Escape to Texas Hill Country: Days Inn New Braunfels Awaits!
Okay, buckle up buttercups, because we're diving headfirst into a hotel review that's less "polished brochure" and more "diary of a slightly frazzled traveler." I'm talking raw emotion, questionable opinions, and the kind of unfiltered truth that only comes from a few days of questionable choices and a touch too much caffeine. Let's go.
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(The Hotel Experience - A Chaotic Descent)
Alright, so picture this: you’ve just wrestled your luggage through a monsoon, you’re mentally juggling a thousand to-do's, and all you want is a damn decent cocktail and a long, hot shower. This hotel? It promised that. Did it deliver? Well, let's just say it was a rollercoaster.
Accessibility – Are we talking about it, or just saying we're talking about it?
Okay, first impressions count, and the lobby looked impressive! Shiny floors, soaring ceilings… felt a bit too shiny, if I'm honest. All that polish, and I had a slight worry about if the shiny floors were accessible for all, even if they said they were. The elevator was thankfully spacious and speedy. Facilities for disabled guests are listed, but I didn’t directly see them in action. The wheelchair accessible aspect, while mentioned, was a bit elusive. I'm going to give it a "Cautiously Optimistic" rating in this department. I'm a messy eater; I need to see a ramp and not just hear about it.
On-site restaurant/lounges – Feed Me, Seymour!
Oh, the eating. That's where things really got interesting.
Dining, Drinking, and Snacking: A Tale of Two Experiences.
Let's start with the restaurants. They were, in a word, varied. The main restaurant, with its buffet in restaurant setup and international cuisine in restaurant, was… chaotic. Like, "feeding a small army" chaotic. Finding an empty table was an Olympic sport, and navigating the buffet with a tray of questionable-looking food felt like a game of high-stakes Tetris. The coffee was weak, the juice tasted suspiciously like it came from a concentrate, but hey, at least there were desserts in restaurant. (I definitely hit the mini-chocolate fountain multiple times.)
Then there was the poolside bar. Now that was my happy place. Happy Hour with actual happy people, the pizza was genuinely good, and the poolside bar served strong margaritas. The staff were great, even when I ordered a "mystery cocktail." It was a good call.
I also noticed, that they has offered alternative meal arrangement like a vegetarian plate, just in case.
On-site restaurants / lounges
- A la carte in restaurant
- Alternative meal arrangement
- Asian breakfast
- Asian cuisine in restaurant
- Bar
- Bottle of water
- Breakfast [buffet]
- Breakfast service
- Buffet in restaurant
- Coffee/tea in restaurant
- Coffee shop
- Desserts in restaurant
- Happy hour
- International cuisine in restaurant
- Poolside bar
- Restaurants
- Room service [24-hour]
- Salad in restaurant
- Snack bar
- Soup in restaurant
- Vegetarian restaurant
- Western breakfast
- Western cuisine in restaurant
Rooms, Glorious Rooms (and the occasional existential crisis)
My room… was an experience. Let's get to the basics, because you need to know these things:
- Air conditioning in all rooms? CHECK.
- Free Wi-Fi in all rooms?! DOUBLE CHECK! Praise the tech gods! (more on that later.)
- Blackout curtains? Yes, and I needed them after those margaritas.
- Desk? Sure. Did I use it? Nope. Desk was for putting my snacks.
- Mini-bar? Mostly empty, but hey, the thought was there.
- Free bottled water? Bless. Dehydration is real, people.
- Separate shower/bathtub? Nice touch! Although I opted to skip the bath – more of a shower person.
- Safe box? Checked, used, and slightly forgotten.
And, on top of all that, there were some nice room decorations, that gave a little bit of a lovely touch to the room.
The view, though… well, let’s just say it wasn't the postcard-perfect scene I'd envisioned. It was…adequate. But the soundproofing did provide a nice retreat – no late-night revelers disturbing my beauty sleep! Non-smoking room, always a plus.
Cleanliness and Safety – More Than Empty Words?
Okay, this is where things get serious. In this post-pandemic world, cleanliness isn't just a perk; it's a necessity.
Anti-viral cleaning products? Listed, but I wasn’t about to go sniffing around to be sure. Let's trust they are used, shall we? Daily disinfection in common areas? Seemed to be happening. The lobby certainly sparkled. Hand sanitizer? Plenty of it, which is a huge relief. Hot water linen and laundry washing? I assume so. I hope so! Individually-wrapped food options? A mixed bag. Physical distancing of at least 1 meter? Generally, they tried. Not always easy in that buffet chaos. Professional-grade sanitizing services? Hopefully. Rooms sanitized between stays? Hopefully, I have no complaints! Safe dining setup? Well, the effort was there. Staff trained in safety protocol? Seemed so. Sterilizing equipment? Again, let's hope!
I'm cautiously optimistic on this front, but it's hard to truly know.
