unleash a review that's less "polished travel blog" and more "post-vacation brain dump." I just got back from… well, let’s just call it “The Place.” And, honestly? My feelings are… complicated. Like a really spicy curry. Delicious, potentially life-altering, but also, you might be sweating profusely and wishing for a glass of milk by the end.
SEO & Metadata Blah Blah… (Gotta Do It, Right?)
- Keywords: Hotel Review, Accessibility, Spa, Restaurant, Cleanliness, Wi-Fi, Pool, The Place (lol!), [City Name – if I knew the damn place!], Family-friendly, Wheelchair Accessible, Dining, Fitness Center, Non-Smoking, Free Parking, 24-hour Room Service.
- Meta Description: A brutally honest (and probably long) review of "The Place," covering everything from accessibility and awesome Wi-Fi (thank god!) to the surprisingly amazing spa, the baffling lack of decent coffee, and my personal battle with the questionable mini-bar. Prepare for a messy, opinionated ride!
Alright, let's get real.
Accessibility (Starting Off Strong, Because, Well, It Matters)
Okay, this is important. The Place seemed to be doing a good job. Wheelchair accessible? Yes, mostly. Ramps everywhere – check. Elevators – check. Facilities for disabled guests? Marked 'Yes' off the list, but I'd still recommend a call to confirm specifics. I'm not a wheelchair user, so I can't personally vouch for the true accessibility, but visually, it looked okay. I’d love to hear from someone who actually tried navigating this place in a wheelchair, though. Exterior corridor? Seemed like it…
But here's the thing. Finding the entrance felt like a scavenger hunt the first time. Some signage was a little… cryptic. And while the ramps were there, the landscaping was a bit… ambitious. A little too much "artistic rock placement" for my comfort. Still, I'm giving a thumbs up, with a caveat: Call and ask detailed questions if accessibility is crucial for you.
On-site accessible restaurants / lounges: Didn't see anything specifically labeled as such, but generally, most of the restaurant areas appeared to potentially be accessible. More confirmation needed here.
Internet, Oh Glorious Internet!
Thank the digital gods! Free Wi-Fi in all rooms! Seriously, this is a HUGE win in my book. No paying extra for the privilege of… existing. Internet [LAN] was also advertised, which is a nice touch for old-school types, though I didn't use it. Internet access? Yes! Internet services? Seemed standard - no real complaints. Wi-Fi in public areas? Yep! Everywhere. Even in the (glorious) spa. Never underestimate the joy of streaming Netflix while getting a facial. Never.
Things to Do & (Mostly) Ways to Relax – My Happy Place (Or Did I Get Too Relaxed?!)
- Body scrub? Check. Got one. Lovely. Felt like a whole new me, then promptly spilled coffee on my new self.
- Body wrap? Check. Also lovely. Made me feel like a fancy, slightly-oiled burrito.
- Fitness center? Oh, yeah. There was one. I didn't go, but it looked well-equipped. (That yoga mat was calling to me though…)
- Foot bath? Didn't see it. Missed opportunity, I'd say.
- Gym/fitness? See above.
- Massage? Yes. Had multiple. Amazing. Worth the price of admission.
- Pool with view? Technically, yes. A decent view. Nothing earth-shattering, but pleasant.
- Sauna? Yes. Hot. Steamy. Perfect.
- Spa? YES! OMG. THE SPA. This place… it was a sanctuary. Soft lighting, the smell of eucalyptus, fluffy robes… I could have lived there. I even considered applying for a job cleaning the place, just to keep the vibe going.
- Spa/sauna? See above. A good combo.
- Steamroom? Yes. Even better than the sauna, I think.
- Swimming pool? Yes. Several, actually. Outdoor. Indoor. Kid-friendly. All good.
- Swimming pool [outdoor]? Yep. Beautiful. Good for Instagram, if you're into that.
Cleanliness and Safety – COVID-Era Considerations (Deep Breath)
Okay, this is where my brain starts to wander a little. Did they really do all of this?
- Anti-viral cleaning products? Probably. Hopefully.
- Breakfast in room? You could order, I think, although my experience was…
- Breakfast takeaway service? Didn't need it, to be honest.
- Cashless payment service? Yes. Convenient.
