Roanoke Airport Escape: Your Perfect Stay at Residence Inn!
Roanoke Airport Escape: Honest Review of Residence Inn - More Than Just a Stay!
Okay, buckle up, because I just got back from a stay at the Residence Inn near Roanoke Airport, and I've got opinions. Forget those polished, corporate reviews; this is the real deal, folks. I'm talkin' warts and all, from the glorious to the slightly-less-than-glorious. Let's dive in, shall we?
Accessibility: A Big Win (Mostly!)
Right off the bat, a shout-out to the Residence Inn for mostly nailing accessibility. Wheelchair accessible? Yep, big-time. Ramps, elevators, wide doorways – they got it. I even saw accessible parking spots, which is always a relief. Now, the devil's in the details. While the physical spaces were generally great, sometimes the little things trip you up. For instance, maneuvering around the breakfast buffet on a crowded morning with a mobility aid was…an adventure. But hey, you can't fault 'em for the eager beavers lining up for the waffles, right?
Internet – Blessing and a Curse… Kinda
Internet Access? CHECK. And with Free Wi-Fi in all rooms?! DOUBLE CHECK! (Yes, I yelled that. Because good Wi-Fi is a necessity, people!). So, the Wi-Fi? Pretty solid. Did the job. Was it lightning-fast? Not always. There were a few moments, late at night, when I was trying to stream something and got that dreaded buffering wheel. But hey, it's the kind of stuff that makes you appreciate the good bits even more. Internet [LAN]? Didn’t even crack open that can of worms. Internet services? Standard stuff – no techie wizards on staff, as far as I could tell.
Cleanliness and Safety – Pandemic Prowess!
Let's be real: post-pandemic travel feels different. And thankfully, the Residence Inn gets it. Anti-viral cleaning products? Check. Daily Disinfection in common areas? Yup. Rooms sanitized between stays? Absolutely. You could feel the effort. They were taking it seriously. The mask-wearing staff were friendly but you could see it behind their mask, they were tired of the mess.
Dining, Drinking, and Snacking – Food, Glorious Food (and Some Slightly Less Glorious Bits…)
Okay, let’s talk chow. The Breakfast [buffet] was…well, it was breakfast. Your standard hotel fare. Buffet in restaurant? YUP. The Coffee/tea in restaurant was always available. The selection? Decent. The eggs were…eggs. The waffles were… well, I already mentioned my waffle-fueled enthusiasm, didn't I? The Asian breakfast was a big NO from me. Restaurants? The hotel has a few dining options, there are also a lot of restaurants outside as well. Room service [24-hour]? A godsend! Snack bar? Present, but don't expect gourmet. You can get water and your basic necessities, so you'll be living the good life! Bottle of water delivered to every room, that was a godsend.
Things to do, Ways to Relax – Spa Dreams and Fitness Fantasies
I’m not the spa type (too much pampering gives me the heebie-jeebies!), but I took a peek inside the Fitness center. It was…adequate. A treadmill, some weights, the usual suspects. Gym/fitness? Yes. I didn’t use it, but it was there. So, that’s good!
Services and Conveniences – The Little Things That Matter
So many things to list!! Air conditioning in public area? Yes. Business facilities? Adequate. Cash withdrawal?? Present. Concierge? Absent. One thing that really grated on me – the lack of a proper checkout. I like a friendly face, not just a digital interface. However, it was nice to do it from anywhere, so I get it, I get it. Daily housekeeping? YES. The cleaning staff were amazing. Indoor venue for special events? It had a small event space, but it wasn’t much. Smoking area? This was really nice, I am not smoker, but I saw it and I loved to see it, it was well-maintained. Car park [free of charge]? Yes, but the access was… confusing.
For the Kids – Family-Friendly or Family-Frustrating?
Family/child friendly? It seemed it, but I didn't travel with any kids. I saw a few families, a couple of screaming toddlers, and the hotel handled it well. Babysitting service? Unsure, didn't ask.
Available in all rooms – The Nitty-Gritty
Okay, let’s get REAL here. Air conditioning? Essential, thank god. Alarm clock? Standard. Bathrobes? No. Bathroom phone? Nope. Bathtub? Yes. Blackout curtains? YES! Carpeting? Yep. Closet? Plenty of space. Coffee/tea maker? Yes. Complimentary tea? YES! Daily housekeeping? The best! Desk? Adequate. Extra long bed? Yes, and comfortable! Free bottled water? Of course! Hair dryer? Check. High floor? I didn't check what floor I was on. In-room safe box? Yes. Internet access – LAN? Probably not. Internet access – wireless? Amazing. Ironing facilities? Yup. Laptop workspace? Yes. Linens? Clean and comfy. Mini bar? No! Mirror? Yes! Non-smoking? Absolutely. On-demand movies? Yes. Private bathroom? Yes. Reading light? Good. Refrigerator? Yes. Satellite/cable channels? Yep. Scale? Surprisingly, yes. Seating area? Nice. Separate shower/bathtub? Yes. Shower? Good. Slippers? Nope. Smoke detector? Yes. Socket near the bed? Yup. Sofa? Nice. Soundproofing? Decent. Telephone? Present. Toiletries? Standard. Towels? Plenty. Umbrella? No. Wake-up service? Available. Wi-Fi [free]? YESSS. Window that opens? Yesss.
