Detroit Novi Escape: Sonesta Select's Unbeatable Luxury!
Detroit Novi Escape: Sonesta Select - Where Luxury (Mostly) Shines, and the Wifi…Well, That’s a Story
Alright, buckle up, buttercups, ‘cause this isn’t your grandma’s hotel review. We’re talking about the Sonesta Select in Novi, Detroit, and frankly, I went in expecting a pretty bland experience. You know, the corporate-but-comfortable kind. Instead… well, it was mostly comfortable. And the corporate-ness? Yeah, that was still there, but sprinkled with enough genuinely nice touches to keep things interesting.
First, the Setup: Accessibility, and That Initial Impression
Let's get the practical stuff out of the way. Accessibility: They list wheelchair accessibility, which is a HUGE plus. I didn't personally roll in there myself, but from what I saw, the hallways are wide, and the elevators are plentiful. Elevator access is a must, and they've got it. I also noticed a doorman which, let's be honest, always makes you feel a little fancy. Facilities for disabled guests are advertised, so that's a tick in the right box. Oh, and the exterior corridor? Didn’t bother me, but might be something to consider depending on your taste.
Right off the bat…the parking. Free. On-site. Car park [free of charge]. YES! (There's also valet parking and a car park [on-site], if you're feeling flush or lazy.)
Checking In (Or, the Art of the Contactless Hustle)
Check-in/out [express] seemed the norm, and they boast Contactless check-in/out. Fine. But I'm old school, give me a human! (Though, to be fair, the whole process was pretty swift.)
Rooms: My Sanctuary… Mostly
Okay, let's talk about the room. Non-smoking. Phew! Air conditioning was a godsend because, Detroit in summer? Heat of a thousand suns. Plenty of Complimentary tea (yes!), and a Coffee/tea maker. Essential. Free bottled water, which, I repeat, ESSENTIAL. The extra long bed was… well, extra long. I could have done cartwheels on it. A desk and laptop workspace were also there – helpful for, you know, pretending to work. And the high floor? Got me some decent views.
Now, for the downsides, which, let's be honest, there always are. The bathroom was… functional. Spotlessly clean, but not particularly… exciting. Separate shower/bathtub, which I dug. Bathrobes and slippers, a nice touch, but I swear they smelled faintly of… something. (Probably over-sanitized. Which, in these times, I guess is a good thing, see below).
Also, the Wi-Fi. Ah, the Wi-Fi.
Internet access – wireless is available, and they proudly proclaim Free Wi-Fi in all rooms! Here's where the sheen starts to wear off the luxury veneer. The Wi-Fi was… spotty. Let's just say I spent a significant portion of my stay wrestling with dropped connections and the eternal spinning wheel of doom. Internet [LAN] is an option, but that’s so ‘90s, right? I mean who carries LAN cables anymore?! I was desperate. I even considered using the Internet access, at the front desk. I mean the struggle was real. Truly. Wi-Fi for special events is… there. Supposedly. I would not book an event here, just based on the internet alone.
Things to Do (Or, How I Tried to Relax and Didn't Quite Succeed)
This is where Sonesta Select tries to wow. They have a fitness center. I attempted to visit this, but my lazy bones won out. They also have a swimming pool [outdoor], I peeked at it, and it looked pleasant enough, but I'm not the swimming type. Spa/sauna, is marked. So, well….
Dining: Food, Glorious Food (Maybe)
Okay, the food situation… mixed. There's a coffee shop and restaurants, (plural!). They offer breakfast [buffet], Asian breakfast, and Western breakfast. There's also room service [24-hour]. I did order some salad in restaurant which was pretty standard, and a bottle of water. They also offer something called desserts in restaurant, which, I'm in!
