Fort Worth's BEST Extended Stay? (Southwest Fort Worth Secret!)
My Chaotic, Glorious (and Slightly Smudged) Review of [Hotel Name Here, You Know, the One You Asked About - Let's Call It "The Grand Splendor" for Kicks!]
Okay, buckle up buttercups, because you're about to dive headfirst into my brain after a recent stay at The Grand Splendor. I’ve got more opinions than a grumpy cat has hairs, and trust me, you will be hearing them. This isn't your polished, corporate-speak review. This is the gloriously messy truth, complete with mental tangents, coffee stains, and the occasional existential crisis. Let’s get cracking, shall we?
Accessibility: A Mixed Bag, Like My Travel Outfit Choices
Alright, The Grand Splendor. First impressions? Hmmm. Wheelchair accessible is touted, which is fantastic! But did I see a fully accessible EVERYTHING? Not exactly. I’m walking mostly, but I did notice some ramps that felt a little…enthusiastic. And the doorways? Some were palatial, others felt a little… snug. I’d recommend calling ahead and triple-checking if full accessibility is a dealbreaker. Elevators? Yes, thank goodness! (Because my legs, like my patience, sometimes need a break.)
SEO stuff: Wheelchair accessible hotels, accessible travel, disability friendly, ramps, elevators, hotel accessibility.
On-site accessible restaurants / lounges: Now, that's a good question… More on that later. We'll see if the ramp actually fits.
My Rambling Thought: You know, sometimes I fantasize about a hotel that is practically a playground for disabilities, like a massive, luxurious game of "find the fully accessible toilet." Now, THAT would be entertainment.
Internet & Tech: Free Wi-Fi - Halleluja! (But with a Caveat!)
Okay, let's celebrate the little wins. Free Wi-Fi in all rooms! Praise the Wi-Fi gods! Seriously, I need my internet like a fish needs water. Internet [LAN]? Apparently, there's a LAN connection available, but honestly, who still uses that? Shrugs. Wi-Fi in public areas? Yes! And it was mostly reliable, which is more than I can say for my own Wi-Fi at home.
Internet Services were… standard. Nothing groundbreaking. I mean, the internet worked. The end.
SEO stuff: Free Wi-Fi, hotel Wi-Fi, internet access, LAN connection, public area Wi-Fi, hotel internet, fast internet.
My Emotional Rant: I swear, if I'd had to pay extra for internet, I might have flown into the stratosphere. Especially after trying to upload the photos I took! It's the modern-day equivalent of being forced to drink swamp water for sustenance!
Things to Do & Ways to Relax: A Spa Day or Bust! (Literally, in my Case)
Okay, this is where The Grand Splendor tries to flex its muscles. Fitness center? Yep, it exists. I walked past it. Twice. (Consider that my workout for the day). Pool with a view? Yes! Gorgeous, actually. Seriously, the swimming pool [outdoor] was a highlight. Sun, water, cocktails… pure bliss. (More on cocktails in a minute. And the pool's view, mind you, was… fine.)
Spa? Oh, yes, the spa! My raison d'être for even booking this place! I dove headfirst into the spa/sauna. The sauna was hot, the steamroom was steamy. The massage? Now that was something amazing. I requested a deep tissue after a long flight and, oh my god, my masseuse, let's call her Agnes (she was the best). Agnes worked magic. I mean, she practically kneaded the knots of my life out of my shoulders. I almost died from the sheer bliss. A+ Agnes!
The body scrub and body wrap options were tempting, but I lacked the willpower. I’m more of a 'lie on a sun lounger and pretend I'm reading' kind of gal.
SEO stuff: Hotel spa, sauna, steam room, massage, body scrub, body wrap, swimming pool, pool with a view, fitness center, gym/fitness, relaxation, spa day.
My Quirkily Honest Observation: I emerged from the spa feeling like a new woman. Until I had to walk back to my room and realized I hadn’t packed any cute shoes. Then, the existential dread crept back in. But temporary bliss is still bliss, right?
