**Wichita Airport's BEST Kept Secret: Wingate by Wyndham Review (You WON'T Believe This!)**
Wichita Airport's Wingate: More Than Just a Layover? (Buckle Up, Buttercup!)
Okay, friends, let's talk Wingate by Wyndham near Wichita Airport. You know, those airport hotels? Usually, they're the culinary cousin of despair, offering lukewarm coffee and the existential dread of a missed flight. But this Wingate… well, it's kind of a head-scratcher. Prepare for a review that's less "professional critic" and more "your sleep-deprived, slightly eccentric travel buddy."
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- Metadata Description: Honest and hilarious review of the Wingate by Wyndham near Wichita Airport. Is it worth the stay? Read our in-depth look at amenities, accessibility, cleanliness, dining, services, and all the quirky details you NEED to know before you book!
First Impressions: The Pre-Flight Jitters
Arriving, you see the typical exterior: a somewhat generic, beige-brick rectangle. Nothing screams "luxury," but hey, this isn't the Ritz. Parking? Easy-peasy. Free, on-site, and thankfully, I didn't have to wrestle for a spot. (Score one for weary travelers!)
Accessibility: Can You Get Around? (The REAL Test)
- Wheelchair Accessible: YES! Big, bright, and beautiful: The wheelchair access was on point. Elevators? Present and accounted for. Hallways wide enough to swing a…well, you get the idea. The rooms offered ample space, and the bathrooms were well-equipped. Honestly, top marks here. They've clearly put thought into making things accessible.
- Facilities for Disabled Guests: The Wingate goes the extra mile! The fact that the hotel focuses on accessibility and making the stay as easy as possible for a variety of disabled guests is great and truly heartwarming.
Rooms: The Sanctuary (or, My Temporary Mental Asylum)
- Available in All Rooms: Here's where we get down to brass tacks. I'm all about the essentials:
- Air Conditioning: Crucial in Kansas! Worked like a charm.
- Free Wi-Fi: Duh! And it was reliable. Bless.
- Coffee/Tea Maker: My nectar of the gods. Essential for navigating that 5 AM wake-up call.
- Desk & Laptop Workspace: Fine. Functional. I actually managed to get some work done, which is a minor miracle.
- Blackout Curtains/Soundproofing: These are GOLD. You need them when you're trying to steal a few precious hours of sleep before facing a flight.
- Bathtub/Shower: A shower that works with hot water and good pressure is a small win for any day, but the separate shower and bathtub in the room was a great additional touch.
- Additional Toilet Having two toilets in the room is a great feature a lot of hotels do not offer.
- Refrigerator: Perfect for stashing leftover pizza…ahem, I mean, healthy snacks.
- Safety/security feature & In-room safe box: Peace of mind is a must. No worries here.
Cleanliness & Safety: Am I Going To Catch Something? (The Real Deal)
- Anti-viral cleaning products: They clearly take it seriously.
- Rooms sanitized between stays, and Room sanitization opt-out available: Feeling pretty safe and secure here
- Staff trained in safety protocol: I noticed staff taking extra precautions which is a good sign
- Hand sanitizer: Available throughout the public areas.
- Daily disinfection in common areas: The place felt clean, it can't hurt!
Dining, Drinking & Snacking: Fueling the Journey (And My Inner Critic)
Okay, this is where Wingate gets interesting. Airport hotels rarely shine when it comes to food, right?
- Breakfast [buffet]: Yes! A buffet! The usual suspects: scrambled eggs, sausage (questionable origin, but I'm hungry! ), cereal. The coffee was…well, let's say it met my minimum standards. What I really appreciate is the Breakfast in room available and Breakfast takeaway service.
- Coffee shop/ Coffee/tea in restaurant & Essential condiments: A small coffee shop. Thank goodness. Caffeine is life when you haven't slept.
- Snack bar & Convenience store: A small convenience store filled with all the essentials and the snack bar has you covered.
Services & Conveniences: The Little Things (That Make a Difference)
- Air conditioning in public area: It's hot in Wichita, they know what they're doing.
- Cash withdrawal: A lifesaver for those of us who still operate in the pre-digital age.
- Daily housekeeping: My room kept looking as clean as it did the last day.
- Elevator: Essential.
- Food delivery: A nice touch, though I didn't use it.
- Laundry service/ Dry cleaning/ Ironing service: This is super convenient.
- Luggage storage: A safe spot to store luggage.
- Front desk [24-hour]: Always beneficial.
- Concierge: Not a fully staffed concierge, but someone always available.
