Escape to Harrisburg: Luxurious La Quinta Stay Awaits!
Escape to Harrisburg: My La Quinta Getaway - A Review with a Side of Reality (and a Touch of Panic)
Alright, buckle up buttercups, because I'm about to tell you about my Harrisburg La Quinta experience. It's not gonna be all roses and room service. This is the real deal, folks. Think of this less as a polished brochure and more like a friend spilling the tea… or maybe spilling the lukewarm coffee from the breakfast buffet, that's probably more accurate.
First, a Quick Disclaimer: I'm a Hyper-Analytical Overthinker. So, I was all over the details, like a hawk on a field mouse. Hence, the massive breakdown you’re about to read. Hopefully, you'll find it useful!
The Basics: Accessibility and Safety (Because, You Know, Life)
Let's start with the important stuff. Accessibility? Solid. They have facilities for disabled guests and an elevator, which is fantastic news. I'm not personally wheelchair bound, but it's always a plus to know they care. CCTV in common areas and outside the property gave me a smidge of peace of mind. Plus, they have a 24-hour front desk and security, which is always reassuring when you're traveling. They also had fire extinguishers and smoke alarms, obviously, but hey, gotta mention those!
Cleanliness and Pandemic Protocols: Did I Survive?
COVID-19 hit hard, and my paranoia levels reached DEFCON 1. So, what about cleanliness? They're trying! Anti-viral cleaning products are a plus, and they claimed to do daily disinfection in common areas. They also had hand sanitizer readily available. I did spot a few staff members wearing masks, but I swear, I saw one staff member wearing two masks, a shield, and a hazmat suit which gave me a moment of mild panic. They had rooms sanitized between stays, which is reassuring. Room sanitization opt-out available is great for the eco-conscious, but I'd just stay away if I were you and needed to feel safe.
I'm also going to add a little rant here. I found a few people flouting the social distancing rules. I hate to say it, but some people's perception of 'one meter apart' seems to be "two centimeters apart, staring directly into your soul." But again, that isn't La Quinta's fault.
The Room: My Tiny Fortress (or, My Refrigerator-Adjacent Bunker)
Okay, the room. Truthfully? It was a room. A perfectly adequate room. It had air conditioning, which was a LIFESAVER in the Harrisburg humidity. Free Wi-Fi (and I mean free free, not that "almost free" kind), which was essential for my constant need to check my bank account and scroll through endless cat videos. They provided a desk, a hair dryer, and a coffee/tea maker. Basic but essential. They even had a refrigerator, which I filled with… well, mostly water. And my stash of emergency chocolate.
The REAL star of the show? The blackout curtains. Seriously, these things are a dream. Pure, blissful darkness, even at midday. Perfect for those days when you just want to hide from the world (or your responsibilities). Additional toilet, bathrobes, complimentary tea, and slippers were little touches that make you feel like you're almost fancy.
Oh, and the bed. I'm going to be honest. It was a little… firm. I prefer my beds soft, cloud-like, and ready to swallow me whole. But after a long day of traveling, it got the job done. Besides, the extra long bed was great because sometimes I'm a sprawl king.
Dining: Food, Glorious (and Sometimes Questionable) Food
Breakfast time! Now, this is where things get a little…adventurous. The breakfast buffet was a mixed bag. Asian breakfast, Western breakfast, was available. I loaded up on what looked like decent scrambled eggs and some sort of sausage-like object. Safe to say the taste and texture was… not what I was expecting. I washed it down with coffee that tasted like it had been brewing since the Jurassic period. But hey, it was free.
They had a coffee shop, room service [24-hour] (I didn’t indulge, mainly because I was too lazy to pick up the phone), and a snack bar.
Things to Do (and How to Avoid Them):
Okay, here's the deal. This La Quinta is not a resort. Don't expect a sprawling spa or a dazzling array of activities. But hey, there's a fitness center if you're into that torture. Swimming pool [outdoor] was also available. I'm pretty sure I saw a kid pee in it, but hey, it was hot. You also get internet access, so you can binge-watch every bad thing on Netflix and forget about reality!
Services and Conveniences: The Little Things That Matter (Sometimes)
They offer a surprisingly long list of Services and conveniences: They have a concierge service. I didn't use it, but it's there. Daily housekeeping was great, and the staff were always friendly. Cash withdrawal, an elevator, a convenience store. Laundry service is available if you need it, and the front desk [24-hour] is there for any issues. There is a car park [free of charge]. You get the idea -- they have the basics covered.
