
Escape to Baltimore: Luxurious Stay at La Quinta Inn & Suites Glen Burnie
Escape to Baltimore (and Sanity?): A Messy Memoir of La Quinta Inn & Suites Glen Burnie
Okay, buckle up buttercups, because this ain't your typical cookie-cutter hotel review. I just clawed my way out of La Quinta Inn & Suites Glen Burnie… alive, vaguely refreshed, and with a story to tell. Think of it as a survivor's tale, a gritty exploration of Baltimore's (slightly less glamorous) outskirts. Let's dissect this stay, shall we?
First Impressions (Or, The Great Parking Panic):
Finding the place was easy enough – GPS is a godsend, even if it leads you through questionable neighborhoods. But the Car park [free of charge]? Bless its heart, it's spacious enough, but good luck navigating it during peak hours. I swore I saw a rogue minivan give a death stare as I squeezed into a tiny spot. Valet parking? Nope. Car power charging station? Not on my watch. (Although, honestly, after the parking saga, I wouldn’t have trusted myself to operate one.) So, chaos from the start! (Important info: Check-in/out [express] was offered, which I desperately needed, but the lobby still felt a bit… frantic.)
Accessibility: Can a Wheelchair Conquer This Place? Maybe.
I didn't need Facilities for disabled guests, but I did observe some. The elevators were readily available (Elevator – check!), and there were ramps, so points for effort. However, getting around felt a tad… cumbersome. Wide doorways are great, but the hallways felt a bit claustrophobic. It's a mixed bag, but they're trying, which is better than a slap in the face.
Rooms: Sweet Serenity (Mostly), and a Dreadful Desk:
My room? Non-smoking rooms, thankfully, because I’d have choked on the stale air of Baltimore otherwise! It had everything you expect: Air conditioning (hallelujah!), Desk (more on that later), Coffee/tea maker, Refrigerator (essential for stashing Baltimore-bound crab dip…), a Seating area, and a TV with the requisite On-demand movies. The Bathroom? Standard hotel-issue, with a Shower, Toiletries (meh), and a surprisingly effective Hair dryer. Air conditioning in public area…well, sometimes it worked, sometimes it didn't.
But that Desk! Oh, the desk. It was obviously designed by someone who had never attempted to work from a hotel room. Small, awkwardly positioned, and the lighting? Dim and depressing. I spent an hour wrestling with my laptop, battling glare and the overwhelming urge to just give up and watch TV. I'm a writer, and this desk was my enemy. Consider this a warning, fellow digital nomads! The Internet access – wireless (and crucially, free) was a saving grace, although the signal faltered occasionally. They boast Free Wi-Fi in all rooms! and Internet access – LAN, but I stuck with the wireless.
Cleanliness and Safety: The Sanitization Tango
Okay, let's be honest. I was a little paranoid about germs post-pandemic. La Quinta did a decent job of alleviating my fears. Rooms sanitized between stays, Daily disinfection in common areas, and Staff trained in safety protocol were all reassuring. They touted Anti-viral cleaning products and Professional-grade sanitizing services, which made me feel slightly less like I was wading into a petri dish. Hand sanitizer was readily available, and they offered Individually-wrapped food options at the breakfast buffet. I appreciated the effort, even if it didn't completely erase my anxiety.
The Breakfast Bonanza – Or, My Quest for a Decent Coffee:
Speaking of food, let's talk Breakfast [buffet]. It was… there. Breakfast service was on – with Asian breakfast option (never tried), and Western breakfast. Think the usual suspects: scrambled eggs that tasted suspiciously like plastic, stale muffins, and the world's saddest selection of fruit. The coffee? Abyss-level dark. Undrinkable. I ended up doing a Starbucks run, which sort of negated the "free" aspect of the breakfast. There was supposed to be Coffee/tea in restaurant and Coffee shop, I gave them a miss. Also, the Breakfast takeaway service was available, but in my haste to escape the breakfast room, I forgot. This aspect needed serious intervention or just a complete replacement.
Dining, Drinking, and Snacking: Slim Pickings, Folks:
Let me reiterate: Baltimore is all about the food, but, well, the La Quinta is not. Besides the buffet, the Restaurants were pretty much non-existent. The Snack bar was stocked with the usual overpriced gas station fare. I did spot a Bar, but it was perpetually understaffed, so I gave up on that dream swiftly. There was no Poolside bar and to be honest, with the weather conditions, it was not an option. The Room service [24-hour], well, I didn't test it. I was too busy stalking down the best crab cakes in the city. (I found them. Bliss.) Bottle of water and some Essential condiments were on hand.
