Escape to Milan: Days Inn's Lakeside Luxury Awaits!
Escape to Milan: Days Inn's Lakeside Luxury…Does it Deliver? My Messy, Honest Take
Alright, buckle up buttercups, because I'm about to unleash my unfiltered experience with Escape to Milan, a "Lakeside Luxury" joint supposedly run by Days Inn. Let's be real, Days Inn? My expectations were LOWER than a limbo champion. But hey, a lakeside getaway in Milan? Sounds promising enough.
SEO & Metadata Blitz (Gotta play the game!):
- Keywords: Escape to Milan, Days Inn, Milan hotels, Lakeside hotel, accessible hotels, spa, fitness center, swimming pool, free Wi-Fi, breakfast, restaurant, reviews, travel, Italy, accessibility, wheelchair accessible, pet-friendly hotels (if applicable – check actual policy), Milan vacation.
- Metadata Description: Honest review of Escape to Milan, a Days Inn property in Milan. Explore accessibility, amenities like spa, pool, and dining, and discover the good, the bad, and the hilariously mediocre.
First Impressions & the Quest for Accessibility (Because, Let's Be Real, It Matters):
Okay, arriving at "Escape to Milan" (let's lose the overly dramatic name, shall we?) was…well, it was a Days Inn. It didn’t exactly scream "lavish lakeside retreat," more like "efficient and functional." Now, I’m no snob, but the promise of LUXURY had me envisioning swans and gondolas. Wrong.
Accessibility: THIS is where things got interesting. The website claimed "accessible" and I, being a mobility scooter user (yes, I’m admitting it!), had to see for myself. The entrance was, thankfully, ramped. Score one! The elevator? Worked. Another win! Wheelchair accessible rooms? Yes, confirmed! (But maybe call ahead and double-check for availability, just in case.) Bathroom? Adequate, though the grab bars could use a little more umph. Honestly, this was a HUGE plus. Finding accessible places in Europe can be a minefield. So, hats off, Days Inn (or whoever’s managing this place)!
Elevator: Working! Another win!
CCTV in common areas: Present and accounted for.
The Room: My Fortress of Solitude (With a Few Quirks):
My room… alright, let’s delve deep.
- Available in all rooms (the big ones!): 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, a lot of these are standard but necessary.
- The View: Not exactly the lakeside I was expecting. Let's go with "park view." Still, hey, green is nice.
- The Bed: Comfortable enough. Not amazing, but passable. I've slept on worse, trust me. The extra-long bed was a plus, because I'm tall, and the sofa was also comfy.
- The Mini-Bar: Now, this is where things get a little…confusing. Mini-bars are always a gamble. Either extortionate, or…well, they’re overpriced. This one was no different. A bottle of water? Like, five Euros? Come ON!
- Wi-Fi: Free and (mostly) Functional! Praise be! They delivered on the "free Wi-Fi in all rooms!" promise. It was fast enough for streaming, so I can't complain.
- Soundproofing: Decent. Didn’t hear the neighbor's karaoke session (thank the heavens!).
- The Bathroom: Clean, functional, and I’m not complaining.
- Room decorations: Non-existent. It was very… Days Inn.
- Room sanitization opt-out available: A comforting thought. More on cleanliness later.
- Rooms sanitized between stays: Good to know
The Amenities: Swimming, Spa-ing, and the Quest for Deliciousness:
Alright, let’s talk about the things that could elevate this stay.
- Swimming Pool: The outdoor pool was actually pretty nice, with a decent view, depending on which way you looked. I mean, it was refreshing and a nice change of pace.
- Spa: Tried the spa, and it was… well, it was an experience. Definitely not the "luxury spa" vibe I'd hoped for. The prices were high and the facilities were lacking. I did not indulge in the body scrub or wrap, but I did use the sauna and steamroom.
- Fitness Center: The gym was small, BUT the equipment was in working order, which is always a plus!
- Daily disinfection in common areas: Felt safe.
- Spa/sauna: Worth it.
- Pool with view: Definitely.
- Sauna: Good.
- Steamroom: Good.
- Gym/fitness: Adequate.
- Massage: Did not try.
Dining, Drinking, and Snacking: A Rollercoaster Ride for the Tastebuds:
Ah, the food. This is where things went a little sideways, and where my honest (and slightly dramatic) reactions truly shine.
