Rapid City Getaway: Unbelievable Deals at La Quinta Inn & Suites!
Rapid City Getaway: La Quinta's Unbelievable Deals (And the Real Deal!) – A Review From Someone Who's Been There.
Alright, buckle up, buttercups, because I just got back from Rapid City, South Dakota, and you know what? I stayed at the La Quinta Inn & Suites they're advertising with those "Unbelievable Deals." And let me tell you… the deals were pretty good. But hold on, let's unpack this whole experience, warts and all.
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- Meta Description: Honest review of La Quinta Inn & Suites in Rapid City, SD, covering accessibility, amenities, cleanliness, and value. See if this hotel lives up to the "Unbelievable Deals" claim!
(Accessibility: A Big Tick, Mostly)
This is important, friends, because I've got a friend who really needs it! The website claimed wheelchair accessibility, and for the most part, it delivered. Big thumbs up for the elevator! You know how important that is. The hallways were wide and easy to navigate. We booked a room specifically advertised as accessible… and it was. The bathroom had grab bars and plenty of space. That's the gold standard right there. I'm not a wheelchair user myself, but I was looking because of my friend and give it a serious solid rating.
(On-Site Accessibility: A Mixed Bag)
They had a restaurant (more on that later…) but the entrance was a bit of a tight squeeze. There was a small step! The bar seemed okay, but the seating was a bit cramped… the whole thing felt a little clunky. Okay, so the rooms get a gold star, but the other spaces needs a more work.
(On-Site Accessible Restaurants / Lounges - Again, Mixed)
The main restaurant had the accessibility issue mentioned above. There's a poolside bar too, but let's face it, poolside is not accessible!
(Internet - The Wi-Fi War)
Okay, here's the deal. "Free Wi-Fi in all rooms!" they shout from the rooftops. And it is free. And it works. Mostly. Sometimes it was a bit… sluggish. You know how it goes. You’re halfway through a crucial email, and bam, connection lost. No biggie, right? Except when you’re trying to stream a movie after a long day exploring the Black Hills, and it's buffering more than your grandma's dial-up. They also claim "[Internet access – LAN]" (that's "Local Area Network," for those who, like me, vaguely remember old computers.) Didn’t try it. I’m a Wi-Fi kind of gal.
(Things to Do, Ways to Relax - The Spa… or Lack Thereof!)
"Spa"? They claim a spa. Now, I was hoping for a little bit of pampering after hiking Custer State Park. A massage? A sauna? A body scrub? Dream on, sister. The "spa" was a very basic fitness center, and a sad-looking pool. There was no spa. Unless you consider the pool a spa. And let me tell you, the pool view was of… the parking lot. Sigh. Okay, so no, no spa. No relaxation in the traditional sense.
(Cleanliness and Safety - A Sigh of Relief)
The hotel, I have to say, was spotless. They seemed to be on top of the cleaning procedures. " Anti-viral cleaning products" and "Daily disinfection in common areas" I believe the claim. The room itself was visibly clean. I was so relieved! "Rooms sanitized between stays"? Absolutely. And let me tell you, after the things I heard about the Covid, you want things to be sanitized. It's not the most exciting thing in the world, but at least it helped to be safe.
(Dining, Drinking, and Snacking - The Breakfast Buffet Saga)
Alright, this is where things got interesting. " Breakfast [buffet]" they advertise. And, technically, they had a buffet. But it wasn't exactly a culinary masterpiece. Let me paint you a picture: lukewarm scrambled eggs, rubbery sausage links, and instant coffee. It's a breakfast, alright. There were some basic options – cereal, toast, a few pastries, fruit – they did offer "Breakfast takeaway service," which was handy… I grabbed a banana for the road but ate it for lunch. One day, I did bravely try the "Asian breakfast"… let's just say it was an… interpretation. It was an authentic… take away bag. The "Coffee/tea in restaurant" made the experience easier, I needed some!
(Services and Conveniences - The Good, The Okay, and the "Huh?")
- Concierge: Non-existent. They had a 24-hour front desk, which was helpful for late-night check-in.
- Laundry Service: Apparently, you could. I didn't personally use it, but that sounds like a godsend after all of that hiking!
- Car Park [free of charge]: Yes. Thank goodness. Finding parking can be a nightmare sometimes.
- Gift/souvenir shop: Just a small display of overpriced snacks and forgotten toiletries.
- Daily housekeeping: True. My room was cleaned well.
(For the Kids – Mostly Thumbs Up!)
"Family/child friendly" they say. And they were. I saw several families with little ones. I didn't try out "Babysitting service" or "Kids meal," but the hotel definitely catered to that demographic. It's the kind of stay that makes you wish you had a kid.