My Final (And Somewhat Scatterbrained) Verdict:
Look, the Harrisburg La Quinta isn’t going to win any awards for luxury. But it's clean, safe, relatively affordable, and provides a decent base for your Harrisburg adventures. So my final thought is this: If you're looking for a comfortable, no-frills stay, this place will do the trick. Just don’t go expecting gourmet breakfasts, over-the-top spa experiences, or a room that rivals a five-star hotel. Consider this a practical, functional, and occasionally slightly chaotic option.
And Now, for a Compelling Offer That (Hopefully) Gets You Booking:
Escape to Harrisburg: Your Relaxing La Quinta Getaway Awaits!
Are you craving a break from the everyday? Do you need a place to rest your head (and escape the mountain of laundry)? Then pack your bags and head to the La Quinta in Harrisburg! We offer:
- Clean and Safe Comfort: Relax knowing our rooms are sanitized, and safety protocols are in place.
- Convenient Amenities: Enjoy free Wi-Fi, a refreshing outdoor pool, and a daily breakfast (which is, admittedly, an experience).
- Perfect Location: Explore Harrisburg and the surrounding areas with ease.
- No-Hassle Booking: Contactless check-in/out and a 24-hour front desk make your arrival and departure a breeze.
- Escape the Ordinary, Book your stay today!
But wait, there's more! Book your stay this month, and we'll throw in a free bottle of water (because hydration is key) and a late checkout (so you can avoid facing the real world for just a little longer). Don't miss out – your Harrisburg adventure starts here!
Laguna Woods Escape: Ayres Hotel's Aliso Viejo Oasis Awaits!
Okay, buckle up, buttercups. This isn't your grandma's itinerary. This is my survival guide to the La Quinta Inn & Suites by Wyndham in New Cumberland-Harrisburg, PA. Prepare for a whiplash of emotions, questionable life choices, and the unvarnished truth about what it's really like to be a human in a hotel. Let's get cracking… and praying the continental breakfast isn't entirely stale.
Day 1: Arrival, Hope, and the Crushing Weight of Expectations
- 1:00 PM - 2:00 PM: ARRIVE. Oh, glorious arrival. After a four-hour drive (traffic was soul-crushing as always), I pull up to the La Quinta. The exterior looks… well, it looks like a La Quinta. Beige, functional, the architectural equivalent of a shrug. Check-in is smooth enough. The guy at the desk is friendly, which is a good sign. My room? Hopefully, NOT next to the ice machine. I swear, those things are designed to torture insomniacs.
- Anecdote: Last time I stayed in a hotel near an ice machine, I swear I heard it judging my late-night snack choices. Also, I'm starting to think the 'free Wi-Fi' is a conspiracy designed to make you buy every streaming service ever created.
- 2:00 PM - 3:00 PM: ROOM CHECK-IN. Okay, the room is… fine. Standard hotel fare. Two queen beds (thank God, plenty of room for my emotional baggage), a TV (which is already on, which is mildly terrifying), and a general air of temporary stasis. The air-conditioning works, which is a major win in the current July heat. I immediately flop on the bed, sigh dramatically, and decide to unpack.
- Opinionated Comment: And the bathroom. The bathroom situation really can make or break a day. I'm hoping for good water pressure in the shower, even just a hint of actual soap… and no creepy stains. Fingers crossed.
- 3:00 PM - 4:00 PM: QUICK SNACK/SETTLING IN. I dig in my bag of snacks. Peanut butter crackers and an apple. I'm not going to lie, I felt a little ashamed. I feel like I'm going to waste time just figuring out where to eat. So, I'll just chill in my room for now. But I hate this! I NEED FOOD!
- Quirky Observation: Every hotel room has that weird smell, right? A combination of cleaning products, stale air, and the ghosts of countless guests. You can never quite put your finger on it, but it's always there.
- 4:00 PM - 5:00 PM: Explore the Hotel. I'm obligated to explore the La Quinta. I will check the pool! Hopefully it's not full of screaming kids and chlorine-induced misery. The gym, too. I'll probably use it for ten minutes, tops. And if I can find the vending machines. I'm already getting a craving for the sugary, chemically flavored goodness of a Coke. And maybe something salty?
- Emotional Reaction: I'm starting to feel a little bit of that travel-induced anticipation. Not a lot, mind you. But the faintest whisper of excitement. Like, maybe this isn't going to be a complete disaster. Maybe.