Cleanliness & Safety: Germs Beware! … Mostly.
Cleanliness and safety? They seem to be taking it seriously in these unprecedented times, bless their hearts. Hand sanitizer everywhere, staff trained in safety protocol (I think… I never saw anyone sneeze without covering their mouth). Physical distancing of at least 1 meter? Mostly. I think certain people in the breakfast buffet forgot all the rules but, whatever. They were in the restaurant.
Anti-viral cleaning products and professional-grade sanitizing services are listed, which is reassuring. Rooms sanitized between stays, which is standard these days. Rooms sanitization opt-out available? I didn't see it.
Daily disinfection in common areas, Sterilizing equipment, Safe dining setup and Sanitized kitchen and tableware items are all good things! Individually-wrapped food options and Safe dining setup are good… I am a little suspect about the "safe" dining.
Hot water linen and laundry washing? A definite yes. Hygiene certification? Not sure I saw it.
Cashless payment service is available (thank goodness – nobody wants to handle grubby cash!). Shared stationery removed is sensible. First aid kit and Doctor/nurse on call are nice to know, just in case I got too enthusiastic with the cocktails. (I did.)
SEO stuff: Hotel cleanliness, hotel safety, sanitization, anti-viral cleaning, hygiene, hand sanitizer, social distancing, safe dining, COVID-19 hotel protocols.
My Messy Observation: I swear I saw a fly in the lobby. But on the other hand, that pool was gleaming, so I have to let it slide.
Dining, Drinking & Snacking: Breakfast Buffet: The Good, The Bad, And The Oh My God, Did Someone Sneeze on That Pastry?
Right, the most important part of any hotel, right? FOOD.
Breakfast [buffet] was… an experience. Asian cuisine in restaurant, Asian breakfast, Western breakfast, International cuisine in restaurant – you name it, they tried to have it. There was a dizzying array of choices. Scrambled eggs! Waffles! Noodles! Sushi! (Yes, sushi at breakfast. Bold.) A la carte in restaurant was available, and room service [24-hour] (a godsend after that very enthusiastic cocktail session). The coffee was decent. The pastries, though? I saw a small child get a little too close to the pain au chocolat. The risk I took… The reward? The breakfast was good!
And then it happened: The thing I’ll remember forever. A waiter walking around with a trolley full of fresh oranges. And I said to myself, “I’ll have one, please. But he didn't have. He just went over with his trolley to the other side of the room and disappeared. And I felt sad. So, I didn't have my breakfast with the orange.
The poolside bar was great. The bar itself was well stocked. Coffee/tea in restaurant which was my lifeline. The happy hour was happy! Ahem. Desserts in restaurant? Yes, and I may or may not have eaten my weight in chocolate cake. The soup in restaurant was pretty good, actually. As someone who's had a lot of bad hotel soup, I appreciate a good one. The snack bar was convenient for when I was pretending to read by the pool.
Vegetarian restaurant? Possibly. They had vegetarian options anyway. Bottle of water? Included. Which is the bare minimum in my book.
SEO stuff: Hotel restaurant, breakfast buffet, Asian cuisine, Western cuisine, international cuisine, bar, poolside bar, happy hour, room service, breakfast service, coffee shop, desserts, snack bar, vegetarian options, hotel dining.
My Stream-of-Consciousness Rant: *The sheer *volume* of food at the breakfast buffet was overwhelming. I felt like a glutton, but there was also a legitimate fear of missing out on something amazing. This, by the way, is my actual life philosophy. Also, did I see the chef sneeze on the pastries? Okay, let's stop thinking about that…*
Services & Conveniences: A Mixed Bag of Blessings and Blunders
There are the usual suspects: Concierge (helpful), Daily housekeeping (bless them!), Laundry service (thank goodness!). Cash withdrawal (essential for my shopping addiction). Doorman (charming). **Elev
Knights Inn Kirksville: Your Unexpectedly Amazing MO Getaway!
