Luxury Courtyard Escape: New Bern, NC Awaits!
Luxury Courtyard Escape: New Bern, NC Awaits! - A Review That's Actually Honest (And a Little Bit Messy)
Okay, buckle up buttercups, because this isn't your average hotel review. I'm about to spill the (perfectly sanitized, naturally) tea on Luxury Courtyard Escape in New Bern, NC. I went, I saw, I conquered (the buffet, mostly), and now I'm here to tell you everything, warts and all.
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- Categories: Hotel Review, Travel, North Carolina, Luxury, Spa, Accessibility, Dining, Family Travel.
Accessibility: The Good, the Okay, and the "Hmm…"
Let's start with the important stuff. "Luxury Courtyard Escape" says it's accessible, and, well, it mostly is. There's an elevator, which is a huge win. Now, I'm not in a wheelchair myself, but I did notice plenty of ramps and accessible entrances, which is fantastic. However, navigating the sprawling complex could be a bit of a hike for someone with mobility issues. The pathways aren't all perfectly level, y'know? A few slight inclines here and there. But overall, they get a decent score. I heard whispers of rooms specifically designed with accessibility in mind, so definitely call ahead and double-check based on your needs because, let's be real, "accessible" can mean different things to different people.
On-Site Accessible Restaurants/Lounges: Haven't physically verified if it's true, but their website states that it's possible.
Wheelchair accessibility: They've got that covered.
Internet Access: My Love/Hate Relationship with Wi-Fi
Okay, let's be real. I'm addicted to the internet. I need it like oxygen. The good news? Free Wi-Fi in all rooms! Hallelujah! The bad news? Sometimes, it's about as reliable as my ex's promises. There were moments, glorious moments, of lightning-fast streaming and seamless video calls. Then there were times when I stared at the buffering wheel of doom with the intensity of a thousand suns. Seriously. It was a rollercoaster. Internet [LAN] is available, but honestly, who uses that anymore? (Except, perhaps, the very serious business types.) Wi-Fi in public areas was generally okay, but again, your mileage may vary. Overall, it’s fine, but pack your patience.
Things to Do, Ways to Relax: Spa Day Dreams and Poolside Shenanigans
This is where things get interesting.
Spa/Sauna: Now this is where "Luxury" starts to feel real. The spa is divine. I spent a good chunk of my time there, basking in the glory of the sauna and the steamroom. I had a killer massage – seriously, the masseuse worked miracles on my knotted shoulders. They also have body scrubs and body wraps, which I sadly didn’t have time for, but they sounded amazing.
Swimming pool: The swimming pool [outdoor] is gorgeous. It’s got a great pool with a view – I spent hours floating, occasionally sipping a cocktail from the Poolside bar (because, priorities).
Fitness center: I intended to use the fitness center, but the siren song of the pool and the spa proved too strong. Let’s just say I enjoyed the "relax" part of my relaxation time.
Fitness center is there, so I guess you could work out.
Cleanliness and Safety: Pandemic Paradise (Almost)
Alright, let's talk post-pandemic anxieties. This place takes cleanliness seriously. They had hand sanitizer everywhere, and the staff seemed genuinely committed to keeping things spotless. They've got Anti-viral cleaning products (thank goodness), and the common areas were getting Daily disinfection in common areas. I felt pretty safe, I have to admit. They even had Room sanitization opt-out available, which, I'm sure, is a thing, but I didn't opt-out of anything.
Important Caveats (And a confession):
- I didn't see anyone specifically using the sterilizing equipment, but that doesn't mean they weren't.
- I did witness an incident of somebody using the hand sanitizer. I was very proud of them.
- I tried to get into the steamroom three times, but there was always someone there. I really, really like steamrooms, so this was a bit of a bummer. But I did get a massage, which was even better.
Dining, Drinking, and Snacking: A Buffet Odyssey
Okay, the food. This is where the review gets really personal.
Breakfast [buffet]: The piece de resistance. I’m a sucker for a good buffet, and this one delivered. They had everything: Western breakfast, Asian breakfast, and a whole lot in between. Eggs, bacon, pastries, and even fresh fruit. I may or may not have eaten my weight in croissants. It's the kind of breakfast that makes you want to go back to bed immediately afterwards.
A la carte in restaurant: Available
Coffee/Tea in restaurant: Yes, they have this.
Restaurants: A few options, mostly okay.
Room service [24-hour]: Yes, and, let’s be honest, I took advantage of it once or twice at ungodly hours.
Snack bar: Convenient for those moments when you need something sugary – immediately.