- 5:00 PM - 7:00 PM: Dinner Research. The most critical part of the day. I will spend an eternity staring at my phone. I'll read reviews, stalk restaurant websites, and ultimately, probably choose the place with the most convenient parking. Because travel is exhausting, people. Exhausting!
- Anecdote: Last time, I swore I'd eat at a fancy place, but I ended up in an airport food court. I swear, the universe is determined to thwart my culinary ambitions.
- 7:00 PM - 9:00 PM: DINNER. I decide to go to a local diner, I hope it's cheap and cheerful.
- Emotional Reaction: I am incredibly hungry. Please, let the food be good. Let my fellow diners be pleasant and let there be no drama.
- 9:00 PM - 10:00 PM: Back to the Room! Collapse into the hotel bed and watch some TV. Hopefully, nothing too intellectually demanding. My brain is already fried.
Day 2: (The Big Day!)
- 7:00 AM - 8:00 AM: Breakfast. The dreaded continental breakfast. I brace myself. Cereal? Bagels? The potential for disappointment is enormous. I am hoping for some fruit. I'm dreaming of actual coffee that doesn't taste like burnt dishwater.
- Messy Structure and occasional rambles: If the coffee is bad, I'm going to be a walking, talking grump all day. Maybe I should just bring my own instant… but then there's the whole "bringing extra stuff on a trip" issue. Gah. This is why I hate breakfast. It starts the day wrong. I eat, and maybe I'll get some toast… no. I'm going straight for the fruit. See? Now my day is ruined.
- 8:00 AM - 9:00 AM: I leave for the main event. I'm nervous! I have to be at my destination by 9:00 AM! That's early!
- Strong emotional reactions: I'm so over-thinking this.
- 9:00 AM - 1:00 PM: The Main Event! I am there. I experience things. I'm not going to tell you what, that's for me to know!
- Doubling Down on a Single Experience: I'm going to give you the behind-the-scenes of one part of the experience. I'm feeling overwhelmed by the sights! The sounds! The smells! There's too much to take in! I have to mentally prepare myself. There's so many people! I feel… claustrophobic? But I push on, taking each moment at a time. I'm starting to have such a great time! This is what I've been waiting for!
- 1:00 PM - 2:00 PM: Lunch. I choose an establishment. I eat lunch. Food? Good. People? Fine.
- 2:00 PM - 5:00 PM: Finishing up the Big Day Event. I explore, experience and I'm done. Time to head back to the hotel!
- Opinionated language: Ugh, so ready to get out of here. I feel as if I'm in a daze; exhausted but satisfied at the same time.
Day 3: Departure and the Lingering Smell of Laundry Detergent
- 8:00 AM - 9:00 AM: Last-minute breakfast, let's hope it's a good one.
- 9:00 AM - 10:00 AM: Pack, check out, and hit the road.
- Final thoughts: The laundry detergent smell is strong in the air, and I am ready to just go home. I had fun, though. This wasn't so bad.
- Emotional Reaction: I'm already scheming about my next trip. I'm a bit tired; time to go home!
And that's it. My messy, imperfect, and entirely human La Quinta experience. Now, if you'll excuse me, I need to find a decent roadside coffee shop and pray that the next hotel has a pillow that doesn't try to eat my head at night. Wish me luck.
Escape to Paradise: Germany's Hidden Gem, Landhotel zum Bohm
So, this "Luxurious La Quinta"... is it *actually* luxurious? Because my definition of luxury is a fluffy bathrobe and room service that doesn't involve me wrestling with a vending machine at 2 AM.
Alright, let's be brutally honest for a second. "Luxurious" is a loaded word, isn't it? I mean, I've stayed in places where the "luxury" was a complimentary packet of instant coffee and a strategically placed dust bunny. La Quinta, generally? Not exactly the Ritz. BUT! This particular La Quinta in Harrisburg? Okay, it's *trying*. The lobby's got that "aspirational upscale budget hotel" vibe – think slightly fancier than a motel, but with a better breakfast selection. And the rooms? Clean. That's a HUGE win, let me tell you. I've had some *experiences*. The beds? Decent. The pillows? Surprisingly pliant. I'd compare it to, like, a really good Comfort Inn pretending to be a boutique hotel. Maybe a 7.5 out of 10 on the luxury scale? Definitely bringing your own fluffy bathrobe. Trust me.
What's this "Harrisburg" place all about? Is it just a bunch of... buildings?