- Currency exchange: Helpful for international travelers.
Things to Do & Ways to Relax: More Than Just a Place to Crash?
- Fitness Center: Yup, a basic gym. I didn't use it, but it was there.
- Swimming pool [outdoor]: Ahhh, a pool. Well, it's outside, and it's a pool. A pretty standard pool. I will say it was clean and well-maintained.
- Sauna/ Spa/ Spa/sauna/ Steamroom: None of the fancy spa stuff you might find at a luxury resort, but there are spas you can choose from in Wichita.
Getting Around: Navigating the Wasteland (Airport Edition)
- Airport transfer: YES! A free shuttle to the airport. This is gold. Pure gold.
- Car park [free of charge] & Car park [on-site]: Easy, breezy, beautiful, parking.
For the Kids: Are They Welcome?
- Family/child friendly & Kids meal: Not exactly a kiddie paradise. It’s fine for families, but don’t expect a ton of amenities geared towards kids.
The Quirks (The Good, The Bad, and the Ugly)
- The "Pet-Friendly" Angle: Look, the website says they're pet-friendly, but the fine print is…tricky. Call ahead. Double-check. Maybe triple-check. I didn't bring a pet, but sensed a potential for some serious canine/receptionist tension.
- The Décor: Let's be honest, it’s a bit…generic. Think “beige and vaguely floral.” But it's clean, and everything functions, so I can't really complain that much.
- The Staff: Friendly and efficient. No complaints there. Though, on one occasion, I swear I saw the front desk clerk blink and suddenly a new price popped onto my bill. My mistake? I blinked back. I swear I still paid the exact same amount.
The Verdict: Worth It? (The Moment of Truth)
Look, the Wingate near Wichita Airport isn't going to change the course of your life. It's not a destination unto itself. But, for an airport hotel, it delivers. Solid accessibility, a decent breakfast, clean rooms, and a free airport shuttle? That's a winning combo when you're staring down a red-eye flight.
Would I stay there again? Absolutely. It's a reliable option, and frankly, in the weary world of airport hotels, that's high praise.
Final Score: 7.5/10 (Maybe an 8 if they beef up the coffee situation.)
Cobblestone Inn & Suites Rugby, ND: Your Cozy Escape Awaits!
Alright, alright, buckle up buttercups! This ain't your grandma's perfectly-formatted travel itinerary. This is real life, people, and real life is messy, unpredictable, and occasionally involves forgetting where you parked your car. Here's my (tentative, probably-to-be-flung-out-the-window-at-some-point) plan for a jaunt around Wichita, based out of the hallowed halls of the Wingate by Wyndham near the airport:
The Wichita Whirlwind: A Trip of Questionable Sanity
Day 1: Arrival and Airport Anxiety (and Chili)
- 1:00 PM: Arrive at Wichita Dwight D. Eisenhower National Airport (ICT). Oh joy. Airports. The land of overpriced coffee, questionable security guards, and the ever-present fear of lost luggage. Seriously, why is it always a gamble? I swear, I spend half my life mentally preparing for the dreaded "Your bag is in Timbuktu" announcement.
- 1:45 PM (ish): Shuttle to the Wingate. Hopefully, the shuttle driver isn't one of those chatty Cathys who feels the need to narrate my entire existence. Just a smooth, silent ride is all I ask.
- 2:00 PM (give or take a minor existential crisis): Check in. Pray the room isn't haunted. Or, worse, has a flickering light. Hotel rooms and flickering lights? NOPE. Already got my noise cancelling headphones ready just in case.
- 2:30 PM: Explore the hotel. Actually, the hotel is basically fine. Clean sheets are a plus, and the free breakfast might actually be a thing. Gotta scope out the breakfast situation, you know? Assessment: Okay, so the pool looks… uninviting? Oh well. Free wifi is a win tho!
- 3:00 PM: Officially hungry. Google search: "Best chili in Wichita." Because, apparently, that's a thing here.
- 3:30 PM: Found a place called "The Chili Bowl." The reviews… they're a mixed bag. "Best chili ever" versus "watery and bland." This could be a culinary adventure or a total disaster. Placing bets now. I'm going in with an open (and, if necessary, forgiving) mind.
- 4:30 PM: Eat the Chili. I'm thinking classic chili, then maybe whatever the house "special chili" is. What happens if the chili sucks? Do I complain? Do I just suffer in silence and secretly vow to never return? Decisions, decisions.
- 5:30 PM: Verdict on chili: Okay, so the Classic Chili? Decent. A solid 7/10. The special chili, however, had… a kick. Not bad. Not good. Just kinda… there. I'm not overwhelmed, that's for sure.
