Trinidad's BEST Kept Secret: Quality Inn Review (CO)!
Alright, buckle up, buttercups, because we're diving headfirst into the not-so-secret life of Trinidad, Colorado's Quality Inn. And let me tell you, "best kept secret" might be stretching it…but hey, who am I to judge? I'm just a weary traveler, armed with a laptop and a serious need for a comfy bed.
First Impressions: The Arrival Shuffle
Okay, so accessibility. Crucial. I'm relatively able-bodied, thankfully, but I've seen enough to know the deal. The Quality Inn? Mostly good. An elevator – blessedly – for those who need it. Plenty of parking, though the "free of charge" sign is a blessing in this day and age. Check-in? Smooth enough, contactless and all. They even have a doorman…of sorts. A friendly, slightly-tired looking guy holding the door open, which is a win in my book. (Accessibility: Check!)
The Room: A Tale of Two Sides (and a Refrigerator!)
The first room? Meh. Just meh. Carpeting that’s seen better days, a slightly depressing mirror, and a general sense of…well, datedness. The blackout curtains, however, were a godsend. Shut out the world, and let me tell you, I used them! Also, the included refrigerator was a highlight, especially after a long drive. (Rooms: Okay, mostly good). Extra points for: a working coffee maker (essential).
The "Things to Do" Dilemma and (the lack of) ways to relax
Now, the website had me salivating: "Spa, gym, pool with view!" Oh, the promises! Let me tell you, reality…diverges. There's an outdoor pool, looking a little… neglected, honestly. I peered in, but I couldn't bring myself to jump in. The gym? I think I saw a treadmill and maybe, maybe, a weight machine that looked like it might still be used. The spa? Nope. Nada. Zero spa. (Ways to relax: Not so much.) But hey, at least there's a TV, right? And…wait for it…on-demand movies! Yeah, a little bit of a letdown there, and if you're looking for anything relaxing and rejuvenating at the hotel, you'll have a hard time finding it.
Food, Glorious… Uh… Food?
Here's where things get…interesting. The breakfast? Free, which is always a plus. Buffet style, but with the usual suspects. Think: instant oatmeal, the kind of scrambled eggs that look suspiciously like they're from a carton, and some underwhelming pastries. Is it “Asian cuisine in restaurant?” I didn't think so but maybe, just maybe? (Dining, drinking, and snacking: Let’s call it functional).
The Internet: A Love-Hate Relationship
Free Wi-Fi in all rooms! Great! Except…it’s kinda slow. I managed to check my email, but don't plan on streaming Netflix. Getting that Wi-Fi signal to cooperate was an exercise in patience. (Internet Access: Mixed bag.)
Cleanliness and Safety: The "We Tried" Award
I must commend them; the staff really tries. Hand sanitizer everywhere, signs about social distancing, and individually-wrapped food options. Rooms are sanitized between stays. The staff were wearing masks, and the lobby seemed reasonably clean. (Cleanliness and safety: Better than expected, tbh.)
The Quirks and Imperfections: The Human Element
Okay, here's where the Quality Inn really shines. It's…real. It's not a cookie-cutter, soul-sucking chain hotel. The staff, even though they sometimes seemed a bit harried, were genuinely nice. One morning, the coffee machine broke down, and a friendly woman named Maria made me a fresh pot in the back. (I swear, that one cup made my entire day!) In one of the rooms, I saw a slight stain on the wall. Then I knew it, this is a place where life happens. (Quirks and imperfections: Part of the charm, actually!)
The Offer: The "Trinidad Treat"
Okay, so you want to stay here? And you are expecting a world-class experience? Then, no. Probably not. But, if you're looking for a clean, reasonably priced, and convenient place to crash in Trinidad, and you're not expecting the Ritz? Then, this is it.
Here's my offer:
Unwind at the Quality Inn, Trinidad!
- Budget-Friendly Comfort: Escape the ordinary without breaking the bank. Our rates are designed to give you the most value for your money.
- Convenience: Perfect for a road trip stopover or exploring local attractions, the Quality Inn offers easy access to everything Trinidad has to offer.
- Free Breakfast, Free Parking, Free Wi-Fi: That's right! Start your day with a complimentary breakfast and stay connected with free Wi-Fi. Plus, enjoy the convenience of free on-site parking.
- Cleanliness & Safety First: We’re committed to your health and well-being with enhanced cleaning protocols and hygiene measures.
Book your stay today and experience the Quality Inn – Trinidad: your home away from home!
This isn't just a hotel; it's an experience. A real, imperfect, and surprisingly endearing experience.
22 Twenty-Two Hotel: Mae Sai's BEST Kept Secret (Chiang Rai, Thailand)
Alright, buckle up buttercups, because this itinerary is about to get REAL. We're talking Quality Inn Trinidad, CO, population – well, let's just say "enough to make a decent chili cook-off" – and I’m expecting… adventures. Or at least, a good story to tell when I get back and everyone asks, "So, how was Trinidad?" (Spoiler alert: it’s gonna be… interesting).
