Microtel Round Rock Texas

Quick photo review of Microtel Round Rock (Austin area) Texas. Much better property than expected. Clean, well appointed, great fitness center and pool. Super friendly staff. This is one of the better Wyndham properties and at a good value.

Photo Review of Marriott Renaissance Denver Stapleton Hotel

When is an airport hotel not an airport hotel. Well for many hotels around the Stapleton airport this became reality when they moved the operations to the new Denver airport. So this hotel is like an airport hotel and has that vibe but now sits about halfway between downtown and the new airport. Just South of I-70. I recently booked this hotel for a business trip to Denver. Hotels in Denver can be expensive but I got a fairly decent price on this stay. I also recently hit Marriott Gold or now Platinum Elite so I was also able to access the lounge. They had a temporary lounge on the 3rd floor but just opened the newly remodeled 10th floor lounge during my stay. I couldn’t get photos of the new lounge as it was fairly busy and I try not to get people in my photos if possible.

The highlight of this hotel is the staff and service. I don’t usually like the hassle of full service hotels but this one was very good and laid back at the same time. I had a “newly renovated” room on the 9th floor with a balcony that was very nice and spotless. I am kind of picky with 100+ hotel nights a year but I could find little wrong with this hotel. Even the parking garage is free for guests.

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Pool area20180829_060733

My blurry lobby photo. There is a paid breakfast buffett and a starbucks in the lobby.  I didn’t see any free coffee however. 20180828_164329_hdr

The temporary 3rd floor lounge. Offering good evening snacks. 20180828_162510

Funky airplane on room ceiling are kinda cool.20180828_162711_hdr

View toward downtown from balcony20180828_160034

Nice bathroom20180828_160018

Room featured fairly comfortable table workspace, fridge, coffee maker. Very good TV service and again spotless. Even the sliding door to the balcony worked flawlessly.20180828_160013

Double Queen beds in this room.20180828_155918

Atrium views 20180828_155842

Front lobby20180828_154646

Front lobby20180828_164036

dining area and business center part of atrium20180828_154739

Lobby area seating. This may not be a “Five Star” hotel officially but to me it is.

Review of Laredo International Airport LRD

Nice small airport with mostly regional service provided by American, United and Allegiant. Parking and rental car operations effortless. Security opens an hour before the flights as a group activity. Reminds me of Killeen Texas. Good waiting areas with power. No lounges but nice cafe.

Review of Laredo International Airport LRD

Nice small airport with good service DFW IAH and LAS primarily with American, United and Allegiant. Terminal reminds me of Killeen Texas in size and service. The big complaint I have with small airports like this is that security opens about an hour before the flight so if you arrive earlier you have to move locations into the airside area and do security as a group exercise. Nice experience otherwise. No lounges of course but nice small cafe area. Seating was good with power ports. Parking and rental xar

Holiday Inn Express York Nebraska Photo Review

Recently had a quick business overnight at the HIX in York. This hotel is fairly new and fairly typical. Good service but breakfast was a bit off on the day I was there. Seems like some of the supplies running low but nothing to complain about. This hotel is right on the interstate with nearby fast food and Walmart. Mostly business and construction workers but hotel was quiet. Rooms seem larger than most and spotless.

Holiday Inn York Nebraska – Photo Review

Recent business travels take me to York Nebraska for an overnight at the Holiday Inn

Photo Review of Holiday Inn Temple Texas

Just a quick overnight at the Holiday Inn Temple Texas this past week. It’s located along I-35. Typical but decent Holiday Inn. No free breakfast of course like HIX but nice, newer and clean. I arrived late and was planning on room service but no info in room on what or how to order. Tried calling the restaurant several times with no luck so I gave up and went out.

I also was unhappy that this hotel charges a random $2.99 service fee on the bill. I travel a lot and don’t typically see such junk fees unless I’m at a resort or Vegas. I questioned them on all this in my review. They responded by telling me that my corporate travel agent agreed to this fee at booking and this was a “green” fee they charge to help the planet. Seems like a random nickle and dime way to pay for the owners I guess.

None of this is a deal breaker but I will not stay here in the future.

Photo review of Staybridge Suites South Denver Lone Tree

This is a fairly typical somewhat worn Staybridge. Pool, fitness center, laundry, 6:30am free breakfast aimed at leasure travelers not 6am road warriors and evening food on random nights to apparently avoid doing it on busy nights??

Rooms and property is good but check in was brutally slow. The slowest of any of my 100s of hotel check in’s in the past 18 months. I also felt that this property was a bit noisy with paper thin walls and floors.

Photo review Townplace Suites by Marriott Lubbock Texas

Quick stay in Lubbock Texas. Not much to report. Upon arriving I was checked in very quickly by the very professional and friendly Lesa at the front desk. Given key to room 317 and told breakfast starts at 6:30am 😦 since my first appointment is at 7am this seems a bit late for breakfast but most hotels have gone to the 6:30am model even on week days with a hotel full of road warriors. Many times this doesn’t matter.because they put the food out much earlier but at this hotel it was dark in the breakfast area at 6:20am unfortunately.

Room 317 was ok and typical setup for a Townplace but I couldn’t help notice worn and stained carpets throughout the entire property. The room was clean but not quite spotless like most Townplace or Marriott properties. The bathroom was mostly clean but a bit dingy in spots.

Overall it wasn’t a bad quick overnigbt. Not much within walking distance but there is an Arbys and Joes Crabshack within a block. Shopping limited to the Home Depot next door but plenty of other things to drive to nearby.

Uvalde Texas Holiday Inn Express Photo Review

My continued road warrior travel in Southwest Texas Continues at the Uvalde Texas HIX. Well kept typical roadside Holiday Inn Express. Right next to a Subway and Convience Store. Close to Walmart and decent chain restaurants. Small pool and outdoor hot tub aren’t fancy but might be nice in the hot Texas sun.