
Long Beach Getaway: Your Dream Residence Inn Awaits!
Long Beach Getaway: My Dream Residence Inn? Hold My Pina Colada… (A Totally Honest Review)
Okay, alright, buckle up buttercups, because I'm about to spill some serious tea on the "Long Beach Getaway: Your Dream Residence Inn Awaits!" And trust me, I've got opinions. More opinions than a politician with a free lunch. And I'm not afraid to share them, even if my grammar suffers a little in the process. This is real life, people, not some perfectly curated Instagram post. Let’s get messy!
(SEO & Meta Frenzy Start!)
Keywords: Long Beach, Residence Inn, hotel review, accessible hotel, wheelchair accessible, Long Beach hotels, spa, swimming pool, free wi-fi, pet-friendly hotel, family friendly, on-site dining, Long Beach California, California hotels, beachfront hotel, hotel accessibility, long beach vacation, [Add more relevant keywords here! Think about what you would search for!]
Meta Description: A brutally honest review of the Long Beach Getaway Residence Inn. We dive deep into accessibility, cleanliness, dining, amenities (spa? YES PLEASE!), and whether it actually lives up to its "dream" promise. Get the real scoop before booking!
(End SEO & Meta Madness)
First Impressions (and a Slight Panic Attack About Parking)
So, I rolled up to this place, ready for some serious R&R. Sun in my eyes, a vague desire for a tan (I burn, obviously, what was I thinking?), and a general feeling that I deserved a break. The exterior? Pretty standard Residence Inn fare. Clean, modern-ish, with that comforting predictability of a chain hotel. But then came the parking. Oh, the parking. While the listing boasts "Car park [free of charge]", finding a damn spot was like finding a decent gluten-free pizza in Italy. I circled. I sweated. I considered abandoning the car and running away to a nunnery. Eventually, I snagged a spot, but not before developing a minor tic. Parking situation: Meh. A solid 6/10 for the free part, but bring your patience!
(Diving into Accessibility - Crucial!)
Now, as someone who appreciates not face-planting at every opportunity, accessibility is HUGE for me. And I'm happy to report, on this front, the Long Beach Getaway did pretty well. "Wheelchair accessible"? Check! Ramps, elevators, wide hallways – I felt like I could actually move around without needing a sherpa. The details? They're important. Grab bars in the bathroom, which were solid, not those flimsy ones that look like they'll rip off the wall if you lean on them. Accessibility score: 9/10. Seriously, good job, Residence Inn. They clearly get it.
(Internet – Because, Duh!)
Okay, let’s talk about the essentials. "Free Wi-Fi in all rooms!" YES. Thank the internet gods. Because, let’s be honest, if I can’t binge-watch terrible reality TV in peace, what's the point of a vacation? Speed? Pretty solid. I managed to upload a few embarrassing vacation selfies without wanting to throw my phone out the window. Internet rating: 8/10. Fast enough to fuel my procrastination habit.
(The Room: My Temporary Fortress)
My room? Standard Residence Inn setup. "Air conditioning?" Check! Hallelujah. "Blackout curtains?" Double check! Crucial for sleeping in and avoiding the judgmental stares of sunlight. "Coffee/tea maker?" Bless. I’m a caffeine addict, and let’s face it, a hotel without a coffee maker is basically a personal affront. The "In-room safe box" felt a little unnecessary, like, who's stealing my used room key and half-eaten granola bar? But hey, peace of mind, I guess. The "Desk" was perfect for… avoiding anything remotely resembling work. "Non-smoking?" Thank heavens. I don’t want to breathe anyone's stale cigarette smoke. Room Score: 8/10 – Familiar, functional, and free of any unexpected horrors.
(The "Things to Do" Part: Relaxation and… More Relaxation?)
Okay, this is where things got interesting. The listing promised a "dream." Did it deliver on the relaxation front? Yes, and no.
