Wichita's BEST Extended Stay? (East Wichita Suites Review!)
East Wichita Suites: My Extended Stay Odyssey (Or, How I Survived Kansas) - A Review
Okay, so, let's be real. I needed an extended stay. Life threw me a curveball, and suddenly, Wichita, Kansas, became my temporary home. And, well, East Wichita Suites became my temporary everything. This isn't just a review; it's a survival guide. Buckle up, buttercups.
Accessibility: Mostly Smooth Sailing, Thank Goodness
First things first, because I'm a worrier, and I know a lot of people are, too: Accessibility! The website says it’s accessible, but you can’t always trust websites. Thankfully, East Wichita Suites delivered. The elevators were blessedly reliable (this is crucial, trust me). Everything felt… spacious. Wide hallways, easy navigation. I saw people using wheelchairs with no obvious issues. Kudos to them for getting this right. It's a small thing, but it makes a huge difference when you're already feeling overwhelmed. Because, let's be honest, extended stays are overwhelming.
On-site Accessible Restaurants/Lounges? ZERO Mentioned (And I Survived!)
Okay, so, negative points. There were no actual restaurants on-site. Zero. Zilch. Nada. Which, in a way, was kinda a blessing and a curse. More on that later. No fancy lounges either, which, if you're me, is fine. I am not a fancy lounge person.
Internet Access: My Lifeline (Mostly)
Internet, Internet [LAN], Internet services, Wi-Fi in public areas, Free Wi-Fi in all rooms!… Okay, breathe. Internet is EVERYTHING. I mean, how else was I going to binge-watch trashy reality TV and pretend I wasn’t in Wichita? The Wi-Fi… was generally acceptable. Notice I didn’t say great. It would occasionally drop out during peak reality TV watching hours, which caused minor existential crises, but on the whole, it was reliable enough to get work done and keep my sanity intact. The fact that it's free is a massive win. I mean, seriously, some hotels still charge for this? Preposterous. No LAN cable for me, but hey, they had Wi-Fi in public areas! - and thankfully, it worked… in the public areas, as well. I’m looking at you, lobby.
Things to Do, Ways to Relax… Did I Even Want To?
This is the area where I’m going to be honest. Spa/Sauna, Massage, Pool with view, Sauna, Steamroom, Swimming pool, Swimming pool [outdoor], Fitness center, Gym/fitness, Body scrub, Body wrap, Foot bath… Yeah. This is where the "extended stay" part really hit me. I was NOT in vacation mode. I was in "survive the week/month with minimal contact with the world" mode. Did I use the gym? Nope. Did I dip my toes in the pool? Maybe. Did I see a body scrub, while I was there? Never. I just wanted to find a place to hide.
Cleanliness and Safety: My Sanity Savers
This is where East Wichita Suites really shone. Anti-viral cleaning products, Daily disinfection in common areas, Hygiene certification, Professional-grade sanitizing services, Rooms sanitized between stays, Staff trained in safety protocol… Look, I'm not going to lie. I am a bit of a germaphobe. The whole world feels gross right now. And the fact that this place took it seriously was a huge comfort. I felt genuinely safe. They were taking the pandemic seriously.
Dining, Drinking, and Snacking: The Microwave Life
Okay, so, remember how there wasn’t an on-site restaurant? Yeah. That meant I was mostly eating microwave dinners. BUT! The Complimentary tea and Coffee/tea maker and Essential Condiments, were an easy plus, because I did enjoy a spot of tea. There a a Snack bar nearby (maybe a 5 min walk) that helped out some, too. There was no Room service [24-hour] to speak of but that's okay. It's my fault for not going out to eat.
Services and Conveniences: The Little Things That Mattered
Daily housekeeping was a godsend. Honestly. I don’t care who you are, after a while, you just need someone to make your bed and make the room look like it's not a tornado of clothes and takeout containers. The elevator again, very important (see above). Cash withdrawal. Easy. Luggage storage. I didn't use it, but good to know it was there. Invoice provided. Nice for work. Laundry service, yes! I used this. Saved me from looking like a complete slob. Also, Car park [free of charge]. Amazing. In fact, the whole parking situation was super convenient.
Available in all rooms: The Essentials
Air conditioning, Alarm clock, Bathrobes, Blackout curtains, Coffee/tea maker, Complimentary tea, Daily housekeeping, Desk, Free bottled water, Hair dryer, In-room safe box, Ironing facilities, Laptop workspace, Linens, Mini bar, Microwave, Refrigerator, Satellite/cable channels, Seating area, Separate shower/bathtub, Shower, Slippers, Smoke detector, Sofa, Soundproofing, Telephone, Toiletries, Towels, Wake-up service, Wi-Fi [free], Window that opens, Extra long bed… I felt like I could live in that bed forever(but I knew I wouldn't!). The Blackout curtains were a lifesaver for sleeping in (or, you know, hiding from the world). The Refrigerator and Microwave were ESSENTIAL for microwave dinners. Okay, I mentioned them before, but no regrets. The Wi-Fi [free] was a must. Plus, the added in, Laptop workspace was an amazing thing, too, I just used the bed.
