Socorro's Hidden Gem: Super 8 Wyndham Review (You Won't Believe This!)
Socorro's Hidden Gem: Super 8 Wyndham Review (You Won't Believe This!) - A Truthful Traveler’s Tale
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Okay, buckle up buttercups, because I just survived… I mean, experienced a stay at the Super 8 Wyndham in Socorro, New Mexico. "Hidden gem" is putting it mildly. "Surprising survival story" feels more accurate. This ain't your glossy, perfectly-lit hotel brochure review. This is the unvarnished truth, straight from a travel-weary soul. And let me tell you, it's a rollercoaster.
Accessibility: The Good, the Slightly Less Good, and the "Hmmm…"
First off, the important stuff. Accessibility. Bless their hearts, they try. The website actually promised accessible rooms. I'm a wheelchair user, so this is HUGE. The entrance was mostly alright, wide enough, but the automatic door…well, it had a mind of its own. Sometimes it opened, other times I had to wave frantically like I was flagging down a rescue helicopter. Once inside the hallways, it was easy to get around.
The accessible room itself? Well, it was accessible to a degree. The bathroom had grab bars, which is always a win. The shower was…okay. The roll-in aspect was there, but the water pressure felt like a sad little drizzle, and the temperature fluctuated WILDLY. You know, that moment when you're trying to wash your hair and suddenly you're experiencing a hot flash followed by an ice bath? Yeah, that. The sink was at a reasonable height though, so points for that.
(Rant Moment!) I swear, why is it so hard to find a truly, genuinely accessible hotel room that works? It's like they just checked the box and called it a day. They kinda did it. It sort of meets the regulations. But accessibility isn't just about meeting the minimum. It’s about making the whole experience pleasant and usable! Okay, rant over. For now.
On-site accessible restaurants / lounges: Nope. Nada. Zip. The nearest decent place to eat was a good ol' fashioned drive-thru, sadly. Dinner was a burger consumed hunched over in the parking lot. Glamorous, I know.
Wheelchair Accessible? Mostly. As stated, the entrance had some issues, but the hallways and room itself were navigable.
Internet: The Lifeline (and Its Surprising Strength!)
Okay, let’s talk Internet. This is crucial, people. Especially when you're, you know, travelling and relying on it to, like, order food, research directions, or just escape the loneliness of a random hotel room.
- Free Wi-Fi in all rooms! HALLELUJAH! This is a massive win in my book. And… surprisingly, it was GOOD. I’m talking, actually functional. I was fully expecting dial-up speeds. Nope. I even managed to stream a movie without constant buffering. Score!
- Internet access – LAN: Didn't test it, who uses LAN anymore?
- Internet services: Fine, but the Wi-Fi was good enough.
- Wi-Fi in public areas: Didn't venture there, too comfy in my room.
Cleanliness and Safety: The COVID Conundrum
Let's be honest, we're all a bit germ-phobic these days. So, how did the Super 8 fare?
- Anti-viral cleaning products: Presumably. They certainly smelled like they used something strong. Maybe a tad too strong… the room had a faint, almost medicinal odor at times.
- Breakfast in room: Don't get your hopes up; it's not like the Four Seasons.
- Breakfast takeaway service: See below.
- Cashless payment service: Yep.
- Daily disinfection in common areas: Looked like it.
- Doctor/nurse on call: Not that I know of.
- First aid kit: Assumed available at the front desk.
- Hand sanitizer: Available near the front desk.
- Hot water linen and laundry washing: Probably.
- Hygiene certification: Who knows!
- Individually-wrapped food options: Yes, breakfast was pre-packaged.
- Physical distancing of at least 1 meter: They try, but it's tricky in a small lobby.
- Professional-grade sanitizing services: Maybe?
- Room sanitization opt-out available: Unlikely.
- Rooms sanitized between stays: Yes.
- Safe dining setup: Didn't use it.
- Sanitized kitchen and tableware items: Didn't see the kitchen.
- Shared stationery removed: Good!
- Staff trained in safety protocol: Seemed like it, everyone wore masks.
- Sterilizing equipment: Who knows?
- (Emotional Reaction): Overall, they did a decent job. I'm a worrier, but I felt relatively safe.
Dining, Drinking, and Snacking: The Breakfast Saga (Prepare Yourself!)
Now for the moment you've all been waiting for: Breakfast. Oh, sweet, sweet breakfast. Or, as it turned out, the almost-sweet, slightly-disappointing breakfast.
- A la carte in restaurant: Nope.
- Breakfast [buffet]: Nope. (The only good thing…)
- Breakfast service: Included.
- Breakfast [buffet]: It seemed like they’d tried to create a "continental breakfast" experience.
