Madison's BEST Hotel Deal? La Quinta Inn & Suites Secret Revealed!
Madison's BEST Hotel Deal? La Quinta Inn & Suites - Secret Revealed! (But is it REALLY a Secret?)
Okay, buckle up folks, because I’m about to spill the beans (or maybe just the lukewarm complimentary coffee) on La Quinta Inn & Suites. This isn’t your grandma's dusty motel chain, this is…well, it's La Quinta. But is it a good La Quinta? Is it the best Madison hotel deal? Let’s dive deep, shall we? And by deep, I mean I'll probably get distracted halfway through and start talking about the questionable breakfast buffet.
First Impressions (and the Quest for the Holy Wi-Fi):
Accessibility is a HUGE win right off the bat. They got it. Wheelchair accessible rooms are readily available, and the entire property is surprisingly navigable. Elevators are present and accounted for (thank you, sweet baby Jesus!). My friend, Sarah, who uses a wheelchair, confirmed it’s actually… decent. Not perfect, no place ever is, but better than most in this price range.
Internet access – okay, this is important. They shout about "Free Wi-Fi in all rooms!" like it’s a goddamn miracle. And listen, in this day and age, it should be a given, but you'd be surprised. The Wi-Fi in my room? Solid. The Wi-Fi in the lobby? Sporadic. The Wi-Fi in the pool area… well, I'm pretty sure it only existed in the brochures. (More on the pool later – the view is… something.) I ended up tethering to my phone, which is a real bummer when you’re trying to do, you know, work. But hey, at least I had a room that smelled faintly of…clean? And a solid Wi-Fi signal in my room is a small win I guess.
Cleanliness and Safety: Is Your Room a Petri Dish?
Look, the world is a germ factory, especially after…well, you know. La Quinta seems to try in this department. They talk about "Anti-viral cleaning products," "Professional-grade sanitizing services," and "Rooms sanitized between stays." That's all well and good, but does it feel clean? Honestly? Mostly, yes. The sheets appeared clean (no suspicious stains!), the bathroom was scrubbed, and there were little bottles of hand sanitizer scattered around. They also mention having “Individually-wrapped food options” which I will need to investigate later. It's not a gleaming surgical suite, but it’s certainly not a biohazard. There is a "Room sanitization opt-out available" which I appreciate as I like to keep things extra clean.
The Food Game: Breakfast, Buffets, and My Existential Dread
Alright, let’s get real. The Breakfast. This is where La Quinta teeters on the edge of either salvation or utter despair. "Breakfast [buffet]" is listed proudly. And yes, there is a buffet. (Cue dramatic music). It’s the La Quinta buffet, so manage your expectations. I'm convinced that the scrambled eggs are made of… something. I'm not sure what, but it's definitely not chicken. The sausage links are either rubbery or rock-hard (no in-between). The pastries are… well, they're there. But I ate it. Because I was hungry. And I like to take the full breakfast experience when it's included, to see the whole picture.
They do offer "Asian breakfast" and "Western breakfast". I, being of Western origin, went with the Western breakfast which brought about the aforementioned experience. As for the "Coffee/tea in restaurant" well, I’m more of a coffee kind of guy, and the coffee was… acceptable. Like, it woke me up. Yay. Is it an experience? Well, no. But it did the job.
On the plus side, there’s coffee/tea in the room, always good for a fix, and you can get breakfast takeaway service. They have stuff like "Breakfast in room" which sounds like you can be served, but I didn't try that personally.
Things to Do (or, More Accurately, Things to Attempt to Do):
They have a "Fitness centre". I peeked in. It looked… functional. I'm not a gym rat, so I just took a brief look and concluded it was small and uninspiring. They also have a "Swimming pool [outdoor]". This is where things got interesting. The "Pool with view" is… well, it has a view. Of… a semi-busy street with some trees in the distance. It's not exactly the infinity pool of your Instagram dreams, but it’s a pool. And in Madison, in the summer, sometimes a pool is all you need. I didn’t brave the pool. (I’m more of a “sit on the edge and dip my toes” kind of person.) There’s also a sauna, which… might be nice? I didn't use the sauna.
For ways to relax, they don't offer much. No massages, no spa, no body wraps. Just the questionable breakfast and a vaguely disappointing pool to look forward to. Okay, not the BEST for R&R.
The Room Itself: Home Sweet… Beige?
My room? Decent. The "Air conditioning" worked (praise be!), the "Bed" was comfy enough. The bathroom was functional, though the water pressure was… meh. The "Blackout curtains" are a blessing for those looking for a good night's sleep. They have "Complimentary toiletries" which aren't the worst.
They have a "Refrigerator" which is super helpful. They have "Coffee/tea maker" which is a must. They have a "Mini bar" but… well, I didn’t see anything in it. Maybe it’s a secret mini-bar! I wasn't looking for it so I suppose it’s possible.
The décor? Beige. Lots and lots of beige. It's La Quinta – you get what you pay for. I mean, there’s a "Socket near the bed". And you can open the "Window that opens." It’s not luxurious, but it's clean and comfortable.
Services and Conveniences: The Little Things (and the Not-So-Little Things)
They offer Daily housekeeping which is very nice. They have a Business area. And they have a "Concierge". A "Concierge!" I didn't test the concierge – I barely managed to find my room. They have a "Convenience store" at least. "Luggage storage" is a thing. They also offer "Dry cleaning" and "Ironing service." I saw a lot of "Cash withdrawal". They also have a "Car park [free of charge]". Which is a massive win! Parking is a pain in Madison.
The Verdict: Is La Quinta the Best Deal?