(Available in all rooms - Small but Important)
"Air conditioning," yes! Hair dryer? Check. Coffee/tea maker? Surprisingly, yes. The "Slippers" were a pleasant surprise, I'm not used to that. " Alarm clock" and " Wake-up service". All of the basics.
(Getting Around - Easy Peasy)
" Car park [free of charge]" - yes! "Airport transfer" available, too. They have "Taxi service," but really in Rapid City, you need a car. Not much public transport.
(The Meat of It: The "Unbelievable Deals" and the Verdict)
So, the "Unbelievable Deals"? They were good. The price was right, especially considering the location and the overall quality. They had the basics – clean rooms, free Wi-Fi (kinda), friendly staff, and a decent location. But the spa? The gourmet food? The concierge service? Don't get your hopes up.
Here’s the real, messy truth:
The La Quinta in Rapid City is a solid, no-frills hotel. It's a good basecamp for exploring the Black Hills. It's clean, safe, and convenient. Just don't go expecting luxury. Go expecting a deal. And, depending on your priorities (and your tolerance for lukewarm eggs), you might just be pleasantly surprised. Would I stay there again? Probably. Would I rave about it? Probably not. But hey, for the price, I can't complain. Now, if you'll excuse me, I'm off to find a real spa. Maybe next time!
Escape to the Corning Region: Fairfield Inn & Suites Awaits!
Alright, buckle up, buttercups! We're hitting Rapid City, South Dakota, and it's gonna be… well, it's gonna be something. This isn't your perfectly curated Instagram travel guide. This is real life, with all the slightly-too-much caffeine, questionable decisions, and existential dread that entails. Welcome to my La Quinta Inn & Suites Rapid City chaos!
Day 1: Arrival and The Great Plains Glimmer (or, "Did I Pack Enough Snacks?")
1:00 PM - 2:00 PM (ish): Arrive at Rapid City Regional Airport (RAP). Okay, first impressions. It's… compact. I’m usually a big-city girl, so this whole airport-that-you-can-walk-across-in-three-minutes thing is a bit… disarming. Found my rental car (a silver blob named "Sparky" - don't judge, it was the only one left). The drive to La Quinta was mercifully short. Checked in. The lobby is… standard La Quinta. Beige. Comfy chairs. Free coffee. Okay, I'm feeling a tiny bit better.
2:00 PM - 3:00 PM: Unpack (ish). Okay, unpacking is a strong word. More like, "dumping everything on the bed and hoping for the best." Realized I forgot my favorite travel mug. My heart sank. This is a crisis. Resort to disposable cups. The horror!
- Anecdote Alert: Okay, so last time I traveled without my mug, I ended up in a gas station in rural Iowa sobbing because they didn't have oat milk. Lesson learned: Never leave home without the mug. And maybe a therapy session.
3:00 PM - 5:00 PM: Drive to the Prairie Edge Trading Co. & Galleries. I’d heard about this place. Supposed to be this amazing Native American art and culture center. Honestly? It blew my mind. It's not just stuff to buy; it's beautiful and rich with meaning. The beadwork… the quillwork… the stories behind the art… I got lost in it. I almost bought a dreamcatcher, but then remembered I’m not really a “dreamcatcher” kind of person. (Or am I?)
- Quirky Observation: The air in Prairie Edge smells faintly of cedar. It’s a smell that makes you want to slow down, breathe deep, and… maybe learn how to braid your hair.
5:00 PM - 6:00 PM: (Attempting to be) "Relaxed Dinner" at Firehouse Brewing Co. Okay, the beer was decent. The atmosphere was… loud. But the real highlight? The appetizer. Fried pickles. I haven't had fried pickles in, like, forever. They were heavenly. Deep-fried, salty, tangy… I could have eaten three baskets. My stomach, however, was not as enthusiastic.
- Emotional Reaction: Fried pickles = pure joy. My arteries? Not so much.
6:00 PM - 7:00 PM: Explore Rapid City's downtown. Okay, it's cute. Statues of every US President line the streets. I walked past Memorial Park to admire a lovely war memorial. Strolling through the park felt so peaceful, that I actually cried a little. What is with the emotional baggage on this trip! I am not a crier! ***
- Rambling thought: I love seeing the statues, but I kept expecting to see one of… I don’t know, maybe a dog? A cat? A really influential… breadstick? Maybe I’m just hungry. Anyway, the area’s nice.
7:00 PM - 9:00 PM: Back to La Quinta. I crashed on the bed, which I have no shame about at all. Watched absolutely terrible reality tv. (Don't judge. Travel makes me emotionally vulnerable.)
Day 2: Mount Rushmore and The Existential Dread Express (or, "Is This Really What I'm Supposed to Be Doing?")
- 7:00 AM - 8:00 AM: Breakfast at La Quinta (the continental breakfast). The waffles were… surprisingly good. Maybe. The coffee, still a crime against humanity. I started dreaming of the perfect travel mug.
