Bloomington's BEST Hotel? TownePlace Suites Review (You Won't Believe This!)
TownePlace Suites Bloomington: My (Unbelievably) Honest Take - Prepare for Some Real Talk!
Okay, folks, buckle up. This isn't your sanitized, corporate-speak hotel review. I'm about to spill the beans on my recent stay at the TownePlace Suites in Bloomington, and let me tell you, you're in for a ride. Forget the cookie-cutter descriptions; we're diving deep into the good, the bad, and the slightly… odd experiences I had.
First Impression: Accessibility & The "Welcome!" That Wasn't
Right off the bat, let's talk about the important stuff. Accessibility. The website says accessible, and hey, the lobby looked pretty accessible, with a ramp and elevators. I didn’t personally need any specific accessibility features myself, but I gave it a good once-over and thought it looked adequate. Wheelchair accessible seemed reasonable from what I could see.
The check-in? Well, that's where things got…interesting. The front desk staff, bless their hearts, weren't exactly bursting with enthusiasm. It was like they'd been warned about the possibility of, you know, guests. Not a huge deal, I get it, it’s a job, but a genuine "Welcome to Bloomington!" or even a hint of a smile would have been nice. Especially after my ridiculously long drive.
Rooms, Rooms, Glorious (and Sometimes Questionable) Rooms!
Okay, the rooms. Let's get into it. Available in all rooms – Air conditioning: Check. Alarm clock: Yep. Bathtub, Bathrobes: Yep and double-yep! I LOVE a robe, and this one was surprisingly plush. Definitely made up for the lack of a smiling face at check-in. Coffee/tea maker: Essential. Mini bar: Nope, sadly. Would have been great after that drive. But hey, you get Free bottled water! So there's that.
Internet access – wireless: Excellent, and thankfully, Free Wi-Fi in all rooms! This is a must these days, seriously. I'm a digital nomad, and I need to stay connected. The Wi-Fi was surprisingly reliable, which is a huge win. I mean, I worked from the room mostly, I needed it and it was good. Internet access – LAN? Well, I didn’t see a physical ethernet port, but I’m guessing it’s there?
The decorations were, uh, functional. Not going to lie, it felt like someone picked out the furniture at, like, 3 a.m., and then gave up on the art. But hey, it was clean! (More on that later).
There was a desk and laptop workspace perfect for getting work done. A refrigerator to store those road trip snacks (and maybe a sneaky beverage or two). And the blackout curtains were an absolute godsend. I slept like a baby. Or, you know, like a slightly-over-caffeinated adult.
Cleanliness and Safety: The COVID Era Edition
Okay, this is where TownePlace Suites actually won some serious points. Cleanliness was clearly a priority. They had the usual signs about Rooms sanitized between stays. I saw Anti-viral cleaning products being used. They even had a little card in the room saying you could say no to room service too. ( Room sanitization opt-out available)
Staff trained in safety protocol - I saw the cleaning crew and seemed to be, at least.
Cashless payment service was readily available (thank the universe!). Hand sanitizer dispensers were EVERYWHERE. Felt reassuring, considering the current climate. Face masks were worn by all staff.
I felt safe, which is HUGE.
The "Relaxation Zone" (More Like the "Potential Relaxation Zone")
Alright, let's talk about the fun stuff. Fitness center. Yes, I saw a gym. I didn’t use it. I walked by. It looked… gym-y. With treadmills and weights and things. There was a Swimming pool [outdoor]. But not much of one! A small space and I didn’t see anyone swimming! And the pool area lacked that extra something, you know? The vibe.
Dining, Drinking, and Snacking: The Breakfast Saga
Ah, breakfast. The most critical part of a hotel stay, am I right? Breakfast [buffet] – yes. The breakfast was, well… let's call it adequate. Think the usual continental suspects: Western breakfast, a bit of scrambled eggs (thank goodness), waffles, some fruit. There were Individual wrapped food options, which made me feel safer, and there was Coffee/tea in restaurant. No Asian breakfast options when I was there.
