Gaylord's BEST Hotel? IHG's Hidden Gem Revealed!
Gaylord's BEST Hotel? IHG's Hidden Gem… (Maybe?) - A Brutally Honest Review
Okay, buckle up buttercups, because I’m about to spill the (room service-friendly) tea on Gaylord’s BEST Hotel. Emphasis on BEST. They say they’re a hidden gem. Fine. I'm here to find out if it's a sparkly diamond or just a polished pebble. Expect a rambling, opinionated, and probably slightly unhinged account of my stay. Let's go!
Accessibility: The Good, the Flustered Hand Waves, and the "Hopefully-It-Works" Moments
Alright, first things first: accessibility. My mom (bless her heart) needs a wheelchair, so this is HUGE for us. They say they're fab. Wheelchair accessible? Check! Elevators are plentiful, and the lobby? Spacious enough to do a slow dance. But getting to the room? Oh, the joy of navigating those long, slightly confusing hallways. It's like a hotel maze, but with less cheese and more potential for bumping into confused bellhops. (Accessibility: Good, but still room for improvement on intuitive navigation. My mom did ask the front desk four times for directions)
They also highlight Facilities for disabled guests which is promising. But the devil, as they say, is in the details. Did the accessible room actually work? I'll get there…
On-site accessible restaurants / lounges: Promising! More on food later, (because, you know, food) but access to the bars and restaurants seemed… promising. The staff appeared to be informed and helpful. (More on that in the ‘Staff’ section. They did their best. Bless ‘em.)
Internet? My Dear God, Please Let the Wi-Fi Work!
Listen, in this day and age, if the Wi-Fi is garbage, you're toast. And I, my friends, am all about the toast.
- Free Wi-Fi in all rooms! Hallelujah! God bless the internet gods!
- Internet access – wireless is a must! (I actually started to sweat at the thought of no internet)
- Internet [LAN]: Now, LAN? In a hotel? Feels oddly retro, but hey. Options are good.
- I need to be reachable everywhere.
- Internet services: Okay… so, did it work? Yes. Mostly. There were a few moments of… buffering… when trying to upload videos, but overall, the internet was reliable enough to sustain my endless Netflix binges, so, you know, a win. (Unless they're charging extra for internet access, that is). Then, that's not cool.
Things to Do & Ways to Relax: Sauna Dreams and Poolside Panic
Let’s talk relaxation, baby! Because, let’s be honest, that’s what a hotel is supposed to be about, right?
- Pool with a view: YES! (Assuming the weather cooperates, which it didn’t. Typical.)
- Swimming pool [outdoor]: Check! Now, it looked lovely. But it was also freezing. And crowded. And I swear, I saw a kid peeing… Okay, maybe I’m just grumpy.
- Spa/sauna: I’m a sucker for a spa. The sauna and Steamroom were calling my name! (It was pure bliss, and I spent an embarrassing amount of time in there.)
- Fitness center: I tried to use the fitness center. Keyword: tried. After the sauna, it was a bit of a letdown. (No judgment. I'm not judging the gym-goers!)
- Massage: Oh YES. A massage. I could live in the spa, just saying.
- Body scrub, Body wrap: I skipped these (budgetary constraints, sadly), but the option of a Spa is always a good sign.
Cleanliness and Safety: Sanitized and Slightly Paranoid
Okay, COVID era. We're all a bit germ-phobic now, right?
- Anti-viral cleaning products? They claim so.
- Daily disinfection in common areas. Good.
- Profession-grade sanitizing services. Excellent. (I hope).
- Rooms sanitized between stays. Absolutely essential!
- Staff trained in safety protocol. I hope so. They seemed to be.
- Hand sanitizer: Everywhere. A constant reassurance.
- Physical distancing of at least 1 meter.… Well, good luck with that in the pool area.
- Masked staff..
- Individually-wrapped food options: Good.
- Safe dining setup: We'll get to the food.
The Room: My Inner Monologue as I Discovered the Good, the Bad, and the Possibly-Haunted
This is where things get… interesting.
- Air conditioning?: Essential! (Especially in the "tropical" weather!)
- Alarm clock: Check. (I set about seven, just to be sure.)
- Bathroom phone: … Why?
- Bathtub: My god, yes! After a long day of… well, existing, a great bath is a luxury. I loved it.
