Norfolk Beach Getaway: Unbeatable La Quinta Inn Deals!
Norfolk Beach Getaway: Unbeatable La Quinta Inn Deals! - A Review That's Actually Real (and a Little Chaotic)
Okay, so "Unbeatable La Quinta Inn Deals!"… that's what they say, right? Well, I dove headfirst into a Norfolk beach adventure (needed a break, you know?), and this La Quinta was my chosen basecamp. Now, before you start picturing pristine perfection, let's just say my experience was… colorful. And honestly? That's what makes it worth the read.
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First Impressions & the Accessibility Angle (Because, Real Life!)
Right off the bat, getting around was… well, easier than I expected. The parking situation? Totally blessedly free! Hallelujah! And the car park [on-site] situation was plentiful. The elevator saved my weary legs (especially after carting all that beach gear), which made accessing everything wonderfully straightforward. Facilities for disabled guests were definitely present – a huge plus knowing some folks need that! A definite win in my book. I didn't personally need all the accessibility features, but the presence of them is a great reassurance for anyone who does. Now, finding the room? That was a little less straightforward… (more on that later).
COVID-19: The Elephant in the Hotel Room
This whole pandemic thing is still a thing, right? So, let's talk safety. The anti-viral cleaning products and room sanitization were reassuring, and honestly, I felt pretty safe. They're playing it by the book – individually-wrapped food options, hand sanitizer everywhere, staff trained in safety protocol. I saw the daily disinfection in common areas happening, and it's clear they're taking it seriously. The cashless payment service was a breeze. That said, the "opt-out" of room sanitization? I'm not sure I'd personally take that risk right now, but the fact they offer it is interesting. They've gone for the full shebang and honestly I respected that.
The Room Itself: My Beach-Bound Lair
Ah, the room. The promised land of "deals." (Let's be honest, I booked based on a bargain). Okay, here’s where things get a little… uneven.
- The Good: The free Wi-Fi was a lifesaver (seriously, who can live without it?), and Air conditioning was a must in humid Norfolk. Also, shout out to the daily housekeeping – my overflowing beach bag was always magically tamed by the time I returned. The blackout curtains were a godsend for some late night shuteye. The desk was handy for a bit of work (even if I mostly just used it to organize my snacks) and the refrigerator was a lifesaver for cold drinks.
- The Questionable: The carpet – which, let's just say, bore the visible marks of time and previous sandy inhabitants. Don't ask me what I saw! But hey, it's a beach hotel, right? The view was… of the parking lot. Not exactly postcard-worthy. And the soundproofing? Well, let's just say I became intimately familiar with my neighbors' late-night phone calls.
- The Quirky: The bathrobes… bless their cotton souls, I'm sure someone uses those things, but how do you have slippers but not bathrobes? Okay.
Food & Fun: Eats, Activities, and That Pool…
Food-wise, things were a bit… inconsistent.
- Breakfast: The free breakfast [buffet] was definitely not gourmet, but it featured Asian breakfast options, Western breakfast options and was actually kinda decent. Coffee was plentiful, thank goodness.
- Restaurants: I saw a bar there for drinks, and I noticed the poolside bar was a popular spot. I didn’t use it personally, I’m more of an explore the city, grab some food kind of girl!
- The Pool: The swimming pool [outdoor] was gloriously inviting! Ah, the pool with a view. I wish the view was a bit cleaner and a bit better with the view of the Ocean, but still, a good place to hang out!
Things to Do (and Not Do)
- Relaxation: They’ve got a fitness center which wasn’t really my thing, but I'm sure it's convenient. I had zero interest in a spa/sauna – I was there for the sand and the waves!
- The Beach: This hotel is ideally located for beach access. I spent most of my time on the sand, and that's what made the trip worthwhile.
The Human Touch: Services and Stuff
The service was generally friendly. The front desk [24-hour] was a massive plus. The concierge was helpful with directions and local recommendations. The luggage storage was perfect for my check out!
Little Annoyances (Because Life Isn't Always Perfect)
- Room Maze: Finding my room on a couple of occasions felt like navigating a particularly tricky escape room. Multiple turns and long corridors!
- The Noise: As mentioned, the soundproofing wasn't the best.
- No "Complimentary" bottle of water in the room: I'm petty, I know, but that would have been nice.