- Spa?: Sadly, there was no on-site spa. Major bummer. I was really looking forward to a body scrub. My skin is demanding it. (Emotional reaction: Sadness followed by a slight feeling of betrayal by the website).
- Pool with View: Yes! There was an outdoor pool and it was lovely. Clean, not overly crowded, and the view of the city was pretty nice. The "Poolside Bar" wasn’t exactly a bustling scene, but they did have a decent margarita. (Quirky observation: Spotted a guy in a speedo. Always a risk/reward situation.)
- Fitness Center: I peaked my head in and made a quick assessment. It seemed like a small, but perfectly serviceable gym. Since I'm me, and exercise is a foreign concept, I did not actually use it. (Rambling: Maybe next trip. Maybe.)
- Sauna, Steamroom: Nope. No sauna or steam room. Which is a shame. I love a good steam, and let's be real, it's just good for the soul.
- Massage: Again, no massage on-site, which is a real shame. I needed a massage.
(Dining, Drinking, and Snacking Adventures)
The "Restaurants" on-site? Well, there was a restaurant, or at least what passed for one. "Breakfast [buffet]" was included, which is always a bonus. The usual suspects – scrambled eggs, sad-looking bacon, and a waffle-making station. The waffles were decent, although I may have consumed three. (Emotional reaction: Waffle bliss!) The "Poolside Bar" offered some basic snacks and drinks, and the "Coffee/tea in restaurant" was a lifesaver. (Opinionated language: The coffee was acceptable. No more, no less.) "Room service [24-hour]" was also available, which is always good to have for late-night snack attacks. (Anedocte: ordered a pizza at 2 am. It was decent, especially considering the hour.) Dining Rating: 7/10. Predictable, but functional.
(Cleanliness and Safety – My Obsessive Compulsive Checklist)
Okay, COVID era. This is a HUGE concern for me. The listing claimed:
- "Anti-viral cleaning products?" I hope so!
- "Daily disinfection in common areas?" Good.
- "Hand sanitizer?" Everywhere! Thank heavens.
- "Room sanitization opt-out available?" I didn't opt-out. I was fine with it.
- "Rooms sanitized between stays?" I assumed so.
- "Staff trained in safety protocol?" I hope so!
My room felt clean. I eyeballed every surface and found it acceptable. The staff wore masks, the lobby had hand sanitizer stations. Overall, I felt reasonably safe. (Emotional reaction: Relief. The world feels terrifying enough without having to worry about hotel cleanliness.) Cleanliness Score: 8/10. They seemed to be taking it seriously which eased my anxiety.
(Services and Conveniences: The Little Things That Matter)
- "Concierge?" Yes, helpful and friendly.
- "Cash withdrawal?" No.
- "Convenience store?" Nope.
- "Laundry service?" Yup!
- "Meeting/banquet facilities?" I don’t need that, but they have it.
- "Air conditioning in public area?" Yes, thank God!
(For the Kids (and the Kid in All of Us))
- "Family/child friendly?" Yes, but I didn't see many kids.
- "Babysitting service?" Not sure.
(Getting Around)
- "Airport transfer?" I didn't need one.
- "Car park [free of charge]?" See above. The great parking debate.
- "Taxi service?" Available.
(The Bottom Line (Finally!))
The Long Beach Getaway Residence Inn wasn't the perfect "dream" vacation. There are some serious flaws (lack of on-site spa being a massive let-down), but ultimately, it delivered a comfortable, clean, and accessible stay. The staff was friendly, the pool was lovely, and the free Wi-Fi kept me sane.
(Final Score: 7.5/10. A solid choice for a Long Beach getaway, especially if accessibility is a priority. Just don’t go expecting a spa day, and be prepared to fight for a parking spot. And maybe pack your own body scrub. You know, just in case.)
Unbelievable Luxury Awaits: Thanburi Hotel, Udon Thani!
