Escape to College Station: Hawthorn Extended Stay's Unbeatable Comfort!
Escape to College Station: Hawthorn Extended Stay – My Honest (Maybe a Little Chaotic) Review!
Alright, folks, buckle up! You’re about to embark on a journey into the heart of College Station, Texas, and my slightly-less-than-perfect (but hopefully helpful!) review of the Hawthorn Extended Stay. I'm not a professional critic, but I have stayed at this place, and I've got opinions. Prepare yourself for a stream of consciousness that might wander more than I-35.
(Metadata, because SEO is a thing now…)
- Keywords: College Station Hotel, Hawthorn Extended Stay Review, Wheelchair Accessible Hotel, Extended Stay, Texas Hotel, Free Wi-Fi, Fitness Center, Pool, Clean Hotel, Family-Friendly Hotel, College Station Lodging, Pet Friendly Hotel, Accessible Hotel
- Meta Description: Honest and detailed review of Hawthorn Extended Stay in College Station. Accessibility, amenities, cleanliness, and my personal experience – all covered with a healthy dose of opinion! Find out if this is the right hotel for your trip to Aggieland.
First Impressions (and the Struggle to Find the Damn Entrance)
So, pulling up to the Hawthorn… okay, the exterior is… functional. Nothing groundbreaking, you know? But hey, I'm here for comfort, not a architectural masterpiece. Finding the actual entrance was a bit of a scavenger hunt, honestly. Signage could use some… improvement. But once I figured it out, the lobby (if you can call it that) was clean. And that's a HUGE win in my book. My initial impression was… "Okay, this isn't the Ritz, but it's not a dive either." The front desk folks were friendly enough. Efficient, even. Contactless check-in/out? Score! Less human interaction, the better, sometimes. (No offense, front desk!)
Accessibility – Bless Their Hearts
Okay, now let's talk about Accessibility. This is HUGE for me, and I was really impressed with Hawthorn on this front. Wheelchair accessible is a big selling point, and they delivered. Ramps, elevators, wide doorways – the works. Seriously, they’ve thought of everything. I noticed the facilities for disabled guests were well-maintained and clearly designed with actual needs in mind, not just a check-box exercise. The exterior corridor setup helps with ease of access, too. A big thumbs up from me.
Rooms! My Home Away…ish
I booked a non-smoking room (because lung health is important, people!). The room itself was… spacious. Okay, it was really spacious. Like, I could do cartwheels (if I was coordinated enough). They've got the air conditioning cranked up (thank goodness it's Texas!). Internet access – wireless was, of course, a must-have. Internet access – LAN was nice, but let's be real, who uses those anymore? The Wi-Fi [free] worked great. And let me tell you, a good Wi-Fi connection is a necessity when you're trying to stream the Aggies game. The free bottled water was a welcome touch. Complimentary tea and a coffee/tea maker were available (essential!). I'm a sucker for a minibar, though I'm not sure what was in mine. They had a refrigerator – perfect for those late-night snacks (or, you know, keeping the beer cold). Bathroom was standard but clean. Shower had good water pressure! Small things, but they make a difference.
This is where it got Interesting… The Gym/Fitness
Okay, this is where things got… interesting. I'm not a gym rat. Never have been, never will be. But for review purposes, I felt obligated to check out the fitness center. Now, I've seen some hotel gyms that are basically a treadmill in a closet. This one… was better. It had a few treadmills, some weights, and a general "meh" kind of vibe. Not inspiring, but functional. Gym/fitness is available but the place was empty both times I went. I think this place would do well with a sauna.
Food, Glorious Food! (and the Lack Thereof…)
The breakfast [buffet]… was what you'd expect from a budget-friendly extended stay. Cereal, some pastries, and maybe some sad-looking scrambled eggs. The breakfast takeaway service at least meant I could grab something and get outta there. I’m not gonna lie, I skipped most mornings and hit up local spots instead. The coffee shop in the area was much better. I did not check out the Asian cuisine in restaurant although I would have been curious. The Poolside bar would have been nice after seeing how hot it was.
Things to Do & Ways to Relax (and My Quest for a Spa Day!)
They have a swimming pool [outdoor]! It looked… inviting. Unfortunately, I never actually used it. Too busy, you know? There was no Spa, so forget my dreams of a Body scrub or Body wrap. But hey, at least the pool was there, right? And since this is College Station, the whole town is a "thing to do."
