Atlanta's BEST Extended Stay? This Duluth Gem Will SHOCK You!
Atlanta's BEST Extended Stay? This Duluth Gem Will SHOCK You! (My Unguided Tour)
Okay, buckle up buttercups, because I just spent a week at this supposedly amazing extended stay in Duluth, Georgia, and I'm still trying to process it. The title promised SHOCK, and honestly? It delivered, just maybe not in the way the marketing department intended.
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Let's start with the good, because, surprisingly, there WAS some.
Accessibility (and my clumsy adventures):
Right off the bat, they bragged about being wheelchair accessible. And yeah, ramps were in place, elevators (phew, because my knees are old), and the hallways seemed wide enough for a minivan… which I almost needed after the grocery run. However, one serious bump in the road during my stay was when I took a spill! The elevator had a problem and got stuck for a few minutes. My blood pressure went up, I was quite worried, and felt I should probably not use the elevator ever again.
On-site accessible restaurants / lounges: No clue (I'm not very social and usually ate in my room).
Internet Access & The Wi-Fi Saga:
They shouted about Free Wi-Fi in all rooms! like it was a national treasure. And, technically, they weren't lying. But this Wi-Fi was like a shy, easily-overwhelmed kitten. Internet [LAN] wired access was also available, though getting the staff's attention for the cable could take time. I, having the patience of a caffeinated squirrel, just wanted the Wi-Fi working. I even used the Wi-Fi for special events (my online meeting from the comfort of the bed). Internet services: Well, "services" is a generous word. One day, I had a complete crash and had to endure a painful hour of technical support, which only served to make the internet worse.
Things to Do (Beyond Staring Into the Abyss of My Laptop)
- Swimming pool: Ah, the Swimming pool [outdoor]. It looked lovely, with the Pool with view. I mean, it overlooked… a parking lot. Still, it was a pool, and I did manage a single, brief, chilly dip.
- Fitness Center: I'm generally allergic to exercise, but the Gym/fitness room was there, complete with a treadmill that looked vaguely menacing. I peeked in, saw a guy lifting weights that looked HEAVY, and promptly retreated back to my couch.
- Spa/sauna, Steamroom: Listed, but definitely felt more like an aspirational goal than reality. Where was the Sauna? Nonexistent. Steamroom? Nope. Though I did once manage to turn my shower into a temporary sauna by accident, due to the terrible ventilation…
Cleanliness and Safety (The Anxiety Games):
Okay, this is where things got interesting. They claimed a whole laundry list of Covid-era precautions. Anti-viral cleaning products, Daily disinfection in common areas, Rooms sanitized between stays, Professional-grade sanitizing services. Did I see any of this in action? Honestly? No, but maybe they did a great job while I was out getting yelled at by the Wi-Fi. Hand sanitizer stations were present, but half-empty. The Staff trained in safety protocol part? Hard to say. I mean, they were friendly.
Dining, Drinking, and Snacking (My Diet of Misery):
The food situation was… an adventure. I tried the Breakfast [buffet] once. It was a buffet, and not a particularly inspired one, BUT, the Coffee/tea in restaurant was pretty decent, and the Breakfast service was speedy. I'd recommend avoiding the Asian breakfast, it looked like it was made 5 years ago. They have a Snack bar, which I never saw, and I never tried the Room service [24-hour]. I did love the Coffee shop as much as I could while the Wi-Fi was working.
Services and Conveniences (The Little Things That Made Me Grumble):
- Concierge: Nonexistent.
- Daily housekeeping: Erratic. One day the room was pristine, the next it looked like a hurricane had hit.
- Elevator: See above (and my near-death experience).
- Laundry service: This was a lifesaver, and it did the job! I was happy with the result
- Luggage storage: Yes! (Though I didn't use it, because, you know, "trust issues").
- Cash withdrawal: I think so, but who even carries cash anymore?
- Invoice provided: Yes!
- Air conditioning in public area: Yes!
- Meeting/banquet facilities, Meetings, Seminars: Okay, so, apparently, they have stuff. I avoided it because people.
- Complimentary tea: There was a nice tea supply, I appreciated it.
