Calgary's BEST Kept Secret Hotel: Days Inn South Review!
Calgary's "Best Kept Secret" Days Inn South? Buckle Up, Buttercups! (A Messy, Honest Review)
Alright, alright, settle in folks. I've just emerged, blinking, from the alleged "Best Kept Secret" of Calgary hotels, the Days Inn South. And let me tell you, my thoughts are… well, let's just say they range from "meh" to "huh, okay." This review isn't going to be your polished, corporate-speak brochure. We're going full-on real here. Prepare for some messy revelations, quirky observations, and maybe a few typos. Because, honestly, that's how life feels, right?
First Impressions & Accessibility:
Okay, first off, finding this "secret" wasn't too hard, even with my less-than-stellar sense of direction. (Google Maps is a lifesaver, people). The exterior? Kind of… Days Inn-y. You know? Decent, clean-ish, but nothing screams, "Prepare to be amazed!" Which, you know, is fine. I wasn't planning on being amazed, just… comfortable.
Accessibility is Key: The Days Inn South highlights its Facilities for Disabled Guests – a massive plus. They also have an Elevator, which is mandatory, as is Wheelchair Access! This earns immediate points from me. I did a quick check and saw things looked pretty standard, with grab bars in the bathroom and wider doorways. Always good to see.
Walking in, Feeling Sorta Lost: The whole lobby experience was… efficient? The desk clerk, bless her heart, seemed like she'd seen a lot of weary travelers. Check-in was smooth-ish, thanks to the Contactless check-in/out option, which is excellent in these post-pandemic times. This made it easy peasy.
Cleanliness & Safety: The Sanitization Symphony (Maybe?)
Okay, so, the hotel pushes its safety protocols hard, and I appreciate that. They had Hand Sanitizer stations strategically planted (good!), mentions of Anti-viral cleaning products (promising!), and lots of signs about Daily disinfection in common areas. Rooms sanitized between stays? Check. They also mentioned Professional-grade sanitizing services. Sounds good on paper, but you know I always wonder… how thorough is thorough?
I did appreciate the Individually-wrapped food options and the Safe dining setup (more on that later). Staff trained in safety protocol? Hopefully, because one thing is for sure I did not want to catch anything while on my stay.
Rooms: My Sanctuary (Or Not?)
Here is where things get mixed… It's your standard hotel room, but clean. Non-smoking rooms are a plus for me. I had the standard, Air conditioning. Free Wi-Fi – hallelujah! I needed my internet fix. There's a Desk and some basic Internet access – wireless. Oh, and a Coffee/tea maker (essential for survival). I have to say, my bed was adequate, not extraordinary. It was pretty typical. Daily housekeeping kept things tidy. Blackout curtains were my jam. I needed sleep!
Bathroom Revelations:
The bathroom was your bog-standard hotel bathroom. Clean. I had a Shower. Toiletries… well, let’s just say they did the job. I made sure that the Smoke detector was working.
Internet Access & Entertainment: Can I Survive Without My Phone?
I'm a modern human. I rely on the internet. And the Free Wi-Fi was not exactly a lightning bolt, and I had to keep reconnecting, which was slightly annoying. So, they’d say Internet access – wireless is available in rooms, which is also a plus.
Dining: A Buffet of Experiences (Literally)
The Days Inn South boasts a Restaurant and Breakfast [buffet] – which is a massive win for me. The Breakfast service was fine. The food felt… “assembled.” Okay, the Coffee/tea in restaurant was decent. They mention a Coffee shop, but I didn't see one. I did see some items listed such as Desserts in restaurant and Salad in restaurant. Nothing too interesting.
One funny thing: I saw the signs for Asian cuisine in restaurant, and got really excited. However, it was a normal breakfast buffet, just with a few things from time to time.
Services & Conveniences: The Little Things Matter (Sometimes)
They had a Cash withdrawal option, which is always handy. They had a Laundry service which might come in handy. They had Car park [free of charge], which is always good in Calgary.
Getting Around: Parking (The Savior of my Soul)
One shining star: Car park [on-site] and, yes, Car park [free of charge]. That little perk saved my sanity and my wallet.
Things To Do, Ways To Relax, And Maybe Not Relaxing at All?
Alright, this is where things get… interesting. Officially, they had a Fitness center. Did I try it? Nope. Did I think about it? Maybe. Did I feel the slightest tinge of guilt for not using the Gym/fitness available? Absolutely.