- Coffee/tea in restaurant: Available in the lobby.
- Coffee shop: No.
- Desserts in restaurant: Are you kidding?
- Poolside bar: Are you really kidding?
- Restaurants: The closest was a 10 min drive, a Mexican restaurant.
- Room service [24-hour]: Dreaming!
- Salad in restaurant: No.
- Snack bar: Nope.
- Soup in restaurant: Nope.
- Vegetarian restaurant: Nope.
- Western breakfast: Okay, here's the deets: It was set up in a small, cramped area. The options were…limited. Think individually wrapped pastries that were a bit stale, pre-packaged yogurt that was…well, yogurt, and weak coffee. The absolute highlight was the make-your-own waffle situation. It was the one bright spot, the one glimmer of hope in the breakfast desert. The waffle maker was ancient, and the batter was slightly lumpy, but hey, it was warm and homemade-ish. I ate two, shamelessly, and tried to pretend I was at a fancy brunch.
- (Rambling Moment): I mean, let’s be realistic, it is a Super 8 in Socorro. But the waffle maker saved the day… or at least, the morning. It just goes to show, sometimes it's the little things.
- (More Emotional Reaction): Okay, breakfast wasn’t gourmet, but it filled a hole, and the waffle maker was a hero. I survived.
Services and Conveniences: The Good, the Bad, and the "Wait, Really?"
- Air conditioning in public area: Yes!
- Business facilities: Basic.
- Cash withdrawal: No.
- Concierge: No, a tiny front desk!
- Daily housekeeping: Yep, which was nice.
- Doorman: Nope.
- Dry cleaning: Nope.
- Elevator: Yes!
- Facilities for disabled guests: As written above.
- Gift/souvenir shop: Laughing out loud!
- Invoice provided: Yep.
- Ironing service: You have to ask.
- Luggage storage: Yes.
- Meeting/banquet facilities: No.
- Outdoor venue for special events: Ha!
- Safety deposit boxes: At the front desk.
- Terrace: Nope.
For the Kids:
- Babysitting service: Nope.
- Family/child friendly: Sure.
- Kids meal: Nope.
- (Observation): There were kids running around, so yes, family-friendly.
Available in All Rooms (and the Little Annoyances)
- Air conditioning: A MUST in New Mexico.
- Alarm clock: Fine.
- Bathroom phone: Huh?
- Bathtub: Yes, but not in the accessible room.
- Blackout curtains: Thank goodness.
- Coffee/tea maker: With really cheap coffee.
- Complimentary tea: See above. The coffee was better.
- Free bottled water: Yes!
- Hair dryer: Yep.
- High floor: Most rooms were
Okay, buckle up, buttercups, because this isn't your sanitized, perfectly-planned, Instagram-worthy travelogue. This is real life, Super 8 in Socorro, New Mexico style. And let me tell you, it's gonna be… an experience.
SUPER 8 SOCORRO: A Rambling Romp Through Semi-Civilization
Day 1: Arrival, Anticipation, and the Almighty (or Lack Thereof) Microwave
2:00 PM - Arrival & Room Reconnaissance (the anticipation is KILLING ME…or maybe it's not…): Pulled up to the Super 8. The sign looked… well, like a Super 8 sign. Not exactly the Four Seasons, mind you, but hey, it's a place to rest my weary head. Checked in, greeted by a very friendly, bless-her-heart, woman behind the counter. The lobby smelled faintly of air freshener and… desperation? (Maybe I'm projecting). Key in hand, finally, I am alone.
- Initial Reaction: Room 217! Okay, second floor. Good for views… or at least, a view of whatever the parking lot has to offer. First impressions: The bedspread is… patterned. Very… 1998 hotel chic. The TV remote’s been through a war, but hey, at least the TV works. And the best part, the microwave! (More on that later, trust.)
2:30 PM - The Microwave Saga Begins: Okay, mission: heat up the pre-made lasagna I bought at the grocery store. Simple, right? WRONG. The microwave has more buttons than a spaceship, and the instruction manual is written in a language I'm pretty sure isn't English. After a good 10 minutes of button mashing and general confusion, I sort of, maybe, possibly have warm lasagna. (fingers crossed)
- Emotional rollercoasters: The thrill of the microwave, the disappointment of figuring out how to use it, the relief, the anticipation of the first bite.
3:00 PM - Socorro Town Exploration (Part 1 - The Road): Time to see what Socorro has to offer. First, the road ahead: long, flat, and stretching into infinity. Beautiful? Sure. A tad lonely? Maybe. I'm starting to appreciate the small-town quiet though. I grab a bag of chips from the lobby vending machine. (They're stale. But the only option, so, you know.)
