
Detroit's Hidden Gem: Courtyard Southfield's Unbeatable Luxury!
The "Luxury Haven" That Almost Broke Me (But Ultimately Didn't): A Whirlwind Review
Alright, buckle up buttercups, because I just emerged from the…well, let’s just call it a "luxury haven" – and I'm still peeling off the layers of… experience. This ain't your sanitized brochure review, folks. This is a raw, unfiltered, potentially slightly unhinged account of my stay, warts and all. Prepare for a stream-of-consciousness tsunami.
Metadata & SEO (because, you know, I have to): Luxury Hotel Review, Wheelchair Accessible, Spa, Fitness Center, Restaurants, Free WiFi, Hotel Accessibility, [Hotel Name] Review, [City/Region, if applicable], Family Friendly Hotels, Best Hotels, Spa Hotels, [Hotel Chain, if applicable], Accessibility Features, COVID Safety Protocol, Room Amenities.
Okay, now… deep breath. Let’s dive in.
Accessibility – The Good, The Bad, and the Very Confusing:
They say they're accessible. And to be fair, the ramps and elevators were present. That's a win, right? But… and this is a BIG but… navigating the hallways felt like an obstacle course designed by someone who'd never actually used a wheelchair. Tiny doorways, carpets that threatened to swallow wheels whole, and a general lack of intuitive flow. It was a constant battle of "will I make it to the pool without an emergency maintenance call?" Honestly, I felt like a contestant on a low-budget reality show, "Wheelchair Warrior: Hotel Edition." Sigh. But at least they tried. And the accessibility features are really important, so I have to give them some credit for that.
On-site accessibility – restaurants/lounges: Yes, they did, but some of the seating arrangements were so tight you'd have to be a contortionist to get in there. Seriously, I saw one poor fellow practically crawling under a table to get to his seat. Laugh or cry? I chose a little of both.
Internet – My Digital Downfall (and Salvation!):
FREE WI-FI IN ALL ROOMS! That's the hook, the siren song that lured me in. And, praise the digital gods, it mostly worked. Speed wasn't lightning-fast, but enough to stream my guilty pleasure (a show I won't name for fear of judgement). However, the LAN? Forget it. I swear, that cord was just sitting there, mocking me. Did anyone even use those anymore?
Things to Do (or, How I Became One with the Pool):
Okay, let's be honest. I was in relaxation mode. So, the pool with a view became my personal sanctuary. Seriously, it was gorgeous. Infinity edge, turquoise water, palm trees… I spent so much time in that pool, I'm pretty sure I developed gills. The fitness center… well, let's just say I looked at it longingly. After all, the pool had my full attention.
Ways to Relax – The Spa Shenanigans:
This is where things got…interesting. The spa itself was beautiful. The sauna, the steamroom, all top-notch. I even braved the body scrub. It started off amazing, with this lovely scrub girl gently massaging my skin. But then…well, let’s just say she got a little ambitious, which quickly turned it into an exercise in pain tolerance. I came out feeling like a shiny, well-oiled, slightly bruised… thing. The massage afterwards was a necessary recovery. The foot bath? Heavenly bliss.
Cleanliness and Safety – COVID Chaos (but with Hand Sanitizer!):
The COVID protocols were extensive. Hand sanitizer everywhere, staff masked, daily disinfection in common areas. I felt like I was in a biohazard clean-up commercial, but at least I felt somewhat safe. They boasted about anti-viral cleaning products and professional-grade sanitizing services. All good things, but sometimes, the over-the-top precautions felt a little oppressive. Like, I'm trying to relax, not constantly worry about my next surface interaction! They also offered room sanitization opt-out, which felt like a good option.
Dining, Drinking, and Snacking – A Culinary Adventure (Mostly Good):
The breakfast buffet was… well, a buffet. The usual suspects: eggs, bacon, pastries. But, the Asian breakfast corner was a pleasant surprise! The Dim Sum was on point, and the noodle soup was the perfect comfort food. The restaurants themselves offered a mix of international cuisine and Asian cuisine, the salad in restaurant options was on the side. The poolside bar was a lifesaver. Happy hour? Yes, please! The 24-hour room service was a godsend for late-night snack attacks. The bottle of water was appreciated in the rooms.