Cleanliness and Safety: The Sanitization Game
Let's give Sonesta Select credit where it's due. They're clearly taking the current situation seriously. Anti-viral cleaning products, daily disinfection in common areas, individually-wrapped food options, room sanitization opt-out available, Safe dining setup, Sanitized kitchen and tableware items, Staff trained in safety protocol, and a Sterilizing equipment. They've got most of the buzzwords covered. I saw Hand sanitizer galore and felt pretty secure.
The "Little Extras": Things That Made Me Smile… and Things That Didn't
- Air conditioning in public area: Essential, as I said!
- Front desk [24-hour]: Always useful.
- Laundry service: Great for those of us who pack light (i.e., me).
- Luggage storage: Perfect for a pre-check-in/post-check-out excursion.
- Meeting/banquet facilities: If you're into that sort of thing.
- Non-smoking rooms: Thank you, sweet baby jesus.
- Safety deposit boxes: Peace of mind.
- Terrace: Didn't use it, but nice for those who enjoy the fresh air.
- Wake-up service: Never used it, because I'm a chronic over-sleeper.
The Verdict: Would I Go Back?
Here's the thing: Sonesta Select in Novi is a decent hotel. Maybe not the unbeatable luxury they are advertising. The Wi-Fi situation is a glaring issue. Still, it's clean, the staff were generally friendly (though, again, I’m sure they are exhausted), and the location is convenient. If I had to be in Novi again, I'd consider it. But I'd pack my own Wi-Fi hotspot. And maybe some stronger slippers. 7/10. Would enjoy the next upgrade.
Oshkosh Getaway: Unbeatable Deals at Quality Inn!
Okay, buckle up buttercups, because this isn't your grandma's meticulously planned itinerary. This is the REAL DEAL, the messy, glorious, "did I leave the iron on?!" travelogue from my chaotic adventure in the wilds of Novi, Michigan. Sonesta Select Detroit Novi, prepare yourselves… you're about to get lived in.
Day 1: Arrival & the Great Pizza Debacle
- 1:00 PM: Landed in Detroit. The airport smelled like… well, an airport. You know, that weird blend of jet fuel, stale coffee, and ambition. Grabbed my rental car - a suspiciously clean, suspiciously boring sedan. Immediately, I almost took a wrong turn. My internal GPS is perpetually malfunctioning.
- 2:00 PM: Arrived at the Sonesta. (Okay, the lobby was actually pretty swanky, gotta give them that.) The lobby was all glossy surfaces and that hotel-room-clean scent that always makes me want to immediately spill something. Checked in. The staff were… well, they were there. Not unfriendly, just… efficient. Felt the urge to tell them my whole life story within the first 30 seconds, but, you know… self-control. (ish).
- 2:30 PM: Unpacked. Or, more accurately, threw my suitcase onto the bed and stared at it. The room was… fine. Standard hotel room fare. Clean enough. The motivational poster about "reaching for the stars" made me snort. My star-reaching usually involves finding the remote.
- 3:00 PM: The Quest for Pizza Commences. I am a pizza aficionado. It's practically a religion. Googled "best pizza Novi, MI" and found… a lot. Settled on a place with rave reviews and a picture of a ridiculously cheesy, glistening masterpiece. I envisioned a slice of pure, edible bliss.
- 3:45 PM: Arrived at the pizza place. It looked promising! The atmosphere inside felt like a cozy Italian grandmother had been baking pizzas for centuries. Ordered. Waited… waited… anticipation building.
- 4:15 PM: The pizza arrives. It… looks like pizza. But something's off. The cheese is… clumpy? The sauce… bland. My face falls. This is not the pizza of my dreams. This is… lukewarm disappointment on a crust. I ate two slices out of sheer principle and then mournfully packed up the leftovers. The pizza place was the first defeat of the trip!
- 4:45 PM: Retreat back to the Sonesta in defeat. The pizza was a bad omen. I was now determined to find a better place.
- 5:00 PM - 7:00 PM: Unsuccessfully attempted to relax. Watched some mindless TV. Kept thinking about pizza. Started pacing. The pizza situation was a major emotional event.
