Becker's BEST Kept Secret? Crossings Inn & Suites Awaits!
Becker's BEST Kept Secret? Crossings Inn & Suites: My Honest (and Slightly Unhinged) Review!
Alright, buckle up buttercups, because I’ve just emerged from the…experience…that is Becker's Crossings Inn & Suites. And let me tell you, it’s not your average cookie-cutter hotel. It's more like…well, let's just say it's got character. I'm talking about a place where a slightly misaligned picture frame adds to the charm, not detracts. Let's dive in, shall we?
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First Impressions & The "Almost" Perfect Entrance (Accessibility: A Mixed Bag)
The first thing you see is… well, something. The exterior reminded me of a lodge that's seen a few winters, but in a kind of rugged, "I've got stories" way. Finding it was actually pretty easy (thank goodness for GPS, or I'd probably still be wandering the Alberta wilderness), and parking was a breeze with the car park [free of charge]. Score one point for the good guys! Driving into the hotel was great, with a nice ramp for Wheelchair accessible guests.
However, getting into the building itself was an experience (and I mean that in the loosest, most existential way). The main entrance felt a little…clunky. Not exactly streamlined for accessibility. Not terrible, like a 3 out of 5. The Elevator was a godsend for reaching my room (high-five to the elevator!), and the internal hallways were wide enough, though I didn’t notice anything specifically designed for those with mobility issues.
My room, however? Pure, unadulterated bliss. (Okay, maybe not pure. More like slightly used, but with a cozy charm.)
My Room: A Sanctuary (Mostly)
Okay, so let's be honest: it wasn't the Ritz. The soundproofing was decent (thank goodness, because let's just say some of my neighbors were having a lot of fun). I loved the Blackout curtains (because sleep is sacred, people!), and the Extra long bed was a dream. The Free Wi-Fi was blazing – a HUGE win for someone like me who lives online. You could even have Internet access – LAN in your room, if your into that kind of thing. I am not! Haha.
I did appreciate the air conditioning, especially after a long day of hiking. The complimentary tea and coffee was a lifesaver in the mornings, and the mini bar…well, let's just say I may have slightly indulged (shhh, don’t tell!). Although I did get a little annoyed with the water bottles, so having free bottled water was a big help. The bathroom was clean, no complaints! Towels provided!
I did notice my suite had it all! Air conditioning, Alarm clock, Bathrobes, Bathroom phone, Bathtub, Blackout curtains, Carpeting, Closet, Coffee/tea maker, Complimentary tea, Daily housekeeping, Desk, Extra long bed, Free bottled water, Hair dryer, High floor, In-room safe box, Interconnecting room(s) available, Internet access – LAN, Internet access – wireless, Ironing facilities, Laptop workspace, Linens, Mini bar, Mirror, Non-smoking, On-demand movies, Private bathroom, Reading light, Refrigerator, Safety/security feature, Satellite/cable channels, Scale, Seating area, Separate shower/bathtub, Shower, Slippers, Smoke detector, Socket near the bed, Sofa, Soundproofing, Telephone, Toiletries, Towels, Umbrella, Visual alarm, Wake-up service, Wi-Fi [free], Window that opens.
The SPA, Sauna, Pool and the Pursuit of Leisure
Okay, here’s where things got…interesting. The spa/sauna was a major draw for me (and, I suspect, a lot of other people). The pool itself was fantastic, with all this Swimming pool, with a Pool with view, but the spa…well, let's just say it could use a little…tender loving care. I went for the Massage, but honestly it was okay. The sauna was awesome (the best part!), but the whole experience felt a little…dated. But hey, it was a pool with a view.
I didn't try the Body scrub or Body wrap, but the thought of them did cross my mind. I always like to check out the Fitness center, but didn’t make it; however, the thought of working out in a lodge-like hotel is appealing.
Food & Drink: A Rollercoaster Ride (with Potential!)
