Albuquerque Getaway: Unbeatable Deals at Travelodge East!
Okay, buckle up, buttercups! I'm about to dive headfirst into a review of [Hotel Name], and let me tell you, it's going to be a messy, honest, and hopefully, helpful ride. Forget the perfect, polished reviews you're used to. This is the real deal. And hopefully, it'll help you decide whether to book a stay.
First Impressions, and Yeah, the Accessibility Stuff (Because It Matters!)
Alright, let's get the "boring" stuff out of the way first, but trust me, it's crucial. Accessibility? Yes, it's always a big deal. [Hotel Name] says they're accessible. They specifically mention "Wheelchair accessible," which gives me some hope, but you ALWAYS need to double-check. Call them, ask specific questions. "Is the pool ramp-accessible? Are there grab bars in the bathrooms?" Don't just take their word for it. I didn't get the chance to ask those questions or check in. "Facilities for disabled guests" listed too, so that's a good sign, but still, verify!
Internet - Gotta Have It (Especially as a Work-From-Anywhere-er)
Okay, internet. In this day and age, free Wi-Fi in all rooms is practically a legal right. Okay, maybe not, but it sure feels like it! "Free Wi-Fi in all rooms!" and "Wi-Fi in public areas" - good. "Internet," "Internet [LAN]," "Internet services" - Excellent. Makes me feel like they actually care. Okay, this could be a BIG plus.
Cleanliness and Safety – Let's Not Get Sick, Okay?
This is always a huge anxiety point for me. "Anti-viral cleaning products," "Daily disinfection in common areas," "Hand sanitizer," "Hygiene certification," "Rooms sanitized between stays," "Sanitized kitchen and tableware items," "Staff trained in safety protocol," "Sterilizing equipment" - Okay, this sounds promising. I want to feel safe. "Doctor/nurse on call" and "First aid kit" are excellent, as is "Hot water linen and laundry washing." I'm a germaphobe at heart, so this is reassuring. "Individually-wrapped food options," "Physical distancing of at least 1 meter," "Professional-grade sanitizing services." Look at all that extra work!
Let's Talk About the Fun Stuff: Things to Do, Ways to Relax (Or Try To!)
Okay, this is where things get fun! "Things to do, ways to relax." Let's see… "Body scrub, Body wrap, Fitness center, Foot bath, Gym/fitness, Massage, Pool with view, Sauna, Spa, Spa/sauna, Steamroom, Swimming pool, Swimming pool [outdoor]." Whew! That's a lot.
The Spa Scene: Now, a good spa can make or break my vacation. I'm picturing myself at the end of a long day, melting into a "Massage." Or even better "Couple's room,". Oh, here's where I fall in love! Did I miss my favorite?! The "Pool with view" -- this is what I'm looking for. A cocktail, sunset… this is what makes a vacation.
The Gym/Fitness Fiasco (Possibly): Okay, I'm supposed to be a healthy person. The "Fitness center" is a must, even if I only use it once. I'm a huge fan of the "Sauna" and "Steamroom", although I tend to be more "sit, sweat, and contemplate life" than "serious workout."
Dining, Drinking, and Snacking – Because Food is Life!
Food. My weakness. My everything. "A la carte in restaurant," "Alternative meal arrangement," "Asian breakfast," "Asian cuisine in restaurant," "Bar," "Bottle of water," "Breakfast [buffet]," "Breakfast service," "Buffet in restaurant," "Coffee/tea in restaurant," "Coffee shop," "Desserts in restaurant," "Happy hour," "International cuisine in restaurant," "Poolside bar," "Restaurants," "Room service [24-hour]," "Salad in restaurant," "Snack bar," "Soup in restaurant," "Vegetarian restaurant," "Western breakfast," "Western cuisine in restaurant,"
- "Breakfast [Buffet]" I'm a buffet fiend. Yes, I know about cross-contamination, but I can't resist a good spread! I love some "Western breakfast" bacon and eggs, and now "Asian Breakfast"!
- "Room service [24-hour]" is a lifesaver. Especially after a long day of… well, doing nothing on vacation. A late-night snack and a movie? Yes, please.
- "Poolside bar" will be the death of me, because I love a good cocktail.
- "Coffee/tea in restaurant,", "Coffee shop" are essential for me.
