Roanoke's BEST I-81 Hotel: Days Inn Comfort & Convenience!
Okay, buckle up, buttercups! Because we're diving headfirst into the murky, yet often surprisingly pleasant, waters of Roanoke's hotel scene, specifically focusing on the Days Inn Comfort & Convenience! (Yes, the exclamation point is part of the name; I'm not that excited… yet.) This isn't your polished, robotic, corporate review. This is a real person's take, warts and all, with a healthy dose of rambling and possibly questionable sentence structure. Let's go: Roanoke's Days Inn: A Rollercoaster of Comfort & (Occasional) Annoyance
Right, so, the name. Days Inn Comfort & Convenience! Seriously? It's a lot to live up to. But hey, I appreciate the ambition! I booked this place because, let's be honest, budget travel called. And honestly? Days Inn's in Roanoke has, for the most part, kept its promises.
Accessibility: Not Bad, But Could Be Better?
Okay, let's get the serious stuff out of the way. I’m not in a wheelchair, thankfully, and the accessibility is hard to judge properly but it looks pretty decent, on the surface. There IS stuff for disabled guests, which is great. I did notice an elevator, which is a massive win. But, you know, I wandered around a bit while waiting for my room and I didn’t see any super obvious braille or anything. So, a mixed bag, really.
Cleanliness and Safety: My OCD Kinda Relaxed
I’m a bit of a germaphobe, so the cleanliness and safety are crucially important to me. I was quietly pleased – very quietly. They've got the whole "anti-viral cleaning products," "daily disinfection in common areas," "rooms sanitized between stays" thing going on. It's the post-COVID world, and honestly, thank god. I appreciated the hand sanitizer everywhere. Also, big ups for the individually-wrapped food options at breakfast. Made me feel slightly less like I was wading through a petri dish. Also, big thumbs up for the room sanitization opt-out available as it shows there is some level of personal choice with what is going on. However, I did notice some dust bunnies during my stay – a few. So, maybe not perfect, but a solid effort, and that counts for a lot in my book.
Dining, Drinking, and Snacking: Breakfast, Breakfast, Breakfast!
The breakfast situation is the highlight here. Okay, it's a complimentary buffet, so don't expect Michelin-star quality. But the breakfast [buffet] was definitely there. There were waffles, which I always appreciate. And fruit, and the inevitable scrambled eggs and sausage. The coffee shop was decent – got me my caffeine fix, which is essential. I did, however, wish there would have been more Asian cuisine in restaurant or a Western cuisine in restaurant option nearby that was open late in the evening.
Services and Conveniences: The Usual, Plus a Few Surprises
Let's talk services and conveniences. They have the staples: daily housekeeping (which was efficient), laundry service, and concierge (though I didn’t really need to use them). Cash withdrawal was handy. I did, however, like the free car park [free of charge]. Also, elevator is fantastic. I was pleasantly surprised by the convenience store. And, yes, there is Wi-Fi for special events – though, honestly, I can't imagine hosting a rave in a Days Inn… but hey, anything's possible!
For the Kids: Is the Days Inn Family Friendly?
They claim to be family/child friendly, and there are kids facilities. I didn't bring a child, so I can't vouch for that specifically. But I did see a few families around, and everyone seemed to be surviving… so maybe there's hope!
Available in All Rooms: The Real Deal – What Did I Actually Get?
Now, the rooms! Okay, let's break it down. Air conditioning (essential in Virginia summers), alarm clock (never trust your phone!), coffee/tea maker (yes! caffeine!), complimentary tea (score!), daily housekeeping (already mentioned, but worth repeating!), desk (for… working?), hair dryer (thank god, my hair is a mess), – the essentials.
- Internet Access – Wireless, Wi-fi [free]: Fantastic. Essential. I needed to binge-watch some truly awful reality TV, and I did it!
- Refrigerator: Okay, I loved having a refrigerator. Kept my Diet Coke (you judge me) ice-cold.
- Non-smoking: Definitely a win.
- Shower: Worked perfectly!
- Television- Got my fix of junk food TV!
Things to Do, Ways to Relax: Minimal, but Adequate
Okay, things to do and ways to relax. Honestly, it's a Days Inn. Don't expect a spa. They had a fitness center which I, embarrassingly, didn't even look at, let alone use. And a swimming pool [outdoor]. It looked inviting, but I'm not a pool person. So, yeah, on the relaxation front, it's… limited. But Roanoke itself has plenty to offer!
Getting Around: Easy Peasy
- Car park [free of charge]: Amazing. I drove. Parking was easy, close to the entrance and free (always a win).
- Taxi service: I saw a sign for the taxis. Didn't need it, but good to know.
My Verdict: Comfort & Convenience, with a Side of Imperfection
So, would I recommend the Days Inn Comfort & Convenience? Absolutely, at the right price. It isn’t perfect, but it really is a solid choice for a Roanoke visit. It’s clean-ish, the staff is friendly, the breakfast is… edible (and free!). The accessibility seems reasonable, and the location's convenient. It's not a luxury experience, but it delivers what it promises: comfort and a bit of convenience. I might even stay there again. Just, maybe, I'll bring my own disinfectant wipes this time.
Escape to Comfort: BWI Airport's Best-Kept Secret Hotel
Okay, buckle up, buttercup. This ain't your grandmother's travel itinerary. This is… well, it's my attempt at an itinerary, and since I'm currently sprawled out on a questionable bed (a Day's Inn near I-81 in Roanoke, VA, in case you were wondering – let's just say "basic" is the operative word here), it might get a little… rambly.