Day 1: Arrival, Expectations… and Immediate Disappointment (aka, the Room)
- 1:00 PM: Land in Trinidad (okay, maybe not land land, more like drive in, but still). The drive was fine, mostly. Except for that one rest stop where I swear I saw a tumbleweed actually judge me. Like, "Lady, you're gonna need more water than that." Rude, tumbleweed, rude.
- 2:00 PM: Arrive at the Quality Inn. First impressions… well, it's a Quality Inn. Let's be honest, I wasn't expecting the Ritz. But dang, the lobby smelled vaguely of chlorine and… old dreams? Not a great start.
- 2:30 PM: The Room. Oh Lord, the room. It's… beige. Like, aggressively beige. Beige carpet, beige walls, cream curtains… Beige hell. The bedspread looks like it's seen things. Bad things. I’m already plotting a preemptive strike with a generous spritz of Lysol. The TV remote looks like it's been in a war. I'm not sure if it works.
- 3:00 PM: Attempt to conquer the remote. Fail miserably. Realize I’m already emotionally invested and can’t give up.
- 3:30 PM: Success! Found the local news. The anchorman's tie is… something. And the weather forecast? Mildly terrifying for the surrounding mountains. We're talking flash floods and the potential for "localised, angry hail". Great.
- 4:00 PM: Okay, gotta get out of this beige prison. Need a walk, need some air that isn't faintly chlorine-tinged.
Day 1 – The Golden Age of Burgers (and Possibly, Regret)
- 4:30 PM: Drive to the Trinidad Historic Commercial District. Apparently, this is a THING. Prepare myself for a walk up and down the main street. It took way, WAY longer than anticipated to find a space to park. This could be a clue of what's to come.
- 5:00 PM: Burger Time! Found a local diner with "World Famous Burgers". World famous? Okay, I’m in. I order the biggest, greasiest, cheese-iest burger on the menu. Because why not? It's Trinidad, CO. Calories don’t count here.
- 5:30 PM: The burger arrives. It's enormous. I take a bite. My life flashes before my eyes. This… this is a burger for the ages. I am so happy. I feel like I could wrestle bears, solve world hunger, and learn Mandarin. This burger is a religious experience.
- 6:00 PM: Struggle to finish the burger. I almost did. I failed. I am ashamed.
- 6:30 PM: Walk around town while holding my stomach. I'm pretty sure I took a nap on a bench. Maybe I dreamed I was a burger?
- 7:30 PM: Head back to the Beige Enclave, contemplating purchasing a gallon of Tums.
- 8:00 PM: The TV remote wins again. Give up and fall asleep to a static-filled movie.
Day 2: Holy Water, Hiking Hell, and a Potential UFO Sighting (Maybe?)
- 8:00 AM: Wake up, feeling like a small rodent living in a giant sandwich. The burger is still with me.
- 9:00 AM: Breakfast at the Quality Inn. It was… standard continental. Don't judge me, I was hungry.
- 9:30 AM: Visit the Holy Trinity Catholic Church. I am not a religious person, but the architecture is stunning. The sheer history of the place is palpable. It's beautiful and peaceful.
- 10:30 AM: Drive into the mountains. Supposed to be a "gentle hike." Lies, all lies. My legs are currently screaming at me. The views are incredible, though, even if I'm pretty sure a mountain goat just judged my fitness level.
- 12:00 PM: Picnic lunch with a view. The sandwich I packed is already squished. I eat it anyway. Mountain air gives me a better appetite somehow…
- 1:00 PM: Hike back down. Somehow even more painful than going up. I think I saw a squirrel give me a look of pity.
- 2:00 PM: Back at the room. Need. Sleep.
- 3:00 PM: Nap. Wake up. The room is still beige.
- 5:00 PM: Driving back from the park, I swear I saw something weird dart across the sky. A light? Moving too fast? Or was it just a bird, or maybe after all the burger, I'm starting to hallucinate? The mystery will never be solved.
- 6:00 PM: Head back to town. More exploration.
- 7:00 PM: Dinner at a local brewery with a small menu. They're known for their beer. It's good. A little too good. That, coupled with the burger from yesterday… I am a mess of a person.
- 8:00 PM: Try to watch a movie but fall asleep. Again.
Day 3: Leaving Trinidad, and a Moment of Zen (Maybe)
- 7:00 AM: Wake up to the most generic hotel breakfast ever. Eggs, cereal, and the overwhelming feeling that I'm not ready to leave.
- 8:00 AM: Pack. Say goodbye to beige.
- 9:00 AM: Drive to the city park. It's small, but surprisingly well-maintained. There's a pond. And I sat down and watched the ducks for 20 minutes. It was actually… relaxing. The burger, the hike, the beige – it all faded away.
- 9:30 AM: Leaving Trinidad. Take one last look in the rearview mirror. It’s… not what I expected. It’s… something.
- 10:00 AM: Drive off.
- Ongoing: Back home. Talk about Trinidad to everyone who would listen. Buy burger ingredients and cook, and eat, a burger. Remind myself that it was worth it.
Final Thoughts:
Trinidad, CO, is… a thing. It's not a perfectly curated tourist spot. It's a little rough around the edges, with a healthy dose of history and a burger that might actually change your life. It's got its imperfections. But after all of this, I would go back again just for the burger. And maybe to see if the UFO was real.
