Wilkesboro Getaway: Unbeatable Deals at Holiday Inn Express!
Alright, buckle up, buttercups, because we're diving headfirst into the Wilkesboro Holiday Inn Express! Forget the sterile travel brochures – this is going to be the REAL deal, warts and all. Let's get messy, shall we?
Wilkesboro Getaway: Hold On, Is This REALLY the Unbeatable Deal? A Holiday Inn Express Review That's (Mostly) Honest
So, you're thinking Wilkesboro? (No judgment! We all need a getaway). And you're eyeing the Holiday Inn Express? Smart. But hold your horses, because I’ve been there, judged it, and frankly, lived it. Let's hack apart this stay like a Thanksgiving turkey!
First Impressions: Accessibility and Getting Inside (The REAL Test)
Okay, so, Accessibility. This is HUGE. I'm talking wheelchair accessibility… ramps, elevators, the whole shebang. The website claims it. I didn't personally bring a wheelchair, but I poked around. The lobby seemed decent, and the elevators were present. If you need it, CALL AHEAD. Verify. Don't trust the intern's website updates.
Wheelchair accessible is advertised. I can't personally vouch, but if you need specifics, call!
Exterior Corridor… Yes! Which, in my book, means easier access with luggage (God bless you, if you know the elevator struggle).
Now, the REAL meat and potatoes. The Stuff…
The Tech That Makes the World Go 'Round:
- Internet. (Free Wi-Fi in all rooms!) Internet access - LAN, Internet services, Wi-Fi in public areas, Wi-Fi for special events. – Well, the Wi-Fi worked. It's Wi-Fi. I streamed a few shows, checked emails. No complaints. Just… it’s Wi-Fi. Don’t expect miracles. LAN? Probably. But who's even using LAN anymore? Anyway, the important bit: it worked. Thank goodness.
- Air conditioning in public area: Yes! Sweet, blessed air conditioning.
Food, Glorious Food (Or At Least, Fuel):
Breakfast [buffet]: This is where things get… interesting. They call it a Buffet. It's your standard Holiday Inn Express breakfast. The sausage? Questionable. The scrambled eggs? Let's just say they're there. The waffles, though… okay, the waffles are pretty great. They have those waffle makers you get to use, and I spent an embarrassing amount of time perfecting my waffle-making skills. Pure, unadulterated joy. If you're a waffle person, you'll survive. If not, stick to the… well, you might be stuck with the questionable sausage.
Breakfast takeaway service: I think they were offering… to-go containers for the breakfast? I was too entranced with the waffle station to pay close attention.
Dining, drinking, and snacking… This is where the Holiday Inn Express truly excels. (Kidding!) Restaurants in the immediate vicinity? Nope. Bar? Not in the hotel. Coffee shop? Nope. Poolside bar? You're not even going to see a pool from this hotel.
Other Dining experiences, there are no notable restaurants listed onsite.
Things To Do (Beyond the Waffle Station):
- Fitness center. The gymnasium, or what they call a gym. It wasn't huge, but it had weights and treadmills. I did a quick workout and did not feel unsafe. It’s functional, not fancy. Think of it as a place to burn off the waffle calories.
- Swimming pool [outdoor]: No pool.
- Spa - Spa/Sauna, Steamroom, Body scrub, Body wrap, Foot bath, Massage: No. Zero. Nada. This is not a spa hotel. Embrace the simplicity. Wilkesboro isn't that kind of luxury.
Room Amenities: Your Fortress of Solitude (or Not)
- Available in all rooms: Let's get into it!
- Additional toilet: Nope.
- Air conditioning: Yes!
- Alarm clock: Yep. Annoying, but functional.
- Bathrobes: LOL. No.
- Bathroom phone: Are you kidding me?
- Bathtub: Depends on the room. Call and verify if you're a bath person.
- Blackout curtains: Yes! (Bless.) This is ESSENTIAL.
- Carpeting: Yes. (Probably needs a good cleaning.)
- Closet: Adequate.
- Coffee/tea maker, Complimentary tea: Yes! Coffee/Tea maker, and tea is complimentary!
- Daily housekeeping: Yes! And they seemed to be pretty good.
- Desk: Yep. Useful.