- The Invoice: I did get a invoice I think.
Overall Verdict: Worth the "Deals?"
Look, this isn't a luxury hotel. It's a La Quinta, and my expectations aligned accordingly. It's a solid choice for a beach getaway, especially if you're looking for a good deal. The location is great, the staff is friendly, and the amenities (especially the pool and free parking) are a definite plus. The cleanliness and safety measures are reassuring.
Would I go back? Probably. As long as my expectations are realistic, it’s a decent option.
The Realest (and Messiest) Takeaway:
This hotel is a good stepping stone. It’s not a perfect experience. But it's a real one, and it’s a good place to rest your head for a few days! You might have a slightly imperfect experience. But you’ll experience the real Norfolk Beach experience, which is what counts.
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Alright, buckle up buttercups, because this ain't your Grandma's meticulously planned vacation itinerary. This is a La Quinta Inn in Norfolk/Virginia Beach adventure, and trust me, it's going to be a trip. Let’s see if I can even… ugh… schedule this mess.
Day 1: Arrival and the Grim Reality
- 2:00 PM - 2:30 PM: Arrival, Check-In, and the "Welcome to Paradise"… or Maybe Just Virginia Beach"
- Okay, so the drive from… well, let's just say it was a long drive. I was promised a beachfront paradise, images of sun-kissed skin and endless margaritas danced in my head. Reality hit like a rogue wave the second I pulled up to the La Quinta. It's… well, it's a La Quinta. You know what I mean? Functionality over, uh, aesthetics. The lobby smelled faintly of chlorine and stale coffee, a potent reminder of the motel's promise for the weary travelers, and the weary traveler already in me. The woman at the front desk, bless her heart, looked like she'd seen things. "Welcome," she croaked, "room on the third floor, enjoy your stay." Enjoy? I'd have to see about that.
- 2:30 PM - 3:00 PM: Room Inspection – The Good, the Bad, and the Unexpected
- Elevator. Slow. Third floor. Room. Keycard. Click. Inside: not terrible. Clean-ish. Bedspread that probably hasn’t aged well, but hey, it’s a safe haven from the outside. Bathroom: acceptable. Now, this is the real test for my sanity; I like to check under the covers to make sure there are no hidden surprises. Good to go. I can survive this for the next couple of days, at least.
- 3:00 PM - 4:00 PM: Unpacking and the Existential Dread of the "First Day"
- Unpacked. The existential dread crept in. Why did I book three nights? What was I hoping to accomplish in this seaside… destination? Maybe a long, hot shower would help. Then, realizing I forgot my shampoo. Wonderful.
- 4:00 PM - 6:00 PM: Beach Reconnaissance (and Mild Panic)
- Alright, time to face the beach. Gotta see what all the fuss is about. Walked down the block to the beach, the sun in my face, and suddenly the world looked a little… better. But then I saw the crowds. Oh. My. God. People. Everywhere. Children screaming, seagulls dive-bombing (I think I saw one swipe a french fry directly from a toddler's hand - brutal). The ocean looked… okay. But the sheer volume of humanity was overwhelming. Okay, breathe. This is part of the experience. I can do this. Put my toes in the sand. That feels good, I thought. I could maybe actually enjoy this. Decided I'd get food later, maybe.
- 6:00 PM - 7:00 PM: Dinner at "That Pizza Place" (and Existential Re-evaluation)
- Okay, there was a pizza place. The reviews, were… mixed. But I was starving. Pizza was… pizza. Not amazing, not terrible. Edible. I did see a guy in a very tight Speedo. Made me question my life choices. Again.
- 7:00 PM - 9:00 PM: Back to the Room, and a Deep Dive into Melodrama
- Back to the room. TV. Room service menu (no shampoo, though). Stared at the walls. My mind swirled; the day was over, but the trip had just started. I wanted to go home… and I was just getting warmed up.
Day 2: The Ocean, the Boardwalk, and the Utter Absurdity of Life
- 9:00 AM - 10:00 AM: Breakfast - the High Point of the Day?
- Free breakfast. La Quinta. You know the drill. But, oh god, the waffle machine. The glorious, slightly-burned, undercooked, always-a-fight-for-it waffle machine. I conquered. Made two waffles. One for myself. One for the universe.
