Albuquerque's BEST Kept Secret: La Quinta Inn & Suites Review!
Okay, buckle up buttercups, 'cause we're diving headfirst into ABQ's supposed "BEST Kept Secret": La Quinta Inn & Suites. This ain't your polished travel blog review; this is a gritty, real-world account, complete with my unfiltered reactions and, let's be honest, probably a few grammatical errors. Prepare for a rollercoaster, because… well, that's life, isn't it?
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- Meta Description: My brutally honest review of La Quinta Inn & Suites in Albuquerque! Accessibility, amenities, service - the good, the bad, and the downright weird. From the free Wi-Fi to the… well, you’ll see.
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First Impressions: The Arrival & The Accessibility (Or Lack Thereof?)
Okay, so pulling up… it's nice enough, y'know? Standard La Quinta look. Plenty of parking, which is a solid win, especially in ABQ. But accessibility… that's where things got a little shaky.
Accessibility: The website says "yes" to wheelchair accessibility, and, mostly, it's true. Ramps are there, elevators work… but sometimes those thresholds feel a little too high. I'm not in a wheelchair, but I can see how it'd be a pain. The front desk? Pretty standard height, so not exactly a "roll up and deal" situation. (Accessibility: Yes (Mostly… with a few grumbles. )) I'm going to say it's okay, but they could be so much better.
Wheelchair Accessible: Yes, but with those caveats.
Elevator: Yep, it's there. Whew!
Internet: The Lifeline (Especially for a Reviewer!)
- Internet Access: This is one of those make-or-break things, right? And, thankfully, La Quinta does it right.
- Free Wi-Fi in All Rooms! PRAISE BE! It works, and it's fast enough to actually do stuff. Streaming, work, social media… all good. Definitely a win.
- Internet [LAN]: Okay, so here's the weird/old-school thing. They also offer LAN connections? Who even uses those anymore? But hey, maybe someone does. shrugs
- Internet Services: It's all pretty basic: connect, password… done. No fuss, no muss.
Cleanliness, Safety, and the COVID-19 Circus:
This is where things got interesting, because, let’s face it, 2020 and beyond were… messy.
- Anti-viral cleaning products: They CLAIMED it. Did I see it? Couldn't say for sure. But the rooms felt clean.
- Daily disinfection in common areas: Again, I’m trusting the claims.
- Hand sanitizer: Yep, strategically placed around. Good.
- Hygiene certification: I didn't see any, but I also didn't go looking.
- Individually-wrapped food options: Yes, at breakfast. Which, let’s be honest, is the only way to do breakfast right now.
- Physical distancing of at least 1 meter: They TRIED. It's harder than you think in a hotel lobby.
- Rooms sanitized between stays: They said it, anyway.
- Staff trained in safety protocol: Hard to tell, but they all wore masks (at least when I was there.)
- Sanitized kitchen and tableware items: They claimed it. Again, trusting the claims.
- Room sanitization opt-out available: Good to know, but I didn't use it.
Dining, Drinking, and Snacking: Breakfast - The True Test
Okay, this is where La Quinta usually shines, but, let's be honest, the experience will change constantly.
- Breakfast [buffet]: Used to be a thing, but covid, right?
- Breakfast takeaway service: Yes! Grab-and-go. Still, the standard for the times.
- Breakfast service: It's included, which is always a win. The quality is… well, it's hotel breakfast. Don't expect gourmet, but it'll fill you up. Hot coffee, cold milk, good enough.
Services and Conveniences: The Stuff That Makes Life Easier (or Not)
- Air conditioning in public area: Yes, thank goodness. ABQ can get HOT.
- Cash withdrawal: Nope, but the front desk can direct you to an ATM.
- Concierge: Nope.
- Convenience store: Nope, but vending machines.
- Daily housekeeping: Yes, thankfully. They kept my spot clean.
- Elevator: Yep.
- Facilities for disabled guests: Refer to Accessibility section.
- Food delivery: Not through them necessarily, but you can order delivery.
- Gift/souvenir shop: Nope.
- Laundry service: Yep, they have it.
- Luggage storage: Yes.
- Safety deposit boxes: At the front desk.
- Terrace: Yes, a small one. Nothing special.
For the Kids (and the Kid in You!)
- Family/child friendly: Yes.
- Kids facilities: Not really.
- Swimming pool: Yes, an outdoor pool. It seemed clean, but I didn’t actually swim!
Getting Around & The Nitty Gritty:
- Airport transfer: Nope, but it’s close to ABQ airport.
- Car park [free of charge]: Yes! Major bonus.
- Pets allowed: CHECK. One of the big plusses. They're mostly cool with four-legged friends, but call ahead to confirm and understand their rules.
- Non-smoking rooms: Yes, thank goodness.
Rooms: The Heart of the Matter
- Air conditioning: Essential. Checked.
- Coffee/tea maker: Yes, a standard issue.
- Free bottled water: Nice touch.
- Desk: Yes. Working from the room is a thing.
- Hair dryer: In the bathroom, thankfully.
- Internet access – wireless: Check!
