Cookeville's BEST Kept Secret: La Quinta Inn & Suites Review!
La Quinta Cookeville: Is This "Best Kept Secret" Worth the Hype? (Spoiler: It's Complicated)
Alright, buckle up buttercups, 'cause we're diving headfirst into the surprisingly complex world of the La Quinta Inn & Suites in Cookeville, Tennessee. Now, I've heard whispers. Legends, even, about this place being a "best kept secret." So, naturally, I had to investigate. And let me tell you, it's not quite the gleaming, perfect utopia some folks may have painted it to be. But hey, that's life, innit?
First Impressions & the Accessibility Angle:
Rolling up, it's… well, it's a La Quinta. You know the drill. Beige brick, maybe a vaguely Southwestern influence (or maybe I want it to be Southwestern). The important thing? Accessibility. This is a BIG deal for me, especially after a recent… incident (let's just say a rogue curb and I aren't on speaking terms).
- Wheelchair accessible? Yep. Ramps, elevators, the whole shebang. Score one for La Quinta. Finding my way around was generally smooth sailing.
- Facilities for disabled guests? They claim it, and I can see evidence. I mean, the rooms mention accessible features like grab bars, which is a plus, even though there were occasional tight squeezes. I'm talking about the bathroom, here.
- Elevator: Working. Praise the heavens! Climbing stairs is not my idea of a good time.
- Check-in/out [express]: This could be a blessing or a curse. Depends on your mood. I lean towards blessing.
- Front desk [24-hour]: Another plus. Late-night snack cravings are a real thing, people.
Roomy Realities: What's Inside… and the Occasional Quirks
Okay, let's talk rooms. This is where things get… interesting.
- Wi-Fi [free]: YES! Essential for a modern traveler like myself. And I'm happy to report the signal was actually decent most of the time. (I hate hotels with terrible Wi-Fi. It's practically a crime against humanity.)
- Air conditioning: Essential in Tennessee's swampy climate. And it worked! Hallelujah.
- Coffee/tea maker: Okay, so this is important. Because you need a wake up shot of Caffeine. I had a mini heart attack when I found one.
- Refrigerator: Yes. Another score. Crucial for keeping those leftover biscuits from the local diner fresh.
- Blackout curtains: Thank heavens for these. Tennessee sunshine can be brutal, and I value my sleep.
- Desk: Crucial for the modern traveler.
I'm not going to lie. The room was… clean. Kinda bland, but clean. No weird smells, which sometimes speaks volumes in the world of hotels.
- Internet access – LAN: Present, but I preferred the Wi-Fi. It’s the future, people!
- Safe box: Meh. I didn't use it. I'm not carrying around enough valuables to warrant the fuss.
- Alarm clock: Okay. Fine. It worked.
- Mirror: Lots of mirrors. Which is good for a person who likes to check their hair.
The Sanitization Shuffle (And the Pre-COVID Vibe):
Now, let's address the elephant (or, rather, the sanitization fogger) in the room. This was pre-COVID, let's just get that straight.
- Room sanitization opt-out available: Honestly, I didn't even think to check. I'm a bit of a "live and let live" kind of person.
- Rooms sanitized between stays: They said they did. You gotta trust the process, right? (Unless it's the government, but that's another rant for another day.)
- Daily disinfection in common areas: Again, they said.
Dining, Drinking & the Occasional Cravings:
Alright, time to talk eats. This is where La Quinta… isn't exactly a culinary mecca.
- Breakfast [buffet]: This is the classic La Quinta staple. Waffles, eggs, maybe some sad-looking sausage. It's… fine. Fills a hole. Don’t expect Michelin star quality, though.
- Coffee/tea in restaurant: Yep. Standard stuff.
- Breakfast takeaway service: Yes, but you might as well just eat there. It's not exactly a Michelin star experience.
Important Note: There is a "Snack bar" listed. Whether this is actually a vending machine or something more exciting, I can not tell you, as I did not partake.
The "Things to Do" That (Mostly) Aren't There:
Alright, so here's where the "BEST kept secret" thing starts to crumble a little.
- Swimming pool [outdoor]: Exist. A pool! Big plus. Looks inviting, even. Didn't go in, though, I have a phobia of water bugs.
- Fitness center: Actually, I did use it. It's basic, but it's there. Treadmills, weights… good enough to work off all those buffet waffles.