- Breakfast (Buffet): Let’s just say the breakfast buffet was… functional. The Western breakfast, while present, was underwhelming. The Asian breakfast? Didn't see it. The coffee… well, let's just say it needed some serious help.
- Restaurant: The A la carte in restaurant was slightly better, but not by a huge amount.
- Coffee/tea in restaurant / Coffee shop: Adequate.
- Poolside Bar: Didn't see it open… sad.
- Snack bar: Adequate.
- Bar: Average.
- Room service [24-hour]: YES! This saved me on more than one occasion. The menu was limited, but the convenience was GOLD.
- Bottle of water: Yes!
- Breakfast service: Available.
- Alternative meal arrangement: Available (like, if you ask and they can do it.)
- Vegetarian restaurant: Didn't see it.
- Salad in restaurant: Present.
- Soup in restaurant: Present.
- Desserts in restaurant: Present.
Cleanliness and Safety: A Sigh of Relief (Mostly):
- Anti-viral cleaning products: Good to know.
- Cashless payment service: Easy peasy.
- Daily disinfection in common areas: Reassuring,
- Hand sanitizer: Everywhere.
- Hygiene certification: Present.
- Individually-wrapped food options: Good for peace of mind.
- Physical distancing of at least 1 meter: Enforced.
- Professional-grade sanitizing services: Felt safe.
- Room sanitization opt-out available: Good.
- Safe dining setup: Present.
- Sanitized kitchen and tableware items: Yes.
- Staff trained in safety protocol: Yes.
- Sterilizing equipment: I hope so.
- Rooms sanitized between stays: Present.
- First aid kit: Yes.
- Smoke alarms: Present.
- Fire extinguisher: Present.
- CCTV outside property: Present and accounted for.
Speaking of Safety, Security and Service: The Human Element:
- Front desk [24-hour]: Very handy.
- Concierge: Present, helpful.
- Cash withdrawal: Present.
- Dry cleaning/ Laundry service / Ironing service: Available, but pricey (as usual).
- Facilities for disabled guests: Excellent!
- Doorman: Present.
- Luggage storage: Yes.
- Contactless check-in/out: Yes!
- Invoice provided: Sure!
- Daily housekeeping: Thank you!
- Staff trained in safety protocol: They seemed to be.
- Check-in/out [express]: Sure.
- Check-in/out [private]: Sure.
- Security [24-hour]: Yes.
- Safety/security feature: Yes.
- Wake-up service: Yes, but be sure to set it to the right time!
- Essential condiments: Always.
The Upsides…and the Downsides:
- The Good: Accessibility was
Alright, alright, let's do this. Days Inn in Milan, Ohio, huh? Sounds… uh… promising. My expectations are lower than the price of a stale donut, but hey, adventure awaits! (Or at least a moderately clean bed. We'll see.)
The Milan, Ohio Odyssey: A Days Inn Debrief (and a Few Tears, Probably)
Day 1: Arrival and the Great Expectations… That Were Immediately Shattered
- 1:00 PM: Arrived at the Days Inn. Let's just say the exterior photos on the website could be considered… generous. Photo shop must have had a field day. It wasn't terrible, just… beige. Beige on beige. Beige. Is there something about beige that makes you feel so… uninspired? Ugh. Inside, the lobby smelled faintly of chlorine and regret. The front desk clerk, bless her heart, seemed as enthusiastic about my arrival as I was about a root canal.
- 1:15 PM: Room check. The key did work, which is a win in my book. Okay… carpet stains. One definite stain. And… is that a suspicious smudge on the mirror? I'm not gonna lie, a little part of me died inside. But hey, at least there was a TV. (And the remote worked! Jackpot!)
- 1:30 PM: Bathroom inspection. White towels. White… things. Everything was… functionally fine, but sterile. It reminded me of that time I had a colonoscopy. Not that I'm comparing a motel bathroom to medical procedure. Yes, I am.
- 2:00 PM: The Great Milan Search. I decided to bravely (or maybe foolishly) venture out. Where the heck is Milan, Ohio, anyway? Turns out, it's… small. Very small. I've seen bigger parking lots.
- 2:30 PM: Quick drive around town. Went to the area restaurants. Nothing particularly jumping out at me.
- 3:00 PM: Back to the room. Resigned myself to solitude and the questionable allure of cable TV. I felt myself slowly sinking into what I would now call "Days Inn despair."