- Daily disinfection in common areas? Seemed like it.
- Doctor/nurse on call? Probably. Good to know.
- First aid kit? Yep.
- Hand sanitizer? Everywhere. Like, everywhere.
- Hot water linen and laundry washing? Probably.
- Hygiene certification? Not that I noticed, but it was probably written somewhere.
- Individually-wrapped food options? Yep.
- Physical distancing of at least 1 meter? Mostly adhered to.
- Professional-grade sanitizing services? Seemed like it.
- Room sanitization opt-out available? Didn't see any option.
- Rooms sanitized between stays? I'd hope so!
- Safe dining setup? Yes - tables spaced pretty well.
- Sanitized kitchen and tableware items? Fingers crossed!
- Shared stationery removed? Yes.
- Staff trained in safety protocol? They seemed to be.
- Sterilizing equipment? Again, hopefully.
Basically, they tried. And that's what matters. I didn't get sick, so… success?
Dining, Drinking, and Snacking – The Culinary Rollercoaster
Alright, this is where things get…interesting.
- A la carte in restaurant? Yes.
- Alternative meal arrangement? Yes. (But probably would need to ask).
- Asian breakfast? Yes, surprisingly good.
- Asian cuisine in restaurant? Yes.
- Bar? Yes. Fun. (Happy hour was a good deal!)
- Bottle of water? Yes, free in the room, which is nice.
- Breakfast [buffet]? Yes. But… the coffee. Oh, the coffee. The weakest, most anemic excuse for coffee I've ever… Well, it was bad.
- Breakfast service? Yes.
- Buffet in restaurant? Yes.
- Coffee/tea in restaurant? See above. Shudder.
- Coffee shop? There was one. The coffee was marginally better.
- Desserts in restaurant? Yes. Delicious. Saved the day, mostly.
- Happy hour? YES!
- International cuisine in restaurant? Yes.
- Poolside bar? Yes. The frozen cocktails were a lifesaver.
- Restaurants? Several.
- Room service [24-hour]? Yep. Surprisingly quick.
- Salad in restaurant? Yes.
- Snack bar? Yes.
- Soup in restaurant? Yes.
- Vegetarian restaurant? Yes. (I think).
- Western breakfast? Yes.
- Western cuisine in restaurant? Yes.
Seriously, about the coffee: This is a major flaw. I'm a coffee addict. I need it. And what was offered at breakfast (and in the room, for that matter) was… a crime against caffeine. I spent a significant portion of my stay wandering the hotel in a caffeine-deprived haze, desperately trying to find something decent. Find a decent coffee machine and a better bean, 'The Place'! Please!
Services and Conveniences – The Good, the Bad, and the "Meh"
- Air conditioning in public area? Yes. Necessary.
- Audio-visual equipment for special events? Yes – but I wasn’t there for any, but the website claimed it.
- Business facilities? Yes: including a Xerox/fax in business center.
- Cash withdrawal? Yes. (Convenient)
- Concierge? Yes. Very helpful.
- **Contactless check
Alright, buckle up, buttercups, because this isn't your glossy travel brochure. This is real life, Super 8 edition, Holbrook, Arizona. Prepare for a wild ride.
Day 1: Arrival and Existential Dread (or, "Why am I here?")
1:00 PM - 2:00 PM: Arrival in Holbrook. Landed at Phoenix Sky Harbor, the usual airport chaos. Rent-a-car saga (they always try to upsell you the insurance, even when you know you're covered, right?). Drove what felt like a million miles (seriously, it's the desert, everything feels like a million miles) to Holbrook. Check-in? Okay, the Super 8 lobby is… well, a Super 8 lobby. You know the drill - stale air, slightly off-color carpet, and a lingering scent of chlorine. I feel that it's the most normal place that exists. No judgement.
2:00 PM - 3:00 PM: The Room. Okay, room is, how do I say this gently, not the Four Seasons. But hey, it's clean enough. The TV is ancient. I suspect if I try to change the channel it'll launch me back in time. Bedspreads are probably from the 80's, but that's okay. It's mine for a night. The internet is slower than a sloth on tranquilizers.
