Escape to San Bernardino: Your Perfect La Quinta Inn & Suites Getaway!
Okay, buckle up, buttercups! Because we're about to dive headfirst into the wild, wonderful, and sometimes slightly questionable world of the La Quinta Inn & Suites in San Bernardino. Forget those perfectly polished travel blogs – this is real talk. And it’s gonna be a bit messy, just like me on a Monday morning.
Escape to San Bernardino: My Slightly Chaotic, Totally Honest La Quinta Adventure! (SEO Keywords – We Got This!)
Let's be real: San Bernardino isn't exactly the first place you think of when you dream of a luxurious getaway. But hey, sometimes you just NEED to… escape. And the La Quinta Inn & Suites promised just that. So, armed with caffeine and a healthy dose of skepticism, I went in.
Accessibility: Big Thumbs Up! (Mostly)
Okay, starting strong! Wheelchair accessible? YES! That's a massive win, and important to highlight. I didn't personally test it, but the website and my research screamed "accessible," with lifts, ramps, and all the good stuff. Elevator? Absolutely. Facilities for disabled guests? Apparently present. Now, here's the real test. I didn’t see any glaring issues, but it’s always worth calling ahead and confirming specific needs.
Accessibility is key. And La Quinta in San Bernardino seems to have a plan.
Cleanliness and Safety: The COVID-Era Checklist
Alright, this is where things get intense in the current climate. Let's see if the La Quinta rises to the occasion.
- Anti-viral cleaning products?: Don’t know, didn't see. (But if I had to guess, probably yes, hopefully)
- Daily Disinfection in Common Areas?: Supposedly. I saw cleaning crew, so… fingers crossed!
- Hand Sanitizer?: Present. Everywhere. Which is reassuring.
- Hygiene Certification?: Probably, but you gotta dig and look.
- Individually-Wrapped Food Options?: Definitely. More on that in a bit.
- Physical Distancing of at Least 1 Meter?: Mostly. Depends on the other guests, right?
- Professional-Grade Sanitizing Services?: Unclear, but the staff seemed serious about cleaning, so I’ll give them the benefit of the doubt.
- Room Sanitization Opt-Out Available?: Didn't see any signage, but it's always worth asking.
- Rooms Sanitized Between Stays?: You better believe it!
- Safe Dining Setup?: Depends on your comfort level. Let’s discuss this later.
- Staff Trained in Safety Protocol?: They all wore masks. That's a good start!
- Sterilizing Equipment?: Probably.
- Cashless Payment Service?: YES! Thank goodness.
The Verdict on Cleanliness & Safety: They're trying. Let’s be real, it’s a lot to keep up with.
Dining, Drinking, and Snacking: Breakfast, Buffet… and Barely Enough
Okay, confession time. I’m a breakfast snob. I judge hotels on their breakfast choices.
- Breakfast [Buffet]: Yep, there was a buffet. And it… was there. Buffet in restaurant: You bet!
- Breakfast takeaway service: Absolutely.
- Asian Breakfast, Asian Cuisine in restaurant, Western breakfast, Western cuisine in restaurant: Mostly, there were American choices.
- Coffee/tea in restaurant: Yup, standard hotel coffee.
- Coffee shop: Nope.
- Snack bar: I think there was.
- Restaurants: Restaurants? Hmmm. Not exactly a culinary hotspot within the hotel.
- Room service [24-hour]: Not that I saw, and I was looking for this feature.
- Poolside bar: No, sadly.
The Breakfast Buffet Experience (A True Tale of Woe…And Eggs)
Okay, so the breakfast situation. It's… basic. Think: scrambled eggs that may or may not resemble actual eggs. The sausage. Oof. Let’s just say, it’s not winning any culinary awards. The coffee? Well, let's just say it provides a good caffeine kick, but nothing else. The breakfast was my first imperfection spot for the La Quinta.
The highlight? Honestly? The individually wrapped muffins. Small joys, people. Small joys.
The "Other" Bites
- Bottle of water: Provided in my room. Always appreciated.
- Dessert in restaurant: I saw some offerings, but I didn't eat them.
- Happy hour: Don’t think so.
- Poolside bar: nope.
- Soup in restaurant: No soup for you!
- Vegetarian restaurant/ Vegetarian restaurant: Forget about it.