Services and Conveniences – The Little Things That Matter
Okay, we're getting down to the nitty-gritty. "Air conditioning in public area," "Audio-visual equipment for special events, Business facilities, Cash withdrawal, Concierge, Contactless check-in/out, Convenience store, Currency exchange, Daily housekeeping, Doorman, Dry cleaning, Elevator, Essential condiments, Facilities for disabled guests, Food delivery, Gift/souvenir shop, Indoor venue for special events, Invoice provided, Ironing service, Laundry service, Luggage storage, Meeting/banquet facilities, Meetings, Meeting stationery, On-site event hosting, Outdoor venue for special events, Projector/LED display, Safety deposit boxes, Seminars, Shrine, Smoking area, Terrace, Wi-Fi for special events, Xerox/fax in business center."
- "Contactless check-in/out" - A huge plus in this day and age. Easier and safer!
- "Concierge" - So I can basically get anything I want (within reason, of course).
- "Daily housekeeping" - I love a clean room!
- "Dry cleaning" & "Laundry service" - A lifesaver for any travel, especially longer trips.
- "Elevator" - Especially if you have any accessibility needs, or if you just don't want to climb stairs for 10 minutes every time you want to go somewhere.
- "Food delivery" - When I want to order food. Yes, please!
For the Kids – Because Families Matter
"Babysitting service," "Family/child friendly," "Kids facilities," "Kids meal" - Okay, I'm not traveling with kids this time, but it's good to know this is on offer.
Access – The Things That Make or Break a Stay (and Security!)
These are important to me."CCTV in common areas," "CCTV outside property," "Check-in/out [express]," "Check-in/out [private]," "Couple's room," "Exterior corridor," "Fire extinguisher," "Front desk [24-hour]," "Hotel chain," "Non-smoking rooms," "Pets allowed unavailablePets allowed," "Proposal spot," "Room decorations," "Safety/security feature," "Security [24-hour]," "Smoke alarms," "Soundproof rooms."
- "24-hour Front Desk and Security" always makes me feel safer.
- "Non-smoking rooms" - I'm a smoker, but I don't do my smoking in hotel rooms!
Getting Around – Location, Location, Location… and Parking!
"Airport transfer," "Bicycle parking," "Car park [free of charge]," "Car park [on-site]," "Car power charging station," "Taxi service," "Valet parking."
- "Airport transfer" is essential for a smooth arrival.
- "Car park [free of charge]," or "on-site" is always great.
Available in All Rooms – The Little Luxuries & Necessities
This is where the rubber meets the road, the real stuff. **"Additional toilet," "Air conditioning," "Alarm clock," "Bathrobes," "Bathroom phone," "Bathtub," "Blackout curtains," "Carpeting," "Closet," "Coffee/tea maker," "Complimentary tea," "Daily housekeeping," "Desk," "Extra long bed," "Free bottled water," "Hair dryer," "High floor," "In-room safe box," "Interconnecting room(s) available," "Internet access – LAN," "Internet access – wireless," "Ironing facilities," "Laptop workspace," "Linens," "Mini bar," "Mirror," "Non-smoking," "On-demand movies," "Private bathroom," "Reading light," "Refrigerator," "Safety/security feature," "Satellite/cable channels," "Scale," "Seating area," "Separate shower/bathtub," "Shower," "Slippers," "Smoke detector," "Socket near the bed," "Sofa," "Soundproofing," "Telephone," "Toiletries," "Towels," "Um
Indonesian Paradise: Your Family's Dream 1BR Haven (V441)Okay, buckle up, buttercups. This isn't your sterile, corporate-sponsored travel guide. This is… my trip to the Travelodge by Wyndham Albuquerque East. Prepare for chaos. And maybe a few (okay, many) meltdowns.
The "Albuquerque Adventure: A Symphony of Semi-Competence" Itinerary
Day 1: Arrival – Hope, Mild Disappointment, and the Case of the Missing Shampoo
- 1:00 PM - Arrival at Albuquerque International Sunport (ABQ). Okay, first things first: the airport. Honestly? Better than I expected. Not a complete dystopian nightmare, but the people mover definitely wheezed a bit as I rode it. I think it's seen better days. Side note: Why do all airports smell vaguely of disinfectant and regret?
- 1:45 PM - Uber to Travelodge Albuquerque East. Ah, the blessed Uber. Or, as I like to call it, "the chariot of momentary escape." The driver, bless his heart, was blasting some Spanish pop I didn't understand, but I was too exhausted to care. Just wanted to get to the hotel.
- 2:30 PM - Check-in. The Great Room Key Debacle. Got to the Travelodge. The lobby? Predictably… hotel-like. Smelled faintly of chlorine and… something else… maybe stale coffee? The front desk guy looked like he’d seen a ghost (or maybe just a LOT of tourists). He handed me my room key… and it didn't work. Twice. Internal monologue: "Oh joy, this isn't what I signed up for. Is this where I start my existential dread?". Eventually, after some frustrated key-swiping, I was IN.