Things to Do and Ways to Relax: Gym, Spa, and… Well, Baltimore:
Okay, the hotel itself isn't a relaxation destination. They have a Fitness center, which I briefly ventured into. It looked… used (and the air conditioning was questionable). They had a Swimming pool [outdoor], but who knows, probably not a very inviting one (I didn't brave it). Spa, Sauna, Steamroom, Massage, Body scrub, Body wrap, Foot bath, and Pool with view are not available. The real "things to do" resided outside the hotel: Baltimore's charm.
Services and Conveniences: The Good, the Bad, and the Bureaucratic:
The staff were generally pleasant. Front desk [24-hour]? Yes, but sometimes it felt like they were running a one-woman show. Daily housekeeping was a plus, and the Luggage storage was helpful. The Convenience store was handy for last-minute needs. Cash withdrawal was available, but I mostly used my card. Concierge, Air conditioning in public area, Dry cleaning, and Laundry service, are there. Invoice provided… maybe.
For the Kids: The Jury's Still Out:
I traveled solo, so I didn't need the Babysitting service or the Kids facilities. But, with a bunch of Family/child friendly, I noticed some kids. They seemed… fine.
Getting Around: Driving is a Must, Unfortunately
Airport transfer? Nope. Taxi service? Yes, but factor in waiting times. Unless you have a car, you'll be relying on ride-sharing apps.
Getting down to the nitty gritty:
- CCTV in common areas and CCTV outside property I believe, but I did not check.
- Check-in/out [private] – nope. I don't think so.
- Couple's room - not in mine.
- Exterior corridor - yes indeed.
- Fire extinguisher – sure.
- Hotel chain - definitely.
- Non-smoking rooms, thank goodness.
- Pets allowed unavailable
- Proposal spot - I highly doubt it.
- Room decorations - nothing remotely exciting.
- Safety/security feature - present.
- Security [24-hour] - yes.
- Smoke alarms - yup.
- Soundproof rooms - not quite, heard people banging.
- Additional toilet - No.
- Alarm clock - of course
- Bathrobes - nah
- Bathroom phone - what?!
- Bathtub - yes, and it's fine.
- Blackout curtains - yes.
- Carpeting - yup.
- Closet - yes.
- Complimentary tea - no.
- Desk, oh yes.
- Extra long bed - perhaps!
- Free bottled water - yes.
- Hair dryer - yep.
- High floor - optional.
- In-room safe box - yup.
- Interconnecting room(s) available - I think so.
- Internet access – LAN, I think so.
- Ironing facilities - absolutely.
- Laptop workspace - yes.
- Linens - yup.
- Mini bar - no.
- Mirror - of course.
- Non-smoking - yes.
- On-demand movies - yes.
- Private bathroom - yes.
- Reading light - yes.
- Refrigerator - yes.
- Safety/security feature - yes

Okay, buckle up, buttercups, because this isn't your grandma's itinerary. This is a real human's attempt at organizing a trip, and frankly, I'm already exhausted just thinking about it. We're talking La Quinta Inn & Suites in Glen Burnie, Maryland. Prepare for glorious chaos.
Day 1: Arrival and the Agony of Choice (and Parking)
1:00 PM - 1:30 PM: Arrival in Baltimore/Glen Burnie. Right, first hurdle: getting there. Assuming I'm not stranded in a ditch somewhere, I'll hopefully arrive at the La Quinta. Pray for me; I'm terrible with directions. And parking? Ugh, the bane of every traveler's existence. Fingers crossed for a spot close to the entrance. (I'd be ecstatic to avoid a hike with my rolling suitcase – it’s filled with way too many "just in case" outfits).
1:30 PM - 2:00 PM: Check-in. Okay, smile, make polite small talk about the weather, and try not to stare blankly at the receptionist when they ask about my preferred room type. Because honestly, I'd be happy with a room that doesn't actively try to kill me. Good vibes only, people!
2:00 PM - 2:30 PM: The Room Reveal. This is it. The big moment. Will it be a mold-infested dungeon? A pristine paradise? Or just… a room? I secretly hope for a room with a view, but let's be real, I'll probably be staring at a dumpster or the I-97. Prepare for disappointment… and possibly a minor freak-out if the air conditioning is broken. (I sweat. A lot.)
2:30 PM - 3:30 PM: Unpacking and settling in… or at least, attempting to. This is where I discover all the things I forgot (toothbrush, charger, sanity). Pro tip: pack snacks. Always pack snacks. Because hangry-me is not a pretty sight.