Cleanliness & Safety – The Modern Anxiety's Friend
This is where Hawthorn really shines. Anti-viral cleaning products? Check. Daily disinfection in common areas? Check. Rooms sanitized between stays? Double-check. Hand sanitizer everywhere? You betcha. I felt genuinely safe and secure, which is huge right now. The fact that they removed Shared stationery and had Staff trained in safety protocol gives you a ton of confidence. This place gets top marks for cleanliness. Rooms sanitized between stays is a big plus.
Services and Conveniences – The Details That Matter
Laundry service? Saved my bacon! Daily housekeeping was on point. They have a convenience store… filled with, well, convenience store staples. They had an elevator (essential for a hotel!), luggage storage if you need it. They have a car park [free of charge]. Car power charging station – nice touch for the future! They have cash withdrawal.
For the Kids (and the Babysitting I Didn't Need)
They are Family/child friendly! I noticed some families there. They even have Babysitting services. Wish I had had kids, but I don't.
Getting Around
They have Airport transfer. The Taxi service is available if needed but I just took my own car. Car park [on-site] is a major plus.
My Overall Verdict (and a Few Scattered Thoughts)
Look, the Hawthorn Extended Stay isn't perfect. But it's a solid, reliable choice for a stay in College Station. It hits all the important notes: accessibility, cleanliness, comfort, and free Wi-Fi.
Pros:
- Excellent accessibility!
- Super clean and felt safe.
- Spacious rooms
- Free parking.
- Staff was friendly and helpful.
Cons:
- Entrance signage could be better.
- The gym could use some… oomph.
- The breakfast (while free) was meh.
Score: 4 out of 5 stars. I’d stay there again. Especially if I needed a break from my own chaos. And hey, for the price, you really can’t beat it. Consider it a solid, dependable choice for your Aggieland adventure!
Escape to Paradise: Hawthorn Suites Aransas Pass Awaits!
Alright, alright, buckle up buttercups, because we're about to dive headfirst into my little Hawthorn Extended Stay adventure in College Station. Forget those pristine, perfectly manicured itineraries. This is the real deal, the messy, the wonderful, the slightly terrifying (mostly for my sanity) account of a few days in Aggieland.
Day 1: Arrival and the Agony of the Extended Stay
- 1:00 PM: Landing at Easterwood Airport (CLL). Okay, first confession: I hate flying. Always have. Always will. The tiny plane, the recycled air, the tiny plastic pretzels. It’s all a recipe for pre-trip anxiety. But hey, gotta get there, right? Arrived at the airport, and the whole thing felt just…off. Like a badly-timed high school reunion.
- 1:30 PM: Shuttle to Hawthorn. The guy driving the shuttle had a beard that could house a small family of squirrels. He was also surprisingly chatty, regaling me with tales of local Aggie football glory. I nodded along, mostly because I was still trying to remember where I put my wallet.
- 2:00 PM: Check-in. The lobby smelled like cleaning solution and… sadness? Maybe it was just the fluorescent lighting. The receptionist, bless her heart, was doing her best to look cheerful. "Welcome to Hawthorn!" she chirped. I managed a weak smile. My room? It’s… functional. Think beige, more beige, and a touch of beige. And that lingering odor of… stale… everything? I swear, I could practically taste the dust bunnies that had called this place home for years.
- 2:30 PM: The unpacking struggle. Why do I always overpack? Seriously, I could probably outfit a small army with the stuff I lugged in. I just know there's going to be some vital item, probably a specific kind of phone charger or my favorite pair of lucky socks—totally essential for a successful trip—that I've inevitably neglected to pack.
- 3:00 PM: Reconnaissance mission. Gotta get my bearings. Walked to the nearby HEB (grocery store). Found the cereal aisle. Found my happy place. Got some mini-marshmallows.
- 4:00 PM: The room, still beige. Started working on the computer, but the wifi is garbage. The "high-speed internet" is slower than a snail with a broken leg. This is a serious issue. My patience, already fragile, is starting to crack.
- 6:00 PM: Dinner: Pizza from a local place. The pizza was good, but I ate it in the lonely, beige confines of my room. Not a great start, mood-wise.
