Escape to Mankato: Your Dream Stay Awaits at Days Inn!
Escape to Mankato: Days Inn - More Than Meets the Eye (And Sometimes, Less)
Alright, folks, buckle up. Because I just survived a stay at the Days Inn in Mankato, Minnesota… and I’m still processing it. It’s not your five-star, marble-floored, butler-tipping experience, let's be clear. But it’s… something. It's a whole thing, really. And I'm here to give you the unvarnished, slightly-stained truth.
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- Title: Days Inn Mankato Review: Is Your Dream Stay Still Waiting? (Accessibility, Amenities, Dining, & More!)
- Keywords: Days Inn Mankato, Mankato Hotels, Minnesota Hotels, Accessibility, Wheelchair Accessible, Free Wi-Fi, Swimming Pool, Fitness Center, Breakfast, Restaurant, Spa, Cleanliness, Safety, COVID-19 Protocols, Business Facilities, Family-Friendly, Pets (sort of!), Room Amenities, Mankato Attractions, Budget Hotel, Value Hotel.
- Meta Description: A brutally honest review of the Days Inn in Mankato, MN. Find out about accessibility, cleanliness, dining, amenities, and if it lives up to the "dream stay" promise. We'll cover everything from the questionable coffee to the (surprisingly good!) pool experience.
(Rambling Commences…)
First impressions? Well, the exterior is, how shall we say, unassuming. Think beige bricks and a slightly weathered sign. But hey, let's not judge a book by its cover, yeah? Inside, the lobby is… functional. There’s a desk, some chairs, and lots of flyers promising local deals. They seemed to really want me to go bowling. I skipped the bowling.
Accessibility: A Mixed Bag
Now, being a writer, I'm not exactly a rocket scientist, but I do appreciate good accessibility. This is where things get a little… complicated.
- Wheelchair Accessible? Yes. There are elevators, and the hallways seemed wide enough. But I didn’t personally test every door frame with a wheelchair, so your mileage may vary. Call ahead and really grill them on the details.
- Facilities for Disabled Guests: Seemed to be available, based on the website and the fact that there were accessible rooms. However, I couldn't visually confirm the features.
- Elevator: Definitely present, which is vital, so that is a good start!
Internet – The Lifeline (Sometimes a Weak One)
- Free Wi-Fi in All Rooms?! Yes! Hallelujah! Though, I had to restart my devices more than a few times.
- Internet Access – Wireless: Check.
- Internet Access – LAN: I didn't bother with this, honestly. Who uses LAN anymore?
- Wi-Fi for Special Events: Probably… it was the same Wi-Fi everyone else used. Let's just say you might want a backup plan if you are having a virtual conference.
Cleanliness and Safety: The COVID Crucible
Okay, this is where I was really paying attention. I'm a germaphobe (thanks, 2020!), and I was watching for the following (and frankly, judging them all):
- Anti-viral cleaning products: Supposedly. I'm not taking a bath with it, so I'm willing to take their word for it.
- Cashless payment service: Available. Excellent!
- Daily disinfection in common areas: Saw the staff with the sprays. So, yes.
- Hand sanitizer: Everywhere. Good.
- Hygiene certification: I don't know, but it looked clean-ish.
- Individually-wrapped food options: Yes, the mini-muffins were in individual wrappings.
- Physical distancing of at least 1 meter: Mostly.
- Professional-grade sanitizing services: Probably.
- Room sanitization opt-out available: Didn’t notice this specifically, but I wasn’t about to say “Don’t clean my room!” either.
- Rooms sanitized between stays: Seemed likely, but honestly, I didn't get a peek behind the curtain.
- Staff trained in safety protocol: They seemed to be, although there were some slightly confused interactions with the coffee machine.
- Sterilizing equipment: I saw no evidence of industrial-grade sanitization gear.
Dining, Drinking, and Snacking: A Feast for the… Tolerant
Breakfast, folks. Let's talk breakfast.
- Breakfast [buffet]: Yes, but… it was what I'd call a "continental-ish" breakfast. Think pre-packaged cereals, some lukewarm scrambled eggs that looked suspiciously like yellow Jell-O, and bagels of questionable freshness. The coffee? Let's just say it would not win any awards.
- Breakfast takeaway service: Available! Saved me a lot of face with the gelatinous eggs.
- Coffee/tea in restaurant: See above. Sigh.