- Blackout curtains: Crucial for sleeping in.
- Coffee/tea maker: Always a win, even if the coffee was a bit… questionable.
- Free bottled water: Thank you, hospitality gods!
- Hair dryer: Necessary.
- In-room safe box: I forgot about it. Sorry, valuables!
- Mini bar: Tempting, but expensive.
- Non-smoking?: Thankfully!
- Reading light: Essential for my late-night novel binges.
- Refrigerator: For my leftover snacks!
- Satellite/cable channels: Mostly ignored.
- Separate shower/bathtub: Luxurious.
- Slippers: Cute.
- Smoke detector: Good.
- Soundproofing: Important. (Trust me.)
- Toiletries: Fine.
- Umbrella: It rained. (Again!)
- Wake-up service: Used it. (Multiple times.)
- Wi-Fi [free]: The most important thing.
The Biggest Challenge: The Accessibility Room
Remember that earlier mention of accessibility? Well, here's where things get a little messy. We requested an accessible room, and were assured they had several. We got a room! But…
Let’s just say the grab bars in the bathroom were… loose. And the roll-in shower? Barely roll-in. (Mom still managed, but it was with more effort than it should have required). It ended up being a "sort of" accessible room and not the fully accessible room that we'd requested, which was a letdown. And frankly, a bit dangerous. (Accessibility: Room for improvement here. It can cause a lot of stress).
Dining, Drinking, and Snacking: The Culinary Rollercoaster (and the Occasional Overcharge)
- Restaurants: There are various restaurants.
- Bar: Got a drink. They made a good Margarita. (But, it wasn't cheap.)
- Breakfast [buffet]: A buffet! (And, it was okay. Standard hotel stuff).
- Breakfast service: Good.
- Room service [24-hour]: Excellent! Because sometimes, you just need a burger at 2 AM. And it arrived quickly.
The "Hidden Gem" Verdict?
So, is Gaylord’s BEST Hotel a hidden gem? Hmm… It has its moments of sparkling. It also has its moments of… well, not. The staff were genuinely trying and generally helpful. The spa was a slice of heaven. The location? Pretty good. The biggest takeaway? Is the accessibility really that accessible? This is the critical question.
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- Title: Gaylord's BEST Hotel Review: IHG's Hidden Gem? Honest & Unfiltered!
- Meta Description: My honest review of Gaylord's BEST Hotel in [Location], including accessibility, amenities, and whether it lives up to the hype.
- Keywords: Gaylord's BEST Hotel, IHG Hotel Review, [Location] Hotels, Accessible Hotels, Spa Hotels, Free Wi-Fi, Restaurant Review, [Specific amenity the hotel emphasizes].
- Image alt text: A photo of the hotel lobby.
Okay, buckle up, buttercups, because we're about to dive headfirst into a Gaylord, Michigan adventure that's gonna be… well, let's just say it's gonna be an experience. We’re rolling with the punches, embracing the chaos, and frankly, I'm already anticipating the coffee stains on this itinerary. Holiday Inn Express & Suites Gaylord by IHG, here we come – and lord, help me.
Day 1: Arrival and the Awful Pizza Incident (aka, Setting the Tone)
- 2:00 PM: Arrival at the Hotel. OMG, the lobby! Okay, first impressions. The lobby is… yeah, it’s Holiday Inn Express. Perfectly… beige. It smells faintly of chlorine and the distant promise of lukewarm coffee. (Note to self: Pack good coffee. Very good coffee.) Check-in… smoothly enough. The front desk guy looks like he's seen some things, which is comforting. Maybe he can commiserate later.
- 2:30 PM – 3:30 PM: Unpacking and settling in. The Room… Okay, the room. It's clean. That's a win! The bedspread, though… well, let’s just say it's seen better decades. The view is of the parking lot, but honestly, I didn't expect the Eiffel Tower. I did, however, have a sudden and overwhelming urge to rearrange the furniture. Resisted. For now. God, I hate hotel rooms sometimes. I'm getting the travel-itch already. Maybe I won't unpack.
- 4:00 PM: Grocery Run and the Pizza Disaster. Okay, this is important. We needed snacks. Crucial travel snacks, you understand. So, off to the local grocery store. Success! Chips, salsa, a suspicious-looking fruit platter (pray for us), and… pizza! Gaylord, apparently, has pizza. We bought the pizza from the local pizzeria and took it back to the hotel.