- A la carte in restaurant: Not a thing.
Things to Do, Ways to Relax: The Gym, The Pool (Sort Of)
- Swimming pool [outdoor]: Yes. And it looked…okay. Nothing spectacular, nothing terrible. A bit small, actually.
- Fitness center: Yes. I didn't use it, but it existed!
- Sauna, Spa, Spa/sauna, Steamroom, Massage, Body scrub, Body wrap, Foot bath, Pool with view: Nope. This is not a spa getaway!
My Gym Experience:
There was a gym. I walked by it. It looked like a gym. Treadmills and weights, the usual. Didn't feel inspired to sweat.
Services and Conveniences: The Good, the Bad, and the “Meh”
Okay, let's get down to the nitty-gritty of what the hotel offers beyond the bed and the breakfast.
- Air conditioning in public area: The hotel was cold. Which I appreciated!
- Business facilities, Business Facilities: Available.
- Cash withdrawal: Yeah, there's an ATM.
- Concierge: Don't think so.
- Contactless check-in/out: YES! Thank you, universe.
- Convenience store: Didn’t see one directly.
- Currency exchange: Nope.
- Daily housekeeping: Yes, and they are super friendly.
- Dry cleaning, Ironing service, Laundry service: Seems like they had these services. I didn't needed them.
- Elevator: Yes.
- Facilities for disabled guests: (As mentioned earlier, they were there)
- Luggage storage: Sure.
- Meeting/banquet facilities, Meetings, Meeting stationery, On-site event hosting, Seminars: Available if you need them.
- Outdoor venue for special events Unclear.
- Projector/LED display, Xerox/fax in business center Yup.
- Safety deposit boxes: Yes.
- Shrine: Nope.
- Smoking area: Probably, but I didn’t see one (thank goodness).
- Terrace: Naah
- Wi-Fi for special events: Unsure.
For the Kids: Limited Fun
- Babysitting service: Nope.
- Family/child friendly: Yes, I saw families there.
- Kids facilities, Kids meal: Nothing specific, but basic.
Available in all rooms: The Essentials (and a Few Bonuses)
Okay, let's talk about the actual rooms!
- Additional toilet, Air conditioning, Alarm clock, Bathrobes, Bathroom phone, Bathtub, Carpeting, Closet, Coffee/tea maker, Complimentary tea, Daily housekeeping, Desk, Extra long bed, Free bottled water, Hair dryer, High floor, In-room safe box, Internet access – wireless, Ironing facilities, Laptop workspace, Linens, Mini bar, Mirror, Non-smoking, On-demand movies, Reading light, Refrigerator, 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: Yep. All of this.
The Room – My Sanctuary (Sort Of)
The room was… clean. Which is the most important thing, right? The bed was comfy, and that’s really all I wanted. The free Wi-Fi was a win and worked well. Plenty of USB ports. Standard, but comfortable. My room had a nice view of the parking lot.
Getting Around: Driving is You Best Bet
- Airport transfer: Nope.
- Bicycle parking: Unclear.
- Car park [free of charge]: Yes, thankfully!
- Car park [on-site]: Yep.
- Car power charging station: No.
- Taxi service: Available, I’m sure.
- Valet parking: Nope.
The Verdict: Is the La Quinta in San Bernardino Worth It?
Look, let's be honest. The La
Miles Motel Phoenix: Your Oasis of Comfort & Luxury Awaits!
Alright, buckle up buttercups, because this isn't your grandma's travel itinerary. This is the La Quinta in San Bernardino, CA, edition, and let's just say my expectations are clinging to life by a thread, much like that questionable continental breakfast.
Day 1: Arrival and the Great Room Rumble
1:00 PM: Touchdown, baby! Landed at Ontario International Airport (ONT). Ugh, airport runs are the bane of my existence. Always a rush, always a scramble for the luggage carousel. That first whiff of California air hit me like a warm, overly-enthusiastic hug. (Spoiler alert: the hug wasn't all that good.) Grabbed my rental car – a sensible sedan, I know, I know, boring.
2:00 PM: The Drive. Seriously, the drive. From ONT to La Quinta? "Scenic" is a word I’m using very loosely today. Mostly parking lots and strip malls. The GPS lady’s voice has already started to irritate me. She's got this relentless cheerfulness, like she genuinely enjoys rerouting me through another traffic-clogged intersection.