- Spa, Sauna: Nope. Zero. Nothing. Don't even think about it.
- Massage, Steamroom: You're in Cookeville, not Bali, pal. Adjust your expectations.
- Pool with view: Nope. Just a standard-issue pool.
Services and Conveniences (The Good, the Bad, and the Forgettable):
- Laundry service: Yes, which is awesome.
- Cash withdrawal: Yes. Useful, but I prefer to use my card.
- Daily housekeeping: Check.
- Dry cleaning: Yes.
- Luggage storage, Concierge: Yes. (They might be useful for the "average" person.)
- Gift/souvenir shop: Nope.
- Air conditioning in public area, Elevator: Always helpful in Tennessee.
The Quirks and the Caveats (Because No Hotel is Perfect):
- Pets allowed: Okay so, it's a mixed bag. They say they don't allow pets. However, during my stay, I heard a faint bark now and then. I honestly did not mind.
- Car park [free of charge]: A necessity, in my opinion.
- Car park [on-site]: It's there. No complaints.
- Exterior corridor: Kinda… meh. Not the fanciest vibe
- Non-smoking rooms: Yes. (But the smoking area is right outside the door. So… close enough?)
- Staff trained in safety protocol: I didn't exactly quiz them about this, but they seemed… professional.
The Verdict: Is La Quinta Cookeville a "Best Kept Secret"?
Look, is it a five-star luxury resort? Absolutely not. But is it a solid, reliable, and relatively affordable option for Cookeville? Yeah, probably.
The Good:
- Accessibility: Very accessible.
- Reliable internet.
- Free breakfast (even if it IS just waffles).
- Clean rooms.
- Friendly enough staff.
The Not-So-Good:
- No spa or fancy amenities.
- The "vibe" is… generic.
- The location is a bit off the beaten path.
The Bottom Line:
If you're looking for a comfortable, convenient, and reasonably priced place to stay in Cookeville, La Quinta is a decent choice. Don't expect miracles, but you'll probably be happy. It's not a "best kept secret" in the sense of being some hidden gem. It's more like a "good, reliable workhorse" of a hotel. And sometimes, that's all you need. Do not come expecting "resort" type luxuries. Come expecting a good place, and you will leave satisfied.
Butte's BEST Hotel? La Quinta Inn & Suites Review!
Okay, buckle up, buttercups, because this isn't your grandma's itinerary. This is my itinerary, and it’s heading straight for the La Quinta Inn & Suites in Cookeville, Tennessee. Prepare for the glorious mess that is my brain on… well, on life, really.
Day 1: Arrival and the Quest for Cleanliness (and Caffeine)
- 1:00 PM - ARRIVAL AT COOKEVILLE, TN: Okay, first things first: traffic. Always underestimated. It took longer than Expedia promised, and I’m already hangry (hungry AND grumpy). The GPS kept yelling at me ("Recalculating! Recalculating!"). My car's already covered in a lovely layer of… well, Tennessee road grime. Charming.
- 1:30 PM - CHECK-IN at La Quinta: Here goes nothing. Praying for a friendly face at the front desk. Because after that drive, I might actually scream if someone's even mildly inconveniencing. Thank goodness, friendly face! And the key card… works! Minor victory. The room… let’s see… Oh, the smell. That classic "hotel smell." You know the one: vaguely floral, slightly stale, and somehow simultaneously clean and… not. I swear I can still smell the previous guest's, oh I dunno, maybe it was a pet, maybe it was just, you know, life. Either way, it's… there. Gonna have to open a window, immediately. (Note to self: Pack air freshener next time.)
- 2:00 PM - COFFEE EMERGENCY: Okay, the in-room Keurig… is a joke. Weak. Pathetic. The struggle becomes REAL. Gotta find coffee. (Rambling aside: I've had serious dark-roast withdrawals on trips before. Once, I practically begged a gas station attendant at 4 AM for a cup. Mortifying. Never again.) Google Maps says there's a Starbucks nearby. Thank GOD. This is becoming a matter of survival.
- 2:30 PM - COFFEE RESCUE: Starbucks: check. Extra shot of espresso: check. Sanity: tentatively restored. Okay, the Americano is a bit bitter, but compared to the Keurig disaster, it's ambrosia. I am now, again, a functioning human.