Look, La Quinta Inn & Suites in Madison isn't going to win any awards for its spa treatments or gourmet cuisine. You’re not going to get a Michelin-star experience. BUT, for the price? It’s a solid choice. It’s got the basics covered, it's generally clean, the accessibility is a big plus, and the free parking is a godsend. The biggest negative? The iffy breakfast. But hey, there's a coffee shop down the street…
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Alright, buckle up, buttercups, because we're heading to the La Quinta Inn & Suites by Wyndham Madison American Center in Madison, Wisconsin. And let me tell you, this isn't going to be some perfectly manicured, Instagram-worthy travelogue. This is gonna be real. This is gonna be… well, me trying not to lose my mind.
Day 1: Arrival and the Quest for Wi-Fi (a.k.a, The First Hurdle)
- 1:00 PM: Landed at the Dane County Regional Airport. Okay, so far, so good. Except… the baggage claim felt like a black hole. Seriously, the carousel was moving slower than a sloth in molasses. And the existential dread of airport carpet…ugh.
- 1:45 PM: Finally! The luggage. Now, the real challenge: the shuttle to La Quinta. I swear, the driver was channeling Foghorn Leghorn, "I say, I say, we'll get there when we get there, sonny!" Fine, I'm a patient traveler. Mostly.
- 2:30 PM: Check-in. The front desk person was lovely, bless her heart. "Welcome to Madison!" she chirped. She was right, it was good. But there was a slight problem. My room key… didn't work. Twice. Then, a small victory, three times is a charm. Finally! Room. Sweet, sweet room.
- 3:00 PM: The first mission: Wi-Fi. Because, you know, the internet runs the world. And my job. Frantically typing in logins, passwords, and the hotel didn't seem to provide the service. This is the kind of stuff I can't stand.
- 4:00 PM: Success! Found the Wi-Fi. It's pretty good. Phew. Now, the world can see my emails again. Oh wait, there's a giant meeting…
- 4:30 PM-6:30 PM: Meetings. The reason I'm even here in the first place. Let's just say, corporate jargon is a universal language, and by the end of this, my brain was officially scrambled into a sad little omelet.
- 7:00 PM: Dinnertime. Found a little sports bar a quick drive away. The burger wasn’t bad. Definitely not "life-changing burger," but it did the trick. And the beer? Excellent. Two points for Wisconsin.
- 8:30 PM: Back at the hotel. Flicking through the TV channels. Okay, the hotel room is actually pretty darn comfortable. I could get used to this. But the bed is too soft. And, I don't have my pillow.
- 9:30 PM: Sleep time. Hoping for a less-scrambled brain in the morning
Day 2: The Double Edged Sword
- 7:00 AM: Wake up. My brain is still scrambled. Breakfast, I guess. The continental breakfast at La Quinta. I was not expecting much, but it was actually decent. Yogurt, some not-terrible pastries. Coffee. And a weirdly compelling waffle maker. I watched a guy make a waffle masterpiece. He took it very seriously. This is a whole level of commitment that I can admire.
- 8:00 AM -12:00 PM: The Meetings, Part Deux. The same company jargon, the same glazed-over eyes… But the view from the window this morning was great. Green fields. I think I needed that.
- 12:30 PM: Lunch. This time, they actually had a catered lunch. The sandwiches were… passable.
- 1:30 PM: Walk. I am not sure if I've actually seen the sunlight until now. I am looking around, and I see a giant parking lot. A parking lot. I'm in a parking lot. I need more nature.
- 2:00 PM - 5:00 PM: That meeting continues…
- 6:00 PM: Found a very mediocre pizza place.
- 7:00 PM: The gym. I'm feeling guilty about all the carbs. I went to the gym and walked for about 20 minutes. Then, I gave up.
- 8:00 PM: Back to the room. Feeling completely drained. But at last, I get to watch some TV. Then it's time for more sleep.
Day 3: Departure and the Aftermath
- 7:00 AM: This waffle maker is calling to me… but no. A quick breakfast this morning.
- 8:00 AM: Check out. The check-out was quick. The front desk person was different today. Also very nice. But my stay is over.
- 8:30 AM: Airport shuttle again. I was hoping the driver wasn't Foghorn Leghorn this time, but no luck.
- 9:30 AM: Goodbye, La Quinta. Goodbye, Madison. Goodbye, corporate brain-fry! The plane will take me back.
- Throughout the day: The exhaustion. The lingering smell of stale coffee. The slight feeling of disconnect from reality. Back into my routine.
Final Thoughts:
Well, that was it. La Quinta by Wyndham Madison American Center. Not a bad place, really. Adequate. Clean. The Wi-Fi eventually worked. And hey, I survived. Next time, maybe I'll explore a little. Get out of the hotel. See some of the actual city. But for now, I'm just grateful to be home, with my own pillow, and my own Wi-Fi. And yeah, I think I might need a nap.
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La Quinta Inn & Suites Secrets? My Madison Hotel Odyssey (and the Truth)
Okay, spill it! Is La Quinta Inn & Suites REALLY the best hotel deal in Madison? Seriously, is it?
What makes La Quinta such a "deal" in the first place? Are there any serious catches?
What's the *worst* experience you've had at a La Quinta? Come on, give it to us straight!
So, it seems like you're… conflicted. When do you *actually* recommend La Quinta?
- You're on a tight budget and just need a place to crash.
- You need a pet-friendly hotel (they often are, thankfully).
- You're mostly just going to be using it as a base. Not spending a lot of time in the room, other than sleeping.
- You're not expecting the Ritz. Let’s be real.
- Before you book? READ. THE. REVIEWS. Seriously.
Any specific La Quinta locations in Madison you'd recommend (or warn us away from)?
What's the BEST thing about staying at La Quinta? The one thing that makes it all worthwhile?
What about the breakfast? Is it *really* a "free" breakfast? Worth the agony?
Any tips for making the most of your La Quinta experience? Survival guide?
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