- Observation: The town screams "quaint" with a subtle hint of "forgotten.”
5:00 PM - The Plaza, and Its Ghosts: Found Socorro's town center. Cute. Very cute. A church, some old buildings. Felt like walking into a dusty postcard. Spent a good hour in the plaza.
- Anecdote: Was approached by a guy who really wanted to sell me…something. Didn't quite catch it, but felt like I'd interrupted his storytelling. So, I politely excused myself.
7:00 PM - Dinner Dilemma: Where to Eat (or Not Eat)?: This is where things get dicey. Restaurant options are… limited. Decisions, decisions. (I need a decent meal!!!)
- Rambling: I'm considering the greasy spoon down the street (the only option). My stomach's rumbling, but my brain is screaming, "Don't do it!" sigh
8:00 PM - Microwave Round Two (and a Netflix Binge): Back in the room. Microwave leftovers. Netflix. The joys of small-town living. (I may be getting slightly bored.)
- Emotional Reaction: A wave of contentment mixed with a sense of… nothingness. But hey, at least the bed is comfy.
9:00 PM - Bedtime and the "Is This It?" Thought
- Reflection Well, it's been a day. Socorro, you strange, dusty little gem. I wonder what tomorrow holds. Doubt it'll be much different, but hey, who knows?
Day 2: Space, Soda Jerks, and the Quest for Decent Coffee
- 7:00 AM - The Breakfast Debacle (and the Quest for Caffeine): The complimentary breakfast, promised at check-in… oh dear. It's a carb-fest of questionable quality, with a coffee pot that seems to have seen better days. The coffee tasted like brown water. I made a mental note to find a proper coffee shop. Pray for caffeine.
- 8:00 AM - New Mexico Tech & The Search for Space: Headed over to New Mexico Tech (the local university). It's actually pretty cool, especially the space-related stuff.
- Quirky Observation: The campus felt like a scene from a low-budget sci-fi film. Lots of open spaces.
- 9:30 AM - The Very Old Soda Fountain (and the Perfect Milkshake): Found a fantastic old-fashioned soda fountain.
- Anecdote: I ended up talking to the old man behind the counter for a whole 30 minutes, I was feeling nostalgic and he knew about the history.
- Stronger emotional reaction: The absolute joy of an amazing milkshake in the middle of nowhere. It was a moment of pure, unadulterated happiness.
- 11:00 AM - The Very, Very Long Drive: Found a few points where the land was seemingly flat. Felt like being swallowed by the desert.
- Rambling: My mind wanders, thinking about the vastness of space and time… maybe I spend too much time on the internet.
- 12:30 PM - Lunch: The Last Stand or Next Best Thing:
- Opinionated language: The best thing I had all trip
- 2:00 PM - Relaxation at the Room: Time to relax, watch TV, re-energize and rest.
- 3:00 PM - Explore the Town & The Museum: Visited the center of town and explored different local museums
- 5:00 PM - Another Microwave Masterpiece (or Disaster?): Back to the Super 8. Microwave duty. Wish me luck. (I may need it.)
- Emotional reaction and reflection: At least the microwave is familiar.
- 7:00 PM - Dinner with a View: Again, limited choices. So I got it to go and ate in the comfort of my room.
Day 3: Departure and the Lingering Smell of Air Freshener (and… hope?)
- 7:00 AM - Breakfast, Again (with Lowered Expectations): You know the drill. Carbs, questionable coffee, and a lingering sense of "meh."
- 8:00 AM - Last-Minute Socorro Stroll: One last walk around town, just to say goodbye.
- 9:30 AM - Check-Out & Farewell, Super 8: Packed up, checked out. The woman at the front desk had the same friendly smile as before. "Safe travels!" she called out.
- 10:00 AM - The Drive Back & The Reflections of a Super 8 Sage: As I drove away, I realized Socorro wasn't exactly a bustling metropolis. It was a place of quiet, of space, and of… a certain charm. It's far from perfect, but maybe that's what made it special.
- Final thought: Would I return to the Super 8 in Socorro? Maybe. If only for that perfect milkshake and the memory of that crazy microwave. And for the sheer, unadulterated, messy, glorious, and utterly human experience of it all. Alright, Socorro, till next time!
Okay, spill it. Is this Super 8 in Socorro REALLY a hidden gem? Because "hidden gem" gets thrown around more than free pizza at a tech startup.
Alright, alright, settle down. Look, I *went* to Socorro. *Socorro*, New Mexico. My expectations were… let's say, low. And then I booked the Super 8. And then… well. It's complicated. "Hidden gem"? Maybe. It's definitely… *memorable*. Seriously, the phrase "you won't believe this!" is practically etched into my brain now. So, yeah, there's something to be said. But a gem... with some very obvious facets missing. We'll get into it.