Getting Around
Airport transfer? Yes! This, my friends, was a godsend. After a long flight, that shuttle was a lifesaver. Bicycle parking? I didn't see any. Car park [free of charge]? Yup. Taxi service? Available. Valet parking? Nope.
The Verdict – Would I Go Back?
Honestly? Yeah, probably. Despite the minor gripes. The Residence Inn near Roanoke Airport is a solid choice. It’s clean, safe, accessible, and the location is perfect for anyone flying in and out. Just don’t expect a five-star luxury experience. Expect a comfortable, convenient stay with a few quirks. And if you see me there again, hit me up! We can split a waffle.
Rizzo Center: Chapel Hill's Most Stunning Hyatt Wedding Chapel (NC)
Okay, buckle up, buttercups! This isn't your cookie-cutter itinerary. This is ME trying to wrangle a trip to the Residence Inn by Marriott Roanoke Airport into something… well, let's just say "memorable." (Emphasis on memorable because, let's face it, airport hotels are usually the realm of the forgettable).
Trip: Roanoke Rendezvous (or, How I Learned to Stop Worrying and Love the Marriott)
Day 1: Arrival - Or, The Great Roanoke Road Trip of Wonder…and Mild Panic
- 1:00 PM: Okay, so the drive. Ugh. Let's just say my GPS and I have an ongoing relationship. A fiery, GPS-shaming, "WHY ARE WE ON THIS DIRT ROAD?!" kind of relationship. But hey, scenic, right? (Said with gritted teeth, as a rogue pothole nearly swallowed my tire). I'm finally pulling into Roanoke, Virginia. And by finally, I mean, AFTER I'd managed to misunderstand every single exit sign. "Roanoke Airport" sounds so official. I need to get my brain in gear here…this is the start of an adventure… hopefully.
- 2:30 PM: Check-in at the Residence Inn. Blah blah, the usual pleasantries. The front desk person is wearing the same strained smile I have plastered on my face after that drive. Sympathy. I'm a sucker for a friendly person, even if I can't stop thinking that this hotel is probably the only place open on a Sunday. I'm trying not to feel like a total slob and realize I need to get something to eat, I have had too much coffee.
- 3:00 PM: The Room - AKA My Brief Moment of Existential Dread: Okay, room. Clean enough. Standard issue. It smells faintly of… well, the scent of "airport hotel". I'm not sure what that's supposed to be, but I am trying not to let my standards fall to the ground like that rogue sock. The kitchenette is… there. I’m already weighing the pros and cons of instant ramen vs. the grocery store. (Instant ramen wins, always.) I'm alone with my thoughts, which are a very dangerous combination, and I try not to think of all the things I left behind. I should probably unpack and get some work done.
- 4:00 PM: "Work" Attempts and the Struggle is Real: I try to "work." It's not going well. The Wi-Fi is iffy. The chair is okay, but I'm not exactly feeling inspired. Let's be honest I have no idea what I'm supposed to do here. Maybe that's why I brought all my books with me…
- 6:00 PM: Dinner Dilemma and That Damn Grocery Store: I decide to grab a snack from the store. It's a miracle they're all open. Grocery store is the place where I get excited about buying snacks, I walk out with a full bag and I'm actually okay with that. I had some chocolate cake, and, honestly, I felt better.
- 7:30 PM: The "Fitness" Experience (Emphasis on the "Attempt"): The gym. Let's just say I'm not a gym person. The equipment looks… intimidating. I attempt to run on a treadmill. I last ten minutes before collapsing in a sweaty, self-deprecating heap. I am officially out of shape.
- 8:30 PM: Back in the room. Channel surfing. Netflix bingeing. The usual end-of-day routine. I feel guilty about the lack of productivity, but my mind is still recovering from the drive. And that damn grocery store.
Day 2: Roanoke Exploration (or, The Day I Tried to Be a Tourist)
- 8:00 AM: Breakfast - Free Food, Free Happiness: The free breakfast at the Residence Inn is surprisingly good. The waffle maker is my new best friend. Coffee is good. Breakfast is like a mini-vacation in an otherwise normal day.