- Restaurants: Well, the breakfast area, technically.
- Snack bar: Didn't see one.
I should have gone to a diner. Lesson learned.
Things to Do/Ways to Relax: The Pool is Actually Pretty Great
Alright. This is where Days Inn Mankato actually gained some points.
- Swimming pool [outdoor]: Yes! And it was actually… pleasant. Clean, well-maintained, and not overcrowded (bonus!). I spent a good chunk of my stay lounging by the poolside, and it was genuinely relaxing.
- Pool with view: Okay, the "view" was a parking lot, but hey, you take what you can get in Mankato.
- Fitness center: Didn’t try it. Looked like a treadmill, a couple of weights, and a whole lot of nothing else. I'm imagining it's about what you'd expect.
- Spa: Nope. Absolutely not.
- Steamroom, sauna, Body scrub, Body wrap, Foot bath, Massage: None of this.
- Spa/sauna: I'm not sure why I kept looking.
Services and Conveniences: Basic, But Functional
- Daily housekeeping: Yes, and they were quite efficient.
- Laundry service: Didn't see one, but I didn't need to wash anything.
- Elevator: As mentioned!
- Business facilities: Pretty basic stuff.
- Car park [free of charge]: Yes! Bonus!
- Air conditioning in public area: Yeah. Pretty important.
- Concierge: Nope, but the front desk was helpful enough.
- Contactless check-in/out: Yes!
- Convenience store: No, but there were vending machines.
- Car park [on-site]: YES!
- Air conditioning: In the room, totally worked as well.
- Cash withdrawal: I think there was an ATM in the lobby.
For the Kids: Meh…
- Family/child friendly: Yeah, I guess. It's a hotel.
- Babysitting service: Unlikely.
- Kids meal: Not that I saw.
- Kids facilities: Aside from the pool, nada.
Available in All Rooms: The Essentials (and Some Extras)
- Air conditioning: Check!
- Coffee/tea maker: Yes! (See previous coffee comments).
- Hair dryer: Yep.
- Wi-Fi [free]: Yes!
- Alarm clock: Yep.
- Desk: Yep.
- Ironing facilities: Yep.
- Bathrobes: Nope.
- Bathroom phone: Now that would have been interesting.
- Bathtub: Nope, but separate shower.
- Blackout curtains: Yes! Crucial for a good night's sleep.
- Closet: Present and accounted for.
- Complimentary tea: Nope.
- Daily housekeeping: Yep.
- Extra long bed: Seemed of average length, although I didn't get out the measuring tape.
- Free bottled water: Yes!
- High floor: Depends on the room.
- In-room safe box: Not that I saw.
- Interconnecting room(s) available: Probably, but I didn't ask.
- Internet access – LAN: Again, not something I used.
- Laptop workspace: The desk served this purpose.
- Linens: Yes.
- Mirror: Yes, thankfully.
- Mini bar: Nope.
- Non-smoking: Yes, thankfully.
- On-demand movies: Possibly? I didn't check.
- Private bathroom: Yes.
- Reading light: Yes.
- Refrigerator: Yes.
- Satellite/cable channels: Yes.
- Scale: No.
Alright, buckle up buttercups and prepare for a Mankato, Minnesota adventure – courtesy of the Days Inn by Wyndham, naturally. Let's be honest, the name alone doesn't exactly scream "exotic getaway," but hey, we're making the best of it, right? This isn't going to be your perfectly curated Instagram grid trip. This is real life.
Day 1: Arrival and the Mild-Mannered Mayhem Begins
1:00 PM: Arrive at Days Inn. (Ugh, the air conditioning smells faintly of stale regret. Is that just me? Maybe. Definitely checking out the fridge for complimentary water – essential for survival.) The lobby is…well, it's a lobby. Brown carpets, vaguely outdated furniture, and a lone vending machine that's probably seen some things. Feeling a sense of mild disappointment. But hey, at least I got a room.
1:30 - 2:30 PM: Unpack. Try to make the room "mine." This is always a losing battle. The floral bedspread and overly bright fluorescent lights are fighting me every step of the way. The TV is definitely older than my grandma, but I'm pretty sure it still has channels.
2:30 - 3:30 PM: Venture out for lunch. The Yelp reviews for nearby restaurants are…mixed. Land on a place called "Pub 500." Should I? I'm hungry. The only thing that's stopping me is that a 'pub' in Minnesota might be just a 'bar'. The fear of becoming a casualty of food-insecurity is real.
