Lafayette Airport's BEST Kept Secret: Residence Inn Review!
Lafayette Airport's BEST Kept Secret: Residence Inn Review - Messy, Honest, and Full of (Occasional) Gold
Alright, folks. Buckle up. We're diving deep into the swamp that is hotel reviews. And today, we’re not just looking at a hotel; we're exploring the Residence Inn Lafayette Airport. Or, as I like to call it, the… well, let's find out what I call it at the end, shall we?
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First things first: Accessibility. I gotta say, the Residence Inn mostly gets this right. They’ve got Wheelchair accessible rooms, which is fantastic. The public areas seemed decent too, with Elevator access (phew!). Now, I didn't roll through the place in a wheelchair myself, but the layout appeared accommodating. They should definitely highlight their commitment more! We’ll ding them a little for not shouting it from the rooftops. This should be a huge selling point.
Next up, Internet. Yes! Glorious, free Wi-Fi in all rooms! Seriously, a godsend when you’re stuck in a hotel. Speeds were… passable. Let’s just say I didn't try to stream 4K. I did manage to get some work done, which is the main point. They also have Internet access - LAN, which, let's be real, who uses anymore? But hey, it's there.
Cleanliness and Safety: Okay, this is where things really matter these days. I was actively looking for signs of their COVID-19 Protocols. They had Anti-viral cleaning products in use, and the staff were definitely attentive. I saw them actively Daily disinfection in common areas. They also had Hand sanitizer stations and were Staff trained in safety protocol, which is reassuring. However, I didn't see specific evidence of Rooms sanitized between stays, and there was no Room sanitization opt-out available. Still, I felt pretty safe. Let’s call this a solid B+.
Dining, Drinking, and Snacking: Alright, the breakfast situation. Here's the big one. They have Breakfast [buffet]. Now, the food itself? Standard hotel fare. Waffles, scrambled eggs, the usual suspects. But, BUT! They also had (Breakfast takeaway service). Thank GOD. Because sometimes, you just want to grab a coffee and a muffin and run. Also, they have a Coffee shop, which, again, is a lifesaver.
I didn't hit up the Bar, but it was there. I also didn’t see any Asian cuisine or specifically Salad in restaurant. Which is fine. Nothing to write home about, but nothing to complain about.
Services and Conveniences: This is where the Residence Inn really shines. The Daily housekeeping was prompt and efficient. I love a good clean room. The Laundry service was a huge bonus. The Concierge was friendly and helpful. They even offer Food delivery, which is perfect for those late-night cravings. This gets a big thumbs up from me!
For the kids: They're Family/child friendly, which is great. They did not have a Babysitting service listed.
Getting Around: They have a Car park [free of charge] – Hallelujah! No hidden parking fees! They also offer Airport transfer, which is perfect if you're, you know, flying in!
Available in All Rooms: Now, for the actual room itself. I had a Non-smoking room (thankfully!). The Air conditioning worked a DREAM. Essential! And they had a Refrigerator, Mini bar (which I didn’t use, but it was there!), Coffee/tea maker, Alarm clock, Hair dryer, Ironing facilities (bless!), In-room safe box, and of course, Wi-Fi [free]. A decent Desk for working. The Blackout curtains were also crucial for catching up on some sleep. The Bed was comfortable enough. Nothing fancy, but I slept well.
Things to do, ways to relax: The Swimming pool [outdoor] looked inviting, though I didn't actually take a dip (shocker, I know). They also have a Fitness center, which I didn’t use (again! Shame on me!).
Now, for the messy, human, and opinionated bits…
Okay, so here’s the thing. I booked this hotel because (a) it was close to the airport (duh) and (b) it had good reviews. And honestly? I found it to be… fine. Perfectly fine.
The Staff were genuinely friendly. The place didn't feel dirty, which is always a win. The Breakfast was… well, free breakfast. Let's just say, I preferred the coffee more than the food.
One thing that irked me was the noise. While they claim to have Soundproof rooms, I could still hear the faint drone of the airport (which, let’s face it, is unavoidable), and the occasional slamming door.