- 6:30 PM: Hotel room is, shockingly, not haunted. I am, however, fighting off the urge to re-arrange the furniture. (Why do I do this?!)
- 7:00 PM: Watching some TV. Then I see some recommendations for something called "The Keeper of the Plains". And my brain has two thoughts: One, what is that? Two, I really want to see it.
- 8:30 PM: Bedtime (maybe). The day has been mostly successful. No luggage-related disasters. No flickering lights. Chili, of varying quality, was consumed. It was a solid day.
Day 2: Keeper of the Plains and Art Adventures (and…Regrets?)
- 7:00 AM: Wake up. Pretend to be a morning person. Fail. Coffee is essential. Breakfast assessment: The waffles are… interesting. I'm going for the pancakes, a safe bet for today.
- 8:00 AM: The pancakes were, in fact, a very safe bet.
- 9:00 AM: Head to the Keeper of the Plains. I heard it was beautiful at sunrise. I love sunrises, but I also love sleep. Choosing sleep wins.
- 9:30 AM. The Keeper of the Plains is… majestic. Those sculptures! So big! I might have shed a little tear. It's powerful. The whole area's really well-done. I'm seriously impressed. (And yes, I took a million pictures. Don't judge.)
- 11:00 AM: Visit the Wichita Art Museum. I'm not usually a "museum person," but they say this place is supposed to be good. I'm always up for being pleasantly surprised.
- 11:30 AM: The Wichita Art Museum is actually amazing!. There's a fantastic collection, and the building itself is beautiful. I was particularly captivated by a local photography exhibit on the city. There's just so much to see. I spend like two hours there.
- 2:00 PM: Lunch somewhere. I'm starving after all that art. Thinking something quick and easy. Fast food it is.
- 3:00 PM: Return to hotel. Relax. Maybe finally read that book I've been carrying around forever. Maybe!
- 4:00 PM: Realize I forgot to buy souvenirs. Panic.
- 4:30 PM: Head to a local shop recommended. Find the biggest, tackiest souvenir I can find. (Because, you know, tradition.)
- 5:30 PM: The biggest, tackiest souvenir? A stuffed animal. A very large stuffed animal. I regret nothing.
- 6:00 PM: I'm starting to wind down for the night. This is nice.
- 7:00 PM: Dinner and drinks at a local brewery. The beer is good. The food is…well… I'll get back to you on that.
- 8:30 PM: Back to the hotel. Did I mention how glad I am for my noise cancelling headphones?
- 9:00 PM: The evening is spent relaxing in my room. I've got a book, and I'm pretty sure it's going to be a good bedtime.
Day 3: Departure and Airport Deja Vu (and Chili Regret?)
- 7:00 AM: Wake up. The waffles are a no-go. Pancakes again. It’s a shame.
- 8:00 AM: Pack. I'm pretty good at packing efficiently. Packing is not, in fact, efficient.
- 9:00 AM: One last stroll through the hotel lobby. Checking out.
- 9:30 AM: Shuttle to the airport. Ugh. The airport again.
- 10:00 AM: Airport. This is going to be a drag.
- 11:00 AM: Realizing I should have ordered a small cup of chili to go.
- 11:30 AM: At the gate. Thinking about chili.
- 12:00 PM: Boarding. Goodbye, Wichita! It was…an experience.
- 12:30 PM: Turbulence. Of course.
Post-Trip Scrawlings:
- The chili was a mixed bag, sure, but I’d eat it again.
- The Keeper of the Plains? Worth the trip alone.
- I think I should take a nap.
- I am going to need a vacation from this vacation.
- I will never, ever, learn to pack light.
- Okay, Wichita, you were… alright. I'll be back. Eventually. And next time, I am definitely getting that chili to go. (I'm already planning it.)
Wichita Airport (ICT) Wingate by Wyndham: The Secret's Out (Maybe...or Am I Just Crazy?)
Okay, spill the tea! What's the "secret" about the Wingate by Wyndham at Wichita Airport? Is it actually good?
Alright, alright! The "secret" is... it's ridiculously convenient. Like, *stupidly* convenient. Seriously, roll out of bed, stumble across the parking lot, and you're practically *in* the terminal. Beats the heck out of that awful shuttle shuffle at other airport hotels. But "good"? That's a whole other kettle of… well, hotel room chaos. Let's just say my expectations were lower than the complimentary coffee, and… well, sometimes they were met. Other times, I was genuinely surprised.