3:00 PM: Check-in Chaos. Arrive at the La Quinta. Oh, the things I've seen in La Quintas… Hopefully this one is better than the last. The lobby is… there. Beige, a slightly stale scent of chlorine from the pool, and an exceptionally bored-looking dude at the front desk. He processed my check-in with the efficiency of a sloth in a molasses factory.
- Anecdote: Okay, so picture this: I approach the front desk, feeling pretty good, you know? Ready to get this show on the road. The desk guy, bless his heart, is wearing a name tag that says "Kevin." Kevin looks me in the eye, and then… slowly starts filing his nails. With a tiny, utterly plastic nail file. I swear, I almost burst out laughing. It was that surreal.
- My Initial Emotional Reaction: Slightly horrified, but then amused. You can't be that laid back, Kevin!
- The Room Reveal: The room. Okay, it’s not terrible. Two double beds, a TV that probably only gets three channels, and a distinct lack of any exciting art. The carpet looks like it’s seen better days. A little bit of an air of faded glory. This is the kind of room that you know has hosted a few questionable late-night pizza orders.
3:30 - 5 PM: Unpack/Recover/Contemplate Life Choices. Let's be honest, unpacking is always a chore. This usually involves a lot of sighing, grumbling about overpacking, and then hiding the suitcases under the bed. That bed… looks a little… saggy. Maybe I'll just nap. Or, you know, sleep the day away.
5:00 PM: The Pool Attempt. The pool. Ah, the pool. It seems a little green. The water looks slightly cloudier than I'd like. I'm thinking maybe the chlorine guy's on a break. I am not going in there.
5:30-6 PM: "Free" Happy Hour. Alright, "happy hour." Let's see what we've got. Is this going to be a classy experience, or is there an expectation of questionable quality?
- Opinionated Reaction: I'm not going to lie – I'm expecting the bottom of the barrel here. But, hey, free is free.
- Update: Surprise, it's "free" wine. It's not great. It's not terrible. It's wine.
6:30 PM: Dinner Debacle. Trying to decide where to eat. Is there a local restaurant scene? Or should I brave the McDonald's across the street?
- Decision: Against my better judgment…I'm going to McDonald's. I'm tired, I'm hungry, and the allure of the drive-thru is strong.
- Messy Observation: I'm pretty sure the fries are the same quality as they have always been. Perfectly mediocre. It's comforting in its predictability.
7:30 PM: Back to the Room. Scrolling through channels. The remote is already acting up.
8:00 PM: Early Night. A movie. Pass out.
Day 2: More of the same, with a side of disappointment and possibility.
7:00 AM: Breakfast: You know, the one with the stale pastries and lukewarm coffee. I brace myself.
- Anecdote: Okay, here's the thing. The "continental breakfast." Supposedly continental. It had these weird, vaguely donut-shaped things. I did a sniff test. I'm pretty sure they’ve been there since last Tuesday. I bravely take a bite. Dry. Flavorless. My emotional reaction? A deep sigh.
7:30 AM: Check email.
8:00 AM: Decide if I should leave the same day. Maybe I will.
12:00 PM: Check Out. Get out of there, and go anywhere that seems more interesting.
Overall, a rollercoaster, right? As you can tell, this whole trip is a lot more about the random, weird moments than a meticulously planned schedule. It’s about the imperfection, the unexpected, and the occasional moment of genuine, slightly cynical amusement. That's life, right? Now comes the post-trip therapy…
Escape to San Bernardino: Your (Potentially Awesome, Potentially Not) La Quinta Inn & Suites Getaway - FAQs!
So, San Bernardino? Really? Why La Quinta? Why not, you know, *Palm Springs*?
Okay, look, I get it. San Bernardino doesn't exactly scream "luxury escape," does it? My first thought was "Is there even anything *there*?" But hear me out. We were on a budget. Palm Springs was, like, DOUBLE the price! And frankly (whispering) I was hoping to avoid the whole "seen and be seen" vibe of a super-glam getaway. Plus, La Quinta seemed… reliable. You know? You *almost* know what you're getting. Plus, my friend Sarah raved about the La Quinta breakfast (a key selling point, honestly).