I also had a slight issue with the TV. It seemed like it took a full minute to load.
The Good Stuff: The location! The proximity to the airport made everything so easy. The Free Wi-Fi was a lifesaver for work. The Cleanliness was a huge plus.
The Bad Stuff: The noise. The slightly underwhelming breakfast. The slightly average TV.
My verdict?
This isn’t a fancy hotel. Don't expect bells and whistles. But it's clean, conveniently located, and provides all the essentials. It's a reliable option if you’re just looking for a comfortable place to crash before or after a flight.
So, what do I call it?
The Residence Inn Lafayette Airport? It's the… "Solid Airport Layover Savior"! Not glamorous, not particularly memorable, but gets the job done and might just save your sanity when you're exhausted and waiting for your flight.
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Okay, here goes! Buckle up, buttercups, because this isn't your mama's boring itinerary. This is… me, trying to wrestle a logical schedule out of a Louisiana adventure, all while battling jet lag and the siren song of those tiny waffle makers.
Residence Inn Lafayette Airport - The Cajun Crawl (with a side of existential dread)
Day 1: Arrival & Swamp Fever (and the battle for complimentary breakfast)
- 1:00 PM: Finally landed! Southwest was late, naturally. And my luggage? Separated at birth from another black suitcase, somewhere near Dallas. (I swear, the baggage carousel is a cruel, slow-moving purgatory.) Luckily, the Residence Inn is blessedly close to the Lafayette Airport. Check-in was a breeze… except the clerk, bless her heart, was SO slow. Is it Louisiana pace? Am I the impatient New Yorker? Or is this just… Monday?
- 1:30 PM: Room acquired! And… it’s actually pretty decent. Not gonna lie, I dig the mini-kitchen. Thinking of making a midnight snack of instant ramen and despair. Also, a minor victory: I scored a room on a high floor. Less likely to be overrun by… things.
- 2:00 PM: Gotta love a hotel with a pool. So, I head down to the pool, you know, to relax after the travel. Pool is ok, not very clean, I guess?
- 3:00 PM: Okay, the humidity is… a thing. I've sweated more in the past hour than in all my previous yoga classes combined. Realizing I'm probably going to have to shower twice a day. Welcome to the South, I guess.
- 4:00 PM: Driving through Lafayette. It doesn't look like New Orleans, and it's a little… sleepy. But hey, everyone seems friendly.
- 6:00 PM: Okay, so, I'm realizing I'm hungry. Really hungry. And the complimentary breakfast situation? It's a war zone. I swear, people are circling the waffle makers like hyenas. I got a waffle (which was decent), but the juice tasted suspiciously like colored water. Sigh. Gotta remember to hit up a grocery store tomorrow morning before it gets decimated again.
- 7:00 PM: Dinner at Prejean's Restaurant. Recommended by… everyone. And they weren’t lying. The crawfish étouffée was a religious experience. I almost licked the bowl. Almost. The live music was… a bit loud, but the energy was infectious. And the fried alligator? Don't judge me. Surprisingly delicious. My first real taste of Louisiana, and so far, so good. Except for the bill. Ouch.
- 9:00 PM: Attempting to decompress in my room. Scrolling through social media, feeling slightly lonely because I am single by my choice, and the internet is doing that thing where it suddenly decides to be slow as molasses. Bedtime story: "The Complete Idiot’s Guide to Crawfish." Sounds about right.
Day 2: Bayou Bliss (and a near-death experience with a gator)
- 7:00 AM: Okay, the alarm went off. That waffle situation is now a full-blown obsession, so I dash down to the complimentary breakfast before the feeding frenzy begins. Success!
- 9:00 AM: Swamp Tour! Okay, I was ready. It was supposed to be scenic and educational. What I didn't anticipate was the sheer… presence of the bayou. This place is alive. The air is thick, heavy with the smell of… well, swamp. And the gators? They're practically posing for Instagram.