- 7:00 PM: Dinner at a local "family restaurant." The food was… edible. The waitress was possibly my new best friend. We talked about her cats and how life is just too short for bad fried food. She was very wise, that waitress.
- 9:00 PM: Back at the motel. Tried to watch a movie on HBO. Gave up. My brain simply couldn’t process the combination of beige walls and a poorly acted action thriller.
- 10:00 PM: Attempted sleep. Fought off the lingering smell of… something. Was it the chlorine from the lobby? Something else? Who knows. Tossed and turned. Wondered if I should just drive home.
Day 2: The Sandusky Pilgrimage (and a Sudden Craving for the Sea)
- 8:00 AM: Wake up to slightly less despair. Maybe it was the sleep. Maybe it was the thought of checking out. (Hope springs eternal.)
- 8:30 AM: Breakfast. Complimentary continental breakfast. It's like a dare. Stale cereal, questionable pastries, and instant coffee that looked suspiciously like motor oil. I bravely consumed a single banana. Victory!
- 9:00 AM: Checked out with a smile. I was free. Free, I tell you!
- 9:30 AM: The Sandusky Excursion. The only reason I was in this part of the state was to visit Cedar Point. And maybe see the Lake Erie.
- 10:00 AM - 4:00 PM: CEDAR POINT. Roller coasters. Screaming. So many people. It was AMAZING! The sheer terror and exhilaration were worth the questionable hotel experience, the small town, and the everything. Roller coasters are a kind of therapy. I screamed until my voice was hoarse. I loved it. I would go back.
- 4:00 PM: Drove back to the hotel, still buzzing from the roller coasters. I had a sudden, intense craving for the sea. (Lake Erie would have to do. Close enough, right?)
- 5:00 PM: Back to the Days Inn. That, again. This time, the stain on the carpet just felt like a familiar friend.
- 7:00 PM: Ordered Chinese food delivery. It was surprisingly good! This is a win and a bright spot in the darkness. The delivery driver was very friendly.
- 9:00 PM: Tried to watch a movie. FAILED. Stared out the window. Thought about the ocean. Thought about all things in life. Life is a beautiful.
- 11:00 PM: Sleep. Eventually.
Day 3: Departure and the Aftermath of Adventure
- 8:00 AM: Another sunrise. Another breakfast. (Same breakfast.) I took a double serving of the banana.
- 8:30 AM Backpacked for the final time. I am ready to go.
- 9:00 AM: Checked out. The desk clerk was different. She seemed… chipper? Maybe she just had a great day. Or maybe she’d seen some things…
- 9:15 AM: Started the drive home. Reflected.
- 9:45 AM: I am back!
Post-Trip Reflections:
The Days Inn in Milan? Not the Ritz. Not even close. But it was a basecamp. A place to sleep. A place to experience the sheer joy of roller coasters and the sheer… beige of the Midwest. It was part of the adventure. And, you know what? In a weird way, it was perfect. The imperfections? It was like life, sometimes. Maybe, just maybe, I’ll go back someday. But I'll bring my own coffee. And maybe a hazmat suit. Just in case.
Escape to Richmond: Your Perfect Arboretum Stay Awaits!
Escape to Milan: Days Inn - Lakeside Luxury Awaits! - FAQ (Sort Of...)
Okay, so "Lakeside Luxury"... Is it, like, *actually* luxurious, or is it that hotel ad kind of lied to me again?
Alright, let's get this straight. "Luxury"? That's a loaded word, isn't it? Expectations, people, expectations! I'm gonna be brutally honest. It's *Days Inn*. Let's not pretend we're talking the Ritz-Carlton here. It's not gilded gold, dripping with chandeliers. Think…reliable. Pleasant. Clean…ish. (More on the "ish" later.) The view of the lake? *Magnificent*, when the clouds aren't weeping. Okay, one star for the view. The "luxury"? Maybe the super-soft towels? Yes, definitely the towels. They were a *tiny* moment of pure, fluffy bliss. So, manage your expectations. But hey, for the price? Way better than my last experience, let's just say it involved a questionable stain and a very noisy air conditioning unit. Shudders.
Is it *actually* on the lake? Because I’m picturing a romantic sunset stroll… and if it's not... well, I'm already disappointed.