One morning, I witnessed what I can only describe as a breakfast buffet standoff. A woman, bless her heart, was attempting to delicately transport a precarious tower of waffles, eggs, and fruit to her table. And then, disaster. The plate gave way. Waffles cascaded onto the carpet. Eggs splattered. The fruit… well, let’s just say it didn’t survive the fall. The staff, to their credit, handled it with grace and even brought her another plate. It was pure chaos, and yet, strangely heart-warming. It’s experiences like these that stick with you, you know?
Services and Conveniences: The Little Things
They offered Daily housekeeping, which was generally good. Elevator access. A Convenience store for those last-minute snack attacks. Laundry service. The usual round-up.
Getting Around
They offered Car park [free of charge]. Big win. Car park [on-site]: Definitely. Airport transfer?? No, which isn't a massive shock, because it’s a TownePlace Suites, but still…
The Verdict: Would I Go Back?
Look, TownePlace Suites in Bloomington isn't the Ritz. It's not glamorous. It's not perfect. But it's clean, generally comfortable, and the Wi-Fi works. The staff could use a dose of sunshine, but hey, we all have our off days. For the price, I'd probably go back. It’s a solid, dependable option. And who knows, maybe next time I go, the breakfast buffet will be a little less… dramatic.
Escape to Paradise: Mont Gabriel's Unforgettable Getaway
Alright, buckle up buttercups. This ain't your grandma's itinerary! This is a chaotic, beautiful, slightly-unhinged account of my recent "adventure" at the TownePlace Suites in Bloomington, Indiana. Prepare for spilled coffee, existential dread in the face of continental breakfast, and a whole lot of opinionated rambling. You were warned.
My TownePlace Suites Bloomington - The "Almost Peaceful Getaway" (aka, Mostly Just Staying Alive)
Day 1: Arrival and the Initial Glow of Optimism (Spoiler: It Fades)
1:00 PM: Check-in… Smooth(ish) Sailing: Arrived, slightly frazzled from the drive. The desk clerk, Chad (bless his heart, he looked like he’d seen some things), managed to get me checked in despite my frantic search for my reservation confirmation email (always forget to keep it). First impressions are important and, well, the lobby smelled remarkably neutral. Good start! Initial excitement. Hotel life is good.
1:30 PM: Room Reconnaissance and the Mystery of the Kitchenette: Ah, the suite life. I'd sprung for the "kitchenette." I picture myself whipping up gourmet meals. Reality? A microwave, a (possibly judging) tiny fridge, and a sink. I decide to try the TV, "oh, I can actually see the TV! Great, now to figure out the remote.." wait how can i use the remote. I can see the buttons. The numbers.. the volume bar! I did it, i found my favorite channel.
2:00 PM: The Great Bloomington Grocery Hunt: (aka, “Finding Edible Substances”) Armed with a hand-written list (because I’m cool), I bravely venture out to find… food. Turns out, Bloomington has a lot of, like, colleges. Which translates to… a whole lotta college students. The grocery store was a glorious mess of overflowing shelves, questionable produce, and the faint scent of desperation. I end up with a sad bag of pre-cut melon, a carton of yogurt that may or may not be expired, and enough instant oatmeal to feed a small army. At least I have a spoon?
3:30 PM: The Oatmeal Debacle: Back at the suite, I attempt to conquer the oatmeal. Fail. I pour too much water. It’s gloopy. I curse the invention of instant anything. I contemplate ordering pizza.
4:00 PM: Doomscrolling and the A/C Struggle: The A/C is either on "Arctic Blast" or "Off." No in-between. I attempt some work (a very necessary email) but instead start spiraling down a rabbit hole of Twitter. Then a news article. Then another. Before I know it, it’s dark. I’m wearing a sweater. Bloomington is in eternal night.
7:00 PM: Dinner… (sort of): Pizza it is. The pizza place is a local place, and judging by the stickers on the window, beloved. I am now a Bloomington local. I feel part of the community.
9:00 PM: Existential Dread and the Bed: I’m in bed. I should be reading, but instead I stare at the ceiling and wonder what my purpose is. Is it the lack of sleep? The gloopy oatmeal? I decide it's probably the hotel bed. The bed is fine, really. It's just… a hotel bed.
