
Unbelievable Deals at Faribault's BEST Hotel! (Boarders Inn & Suites)
Unbelievable Deals at Faribault's BEST Hotel? … Okay, Let's Dive In! (Boarders Inn & Suites Review - Raw & Real)
Okay, friends, buckle up. Because I'm about to spill the tea (or maybe just the lukewarm coffee from the lobby, we'll get there) on Faribault's Boarders Inn & Suites. They promise unbelievable deals, and frankly, after my experience, I’m still trying to decide if that’s sarcastic or not. Here's the lowdown, warts and all, because let's be real, even the "best" hotels have a few… well, quirks.
First Impressions & Accessibility - Can You Get In The Door?
Right off the bat, let's talk about accessibility. Crucial. They've got a decent showing: everything is supposed to be wheelchair accessible, and that's definitely a good starting point. (Accessibility, Wheelchair accessible, Facilities for disabled guests) The elevator was… well, it worked. I'm not sure if it was smooth, but it got me where I needed to go. The hallways seemed wide enough, and that's already a win compared to some cramped places I've stayed at. Plus, there are always elevators.
Internet - Bless the Wi-Fi Gods!
Okay, this is where Boarders Inn REALLY shines. (Internet, Free Wi-Fi in all rooms!, Wi-Fi in public areas, Internet Access – Wireless) A godsend! Honestly, you never know with hotels. But the Wi-Fi was surprisingly strong, even in my room. I actually did some work (don't tell my boss I said that). I think the phrase "free Wi-Fi" is practically a siren song by this point. But hey, it worked, and I could stream my shows without buffering, so I'm not complaining.
Cleanliness & Safety - Is It Germ-Free or Just… Clean-ish?
Alright, this is where things get a little… murkier. (Cleanliness and safety, Anti-viral cleaning products, Daily disinfection in common areas, Hand sanitizer, Hygiene certification, Individually-wrapped food options, Rooms sanitized between stays, Staff trained in safety protocol, Sterilizing equipment). They say they’re going above and beyond. Hand sanitizer stations were everywhere (a good sign!), and the staff was definitely wearing masks (another good sign). But I have to admit, the “smell” of cleaning products seemed a little…aggressive. Like, borderline nauseatingly aggressive. It’s a sign that they are definitely trying; just perhaps a little too hard. The room appeared clean, and I spotted a little "sanitized" sticker on the door, which is good I guess, but I still brought my own antibacterial wipes, just in case. You know, just in case. I tend to do that now… the world is an unpredictable place, you know?
My Room: The Good, The Okay, and The "Huh?"
Let's talk about the room itself. (Available in all rooms: Additional toilet, Air conditioning, Alarm clock, Bathrobes, Bathroom phone, Bathtub, Blackout curtains, Carpeting, Closet, Coffee/tea maker, Complimentary tea, Daily housekeeping, Desk, Extra long bed, Free bottled water, Hair dryer, High floor, In-room safe box, Interconnecting room(s) available, Internet access – LAN, Internet access – wireless, Ironing facilities, Laptop workspace, Linens, Mini bar, Mirror, Non-smoking, On-demand movies, Private bathroom, Reading light, Refrigerator, Safety/security feature, Satellite/cable channels, Scale, Seating area, Separate shower/bathtub, Shower, Slippers, Smoke detector, Socket near the bed, Sofa, Soundproofing, Telephone, Toiletries, Towels, Umbrella, Visual alarm, Wake-up service, Wi-Fi [free], Window that opens)
Okay, so I got one of the non-smoking rooms (thank god). The bed? Extra long. Fantastic. Blackout curtains? Needed after that stressful drive in. The AC worked, which is crucial in summer. It also had a mini-fridge (SCORE!) and a coffee maker. Basic, but functional. Now, the bathroom…it was fine. Shower was a bit small and it felt like the water pressure was better in the sink, but hey, it was clean.
I will say, the décor wasn’t exactly stylish. Think… beige. Lots and lots of beige. But it was clean, the bed was comfy, and that, friends, is sometimes all you need.
Dining, Drinking, and Snacking - Food, Glorious Food (Or, The Lack Thereof)
They do offer breakfast. (Breakfast [buffet], Breakfast takeaway service, Asian breakfast, Western breakfast, Coffee/tea in restaurant, Coffee shop, Buffet in restaurant, Restaurants.) And I have to be honest here: it was… what it was. A buffet, with your standard continental fare: cereal, pastries, some questionable fruit. I, personally, am not a huge buffet person, but it was fine. I will say, The coffee? Not great. Not terrible. “Coffee” is a very apt description of the coffee.