Yes! Sort of. It’s *very* close to the lake. You *can* stroll! Romantic sunset strolls are entirely possible! (weather permitting!). The walk is lovely, which is a HUGE plus. Don't expect to be practically *in* the water, but you're practically *at* the water's edge, definitely. I actually saw a couple feeding the swans. Made me slightly jealous. Also slightly concerned about the swans' potential for aggression. But back on track: YES, lakeside. Stroll-able. Romantic-ish. Good to go.
The breakfast situation… Tell me *everything*. Is it… edible? Continental? A struggle?
Breakfast… Ah, breakfast. The daily existential crisis of the weary traveler. Okay, here’s the gospel according to me: It's *continental*. Think toast, questionable pastries that look vaguely like they should be edible but aren't always, cereal that’s gone slightly stale, and a coffee machine that requires an engineering degree to operate. The coffee, though... it's fine if you add approximately a gallon of milk. The orange juice? Suspect. The yogurt? Acceptable. The overall vibe? Slightly depressing, but hey, it's free. And when you're hungover after a night of questionable Italian red wine (which, by the way, is a *must*... don't judge), free is a very, *very* important word. I ended up eating a *lot* of toast. Toast is always a safe bet.
Parking? Ugh, I hate parking. Is there parking? Is it a nightmare?
Parking. Oh, the bane of modern existence. Yes, there *is* parking. Thank the gods! And I have to say, it wasn’t a total disaster. It's the kind where you edge your car into a spot and hope the person next to you isn't a monster truck. (I've been there. It was... stressful). I remember, one evening, I had to circle a few times. But hey, it's way better than trying to find street parking in Milan itself! So, manageable. Not a nightmare. Slightly annoying, but manageable. Phew. Seriously, I’d award extra points for parking that *exists*.
What about the staff? Are they friendly? Helpful? Annoying in a relentlessly cheerful way?
The staff… This is where things get interesting. Mostly friendly. Generally helpful. One guy, an older gentleman at the front desk, was a rockstar. He was like, "Welcome! Enjoy your stay! Anything I can do for you?" He even offered me a map, which is impressive because I look at maps the exact same way I look at dental work: with dread. Another, well, let's just say communication was a *bit* of a challenge. I think she was new. But hey, everyone was genuinely trying. Nobody was *relentlessly* cheerful, which, honestly, is a huge win in my book. I've had staff who are *too* happy, and it gives me the creeps. Overall? Good staff. Would recommend.
Okay, down to the nitty-gritty: The rooms. Clean? Comfortable? And what about the noise?!
Right. The rooms. Deep breath. Okay, "clean" is a relative term. I've definitely seen worse. I've also definitely seen… better. Let’s just say it’s not surgically sterile. But, it *was* acceptable. And comfortable? Yes! The bed was actually pretty good. I slept like a log, which is saying something because I'm a light sleeper, and I'm always half expecting the boogeyman to climb out from under the bed. The noise? Well... that's the tricky part. One night, there was a *party*. A late-night, raucous, Italian-themed party. (I'm guessing. Could have been any kind of party really. All I knew it was loud.) I'm talking shouting, laughing, and what *sounded* like someone trying to breakdance in the hallway above my room. (Whether that was actually happening is left to the imagination). I considered going up there and joining in, because, well, wine. But, instead I spent the night grumbling and shoving earplugs in. Other than that one night, it was relatively quiet. So… gamble. Take earplugs. Always take earplugs.
Did you have an amazing, memorable experience at the hotel?
Oh, yeah. One. Just the one, and it has nothing to do with the hotel itself. Remember the super-soft towels? Okay, so it was a rainy day and I had been wandering around, cold and generally miserable. Then, I get back to the room, take a ridiculously hot shower (the water pressure was *fantastic*), and dry myself with those amazing towels. They were like wrapping myself in a cloud. A *warm*, fluffy cloud. I’m talking pure, unadulterated bliss. I sat on the bed, wrapped in that towel, and stared out at the rain-streaked window. I felt… content. For about ten minutes. Then, the hunger pangs hit. But those ten minutes? Gold. So, *that* was memorable. Totally random, totally unexpected, and totally the best part of the whole experience. So yeah, the super-soft towels? Worth the price of admission. Book it for the towels.
Would you stay there again? Be honest!
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Days Inn by Wyndham Milan Sandusky South Milan (OH) United States
Days Inn by Wyndham Milan Sandusky South Milan (OH) United States
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