- Extra long bed: Yes. (Good for the tall people, I guess)
- Free bottled water: Usually, yes.
- Hair dryer: Yes!
- High floor: Depends. But you can request it.
- In-room safe box: Probably.
- Interconnecting room(s) available: Ask when booking.
- Internet access – LAN, Internet access – wireless: Yes.
- Ironing facilities: Yes.
- Laptop workspace: Yes, on the desk.
- Linens: Fine.
- Mini bar: NO.
- Mirror: Yes.
- Non-smoking: Yes. (Important!)
- On-demand movies: Probably.
- Private bathroom: Yes.
- Reading light: Yes.
- Refrigerator: Yes!
- Safety/security feature: Yes.
- Satellite/cable channels: Yes. Lots of them.
- Scale: No.
- Seating area: Depends on the room.
- Separate shower/bathtub: Maybe.
- Shower: Yes.
- Slippers: Nope.
- Smoke detector: Yes.
- Socket near the bed: Yes!
- Sofa: Maybe in some rooms.
- Soundproofing: Not great but acceptable.
- Telephone: Yes.
- Toiletries: Standard Holiday Inn Express fare. Not luxurious.
- Towels: Okay.
- Umbrella: Probably.
- Visual alarm: Nope.
- Wake-up service: Yes.
- Wi-Fi [free]: Yes!
- Window that opens: YES! Huge point! Fresh air is good!
Services and Conveniences: The Little Extras
- Cash withdrawal: Probably nearby.
- Concierge: Doesn't have one.
- Contactless check-in/out: Yes.
- Convenience store: Nope.
- Currency exchange: Nope.
- Daily housekeeping: Good!
- Doorman: No.
- Dry cleaning: Likely offered.
- Elevator: Yes.
- Essential condiments: I'm guessing so! (For the breakfast waffles!)
- Facilities for disabled guests: Yes.
- Food delivery: Probably! Use a delivery app.
- Gift/souvenir shop: No.
- Indoor venue for special events, Outdoor venue for special events: Highly unlikely.
- Ironing service, Laundry service: Probably offered.
- Luggage storage: Yes.
- Meeting/banquet facilities, Meetings, Meeting stationery: Unlikely.
Cleanliness and Safety: Does it Feel Safe?
So, Cleanliness and Safety, a HUGE concern these days:
- Anti-viral cleaning products: They CLAIM it!
- Breakfast in room: No.
- Breakfast takeaway service: Yes!
- Cashless payment service: Yes.
- Daily disinfection in common areas: Supposedly.
- Doctor/nurse on call, First aid kit: Probably.
- Hand sanitizer: I saw hand sanitizer stations.
- Hot water linen and laundry washing: Hopefully!
- Hygiene certification: Probably.
- Individually-wrapped food options: Yep, at breakfast.
- Physical distancing of at least 1 meter: Attempted.
- Professional-grade sanitizing services: Claimed.
- Room sanitization opt-out available: Unlikely, though I didn't ask.
- Rooms sanitized between stays: Yes.
- Safe dining setup: At breakfast, I guess.
- Sanitized kitchen and tableware items: They say!
- Shared stationery removed: Probably.
- Staff trained in safety protocol: Supposedly.
- Sterilizing equipment:
Alright, buckle up, buttercups, because this ain't your cookie-cutter itinerary. This is… well, this is my attempt at surviving a stay at the Holiday Inn Express in Wilkesboro, North Carolina. And, let's be honest, figuring out what to do in Wilkesboro is a challenge in itself. Here goes… wish me luck.
Day 1: Arrival, Expectations, and the Mystery of the Continental Breakfast
14:00 – Arrival and the Great Check-In Frenzy: Okay, so, the GPS said "you have arrived" approximately three minutes before I actually found the entrance. This is the moment where it is okay to have that feeling of "Am I in the right place?". The lobby wasn't overly depressing, which I'll give them credit for. The front desk person seemed… pleasant. I'm always wary of "pleasant," it's often a facade. Hopefully, I don't get a surprise later.