3:30 PM - 5:00 PM: Decision Paralysis and the Quest for Food. Okay, here’s where the real fun begins. Where to eat? The sheer number of choices… overwhelming! I'll probably spend an hour swiping through Yelp, Google Maps, and every food delivery app known to humankind, before finally settling on something entirely different, because my indecisiveness is a superpower. Seriously, I can't make a decision to save my life. (Anyone got a recommendation for good pizza near Glen Burnie? Asking for a friend… who is me.)
5:00 PM - 6:00 PM: Dinner and Possible Regret. Eat. Maybe the pizza, maybe something else. Observe the people, laugh, and maybe regret the choice I made just as the first bite enters my mouth.
6:00 PM - 9:00 PM: Evening Exploration (or, more realistically, Binge-Watching). Ambitious me might try to actually see something in Glen Burnie. I'm thinking maybe a stroll around a park, but let's be honest: I'll probably end up sprawled on the bed, binge-watching some trashy reality show on cable, because, you know, vacation. If I am in luck I will at least find a bar (for a quick drink) and some place to get coffee.
9:00 PM - 10:00 PM: Attempt at Sleep. This is the hardest part. Hotels are often loud, so I'll try and drown out the noise with soundproofing (or at least, with the hopes that it's on my side)
Day 2: A Deep Dive into… Well, Whatever's Open
7:00 AM - 8:00 AM: Wake Up and the Morning Ritual. Wake up at a time that's probably not optimal, but hey, I'm an optimist! Coffee (because, caffeine!), a quick shower (fingers crossed for hot water!), and the existential dread of the day ahead.
8:00 AM - 9:00 AM: Breakfast, or More Likely, the Hotel's "Free" Breakfast. The dreaded hotel breakfast. Let's be honest, it's usually a mix of sad-looking pastries, watery coffee, and pre-packaged everything. I'll take what I can get. I'll be polite about it. (maybe)
9:00 AM - 10:00 AM: Planning (again). This is where I look back at the day before, see my failures, and try to do better.
10:00 AM - 1:00 PM: The Baltimore Experience (Part 1: The Inner Harbor). Uh oh, now we're in the big leagues. Driving into Baltimore. I might try to actually do something!
1:00 - 3:00 PM: Lunch near the inner Harbor .
3:00 PM - 6:00 PM: The Baltimore Experience (Part 2: Historic Spots). Okay, maybe I'll learn something today!
6:00 PM - 9:00 PM: Dinner and the Eternal Struggle. Another meal, another opportunity for culinary chaos. Maybe I'll be brave, and try a local crab shack. Or maybe, I'll chicken out and opt for something familiar, because safety in predictability, right?
9:00 PM Onwards: Evening Wind-Down (and Existential Musings). Back to the La Quinta. More TV. Maybe a little journaling (if I'm feeling particularly philosophical). And the slow, creeping realization that vacation is already half over.
Day 3: The Reckoning (and Departure)
- 7:00 AM - 8:00 AM: Wake up, and the realization it's almost time to go home.
- 8:00 AM - 9:00 AM: Breakfast (again, hotel).
- 9:00 AM - 11:00 AM: Packing and the Post-Vacation Blues. The dreaded task of packing. I'll probably leave a trail of forgotten items in my wake. And the sadness of knowing it’s almost over.
- 11:00 AM - 12:00 PM: Check-out.
- 12:00 PM Onwards: Departure.
Final Thoughts:
This is a chaotic, optimistic, imperfect travel plan. I'm not aiming for perfection. I'm aiming for… survival. And maybe, just maybe, a few good stories to tell when I get back. Wish me luck – because I'm going to need it.
Escape to Springfield, MO: Your Perfect Stay at Super 8 Nixa!
Escape to Baltimore: La Quinta Glen Burnie FAQs (Because, Honestly, We All Need a Break)
Okay, so, La Quinta Glen Burnie... luxury? Really? Like, are we talking Buckingham Palace, or... something else?
The breakfast... tell me about the breakfast. Is it the sad, sad continental breakfast of my nightmares?
Is the pool swimmable? And by swimmable, I mean… is it actually *clean*?
What's the parking situation like? Because I *hate* circling the block for an hour.
How's the location? Is it actually convenient for… well, anything? Is it near anything fun?
Are the rooms actually clean? I have a phobia of dust bunnies and questionable stains.
Anything *truly* memorable happen during your stays? (Good or bad!) Spill the tea!


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