They also have a little snack bar. (Snack bar) It had the usual suspects: chips, candy, maybe a sad sandwich. Not exactly gourmet, but it's perfectly acceptable for a quick bite. I did not explore the in-restaurant dining options. (A la carte in restaurant, Alternative meal arrangement, Asian cuisine in restaurant, Desserts in restaurant, International cuisine in restaurant, Salad in restaurant, Soup in restaurant, Vegetarian restaurant, Western cuisine in restaurant)
Things to Do & Ways to Relax - Are You There for a Spa Day?
Things to do, ways to relax, Body scrub, Body wrap, Fitness center, Foot bath, Gym/fitness, Massage, Pool with view, Sauna, Spa, Spa/sauna, Steamroom, Swimming pool, Swimming pool [outdoor]
Okay, here’s the interesting element: They have an indoor swimming pool. It looked… okay. Definitely not a luxury resort pool, but it was there. They also have a fitness center, which I didn’t check out (because, let’s be real, I was on vacation). I didn’t see any evidence of a spa or sauna. Maybe they have them, but unless they're very well-hidden… I did see a small outdoor area, but it wasn't quite as inviting.
Services & Conveniences - The Nitty-Gritty Stuff
Services and conveniences, Air conditioning in public area, Audio-visual equipment for special events, Business facilities, Cash withdrawal, Concierge, Contactless check-in/out, Convenience store, Currency exchange, Daily housekeeping, Doorman, Dry cleaning, Elevator, Essential condiments, Facilities for disabled guests, Food delivery, Gift/souvenir shop, Indoor venue for special events, Invoice provided, Ironing service, Laundry service, Luggage storage, Meeting/banquet facilities, Meetings, Meeting stationery, On-site event hosting, Outdoor venue for special events, Projector/LED display, Safety deposit boxes, Seminars, Shrine, Smoking area, Terrace, Wi-Fi for special events, Xerox/fax in business center, For the kids, Babysitting service, Family/child friendly, Kids facilities, Kids meal
They did offer a few extra services, like dry cleaning and laundry, which would be helpful if you are on a particularly long trip. Standard stuff. The front desk was friendly enough, and check-in/check-out was painless (Front desk [24-hour], Check-in/out [express], Check-in/out [private]). There was a little convenience store. You know, for those late-night snack attacks.
The Verdict: Unbelievable Deals?… Maybe. But Worth It?
So, is Boarders Inn & Suites worth the “unbelievable deals” hype? Honestly? It depends.
- Pros: Free Wi-Fi, decent bed, generally clean, accessible.
- Cons: Decor is very basic (beige, beige, beige!), breakfast is so-so, no spa or sauna.
I'd stay here again if I need a clean, convenient place to crash, but if I were looking for luxury or a truly memorable experience, I’d probably look elsewhere. Is it the "BEST Hotel" in Faribault? Probably not. Is it a solid, reliable option for a reasonable price? Yeah, I'd say so. Three and a half stars. Worth the stay, if you snag that deal.
Escape to Angleton: Your Perfect Stay Awaits at La Quinta Inn & Suites!
Alright, buckle up buttercups, because this isn't your grandma's meticulously planned itinerary (though I'm sure she'd love the Cobblestone, good choice, Grandma!). This is real life, Faribault style. We're talking Boarders Inn & Suites, Minnesota, baby, and you're about to get the unfiltered experience.
The Faribault Fiasco: A Cobblestone Caper (and probably some spilled coffee)
Day 1: Arrival and the Quest for the Elusive Microwave
- 1:00 PM: Alright, touchdown! (Metaphorically, of course. Got here in a beat-up Corolla, not a glamorous jet.) Check-in at Boarders Inn & Suites. First impressions: surprisingly…well, comforting. Clean, which is always a win. The lobby smelled faintly of chlorine (a real hotel smell, am I right?), and I immediately scoped out the continental breakfast situation. Key to a good hotel experience, people. Key.
- 1:15 PM: Room acquired! Standard double. Cleanish. Actually, surprisingly clean. I'll admit, I'm easily impressed. But the REAL test? The microwave. My stomach is already plotting a late-night popcorn assault. I’m pretty sure the microwave is the most important amenity a hotel can offer. This is a hill I will die on.
- 1:30 PM: Microwave…located! Victory is mine! (Okay, it was on top of the mini-fridge, but still.) Feeling a wave of pure, unadulterated joy. Immediately mentally planning my culinary masterpiece: microwave popcorn, maybe a questionable leftover burrito situation.
