Escape to Paradise: Largo's Best Extended Stay Suites Await!
Ahoy, Paradise Seekers! My Messy, Honest Take on Largo's Escape to Paradise Suites!
Alright, buckle up buttercups! I just got back from a stay at Escape to Paradise: Largo's Best Extended Stay Suites, and, let me tell you, it was a ride. This isn't your cookie-cutter hotel review. This is real talk, warts and all. Because let's be honest, who actually believes those perfectly polished travel brochures?
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First off, let's talk about accessibility. This is huge for me, because I'm always traveling with my quirky aunt who has some mobility issues. Escape to Paradise gets some serious points here. Wheelchair accessible? Absolutely! Elevators were plentiful (thank goodness!), and the hallways were wide and comfy. The ramp leading up to the main entrance was smooth as butter. They clearly thought about this. Now, finding the specific accessible room was a little confusing. The signs weren't the clearest, and I swear, we wandered around for like, ten minutes asking everyone. But hey, eventually, we found it!
Accessibility Breakdown:
- Positive: Wheelchair accessibility, elevators, wide hallways, ramp.
- Needs Improvement: Signage could use a boost!
Rambling Pause: Okay, let's be real. We all know the struggle is real with accessibility. It's just so critical, you know? It's not just about the physical space; it's about feeling welcome. And I mostly felt welcome there, even when we couldn’t find the room.
Internet & Tech Troubles:
Wi-Fi in all rooms? YES! Free Wi-Fi? YES! Thank the heavenly beings! I can't survive without my internet. However… It was a little patchy at times. I was trying to upload some pictures of the beach, and it was taking forever. I swear, I felt like I was back in the dial-up days. The solution? I switched to the Ethernet cable, and it wasn't much better. Seriously, I’m not certain even the LAN was much help. My advice? Don't rely on streaming your favorite shows here. Keep it simple, I guess.
Internet Breakdown:
- Positive: Free Wi-Fi, Wi-Fi in Public Areas, Available in all rooms, Internet access – wireless, Internet access – LAN.
- Negative: Connectivity issues, even with LAN cable.
Dining, Glorious Dining (and occasional disappointments):
Now, the food. This is where things get REALLY interesting. They've got multiple restaurants, a coffee shop, and a poolside bar. Let's start with the good. The Western breakfast was pretty solid. The pancakes were fluffy, the bacon was crispy – perfect! The Asian breakfast was a weird mix of delicious and questionably authentic, but hey, I'm here for it. They even offered alternative meal arrangement when I couldn’t find exactly what I needed.
But the bar? Let's talk about the bar. The bartenders were friendly, the Happy Hour was… well, happy. But getting a drink at peak times was a battle. Remember that, you all. The Poolside Bar was great during the day. I could practically live at the poolside bar, for now. And I was sure to order water. The Snack Bar was okay, maybe a bit pricey.
Dining Breakdown:
- Positive: Several restaurants, Western & Asian breakfast, Poolside Bar, Coffee Shop, Happy Hour, Alternative Meal Arrangement, Room Service (24-hour), Breakfast Service, Free Bottle of Water.
- Negative: Busy Bar, Snack Bar pricing
The Spa Life (sort of):
Alright, I'm a sucker for a good spa. I was so excited for the Spa/Sauna situation. They Spa they boast had a steam room and a sauna. Yes, yes and yes! When there, the massage was heavenly. They also had a gym/fitness center! I did a Body Scrub and Body Wrap, which was the most luxurious thing I've done in months. It wasn't just a room; it was an experience.
Spa Breakdown:
- Positive: Spa, Sauna, Steamroom, Massage, Gym/Fitness, Body Scrub, Body Wrap, Pool with view
- Neutral: I just wish it was more of a focus.