- Ironing facilities: The ironing board? A bit rickety. Watch out!
- Non-smoking: Yes, and they seem to enforce it.
- Refrigerator: Yes.
- Satellite/cable channels: Check.
- Shower: Pressure was good.
- Soundproofing: Not perfect, but decent.
- Wi-Fi [free]: Hallelujah.
The Verdict (AKA My Final, Rambling Thoughts)
So, is La Quinta Inn & Suites in Albuquerque a "BEST Kept Secret"? Well… maybe.
It's not the Ritz. It's not fancy. It's a solid, reliable option. The things that matter? The free Wi-Fi? Solid. The free breakfast (even in its current form)? Decent. The free parking? Huge plus. The room itself? Clean, comfy.
The downsides? The accessibility could be massively improved. It’s not a destination, y'know? But it's a good place to crash, especially if you've got a furry friend in tow.
Would I stay there again? Probably. Especially for the price point. It's got its quirks, its imperfections – just like life.
Final Score: 7.5/10 (Room for improvement, but a good, reliable choice!)
Houma's Hidden Gem: Comfort Inn & Suites Review (You Won't Believe This!)
Alright, buckle up, buttercup, because this isn't your grandma's travel itinerary. We're talking about a trip to Albuquerque, New Mexico, centered around the glorious (or maybe just… serviceable) La Quinta Inn & Suites by Wyndham Albuquerque West. Prepare for a rollercoaster, emotionally and logistically.
Day 1: Arrival, Existential Dread, and the Quest for Free Breakfast
- 1:00 PM: Arrive at Albuquerque International Sunport (ABQ). Okay, first impression? It's… an airport. Let's be real. Air travel is 90% purgatory and 10% the actual fun of getting somewhere. Find the rental car. This is the first test of my willpower. Try not to spontaneously combust with road rage.
- 2:30 PM: Arrive La Quinta. Check-in. Pray the room doesn't smell like stale chlorine and regret. Fingers crossed for a comfortable bed. The anxieties of adulting already start creeping in. Will I be able to operate the TV remote? Wi-Fi password? These are the true life-or-death situations, people.
- 3:00 PM: Settle in. Unpack. Immediately realize I forgot the good shampoo. Sigh. The first of many minor disappointments to come.
- 3:30 PM: Explore. Wander around the hotel, a modern labyrinth that I have to get used to.
- 4:00 PM: Reconnaissance mission: Find the pool/gym and, more importantly, the free breakfast situation. I'm a sucker for free hotel breakfast. The promise of slightly-stale waffles and rubbery eggs keeps me going. That's the American Dream, distilled right there.
- 5:00 PM: Snack time to get over arrival and settle in.
- 7:00 PM: Dinner. Try to get out and about, drive downtown. Albuquerque is a whole culture of its own.
- 8:00 PM: Relax in the La Quinta.
Day 2: Breakfast, Balloon Fiesta Obsession & Total Meltdown
- 6:00 AM: Wake up. (Against my will, because those waffle irons don't run themselves!) Rise and shine! Or, in my case, grumpy mumble and shuffle towards the free breakfast. Okay. The waffles. They are… acceptable. Definitely a highlight of the day.
- 7:00 AM: Head off for the Balloon Fiesta, in anticipation of the event day that is supposed to take place.
- 7:30 AM: Arrive at the Balloon Fiesta, and find out that it rained and the events are cancelled. Start to fall into spiral of depression.
- 8:00 AM: Stroll around, make a few photos, and complain about the weather.
- 10:00 AM: Head back to the car. The disappointment is heavy.
- 12:00 PM: Try to eat a burger that reminds me of the disappointment.
- 2:00 PM: Swim in the pool to get over the depression.
- 4:00 PM: Nap time.
- 7:00 PM: Dinner time. Try to get back to happy.
- 9:00 PM: Start planning tomorrow!
Day 3: Turquoise Dreams, Ghost Towns, and the Unexplained Smell of… Something
- 7:00 AM: Okay, breakfast. Let's start fresh. Eggs, maybe? What are my options? Okay, eggs it is.
- 8:00 AM: Head to a local store for buying souvenirs. Now, I'm not usually a souvenir person. But, come on, you have to get a little something! A turquoise bracelet? A dreamcatcher? I have no idea what I'm looking for, just… things.
- 9:30 AM: Drive towards a ghost town.
- 11:00 AM: Arrive at ghost town. Wandering through abandoned buildings in the desert is just… eerie. Like, "I'm pretty sure someone saw me" eerie.
- 1:00 PM: Lunch. Picnic or a roadside diner? Let's roll the dice and find a diner. Gotta try the chili. It's the local thing, right?
- 2:00 PM: Head back to La Quinta.
- 3:00 PM: Chill in the pool.
- 7:00 PM: Dinner.
- 9:00 PM: Netflix and chill, in a literal sense.
Day 4: Departure and Contemplation of the Meaning of Waffles
- 7:00 AM: Final breakfast. Appreciate those waffles. Look at me, philosophical about breakfast.
- 8:00 AM: Check out. Say farewell to my temporary home.
- 9:30 AM: Head to the airport. The end of the road.