- Free bottled water: Always good.
For the Kids (I Don't Have Kids, But I Saw Some):
- Family/child friendly: Seemed to be.
- Kids facilities: Unsure.
- Babysitting service: I have no idea.
Available in All Rooms (The Bare Essentials):
- Air conditioning, Alarm clock, Coffee/tea maker, Desk, Refrigerator, Microwave. All essential, even if the microwave was a bit… temperamental.
- Wi-Fi [free]: See above, it's the bane of my existence.
- Shower: Essential, especially after getting your hopes up about the sauna.
- Mini bar: No. (But who needs one when you have a fridge?)
- Safe box: I did not know what to put there.
- Non-smoking: A definite plus!
Getting Around (The Parking Lot Maze):
- Car park [free of charge]: Yes, thankfully. Though navigating it felt like a video game with poor graphics.
- Car park [on-site]: Yep.
The Verdict (My Rambling Conclusion):
Okay, so, would I recommend this place? Uh… maybe. It had its moments of glory, it had times of terrible, but, as long as you are looking for something nice and cheap, then yes. Overall, it was a mixed bag, like a box of chocolates from that one relative who always seems to have questionable taste. The potential is there, buried under a layer of "almost good" and a healthy dose of "could do better." The "shock" part? Yeah, it's a shock you'll survive, but hey, at least you'll have a story to tell. And, with a bit of luck, better Wi-Fi.
Mansfield's BEST Kept Secret: Red Roof Inn Review (OH)
Okay, buckle up, buttercups! This isn't your sanitized travel brochure itinerary. This is the REAL DEAL, my trip to the Extended Stay America in Duluth, GA… which, let's be honest, sounded way more glamorous in my head. Here we go:
Extended Stay America: The Gwinnett Place Chapter - A Messy, Glorious Adventure (Probably With Some Mild Regret)
Day 1: Arrival, Déjà Vu, and the Soul-Crushing Beige of It All
- Time: Roughly 3:00 PM (ish… thanks, delayed flight!)
- Action: Land in Atlanta. Ugh. Airport chaos, a symphony of screaming babies and stressed-out businessmen. Grab a completely overpriced airport sandwich (turkey, of course, because I always pick turkey). Finally, Uber to the promised land: Extended Stay America, Duluth.
- Transportation: Uber, the chosen method of transport in my broke era.
- Destination: Extended Stay America, Atlanta - Gwinnett Place, Duluth. The address promised a haven of relaxation. the reality was… well, we'll get to that.
- First Impressions: The lobby. Oh, the lobby. Beige. Everywhere. Beige couches, beige walls, beige (probably) air. It smelled faintly of… disinfectant? And desperation? I swear the air conditioning was set to "Arctic Blast." I check in, feeling a pang of pure, unadulterated ennui. The receptionist (bless her heart) had seen it all. I bet she’d heard every sob story, every excuse, every hopeful plea for a decent room.
- Room Revelation: My room! Okay, it's… functional. Like a college dorm room that's been abandoned for a decade. There's a kitchenette! (Microwave, small fridge, and a stovetop I'm pretty sure has seen some things.) I inspect the bed. Comfort level: mildly concerning. The pillow looks like it's been fighting a war. And that view! Overlooking the parking lot. Romance is officially dead.
- Emotional Reaction: A wave of resignation washes over me. This is it. My home for the next few days. I need a strong drink. Or maybe two. Or maybe just to be beamed back to my actual life.
- Quirky Observation: I spot a single, wilting houseplant in the hallway. A defiant little thing clinging to life. I feel for it. We're both in this purgatory together.
Day 2: The Culinary Disaster and the Unexpected Comfort of a Cheap Burger
- Time: Morning (7:00 AM: My body clock is still on the wrong timezone).
- Action: Attempt to cook breakfast in my "kitchenette." The stovetop… well, let's just say it's a learning experience. Pancakes? More like hockey pucks that vaguely resemble pancakes. Coffee? Tastes like sadness.
- Culinary Disaster: Okay, so the pancake hockey pucks are a write-off. The coffee situation is dire. I briefly consider eating the single granola bar I brought, but it's past its sell-by date. Damn it!