- 10:00 AM - 12:00 PM: Beach Day – Redemption! (Sort Of)
- Okay, second beach attempt. Armed with a book, a hat (the kind with the big brim), and a determined attitude, I set forth. And you know what? It wasn't terrible. Found a spot, the ocean breeze, heard the sounds of the waves. Close my eyes. Breathe. It was… nice. Almost peaceful. For an hour and a half, maybe. Then, a rogue soccer ball nearly took out my eye. Back to the room.
- 12:00 PM - 1:00 PM: Boardwalk Stroll – Sensory Overload
- The boardwalk. A swirling vortex of… everything. Street performers, funnel cakes, the distinct smell of overcooked hot dogs. This place, it was… intense. I felt like I was walking through a living advertisement. Found a shop selling airbrushed t-shirts with my name misspelled. Got one. The guy doing it had a huge, toothy grin. He was having the time of his life - which, I will admit, was strangely contagious.
- 1:00 PM - 2:00 PM: Lunch with a View (of Mediocrity)
- Picked the first restaurant with a slightly less crowded patio. Food? Average. The view? People-watching gold. Saw a couple arguing over… well, everything. I learned that the best thing about these places is witnessing other people's dramas.
- 2:00 PM - 4:00 PM: The Unfortunate Incident with the Seagulls
- Okay, this requires its own segment. I bought an ice cream cone. A delicious ice cream cone. I was taking a leisurely stroll, enjoying my cone, when… BAM! Two seagulls. They swooped in, swiped the cone directly from my hand, and flew away, leaving me covered in sticky, sugary goo. I shouted, “You jerks!” (I am not proud of this). They seemed unconcerned. I felt violated. I cleaned up my sticky mess, and walked on. Never again. Beaten by seagulls. I never thought I would say that.
- 4:00 PM - 5:00 PM: Sulking in the Room and a New Netflix Obsession
- Back to the safety of my bed. Wiped my eyes, and started a new Netflix series. It was glorious.
- 7:00 PM - 9:00 PM: Dinner Out – Failure is an Option
- Tried to find a decent restaurant outside of the tourist traps, but everything was either booked solid or utterly depressing. Ended up at a chain. It was fine. Nothing to write home about (other than the service, which was surprisingly lovely).
- 9:00 PM - Bedtime: Existential questions, again
- The hotel felt like a familiar friend. But my mind wandered: what does it say about me that I came here, willingly, to a place that felt only half "paradise"? I thought about going home early, but I didn’t want the trip to feel like a complete waste. Tomorrow will be a better day.
Day 3: Last Stand, and the Journey Home
9:00 AM - 10:00 AM: Final Waffle Victory
- One last glorious waffle. Did I manage a perfect, perfect waffle? No, but it was good. I did.
10:00 AM - 12:00 PM: One Last Beach Sunrise
- Okay, let's face it, I wasn’t going to go home hating everything. I set my alarm for the sunrise over the beach. A final attempt at peace. The sunrise was… actually pretty.
12:00 PM - 1:00 PM: The Farewell Tour (of the Gift Shops)
- Okay, last-minute gift shop dash. Keychains, magnets, maybe a t-shirt I’d never wear.
2:00 PM: Check out, Goodbye Virginia Beach
- Goodbye. A nice trip. Perhaps I may come back.
3:00 P.M onward: The drive home….
- Ah, the sweet freedom of the road home, and to my own door. Back to civilization. Maybe there will be less people. Maybe I'll buy some nice shampoo.
Final Thoughts:
This trip was… an experience. Would I recommend it? Maybe. Would I come back? Probably not. But hey, at least I have a story (or rather, a novel) to tell. And that, in the end, is what matters, right? La Quinta by Wyndham Norfolk/Virginia Beach… you were… something.
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Norfolk Beach Getaway: You *Actually* Gonna Get Sand Between Your Toes (and Save Money!) - FAQs (Kinda)
Okay, okay... La Quinta in Norfolk, really? Is this, like, some Motel 6 situation with questionable towels?
Alright, look, I'm gonna be honest with you. The *first* time I heard "La Quinta in Norfolk," I pictured a… well, let's just say not a *luxury* retreat. My brain went straight to the budget travel abyss. Remember that trip with my college buddies where we crammed five people into a room and the air conditioning sounded like a dying walrus? Yeah, that was *not* a La Quinta, but the fear was real.
