If You Can Afford It, Stay Elsewhere
Written: Feb 12 '03 (Updated Feb 12 '03)
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Product Rating:
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Pros: Clean, nice continental breakfast
Cons: Old facility, sketchy area
The Bottom Line: This place is best suited for travelers on a tight budget who are looking for no-frills accommodations.
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| jentnews's Full Review: San Antonio Days Inn Downtown |
My fiance and I, both Austin residents, are getting married in San Antonio next month (March 2003). We're saving every penny for the wedding, so price was naturally the first thing I considered when reserving a hotel in San Antonio for a recent Friday night. We planned on putting down some deposits with caterers and reception halls that weekend, and we didn't want to spend any more than we had to.
After much comparison, I booked a room at the Days Inn Downtown on Laredo Street. While our stay was certainly not the worst I've experienced, it could have been much better.
We arrived at Days Inn sometime after 8 p.m. The parking lot was mostly pothole-free and fairly clean, but there were some swarthy-looking characters in back of the building and outside of the Wendy's next door. Still, we felt pretty secure and were able to check into our room with little trouble. The cashier, who was very polite, had us fill out a short information card and gave us two key cards to open our room door. Because of the strange men in back, I asked to be placed in the front half of the building, which faces Interstate 35.
Our second-floor room was clean and the king-size bed was neatly made. We also had a small micro-fridge, which was good because I had some sodas to chill. An alarm clock was provided for us on the nightstand and the bathroom had small soaps and shampoos, as well as two full sets of towels. Our 19-inch color television had most major cable channels, including HBO, which was a nice surprise.
But it was obvious that the room was old and in need of repair. The room had a faint "motel" odor, and when I tried to grab a tissue from the dispenser built into the bathroom counter, the metal front came loose. The front door was also hard to shut and lock - it took a fair amount of jimmying before we could secure it properly. The bed pillows were also flimsy and uncomfortable to sleep on.
The motel's location was also questionable. Though it is just minutes away from the Alamo and the Riverwalk, it is also near some economically-depressed neighborhoods, which could lead to unsafe situations. The interstate is also just a few feet away, which can be noisy - the sound of a semi truck changing gears woke me up in the middle of the night.
The next day we arose early and checked out with no problem at the front desk. (I used Travelocity to book the room, so the room was prepaid and there were no folios to sign.) The motel's continental breakfast was in the lobby and included a wide variety of items, such as pastries, cereals and fruit. Juice, coffee and milk were also available.
Since my stay was short, I didn't get a chance to explore all of the motel's facilities, but there is a small entertainment alcove for kids near the lobby, as well as a small swimming pool. Drink and snack machines can be found in the breezeways - however, I couldn't locate an ice machine anywhere.
So, if you're planning a visit or vacation to San Antonio, think long and hard before booking the Days Inn Downtown. Though it is near some of the city's biggest attractions, it's not within walking distance of any of them, and the rooms leave something to be desired. But if price is your biggest concern and ambience matters little, you may like this motel.
Recommended:
No
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Epinions.com ID:
jentnews
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Location: Texas, USA
Reviews written: 16
Trusted by: 1 member
About Me:
A struggling writer, tryin' to make it in Texas.
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