3:00 PM - 4:00 PM: Unpack and Contemplate. I try to unpack, but I keep getting distracted by… everything. The silence. The vastness outside the window. The sheer emptiness of the desert. This is where the existential dread kicks in. Am I just… floating? Am I supposed to do something? Should I call my mother? Nah, she'd just ask if I ate yet.
4:00 PM - 5:00 PM: Poolside (Sort Of). The "pool" is, let's be charitable, a glorified kiddie pool. The water looks suspiciously green. I think I heard a tumbleweed whisper, 'don't go in.' I didn't. Sat in a plastic chair and watched the sun beat down. Felt like a lizard.
5:00 PM - 6:30 PM: Dinner at [Local Diner - I'll wing it here]. Found a little diner down the road. Had a burger that was… well, it was a burger. The waitress, bless her heart, has seen things. She knows the secrets of the desert. I bet her stories would be better than any museum. Tip extra.
6:30 PM - 8:00 PM: Stargazing (Attempt). The desert sky! Supposed to be spectacular. Except the Super 8 has got too many lights. Tried to see the stars from the parking lot, but mostly I just saw the glare of the streetlights. Watched the cars go by. One beat up pickup truck. I bet that guy knows the desert.
8:00 PM - 9:00 PM: Desperate for entertainment Channel surfing, finding almost nothing appealing. Settled in, read and crashed.
Day 2: Petrified Forest and Moral Exhaustion
9:00 AM: A Morning of Rest Went to sleep early and slept very well, and woke up late, with a general feeling of rest.
10:00 AM - 1:00 PM: Petrified Forest National Park. Okay, now we're talking! The Petrified Forest is actually cool. Giant logs of stone, rainbows of color. Walked the trails, took a million photos, felt a tiny spark of wonder. The vastness of the place is a mind-bender. It's beautiful and terrifying.
1:00 PM - 1:30 PM: Lunch at the Park's Cafe. Overpriced, predictable food. But I needed fuel. The sheer amount of walking leaves you with the munchies.
1:30 PM - 3:00 PM: Morale Exhaustion. Walking through this place is exhausting. All that beauty, all that history, it's a lot to process. I started thinking about the earth's lifespan, and how insignificant I am. Maybe a nap?
**3:00 PM - 4:30 PM: The Painted Desert. ** The Painted Desert is breathtaking. It is painted, with layers of red and orange and purple. Took a bunch of photos. Thinking about how the light changes everything. Thinking about time.
4:30 PM - 5:30 PM: The Gift Shop. Yes, I bought a rock. Couldn’t resist. It's a nice rock. I'm a cliché.
5:30 PM - 6:30 PM: Driving. Drove back to the hotel. It felt like I was in one long distance ride. The scenery, while interesting, felt the same. I started to get sleepy.
6:30 PM - 8:00 PM: Dinner and "Reflection." Found another diner. Ate pasta that was surprisingly ok. Felt a bit sad about leaving tomorrow. Started planning my next trip.
8:00 PM - Bedtime: The Hotel. Back to the Super 8. Washed up and decided to take a nap.
Day 3: Departure and the Promise of… Something?
9:00 AM: Continental Breakfast. The Super 8 continental breakfast. The usual suspects: stale bagels, questionable "juice," sugary cereal. I took a bagel.
9:30 AM - 10:30 AM: Check out. I checked out. Left the room. Checked the car. It was fine.
10:30 AM - 11:30 AM: The Drive. Made it a point to leave. I was the only car on the road.
11:30 AM Onward: The Drive. Drive back to Phoenix, where the drive continues.
Final Thought: Holbrook, Arizona. It's a place to stop. A place to see some stuff. A place to think way too much. It wasn't perfect, but it was honest. I think I needed that.
And that, folks, is my Holbrook experience. No promises of perfect itineraries or perfect people. Just a Super 8, a desert, and a whole lot of… well, me. Hope it gives you a giggle. Now, please excuse me. I need a nap.
LA Grand Hotel: Downtown LA's Hidden Gem (Luxury Awaits!)
Okay, seriously, what *is* this thing we're talking about? Like, a super basic, for-the-clueless explanation?
Alright, alright, settle down, newbie. Imagine you're trying to explain... peanut butter. But instead of peanut butter, it's [Insert Topic Here - let's say, "Learning to knit"]. Basically, it's answering the common questions, the "what, why, how, and... *why* did I start this?" questions. Think of it as a survival guide for whatever rabbit hole we're exploring. And for knitting? Lord knows you *need* a survival guide.