Melbourne Oasis: FREE Parking! Stunning 2BR Apartment Near Southern Cross Station
Quality Inn, Trinidad, CO: The Truth (and Then Some)
Okay, is this place *really* a secret? Or just... not very popular?
Alright, alright, let's be honest. "Best Kept Secret" might be a *slight* exaggeration. It's not like the Illuminati are converging there for secret meetings. More like... it’s Trinidad's Quality Inn. Let's just say it's not on the celebrity hotbed radar. But for me? Yeah, at times, felt like a secret, a little bubble of roadside motel goodness amidst the vastness of Southern Colorado. I'm talking about that *feeling* of discovery, you know? Like, "Hey, I found a place that actually *exists* and doesn't require selling a kidney to stay in!"
The Rooms! Tell me about the ROOMS! (Specifically, are they clean? Because, you know...)
Okay, the rooms. Right. "Clean-ish" is probably the most accurate descriptor. Let's be real, we're not talking Ritz-Carlton here. My first time, I walked in, and there was... a *scent*. Not a bad one, not necessarily. But a... *presence*. Like the ghost of a thousand air fresheners had decided to take up permanent residence. But hey, the sheets *looked* clean - always a win. The bathroom? Functioned. (And thank GOD, after that drive, I needed functioning!) Look, I'm a realist. If the bed doesn't have questionable stains and the shower sprays water, I'm happy. More than happy, actually.
What about the breakfast? Is it that sad continental breakfast of dry muffins and sadness I'm dreading?
Ugh, breakfast. THIS is where things get... interesting. Okay, yes, there's the usual suspect lineup. Cereal that's seen better days, the aforementioned muffins (sometimes surprisingly moist, other times... well, you get the picture), and the dreaded "waffle maker." But here's the kicker: sometimes, and I mean *sometimes*, they have scrambled eggs. And when they *do* have scrambled eggs? GOLD, I tell you. GOLD! (Okay, maybe not literally gold, but after a long drive, they're a miracle.) Coffee? Surprisingly decent for a motel. It's a gamble, folks. A gamble. But a gamble I'm often willing to take. I may or may not have snuck a banana out to go. Don't judge me, I was *hungry*.
The Pool?! Does it even HAVE a pool? (And if so, is it...clean?)
The pool! Okay, let's dive (pun intended, sorry) right into this. Yes, there's a pool. It's... outside. And the last time I saw it, it was...well, let's just say it had a certain *patina*. I'm pretty sure a family of ducks had adopted it as their personal watering hole at some point. I didn't go in. I watched other people go in, nervously. Look, I'm not a germaphobe, but the whole experience just felt... uncertain. But! Maybe, just maybe, you'll catch it on a good day, when the chlorine's doing its thing, and the sun is shining. Then it might be *almost* inviting.
What about the staff? Are they friendly? Rude? MIA?
The staff...Ahhhhhhh, the staff. They are the hidden gems of this place! They're not robots, they're *people*. And people, I tell you, are an experience. Sometimes you get the cheerful, "Welcome to Trinidad!" type. Other times, you get the folks who clearly know this ain't the Four Seasons, but are just quietly hustling to get through their shift. I've had them go from helpful and polite to "Oh, man, I need another coffee" in the span of a single conversation. They are humans with very real feelings. But overall? They're fine. They're doing their jobs. And I'm always going to appreciate someone who's holding down the fort in a roadside motel, especially when it's late and you're tired and just need a bed. And on one occasion, the front desk lady, noticing I had a mountain of luggage, told me to not sweat it until she checked me in. Bless her!
Okay, spill the tea. Any Seriously Awful Experiences?
Alright, truth time. One time... the elevator was out. Now, this wouldn't be *so* bad, except I was on the third floor with, like, a million suitcases and a very grumpy cat. I had to haul everything up some stairs. It was like a workout from hell. I sweated, I panted, I muttered curses under my breath. By the time I finally got to my room, I was pretty sure I deserved a medal. So, yeah, the elevator situation? Not ideal. And my cat? She judged me the entire time. But, hey, it built character! (And maybe gave me an excuse to eat an extra muffin the next morning.) Also, on one trip, the TV didn't work. I actually *called* the desk, but they said they were too busy to come up. I had to reset it myself. Ah, the adventures!
So, would you recommend this place? Be Honest!
Okay, the million-dollar question. Would I recommend it? Here’s my take: If you're expecting luxury, five-star service, and a pristine experience, then, no. Absolutely not. Go find a fancy hotel. But... if you're looking for a clean-ish bed, a (sometimes) decent breakfast, a pool that *might* be swim-able, and a certain, quirky charm that only a roadside motel can offer, then hell yeah. And if you're just passing through Trinidad, and you're tired, and you need a place to crash? Absolutely. It's not perfect, but it's *real*. It's a reminder that even in the middle of nowhere, there's a place to rest your weary bones. And sometimes, that's all you need. Plus, the price is usually decent. So, yeah, I'd go back. Probably will. Even if the elevator's broken. (Deep breaths. Muffin time...)