Services and Conveniences – The Little Things (and the Big Irritations):
They had pretty much everything. Concierge, dry cleaning, luggage storage… the works. I even saw a tiny little convenience store, perfect for late-night chocolate cravings. The daily housekeeping were reliable, but slightly too enthusiastic. One morning, I came back to find my carefully arranged toiletries… moved. A minor annoyance, but still…my stuff! The facilities for disabled guests were okay, as noted earlier. The elevator was thankfully available.
For the Kids – (I Don't Have Any, But I Saw Things):
While I don't have any kids, let me tell you this place was teeming with them. They had a babysitting service, which seemed popular, and some clearly dedicated kids facilities. It was, shall we say, a lively atmosphere.
Available in all rooms - A Deep Dive:
Alright, the real meat and potatoes of a hotel stay: the room itself. Mine was nice. I'll give it that. It had air conditioning, which was essential, complimentary tea and coffee maker, and a fridge, because, priorities. The view? Spectacular. Blackout curtains? Thank you, sweet baby Jesus. But, and this is a big but…
Room Specifics (the Good, the Bad, and the Annoying):
- The Good: Free Wi-Fi, Bathrobes, slippers, and a large mirror.
- The Bad: The bathroom was cramped. The shower water pressure was abysmal. My carpet was stained… oh, and the soundproofing wasn’t. I constantly had to wake up because I was hearing all of the noises from next door.
- The Annoying: The desk seemed to be placed specifically to block the sunlight. The constant need to find the outlet. In this day and age, where are the sockets?
Getting Around - Taxi and Car Park Shenanigans:
Airport transfer was available. They had a car park with car charging station, yay for the environment! There was also valet parking, but I never tried it, but the available taxi services meant I wasn't driving anyway.
My Anecdote - The Case of the Missing Remote:
One evening, I settled in for a movie. Grabbed the remote. Pressed "On." Nothing. Pressed again. Still nothing. I searched high and low. Under pillows, between the cushions, even behind the curtains. The remote had vanished! After a frantic call to housekeeping, they "miraculously" found it. Turns out, it had somehow gotten… stuck in the arm of the sofa. Proof that even luxury hotels have their moments of comedic ineptitude.
Overall Impression:
Would I go back? Hmm… probably. The pool, the spa (with some warning), and the mostly reliable Wi-Fi were definite pluses. The sheer effort the staff put into making the place run smoothly was impressive. But, the accessibility could use a major overhaul, the room could be better organized. It's a solid hotel with some major quirks. It's like a beautiful, slightly eccentric Aunt. You love her, but you're also prepared for some dramatic moments.
**Baymont by Wyndham San Diego: Downtown's BEST-KEPT Secret Hotel!**
Alright, buckle up buttercups, 'cause this ain't your grandma's itinerary. This is my survival guide to the wilds of… Southfield, Michigan, baby! (Hold for lukewarm applause, a cough or two, and maybe a confused glance from a bewildered traveler.) We're staying at the Courtyard Detroit Southfield, which I only hope has decent coffee because, let's be real, that’s 80% of the battle, right?
(Shuffles papers, spills a little coffee, sighs dramatically)
Day 1: Arrival and…Existential Dread? (Okay, maybe just jet lag.)
- 1:00 PM: Arrive at the Detroit Metro Airport (DTW). Pray to the baggage gods that my suitcase hasn’t been rerouted to… Timbuktu. (Seriously, happens all the time.)
- Anecdote: Last time I flew, I swear I saw a toddler smuggle a whole bag of gummy bears onto the plane. The audacity. And I had to pay $15 for a tiny bag of pretzels! The injustice!
- 1:45 PM: Uber to the Courtyard. I'm anticipating a soul-crushing conversation with the driver about traffic and the weather. Wish me luck.