3:30 PM - 5:00 PM: After that questionable lunch, a wander around downtown. Mankato is… quaint, for sure. A mix of historic buildings and modern businesses. Find a cute little coffee shop. The barista gives me a look like I'm about to ask for a latte with unicorn sprinkles. I don't. I order an Americano, feeling rebellious.
5:00 PM- 6:00 PM: Back to the hotel to chill. This is where the true genius of the vacation shines: The pool! Jump in for a dip, the pool has a chemical tang to it, but it's clean. A few kids are screaming at the top of their lungs. I, as a human person, join in.
6:00- 7:00 PM: Time for Dinner: I went back to the Pub 500 after all. Surprisingly good burger and fries!
7:00 PM-8:00 PM: Rest, watch some TV, make notes and enjoy the quiet.
Day 2: Delving Deep into the Heart of Mankato (and Possibly Losing My Mind Slightly)
8:00 AM - 9:00 AM: Wake up. The complimentary continental breakfast at the Days Inn. It's… a thing. Plastic-wrapped muffins, a waffle maker that looks like it's seen a century of service, and instant coffee that tastes like despair. I ate the waffle - no regrets.
9:00 AM - 11:00 AM: The Blue Earth County Historical Society. I was expecting dusty books and grumpy curators. Found historical tidbits and some pretty interesting local stories. I didn't think I was that interested in history, but I was wrong.
11:00 AM - 12:00 PM: Downtown Mankato. A walk around the town.
12:00 PM - 1:00 PM: Lunch. Pizza. I don't even remember the name of the pizza place, and perhaps it's for the best.
1:00 PM - 3:00 PM: I'm not even going to lie: I went back to the hotel room and took a nap. The siren call of the slightly dingy bed was just too strong. Needed to recharge after all that history.
3:00 PM - 5:00 PM: The Children's Museum of Southern Minnesota. I don't have children. Not a single one. But I went anyway. And it was… unexpectedly awesome. Like, genuinely fun. I built a Lego bridge, played with bubbles, and may have gotten slightly competitive in the miniature grocery store. Don't judge me. You'd have done the same. Totally awesome!
5:00 PM - 6:00 PM: Back at the hotel. Relax.
6:00 PM - 7:00 PM: Dinner at a place called "Olives." Surprisingly nice. I actually ate food I liked.
7:00 PM onward: Relax at the hotel. There's a weird stain on the carpet that's catching the light just right. I'm not sure I want to know what it is, but now I can't stop staring at it. My mind has wandered.
Day 3: Escape (or, At Least, Departure)
8:00 AM - 9:00 AM: The dreaded continental breakfast. I'm going to need to detox when I get home. I make a final desperate attempt at the waffle maker. It mocks me.
9:00 AM - 10:00 AM: A quick walk around the park. The air is fresh. Almost makes up for the hotel room stain. Almost.
10:00 AM: Checkout. Goodbye, Days Inn. It was… an experience. I hope the next guest appreciates the questionable stain.
**10:30 AM: ** Drive off into the sunset. Or, you know, the highway. Whatever. Honestly, I felt a little bit sad to leave. I mean, Mankato wasn't exactly Paris, but it was mine for a few days. And sometimes, that's enough.
This itinerary? It's not perfect. It's a mishmash of planned activities and frantic last-minute decisions. It's got moments of joy, boredom, and the occasional existential crisis. But hey, it was real. And isn't that what travel is all about? Sort of.
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Escape to Mankato: Your Dream Stay Awaits (at Days Inn... maybe?) - FAQ!
Okay, okay, so what *actually* is "Escape to Mankato"? Is this like... a cult? Should I be worried?
Woah, hold your horses! Cult? Nah. Mostly. It's… well, it's *supposed* to be a relaxing stay at the Mankato Days Inn. The “escape” part is a little dramatic, I'll admit. Look, sometimes you just need to... get away. Away from the screaming kids, the mountain of laundry, the existential dread of being a functioning adult. And Mankato... well, Mankato has a Days Inn. Hence the “Escape.” Don't expect a spiritual awakening. Expect... a continental breakfast. And hopefully, no bedbugs. (Fingers crossed!)
Days Inn? That's… specific. Is this sponsored or something? Because I'm getting a distinct 'advertisement' vibe here.