- 9:30 AM: Tourist Time – Taubman Museum of Art: I decide to be adventurous. I make the pilgrimage to the Taubman Museum of Art. I am not an art person, but I want to be, and even I enjoyed it. The architecture is impressive. The art… well, let's just say some of it makes me think. The rest makes me scratch my head. Regardless, I am feeling the "culture".
- 12:00 PM: Lunch - The Quest for the Perfect Burger: I attempt to find a local gem for lunch. After a bit of Yelp-induced stress (too many choices!), I wander into a diner. I order a burger. It's amazing. The staff is friendly. My faith in humanity is momentarily restored.
- 1:30 PM: The Blue Ridge Parkway (Briefly): I take a scenic drive along the Blue Ridge Parkway. It's beautiful. Breathtaking views. Then a car in front of me starts to brake. I slow down. I am now enjoying this drive without a care in the world. (That's when I saw the exit sign.) I turn around. The road is closed. I laugh to myself. I seem to spend half my time getting lost.
- 3:00 PM: Back to the Hotel – The Mid-Afternoon Nap: Nap time. Because, well, I'm on vacation. Despite the lack of a beach, I am on vacation.
- 5:00 PM: Roanoke Star - I Can See My House From Here (Kinda): I drive up to see the Roanoke Star. The view is beautiful. I am not the most photogenic person, so the pictures are bad, but the view is lovely. It's a nice way to spend a few minutes. The town is a bit sleepy, but I am liking it here.
- 6:00 PM: Dinner – Let's Do It Again: Burger time! With a few of the same friendly faces, I decide to eat dinner again.
- 7:30 PM: Return to the hotel for my usual channel surfing.
Day 3: Departure - Farewell, Roanoke (and the Comfort of the Marriott)
- 8:00 AM: Repeat of the excellent breakfast. The waffles continue to call my name.
- 9:00 AM: Check-out. I am ready to go home. The hotel staff is pleasant. I’ll probably be back.
- 10:00 AM: Driving Home.
Overall Musings:
- The Good: The free breakfast. The helpful staff. The unexpected charm of a small town. The damn grocery store.
- The Not-So-Good: My navigation skills. The Wi-Fi. The lack of a beach. My gym attempt.
- Quirky Observations: I had a lot of coffee this weekend.
- Emotional Response: I'm actually pleasantly surprised. I expected airport hotel boredom. I got a bit of adventure, some decent food, and a reminder that sometimes, the best trips are the ones you don’t plan too much.
- Final Verdict: I'd go back. Roanoke, you have officially won me over, even if it took a few wrong turns and a lot of waffle batter.
Roanoke Airport Escape: Frequently Asked (and Probably Irrelevant) Questions About the Residence Inn!
Okay, So, Like, What *IS* This Place, Really? Is it, you know, *nice*? I'm picky.
**Ancedote Alert!** Remember the time I arrived at 2 AM after a flight from... well, somewhere awful, and the front desk guy was actually *cheerful*? And the room I was assigned to, after a long day looked perfect. So, yeah, *nice* is a fair assessment. Though the coffee, sometimes, needs a serious intervention.
Is the Free Breakfast Worth Actually Waking Up For? Or Can I Sleep In? Let's be honest.
**My Confession..** I once ate three waffles, topped with everything *but* the kitchen sink. Okay, maybe *including* the kitchen sink... It was a rough travel day. So, yes, *sometimes* worth waking up for. But if you’re a hardcore sleeper and don’t want to do a battle with a waffle iron before even getting moving, Sleep in? Probably. But miss the waffle, not the general breakfast.
How Close Is It *REALLY* to the Airport? Because "close" can be a relative term.
**The Perfect Example of Proximity:** Once, I missed my flight. Don't judge. Let's just say I was having a *moment*. But guess what? This place? My savior. Got back in like... ten minutes. And back to the friendly staff! So, yeah, close. Like, *ridiculously* close to the airport.
What's the Deal with the Pool? I'm a Pool Snob. Be Brutally Honest.
**A Pool-Related Thought:**I once went in, fully expecting to be disappointed. And I wasn't! It was cold, sure, but it was a pool. And sometimes that is enough. Let's be real here. It's not the best, of course, but on a scale of 'drowning hazard' to 'luxury spa', it probably lands right in the middle, and that's just *fine*.
Is There Anything *Actually* Bad About the Residence Inn? Lay it on me. I'm a Detractor.
**My Major Pain Point:** The elevator. Sometimes it's slow. And sometimes, it smells faintly of… well, you get the idea. *And* occasionally, the key card stops working. Minor annoyances, sure, but, yeah. They're there. So, a whole bunch of tiny things. Let's hope you have great earplugs.
Okay, So, Overall? Would You Recommend It? (And Stop Rambling!)
**And, the moral of the story is...** it's not the worst place on earth, and frankly, it's perfect for what it's meant to be: A home away from home while you're away from home.
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