- The Gator Encounter: We got close, very close, to at least one grumpy reptile. The guide, a grizzled Cajun, used a bit of chicken on a stick to lure a huge gator, it was like something from a movie! And I swear, for a split second, it looked directly at me with cold, calculating eyes. I may have screamed like a small child. I'm not proud, but I'm also not dead. And now I can tell people I stared death in the face.
- The Birds: And the birds! So many birds. I saw a beautiful Heron.
- 12:00 PM: Lunch at a random roadside diner, "Mama Sue's Eats & Treats." The portions were enormous. (Everything is enormous here.) And the pecan pie? My stomach is still smiling. Might need to cancel my dinner plans.
- 2:00 PM: Driving around the local area and exploring the small town.
- 5:00 PM: Dinner at Bon Creole Restaurant. I asked for some Cajun food, and wow.
- 6:30 PM: Back to the hotel. The pool is less crowded now. Taking a dip.
- 8:00 PM Bedtime.
Day 3: Culture, Cuisine, and the Quest for the Perfect Coffee
- 7:00 AM: Wake up, waffle time! And find out I have a bunch of notifications from a dating app. Wow. No thanks.
- 9:00 AM: Vermilionville Historic Village. Time to get cultured! This place is a living history museum, a village from the 1700s. I wandered through the creole houses, listened to some music, watched someone making a quilt. Very educational and interesting.
- 12:00 PM: Lunch at a local place.
- 2:00 PM: I was craving coffee, real coffee, not the hotel stuff. This is the mission for the rest of the day.
- 4:00 PM: Walking around the area.
- 6:00 PM: Okay, I am determined to find the best coffee. And I did! Finally, a cup of coffee that tasted like actual coffee.
- 7:00 PM: Dinner at a bar.
- 9:00 PM: Back to the hotel. Time to plan my next adventure!
Day 4: Departure (and the lingering aroma of étouffée)
- 7:00 AM: The last breakfast waffle. I think my arteries will survive.
- 9:00 AM: Last look at the swamp pool. Farewell, you humid friend!
- 10:00 AM: Pack, check out. Did I remember everything? Probably not. My luggage will probably go on a completely separate journey.
- 12:00 PM: Head to the airport. I'm sad to be leaving, but I'm also ready for a shower. And maybe, just maybe, to swear off fried food for a week. (Famous last words, I know.)
- Departure: Heading back home.
This, folks, is the honest, messy, and imperfect reality of a trip to Lafayette. I hope it gave you a laugh and maybe, just maybe, a little inspiration to plan your own adventure. And if you see a lost black suitcase wandering around, tell it I said hello.
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Lafayette Airport's "Best Kept Secret" - Residence Inn: FAQ (With a *Lot* of Opinions)
Seriously, is the Residence Inn at Lafayette Airport *really* that good? Everyone's raving!
Okay, buckle up, because this is where it gets tricky. "Good"? Yeah, mostly. *Really* good? That depends on your tolerance for airport hotel weirdness and how much you value a decent free breakfast before a painfully early flight. Look, I’ve stayed in my share of dives – places where the free coffee tasted suspiciously like motor oil and the "continental breakfast" consisted of sad, individually-wrapped muffins. The Residence Inn *does* beat those places, let's just say that.
The hype is real, *to a point*. I mean, it’s not the Ritz, okay? If you're expecting luxury, you're in the wrong state. But if you're after clean, spacious rooms, a surprisingly decent pool (more on that later), and a *decent* free breakfast (with actual *sausage* sometimes!), then yeah, it’s a solid win.
**Anecdote Time:** I was once there, and I swear I saw a guy doing jumping jacks in the lobby at 5:30 AM. I think he'd just gotten off a red-eye and was fueled only by stress and instant coffee. He looked... enthusiastic. That, my friends, pretty much sums up the Residence Inn experience. Enthusiastically adequate.
Let's talk breakfast. Is it truly as glorious as the internet claims?
Breakfast... ah, the battleground of the weary traveler. Here's the cold, hard truth: it's *better* than most, but not award-winning. The scrambled eggs are usually… well, definitely eggs. The bacon, sometimes crispy, sometimes… not so much. The make-your-own waffles? A *chef's kiss*. Always a highlight, even if you end up wearing a tiny, sugary waffle on your shirt.