- 2:30 PM: Check-in. Pray the room isn't haunted or next to the ice machine. Both are equally terrifying.
- 3:00 PM: Unpack (ugh, the worst part). Immediately seek out coffee. This is a non-negotiable.
- Observation: Hotel rooms always smell vaguely of cleaning products and regret. You know? That weird "we're-trying-to-be-pristine-but-really-we're-just-hiding-things" vibe? I’m already feeling it.
- 4:00 PM: Stroll around the hotel. Scope out the gym (yeah, right). Find the vending machine (priorities!). Mentally prepare myself for a few hours of… absolutely nothing. The sweet, sweet nothing of travel downtime.
- Emotional Reaction: I'm actually strangely excited to chill with a book by the pool. Or whatever passes as a pool in this town - maybe it's just a glorified puddle. I'm open-minded!
- 6:00 PM: Dinner at… wherever delivers. Judging by the reviews, options are… limited. Maybe pizza? Pizza is always a safe bet, right? Especially after a day of travel.
- Rambles: The thing about pizza is… it’s so versatile. You can have it hot, cold, leftover for breakfast… It's like a culinary chameleon. But I digress.
Day 2: The Quest for…Authenticity? (Or at least a decent bagel)
- 8:00 AM: Attempt to eat breakfast at the hotel restaurant. Brace myself for the usual bland buffet experience.
- Emotional Reaction: Heavy sigh. If they don't have a decent bagel with cream cheese, I'm going to lose it. I'd seriously consider driving across the state for a decent bagel.
- 9:00 AM: Drive to the Detroit Institute of Arts (DIA). Apparently, it’s got a pretty good collection. I hope.
- Opinionated Language: Art museums are tricky. You're constantly battling the urge to pretend you understand art, while secretly just wanting to find a comfy bench. I'm bracing myself.
- 11:00 AM - 1:00 PM: DI, Walking the museum.
- Anecdote: Once, I accidentally wandered into a Modern Art exhibit and spent a panicked hour trying to look "intrigued" by a pile of…stuff. The whole time I was thinking, "I could have made that in kindergarten!"
- 1:30 PM: Lunch! Gotta find some good food near the museum. I'm leaning toward something local, maybe a deli.
- 3:00 PM: Maybe find somewhere to stroll. The area's supposed to have some cool stuff, so I'm going to wander.
- Quirky observations: One time I was walking down a street. I saw a sign. It said… I don't even remember. But it was very important.
- 6:00 PM: Dinner. Back to researching food options, maybe something closer to the hotel.
Day 3: Leaving and the lingering question of "What did I really do?"
- 8:00 AM: Final breakfast. Another shot at a bagel.
- 9:00 AM: Pack. Face the brutal reality of being back to reality.
- 10:00 AM: Check out. Say farewell to the Courtyard and its slightly depressing, yet familiar, ambiance.
- 11:00 AM: Head back to DTW.
- Stronger emotional reactions: Detest the idea of having to fly. The planes and the airports are exhausting!
- 12:00 PM: Depart.
- On the plane: Think "Did I see enough? Is this what I was supposed to accomplish here?"
- Messier Structure: I'm already forgetting stuff! Probably. I'll have to process post-trip.
(Finishes schedule. Glares at the empty coffee cup)
And there you have it. The thrilling, unpredictable journey of a human…in Southfield, Michigan. Wish me luck, people. I'll be back. Maybe. If the coffee holds out.
Hyatt Place Detroit Livonia: Your Dream Detroit Getaway Awaits!
What *is* the point of all this anyway? Like, seriously?
Okay, fine. But what *are* we even talking about?
Do you *really* have any answers? Or is this just going to be a bunch of hot air?
What's the "Worst Experience" You've Ever Had? (Let's get the juicy stuff)
So, you're saying you aren't perfect? Groundbreaking.
How do you handle criticism? (Because let's face it, you're going to get some.)
What are your hopes for this whole... thing?
Where do you see this going? Will there be more categories? How committed are you to this?


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