For the Kids: Family Friendly?
I'm not a parent, so I can't give you a firsthand account. But the facilities seemed kid-friendly, with a Family/child friendly vibe. I saw some kids playing in the pool, everyone seemed happy! I'm not sure about Babysitting service or Kids meal, but hey, I didn't dig that much, so I wouldn't know.
Getting Around: Wichita, Here We Come (or Maybe Not)
Airport transfer, Car park [free of charge], Taxi service… Honestly, I didn’t wander far, but it was all there if I needed it. The parking situation, as mentioned, was fantastic.
The Verdict: Surviving Wichita (and Loving It… Eventually?)
East Wichita Suites wasn’t perfect. No place is. But it was a solid, clean, safe, and relatively comfortable place to weather the storm I was dealing with. It wasn't a vacation. It was a place to live - and maybe that’s exactly what I needed. I'd recommend it if you're looking for a clean, safe, convenient, and affordable extended stay option in Wichita. Just be prepared for the microwave life. And hey, maybe you’ll find some hidden gems in Wichita that I missed. If you find yourself there, let me know. I might just be back.
Harlem's Hidden Gem: Aloft Hotel's Unbelievable NYC Views!
Alright, buckle up, buttercups! This isn't your sterile, perfectly-formatted travel plan. This is real life. This is my potential trip - Extended Stay America in Wichita, KS, and me, potentially losing it.
PRE-TRIP PANIC (Days Before Arrival):
- Mental Prep: Okay, deep breaths. Wichita. Kansas. Flat. Probably windy. Must pack: allergy meds, a book (or three), and a healthy dose of cynicism. My expectations? Low. My hope? To eat some decent BBQ and maybe, maybe, see a real-life tumbleweed. Lord, please let me see a tumbleweed.
- Packing Fiasco: I swear, packing is the bane of my existence. I start with the best intentions: a capsule wardrobe! Efficient! Then I end up stuffing everything I own into a suitcase the size of a small car, just in case aliens show up and demand a fashion show. Send help (and dry shampoo).
- Flight/Drive Angst: Okay, so I'm probably flying. Or, depending on the weather and my crippling fear of turbulence, driving. Driving means endless podcasts and questionable gas station snacks. Flying means dealing with other humans. The internal conflict rages.
DAY 1: Arrival and Initial Assessment (Extended Stay America - Wichita - East Wichita)
- Arrival: Ugh. Alright, let's do this. Arriving at the Extended Stay. Key card clutched tightly. Initial reaction? "Well, it's… functional." That's the best way to describe it, isn't it? Functional. Not charming, not glamorous, but functional. The lobby smells faintly of cleaning products and despair. I swear I saw a tumbleweed drift across the parking lot already. Kidding… maybe.
- The Room Reveal: Okay, here we go. Unlock. Enter. First impressions are key, right? Alright, clean enough. Definitely smells like it's been lived in. The kitchenette looks like it hasn't had a good cleaning in ages. Okay not gonna lie, I wasn't expecting a whole lot, and I still feel a little let down. But hey, at least I got a bed. The bed. Which… does it look inviting? Absolutely not. But it's functional. (See a pattern here?)
- Local Exploration: Grocery Store Run: Food is fuel. And cheap microwaveable foods. Need to find a grocery store. It's the "safest" intro to a new town, right? So, off I trundle, to the nearest grocery store. The experience is surprisingly (or maybe unsurprisingly, this is Wichita) uneventful. Grab some basics, snacks, and maybe-kinda hope that I don't run into anyone.
- Evening: Dinner in room. Microwave dinner it is. (See also: grocery store, above) Watch some cable until I'm too tired to care.
DAY 2: Wichita Wonders (Or at Least, Attempts at Wonder)
- Morning Meltdown/Brunch Attempt: Woke up. It's fine. Needed coffee. Found coffee! It's instant, but hey, it's something. Think I might attempt a brunch. Find the nearest diner to the hotel. Okay, this is fun. This is what I came for! A local diner, full of locals, who all know each other. This is the Wichita experience. Waitresses call everyone "honey" and ask you all the questions. They may actually ask which local sports team you're rooting for (did I pack a t-shirt?). I love it. And the French toast? So good.
- Exploration - The Sedgwick County Zoo: Time to embrace my inner child… or, at least, pretend I have one. Headed to the zoo. This is going to be great. I love animals! Or, I hope I still love animals. It’s a decent zoo. I went to see the elephants, but didn't have any luck.