Cleanliness and Safety: The Surprisingly Important Bits:
Okay, I'm a bit of a germaphobe (don't judge!). Cleanliness and safety were definitely a concern for me coming out of COVID. Escape to Paradise seriously delivered on this front. The place was spotless! They used Anti-viral cleaning products, and you could just smell the freshness. They had Hand sanitizer everywhere, and the staff wore masks. Rooms sanitized between stays? Check! Daily disinfection in common areas? You betcha! They emphasized Physical distancing of at least 1 meter, and they had a Safe dining setup. The Staff trained in safety protocol, which means I felt a lot more comfortable.
Cleanliness & Safety Breakdown:
- Positive: Anti-viral cleaning, Hand sanitizer, Room sanitization, Daily disinfection, Physical distancing, Safe dining setup, Staff trained.
- No Negatives - major points!
The Room Itself - My Personal Sanctuary… Mostly:
Okay, let's get into my ROOM. I had a Non-smoking room (thank goodness!), with air conditioning, blackout curtains (essential!), and a private bathroom. The bed was comfy, with an insanely extra long bed (major bonus!). I was so excited! I also had a window that opened! The room had a mini bar (which the staff graciously let me empty of… "stuff"!) and a refrigerator, and a coffee/tea maker. They also had a scale (which I cautiously used!).
They could probably be making this perfect, though. The bathroom phone was a bit odd. My Mirror was placed in a slightly awkward place, though. The closet was spacious, and I loved the bathrobes, slippers, and towels. They even had a tiny thing of complimentary tea.
Room Breakdown:
- Positive: Air conditioning, Blackout curtains, Private bathroom, Extra long bed, Window that opens, Mini bar, Refrigerator, Coffee/tea maker, Scale, Bathrobes, Slippers, Towels.
- Needs Improvement: Bathroom phone, Mirror placement
Services and Conveniences (The "Stuff" That Matters)
They offer a lot of services. There's a Concierge, and a Luggage storage room, and Daily housekeeping (which was excellent!). They offer Laundry service, and dry cleaning. They provide Cash withdrawal. They had an Elevator for my aunt!
Services and Conveniences Breakdown:
- Positive: Concierge, Luggage storage, Daily housekeeping, Elevator, Laundry service, Dry cleaning, Cash withdrawal.
- Neutral: A lot of "stuff," but nothing that particularly wowed me.
For the Kids (and the Kid at Heart)
I don't have any kids of my own, but I saw plenty of families there. They have Babysitting service and are Family/child friendly. I noticed plenty of families at the Swimming pool [outdoor].
For the Kids Breakdown:
- Positive: Babysitting service, Family friendly, Swimming pool [outdoor].
Getting Around (aka Mobility Matters)
They had Car park [free of charge]! They also had Airport transfer, and Taxi service.
Getting Around Breakdown:
- Positive: Car park [free of charge], Airport transfer, Taxi service.
The Verdict:
Escape to Paradise is a solid choice, especially if you need extended stay suites or are looking for a mostly comfortable place to stay. It's clean, the staff is friendly, and they really make an effort on the accessibility front. The Spa experience was brilliant! Just be patient with the internet and pick your dining times carefully. Overall, I enjoyed my stay. It's not perfect, but it's a good basecamp for exploring Largo, Florida! I’d stay again. And maybe next time, I'll actually get to escape a little more…
Escape to Paradise: Baymont by Wyndham Troy (AL) - Your Dream Getaway Awaits!
Alright, buckle up, buttercups, because this ain't your grandma's itinerary. This is… well, it's my itinerary, and it's probably going to be a glorious mess. We're talking Extended Stay America, St. Pete-Clearwater-ish area, baby! Executive Dr. Largo, to be exact. Let's see if I can actually make it through this without spontaneously combusting from sheer excitement (or boredom, depending on the day).
Day 1: Arrival and the Quest for the Perfect Pillowy Bed (And Maybe Some Food) - Largo Dreams
- Time: Let's pretend it's early. Like, "I'm-gonna-be-productive-but-realistically-it'll-be-noon-before-I-get-out-of-bed" early. (7:00 AM -ish, but who are we kidding?)