Days Inn By Wyndham Roanoke Near I-81, Roanoke, VA: The Unofficial Itinerary of a Slightly Jaded Traveler
Day 1: Arrival and the Great Cracker Barrel Coma
1:00 PM: Landed in Roanoke. Already regretting not packing a decent pillow. Airport was… fine. Smelled faintly of desperation and airplane glue. Grabbed my rental car – a silver… thing. Named it "The Grey Ghost" because it's appropriately anonymous.
1:45 PM: Checked into the Days Inn. The lobby guy? He was trying. Bless his heart. He looked like he’d seen some things, and probably been asked to fix a printer that was older than I am. Room… well, it's a room. Bedspread: a vibrant, vaguely unsettling shade of orange. Time to crack out the Clorox wipes… again.
2:30 PM: Attempted to unpack. Immediately realized I'd forgotten my noise-canceling headphones. This is a tragedy, folks. A true tragedy.
3:00 PM: Lunch at Cracker Barrel. Okay, I know, I know. Basic AF. But listen, sometimes a girl needs a plate of biscuits and gravy, a sense of nostalgia for a time she never personally lived, and a retail experience that's roughly on par with a museum gift shop. The biscuits, though? Perfection. The gravy? Acceptable. The shop part? I may have bought a ridiculously oversized ceramic rooster. Don't judge me.
4:00 PM - 7:00 PM: Cracker Barrel Coma. This is a real thing, people. It’s a food-induced stupor, a hazy fog of contentment and questionable decision-making. I’m pretty sure I just sat there for three hours, staring blankly at a rocking chair and listening to a couple argue about the proper way to butter a biscuit. I considered joining the debate, but honestly, the effort required seemed… overwhelming.
7:30 PM: Attempted to find dinner. Everything nearby was either closed or looked terrifyingly empty. Settled for a sad gas station hot dog. Regretted it immediately.
8:00 PM - Onward: Flicked through channels until I was bored. Journaled a little. Wrote a haiku about the stained rug. Sulked. Stared out the window at the endless expanse of… nothing. Wondered if I could actually escape from that awful room. 😕
Day 2: Roanoke's Hidden Charms and My Innate Awkwardness
8:00 AM: Woke up. The orange bedspread was still trying its best to match my mood. Coffee: instant. Taste: vaguely reminiscent of burnt tires.
8:30 AM: Made plans to actually explore Roanoke. This is an important step. Decided to go to the Roanoke Star. It's apparently a big white star that overlooks the city. I hope it lived up to the hype.
9:30 AM: The Roanoke Star! Success! The views were actually pretty spectacular. Took a few obligatory photos, then spent a concerning amount of time trying to figure out the best angle for a selfie. Failed miserably. Always do. Looked awkward, as always, and probably like I'd forgotten to sleep in weeks.
11:00 AM: Visited the Taubman Museum of Art. Was actually pleasantly surprised! Some really interesting exhibits, and the building itself is stunning. (Bonus points: AC!) Wandered around, feeling vaguely cultured and trying to remember the names of the artists I'd pretended to admire. Realized I was probably the only one in the museum who wasn't taking selfies. Again.
1:00 PM: Lunch at a local diner. Ordered a burger, fries, and a milkshake. Immediately spilled milkshake all over myself. Looked around to see if anyone had witnessed the disaster. Of course, they had. The waitress was very nice, however. Gave me extra napkins and a sympathetic smile. Sigh.
2:00 PM: Decided to walk around downtown Roanoke and see if there was anything of interest, stumbled onto a cute little bookshop! Bought a book I doubt I'll read but will happily hoard.
4:00 PM: Decided to go for a hike at the Explore Park. Got lost. Saw a deer. Thought about tackling it. Decided against it. Ended up back at the car feeling slightly defeated.
7:00 PM: Dinner at a restaurant. The food was excellent, but I spent most of the meal trying to interpret the complex hand movements of the people at the table next to me because I'm apparently fluent in the language of awkward glances. They were probably just talking, I'm sure, but it's more fun this way.
8:00 PM: Back to the Days Inn. Resilient orange bedspread still there.
8:30 PM - Onward: Found a movie on the TV. Gave the TV a lot of side eye. Debated if I should order pizza, then opted for a bag of chips and a self-pep talk.
Day 3: Departure and the Everlasting Quest for a Decent Hotel Pillow
7:00 AM: Woke up. The same damn orange bedspread. Coffee: marginally better this time!
7:30 AM: Packing. Regretting the ceramic rooster. Thinking about a new career as a minimalist. Maybe.
8:00 AM: Checked out. Told the lobby guy that the room was “charming”. He looked like he’d heard that one before.
8:30 AM: Hit the road. Goodbye, Roanoke! You were… something.
10:00 AM - Onward: Head home. Wondered when traveling gets easier, or if it's the mess is part of the deal.
Postscript:
This "itinerary" wasn't exactly a masterpiece. It was a bit awkward, a bit underwhelming, and a whole lot of me just floating through Roanoke. But hey, that’s life, right? Or at least, my version of life, on the road, in a questionable hotel room, surrounded by ceramic roosters and the faint scent of burnt coffee. Would I recommend Roanoke? Maybe. But if you go, pack your own pillow. Trust me. And maybe a good book. And definitely noise-canceling headphones. You'll thank me later. Consider this a roadmap, or a cautionary tale of the average traveler.
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