Sponsored? HA! If only! Look, I'm just a weary traveler with a credit card and a desperate need for a shower. It just so happens that the Days Inn in Mankato… exists. And hey, sometimes, the most mundane places can offer the most… memorable experiences. (Mostly because you'll be *remembering* the questionable coffee for the next three days.) Think of it as... a *suggestion*. A suggestion to… explore the possibilities. The possibilities of… lukewarm scrambled eggs. See? Not a cult. Just… a person with a slightly inflated sense of adventure.
What can I *actually* expect to, you know, *do* in Mankato? Besides the Days Inn, obvs.
Okay, real talk. Mankato's not exactly Paris. But it *does* have… things. Let's see… there's the Sibley Park Zoo (small but cute!), Blue Earth County Historical Society (if you're into that), and, uh… well, there's the Minnesota State University campus. Which, depending on your age, is either a charming place to wander or a terrifying reminder of missed opportunities. (Speaking from… uh… experience.) Honestly, a lot of your entertainment might be derived from the local gas station, or maybe trying to find out why are all the fast food establishments closed at 9PM.
The Rooms! What's the scoop on the Rooms? Are they… clean? Because I'm a germaphobe. (And I'm not proud of it!)
Alright, the Rooms. This is where things get… interesting. Look, cleanliness is *subjective*, right? My one advice is to bring your own sanitizing wipes. *Always*. Because, and I'm just being honest here, I once found a… a *questionable* stain on the bedspread. I’m still not convinced it was just a coffee spill. And I’m not going to describe the carpet. Let's just say it had a history. The point is, pack Lysol, and maybe your own sheets. Seriously. You've been warned.
Breakfast. Let's talk Breakfast. Is the "Continental Breakfast" worth getting out of bed for? Or should I pack my own Pop-Tarts?
The breakfast. Oh, the breakfast. It's a ritual. A daily test of your will to live. Expect cold eggs, a waffle machine that probably hates you, and coffee that tastes vaguely of… something. Honestly, it's a gamble. Sometimes you luck out and there's a rogue, surprisingly edible sausage patty. Other times… well, refer to the questionable stain on the bedspread. My advice? Pack Pop-Tarts. And maybe a flask of coffee. (No judgement.) The best part? It's free. Just keep that in mind.
Okay, so what's the *best* thing about the Escape to Mankato Days Inn (or whatever it is you're selling)?
Good Question! The Best Thing! This is it! I'll say it. The Best Thing is... the ability to be completely and utterly anonymous. You're just... *there*. Lost amidst the comings and goings of other weary travelers, all united in our shared need for a place to rest. It's the peace of mind of knowing, as you're sitting there, half-asleep, eating your questionable breakfast, that no one gives a damn about who you are, or what you've done. It's… liberating. Plus, sometimes they have those tiny individual shampoo bottles. And those are the *best*. Just... resist the urge to take ten. The shame… is a lot.
What about the Staff? Friendly? Helpful? Or… characters?
The Staff. Ah, the staff. They are… *present*. They’re not going to win any awards for customer service, but let's just say they have their own… charm. There was one time, I swear this happened, when I asked about the Wi-Fi password (because, of course, the Wi-Fi was down), and the guy at the front desk – I think his name was Barry – just shrugged and said, *"Try 'password'."* And you know what? It worked. So, yeah. Characters. Definitely characters. Just keep an open mind, and maybe bring a sense of humor. You'll need it.
Tell me more about the experience! (Specifically, that questionable stain)
Alright, alright, you want to know about the stain. Fine. (deep sigh). It was during my first visit to the Mankato Inn. I was jet-lagged, exhausted from a twelve hour drive, and desperate for a nap. I checked in, stumbled into my room, and promptly collapsed on the bed. I remember glancing at the bedspread, it was a… cheerful floral pattern. Then I saw it. A dark, irregular patch, near the edge. My first thought? "Coffee spill." My second thought? "That's a *lot* of coffee." I got up close. I prodded. I sniffed. (I know, don’t judge!) It smelled... vaguely of something that wasn't coffee. And the texture? Less "coffee stain" and more... "something that's been there for *years*". The color was also, concerning. It was definitely not a stain, not an ordinary stain. It was... a relic. A monument to something that had once happened in that room. I considered calling down to the front desk, but the mere thought of having to interact with anyone at that moment was too much. So, I did what any sensible person would do: I covered it with a pillow and tried to forget about it. DidHotels Blog Guide
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