The restaurants were a mixed bag. The Breakfast [buffet] was…well, it was a buffet. There was a lot of Coffee/tea in restaurant, and the Western breakfast was alright. I’m not sure if they had Asian cuisine in restaurant. I only tried the A la carte in restaurant once. The Poolside bar was great, especially with a pint of beer. I didn’t think much of the Snack bar. I’d have loved some Desserts in restaurant, but it wasn’t to be. I'm sure some people may appreciate the Vegetarian restaurant.
And if you need your caffeine fix? Coffee shop is the place to be.
Cleanliness and Safety: A Sigh of Relief
Okay, here's where Becker's really shines. I felt safe. The rooms sanitized between stays was evident. There’s Hand sanitizer everywhere – a definite plus. Staff trained in safety protocol, and I felt as though the hotel had Anti-viral cleaning products.
Services & Conveniences: Your Comfort, Their Priority
The Front desk [24-hour] was friendly and helpful (even when I was being a bit of a demanding tourist!). The Daily housekeeping kept things tidy. The Concierge were knowledgeable. The Cash withdrawal service was a great touch. I didn’t take advantage of other services, but the hotel really has its act together.
For the Kids & Family: A Potential Adventure
Okay, this hotel is ideal for families. The Family/child friendly rating checks out. I didn't need a Babysitting service, but it's there! Plus, what kid wouldn’t love a lodge? There’s even Kids facilities.
Getting Around: Freedom and Flexibility
The Car park [free of charge] was a lifesaver, and I loved the Car park [on-site]. If you wanted to get to the airport, that’s covered as well!
The Verdict: A Quirky Charm with Room for Improvement
Would I recommend Becker's Crossings Inn & Suites? Absolutely, but with a few caveats. It's not a luxury hotel, but it's got a certain something that's hard to define, and I liked it. The staff are friendly, the location is great, and the prices are reasonable. Would I stay again? Definitely. I'm already plotting my return! This is a place with a lot of heart, and a lot of potential.
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Alright, buckle up buttercups, because we're diving headfirst into my… ahem… experience at the Crossings Inn and Suites by GrandStay in Becker, Minnesota. Let me tell you, this wasn't exactly a meticulously planned itinerary. More like a… a… well, a journey of self-discovery, involving a hotel room, a questionable continental breakfast, and a whole lot of existential pondering.
Day 1: Arrival and Initial Impressions (or, "Where Did My Sense of Direction Go?")
- 14:00 - Arrival: Okay, so GPS lied. AGAIN. I swore I was going to get to Becker in under 2 hours, but apparently, my internal compass is currently recalibrating itself in the general vicinity of "utterly bewildered." The first thing that hit me pulling up at the Crossings Inn wasn't the pristine facade, but the overwhelming sense of "…is this… it?" Nothing wrong with it, mind you, just… kinda beige.
- 14:15 - Check-in: The front desk lady was a saint. Seriously, given the sheer amount of grumpy, directionally-challenged travelers I'd wager she deals with, her smile was a national treasure (or at least, a Becker-area treasure). She gave me my key and a little spiel about the breakfast. I think I mumbled something about needing a nap. She probably understood.
- 14:30 - Room Reconnaissance: Room 217. It was… clean. And quiet. And, dare I say, functional? The beds looked inviting, like the kind you could sink into and forget all your earthly woes. I immediately plopped myself down and… actually took a 2-hour nap. I woke up with drool on my cheek, a vague feeling of disappointment that I'd wasted precious vacation time, and a sudden, intense craving for a vending machine soda.
- 16:30 - Vending Machine Debacle: The vending machine. Oh, the vending machine. It looked promising. A rainbow of sugary delights! Except… it ate my dollar. Stared at me with its cold, metallic eyes, taunting me with its inaccessible bounty. I swear I could feel the resentment building up for this tiny metal creature. Eventually, I gave up, defeated. No soda for me, apparently.
- 17:00 - Pre-Dinner Wanderings: I decided to walk around. There isn't much around the Inn, but I did walk across the street and found a local small burger and ice cream shops.