Is this actually useful? I'm swamped as it is!
Ugh, yes and no. Look, I get it. "Useful" is a loaded word. If you're looking for a guaranteed path to enlightenment or, like, a free million dollars, probably not. But if you want to avoid making the same boneheaded mistakes *I* did (and trust me, I made *plenty*), then maybe. For example, learning to knit? It helps with stress. I used to scream at the washing machine, now I just... *click, click, click*. Still stressy, but slightly less likely to break something. So, maybe useful-ish. Think of it as a slightly less frantic, slightly more informed stumble through the unknown. Take it or leave it, honestly.
What are the *absolute* basics I need to know? (Please, no jargon!)
Okay, basics. Let's go with the knitting example, because, frankly, it's what I'm obsessed with right now. You need: a needle (or two!), some yarn (start with something cheap; you WILL mess up), and a willingness to look utterly clueless. And a lot of patience, seriously. Think of teaching the dog how to do a trick, and you being the dog (or a very confused squirrel). Learn the knit stitch and the purl stitch. Those are it. *That's* it. The rest is just...decoration.
So, this "learning to knit" thing... How hard is it, really? Be honest, I'm easily discouraged.
Ugh. Hard. And not hard. The first time, it's *terrifying*. I remember my first attempt. I swear, the yarn was tangled around my needles like a spiderweb spun by a demented toddler. I almost chucked the whole thing across the room. Then, and I kid you not, my cat, Mr. Fluffernutter, jumped on the needles. My stitches were so tight. So badly tight. But then... something clicked. It was like magic, a tiny, wobbly stitch at a time. It's not *intensely* hard, but it's not instant gratification either. Expect frustration. Accept it. Embrace the tangled yarn. You'll get there. Maybe. Eventually. (I still drop stitches constantly, by the way.)
Okay, I *think* I get it. But, what if I mess up? What happens then? Will the knitting police come after me?
Messing up? It's part of the *fun*! I mean, not really, but it happens to *everyone*. Seriously. I've ripped out entire sweaters because of one tiny mistake. (Okay, more like… several mistakes. But hey, who's counting?) The knitting police? Fortunately, they don't exist. Unless you're knitting something truly heinous, like a neon orange sweater vest. Embrace the mistakes. Learn from them. Call it "rustic charm". It's how you get better (ish).
What's the weirdest thing that's happened to you while doing this? Like, the *really* off-the-wall stuff?
Okay, this is a good one. Remember Mr. Fluffernutter, my cat? Well, I was working on a scarf – a magnificent, albeit slightly wonky, scarf. I'd been at it for *weeks*. I left it balanced on the arm of the sofa for five minutes while I went to grab a snack. Five minutes! When I got back, that fluffy menace had... *eaten* a whole section of my scarf. Like, a giant chunk. I swear, I almost cried. I had to frog (rip out all of the stitches) that part. I hate that part. A cat that eats yarn is a menace. And funny.
Are there any hidden downsides, like, any things that *everyone* forgets to mention?
Oh, yeah. Loads. First, yarn. It multiplies. Like bunnies. You’ll start with one skein, end up with an entire room dedicated to your yarn stash. And then there's the inevitable feeling of getting your hand/arm stuck when you use the wrong size needles. It's not fun. And then the yarn gets everywhere-- like those tumbleweeds in old westerns. Finally, and this is crucial: you'll start judging everyone's store-bought sweaters. Seriously, once you learn to knit (or whatever your thing is), you'll become a knitting snob. I'm not proud, but it's true. So be warned. It’s an addiction. Be prepared.
What's the BEST thing about this? Like, the *one* thing that makes it all worthwhile?
Definitely the feeling of creating something with your own two hands. The quiet, rhythmic click of the needles. The sense of accomplishment when you finally finish something, even a wonky scarf. Honestly, if it wasn't for the scarfs, I would probably just be watching TV. It gives me a sense of purpose. It's a small defiance against the chaos of the world. And sometimes, just sometimes, you create something actually beautiful. And that, my friend, is pretty darn amazing.
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