The ambiance, though… that’s where things get interesting. Picture this: bleary-eyed people navigating the buffet with the grace of a tipsy flamingo, the gentle hum of the coffee machine, and the quiet desperation radiating from everyone trying to maximize their pre-flight caffeine intake. It’s a beautifully chaotic scene, really.
**My personal tip:** Get there EARLY. Seriously. Because by 7:30 AM, all the good stuff is gone, the sausage that wasn't a rubbery puck is gone, and you're left staring at the limp remains of previously-happy pastries. I learned this the hard way. The *very* hard way.
What about the rooms? Are they actually spacious? That's what keeps popping up in reviews...
Spacious? YES. Yes, they are. Compared to the shoeboxes I’ve been crammed into at other airport hotels, the Residence Inn rooms are like little mini-apartments. You've got actual space to, you know, *live*. A separate sitting area, a small kitchenette (microwave, fridge… important for late-night snacks), and usually a comfortable bed. Now, it's not a penthouse suite, but it's enough to make you feel human again after a long day of travel.
And the bathrooms! Clean. Sufficiently stocked with towels and the standard travel-sized toiletries, the bathroom really allows you to regain some semblance of you, and to feel like you can at least *appear* presentable enough to tackle the upcoming day.
**Quirk Alert:** I once stayed in a room where the air conditioning sounded like a dying walrus. I mean, it was *loud*. Kept me up all night, which meant the next day was going to be a pure nightmare. I finally called the front desk, and they gave me a new room. Now *that* is service, even if that weird sound in the old room has permanently warped my ability to experience total quiet now!
That pool... is it worth a dip?
Okay, the pool. This is where the Residence Inn really shines… or at least, *gleams*. It's outside, which, in Louisiana, is a godsend. It's usually clean (important!), and sometimes, if you're lucky, you might even have it to yourself. **Anecdote Time, Doubled Down:** I once arrived at the pool at, like, 9 PM after a flight delay that felt like a personal betrayal by the airlines. I was *miserable*. Completely frayed. And then I dipped into the water, and… instant zen. The jets were a tad anemic, but the warm water and the quiet… pure bliss. I stayed in there for an hour, probably creating several wrinkles which I didn't care for. Then, *bam*, on another stay, there were like, a dozen kids cannonballing their way into the pool. Suddenly, my zen had evaporated. That's the gamble with the pool. It can be a soothing oasis, or a splash zone. It's a risk, a gamble I am willing to take!
Location, location, location! Is it really *that* convenient for the airport?
Oh, absolutely. The Residence Inn is practically *on* the airport grounds. Like, you could *probably* walk to the terminal (though I wouldn't recommend it with luggage). The shuttle is prompt and efficient. No agonizing rides through traffic, no expensive taxi fares. This is a huge win. Especially when you’re tired and just want to collapse into a bed.
**The Only Real Downside (Sometimes):** You get *occasional* plane noise. It's not terrible, but if you're a light sleeper, pack earplugs. Or embrace the sound of freedom taking flight!
Anything I should absolutely avoid? Any potential deal-breakers?
Okay, the few things that can occasionally make me go "hmmm...":
* **The elevators.** Sometimes they're slow. Especially during peak times (breakfast, check-out). Get ready to embrace your inner patience.
* **The Wi-Fi.** It's usually okay, but on occasion, it has a mind of its own. Consider downloading your entertainment before you arrive.
* **The occasional loud guest.** Airport hotels attract all sorts. And sometimes, those sorts like to party. If you're unlucky, you might get stuck near a reveler.
**Overall:** The Residence Inn at Lafayette Airport is a solid choice. It’s not perfect, but it’s consistently *good enough*. If you need a convenient, comfortable, and (mostly) stress-free stay before or after your flight, this is definitely a strong contender. Just go in with realistic expectations, a healthy dose of humor, and maybe a pair of earplugs. You should be golden.
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