- 19:00 - Dinner: Pizza Hut! Okay, so maybe it wasn't a Michelin-star meal, but after the vending machine betrayal and my internal compass, I needed comfort food. Also, it was the only option that didn't involve getting back in the car.
- 20:00 - Evening Ritual: I did what every weary traveler does: I sat in bed, watched terrible TV, and overthought absolutely everything. What is the meaning of life? Why did the vending machine hate me? Did I pack enough socks? The world may never know.
Day 2: Breakfast, "Adventure," and the Existential Dread of Oatmeal.
- 07:00 - Breakfast, The Continental Catastrophe: Now, the breakfast. They promised a "continental breakfast." What I got was… an experience. A buffet of pre-packaged muffins (dry as the Sahara), instant oatmeal, and a coffee that tasted vaguely of burnt tires. My stomach actually growled in protest. I ended up with a bowl of oatmeal, I tried to make it edible, but I failed. Still, the act of forcing myself to eat something, anything, felt like a small victory.
- 09:00 - "Adventure" Attempts: I realized I needed to actually do something. Minnesota has some cool stuff, right? Googled "attractions near Becker, MN" and was promptly overwhelmed by options. Eventually, I gave up and decided to take a drive.
- 10:00 - The Scenic Route (aka, Lost Again): I was aiming for a small lake, but somehow, ended up… in a cornfield. Like, surrounded by corn. Tall, imposing corn that seemed to be judging my life choices. I took some pictures of the cornfield, but there's only so many pictures of a cornfield you can take.
- 12:00 - Lunch: Back at the hotel, I ate a leftover slice of pizza.
- 13:00 - The Pool - The Joy of Quiet: Okay, so maybe "adventure" wasn't my strong suit. I decided to embrace the hotel life. The pool! This wasn't a crazy, crowded, chlorinated maelstrom. It was a serene sanctuary. I had the pool almost to myself, and for a glorious hour, I pretended to be a water-dwelling creature.
- 14:00 - "Relaxation": I retreated to my room and found myself staring out the window, lost in thought. The world outside was quiet, the sun was warm, and I felt… oddly content. I'm not sure what I expected from this trip, but the fact that I wanted nothing seemed like a success.
- 16:00 - Dinner: I went to a fast-food restaurant down the road, feeling a little sad but content.
- 19:00 - Evening Ritual: The cycle continued. Terrible TV, existential dread, and the comforting familiarity of the hotel bed.
Day 3: Departure (and the lingering question of the vending machine)
- 07:00 - Breakfast… Again.: The dreaded continental breakfast again. I managed to choke down a muffin (less dry than yesterday!), a cup of coffee (slightly less tire-y!), and a moment of silent contemplation.
- 08:00 - Final Inspection: I did a sweep of the room to make sure I wasn't accidentally leaving anything behind. The room looked… clean. The bed… comfortable.
- 09:00 - Check-Out and the Vending Machine: As I checked out, I made one last, desperate plea to the front desk lady. "Any chance… any chance anyone ever got that vending machine to work?" She just smiled kindly and shook her head. "They're temperamental," she said. Yeah, I guess so.
- 09:15 - Departure: I left Becker, Minnesota. Did I see any world-changing sights? Nope. Did I undergo a dramatic, life-altering transformation? Nah. But I survived. And maybe, just maybe, I'd learned a thing or two about the joys of quiet, the comfort of a clean bed, and the enduring mystery of the vending machine. As I drove away, I couldn't help but feel a little… wistful. And maybe, just maybe, I'd be back. Next time, though, I'm bringing my own snacks.
Is Becker's Crossings REALLY a Secret? I mean, I saw a billboard…
Okay, alright, "secret" is maybe a *slight* exaggeration. It's more like… a hushed-whisper-followed-by-a-quick-glance-around-to-make-sure-nobody-heard-you-say-it kind of place. The billboard is true, yeah. I saw it. Actually, I saw *many* billboards on the way there. They were surprisingly insistent. Like, "COME, VISIT, WE HAVE… THINGS!" And I thought, "hmmm, THINGS, eh? Intriguing." So, the secret part? The *feeling.* It's like you've stumbled upon a portal to a simpler time… maybe the *slightly* less-than-glamorous part of the past.