- 7:00 PM: Ordered a pizza from Domino's. It arrived on time. Good pizza. Domino's is always good. Never dissapoints.
Day 2: The Henry Ford Museum and the Existential Crisis of Things
- 9:00 AM: Breakfast at the hotel. It involved a lot of rubbery scrambled eggs and questionable fruit. Again, not the best experience. I am beginning to question the culinary landscape of Novi.
- 10:00 AM: Drove to The Henry Ford Museum of American Innovation. (Okay, this was actually amazing.) Seriously. HUGE. So much to see. The sheer scale is overwhelming! You could easily spend a whole day here, and I only scratched the surface.
- 10:30 AM - 2:00 PM: Wandered through the exhibits. Saw the Rosa Parks bus. Stood next to the enormous train. The sheer weight of history, the stories of all the people… it was powerful. I got surprisingly emotional looking at the cars, the inventions, and the sheer ingenuity of the past. There was something beautiful in it. Suddenly I was also questioning my place in the world and pondering my own legacy, which, let's be honest, will probably involve a lot of spilled coffee and an impressive collection of mismatched socks.
- 2:00 PM: Lunch at the museum cafe. Surprisingly… decent. Perhaps the pizza gods were appeased. I almost cried again, just thinking about how it all came together.
- 3:00 PM: Continued exploring. The sheer stuff on display! From presidential limousines to the actual Dymaxion House (which, let’s face it, looks like a giant, slightly-wonky silver teardrop). It was all so… American. And I loved it.
- 5:00 PM: Back to the hotel. Feeling slightly shell-shocked from all the history. I swear my feet hurt.
- 6:00 PM: Decided to treat myself to the hotel gym. It was small and mostly deserted, which was a definite win. Felt the need to work off the food.
- 7:00 PM: Ordered more pizza. I'm seeing a pattern here. This time, it was extra cheesy, extra everything. I felt some of my soul was being saved by the pizza.
Day 3: Last Day
- 9:00 AM: Attempted a productive morning. Failed. Went back to sleep.
- 11:00 AM: Checked out of the hotel. Goodbye, Sonesta Select Detroit Novi. It was… an experience.
- 12:00 PM: Found a diner. It was very diner-y. Ate some pancakes.
- 1:00 PM: Headed back to the airport.
- 2:00 PM: Debrief and flight. I think I'll actually get to go home.
Final Thoughts:
Novi, Michigan. A place of pizza quests, historical revelations, and hotel-room introspection. It wasn't perfect, but it was real. And sometimes, even the messy, imperfect moments are the ones you remember. My journey here has been a reminder of my human nature, and a reminder that sometimes, all you need is a good slice of pizza… no matter what.
Rancho Santa Fe Getaway: Luxurious Guesthouse Hotel Awaits!
So, Detroit Novi Escape... Huh? What *is* it, exactly? Like, do they just hand you a map and yell "Good luck!"?
Alright, alright, deep breaths. It's basically Sonesta Select Hotel in Novi, Michigan (which, by the way, Novi is *way* more charming than you'd think) that's trying to get into the whole 'Escape' thing. Think of it as a staycation with a manufactured narrative. You're supposedly "escaping" the daily grind, which, let's be honest, is a really, *really* good idea sometimes. They have packages -- they're not giving away free cars or anything, sadly -- which include room, maybe some food vouchers, and promotional things. I had a "romance escape" once... and it was more 'escape from each other' due to some serious bickering, but hey, we *were* escaping, technically!
Is the Sonesta Select itself… nice? Like, not a dump, right? 'Cause I've stayed in some places where you needed a HAZMAT suit just to breathe.
Okay, okay, real talk. The Sonesta Select in Novi isn't winning any architectural awards, but it’s *decent*. It's clean, the beds are comfy (thank GOD, because my back aches like an old banjo), and the staff is generally friendly. Picture a solid, reliable hotel that's not trying to be anything it's not. I do recall a slight incident with a weird smell in the hallway near the ice machine - maybe a lingering pizza-related sadness, but overall, it's fine. Don't expect the Ritz, but you won't be sleeping next to a cockroach either. (At least I *didn't* when I was there... hopefully... *shudders*).