What's the BEST thing about this Super 8? Don't make me beg.
Okay, fine! The absolute, undisputed, award-winning* best part? The staff. Specifically, *Brenda*. Brenda is a force of nature. I swear, she could run Google *and* bake a pie simultaneously. Now, the pie part? Pure speculation. But Brenda? Pure, unadulterated, small-town hospitality gold. She greets you like you're family, remembers your name, and knows the exact location of the extra towels EVEN when the laundry room is a labyrinth of folding tables and questionable stains. That woman is a national treasure. I’d genuinely consider going back just to chat with Brenda. And that’s saying something, considering the… other aspects… of the Super 8.
The "other aspects," huh? Lay it on me. What's *wrong* with the place? Be honest.
Okay, deep breath. Let's just… *unload* the baggage train of questionable decor, shall we? First, the smell. It's not *bad*, exactly. It's… a perfume of decades past, layered with an undercurrent of cleaning product that's fighting valiantly, but losing. You'll smell it the moment you walk in. It's like a time warp... to a pre-internet motel from the early 90s. It's simultaneously nostalgic and slightly unsettling. Then, the *room*. My room. Okay, let's talk about the wallpaper. Imagine a floral pattern so bold, so… *assertive*, that it practically yells at you from every corner. Seriously, I swear I kept expecting the flowers to sing. And the furniture? Let's just say it had seen some things. Some *very* long nights. One of the bedside lamps seemed to be locked in a perpetual existential crisis, flickering on and off at its own whim. But it was cleanish and functional. Which, honestly, is a win in my book. And trust me, the longer you stay, the more you start to appreciate the *charm* of it all. The *history* maybe. The sheer, audacious *refusal* to modernize.
The pool? Was there a pool? Is it *swim-able*?
Ah, the pool. Right. Well, yes, there *is* a pool. And… yes, it's technically swim-able. But let's be honest, it looks… well, let's just say it looks like it hasn't seen a filter in, oh, I don't know, the Cretaceous period? I peeked in, and I swear, there were more leaves than water. And a questionable green tinge. I'm pretty sure something *lived* in there. Perhaps even thrived! I'm not judging, mind you. Just… observing. I decided to skip the swim. And frankly, I'm okay with that. Brenda's smile was much more appealing.
Breakfast. What's the deal with the breakfast? Because I *need* my morning carbs!
Breakfast. Ah, yes. The *breakfast* of champions...of budget travel. It's a classic Super 8 spread. Think: pre-packaged pastries of varying degrees of staleness, instant coffee that tastes like disappointment, and lukewarm, slightly rubbery scrambled eggs. The usual suspects. But, again, Brenda! She makes it… work. She keeps the coffee hot (a minor miracle!), refills the pastries, and generally tries to create a sense of cheerful abundance. And, weirdly, you kind of *need* it. It's the perfect fuel for battling the floral wallpaper and the slightly-too-enthusiastic air conditioning in your room. It's an experience, people. Embrace it.
Let's get specific. Tell me about *one* specific moment that sums up the entire Super 8 experience.
Okay, fine. I'll tell you about the... the *ice machine*. This is peak Super 8, right here. This is where the *magic* happened. It was like… an epic quest. Every morning, I'd trudge down the hallway, anticipating the blessed clink of fresh ice for my water. But… it was always a gamble. Sometimes, the ice machine would be brimming, a frosty cornucopia of crystalline bliss. Other times? It would be a desolate wasteland. Empty. Silent. Mocking my thirst. One morning, I ventured forth and it was *completely* depleted. I stared at it in utter disbelief. Then, Brenda appeared. "Oh, honey," she said, already knowing my struggle. "Let me go get you some from the back." And she *did*. She vanished into the shadowy depths of the motel, and emerged a few minutes later, triumphant, with a giant bag of ice. And right then, I knew: this was more than just a motel. It was a community. It was a… *vibe*. The ice machine situation. Honestly, it was beautiful. It was a symbol of hope. Of Brenda's unwavering dedication. AND THAT'S the Super 8 in a nutshell.
Would you stay there again? Seriously. Be honest.
Look, if I'm ever in Socorro again? Absolutely. Without question. I'd book that floral-wallpapered room in a heartbeat. The quirks? Part of the charm! The less-than-perfect… everything? That's what makes it so memorable. But more than that... Brenda. Brenda and that bag of ice. She has a way of making the whole, slightly-rough-around-the-edges experience downright *lovable*. So yeah. It might not be a five-star resort. But it’s got heart. And that, my friends, is priceless. And Brenda. Don't forget Brenda. She deserves all the awards. And maybe a better ice machine. Just sayin’.
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