14:30 - Room Assessment and the "Is This Real Life?" Moment: Room 317. Third floor. Okay, elevator wasn't completely terrifying. So, I'm thinking, what level of hell have I arrived at? As I entered the room, I did a quick sweep. Everything seemed to be in order. The bed – a twin? I don't know. Was it even comfortable? Can't tell yet. I test it out. Okay, it seems fine. The air conditioner hums, promising a slightly less humid existence. I hate humidity. There was a faint – and I mean faint – smell of cleaning products, a promising sign.
15:00 – The Great Unpack and the Pursuit of Wifi: Unpacked in record time, which is always a plus. Then, the eternal struggle: Wifi. The password they gave me looked like it had been randomly generated by a robot who'd had way too much caffeine. Successfully logged in finally.
16:00 - A Walk and the Wilkesboro Vibe Check: I decided to take a walk. Honestly, the hotel is near some pretty generic suburban sprawl. Found a gas station and got some snacks. Honestly, I wasn't sure what to expect.
18:00 – Post-Walk Shower and Contemplations on the Purpose of Life: Shower. Basic shower. Water pressure: adequate. Soap: the usual, suspiciously generic, hotel-issue stuff. Cleanliness: acceptable. Deep shower thoughts… Am I actually doing something important? Or did I choose to stay here just because of the price?
19:00 – Dinner - The Food Quest Begins: Okay, so I had my options. I'm not driving more than like… five minutes. I was too tired to do research. I found a place that was open which was a classic burger joint. It was… fine. Really fine. I need a good meal and am not getting my hopes up.
20:00 - TV Time and Hotel Room Reflections: Back to the room. The remote control functions. I get the classic hotel blues and scroll through the channels. I wish there were more interesting options. I want a decent documentary.
Day 2: Continental Chaos, Local Exploration, and the Burden of Choice
07:00 - The Continental Breakfast Gauntlet: Time for breakfast! The thing I have been dreading. I wander downstairs, bracing myself. The scene: a sad buffet line of pre-packaged pastries, rubbery eggs and fruit salad that's seen better days. The coffee… well, let's just say it fulfills its basic function of containing caffeine. I take a pastry. And then – gasp – I spot a waffle maker! A beacon of hope! I make a waffle. It's… okay. I add some syrup. I eat it. I didn't regret the waffle.
08:00 - A Waffle's Worth of Reflection: I'm eating quietly now and feel as if I can conquer the world. I feel like I can actually do something today.
09:00 – Attempted Local Exploration: I think I am going to drive towards the city. I want to see a park or some nice place that isn't depressing.
12:00 - Lunch - The Search for Actual Food: I decided to treat myself and get myself some fried chicken. It was absolutely epic. Best meal of the whole trip.
13:00- Return to Room and nap: Decided to take a nap.
16:00 - Dinner and the Inevitable Return to TV: Back to TV. I watch the same shows. I did this for hours.
21:00 - Bedtime and the Quiet Despair: I go to sleep. I am fine.
Day 3: Farewell and the Lingering Echo of Wilkesboro
- 07:00 - Breakfast (Again, Ugh): Same breakfast. The horror!
- 08:00 - Check Out and the Escape: Checking out. I'm out of here!
- 09:00 - The Long Drive Home: I start the long drive home.
Okay, so maybe my trip to Wilkesboro wasn't the most exciting adventure in the world. But hey, at least I survived the Holiday Inn Express. And learned a valuable lesson: Always pack snacks!.
Luxury Getaway: Fairfield Inn & Suites Mexico City Vallejo Awaits!
Wilkesboro Getaway: Holiday Inn Express - Your Questions Answered (and My Ramblings!)
Alright, listen up, because I'm about to unload on you about the Wilkesboro Holiday Inn Express. Mostly because I just *got back* and the whole thing is still swirling around in my brain like a cheap cocktail after too many beers. Forget the glossy brochures, let's get real. Here are the FAQs, delivered with a side of my (highly unqualified) opinion:
Okay, so, what's the *deal* with the "Unbeatable Deals"? Is it legit or just another tired marketing ploy?
Honestly? Kinda both. Yeah, sure, they're *always* going to tell you they've got the best deals in town. But, and this is a big BUT, I actually found some pretty sweet prices, especially during the off-season. I'm talking, like, budget-friendly enough that I could blow the extra cash on, you know, *actual* fun stuff like moonshine tasting (more on that later...). But don't expect miracles. Always check other booking sites, compare, and don't be afraid to call and haggle a little. I did, and I got a better rate. Seriously, channel your inner used car salesman. It works.