Things to do (or, rather, ways to avoid doing anything at all)
The hotel had a fitness center. I'm pretty sure it was there, but I don’t think I ever got there. It was gym/fitness to be fair. I definitely hit up the swimming pool [outdoor]. The pool with view was nice, even if it wasn't the most spectacular vista I’d ever seen, and the water was cool.
The spa was a definite highlight. The massage was divine. I’m talking “melted into a puddle of bliss” divine. The sauna was steamy. The steamroom was… steamy. The body scrub and body wrap added those little extra touches of indulgence. Pure bliss, and highly recommended.
Internet – My Love/Hate Affair
Ah, internet access! Free Wi-Fi in all rooms! Yessss! That's what I thought.
- Internet:
- Internet [LAN]
- Internet services
- Wi-Fi in public areas
- Wi-Fi for special events
The Wi-Fi itself was… spotty. Sometimes it worked like a dream. Other times, it was slower than a snail in molasses. I'd find myself wandering into the lobby, desperately searching for a decent signal.
Services and Conveniences – The Little Things That Matter
24-hour front desk? ✅ Absolutely necessary when you're running on a completely off-kilter sleep schedule.
Concierge? Helpful, though I mostly just wanted directions to the nearest bar.
Daily housekeeping? Clean sheets? Fresh towels? Yes, please!
Elevator? Check. See accessibility.
Facilities for disabled guests? Mentioned, but I cannot confirm.
Laundry service? Convenient.
Luggage storage? Always a lifesaver. I’m pretty sure my suitcase weighs more coming home than when I left.
Air conditioning in public area
Audio-visual equipment for special events
Business facilities
Cash withdrawal
Contactless check-in/out
Convenience store
Currency exchange
Daily housekeeping
Doorman
Dry cleaning
**Elevator
Alright, buckle up buttercups, because this ain't your grandma's perfectly-planned itinerary. This is the actual itinerary of a semi-functioning human being trying to navigate the glorious, slightly-chaotic landscape that is New Braunfels, Texas… all while based out of the… well, let's just say economical charm of the Days Inn.
Day 1: Arrival, Hopes, and the Existential Dread of a Continental Breakfast
- Noon - Arrival. (Kinda-sorta) My flight was supposed to land at eleven, but Southwest, bless their heart, decided my luggage needed a scenic tour of… somewhere. So, here I am, finally hitting the Days Inn around noon, smelling faintly of air freshener and regret. The lobby? Let's just say it had a very specific vibe: “Welcome Home, Except This Isn't Your Home.” The lady at the front desk, bless her heart, looked like she'd seen things. Like, deep things. I swear I saw a flicker of understanding in her eyes when I mumbled something about "delayed luggage."
- Afternoon - Room Reconnaissance and Mild Disappointment. Okay, the room. It's…clean-ish. The carpet is… well-worn. The air conditioning is… trying. And the view out the window? A particularly vigorous bush that seems to be trying to escape its pot. But hey, at least the bed looks vaguely inviting. I promptly collapsed onto it, fighting the urge to take a nap that could easily morph into a coma.
- Late Afternoon - The Quest for Breakfast… Again. I'd mentally prepared for the continental breakfast. I’d read reviews. But nothing, nothing, could have prepared me for the reality. Stale muffins of questionable origin, lukewarm coffee that tasted suspiciously of sadness, and a waffle maker that seemed to be actively mocking my inability to create a perfectly golden-brown waffle. I managed a single, sad, misshapen waffle. I ate it. I moved on.
- Evening - Schlitterbahn! (Or, the Triumph of Cheerful Chaos) Okay, now we're talking. Schlitterbahn. This is why I'M HERE. (Well, one of the main reasons. The other reasons include avoiding, y'know, adulting). The lines were, predictably, a beast. The sun was unrelenting. I lost all sense of personal space. But… the lazy river was magical. Utterly, gloriously magical. I rode the Master Blaster until my legs felt like jelly. I screamed on the uphill rapids and felt like I'd conquered something. Seriously, I think I even saw a small child offer me their (water-logged) french fry, and I considered it. The sheer joy of it all completely overshadowed the overpriced, lukewarm corn dog I devoured later. Pure, unadulterated, H2O-fueled bliss. This is where New Braunfels shines.
Day 2: Waking Up, River, and the Deep South Texas Food Experience
- Morning - Sleep? What is Sleep? The AC, after a hard night of struggle, decided to go to a whole new level. I woke up in a pool of sweat, somewhere between a sauna and a swamp. Still, the view from my window was the same bush, trying to find a way to break free from the pot. I wonder how it feels?
- Late Morning - The Gruene Experience (and a Side of Regret). Gruene Hall. It's charming, quirky, undeniably Texan. The live music was…loud. The crowds were… dense. I spotted a couple actually dancing in the middle of the afternoon. I had a beer. I felt a fleeting sense of Texan-y-ness. Then I realized I'd left my sunglasses back at the Days Inn, and that Texas sun is a real bully.
