Escape to Comfort: Homewood Suites Ankeny, IA - Your Perfect Stay
Okay, buckle up, buttercups! This is gonna be a review, but not your average, sterile, data-dump review. This is a review after a real experience, warts and all. And honestly? I needed a getaway BADLY. So, let's dive into this… thing.
(SEO & Metadata Note: We'll sprinkle keywords throughout, but the feel is more important here.)
The Place: [Insert Hotel Name Here - let's pretend it's "Serenity Sands Resort & Spa" for the sake of this chaotic review.]
First Impression: Serenity Sands… sounds idyllic, right? Like, soft sand, gentle breezes, the whole shebang. Well, the reality was more like… slightly less serene, especially when your taxi driver nearly takes out a stray chihuahua trying to park. But hey, character! That's what I kept telling myself.
Accessibility – The Quest for the Ramp:
- Wheelchair Accessible? Supposedly. Found a few ramps, but navigating the whole place felt like an Olympic sport, especially when the elevator decided to take a “lunch break” during my spa appointment. Ugh.
- Elevator: There was one, but I swear it was powered by hamsters on tiny treadmills. Waiting felt like forever. ( Accessibility is a HUGE deal, folks, and this place gets a mixed bag of points because of this)
- Facilities for Disabled Guests: Not sure I encountered any.
- Check-in/out [express]: Was there, but it wasn't really that express, with a lot of talking and talking about "express checkout".
- Exterior corridor: Yes, but the doors were not the best.
Cleanliness and Safety – The Hygiene Police Are Watching (Hopefully!):
Okay, let's get real. Post-pandemic travel anxieties are a thing. Anti-viral cleaning products? Thank goodness. Daily disinfection in common areas? Heard whispers of it, saw some people in hazmat suits, felt a little reassured. Hand sanitizer? Everywhere! But the dispenser in the gym was empty which made me a bit sad. Rooms sanitized between stays? They said so. (Was I still a little paranoid? Maybe. But look, I've seen what a sneeze can do.) Staff trained in safety protocol? They seemed to be, always with their masks. And a lot of "stay safe, stay safe" stuff.
- Rooms sanitized between stays: YES! It was a huge relief.
- Room sanitization opt-out available: Didn't need it, but good to know, I guess.
- How about the breakfast? Well, it was wrapped… I see, not that great when it can be better.
- Daily housekeeping: Yes, and I felt safe with that.
- CCTV in common areas & CCTV outside property Yes, it gave me a feeling of safety.
- Smoke alarms: YES. And that is a great thing.
- Fire extinguisher YES.
- Security [24-hour] Yes, but I am not sure it worked.
Dining, Drinking, and Snacking – The Food Coma Odyssey:
Alright, food. The most important thing. And, boy, did I eat. Let’s break it down, food-style.
Restaurants: Several.
Asian cuisine in restaurant: Yes! The Pad Thai was good at least.
International cuisine in restaurant: Yup!
Western cuisine in restaurant: Also yes!
Breakfast [buffet]: The usual, with slightly sad croissants.
Breakfast service: Okay, the buffet was fine, but the wait for coffee was brutal.
A la carte in restaurant: This was the way to go. The menu was like a book, but the food was better.
Poolside bar: This was a highlight. The cocktails were STRONG. Maybe too strong? (See next section).
Snack bar: Standard stuff.
Coffee/tea in restaurant: Yes!
Bar: Had one!
24-hour room service This place knows how to live!
Alternative meal arrangement, What is that about?
Eating at the Poolside bar
OKAY, the Poolside bar. This is where things get… fuzzy. I had a few margaritas by the pool. The sunset was beautiful, the music was catchy, and the margaritas… well, they were lethal. Later, there was a little incident involving a swan floatie and a very confused waiter. Let's just say, I don't remember a lot of the spa experience. The margaritas were that good, but the aftermath… not so much. Moral of the story: Poolside cocktails? Proceed with extreme caution.
Things to Do – Relaxation and (Maybe) Regret:
- Spa/sauna: The spa situation was… intense. The prices? Ouch. The body wrap? I think I fell asleep.
- Massage: Again… intense. Maybe the masseuse was a bit rough, or maybe it was the margaritas, but my muscles felt like they'd been through a demolition derby for the rest of the day.
- Pool: The pool itself was lovely, with a view (when I could remember what kind of view it was). So, yes, the Pool with a view, and the water was clean.
- Fitness center: I'm not a gym person, but it looked… well-equipped.
- Ways to relax: I tried. I really did. But the margaritas kept interfering.
Internet Access – Can’t Escape the Digital Monster:
- Free Wi-Fi in all rooms! Hallelujah!