- Event: Arrive at Tampa International (TPA). Pray the flight wasn’t delayed. I swear, I've developed a twitch every time I hear the airport announcement for a delay. It's like Pavlov's dog, but instead of drool, I just start internally screaming.
- Transportation: Uber/Lyft from TPA. (Haggling with taxi drivers is NOT in the budget; I blew it all on that ridiculously overpriced airport latte).
- Check-in at Extended Stay. Pray for a clean room. (And a functioning AC. Florida. You know.) I'm not gonna lie, extended stays are… an experience. You never know if you're going to get a room that’s been lived in a legitimate human or some kind of sentient dust bunny. Fingers crossed for the former.
- Quirky Thought: Will the bed be too firm? Too soft? The Goldilocks syndrome of hotel beds, I swear. The hunt for that perfect pillow-y sweet spot is an Olympic sport. Last time, I ended up sleeping on the folded-up comforter for maximum comfort. Don't judge.
- Afternoon: Unpack (or shove everything into a corner, because, goals). This is where I'm going to lose a solid hour staring out the window and contemplating the meaning of life/whether to order pizza for dinner. Emotional reaction: the sheer joy of escaping the routine for a week. Ah, the sweet, sweet freedom of not having to do laundry.
- Rambling Break: Speaking of laundry, I'm planning on hitting a laundromat at some point. Do you ever just stare at washing machines? They're mesmerizing… a swirling vortex of clean clothes and existential dread. (Or is that just me?)
- Late Afternoon: The Search for Sustenance! Time to find food. Preferably something that doesn't involve standing in line for an hour. Maybe hit a grocery store, grab some snacks, and secretly try to eat some of them while the cashier isn't looking,
- Evening: Dinner! Pizza. (It's always pizza. Never apologize for pizza). Watch some trashy TV. (I mean, it's vacation, right?) Collapse into the aforementioned pillow-y bed and drift off into a world of glorious, uninterrupted sleep.
- Messy Reflection: This is the part where I'll probably realize I forgot something crucial, like my phone charger. Cue the internal panic. Also, I bet I'll get lost at least once today. My sense of direction is… legendary (in a bad way).
Day 2: Clearwater Beach & the Unforeseen Pickleball Tournament
- Time: 9:00 AM (ish). Okay fine, maybe 10.
- Morning: Drive to Clearwater Beach! Everyone raves about it. I need to see if the hype is real.
- Transportation: The trusty rental car. (Pray it doesn't break down. Again.)
- Event at Clearwater Beach: This is the plan. Beach! Sun! Sand! Attempt to relax. (Highly ambitious, I know).
- Quirky Observation: I always feel like a slightly overdressed penguin on the beach. Sunscreen, huge hat, oversized sunglasses… I'm basically a walking hazard.
- Afternoon: The Pickleball Incident
- The Setup: Strolling down the beach when I spot a pickleball tournament. I'd never even SEEN pickleball before. Looked ridiculous. Elderly people were playing.
- The Betrayal: (This is where it gets messy.) One of the players, bless their heart, asks, "Honey, wanna join in?"
- The Downfall: Me, being me, said yes. Never played before. Never even held a pickleball paddle. Got utterly destroyed. Repeatedly.
- Emotional Reaction: Humiliation! I am not athletic. I do not have the hand-eye coordination to play a game with tiny nets, tiny courts, and paddles the size of my face. I looked completely ridiculous. I swore I'd NEVER play again.
- Messy Reflection: But… it was kinda fun? Like, laugh-out-loud, snort-when-you-mess-up kind of fun. I blame the Florida sun and the sheer absurdity of the situation.
- Late Afternoon/Evening: Stroll along the pier, watch the sunset. Think I’ll probably buy a souvenir. (Gotta get something for Grandma). Dinner: Seafood. (Because Florida, duh).
- Rambling: I'm really hoping to see dolphins. Or, at the very least, a really cool seagull. (Don't judge my simple pleasures).
Day 3: Botanical Gardens & the Quest for a Decent Coffee
- Morning: Visit a Botanical Garden. (I need something calming after the pickleball debacle. And also, I like flowers.)