They also list a Spa, Sauna, Steamroom… Okay, now it gets intriguing. I confess, I didn't explore these amenities. I was on a mission (sleep!), and I'm a bit of a spa chicken. But hey, the option is there! That Swimming pool [outdoor] also looks inviting.
For the Kids (and the Kid in All of Us):
They advertised as Family/child friendly, and offered access to Kids facilities. Not relevant to my trip, but good to know.
Couple's Room: I am not sure what this meant. Was this a special kind of room? I got curious, but I didn't find out.
The Verdict: Secret? Maybe. Worth It? It Depends.
So, is the Days Inn South a "Best Kept Secret"? Well… it's a solid, dependable choice, particularly if you need a clean, accessible place to crash, with a free breakfast. The free parking is a serious bonus. The amenities are there for you.
My Emotional Reaction:
Overall, I felt fine. I wasn't blown away. I wasn't disappointed. I just felt… accommodated. And sometimes, that's all you need. I’d return. I'd recommend it, with the caveat that it's not the Ritz, but it's perfectly fine. Now, if you’ll excuse me, I think I deserve a nap.
Escape to Paradise: Howard Johnson by Wyndham Norco's Unbeatable Deals!
Alright, buckle up buttercup, because you're about to get the unvarnished, slightly chaotic, and probably-should-be-edited version of my Calgary South adventure. Staying at the Days Inn by Wyndham, Calgary South, remember? Well, let’s dive in… God, I need coffee.
Day 1: Arrival and the Existential Dread of the Highway
- Morning (ish, let's be honest): Arrive at Calgary International Airport (YYC). Okay, the airport was fine, you know, airports are airports. Nothing horrendous, just the usual queuing, the mandatory security pat-down (why always my shoes?!), and the slightly desperate scramble for a decent rental car. Found a surprisingly clean (and blessedly not-red) Kia. Victory!
- Mid-Morning: The drive to the Days Inn. Seriously, the Trans-Canada Highway is a thing. Like, a very long, flat, and slightly soul-crushing thing. I swear I saw a tumbleweed! Okay, maybe not, but the vastness of the prairie made me question my life choices. Was I really meant to be here? Did I pack enough snacks? (Always the key question.)
- Afternoon: Check-in. Days Inn. Room… okay, not luxury, but clean enough. The key card thing – always a gamble. Did I get it right the first time? Nope. Second time? Still no. Third time's the charm! Managed to unlock the door, dropped my bags, and promptly collapsed on the bed. The good news? Free Wi-Fi! Time to check my Instagram and see where I might be able to find a decent burger (priority #1.)
- Late Afternoon/Early Evening: Burger hunt. Found a place called "The Burger Joint" (original, I know, but hey, I was hungry). Ordered the "Heart Attack Special" (don't judge me, I'd been driving for hours). It was… heavenly. Cheesy, greasy, and exactly what my weary traveler's soul craved. Afterwards, I considered going to a "must-see" attraction, but eventually ended up back at the hotel watching TV or whatever.
Day 2: Dinosaur Dreams and a Really Awkward Moment
- Morning: Breakfast at the Days Inn. Okay, the free breakfast was… let's call it "functional." Waffles from a machine, questionable scrambled eggs, and instant coffee. Fuel, I guess. Enough to get me to the Royal Tyrrell Museum in Drumheller. Road trip, Part Deux!
- Mid-Morning: The drive to Drumheller. The landscape started to change! The badlands! So much red rock! Totally different from the highway drive yesterday. The museum itself was… holy dinosaurs, Batman! So many fossils. So much bone! I spent a good chunk of time staring up at a towering T-Rex skeleton, feeling simultaneously awed and tiny. I even bought a cheesy souvenir: a tiny plastic dinosaur.
- Afternoon: A hike in the Horseshoe Canyon, (after some research, as I'm not the outdoorsy type, I found it was a good idea). Stumbling through a vast, almost lunar landscape (well, desert at least) was amazing. The air was clean, and I felt like I was the only living person on the planet. Except for the other tourists, obviously!
- Early Evening: The really awkward moment. Had a little walk through the hood and tried to order a pizza with a very funny Indian accent. Maybe I overdid it. The pizza got there at last, but man, I just felt bad.
- Late Evening: The pizza with a bottle of wine. Watching TV and thinking about the day. And the accident with the accent.