- Afternoon: The afternoon will be spent trying not to be too sad about the lack of elephants. Time for a nap. After that, an early dinner.
- Evening: Another microwave masterpiece. Catch up on whatever streaming service is included.
DAY 3: Art, BBQ, and the Realization That Time Is a Construct
- Morning Regret and Redemption: Oh, the grogginess. Maybe I should have gone to bed earlier. Coffee. Must have coffee. Determined to make this day better than the last.
- The Art Museum: Okay, let's get cultured. Off to the art museum! Hopefully, it'll remind me that not everything is depressing. The art? Hit or miss, as usual. But I did see a piece that actually moved me. (Okay, maybe it was the coffee, but still!)
- BBQ Pilgrimage: Time for the main event! BBQ. I've done my research (aka, Googled "best BBQ in Wichita"). So, I'm hitting up the legendary place that everyone raves about. The line…the wait.. the smoke. The aroma. My god. The BBQ is worth it. So good. Pure bliss. Okay, maybe Wichita isn't so bad after all.
- Evening: Exhausted from the BBQ and the emotional rollercoaster of the day. This is a pretty good night. Feeling a little bit more at home. Watch some TV. Probably fall asleep before the credits.
DAY 4: Departures and Reflections (and a Final Tumbleweed Search)
- Morning: Pack. Again. The dread that's been building all week is really here now. Check out. One last look at the room. I can't wait to leave.
- Final Thoughts: Wichita, you were…an experience. Would I come back? Maybe. It was real. Honest. Messy. And the BBQ? Absolutely worth it. Did I see a tumbleweed? I think I caught movement out of the corner of my eye, but I'm pretty sure it was just a particularly persistent dust bunny.
- Departure: On the road/In the air, back to reality. Bring on whatever's next.
Post-Trip Debrief (Several Days Later):
Okay, I'm back. Still recovering from the emotional highs and lows of the trip. The BBQ dreams still visit me. I'm already plotting my return to Wichita, just for the BBQ. And about that tumbleweed…I may have convinced myself I saw one. Don't judge. It was the dust bunnies. Definitely the dust bunnies. Overall, Not bad, Wichita. Not bad at all.
Houghton Lake Getaway: Unbeatable Super 8 Deals! (MI)
So, East Wichita Suites... is it *really* the "best" extended stay in Wichita? Don't just give me the boring brochure answer.
I’ve stayed there twice. The first time, it was a necessity. The second time? Purely because I *chose* it over other options, and THAT should tell you something. (Plus, I knew the free coffee machine situation by heart!).
What's the actual *room* like? Is it a cramped, depressing box or what?
And the bed? Honestly, the bed was surprisingly decent. Not the Ritz-Carlton, but enough to get a good night's sleep. And trust me, a good night's sleep is PRICELESS when you're essentially homeless-lite. The first time I was there, I was seriously stressed. After the first night, I actually started feeling, like, *human* again. Big win.
What about the kitchen? Can you actually *cook* anything decent?
Listen, I'm not going to be whipping up soufflés or anything, but I did successfully roast a chicken in the oven and make a KILLER batch of chili. That chili was a lifeline. It was the only thing that could get me through a particularly brutal bout of… well, let’s just say it involved a particularly nasty breakup and feeling totally alone. So, yeah, the kitchen? It gets a YES from me. It’s the home-ec version of a hug during a hard time.
Does it feel… depressing? Like you’re in a constant state of "temporary"?
I also made a friend! This lovely older lady, she always sat in the lobby with her cat, and we would talk for hours. It made a huge difference, having someone to just… vent to. So yes, the feeling of "temporary" is there, but it's not the ONLY feeling. It’s more like… temporary, but with a tiny, tiny bit of community.
The location... is it actually convenient? I need to be close to… stuff.
And honestly, it felt… safe. I'm a worrier by nature, and I always felt comfortable coming and going, even late at night. That peace of mind is worth its weight in gold, especially when you're already stressed about... well, almost everything.
What's the Wi-Fi situation like? Because let's be real, I need to survive… and work.
There were a few times when it was a little… flaky. But honestly, it usually recovered pretty quickly. And let's be real, even the Ritz-Carlton has Wi-Fi glitches sometimes. It's a small price to pay for the other perks.
Any major downsides? What about the little annoyances?
Also, you're living in a hotel. There's a certain… lack of privacy, I guess? You might occasionally hear your neighbors (or they might hear you, if you're like me and have a loud laugh). And the cleaning service only comes once a week, which means you have to take care of your own trash and keep things relatively tidy. Not a dealbreaker, but something to be aware of.
AND… the elevator at the firstHotel Finder Reviews
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