- Transportation: Rental car. (Trying to avoid getting lost…again).
- Event: Wander around, smell the roses (literally), try not to get eaten alive by mosquitos.
- Quirky Thought: Do they have a "cactus petting zoo?" Because I would totally be into that.
- Afternoon: The Great Coffee Expedition! Extended Stay coffee is… not great. I am on a sacred mission to find the perfect latte.
- Messy Reflection: This whole trip will probably be a series of good coffee, bad coffee, and some in-between.
- Emotional Reaction (Regarding Coffee): A perfect cup of coffee can cure all ills. Or at least make you feel less grumpy. This quest is CRUCIAL to my happiness.
- Evening: Dinner at some random restaurant. Maybe try a new cuisine. Maybe just get pizza again. (No judgment again).
- Rambling: I'm still not sure what I'm going to do. I'm going to take things day-by-day and adapt to whatever mess shows up.
Day 4 (And Beyond): The Undetermined Adventures
- Time: Who knows?
- The Deal: This is where things get hazy. The core of my trip is here. I'm open to suggestions.
- Possible Events (Maybe in a different order):
- The Dali Museum! (Art! Culture! Pretending to understand modern art!)
- John's Pass Village & Boardwalk! Touristy shenanigans! Maybe some dolphin watching!
- Random Exploration! (Finding hidden gems, getting lost, and possibly needing to be rescued.)
- Repeat Days 1-3! (Because let's be honest: I will probably just end up doing stuff I liked and skipping the rest)
- Transportation: See "Rental Car Blues"
- Emotional Reaction: A mixture of excitement and utter terror because, again, the unknown is in the mix.
- Messy Reflection: I will likely overpack. Underpack. Forget something important. Spend way too much money on frivolous things. Regret some decisions. Laugh a lot. And come home with approximately 500 photos of things.
Day 5-7 (The Unwritten Chapters):
- Repeat the best parts of the previous days.
- Attempt to fit in anything I missed.
- Accept that plans will change.
- Embrace the mess. This is life.
My Trip: The Epilogue
The return trip is very simple. Pack, Check out of the hotel, and get back to TPA in time. Cry, and then get back home.
Final Thoughts:
So, that's my rough itinerary. It’s flexible, a little crazy, and probably completely unrealistic. But hey, if it's anything, it'll just be FUN. Wish me luck (or send pizza, it would be both helpful). If I'm lucky, maybe I’ll learn how to play pickleball. Maybe. No promises!
Escape to Paradise: Bayfront Inn Morro Bay Awaits!
Escape to Paradise: Largo's Best Extended Stay Suites - FAQs (and a Whole Lot More)
Okay, okay, so what *exactly* is "Escape to Paradise"? And why Largo? Feels kinda random...
Alright, alright, dial it back a notch, Captain Curiosity! "Escape to Paradise" isn't just a catchy name; it's the... well, the *premise*. Basically, they're these extended stay suites in Largo, Florida. And yeah, Largo. Look, I didn't pick the location. Maybe someone thought the name had a nice ring to it? "Escape to St. Pete Beach" sounds a bit *too* obvious, right? "Escape to Clearwater," been there, done that (and survived a seagull attack, but that's another story). Largo... it just *is*. It's got its own vibe. Quiet-ish. Close to stuff. You know.
I mean, I ended up there. Had to. Job transferred me, and let's be real, finding a place in this market? Forget about it. So, extended stay it was. And look, after a few weeks, I wasn't *complaining*. Largo grew on me. Slightly.
Extended stay... does that mean it's just like, a LONG hotel? With a sad kitchenette and a dusty coffee maker?
Oof, you've clearly stayed in those places. I've been there, too. The dusty coffee maker is a *vibe*, isn't it? And the sad kitchenette? Yeah, Escape to Paradise *aims* to be better. Notice the word "aims." Let's just say, the coffee maker's not *brand new*—but it *works*. They claim it's "fully equipped." Technically, that's true. You get a fridge (a decent size, actually), a microwave (vital for late-night pizza rolls), a stovetop (I never used it, but it's *there*!), and dishes and silverware. So, yeah, a step *up* from the, “here's a bed and a mini-fridge that barely chills your water" hotels.