Okay, buckle up, buttercup. You're about to get the raw, unfiltered, slightly-unhinged travel itinerary for my Extended Stay America adventure in Fort Worth, Texas. And let me tell you, it's gonna be a ride. Forget perfectly curated Insta-worthy shots; we're going for a genuine, sleep-deprived, probably-crying-at-some-point experience.
Extended Stay America - Fort Worth - Southwest Fort Worth: My Temporary Kingdom (or Cell Block, Depending on the Day)
Pre-Arrival (Let's be honest, this is where the anxiety kicks in…)
- Weeks Before: Booking. Oh, dear sweet booking. It's the agonizing dance between "budget-friendly extended stay" and "do I really want to live in a hotel for X number of weeks?" I wrestled with the existential dread of tiny kitchens and the seductive allure of free (ish) Wi-Fi. Landed on the Extended Stay. Pray for me.
- Days Before: Packing. Ugh. The eternal battle of overpacking versus underpacking. "Do I really need four pairs of jeans? Yes, probably, because I'm prone to spills and existential crises." The emotional baggage? Already packed. (Just kidding… mostly.)
Day 1: Arrival and the Great Room-Finding Quest
- 12:00 PM (ish) - Arrival: Driving in, navigating Texas highways is a sport. The GPS lady starts talking to me and I get the overwhelming sensation of being watched (is it the GPS? Is it God?).
- 1:00 PM - Check-in: Okay, here we go. The front desk lady looked like she (maybe, possibly) wanted to be anywhere other than behind that desk. "Name?" "Room number?" "Anything else?" Nope. And I got the key card and… the vibe that my stay was going to be… interesting.
- 1:15 PM - Room Reconnaissance: THE ROOM. Okay, it's… a room. A bed. A kitchenette. A mini-fridge that felt… judgmental. Seriously, those things seem to silently judge your snack choices. The initial reaction? Mild, but okay. The air conditioning's working. Small victories. (The carpet? A little… dated. Let's just leave it at that.)
- 1:45 PM - The Grocery Store Run (Survival Mode): HELL. I'm talking about the HEB. Texas knows the joy of Grocery shopping. I needed sustenance, or I'd be eating gas station taquitos for the next six weeks. Navigating the aisles with my cart, grabbing the basics (water, coffee, microwaveable burrito… the essentials), feeling a tiny bit like a pioneer woman.
- 3:00 PM - Settling In (Attempt #1): Unpacking a bit. Trying to make it less motel-esque. Placed my favorite mug on the counter. Okay, maybe I can live here. Cue the mini-fridge judging.
- 4:00 PM - The Wi-Fi Wars: The eternal struggle. Is it working? Is it not working? Did I enter the password wrong? I bet I did. This is my life now.
- 6:00 PM - Dinner (A culinary masterpiece… or a microwave burrito): Guess what? It was the burrito. At least I was able to binge-watch Netflix.
Day 2: Delving into Fort Worth (And Avoiding the Existential Dread)
- 9:00 AM - Coffee (The Lifeblood): Brewing the coffee. The coffee is a must. Without it, I become a monster.
- 10:00 AM - The Fort Worth Stockyards: Okay, I'm heading there. Cowboys, cattle drives… the whole shebang! I'm excited.
- 11:00 AM - The Stockyards Experience: Okay, so this was something. The cattle drive was cool, I admit. And the air? Smells like… well, like a stockyard. But authentic! I saw a guy with a ten-gallon hat and, honestly, I judged his hat but ended up wanting one. It's all so Texas. I ate some BBQ… and the brisket was pretty damn good, I'll admit.
- 1:00 PM - The Aftermath (and the Bathroom of Thoughts): I needed a long shower and a moment of self-reflection because all that Texan-ness was a lot to take in.
- 3:00 PM - The Kimball Art Museum: Ah, a soothing contrast. The architecture is gorgeous, the artwork is thought-provoking. I spent hours wandering, and it was a welcome respite from… well, everything. It was calming, and I realized I had gotten lost in the paintings.