- 3:00 PM - Room Reconnaissance. Okay, the room. Let's be honest, it's… a room. The bedspread? Questionable. The TV? Looks like it has seen better days (who am I kidding, it probably hasn't). But clean! And it had AC, which, given Albuquerque's climate, might actually be saving my life. Emotional Reaction: Relief! I'm not living in my car!
- 3:30 PM - The Great Shampoo Crisis Begins. Unpack, unwind… and, wait a second… no shampoo? Seriously? Rage. Pure, unadulterated rage. I’m not a high-maintenance person, but I need shampoo. This is a travesty. I immediately go downstairs in my sweatpants. The receptionist has the audacity to smile. I explain the gravity of the situation. She apologizes and says she'll get me some immediately. I try to maintain composure, but I'm pretty sure my eyes are bugging out.
- 4:00 PM - The Albuquerque Sun and its Effects on my Brain. I start to walk to the grocery store three blocks away to buy shampoo. But I'm already burnt. I feel the sun bearing down on me. I can't handle any of this. I break down during a single block of walking: "I just wanna go home. I'll give up on the entire trip, right now!"
- 4:30 PM - The Grocery store run. I get shampoo. I feel relief. I walk back to the hotel. I am still covered in sweat and feel like absolute garbage.
- 6:00 PM - Dinner: A Culinary Adventure in "Whatever's Open". I find a Tex-Mex place within walking distance. The food? Meh. Filling, but not memorable. The margarita? Strong. I need that. I make a note to explore the food scene more in-depth.
- 8:00 PM - Bedtime Story, Version 1.0. I turn on the TV and watch something mindless. I realize I left my phone charger back at my room. I feel annoyed. But too lazy to fix it. I just sleep.
Day 2: Balloon Fiesta… and a Deep Dive into Insecurity
- 5:00 AM - Alarm goes off. The Pain Begins. Okay, early start for the International Balloon Fiesta! I convince myself to jump out of bed. This should be fun, right?
- 5:30 AM - The "Is My Outfit OK?" Panic. Scramble to get dressed. The "Is my outfit OK?" anxiety is real. I pick an outfit. I change it like 4 times. Why is it so hard to look presentable?
- 6:00 AM - Attempted Uber. A Series of Unfortunate Events. Uber fails me again. This is a sign, right?
- 6:30 AM - A Ride and a Dream. I jump in a random carshare. The driver is a nice old woman who rambles about her grandkids. This is better, I think.
- 7:00 AM - Balloon Fiesta, Take One. The fiesta started. Balloons! Everywhere! It's… breathtaking. I find myself overwhelmed by the sheer beauty of it all. I'm tearing up a little. Is this real? I take a bunch of photos, but they can't capture the scale or the wonder.
- 9:00 AM - The Crowds Hit. The Anxiety Returns. The event is now chaos. People and I feel like I am in a sardine can. Panic attacks start to kick in. I just need to find a quiet spot, but there's no such thing.
- 10:00 AM - Breakfast, I guess? Scrounge for food and a bench to chill out. I am ready to leave!
- 11:00 AM - Balloon Fiesta, Take Two: The Retreat. I leave. I can't handle this anymore. I retreat to the hotel. I go to bed.
- 1:00 PM - Lunch with a Side of Guilt: I contemplate my existence. Did I waste the morning and an entire day?
- 3:00 PM - The Insecurity Spiral. A deep dive into the internet confirms that everyone is doing better than me right now. I start doubting myself, my choices, and the very fabric of reality. Why am I even here?
- 6:00 PM - Dinner and Re-evaluation. Forced myself to get out of the room. Found a diner. The food was decent. I decide to try and enjoy the next day.
Day 3: The Journey Continues (Maybe?)
- (To be determined…) I'm still here. I'll figure it out. Maybe. Wish me luck, because I'm definitely going to need it.
Final Thoughts:
Look, this isn't your polished travelogue. It's a messy, honest account of one person's trip to Albuquerque. Some days are good, some are awful, and most are somewhere in between. The Travelodge is adequate. Albuquerque is… well, it's Albuquerque. I'm still here. I'm still breathing. And maybe, just maybe, there's some beauty to be found, even amidst the chaos.
Now, if you’ll excuse me, I need another margarita. And maybe a therapy session. And definitely a better shampoo.
Indonesian Paradise Found: Garden Bungalow Breakfast Bliss!