Honestly? It's *livable*. And for an extended stay, that's the important thing. You’re not *living* in a shoebox. You're… you know… existing without wanting to cry every time you walk into the room. Okay, maybe sometimes. Depends on the day. But overall, significantly better than a hotel room where you’re staring at the wall, feeling like you’re gonna crack.
What kind of amenities are we talking about? Pool? Gym? Free breakfast (please say free breakfast!)?
Okay, let's be real. Free breakfast is not happening. That's just not the extended stay life. They *do* have a pool, though! It's… fine. Clean-ish, I guess. I used it a couple of times. Mostly, other people were using it. Made me feel weird, like I should be doing something important. Anyway, they have a small gym. I went once. Once. It was enough. Let's just say, it's not exactly a state-of-the-art fitness center. It's… functional. Treadmill, elliptical, some weights that looked like they'd seen better days. Mostly, it was empty, which was a plus. No one to judge *my* workouts (or lack thereof).
They also have laundry facilities. Which is key. Because let's face it, you're there for a while, you gotta do laundry. And let me tell you about the laundry experience. You get a card to load up money to use the machines. Good, right? Wrong! One time, I loaded the card, and one of the washing machines ate my detergent pod! $5 down the drain. I complained. They said, "Well, it *does* happen." Rage, people. Pure, unadulterated rage. So bring extra detergent. Or learn how to hand-wash. I haven't.
How's the internet? Because, you know, gotta work...
Ugh. The internet. Okay, so it was… patchy. Sometimes blazing fast. Other times, I felt like I was back in the dial-up era, listening to that screechy sound. It was a gamble. I had to use it for work, so yeah, potential for panic attacks. During Zoom calls, the connection would sometimes drop, or my video would freeze. I learned to laugh about it, or pretend it was a "technical difficulty." "Sorry, guys, the internet is… working hard today!" But inside? I was a screaming, caffeine-deprived mess. Bring a backup hotspot. You’ll thank me. Seriously.
What about the "escape" part? Is there anything fun to DO around Largo? Parks? Beaches? Restaurants?
Okay, finally, we're getting to the good stuff! The "escape" part. Largo itself… is Largo. But you're close to *things*. Beaches? Yes! Clearwater Beach is a short drive. St. Pete Beach isn't too far either. I spent many weekends there, staring at the ocean, pretending my life wasn’t falling apart (it wasn’t, really, just thought it was at the time). Lots of parks. There's John S. Taylor Park, which is actually pretty nice for a walk. You can even rent a kayak. I fell in the water once. Not a fun experience. The water tasted like… well, I don’t know what it tasted like, but it wasn't good. Never again.
Restaurants? Plenty! Everything from fast food to some decent local spots. I'm still partial to the little pizza place a few blocks away. And there's this ice cream shop... oh man. I went there way too often. It was my weekly therapy session. So, yeah. Escape to paradise is… what you make of it. The location is pretty solid, all things considered. You can have a good time there. You just have to find it. And maybe bring some ice cream. Definitely bring ice cream.
Okay, let's talk about the *people*. The staff, the other residents... what's the vibe?
Staff? Generally, nice. They were helpful when I needed something. They're not overly intrusive, which I liked. I've dealt with some hotels where the staff always feels like they're hovering. Not here. They let you… *be*. Which is probably what you need when you're, you know, escaping. And I swear, they knew my name after a week. Creepy? Maybe. But also, efficient. If I needed a towel, they knew who I was pretty damn quickly.
The other residents… it's a mixed bag, as you'd expect. Some were clearly traveling professionals like me. Some looked like they were… between things. Some were… permanent residents. There was a woman who always wore a hat in the pool, which I still don’t understand. There was a guy who practiced the drums. *Constantly*. I almost lost it one nightEasy Hotel Hunt
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