What kind of "escape" packages are they pushing? 'Cause "escape from debt" isn't on the menu, I'm guessing.
They have a few. Romance, (see previously mentioned marital struggles), Family Fun, Girls' Getaway, etc. They're pretty predictable, honestly. The 'business escape' I saw once seemed wildly optimistic. "Escape from the endless spreadsheet hellhole!" – that one didn't really resonate with me. Expect a few extra perks, like a bottle of wine, a voucher for the (surprisingly decent) hotel restaurant, maybe a late checkout if you're lucky. It’s more about convenience than actual, thrilling adventure. Maybe you’ll 'escape' to the pool. I did that once. It was… lukewarm, but clean. I guess that’s half the battle.
Is the food any good at the hotel restaurant? 'Cause hotel food is a gamble, right? Like, Russian roulette with your stomach.
Okay, here's the deal. The hotel restaurant isn't going to blow your mind, let's be clear. But it's surprisingly *not terrible*. When I stayed there, the burgers were solid - I swear I ate like 3 of them during one stay simply because of the convenience. The breakfast buffet? Standard hotel fare – think scrambled eggs that might or might not be rubbery, but hey, eggs! I'm not a breakfast person usually. There's also a bar with some decent drinks. I mean, sometimes you need a stiff drink to "escape," am I right? The service can be a little slow at times, but they try. It's a hotel restaurant, not Michelin-star material, but it'll do the job. Basically, you won't need to order pizza to your room because you're too scared to eat the food they offer -- a win!
What's the vibe like in Novi, anyway? Worth leaving the hotel, or more "stuck in a hotel room staring at the wallpaper" kind of vibe?
Novi is... Novi. It's suburban. It's got a ton of chain restaurants and shopping. It's the land of strip malls and minivans. If you're looking for gritty urban adventure, go to Detroit. But, if you need some retail therapy, there's Twelve Oaks Mall nearby, which, let's be honest, can be a guilty pleasure. There are also some decent parks and walking trails if you want to stretch your legs. Honestly, the vibe is what *you* make it. A good book and some quiet time in your room after a long day can actually be a really great escape. Or, you know, fight with a loved one. Whatever floats your boat, I guess. But don't expect a bustling nightlife -- it's not that kind of town.
Speaking of which, what *is* a "romance escape" like? Does it involve roses and Barry White, or is it more like… fighting over the remote? I'm asking for a friend (cough cough, it's me).
Alright, my friend... a "romance escape" is what *you* make it. The package *usually* includes champagne (or sparkling grape juice, depending on how "romantic" you're feeling), maybe chocolates (that you might or might not actually want to share), and possibly a later checkout (always appreciated). Look, I experienced one of these… and it felt a bit forced. The "romantic dinner" voucher felt kinda awkward after our earlier argument about the thermostat. We spent most of the evening strategically avoiding eye contact... But hey, we did *escape* the house, right? That’s the important thing. Just… communicate beforehand. Seriously. And maybe pack some earplugs, just in case.
Bottom line: Would you recommend it? Is Detroit Novi Escape worth the trouble?
Okay, the REAL bottom line. Detroit Novi Escape isn't a groundbreaking experience. It's not going to change your life. It's a solid hotel in a perfectly fine location. It's a convenient getaway, especially if you don't want to travel far. If you're just looking for a change of scenery, a decent bed, and maybe a burger, then yeah, go for it. Just manage your expectations. Think of it as a pleasant, albeit predictable, pause button on your life. And hey, even a pause button can be refreshing sometimes. Especially if you’re escaping from the relentless grind of… well, life itself. Just don't expect miracles. And for God's sake, pack your own snacks. Because while the hotel is decent, the vending machine is… questionable. *shudders*
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