Day 2: Cultural Immersion, Breakfast Blues, and Questionable Decisions
7:00 AM: The Continental Breakfast Calamity: Okay, now for the moment of truth. The free breakfast. I steel myself for the worst. And… it’s actually not the worst. The waffles do a decent job of filling my stomach, even if half the syrup dispenser is out of order.
I find myself awkwardly eyeing other guests. Is that a dad with two kids? Is that someone on a business trip? Is that guy just staring at me? I quickly grab the coffee and head back to my room to reestablish my own comfort, and maybe start reading my book.
9:00 AM: Exploring the IU Campus: Okay, so the local culture is supposed to have "lots to do." I am a student of culture. I want to experience it. The Indiana University campus is beautiful, no doubt. The architecture is stunning, the green spaces sprawling. I wander around for a bit, feeling a little bit like a lost tourist. I saw a lot of students, a lot of classes, and a couple of squirrels that probably thought I was crazy. I decide to grab an "IU souvenir" from the bookstore, I pick a sticker for my laptop.
11:00 AM: The Art Museum (and the Unexpected Tears): I went to a local art museum, and it turned out to be something very special. The lighting, the artworks, it was so immersive. I found myself completely lost in a collection of modern art. One installation, a series of photographs, unexpectedly triggered some… feelings. I started to cry. Not full-on sobbing, but a few rogue tears. It was a weird, cathartic experience. I blame the lack of sleep. Or maybe art is just… powerful.
1:00 PM: Lunch… (or rather, attempted lunch): I wanted something light, so I try to find a cafe I saw on my walk earlier. It's packed. And the line is out the door. The wait is, in the grand scheme of things, not bad. But the thought of standing in line for an hour makes me want to go back to the hotel and not have lunch at all. I eat the second half of my sad melon.
2:30 PM: Back to the Suite and the Afternoon Slump: The post-art, post-sad melon, post-overwhelmed slump sets in. I want a nap, but I can't bring myself to lie on the bed. I attempt to organize my suitcase instead. This turns into a messy pile of clothes. I give up.
6:00 PM: The Evening Attempt at Sophistication: I try to do something fun. I find a local brewery. It has a nice tap and a great food menu. I go out and eat… and, I actually have fun! I meet someone! I'm feeling alive.
9:00 PM: Exhaustion Returns: I stumble back to my room. I'm tired. I'm full of food. The world is blurry.
Day 3: Departure (and the Sweet, Sweet Taste of Freedom)
8:00 AM: One Last Continental Breakfast and a Mental Breakdown: I attempt the breakfast again. I'm already dreading the drive home, so I can't even look at the coffee. I get a waffle and start thinking about getting home.
9:00 AM: Checkout and the Final Goodbye: I check out. Chad is working again. He smiles. I smile back. I almost feel like I've made a friend. Maybe he's seen some things, too. Or had breakfast.
9:30 AM - 12:30 PM: The Drive Home (and the Dream of a Real Meal): The drive home is, thankfully, uneventful. I go full-on autopilot. I stop for a burger (a real burger, not the grocery store kind). It's glorious.
Final Thoughts:
The TownePlace Suites was… a place. It was a place to sleep, a place to eat terrible breakfast. It provided a good base camp for my brief and, admittedly, slightly disastrous attempt at experiencing Bloomington. Would I go back? Maybe. But next time, I’m bringing a better grocery list, a functioning A/C unit, and a whole lot of anti-anxiety medication. And definitely my own coffee. God, I miss my coffee.
Escape to Comfort: MainStay Suites Cartersville Awaits!
So, is this TownePlace Suites *really* the "BEST Hotel" in Bloomington, like the clickbait title claims? Spill the tea!
Ugh, clickbait. Look, "best" is subjective, right? What's "best" for a minimalist might be a nightmare for yours truly, who travels with, like, three suitcases of "just in case" outfits. But, I will say, it's *definitely* up there. It's got this… relaxed vibe, which is either amazing or infuriating, depending on the day. Sometimes, felt like being in a friend's slightly-too-furnished apartment, which… honestly, I kind of dug. Other times? Okay, more on that later. Let's just say, it’s *definitely* not a cold, corporate hotel. I felt like, it had a soul, or something. Which matters, you know? Especially after a long travel day.