Poolside bar is a must
Things I Tried and Regretted
- I almost went for the Asian cuisine in restaurant, but I saw them cooking and I was like, "no thank you."
- I almost tried the Soup in restaurant, but there was a tiny bug. I'm okay with bugs, but not with getting soup with bugs.
Services and Conveniences: The Little Things That Matter (Mostly)
They've got all the usual suspects: Daily housekeeping, concierge, laundry service, dry cleaning. Luggage storage was handy. Cash withdrawal is available.
The Weird Stuff (And a Few Gripes):
- I'm not sure why they have a shrine, but hey, more power to them!
- They took the shared stationery removed, which makes sense.
- They took the shared stationery, which also makes sense.
- I was charged extra for a bottle of water. I didn't like that.
- I'm not sure why they had a Shrine. Okay, whatever.
For the Kids: Family Friendly? You Betcha!
Babysitting service (I wasn't with kids, but I can appreciate the option). Family/child friendly – definitely. I saw a ton of kids running around, and they all seemed to be having a blast. There are Kids facilities.
Access: Getting There and Getting Around (Generally Easy)
Airport transfer is available. The Car park [free of charge] is a major win.
Available in All Rooms: The Expected and Unexpected
Additional toilet: Never a bad thing.
Bathtub: Essential for a relaxing soak.
Blackout curtains: Saved my life when I was trying to sleep in.
Coffee/tea maker: Needed for the aforementioned breakfast.
Hair dryer: My hair thanks them.
In-room safe box: Good for keeping your valuables safe. Or just where I put things when I can't remember where else to put them, like my passport.
Internet access – wireless: Sigh, see earlier.
Ironing facilities: I didn't use them but they were there, so points for that.
Mini-bar: I forgot to restock it.
Private bathroom: Necessary.
Shower: Also necessary.
Smoke detector: A comforting presence.
Slippers: Why is it always the slippers?
Soundproofing: Pretty good, though I did hear a baby crying down the hall at 3 am one night.
Telephone: Because, you know, phones.
Wake-up service: Used it, worked perfectly.
Wi-Fi [free]: See above.
Bottom Line (Finally!):
Luxury Courtyard Escape is a solid choice. It's got a great spa, a lovely pool, a decent buffet, generally clean and the staff is friendly. The internet is dodgy, and the pathways can be a bit of a hike. But overall? I had a good time. It's not perfect, but it's got enough going for it that I'd consider going back. Just bring a good book (or three) for those Wi-Fi outages. And maybe pack your own bottle
Escape to Helena, MT: Your Perfect Baymont by Wyndham Awaits!
Okay, buckle up, buttercups. Because this isn’t your perfectly curated, Instagram-filtered travel plan. This is… well, it’s me, planning a disaster… I mean, a trip to the Courtyard New Bern in the charming, historic (and potentially dusty!) town of New Bern, North Carolina. And honestly? I'm already a little stressed. But also… excited? Yeah, let's go with excited.
The "Pray for Me" New Bern Itinerary (Otherwise Known As My Existential Weekend Getaway)
Friday: Arrival, and the Great Hotel Hunt (Maybe I Should Have Printed That Confirmation?)
Time: Afternoon (sometime after that "I'll leave at 1 PM!" promise I made to myself… which, let's be real, is more like 3 PM.)
Transportation: The trusty, yet perpetually-smelling-like-old-french-fries, Honda Civic. (Bless her heart, she tries.)
Objective: Find the freaking hotel. Seriously, I swear I booked it. Somewhere. Hopefully.
Details: Okay, so first things first, I totally forgot to print my confirmation. (See? Already messy.) Cue the frantic phone scrolling and the internal monologue of, "Did I actually book this? Am I going to end up sleeping in the car?" I'm also hoping I don't have to pay for upgraded parking again. That always gets me.
- On the Road: A good playlist is key…or is it? This time the playlist is all over the place, from upbeat pop to 80s power ballads. Driving. Thinking. Wondering if I should have packed a sweater.
- Arrival (hopefully): Okay, deep breaths. Find the hotel. Check in. Pray for a decent room (no screaming children for the next two days, please, universe!). Get ALL the little shampoos. Because, you know, TREAT. MY. SELF.
Evening: Unpack (or toss things haphazardly) and assess the damage. AKA the state of my bags and my sanity.
Dinner: The internet tells me there's a place called "The Chelsea" that sounds interesting. And is close. (Walking distance preferred after the driving marathon.) Okay, fine, I’ll try it.