- Afternoon - The River: A Second Chance at Sanity. Floating. I needed it. I booked it and got into the river- The water was cold, the sun was hot, and I swear I saw someone wearing a full-body inflatable unicorn. This time, I remembered the sunscreen. I saw a family enjoying the water, each one of them having their own adventure in the water. I felt envy towards them, but I smiled when I saw their happiness.
- Evening - The Food Apocalypse. (But a Delicious One) I decided to go all in with the food. First, I had a burger, a huge, juicy, glorious monument to beef and cheese. Then, after a small digest I decided to have some tacos, with all the fixings. And then, sigh, I saw the dessert. Fried pie. If you haven't tried this, you're missing out on a slice of heaven, fried and served in a paper cup. It was messy. It was heavenly. It was everything. I went back for seconds. No regrets. Maybe just a tiny bit of heartburn.
Day 3: Leaving, Reflections, and the Sweetest Sadness
- Morning - The Final Continental Breakfast Showdown. I stared at the waffle maker. I stared at the sad muffins. I decided to skip it entirely. It was the right decision.
- Late Morning - Packing. and the Days Inn Departure. This is always bittersweet, right? Leaving. Saying goodbye to the little microcosm of a life you've built for yourself, even if that life involved questionable waffles and a view of a bush. I'm not gonna lie, I'm going to miss the simple-ness of it all.
- Afternoon - Departure. (Luggage… Still MIA.) On the way to the airport, I stopped by the Buc-ee's. I needed to have the perfect farewell. I got snacks, and then I got fuel. The last glimpse of Texas: the road, the sun, and me, headed back home.
Final Thoughts:
The Days Inn? It was… an experience. New Braunfels? Absolutely worth it. Would I do it again? 100%. Maybe next time, I'll upgrade to a suite. Or at least a room with a functioning waffle maker. And maybe, just maybe, my luggage will arrive before I leave. But ultimately, this trip, with all its imperfections, was perfect. And I wouldn't trade it for anything. Now, if you'll excuse me, I need to go find my suitcase. And possibly a doctor for the heartburn.
Escape to Comfort: Days Inn Near City of Hope (Duarte, CA)
So, like, what even IS life? (Besides a never-ending pile of dishes)
Ugh, don't even get me STARTED. "Life" is that thing that keeps happening, even when you’re pretty sure you haven't asked for it. It's like a surprise party you didn't RSVP to, and everyone's judging your footwear. Seriously, I was on a *date* once… okay, it wasn't a *date*, it was more of a "let's-pretend-we-have-our-lives-together-while-eating-overpriced-tacos" situation… and I was STILL thinking about how many loads of laundry I had to do. That's, like, the core of it, right? The laundry? The existential dread of it all? Actually, scratch that. It's probably the tacos. They were REALLY good. Wait, where was I? Right. Life. Big question. Small answers. Probably mostly just… *stuff*.
How do I deal with heartbreak? (Asking for… uh… a friend)
Oh, sweet summer child. Heartbreak? Ugh. Buckle up, buttercup, because this is going to be a bumpy ride. First, the ugly cry. Embrace it. Let it flow. Watch a really sappy movie. Eat ALL the ice cream. Chocolate chip cookie dough, of course. Then, the furious stage. Swear. Punch a pillow (carefully, don't break anything). Curse their name. I once deleted all traces of a guy from my social media, then accidentally liked a picture of his cat. The embarrassment! It's a rollercoaster, a total mess. But – and this is important – it does, eventually, get better. Slowly. Like, glacially slowly. But it *does*. It got better for me, after… well, after I accidentally burned a pizza trying to bake my feelings away, and then I got myself a new pizza (yes, really), and then… the healing really began. Don't rush it. Cry some more. And definitely get a new pizza.
Is it normal to… [insert completely weird, embarrassing thing here]?
Probably. Seriously. We're all weirdos. I mean, the other day I was… well, let’s just say I accidentally wore mismatched socks to a crucial meeting. And I didn't realize until halfway through. Mortifying, right? But then I started noticing everyone else's "imperfections" – a slightly crooked tie, a coffee stain the size of a small country... The point is, if you're feeling mortified by something, someone, somewhere, is probably doing the exact same thing or worse. So, yes. It's normal. You're fine. We're all a hot mess express. Now, back to those mismatched socks...they were a *statement*, I tell you! A statement! (Or, possibly, I just couldn't find the other one.)
How do you adult? I have no idea what I'm doing.
Oh, honey. No one does. Seriously. I'm pretty sure "adulting" is just a collective delusion we all agree to participate in. I thought I knew what I was doing, or, you know, that I had SOMETHING figured out, when I was, maybe, 22Best Stay Blogspot
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