- 11:00 AM: Fly home.
- 1:00 PM: Looking back, contemplating what I have done.
Important notes:
- Comfort food is critical. Pack your favorite snacks.
- Don't be afraid to get lost. Embrace the weird.
- Pace yourself. You're on vacation. Don't burn yourself out.
- The biggest thing is to appreciate the little moments. Even if it's just the surprisingly good waffles at the La Quinta. Life's a bizarre, messy, beautiful breakfast buffet. Dig in.
Alright, straight up: Is this La Quinta *really* a "best kept secret"? Because, like, Google Maps doesn't exactly hide it.
Okay, fine, maybe "best kept secret" is a *slight* overstatement. It's not Narnia. But here's the deal: Albuquerque has a weird vibe, right? You've got the kitschy Route 66 stuff, the stunning Sandia Mountains, the… well, let's just say "eclectic" blend of everything. La Quinta, in all its beige-carpeted glory, feels… comfortably average. And sometimes, that's *exactly* what you need. It's a reliable, predictable haven in a land of surprises. Think of it as the beige cardigan of the hotel world. Practical. Undeniably there. Never truly exciting, but always… *there* when you desperately need it.
Let's talk breakfast. Because breakfast is crucial. Did they have the waffle maker of destiny?
The waffle maker… the *holy grail*! Okay, deep breath. Yes, they did. And it was… *functional*. Let's be real: hotel waffle makers are rarely Michelin-star worthy. Mine came out a little… pale. A bit anemic, if I'm honest. The syrup situation was… predictable. But hey, it was a waffle, it was warm, and it staved off the morning grumps. I saw a woman with a *mountain* of waffles, though. Like, a *pile*. Maybe that's the secret: waffle-hoarding. Next time. Next time, I'm going for waffle domination.
The pool. Because, you know, Albuquerque sun. What's the deal?
The pool… ah, the pool. Okay, here's the real truth: I didn't go in. I *intended* to, I swear! But then I saw a small child with a *look* in their eyes, a look that said, "I'm about to unleash chlorine fury." And I chickened out. It *looked* clean, mind you. And the sun loungers seemed inviting. But I'm a grown adult, and apparently, I'm still terrified of small children and water. So, you know, solid observation from afar: it looked pool-y. Let's leave it there.
Room size and cleanliness? Big deal or no big deal?
Okay, the room. This is where I got pleasantly surprised. I expected… generic hotel room. You know: beige walls, vaguely suspicious carpet, a bed that’s been around the block a few times. But no! It was… spacious! Surprisingly so. And clean! Spotlessly clean, actually. I'm talking "I could probably eat off the floor" clean (though I didn't, because, you know, floor germs). The bed, however, wasn't the most amazing. Not cloud-like, but not awful. It was just… *there*. Comfortable enough to crash for a night, but not one I'd write home about. It just felt… safe, maybe. Predictable. And honestly? After a day of Albuquerque-ing, safe and predictable is *wonderful*.
The staff! How's the help here? Rude? Sarcastic (my favourite)? Or just plain nice?
The staff were… *charming*. Not in a forced, overly-polite way, but genuinely kind. I asked the front desk for a recommendation for green chile cheeseburgers (essential Albuquerque experience, obviously), and the guy *beamed*. He gave me a detailed rundown, including a place that, in his words, was "a little rough around the edges, but the best damn burger you'll ever eat." Sold! He wasn't wrong. So, points for genuinely useful advice and not trying to upsell me on something pretentious. Bonus points for enthusiasm about green chile cheeseburgers. You know, people who are passionate about food? They're alright in my book.
Anything *really* annoying? Let's get some honest gripes.
Okay, here's my one actual gripe. The ice machine… it was an adventure. I wandered down the hall at 11 PM, craving a little ice for my… whatever I was drinking. And the ice machine was… *on strike*. Flat out. No ice. Just a grumpy rumbling sound. Disaster! I trudged back to my room, defeated. (Okay, it wasn't a *huge* disaster, but a little ice would've been nice). So: ice machine reliability: questionable. But hey, what can you do? It's a hotel. They're not perfect. But maybe next time, I'll try the vending machine (if I can find it!).
The location? Good for seeing Albuquerque sights?
Location, location, location! The La Quinta was pretty well-situated. Not right in the middle of the Old Town tourist traps (which, let's be honest, can get a little *much*), but a relatively easy drive to most of what you'd want to see. Close to the freeway, but far enough that the traffic noise wasn't insane. You could conceivably walk to a few restaurants if you were feeling energetic (I wasn't). Overall, a solid base of operations.
Would you stay again? Give me the final verdict.
Would I go back to the La Quinta in Albuquerque? Absolutely. It’s not going to be a luxury experience, but it's a reliable, clean, and conveniently-located hotel for a reasonable price. You probably won't write home about it (unless you *really* love waffles), but it's a practical, comfortable, and safe choice. For me? Sometimes, that's all you need. It's the hotel equivalent of a warm hug and a cup of chamomile tea. So yeah, I’d recommend it. Just, maybe, pack your own ice.
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