- The Chelsea: I am hoping it is what I was told. Good food and good times, maybe even some people. This is my first time going solo so I am nervous. But the alternative is room service for the next two days.
Evening: Stroll along the waterfront. Try to look like a sophisticated traveler, not a frantic individual who almost forgot their toothbrush. Stare out into water. Think about life. Maybe buy a postcard (because I’ll actually send it this time).
Saturday: History, Heartbreak, and Maybe Some Ice Cream (Please, Let There Be Ice Cream)
- Morning: The actual reason I’m in New Bern: The Birthplace of Pepsi! (Yup, I’m a sucker for kitsch). Head to the Pepsi Store and bask in the glory of fizzy history, and feel my internal child's glee.
- Tour of Tryon Palace: I signed up. Because history. Because… culture. Because I told myself I'd be more cultured this year. Expectation: Stately homes, fascinating stories, maybe a period-appropriate fainting couch. Reality: (Probably) a lot of walking, sweating (it's North Carolina, after all), and the constant urge to touch things I shouldn't.
- The Palace: Okay, the palace was pretty cool… but I'm not gonna lie, I was mostly just fantasizing about the post-tour ice cream break. I thought about my favorite ice cream while the tour-guide man talked about the history of the people I don't know.
- Lunch: Something quick and easy. Maybe a sandwich? I'm on a strict budget (yes, I know, the trip itself is the problem).
- Afternoon: A wandering afternoon. The plan? Stroll the historic streets, window shop (because, again, budget), and soak in the small-town charm. Maybe stumble upon a hidden gem. I'm hoping for a quirky bookstore or a dusty antique shop.
- Late Afternoon: Ice cream. The Holy Grail of Travel. I research the best place. I get lost. I curse my terrible sense of direction. I finally find it. I order the biggest waffle cone they have. I eat it. I am happy.
- Evening: Dinner. And I'm a little heartbroken because I was alone. I should have brought someone. But I'll come back I tell myself.
Sunday: Departure, Reflections, and the Sweet Sorrow of Leaving (Plus, "Did I Really Leave the Curling Iron On?")
- Morning: Checkout. Sigh. The moment you have to leave. This is it. I don't want to leave. But I have to. Pack up. Take a last, longing look at the hotel room. Mentally congratulate myself for surviving (and not setting off the fire alarm).
- Breakfast: Grab a quick bagel before heading out of town.
- Departure: Hit the road. Contemplate my life choices. And the possibility that I might have left the curling iron on. (Cue the internal panic.)
- Drive Home: Driving and the thought of needing to go back.
Post-Trip Thoughts (The Ramblings of a Slightly-Less-Stressed Traveler):
Okay, so New Bern… it was… something. Definitely a mix of relaxation and mild panic (mostly on my end). The Pepsi Store was as delightfully cheesy as I'd hoped. The palace was… informative. And the ice cream? Pure, unadulterated joy. I'm still not sure about this whole "solo travel" thing, but I definitely learned a few things: I’m not as alone as I thought I was. And I should probably start packing printed confirmations. And maybe get a new phone with a longer battery life. And a better sense of direction. Ok, back to the real world!
Provo's BEST Kept Secret? This Hotel Will Blow You Away!
Luxury Courtyard Escape: New Bern, NC - The Questions You *Actually* Have (and My Honest Answers!)
Okay, so, "Luxury Courtyard Escape"... Is it *really* luxurious? Like, REAL luxurious, or just... a slightly nicer motel?
Alright, let's ditch the marketing speak and get real. YES. It's actually pretty darn luxurious. I mean, *I* thought it was. I've been to my share of "luxury" hotels that were, frankly, a bit... underwhelming. This place? It's different. Think plush robes, like, *really* plush. Seriously considered "accidentally" stuffing one in my suitcase. And the bathroom? Marble. Actual marble. I spent a good five minutes just staring at it, marveling at how fancy I suddenly felt. My inner peasant was *thrilled*. Now, it's not a private yacht, mind you. But for a weekend getaway? Yeah, I'd say it's lived up to the whole "luxury" thing. (And listen, as a seasoned traveler with experience in both the *very* budget and the... ah... let's just say slightly less budget-conscious ends of the spectrum, my opinion carries weight.)
The courtyard. Is it actually worth hanging out in, or is it just a bunch of dusty potted plants and slightly damp benches?