- 2:00 PM - 4:00 PM: Exploring the immediate vicinity. Which mostly involved walking around the parking lot, which is a pretty solid representation of the city - I did not have a plan. Found a gas station and got some snacks – gotta fuel the adventure, right? Feeling a bit like a lost puppy, but in a good way.
- 4:00 PM - 6:00 PM: Unproductive hours. Which is the whole point of vacation, isn't it? Watching some daytime tv. There were some snacks. Read a book. Stared blankly out the window thinking "Is this my life?" Maybe.
- 6:00 PM: Dinner at… (checks notes) The Mason's Bar & Grill. Locals recommended place. Honestly? Solid, but nothing to write home about. I ordered the burger, because you can't go wrong with a burger, right? Wrong! It was fine. But hey, the beer was cold. Plus, they had those little plastic ketchup packets, which always make me feel like a kid again. Minor, but kind of love it. A slight regret mixed with general satisfaction with myself.
- 7:30 PM: Back in hotel room. Popcorn time! The sweet, salty joy that only a microwave can provide. Feeling a little lonely, but the popcorn is a good friend.
- 9:00 PM: Bedtime, but not before I check out the hotel pool.
Day 2: History, Coffee and a Sudden Craving for…More Microwave
- 7:00 AM: Breakfast! Okay, so the continental breakfast wasn’t life-altering, but the little waffles were a win. Those hotel waffles are a weird obsession. I hate myself for loving them.
- 8:00 AM: The Faribault Woolen Mill! (Yes, I know, it sounds a bit…fabric-y.) But actually, it was fascinating. This place has history, real history. I got a blanket, and immediately started plotting where I could use it. This is a place where they still do the things people used to do, and it's really impressive. Felt a sudden urge to knit a sweater.
- 10:00 AM: Coffee run! Needed caffeine. Desperately. Found a local coffee shop - The Coffee Mill. The barista seemed to be a little annoyed by my presence (maybe I had coffee breath from my earlier hotel breakfast?), but the coffee was divine. Got a muffin.
- 11:00 AM - 1:00 PM: Attempted to explore Downtown Faribault. Found a vintage bookstore (Yay!). Found a shop that sells antiques (Hmm…). Found a shop that sold candles (Meh). The downtown area was cute, but not exactly bustling. But, hey, it's a town.
- 1:00 PM: Lunch! Had some pizza from a local joint. Pizza is always good, until it's not. This one was perfectly acceptable.
- 2:00 PM - 4:00 PM: Back to the hotel room. The siren call of the microwave was strong. Considering another popcorn run. Might binge-watch some trashy TV.
- 4:00 PM: Drove to the local park. It was nice. Real nice. I walked around by the river. Didn't go in. Didn't want to.
- 6:00 PM: Dinner. Went back to The Mason's Bar & Grill. Yeah, yeah, I know, uninspired. But it's easy. I did try a different entrée. It was also fine. Like my life.
- 7:30 PM: Popcorn, again! I cannot be stopped.
- 9:00 PM: Bed. This whole trip is a whirlwind of mediocrity and popcorn. I wouldn't have it any other way.
Day 3: Departure and the lingering scent of chlorine
- 7:00 AM: Another hotel waffle. I am a monster.
- 8:00 AM: Checkout. Feeling surprisingly…refreshed? Maybe it’s the lack of actual plans. Maybe it’s the chlorine smell. Either way, I'm leaving Faribault with a newfound appreciation for the simple things: microwaves, bland food, and a good night's sleep.
- 8:30 AM: Driving home. Thinking about popcorn.
Final Thoughts:
Boarders Inn & Suites - Faribault: definitely a solid choice. Clean, safe, and with a microwave within a reasonable distance. Faribault itself? Surprisingly pleasant. Not exactly a destination, but a nice little blip on the map. Would I go back? Maybe. Mostly for the hotel waffles. And the microwave. And the freedom to do absolutely nothing. And the popcorn. Good bye, Faribault! Until the next accidental adventure.
Escape the City: Unforgettable Downtown NYC Stay at DoubleTree by Hilton
Faribault's Finest (and Most Surprisingly Affordable!) Hotel: FAQs from a Real Person
Seriously, is Boarders Inn & Suites REALLY that good? I've seen pictures...
What about the breakfast? I HAVE to have a good breakfast. My soul depends on it.
What about the location? Is it close to anything interesting?
Can you tell me about the pool? I'm a pool person.
Are the rooms actually clean, or are they just... pretending?
What about the staff? Are they friendly?
Okay, spill the tea! What's the *best* part about staying there?


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