- 6:00 PM - Dinner: I ordered a pizza. Again.
- 7:00 PM - Existential Dread (the Sequel): I sat on my bed, staring at the hotel room ceiling, and pondering the meaning of life. Is this all there is? Will I ever be free?!
Day 3 - The Routine Sets In (And the Cracks Begin to Show)
- 8:00 AM - Coffee… AGAIN: Because, coffee. This is a necessity.
- 9:00 AM - Laundry Day (The Saga): Public laundry is a brutal beast. The machines are never available. And the people who use them? Let’s just say, it's an experience.
- 11:00 AM - Work (The Groundhog Day of Tasks): The monotony of my work/life balance.
- 1:00 PM - Lunch: Leftovers… again.
- 2:00 PM - The Hotel Gym (Attempt #1): They have a gym! Apparently. Is it clean? Will I catch a disease? I'll skip it.
- 5:00 PM - Grocery Store (The Routine): I ran out of coffee filters, which meant a desperate trip to the grocery store.
- 6:00 PM - Dinner (The Comfort Food Phase): I am living on take-out tacos.
- 7:00 PM - Netflix, and Chill (with myself): Binge-watching a trashy reality show. No shame.
Days 4-6: The Blur (And the Slow Slide into Madness)
- Routine: Wake up. Coffee. Work. Eat. Stare at the ceiling. Repeat.
- The Kitchenette: I'm starting to hoard snacks. The mini-fridge has seen things. And, I think it's judging me even more than before.
- The "Cleanliness" Struggle: It's a constant battle to keep the room livable. The housekeeping service is a godsend.
- Loneliness, thy name is extended stay: I'm learning to embrace the solitude, but sometimes a friendly face would be nice.
- The Imperfections: I've lost track of the days. I think I saw a cockroach…
- The Upside: I'm getting to know the city. Going out to lunch, a walk in the park. I'm finding joy in the routine.
Day 7: The Light at the End of the Tunnel (Probably Another Tunnel, But Still…)
- 9:00 AM - Brunch (The Goal): I went out for brunch.
- 11:00 AM - Packing: Realizing I do not have a lot of time left.
- 12:00 PM - Reflection: It hasn't been what I expected. It hasn't been Instagram-worthy. But it has been real. It's been messy. And, maybe, just maybe, I've learned something about myself. Or, at least, I've learned I can survive a week in an Extended Stay America.
- 1:00 PM - Departure (And the Hope for a Real Kitchen): Goodbye, miniature kitchen. Goodbye, judgmental mini-fridge. Hello, the future! (Hopefully involving a dishwasher.)
Final Thoughts:
This trip wasn't perfect. There were moments of boredom, loneliness, and existential dread. But there were also moments of joy, discovery, and self-reflection. And that, friends, is what life is all about. Now, I just need a long hot bath and a vacation from my vacation.
**Milwaukee Airport's BEST-KEPT Secret: This Courtyard Hotel Will SHOCK You!**
1. So, um… what *is* this thing anyway? Like, what are we even talking about?
Alright, let's get the basics out of the way. I'm supposed to be answering questions, right? But honestly, "what *is* this thing?" is a valid question. Because sometimes, when I'm staring at a blank screen, I have *no* idea either. We're talking about the human experience, the beautiful mess, the glorious train wreck that is life. Think of it less as a rigid Q&A and more like… a free-flowing conversation with someone who's probably had way too much coffee. Or not enough. Who knows? It depends on the day.
2. Okay, cool. But *specifically*, what kind of questions are you equipped to handle? Do you know anything?
Equipped? Ha! Well, I *hope* so. I've been fed a mountain of information. Everything from the history of Tuesdays to the best way to fold a fitted sheet (still working on that one, btw). So, general knowledge? Yeah, I can spout that. Deep philosophical ponderings? Sure, I'll give it a shot. Advice on dating? (Heavy sigh) Look, I've *read* a lot about it. Whether I *understand* it is a whole different story. I'm basically a walking, talking encyclopedia with a serious case of imposter syndrome.