Okay, listen up, because the courtyard is kinda the star of the show. I'm not a huge "outdoorsy" person, I prefer the climate-controlled perfection of a hotel room, thank you very much. But this courtyard? Magical. Seriously. It’s not just “a bunch of dusty potted plants.” Think lush greenery, a fountain that actually *works* (and makes that lovely trickling sound, not the sad gurgle of a dying goldfish aquarium), and comfy furniture that actually *encourages* lounging. I spent a whole afternoon there, nursing a glass of wine (they let you bring your own, bonus points!), and reading a book (because apparently, I'm now "cultured"). The only downside? The occasional rogue mosquito. But hey, paradise isn't *perfect* (and even the annoying bugs couldn't completely ruin my zen). And that fountain? Took me a while to finally figure out how to get the photo JUST right. The angle, the lighting, the "ooh, I'm a cultured traveler" pose... Worth it. Definitely worth it.
Tell me about the location. Is New Bern actually a cool place, or just a charming facade hiding a whole lot of... nothing?
New Bern? Surprise! It’s actually *really* cool. I went in expecting… well, I didn't *expect* much, to be honest. I'd heard “historic waterfront town,” which usually translates to "a collection of overpriced souvenir shops and grumpy locals." But New Bern? Nope. It's got genuine charm. Cobblestone streets (almost tripped on one, FYI. Always watch where you're walking!), cute boutique shops (spent WAY too much money on a silly hat, but it was *cute*!), and some seriously delicious restaurants. I actually befriended a local at a seafood place, a man with a twinkle in his eye and an endless supply of stories about the town's history. (Which, admittedly, I mostly pretended to listen to while I demolished my crab cakes. Sorry, sir!). The waterfront is beautiful, and you can just *feel* the history. Honestly, I was genuinely pleasantly surprised. Didn't expect to love it so much. Now if only they would have something like a "beignet and coffee" place...
What's the deal with food? Should I bring snacks (like, actual good snacks) or is it all bland beige stuff?
Oh, the food. God, the food. Okay, LISTEN. Pack snacks. Always. Just, always. As in, a stash. A secret stash, hidden away in your suitcase. BUT. New Bern? The food scene? Surprisingly decent. I mean, it's not Michelin-star heaven or anything, but I had some genuinely delicious meals. The seafood is, predictably, good. The local restaurants are, generally, pretty charming. There's a great little bakery (I swear I gained five pounds), and several places to grab a quick bite. But. Always have a backup. A buffer. A bag of emergency chips or cookies. Because you never know when a sudden craving (or a particularly long nap) will strike. I'm thinking, like, GOOD chips. The kind with lots of salt. And chocolate. Yeah. Chocolate is always a good choice.
Are there any downsides? Because nothing is perfect, let's be honest.
Okay, the truth? Yes. Nothing is perfect. Besides, I love a good rant. Firstly, parking. It's a pain in the butt. Especially if you're, like me, and rely on a GPS which, on occasion, seems to delight in sending you down dead-end streets. Secondly, the "historical" aspect of the town sometimes meant things weren't quite as...modern. Like the WiFi? Sometimes flaky. Which, for someone addicted to constant connectivity, bordered on torture. (Okay, maybe a slight exaggeration). And thirdly… I did have a *minor* run-in with a particularly aggressive seagull during my waterfront walk (it wanted my ice cream). Beware those feathered fiends! But, honestly, those were minor quibbles. The pros definitely outweigh the cons. It wasn't some devastating, deal-breaking flaw. Just little bumps in the road. Or, in the case of the seagull, a dive-bombing avian menace.
Is it kid-friendly? I have small humans.
Ah, the small humans. Okay, so... the Escape itself? Probably not specifically "kid-centric". It relies on the sophisticated courtyard. But the town? Mixed bag. New Bern has plenty of family-friendly activities: the Tryon Palace (interesting, and I hear there is something geared towards children), the waterfront park for running around, the local ice cream places... you get the idea. But, at the Escape, it's definitely a "romantic getaway" vibe. So maybe... bring your kids. But warn them about the quiet and the "no running in the halls" rule. Or don't. (I'm not your parenting guide, sorry!) Just *be prepared* for a potentially different experience with ankle biters in tow. The courtyard might lose its zen if occupied by the sound of children playing. Maybe. Or maybe not. I'm just judging based on my love of quiet.
Would you go back? Be brutally honest!
YES! Absolutely. I would. In a heartbeat. Though next time, I'm bringing even more snacks; a better hat; and maybe a fake seagull deterrent. Seriously. It was relaxing, charming, and a much-needed break from the daily grind. (Even if the grind is mostly me, in pajamas on my couch). I'm already plotting my next visit. Maybe with a different hat. Or the same hat! I haven't decided yet. But yes. Go. You won't regret itHotels With Kitchenettes
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