Okay, buckle up, buttercup, because we’re about to dive headfirst into the glorious, messy reality that is… my trip to Residence Inn Long Beach! This isn’t some sterile, perfect itinerary. This is life, folks. With all the spilled coffee, questionable decisions, and existential dread (sometimes) included.
Residence Inn Long Beach: A Week of Questionable Choices and Unexpected Delights (or, The Itinerary That Didn't Quite Go According to Plan)
Day 1: Arrival! (…or, The Battle With the Rental Car)
- 1:00 PM: Arrive at LAX. Honestly, the worst part about flying is the airport. It’s a high-speed, high-stress gauntlet of questionable fashion choices and the constant, unsettling hum of forced pleasantries. Anyway, grabbed the rental car. Or, rather, attempted to grab the rental car. The car rental agency? Let’s just say they operate under the principle of "hurry up and wait." After a solid hour of paperwork, I finally had the keys to… a car.
- 2:30 PM: The real adventure begins: navigating LA traffic. My GPS, bless its heart, had a meltdown in the vastness of the 405. I’m pretty sure it tried to send me to Bakersfield. Eventually, I emerged, sweaty and slightly traumatized, onto the streets of Long Beach.
- 3:30 PM: Check-in at Residence Inn. Sweet, merciful relief. The lobby is… fine. Standard hotel lobby. The staff, though, are lovely. They’re the unsung heroes of the travel world, really. They deal with the grumpy, the lost, and the perpetually confused (me).
- 4:00 PM: Unpack. The suite is… spacious. Like, "could live in here" spacious. Which is good. Though, I immediately regretted not packing a decent book.
- 5:00 PM: Exploring! Walk around the area. Found a pretty decent Mexican place nearby. Ate a burrito bigger than my head. Regretting it now.
- 7:00 PM: Collapse on the sofa. Staring out of the window with a weird feeling of displacement. What am I even doing here? The endless expanse of a TV screen. I have spent one hour and I feel both deeply alone.
Day 2: Shoreline Village and the Questionable Lobster Roll
- 9:00 AM: Wake up! Surprisingly well-rested. Maybe the burrito was a good idea after all.
- 9:30 AM: Attempt to make breakfast in the kitchenette. The complimentary breakfast at the hotel is… a lot. So, I bought some instant oatmeal. It’s sad, I know. But it’s breakfast.
- 10:30 AM: Walk to Shoreline Village. Cute! Quaint! Touristy. Reminds me of a slightly cleaner version of… well, some places I'd rather not name.
- 11:30 AM: The Aquarium of the Pacific. Wow. The jellyfish are mesmerizing. I could watch them for hours. I did watch them for at least 45 minutes. I may or may not have teared up a little. The sea otters are just plain adorable.
- 1:00 PM: Lunch at a restaurant near Shoreline Village. Ordered a lobster roll. Big mistake. It was… rubbery. And the "lobster" tasted suspiciously like… something else. I won’t elaborate. Let’s just say it wasn't a culinary highlight.
- 2:30 PM: Contemplating the meaning of life while staring at the ocean. Which is always a solid plan.
- 4:00 PM: Back to the hotel. Napping on the couch because the lobster roll did something to my stomach.
- 7:00 PM: Decide a swim in the pool is probably what I need, so I do.
Day 3: The Queen Mary… and a Ghost? (Maybe?)
- 9:00 AM: Breakfast. Oatmeal, again. This is what my life has become.
- 10:00 AM: Visit the Queen Mary. Okay, this is cool. Old ship. History! Ghosts! Or at least, the promise of ghosts. The tour guide was a delightfully eccentric woman with a truly incredible accent. She told us all about the ship's spooky stories, but I'm not really sure I believe it.
- 12:00 PM: Lunch on the Queen Mary. Actually, pretty decent. The lobster roll incident has been forgiven (mostly).
- 2:00 PM: Explore the rest of the ship. I did a lot of climbing the stairs. Which is something that I'm not really a big fan of, tbh.
- 3:00 PM: Head back to the hotel. A little bit of existential dread kicked in, and I need a break to think.