- 3:00 PM - UNPACKING and the Art of Hotel Room Organization (attempted): I lay my bags down on the bed, and then I realize… I have no idea where to start. Shoes? Toiletries? Half-eaten bag of chips? The room slowly starts becoming a disaster zone. Gotta find the outlets for phone charging. And the Wi-Fi password. And… Okay, I surrender. I'm just gonna throw my clothes on the chair for now. Deep breath.
- 4:00 PM - EXPLORATION AND A TASTE OF COOKEVILLE: Time to venture forth! I've heard there's a nice downtown area. I'm thinking a walk, some window shopping. Maybe a bite to eat. Probably something fried. Tennessee, right? (And yes, I'm already getting hungry again. The never-ending cycle of food obsession is a curse and a blessing.)
Day 2: Waterfall Wonders and a Dinner That Went Sideways
- 8:00 AM - BREKKIE (or lack thereof): The "free breakfast" at the La Quinta… Well, let's just say I'm not holding my breath. The usual suspects are there, I suppose: soggy waffles, mysterious sausage, and the always-questionable yogurt. I grab a banana and a coffee (a better coffee, thanks to my new travel mug) and bolt.
- 9:00 AM - WATERFALLS, WATERFALLS, EVERYWHERE: Okay, now this is what I came for! Cummins Falls State Park is calling my name. (Well, the signs are.) The drive is gorgeous. The walk down to the falls… not so much. Like, seriously downhill. My knees are screaming. But the falls! Magnificent! The water cascading down in a glittering curtain… Honestly, it's worth the aching legs. I can't even begin to describe it, but, well, wow.
- 12:00 PM - PICNIC LUNCH (or the Great Sandwich Debacle): Packed a picnic! (Proud moment.) Ham and cheese sandwiches, some chips, and a bottle of water. Except… the ham tastes vaguely of cardboard. And the cheese is… sweating. I'm eating a sandwich, essentially, of wet cardboard and… orange plastic? I'm pretty sure the birds are staring at me suspiciously. I vow never to pack a picnic again. (Until tomorrow, of course.)
- 3:00 PM - R&R (and Possibly a Nap): Back at the La Quinta. My legs are toast. I need to lie down. I also consider ordering more coffee (always).
- 7:00 PM - DINNER FIASCO: Okay, this is where things REALLY go sideways. I found a highly-rated "local gem" restaurant, and thought "Perfect!" I got there, it was crowded. I was seated, the waitstaff was rushed and stressed. The menu… well, let's just say my expectations were high. The food. The food was… something. My "signature dish" arrived, and looked… interesting. (I'll spare you the details, but the word "mystery meat" comes to mind.) I ate, and, well, let's just say… I regretted it. (And I shall not be reviewing it online. No, no, NO.) I'm pretty sure I'm going to be up all night regretting the experience.
Day 3: Departure (and a Final Plea for Hope)
- 8:00 AM - BREAKFAST (take two, and a prayer): Back at the La Quinta breakfast. And now, I'm traumatized by the previous night's dinner. I grab a waffle. It's not great, but it's… edible. Small victories.
- 9:00 AM - CHECKOUT and the Hotel Room Aftermath: It's time to leave! Hopefully, I didn't leave anything behind that I'll desperately miss. I have a quick survey of the room, and it looks how I expected: clothes here and there, wrappers of food, and who knows what else, everywhere. Oh, well, I'll leave it for cleaning.
- 9:30 AM - GOODBYE, COOKEVILLE!: Okay, time to blast some music and hit the road. I'm leaving with a mixture of relief and… well, I don't know. I did enjoy my stay in Cookeville. I'll miss the waterfalls, but I am also ready to go home.
Final Thoughts:
- The La Quinta: Average. It did its job.
- Cookeville: Definitely worth exploring, especially if you like waterfalls and don't mind a little… adventure with your dining.
- Me: Exhausted, slightly traumatized by the dinner situation, and already planning where I'm going next. The adventure continues!
La Quinta Cookeville: Best Kept Secret... or Just a Room? My Honest Ramblings
Seriously, is La Quinta Cookeville *really* a "best kept secret"? I've seen some reviews...