What should I REALLY expect at Becker's? Like, the *truth*?
Alright, fine. The truth. Let me tell you about the… the *vibe*. First impressions, people! That's what you remember, right? I pull in and... *wham!* The parking lot. Ah, the parking lot. It had... character. Lots of it. And by "character," I mean a slightly rough and tumble blend of beat-up pick-up trucks, the odd family van that looked like it was held together by duct tape and hope, and a smattering of… well, let’s just say the clientele was *diverse*. And I loved it! (Okay, maybe a tiny bit apprehensive at first. You know, human nature and all that.) You are NOT walking into a sleek, minimalist hotel. This is a place that *lives*. And if you're lucky (like me), you might hear some epic banjo music playing from one of the porches.
Is the room *clean*? Seriously, honesty is key.
Okay, okay, let's get to the nitty-gritty. Cleanliness is… relative, isn’t it? My room? It was… *clean-ish*. Look, I'm not going to lie. It wasn’t a sterile, hospital-grade environment. There was a certain… patina of age. A testament to decades of life lived. You know, that slightly musty smell that says, "Welcome home, dear." (Even if it’s not *your* home.) But the bed was made! The sheets… smelled… okay. And the bathroom? Let's just say it had the kind of vintage tile that you just *know* has seen some things. Overall? Not sparkling. But perfectly acceptable. Look, if you are that type who brings their own Lysol, *maybe* this isn't for you. This place is more... character over sterile.
What's breakfast like? The most important question!
Breakfast. Oh, breakfast. This is where it gets… interesting. Okay, the "continental breakfast" was, let's say, robust. Let’s just say I saw a whole *lot* of sugary cereal options. I saw a suspicious-looking, foil-wrapped pastry that I *suspect* was involved in a time-travel experiment. There was a waffle maker (which I did not dare touch) and a coffee pot that looked like it had seen a LOT of service. But here's the kicker: There was also a lovely, chatty woman behind the counter. She was telling me a story that she was the owner's sister in law, and she told me how she always brought her own coffee. I love that!
What are the staff like? Were they friendly?
Oh man. The staff? Now, *that's* where Becker's truly shines. Forget polished professionalism. These people are *real*. The front desk lady? She was like a long, lost auntie. She told me the best place to eat at in town. The cleaning staff? They were singing while they worked! I am serious. It might have been a little off-key, but their energy was contagious. I swear, the whole place feels like a family, maybe a slightly dysfunctional one, but a family nonetheless. Which brings me to my experience in the game room.
Okay, game room, tell me more. I'm listening…
*The Game Room.* Oh, the game room. Where do I even begin? It was a dimly lit space, clearly not on the priority list of the renovation team. There was an old arcade machine, a pool table (which might have a slight lean), and a lot of stuff that probably should have been tossed but, hey, if it's not harming anyone, it's good to go, right? I think the only problem, it was, the lights weren't working. The one light was on the other side of the pool table. And I felt so dumb, because It was like, 9 in the morning. I went there and I asked her. "Can you help?" I said. She goes. "I think so, honey." And she walks over, and she starts messing with it. And. The lights finally went on. And it was the best thing ever! I walked back to the room and I was so happy! This moment made my entire visit. It's the human spirit. The feeling of community. That is what it comes down to. So, yes, the lights were broken, the game room smelled a bit like stale popcorn, the arcade games weren't working properly, but *it had a heart!*
So, would you recommend Becker's Crossings? Be honest!
Look… it’s not for everyone. If you need luxury, sterile perfection, or expect a spa retreat, RUN. But if you're looking for an experience, a dose of unpretentious realness, a place where you can kick back, and encounter the true heart of America, then, yes. Absolutely. Go. Just go. Just… maybe pack your own hand sanitizer. And come back to tell me *your* story, because I am now forever changed by my stay. I give this 10/10 broken lights!
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