But! Here's the deal. We're talking *Norfolk*, not some dusty roadside stop. And those La Quinta deals? Let's just say they're competitive. They're not the Ritz, but they're clean. The towels are… well, they're towels. They dry you. And that's the important thing when you're covered in sand, am I right? Plus, you are saving enough money so that can go out to eat. That's what really got me here.
So, beaches! What beaches are we *actually* talking about? I'm picturing a concrete jungle.
Okay, let's put the concrete jungle image to rest (mostly). Norfolk actually has some decent beaches! I mean, you're not gonna get turquoise waters and white sand like the Maldives, but hey, you're probably not spending Maldives money either. Virginia Beach is your main go-to, and it's close. Like, close enough to smell the salty air as you check in at La Quinta.
Now, I’ll tell you a story. Last year, I tried to be all "beach-perfect" – sunglasses, the whole nine yards. I spent like, an hour putting on sunscreen and walked on the sand, only to be immediately stung by a jellyfish! Turns out, I had slathered on the SPF 50, but not on my legs, and I got nailed. The lifeguard was super nice, though, and he laughed at my expense, which was… humbling. But even with the jellyfish incident, it was gorgeous. The sand was warm, the waves were crashing… it's Virginia Beach, people!
Food! Is there *any* good food in Norfolk besides, you know, chains?
Oh, honey, YES! Norfolk's got more than just burgers and fries (though, I won't lie, I do love a good burger). The seafood is seriously worth it and one of the best seafood meals I've had in my life was in Norfolk. Think fresh oysters, crab cakes that actually *taste* like crab, and fish tacos that will practically make you weep with joy.
My advice? Wander around the neighborhoods. Find a cute little place with outdoor seating (perfect for people-watching!), and just order something. And hey, if you get a bad experience, it's just a story to tell, right? If I hadn't gone to a local bar and had the WORST margarita I ever had, I wouldn't have met the love of my life, so it's all about perspective. And, you know, finding your way to better margaritas afterwards. Bonus points if they have live music.
Is the La Quinta *actually* near anything fun? I don't want to be stuck in a concrete wasteland.
Well, "fun" is subjective, right? But, yes! The La Quinta isn't exactly in the middle of nowhere. You're close to the beach (important!), and Norfolk has a decent amount to offer. There are museums, the Virginia Zoo, a bunch of places to eat good food (we’ve been over this, folks!), and, you know, water. You can kayak, go on a boat tour, whatever makes your salty heart happy. I remember when I went with my husband, we went to a music venue. The music was great, the couple next to us was not! We spent the whole night complaining about them, but we still had fun! Nothing's perfect, but you're on vacation, so don't sweat the small stuff.
Okay, but what about parking? Ugh, parking is the bane of my existence.
Parking? Alright, I won't lie. It can be a bit of a mixed bag. Some places have free parking, some places charge. At the La Quinta itself, it's usually… well, it’s not a nightmare. It depends which location you book at, too. Do your research, people! I've seen it, I've lived it. Staring at the "full" sign at the parking spots at 11 PM after a long day at the beach, you're just trying to unwind, and parking is the last thing on your mind when you are tired. Remember to budget for it, and try to avoid peak times if you can. Otherwise? Take deep breaths. It's all part of the adventure!
Are there any hidden gems I should know about? Like, secret taco spots or, I don't know, a pirate ship?
Oh, you're speaking my language! Secret taco spots? Always. Pirate ships? Actually, probably not. But! Norfolk has a surprisingly rich history. Look for smaller, local restaurants, and check out those Tripadvisor-esq or Yelp reviews. Someone, somewhere, has found the next big thing, it's bound to happen.
And listen, sometimes the hidden gems are the *unexpected* things. Maybe you meet a local at a bar who tells you about a secret art gallery. Or you stumble upon a farmers market with the best peaches you've ever tasted. The best part of a trip like this? You are making your own story!
Is it worth it? Really?
Absolutely! Yes! Look, you're not going to get a perfect, Instagram-ready vacation. There might be some sand in your shoes, maybe a jellyfish sting, potentially a slightly dodgy margarita. But you're going to have a good time. You'll relax by the beach, eat some good food, and make some memories. And you'll probably save some money too. So, book the La Quinta, pack your bags, and go have some fun! I'm gonna book one myself!"
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