Okay, let's get real. The "best kept secret" title? That's a *bit* of a stretch. More like "Pleasant Place to crash after driving for 6 hours and you're too tired to care about anything fancy." I saw it thrown around, and honestly, it got me intrigued. I thought, "Ooh, hidden gem! Cheap thrills! Secret stash of cookies by the front desk!" Nope. But hey, it's not *bad*. It’s… serviceable. And sometimes, that’s all you really need when you're in Cookeville, Tennessee. Especially if, like me, you're just passing through on your way to somewhere else (likely the Smokies, am I right?).
The Breakfast: Gotta Know. Tell me *everything* about the breakfast. The truth!
Alright, the breakfast. Here's where things get... interesting. It's the classic La Quinta spread, bless their cotton socks. The usual suspects: waffles you make yourself (YES!), questionable scrambled eggs that seem to be made of hope and processed cheese, pre-packaged pastries that are better than my grandma's dentures, and those little yogurts that stare back at you with judgement in their tiny plastic cups. One morning, I swear I saw the same guy back for *seconds* on the waffles, and I'm not one to judge, because I was right behind him. Waffles and coffee... breakfast of champions when you're on the road. The coffee? Eh. Drinkable. Stronger than the motel coffee of yesteryear but still not going to win any awards. They also had a little juice machine – orange, apple, the usual suspects. Pro tip: the orange juice might secretly *be* orange-flavored high fructose corn syrup water. But hey, it's free! And it wakes you up! (Maybe.)
Rooms: Are they clean? What about the beds?
Okay, the rooms. This is where La Quinta doesn't wildly disappoint, which is a *win*. They're... clean. Not sparkling, "OMG I can see my soul in the shine!" clean, but clean enough. The bathrooms are okay. The towels were… well, they were towels. They did the job. I didn’t find anything *specifically* gross, which, in the world of budget travel, is a triumph. The beds? Comfortable enough. Look, I've slept on worse (a lumpy air mattress in a tent during a freak thunderstorm, *shudders*). They're not plush luxury mattresses, but they're not hard slabs of concrete either. I got a decent night's sleep. And that's the point, right? To wake up and realize you were asleep.
Did you encounter any… *characters*? You know, the kind of people who make travel memorable?
Oh, the characters. Yes. Absolutely. At the front desk, there was this woman, bless her soul, who reminded me of my Aunt Mildred. Friendly, a little chatty, and she seemed genuinely happy to be there. She asked me about my trip. "Y'all headed to the mountains? Gorgeous this time of year! Just be careful, honey, the leaves are slippery!" Sweet. Then there was the guy at breakfast. The Waffle King. He was wearing a baseball cap and had a newspaper tucked under his arm, and he moved with the quiet efficiency of someone who’d perfected the art of the breakfast buffet. He ate *at least* four waffles. I just *knew* he was a regular. They also had a "cat" resident, I kid you not. It was a very well-fed, possibly feral, very photogenic cat.
Any downsides? Anything that made you think, "Ugh, I should have booked the Ritz-Carlton…"?
Okay, the downsides. Well, the walls aren't exactly soundproof. I *may* or *may not* have overheard a heated discussion about the merits of pickleball at 3 AM. It's only a maybe, as it was so loud, I am 90% sure it was just one door away, and the acoustics are *amazing* there. And the Wi-Fi? Let’s just say it’s functional, not Ferrari-fast. But hey, it *worked*. And that is enough for me. Also, the pool was… I didn't go in, but it *looked* clean from a distance. It was October, and it wasn't exactly inviting. And some of the hallways smelled a little bit like industrial cleaner mixed with sadness. But, honestly, what do you expect for the price? It's not the Ritz-Carlton, no, but it's not the Bates Motel, either. You take your wins where you can get them, people.
Okay, so… would you recommend it? The *real* truth, now.
Okay, the final verdict. Would I recommend La Quinta Cookeville? For a no-frills, budget-friendly stopover? Yes. Absolutely. If you're just looking for a clean(ish), comfortable(ish) place to sleep and grab a waffle before hitting the road, then it's perfectly fine. Don't go in expecting luxury. Don't expect world-class cuisine. Do expect friendly service and a generally hassle-free experience. It's not going to blow your mind, but it'll get the job done. It's a solid, reliable option. And hey, maybe you'll meet the Waffle King. Or the cat. And don't forget, don't expect "best kept secret" levels of anything. Just a room. And that, sometimes, is enough.
Post a Comment for "Cookeville's BEST Kept Secret: La Quinta Inn & Suites Review!"