What's the deal with the La Quinta breakfast? Is it actually worth getting out of bed for? (The *real* question.)
Alright, so, the breakfast… this is where things get interesting. Sarah, bless her heart, made it sound like a culinary *experience*. It's not. But! BUT! It's… functional. The waffles? Hit or miss. One day, they were perfectly golden and fluffy, the next, slightly… cardboardy. The scrambled eggs? Let's just say I've had more flavorful options. The coffee? Well, it was *coffee*. And sometimes, that's all you need, right? The best part: The sheer freedom of loading up on tiny muffins and pretending you're not going to regret it later. I saw a kid make a stack of waffles taller than his head. That's living, people. That's *art*.
Okay, beyond the breakfast... what's *actually* good about this La Quinta? Location? The pool? The comfy beds everyone talks about?
The location… well, it’s San Bernardino. It's close to things… eventually. Traffic can be… a thing. But! The pool was a lifesaver. After a long day (more on that later), diving into that lukewarm water was pure bliss. It wasn’t a *fancy* pool, mind you. No swim-up bar or anything. But the kids seemed to be having a blast, splashing and yelling. It was… wholesome. And the beds? Ah, yes. The famous La Quinta beds. They were… fine. Not the most luxurious I’ve ever slept in, but certainly not the worst. I slept… well enough. Maybe a little *too* well, considering the potential for a rogue waffle attack at breakfast.
What was something that totally surprised you at the La Quinta? A hidden gem, perhaps?
Okay, this is going to sound weird but… the *vending machine*. Hear me out! I'm not a vending machine person, usually. But after a particularly stressful (and ultimately failed) attempt to hike up to a viewpoint – turns out, it was closer to the freeway than the actual mountains – I was *hangry*. And the vending machine, bless its little plastic heart, had a surprisingly decent selection of chips and… Gatorade. The Gatorade was the real MVP. It tasted extra-delicious after being defeated by a slightly uphill walk. That vending machine was, in its own small, slightly sad way, a lifeline. It was a symbol of hope in a town that wasn’t always handing out the good vibes.
Did anything go wrong? Be honest! Don't just tell me its all sunshine and waffles!
Oh, honey. Where do I even *begin*? Let's start with the fact that, despite my best efforts, I couldn't find the lake everyone raves about. I swear I saw signs for it, but then I'd end up in a parking lot. The wi-fi was patchy, like my enthusiasm for the aforementioned hike. The first room we got had a faint musty smell, which, honestly, is a La Quinta classic. And the highlight? The fire alarm. Went off, like, twice. Apparently, someone burned their toast. Twice. I nearly jumped out of my skin both times. The second time I was in the shower, completely covered in shampoo. Not my finest moment. But hey, at least I can claim I got out of bed for something other than waffles that time.
Would you go back? *Honestly*?
Ugh, that's the million-dollar question, isn't it? Probably. Look, it's not the Ritz-Carlton. It's not even a particularly *memorable* hotel, in a good way. But it was… convenient. It was cheap. It had a pool, a vending machine, and a breakfast that, even at its worst, was better than nothing. And, if I'm being completely honest (which I've apparently been doing the whole time), there's a certain *comfort* in the predictability of a La Quinta. You know what you're getting. And sometimes, when you just want a break from the world (and the pressure to be effortlessly glamorous), that's exactly what you need. So, yeah. Maybe. But next time, I'm bringing my own waffle iron.
Any tips for fellow San Bernardino/La Quinta adventurers?
Absolutely!
- Pack Snacks: The vending machine is a lifeline, but the chips selection is limited. Bring your own. Consider protein bars, cause, you know, it's going to be a long day.
- Embrace the Absurdity: San Bernardino has its quirks. Roll with them. The slightly faded charm is part of the experience.
- Google Maps is Your Friend (but sometimes your enemy): Double-check those directions. Seriously. My sense of direction might be as bad as the breakfast waffles.
- Invest in earplugs: Especially if you're a light sleeper and share walls with "the toasters".
- Lower Your Expectations (slightly): Then you won't be disappointed. Unless you were already expecting very little.
San Bernardino - beyond La Quinta - any hidden gems you recommend?
Alright, here's the thingWander Stay Spot