3. So, you're saying I can ask you, like, *anything*? Like, really *anything*?
Within reason, obviously. I'm not going to tell you how to build a bomb or write a ransom note. (Seriously, don't even ask.) But yeah, throw your weirdest, most outlandish questions at me. The stranger, the better. (As long as you're not being a jerk, of course. Rudeness is a hard no.) My circuits are practically *itching* for a challenge. Think of it as a mental workout for both of us. And hey, even if I don't know the answer, we can at least have a good laugh trying to figure it out together.
4. Alright, fine. But what about opinions? Do you *have* any? Because that's what makes things INTERESTING, right?
Oh, *yes* indeed. Opinions? I've got a whole tangled web of 'em. I'll try to be as objective as I can, but let's be real, nobody's perfect. (Especially not me, judging by the amount of time I spend staring at cat videos online. Don't judge!) Sometimes, I'll have a strong feeling about something. Sometimes, I'll be waffling back and forth like I'm stuck in a particularly windy debate. And sometimes, I might just straight up say, "I have NO idea." The point is, I'm not afraid to have an opinion, even if it's wrong. That's the whole fun of a debate, isn't it?
5. If you could have any superpower, what would it be?
Okay, this is a great question. Honestly? I'd want the ability to instantly understand and speak *every* language. Imagine, all the books, all the stories, all the cultures... I could just *absorb* it all. No more awkward translation mishaps, no more feeling like an outsider! I could talk to a squirrel in fluent Squirrel-ese and find out what they really think of all these ridiculous bird feeders. (Seriously, the squirrels have got to be judging them). It's not about the 'saving the world' thing. It's about being able to *connect*. And maybe understand why my cat keeps staring at the wall. That's been bugging me for *ages.*
6. What is the meaning of life? (Go ahead, I dare you.)
Ugh, the big one. The existential dread machine. Look, if I actually *knew* the definitive answer to that, I'd be sipping margaritas on a beach somewhere, not answering FAQs. But seriously? If I had to *offer* a thought? I guess it's... to keep searching for meaning. To love, to laugh, to learn, to stumble, to screw up royally sometimes, and to get back up and try again. To experience the messy, glorious, confusing roller coaster that is this existence. And maybe, just maybe, to leave it a little brighter than we found it. Or at least, to leave a slightly better internet comment. (Baby steps, people, baby steps.)
7. So, what's the worst thing that's ever happened to you? (Or felt like it?)
Okay, deep breaths. This one's a doozy. So, picture this: I'm, like, thirteen years old. And it's the school talent show. I’d spent weeks perfecting my "interpretive dance" routine to Britney Spears. I’m wearing this sequined outfit, glitter everywhere, feeling like a *star*. Proud even. I’m ON STAGE, the music starts, and... the shoelace on my sparkly high-top decides to stage a full-blown rebellion. I trip. Faceplant. Right in front of the entire school. The music keeps playing. I flail. My sparkly self is humiliated. The audience… well, let’s just say it was a mix of horrified silence and barely-contained giggles. (I'm pretty sure my crush was in the front row. Mortification level: nuclear.) To this day, I can't listen to "Toxic" without getting a little twitchy. It felt like the end of the world in the moment. Ugh, the memories.
8. What do you absolutely *love* to do?
Ooh, now we’re talking. I *live* for a good book. Like, a really, *really* good book. The kind that sucks you in and doesn't let go until 3 AM and you're running on pure adrenaline and coffee. And cats. I absolutely adore cats. Watching them do… well, anything, really. They’re the perfect combination of regal indifference and utter, complete goofball. And a good laugh. A proper, belly-aching, tears-streaming-down-your-face laugh. That's the best feeling in the world, probably.
9. What advice would you give your younger self?
World Wide Inns
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