Let's talk rooms. What's the deal? Were they actually… *suites*?
Oh honey, YES. Suites, baby! And I’m talking actual suites, not just a room with a slightly bigger bed and a sad little microwave shoved in the corner. There was a separate living area with a pull-out sofa (which, side note, was surprisingly comfortable), a fully equipped kitchen (yes, a *real* kitchen!), and a bedroom. Now, my first thought? “Score! I can order pizza and *actually* eat it somewhere other than on a bed.” Which I totally did. The kitchen was well-equipped. They even had a decent coffeemaker, and a dishwasher. A dishwasher! I felt practically *spoiled*. The bedroom was a little cramped, but very functional. I liked that it had a door that closed, isolating yourself from any early morning business or, you know, a toddler from the pull-out sofa. Okay, so it was practical and I could actually RELAX. This part? WINNING. However, what about the cleanliness...?
Cleanliness? Be real. Hotels can be… *shady*.
Okay, alright, HERE'S where we have a slight… *situation*. Listen, I'm no germaphobe, but I do appreciate a clean space. First impression: pretty good. But then… I started *looking*. And, ugh, some spots were a bit… *suspect*. The kitchen countertops? Fine. The bathroom? Mostly clean. But there was a lingering stain on the sofa I'm still trying to explain. I tried to pretend it didn't exist, or that it was a fun tie-dye pattern or something. I won't go into detail, but let's just say I busted out the cleaning wipes I always travel with. I gave the place a once-over myself before settling in, and, look, after I cleaned, I was totally okay. I'm not judging, but it's something to be aware of. Maybe they need a little extra attention on those cleaning checklists or, you know, train their staff on the concept of "spot checking". Not a deal-breaker, but definitely a… *whispered note*.
Breakfast. The make-or-break for most travelers. What's the situation?
Okay, listen. The free breakfast? It was… adequate. Let's just say it's not exactly a gourmet experience. They had the usual suspects like scrambled eggs (which, I swear, sometimes came from a powder), dry cereal, some sad-looking fruit, and pre-packaged pastries. The coffee was actually surprisingly okay! But honestly? I'm a breakfast person. I NEED my scrambled eggs and sausage and, I'm sorry, but that wasn't being served. It felt a little… *assembly-line* at times, with the food just sitting under the heat lamps. However, being a free breakfast, I really can't complain. I mean you get what you pay for, right? So, I would recommend going around the corner to the cafe.
Amenities? Pool? Gym? Did they have anything fun?
Yes, they did! a decent pool! (though I didn't actually *use* it, because, you know, life), and a teeny-tiny gym. The gym was… well, it was there. A couple of treadmills, some weights. Nothing fancy, but enough to get a quick workout in. So, if you're a gym rat, don't expect a pristine, gold-plated experience. The business center was there. But the best amenity? The in-room Wi-Fi, which was fast!
The Staff? Were they friendly? Helpful? Just… present?
You know what? The staff were genuinely lovely and *trying*. The front desk people were super friendly and accommodating. I had a small issue with a leaky faucet, and they sent someone to fix it immediately. It was fixed in 10 minutes! They were always smiling, always willing to help with any questions. I felt like they actually *cared*. That goes a long way, you know? It's the little things. And they had cookies. Free cookies in the lobby. I rest my case.
Parking?! Always a nightmare!
Parking? Okay, the parking situation? Totally fine. Plenty of free parking right outside the hotel. No stress. No circling the block like a lunatic, which is always a huge win.
Okay, so… would you stay again? The final verdict!
Hmmmm… that's a good question! Despite my little nitpicks (and yes, the slight cleanliness concern), I'd say… YES. Overall, I really liked it. I loved the space, the kitchens, the friendly staff and the free parking. I'd go back. It had a good energy. I think it depends on your priorities. If you're super fussy about pristine cleanliness and gourmet breakfasts, maybe not. But if you want a comfortable, convenient, and relaxed stay with a decent space to spread out, TownePlace Suites in Bloomington is a solid choice. Just… maybe bring your own cleaning wipes. You will be fine!
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