- Internet access – wireless: Worked great!
- Wi-Fi in public areas: Spotty at times.
- Internet [LAN]: Not sure.
- Laptop workspace: Yes
- Desk and socket: Yes.
Rooms – The Sanctuary (Mostly):
- Air conditioning: Needed!
- Blackout curtains: Saved my life after the margaritas.
- Bathrobes: Luxurious. Felt like a celebrity.
- Coffee/tea maker: Crucial.
- Mini bar: Overpriced, but essential.
- In-room safe box: Always a good idea.
- Slippers: Yes!
- And more: Yes.
Services and Conveniences – The Little Luxuries:
- Concierge: Helpful, until I asked about the swan floatie incident. Then they got very vague.
- Luggage storage: Got that sorted for me and my luggage.
- Laundry service: Used it. Efficient.
- Food delivery: Yes. Good, in fact.
- Doorman, Daily housekeeping, Dry cleaning, Elevator: Yes, YES!
For the Kids – The Tiny Humans:
- Babysitting service: Available.
- Kids facilities: Didn't see much of this, to be honest.
- Family/child friendly: They said it was.
Getting Around – The Transportation Tango:
- Airport transfer: Yes!
- Car park [free of charge], Car park [on-site], Car power charging station: Yes!
- Taxi service: Yes.
Overall Vibe – The Emotional Rollercoaster:
Look, Serenity Sands Resort & Spa had its flaws. The elevator could've been faster, and the margaritas… well, let’s just say I won’t be using a swan floatie again for a while. But the rooms were comfortable, the staff (mostly) friendly, and the pool was dreamy. With all these great options and availability, I really think it worked.
Would I go back? Maybe. If they promised me REALLY strong coffee and a lifetime supply of aspirin. **(SEO Keywords for Conclusion: hotel review, spa resort, accessibility, clean hotel) *Important Considerations:*
- Individual Experience: Remember, this is just one person's experience. Your mileage may vary.
- Flexibility: Be adaptable. Things happen. Roll with it!
- Ask Questions: Don't be afraid to ask staff about anything!
Final Verdict: 3.5 out of 5 stars. Serenity Sands Resort & Spa: A decent getaway with a few bumps in the road. But hey, life is messy, and that's what makes it interesting, right? And again, if you go – watch out for the margaritas. Seriously.
Escape to Paradise: Your Dream Dominican Getaway Awaits at El Balata!
Okay, buckle up, buttercups. We're going to Ankeny, Iowa. Homewood Suites better be holding their breath, because here comes… well, let's just say me. This is not your meticulously planned, perfectly polished travel itinerary. This is a vibe.
The Homewood Suites by Hilton Ankeny Adventure: A Slightly Unhinged Itinerary
Day 1: Arrival and the Quest for Snacks (aka "Surviving the Journey")
1:00 PM: Arrive at Des Moines International (DSM). Seriously, Iowa? Beautiful, flat, and very… Iowa. (Said with affection, mostly.) The rental car place is a chaotic ballet of confused families. I'm already judging everyone's luggage choices. Mine? Optimistically overpacked. Always. I will be the woman who needs a minivan for a weekend.
- Anecdote: Last time I rented a car, I swear I saw a squirrel running the check-in desk. True story! Okay, maybe not. But the feeling of utter system-induced stress was similar.
1:45 PM: The scenic drive to Ankeny begins! (Scenic in a "look at all the cornfields, wow!" kinda way.) GPS is already trying to reroute me through a cow pasture. I refuse. I will NOT be that person.
2:30 PM: Check-in at the Homewood Suites. Praying for a room that doesn't smell like chlorine and stale air conditioning. The front desk person seems genuinely happy to see me. Score! Maybe this won't be so bad after all. Key in hand. Time to explore the room.
2:45 PM: Room Reveal
- Nice! It's a suite, thank goodness. I cannot do a regular room. The kitchen is a godsend.
- Observation: The complimentary "welcome" basket has those little, single-serving packs of cookies. I will be eating those. With a passion.
3:00 PM: The real mission: The Hunt For Snacks. Gotta find a grocery store. I need sustenance, people. This is serious business. I'm picturing the perfect combo in my head.
3:30 PM: Successfully navigate to a local grocery store. I am now the proud owner of an unhealthy number of chips, dips, Diet Coke and…is that a whole cheesecake? Don't judge me.
- Quirky Observation: Why are all the chip bags so loud? It feels like a personal affront to my inner introvert any time I open one. The crinkling is a constant assault of pure, unadulterated noise.
4:30 PM: Back at the hotel. Unpacking (sort of). Spreading out my snacks like a conquering hero. This suite is now my kingdom.