Imperfection Alert: I spilled coffee on my shirt. It's a travel ritual at this point.
8:00 AM - 10:00 AM: The drive to Mount Rushmore National Memorial. Ugh. This is the big one. I have some pre trip nerves, I admit. The closer I got, the more traffic I ran into. Okay, so I'm a bit of a history nerd. I always pictured this site as… bigger? More imposing? Maybe it was the actual monument, or maybe it was just that I was surrounded by a lot of people.
- Opinionated Language: Let’s be honest. Mount Rushmore is…impressive. The sheer scale of it is kind of astounding. And also… a little bit creepy? Like, these giant stone faces of dead presidents… are they watching me?
10:00 AM - 11:00 AM: The obligatory photos, a very, very quick tour and the gift shop (of course). I bought a tiny Mount Rushmore figurine, because… well, why not? I'll probably lose it in a week.
- Stronger Emotional Reaction: Standing there, looking at those faces… you can't help but feel some kind of overwhelming weight. History, power, ambition… and maybe a healthy dose of, "What am I doing with my life?!"
11:00 AM - 1:00 PM: Drive to and explore Custer State Park. Ahhh, now this is more like it. Gorgeous scenery. Bison roaming freely (yes!), the Needles Highway (a little stressful at times, but unbelievably beautiful).
- Doubling Down on an Experience: I had to drive along the Needles Highway twice. The first time was breathtaking, even if I did scream occasionally. But on the second pass, I started noticing the little details, the way the light played on the granite needles, the curves of the road…I might be a little bit obsessed with the drive.
1:00 PM - 2:00 PM: Lunch. Found a quaint place in Custer. The burger was amazing. But what was even better? The silence. The peace. The absence of crowds.
- Messier Structure/Rambling: It’s weird, isn’t it? How sometimes the things you expect to be the most amazing turn out to be a bit underwhelming, and the things you’re not expecting at all… completely captivate you? (Like this burger).
2:00 PM - 4:00 PM: Back to La Quinta. Pool time. It was freezing, and slightly disgusting, in a familiar way.
4:00 PM - 6:00 PM: Back to Rapid City Downtown.
6:00 PM - 7:00 PM: Dinner at a decent restaurant (they did have a decent wine list). I may have over-indulged. Comfort food.
7:00 PM - 9:00 PM: I collapsed on the bed. Listened to a podcast. Considered my life choices. Wondered if I should just drive all the way back home tonight. Decided against it. Watched more terrible TV. The cycle continues.
Day 3: Departure (and the lingering scent of fried pickles)
- 7:00 AM - 8:00 AM: Continental breakfast. Ugh, the coffee. Managed to choke down some oatmeal.
- 8:00 AM - 10:00 AM: Last minute shopping for souvenirs.
- 10:00 AM - 11:00 AM: Checkout process.
- 11:00 AM: Head to the airport.
- 1:00 PM: Fly away.
So, there you have it. My La Quinta Inn & Suites Rapid City experience. It wasn't perfect. It was messy and emotional. It was filled with questionable choices, fried pickles, existential angst, and moments of pure, unadulterated joy. And you know what? I wouldn't trade it for anything. Except maybe a better travel mug. And a less messy life in general! (But hey, where's the fun in that?)
Milan Getaway: Luxurious Stay at Holiday Inn Express & Suites!
Okay, lay it on me. What's REALLY so "unbelievable" about these deals at La Quinta in Rapid City? I've seen ads before...
Rapid City? Sounds...mundane. What's even *there* to do? I'm picturing tumbleweeds and disappointed tourists.
The free breakfast...what's the catch? Is it powdered eggs and sadness?
Okay, okay, you had me at waffles. But what about the *rooms*? Are we talking "motel room from a horror movie" kind of vibe?
What about parking? I'm picturing circling the block for an hour.
This sounds… suspiciously good. What's the *downside*? There's always a downside.
Okay, you mentioned getting "lost" earlier. Spill the tea. What happened?
Hours went by. I was wandering around, alone, surrounded by... well, a lot of nothing! The sun was starting to set, and I was seriously panicking. I was envisioning myself becoming a headline: "Tourist Lost in South Dakota Wilderness – Found Decades Later, Clad in...". I was hungry, thirsty, and convinced I was going to be eaten by a mountain lion. (I know, melodramatic, but it was real in that moment).
Finally, after what felt like a lifetime, I stumbled upon a road. I flagged down some incredibly kind people in a beat-up pickup truck. They had to drive me... well, I don't even want to say how far... to get me back to civilization.
The point is, if I hadn't been smart enough to book a room at La Quinta, I'd have been stranded. I wouldn't have had a safe place to go back to after my adventure. So, the takeaway? Book the room. And maybe stick to the marked trails. Just a thought.
So, bottom line: Would you recommend this La Quinta deal? Are you going back?
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