- 4:00 PM: I feel like I didn't sleep well. So I sleep more.
- 7:00 PM: I feel like I need more socializing, so I go to the bar.
- 8:00 PM: Meet up with some other hotel guests to talk, and have some drinks.
- 10:00 PM: Go to sleep after a lot of talking.
Day 4: The Beach, the Sunset, and a Moment of Pure Joy
- 10:00 AM: Sleep in.
- 11:00 AM: Go to the beach. I am not a beach person, but this beach is pretty cool.
- 1:00 PM: Eat.
- 2:00 PM: Read on the beach.
- 3:00 PM: Explore the city.
- 5:00 PM: Go back to the beach to watch the sunset.
- 6:00 PM: Dinner.
- 7:00 PM: That sunset, though. Absolutely stunning. The colors smeared across the sky like a masterpiece. For a moment, I felt… happy. Truly, purely happy. It was a tiny, fleeting moment, but it was enough. I could use my vacation.
Day 5: Museums and Regret (and More Oatmeal)
- 9:00 AM: Oatmeal. Duh.
- 10:00 AM: Head to the Long Beach Museum of Art. Okay, cool art. But I'm not really an "art person." It's a me thing.
- 12:00 PM: Have lunch, this time at a local restaurant.
- 1:00 PM: Decide to go to a history museum. It was boring.
- 3:00 PM: Go back to the hotel.
- 4:00 PM: Feel a deep sense of regret over all the things I'm not doing.
- 6:00 PM: Just order takeout.
- 7:00 PM: Decide to watch a movie.
- 9:00 PM: After the movie, I decide I should sleep.
Day 6: Shopping and the Unexpected Charm of a Discount Store
- 10:00 AM: Wake up. Actually feel okay.
- 11:00 AM: Go shopping.
- 1:00 PM: Realize I don't have enough money.
- 2:00 PM: Have lunch.
- 3:00 PM: Decide to go to a discount store.
- 4:00 PM: Find a thing I really like.
- 5:00 PM: Enjoy the rest of the day.
- 6:00 PM: Go to a fancy restaurant.
- 8:00 PM: Actually enjoy the restaurant.
Day 7: Departure (and the Unavoidable Toll of Travel)
- 8:00 AM: Pack. This is the worst part.
- 9:00 AM: Last breakfast. Oatmeal. Again.
- 10:00 AM: Check out of the hotel. Briefly consider extending my stay. Briefly.
- 11:00 AM: The airport. The unending, soul-crushing airport.
- 1:00 PM: Arrive at home.
- 1:30 PM: Immediately start planning my next trip. Because, despite the questionable lobster rolls, the traffic, and the occasional existential crisis, travel is… well, it's life. And even when it's messy, and even when it’s imperfect, it’s still pretty damn amazing.
So, there you have it. My week at Residence Inn Long Beach. The good, the bad, and the slightly rubbery. May your travels be filled with unexpected joys, delicious meals (that aren’t lobster rolls), and as little traffic as humanly possible. Safe travels, friends. And remember to embrace the beautiful chaos of it all.
Escape to Texas Hill Country: Your Dream San Marcos Getaway Awaits!
Long Beach Getaway: Your Dream Residence Inn Awaits - Or Does It?! (Let's Be Honest Here!)
Okay, so, is this Residence Inn REALLY a "dream"? My expectations are... high. Help me.
What's the deal with the location? Is it actually 'getaway' worthy, or just a parking lot with a view of, like, a dumpster?
The free breakfast... Is it worth the potential for a lukewarm egg disappointment?
Seriously, what’s the biggest letdown *or* the biggest unexpected plus? I need the real scoop.
Let's talk about the pool/hot tub. Are they actually clean? Is it like a crowded chlorine bath of questionable hygiene?
What about the staff? Are they friendly? Or are they the type to make you feel like you're a massive inconvenience just for existing?
Parking. Let's talk about thatLow Price Hotel Blog


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