- Emotional Reaction: Hunger. Frustration. A desperate craving for something, anything, edible.
- Transportation: My own two feet.
- Destination: Nowhere! Not yet, anyway
- Action: I needed a life raft. A savior. A burger. I scoured Yelp. Found a local joint, a little dive called "Burger Haven."
- Burger Haven: Glory! Their burgers were greasy, delicious, and exactly what my soul needed. The fries were perfect, crispy, and salty. The waitress was a kind, older woman who made small talk and didn't judge my rumpled appearance. I talked to her about my day, feeling my inner world. It was the perfect meal. The embodiment of love and hope.
- Emotional Reaction: Pure, unadulterated joy. The burger was more than just food; it was a brief moment of bliss in this beige-colored existence.
- Quirky Observation: The jukebox in Burger Haven played nothing but classic rock anthems. I swear I heard a tear roll out of my eye while Sweet Child O' Mine was playing.
- Evening: Back to the room. I stare at the TV. The channel lineup is a joke. My eyes scan the room… the beige-ness has me feeling like I'm slowly being absorbed into the walls. Okay, I'm a little depressed. I reach for the phone and call an old friend for some much-needed emotional support. I talk to her for an hour, just about life and the struggles of everyday life. It helps. A little.
Day 3: Exploration! (Sort Of…) and the Quest for Decent Coffee
- Time: Morning (8:00 AM. I've adjusted to the time change)
- Action: Armed with a half-eaten granola bar (Hey, I can't waste food!), I decide to explore! (Duluth, GA, that is.) First stop: the holy grail of coffee.
- Transportation: Uber.
- Destination: Starbucks, of course. Because I'm basic.
- Starbucks Revelation: Okay, the coffee is passable. The barista's smile is genuine. My spirits lift slightly. I treat myself to a pastry that I quickly regret, but it doesn't matter at this point.
- Action: Drive around. See the local sights. It was a nice day. But I quickly get bored. I've been a solo traveler enough to know that it's easy to fall into the pit of ennui.
- An Unexpected Find I stumble upon a small, independent bookstore. The kind with dusty shelves and the smell of old paper. I get to lose myself there, finding a book about a subject I'd been mulling over, and I become deeply immersed in the pages. The owner is a sweet, book-loving woman who tells me all about the book. It's just what my day needed.
- Emotional Reaction: Relief. The bookstore, the coffee… I needed that.
- Evening: Back at the hotel room, I contemplate. I read some of the new book. Slowly, I start feeling more at peace, because I'm finding some joy, some solace, some little adventures in my travel.
Day 4: Departure and the Lingering Smell of Beige
- Time: Morning (9:00 AM. Time to go.)
- Action: Pack. Inspect the room one last time. Notice all the things I didn't before, like the stains on the carpet.
- Departure: Uber to the airport.
- Emotional Reaction: A mix of relief and mild sadness. I’m going back to my life, but I'll never forget the experience.
- Quirky Observation: As I walk out the door, I swear the beige walls are sighing with relief, too.
- Final Thoughts: Extended Stay America, Duluth. It wasn't glamorous. It wasn't perfect. But it was an experience. And sometimes, that's all you can ask for. The journey was filled with ups and downs, and I really do feel like I got to know myself better. I probably won't be back, but I'll never forget the beige prison of my recent past.
Okay, spill the tea! What *is* this "Duluth Gem" everyone's raving about?
So... is it *actually* shocking? Like, good shocking or bad shocking? Don't leave me hanging!
Let's get granular. What's the deal with the rooms? They gotta be the make-or-break factor, right?
What about the amenities? They usually make or break these extended-stay places. Any hidden gems? Or hidden nightmares?
The staff! Are they helpful and friendly, or are they the folks who've seen too much and are dead inside?
Let's talk about the elephant in the room: the location. Is it safe? Convenient? Or somewhere you'd rather not be caught dead at 3 AM?
Okay, so you've stayed here. Would you recommend it? The million-dollar question!
Any horror stories or hilarious anecdotes? Give us the juicy bits!
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