- 7:00 PM: Tried to watch TV, but it was all commercials. And those awful, awful infomercials. Went to bed early, hoping tomorrow would be better. Spoiler alert: It wasn't much better.
Day 2: Football Fever and the Search for Soul Food (and Sanity)
- 8:00 AM: Wake up. Already regretting the pizza. The stale air in the room is starting to get to me. This is when the claustrophobia hits. I need sunlight. I need…something.
- 8:30 AM: Breakfast: The continental breakfast at Hawthorn. The “continental” part is generous, because it mostly consists of stale bread and pre-packaged pastries that looked suspiciously like they'd been sitting out since the Reagan administration. I grab a sad-looking banana and retreat.
- 9:00 AM: Tried to go for a run (to combat the pizza guilt and the rising tide of despair). Found a park, but felt awkward. People looked at each other at everyone like you were from outer space. Gave up.
- 11:00 AM: Aggie Ring Day parade. Found myself wandering towards the crowd. Holy moly, the enthusiasm! The chants! The maroon and white everywhere! Okay, I'm starting to get it. It’s infectious.
- 1:00 PM: Lunch: After the parade I am STARVING . Found a local BBQ joint. The brisket was… okay. The sauce was a bit too sweet for my taste, and the cole slaw definitely had a mayonnaise issue.
- 2:00 PM: Took a drive around the town. The campus is beautiful! That is, if you ignore the sheer volume of students, the traffic, and the overwhelming sense of… belonging that I clearly don't have.
- 3:00 PM: The air conditioning in my room decided to take a vacation. It’s Texas. It’s hot. It’s… unbearable. I attempt to fix it myself (which I am notoriously bad at). Fail spectacularly. Now I'm hot and sweaty. Amazing.
- 5:00 PM: Found a little hole-in-the-wall soul food place. This is the thing that I missed, and I'm glad I found it. Fried chicken, mac and cheese, collard greens. Now we are talking. This is the food that makes you feel like, maybe, just maybe, the world isn’t such a terrible place.
- 7:00 PM: Tried to watch the Aggie game, but the wifi failed me. Lost.
- 8:00 PM: I'm starting to plot my escape. Is it too early to check out? Seriously considering it.
Day 3: The Emotional Scavenger Hunt and the Final Farewell (Maybe?)
- 9:00 AM: Breakfast: More questionable pastries. I'm starting to develop a complex about the mini-muffins. I think I've seen them before. In a museum.
- 10:00 AM: A last attempt to salvage my sanity. I found a local record store. Browsing through the vinyl, discovering forgotten treasures. It was… soothing. Like a balm on my frayed nerves.
- 12:00 PM: Lunch: Some more mediocre food.
- 1:00 PM: Packing. Facing the fact that I’m leaving. My room actually looked better than it did when I arrived.
- 2:00 PM: One last walk through the campus. This time with a slightly less hostile attitude. The energy is undeniable. There’s something about the place, this sense of… community. Even I could feel it, albeit through a thick layer of cynicism.
- 3:00 PM: Checking out. Goodbye, Hawthorn Extended Stay. Goodbye, beige purgatory. Goodbye to the stale smells, the dodgy wifi, and the mini-muffins I will probably never consume again.
- 3:30 PM: Heading to the airport. The plane is late. Of course, it is.
- 4:00 PM: Takeoff. A sigh of relief, a deep breath. This trip wasn't perfect. It was a messy, imperfect human experience. It was… me. And you know what? I think I'm okay with that.
Post-Trip Thoughts:
- The Good: That soul food joint. The Aggie spirit (surprisingly). The record store. The quiet moments of reflection.
- The Bad: The extended stay. The wifi. The mini-muffins. The fact that I still haven't figured out how to pack properly.
- Lessons Learned: Embrace the chaos. Sometimes, the imperfections are what make a trip memorable. And maybe, just maybe, I'll be back in College Station someday. But next time, I'm bringing my own wifi router, a hazmat suit, and possibly a therapist.
Escape to College Station: Hawthorn Extended Stay - Seriously, Best Comfort EVER? Um... Let's See.
Okay, so... "Unbeatable Comfort"? That's a bold claim, isn't it? What's the *actual* deal with the comfort at Hawthorn? Is it all just corporate fluff?