Day 3: Calgary City Blues and Last Ditch Efforts
- Morning: Another "functional" breakfast. This time, I mixed in some protein. Still, the free breakfast started to feel like a prison sentence.
- Mid-Morning: A drive into Calgary. The city was… okay. It's a city, you know? Lots of glass and steel and traffic. I tried visiting the Calgary Tower, but the lines were too long. Decided to wander around a bit. Visited the library, because I needed a place to waste time.
- Afternoon: Lunch at a trendy little cafe. More like a trendy "coffee bar" (I did not drink coffee!). Spent way too much money.
- Late Afternoon: The trip home.
Postscript: Final Thoughts and Existential Musings
So, the Days Inn. Fine. Functional. Not exactly a destination in itself, but it served its purpose as a base. Calgary? An experience. The people were friendly. The landscape, especially the badlands, was breathtaking. Did I have fun? Well, that depends on your definition of fun. I got to have an adventure, at least. I would not consider the hotel and city as attractions. And now, I feel a little sad. The real adventures are always the ones inside our minds. I'm getting ready for another trip, something is telling me… I should probably write another itinerary. Damn.
Raleigh's BEST Downtown Hotel? Holiday Inn's Secret Revealed!
Alright, so *what* exactly is this thing? I keep seeing it everywhere.
The real answer is that it can be various things.
Is it hard to learn? Because I am NOT a tech whiz. I’m more of a “press the power button and hope for the best” kind of person.
Okay, but *why* should *I* bother with it? What’s the actual benefit?
So...why bother? Well, let's say you want to build *something*. a simple website. Or maybe do some data analysis. Or just… make your life a little easier (and trust me, we *all* need that). The benefits are as vast as the internet itself. I've used it to plan trips, track my budget (still working on that one!), and even write this very FAQ (ironic, no?). I built a website for my cat, Mittens. Okay, it wasn't a *good* website, it was a website. With cat pictures. My point is, you can use It for all sorts of things . It can also be a major time suck. I once spent an entire weekend trying to learn something about a coding language I'd never heard of. Did I succeed? Nope. Did I emerge smelling of old coffee and regret? Yes. But I at least *tried*.
What about the downsides? Is there a dark side?
* **The Learning Curve from Hell:** You will get stuck. You will feel stupid. You will want to quit. It's inevitable. Embrace the suck. (That's my motto now) * **The Rabbit Hole:** You start with one little project and suddenly you’re neck-deep in code, you're on stack overflow at 3 am, your house is a mess, and you haven't seen daylight in days. It starts small, but can escalate quickly! * **The "It's Not Working!" Symphony:** The amount of times I've typed 50 lines of code and had it not work is too high to count. The error messages will be cryptic and confusing. Prepare for the emotional roller coaster. You'll want to pull your hair out. * **The Imposter Syndrome Blues:** You'll look at what other people are creating and feel inadequate. Don't. Everyone starts somewhere. Even the coding wizards were clueless at one point.
Is there a specific language I need to know? Or a toolbox?
It can be tricky to pick. I started with X. It was rough. Let's be real: I was *lost*. Then I tried Y, which was… better. Still not perfect. Then I found Z. Which worked for *me*. The point is, don't be afraid to try different things. You'll eventually find the one that clicks. Just be prepared to have a little mental breakdown or two whilst at it. It is part of the fun for me!
Any advice for a complete beginner? Like, actual, useful advice?
* **Start small.** Seriously. Don't try to build the next social media empire on day one. Do the tutorials. Copy and paste the examples, tweak them, *break* them. Get the basics down. * **Embrace the failure:** You *will* fail. It's part of the process. Don't give up. Learn from your mistakes. And celebrate the small victories! Like, seriously, when you get a simple program to print "Hello, world!" you should throw a party. * **Google is your friend, but not your only friend:** Seriously, you WILL spend a lot of time on Google and Stack Overflow. But don’t just copy and paste code. Understand *why* it works. * **Take breaks:** Staring at a screen for hours on end is a recipe for burnout. Step away. Get some fresh air. Drink water. Pet your cat (if you have one). * **Find a community:** There are tons of online forums, groups, and communities where you can ask questions and get help. Don't be afraid to ask for help
What's the most ridiculous thing that's happened to you while using it? Come on, spill the tea!
Post a Comment for "Calgary's BEST Kept Secret Hotel: Days Inn South Review!"