- 5:00 PM: The Pizza Saga Continues. We devoured the pizza. It was not good. It was so… distinctive in its flavor profile. Let's just say the crust tasted vaguely of cardboard, and the pepperoni had a… unique aftertaste. I’m pretty sure I heard a tiny, mournful sigh from my stomach. My partner, bless their heart, just kept saying, "… well, at least we have beer." Note to self: Next time, research actual pizza reviews. Serious research. This is a travel crime.
- 6:00 PM - 7:30 PM: Swimming Pool Shenanigans (Or, How I Almost Drowned in Chlorine) I was craving a swim. So, we went to the pool - more of a "plunge" for me. It was a bit crowded with kids, which created some splash and chaos, I almost tripped on the step and went under, and it also was a little bit too cold. I swear, the pool was more chlorine than water. I got out and took a long shower to wash off.
- 8:00 PM: Crash and burn. Watched some random stuff on TV. Exhausted from the pizza disappointment (seriously, it haunts me). Off to bed. Tomorrow, we conquer Gaylord. Hopefully, it involves better pizza (and fewer children in the pool).
Day 2: Otsego County and the Search for Serenity (and Decent Coffee)
- 7:00 AM: The Battle for Breakfast (and Caffeine). The dreaded complimentary breakfast. I braced myself. Waffles, yes. Scrambled eggs… questionable. That coffee… it was the stuff of nightmares. I’m pretty sure it was brewed in a car engine. I forced down two cups, purely for survival. Must. Find. Coffee. Real. Coffee. Urgent.
- 8:00 AM: Exploring downtown. I walked around and felt like I was walking into a movie scene. I actually felt as if it was a movie.
- 9:00 AM: Finding the perfect spot to catch my breath. I found a bench and just breathed. It was the best I've felt.
- 10:00 AM: Otsego Lake and the Pursuit of Peace. We drove to Otsego Lake, and took a walk and had a great time.
- 12:00 PM: Lunch Adventure. We went to a restaurant and got lunch. The food was great!
- 1:00 PM: Searching for coffee. Okay, I found a coffee shop. The espresso was actually drinkable! Victory!
- 2:00 PM - 5:00 PM: Outdoor Adventure: We decided to go for a hike! On a trail, and got to connect with nature. It was amazing!
- 6:00 PM: Dinner. We got something to eat. It was good!
- 8:00 PM: Back to the hotel!
- 9:00 PM: Sleep.
Day 3: Departure and The Lasting Impressions (and the Pizza Haunting)
- 7:00 AM: The Breakfast Fight (Round Two). The Same. Exact. Breakfast. But this time, I knew what I was in for. I also knew to avoid the "scrambled eggs."
- 8:00 AM: Last-Minute Souvenir Hunt. We needed to get souvenirs. Some t-shirts, a couple of postcards… you know, the usual.
- 9:00 AM: Check Out. Goodbye, Hotel! Check out was… uneventful. Just a polite nod, a "Have a nice day," and we were free.
- 9:30 AM: The Pizza Trauma. I'm seriously considering a therapy session when I get home.
- 10:00 AM: Say Goodbye to Gaylord.
- 1:00 PM: Home.
- 1:15 PM: Reflection. I'm never eating pizza again.
Final Thoughts
Gaylord was… an experience. Definitely a memorable one. The hotel was… a hotel. The food was… a mixed bag. But hey, we survived! And we learned a valuable lesson: Research your pizza options! The travel bug is still there, it always is. I hope to return, and perhaps, conquer a different kind of adventure.
Gold Coast Paradise: Your Dream Riviera B&B Awaits!
Gaylord's BEST Hotel? IHG's Hidden Gem... Revealed! (Or, Why My Wallet and My Soul Are Still Recovering)
Alright, spill the beans! Is this "hidden gem" *really* that good?
What kind of amenities are we talking? Pool? Spa? Underwater basket weaving?
Okay, so what *specifically* made it a "gem?" Lay it on me!
The biggest downfalls? Gotta be some, right? Nothing's perfect. Spill.
Okay, so you mentioned a "single experience"... What's the story?
Would you go back? And more importantly, would *you* recommend it?