So, location, location, location. But what about the rooms? Are they… livable? What's the actual vibe?
Okay, the rooms. Vibe-wise? Think "business traveler with a slight existential crisis." Clean-ish. Perfectly functional, mostly. I've seen worse; I’ve also seen *much* better. Picture this: a slightly threadbare but comfortable bed (bless you, weary traveler!), a small desk that's seen better days (I swear, I think I saw a coffee stain from the Reagan administration), and a TV that, thankfully, actually works. The bathrooms... alright, let's be real, the bathrooms are where the imperfections really shine. The water pressure in the shower? Let's just say you'll be longing for a massage. And the lighting... well, prepare to squint.
You mentioned complimentary coffee. Tell me about the breakfast situation. Is it worth getting out of bed for? (Because, let's be honest, after a flight, that’s a big ask.)
Breakfast… ah, breakfast. It's free! And that's the best part. I mean, it's *airport hotel* free, mind you. We're talking the usual suspects: lukewarm scrambled eggs that may or may not be actual eggs, questionable breakfast meats that resemble something left over from a science experiment, and the aforementioned coffee that’s… well, it’s *there*. The bagels are usually rock-hard, which can be a good jaw workout, I guess. But, hey, there’s *something* to fuel your travel day. And sometimes, the breakfast attendant is super bubbly and friendly, and even *that* makes up for it. One time, I swear, I saw a guy trying to smuggle an entire waffle back to his room. It was inspiring.
Let's talk about practicality. Is there a gym? Free Wi-Fi? Parking? The essentials!
Okay, practicalities. Yes, there's a "gym." I put that in quotes because it's more like a closet with some treadmills and free weights. I walked in once. I walked *out* once. No judgement. Wifi? Yes! Mostly reliable, which is a travel blessing. Parking? Yep, it's free (and a short walk… which is great when you're about to lose it from stress from being delayed). They also have a business center, which I actually appreciated in a pinch when I was trying to print a boarding pass at 5 am and everything was going south. They were lifesavers!
Okay, I'm picturing a pretty bog-standard airport hotel. What's the "unbelievable" part? Did you find a secret portal to Narnia in the elevator?
Alright, alright, don't get your hopes up! No Narnia. The "unbelievable" part isn't that dramatic. It's the... *consistency*. Yeah, I know, not the most exciting word. But listen: in a world of wildly unpredictable travel experiences, the Wingate is *consistently*… *there*. It consistently offers a warm bed, a consistently-meh breakfast, and a consistently amazing location. I once got stuck overnight and found myself there at 2 am. The front desk guy was tired, but helpful. It was a godsend. It's not perfect. It's not luxurious. But sometimes, that's exactly what you need. That's the secret: comfort and reassurance when all you want is to get to your gate. And the *absolute* convenience of being practically adjacent to the terminal takes it to another level.
Any horror stories? Because every hotel has one, right?
Oh, boy. Where to begin? One time, I was there during a snowstorm. The power flickered all night. But, you know what? The staff was genuinely trying. They brought us extra blankets, and someone even went around with flashlights. It wasn’t ideal, but it gave me some perspective, right? The most unsettling thing... was the elevator. The carpet, for one, was stained, and the buttons were slightly… sticky. I swear on one particular trip, the elevator got stuck between floors, and I *swear* I heard someone breathing heavily on the other side of the doors. I ended up taking the stairs. Every time. Then, more recently, I'm pretty sure I saw a rogue housekeeping cart in the hallway. Like, just… abandoned. I may have seen some evidence of a late-night candy binge. I can't confirm it. But, yes, I’ve had a few slightly chaotic experiences. No portals to another dimension, though.
Would you recommend it? Be honest!
Look, it depends on what you need. If you're looking for luxury, look elsewhere. If you're expecting a five-star experience, you're setting yourself up for disappointment. But, *if* you value unparalleled convenience, a safe and functional place to sleep, and a decent breakfast, and you *don't* mind a few quirks, yeah, I'd recommend it. Especially if you're flying out early and want to avoid the whole shuttle/parking nightmare. Frankly, after having stayed at a few other airports hotels, I began to appreciate Wingate's simplicity. It is not the Ritz, and it does not aim to be, but that is its strength. It's the perfect hotel for a quick stop! Just bring your own pillow. And maybe a hazmat suit.
Final thoughts? Anything else we should know?
Just… manage your expectations. And wear earplugs. And consider bringing your own coffee. Oh! One last thing: the view from the higher floors is actually pretty cool. Especially if you’re into watching planes take off. Don't say I didn't warn you about the waffle-smuggling situation.
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