Harrisburg. Ah, Harrisburg. It's... a place. It's the capital of Pennsylvania, so you've got your government buildings – which, let's face it, aren't exactly exciting unless you're really into bureaucratic architecture. But! There's more! The Susquehanna River is actually quite pretty, especially at sunset. You can walk along the riverfront, pretend you're in a rom-com, and feel vaguely cultured. Then there's the Hershey Factory... which, if you're a chocolate fiend like yours truly, warrants a pilgrimage. Seriously, the smell alone is worth it. You'll probably gain five pounds, but hey, you're on vacation. And maybe a visit to the Whitaker Center. Honestly, I've been meaning to check that place out… next time maybe? Procrastination is a talent, right?
Breakfast. The make-or-break of any hotel stay. What's the lowdown at this La Quinta? Free continental, sad little pastries, or actual sustenance?
Okay, breakfast. Listen, I have STRONG feelings about hotel breakfasts. They're a gamble, a gamble I'm usually willing to take. This La Quinta? They've got the standard continental fare: stale muffins (inevitably), cold cereal (bleh), and those weird, processed breakfast sandwiches that taste vaguely of sadness. BUT! (and this is a big but, folks) they usually have a waffle maker! And, if you're lucky, the pancake mix isn't completely dehydrated and the waffle iron gods are smiling upon you. Plus, the coffee is…well, it's coffee. It gets the job done. Is it a gourmet experience? Absolutely not. But for free? I'll take it. And I'll probably eat three waffles and feel mildly guilty about it later. My advice? Go for the waffles, load up on the fake butter, and don't look back.
Okay, let's talk about *the pool*. Every hotel's got a pool. Is this one… actually swim-able? And will I be sharing it with screaming children at 6 AM?
The pool. Ah, the pool. The siren song of relaxation, the potential source of utter chaos. This hotel's pool… it’s there. It's indoor, which is a plus. It *looks* clean, which is also a plus. The temperature? Usually acceptable, unless someone's having a temperature-related crisis. Now, the children… okay, let's be real. You're *probably* going to encounter screaming children. It's a hotel pool. It comes with the territory. But, and this is important, the parents are usually present, and they're (hopefully) doing their best to wrangle their offspring. My strategy? Go early. Like, *really* early. Before the hordes descend. Grab a comfortable chair, a good book, and mentally prepare yourself for the inevitable splashing and shrieking. Or, if you're feeling particularly adventurous, join in the fun! Just try not to get splashed in the eye by a rogue pool noodle. Trust me, I know.
The room - what's it *really* like? Are the walls paper-thin? Can I hear the guy next door snoring? And is the WiFi even reliable?
Alright, let's get down to the nitty-gritty. The room. This is where the real magic happens (or doesn't). The walls? Well, they're not lead-lined, let's put it that way. You *might* hear the guy next door snoring. I've been there. Bring earplugs. I’ve learned the hard way. The air conditioning? Usually functional, but sometimes a bit temperamental. It's like it has a mind of its own. The WiFi? This is the biggest gamble of all. Sometimes it's lightning-fast, and you can stream a movie without a hitch. Other times… it's dial-up in the 21st century. Prepare for frustration. Or, you know, embrace the digital detox. Read a book. Talk to your travel companion. Revolutionary, I know. Overall, the room is clean-ish, the bed is comfy-ish, and you get what you pay for. It’s a place to crash. And that's okay.
I'm thinking of visiting Hershey Park. Is this La Quinta conveniently located for that? And can I bring my own chocolate?
Hershey Park! YES! Okay, the good news: this La Quinta is *relatively* close to Hershey Park. You're not going to be driving cross-country. The bad news: you're still driving. But hey, it's doable. The real question: can you bring your own chocolate? YES! Absolutely, bring all the chocolate your heart desires. I mean, it's HERSHEY. They'd practically *encourage* you to bring your own chocolate! Stock up on your favorites before you go. Snickers. Reese's. Those little Hershey's Kisses. You'll thank me later. (Pro-tip: Hide your chocolate stash from the children… and yourself. It's a slippery slope.) Honestly? Going to Hershey Park, even for an adult, is just a blast of pure, unadulterated glee. Just be prepared for crowds, sugar crashes, and the irresistible urge to buy a giant Hershey's Kiss-shaped inflatable.
Parking at this La Quinta – horror stories or smooth sailing? I'm really not a fan of circling the lot for 20 minutes.
Parking. Ah, the bane of many a traveler's existence. Okay, so at this La Quinta, parking isn't *terrible*. It's free. That's a win right off the bat. But, it can get crowded, especially during peak season or when there's a conference in town. You mightSave On Hotels Now