The free breakfast - is it worth getting out of bed for? I'm a hardcore breakfast person.
Okay, deep breaths. The breakfast. It's... well, it's *there*. Don't expect a Michelin-star experience. Think more along the lines of "the culinary equivalent of a comfortable pair of sweatpants - reliable, predictable, and possibly a little disappointing if you were hoping for something more exciting." They had your standard fare: scrambled eggs (questionable origin, but edible), sausage (same), waffles (made-to-order, so that's a win!), cereal, fruit (occasionally bruised). The coffee? Drinkable, and that's the best I can say about it. But, look, free breakfast is free breakfast, and it saved me a few bucks, which I, again, promptly blew on... let's just say liquid refreshments of the local variety.
How about the rooms? Are they clean? I'm a bit of a germaphobe.
Clean-ish, and by that I mean… acceptable. I’m not going to lie, my first reaction upon entering my room was a slight, involuntary sniff test. The air smelled of… well, hotel air freshener, which, lets be honest, is a scent all its own. But, beyond that, it was fine. The bedsheets *looked* clean, the bathroom was…bathroom-y. I didn't find any rogue hairs or anything truly horrifying. But, if you need a hospital-grade sanitization level, maybe pack your own Lysol wipes. I did give the remote a quick wipe. You know, a precaution.
What's the location like? Is it convenient for exploring Wilkesboro?
The location is…fine. It's a standard highway hotel, so you're not going to be smack-dab in the heart of downtown, but it’s close enough that you can easily drive around. It’s near some restaurants (chain, mostly), and the grocery store. Honestly, driving is unavoidable in Wilkesboro. It's just the way it is. Think of the hotel as a launchpad. You can zip off to explore the Blue Ridge Mountains, go to the local breweries (oh yes, those exist!), or even take a scenic drive. (I'd particularly recommend the Blue Ridge Parkway, even though I almost lost my rental car on the winding roads, but hey, it was beautiful!). Just don't expect to stumble into a charming, small-town square. You're definitely going to need your car, so make sure you have a good GPS.
Okay, the staff… are they friendly? That can make or break a trip.
The staff? Mixed bag, as always. Some were incredibly friendly, chatty, helpful – the kind of folks who made you feel genuinely welcome. Others… well, let’s just say they were efficient. No complaints. No huge displays of warmth either. One thing that really stood out was this one woman at the front desk. She was like, an angel. I had forgotten my toothbrush (classic me), and she not only *gave* me one, but also gave me a tiny bottle of mouthwash and even told me about a great diner nearby. She single-handedly redeemed any minor imperfections of the hotel. She was *everything*.
Is there a pool? (I need to know!)
Yes! There is indeed a pool, and… I *didn't* use it. Because I was too busy… exploring the local distilleries. (I know, I have a problem.) But I did glance at it. It looked clean. And, from what I could see, it wasn't overcrowded. So, if you're into a quick dip, go for it. Just don't expect a resort experience. It’s a hotel pool.
So, bottom line: Would you recommend it?
Here's the thing. It's not the Ritz. It's not going to blow your mind. BUT, for the price? For a clean, comfortable place to rest your head while exploring Wilkesboro and the surrounding areas? Yeah, I’d recommend it. Especially if you're on a budget and plan to spend most of your time *outside* of the hotel, soaking up the local flavor (both the good and the, ahem, *potentially* regrettable). Just go in with realistic expectations, pack your own toothbrush, and maybe… just maybe… have a designated driver. You'll thank me later. And for the love of all that is holy, try the moonshine. Just, don't drink it all at once. My head is still paying the price, and I am not a happy camper.
Anything I should really be aware of? Any hidden gotchas?
Okay, listen up, because this is important. One major warning: The WIFI. Be prepared for it to be about as reliable as my dating life. It's slow. It cuts out. You'll be screaming into your laptop, I guarantee it. Download your entertainment beforehand. Seriously. And, if you're on a work trip, pack your own personal hotspot. Trust me. IHotel Safari
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