Alright, alright, let's address the elephant (probably a stressed-out undergrad) in the room: "Unbeatable Comfort." Look, I'm a person who requires at least a *semblance* of comfort to function. I’m not talking luxury suites here, but the bare basics – a bed that doesn’t feel like concrete, a shower that doesn't spray ice-cold water, and maybe, just *maybe*, a quiet place to think (or at least, try to).
Hawthorn Extended Stay? Okay, so I stayed there last semester. My lease fell through at the last minute (don't even ASK about that landlord), and I was in *desperate* need of somewhere to *actually* LIVE. Initially, I was bracing myself for a standard extended-stay experience – think: a depressing kitchenette and a thin blanket.
But here's the thing: It WAS pretty good. The bed? Surprisingly comfy. Not a five-star hotel-level comfy, but I got decent sleep, which is a *huge* win when you're cramming for finals. The shower's water pressure was actually *decent* -- a definite plus. And there's was this one time, I was running late for a physics exam, and found a stray dryer sheet stuck to my shirt – *that* might have been an "average comfort" flaw, but, hey, still got to the test on time (mostly). You know, just a testament to how even the best places can be a little imperfect.
Extended Stay = Kitchenette. What's the cooking situation REALLY like? I'm picturing a microwave and a sad mini-fridge.
Oh, the kitchenette. Listen, I'm no Michelin-star chef, more like a microwave magician. The fridge *was* a mini-fridge. And the microwave… well, let’s just say I perfected the art of reheating leftover pizza during my stay. I did learn to be creative, though. I actually managed to cook something close to edible in there! Okay, it was a scrambled egg -- But, hey, it was *my* scrambled egg and I was proud.
There's a cooktop, which is a lifesaver, for when you're tired of pizza. There are basic utensils, which saves you from having to buy a bunch of stuff. So, yeah, you're not going to be whipping up gourmet meals, but you *can* survive. I mean, I did. It was a test of my culinary will (and a whole lot of canned soup). I'd recommend bringing your own decent frying pan, though. That one was a bit scratched up.
Laundry facilities? Because let's be real, college kids = mountains of dirty clothes.
Laundry! That's the existential dread of any college student. Hawthorn has laundry, yes! It's a coin-operated situation, so, remember to bring your stash of quarters. There were times I was tempted to just buy new underwear because I didn’t have enough change (I didn't, don't worry). The machines worked, thankfully. I didn’t experience any major laundry-related catastrophes, unlike that time my roommate's red shirt dyed EVERYTHING pink...
Pro-tip: Do your laundry when everyone else is cramming for exams. Avoid the weekend rush. Trust me on that one.
What about the location? Is it convenient for getting around College Station? Because I’m picturing a long trek just to get a coffee.
Location is *key*, people. Hawthorn is pretty centrally located. It's not *right* on campus (which is probably a good thing, honestly, less noise). You're a short drive from campus, which is a blessing. And, importantly, it's got easy access to restaurants and shops. I'm talking essential coffee shops and the grocery store. Seriously, a short drive can be a lifesaver when you’re running on minimal sleep and a serious caffeine deficiency.
Also, there was a decent pizza place nearby. Just saying. Location, location, location. And pizza.
Okay, spill the tea. What's the biggest *downside* of staying at Hawthorn? Because nothing's perfect.
Alright, fine. I'll be honest. Hawthorn isn't perfect. My biggest beef? The internet. It was *sometimes* spotty. Like, "critical deadline for an essay, and the Wi-Fi decides to take a break" spotty. I had to get creative with coffee shop trips. The Wi-Fi was generally fine, just sometimes… well, you know. Other than that? Not a whole lot to seriously complain about. The walls weren't paper-thin, the staff was friendly.
Oh, and the occasional parking issue. But hey, welcome to college life, right? You adapt. You find your spot. You survive (and maybe leave a dryer sheet on your shirt).
Would you recommend Hawthorn to a stressed-out college student looking for temporary housing?
Honestly? Yeah, I would. It's not paradise, but it’s a solid choice. It’s comfortable enough, the location is decent, and you can actually, you know, *live* there and not be completely miserable. It's definitely a step above some of the other temporary housing options I considered.
Just bring your own frying pan. And maybe a good book for those Wi-Fi emergencies. You'll be fine.
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