5:00 PM - Dinner: Hmmm…the free hotel dinner is tempting, but I'm not sure. Going to wait and see how the impulse to do an "Olive Garden" take-out hits. This may be the first test.
- Emotional Reaction: The thought of free food is pure, unadulterated joy. But… will it be good? The eternal question!
7:00 PM - Hotel Exploration (or the Attempt Thereof): Walk around the hotel. Find the gym, mentally vow to use it, and instead find the vending machine. It is a battle of wills. I will probably lose.
8:00 PM- Downtime: Watch whatever absolute junk is on streaming services. My brain needs to shut off.
10:00 PM: Crash. (Hopefully in a bed that isn't lumpy.) The cheesecake whispers in my ear.
Day 2: The Ankeny Experience (Local Color, or Whatever I Can Find)
- 7:00 AM: Rise and (Attempt to) Shine: The breakfast situation… Is it a continental buffet? Or a desperate scramble for the waffle maker? The answer, my friends, will define my morning. I'm going to go for it!
- 8:00 AM: Breakfast Debrief: Well… the waffle maker was a battleground. But I got a waffle. And some rubbery eggs, but hey, free food! Fueling up for the day.
- 9:00 AM: The Initial Plan: (My grand plan is to check out a local park. I may visit a museum if I'm feeling ambitious. My ambition is, let's be honest, questionable.) Need to get outside, breathe the Iowa air, and feel… something.
- 9:30 AM - The Real Experience: Drove to the park. Walked around for 10 minutes and then sat on a bench and watched the squirrels. They are, surprisingly, entertaining.
- Messier Structure/Rambles: The squirrels are probably judging me. I can feel it. "Look at her," they're saying, "She's just… sitting." I feel seen, and slightly ridiculous. Plus, I realized I forgot my sunglasses. Ugh.
- 11:00 AM: Food! Find a local diner. Eat a greasy breakfast of eggs and bacon. This is Iowa, after all.
- 12:00 PM: The Museum That (Maybe) Wasn't: Considered a visit to a local museum (if there is a local museum). But the allure of online shopping and comfy hotel pillows is strong. I made the choice of the pillows, not the museum.
- Stronger Emotional Reaction: Oh, the guilt! I'm missing out on local culture! But, those pillows. And the siren song of Amazon Prime. This internal conflict is exhausting.
- 1:00 PM: Afternoon of Rest: Back at the hotel. Reading a book (or pretending to). Ordering room service? (Okay, there's no room service, but I'll contemplate it, then realize I have a fridge full of goodies).
- Opinionated Language: Hotels should all have room service. It's a fundamental human right!
- 3:00 PM: Hotel Pool or Shopping Spree? Deciding whether to brave the hotel pool. I have a swimsuit. I don't have the confidence. Will probably do more online shopping.
- 5:00 PM - Dinner Plan: Dinner: Might try to actually explore Ankeny for dinner. Some kind of restaurant. I'll check Yelp (or, let's be honest, Google Maps).
- 7:00 PM: Evening Entertainment: Some kind of attempt at a classy cocktail in the hotel bar. (Or, more likely, drinking Diet Coke solo in my room, judging the world.)
- 9:00 PM: Crash (Again): Sleep! Zzzzzzzzzz.
Day 3: Departure and Reflections (aka "The Aftermath")
- 7:00 AM: A last-gasp attempt to make breakfast. Maybe I'll conquer the waffle maker this time!
- 8:00 AM: Check out: Make sure I haven't left a trail of crumbs and empty chip bags. The housekeeper will judge me, I just know it.
- 9:00 AM: Drive back to DSM. More cornfields. More existential pondering.
- 10:00 AM: Return the rental car. No squirrels in sight this time. Success!
- 11:00 AM: Fly home.
- 12:00 PM: Reflecting (or at least trying): Did I "experience" Ankeny? Debatable. Did I eat too many cookies? Definitely. Did I recharge? Maybe. Do I need another vacation? Absolutely.
- Stream-of-Consciousness: Wow. Iowa. I never thought I'd say that. It was quiet. It was peaceful, and for the first time in a long time… I wasn't staring at my phone. Now I'm on a plane and I'm already checking my phone. But… the cheesecake was good. Okay, Iowa, thanks. Until next time.
And there you have it. My Ankeny adventure. Imperfect, messy, and real. Now, back to reality. And my to-do list. And, you know, maybe planning the next escape.
Escape to Hampton Inn Orange City: Your IA Oasis Awaits!
I'm utterly overwhelmed. Where do I even *begin* to tackle... everything?
Oh, honey, I GET IT. The sheer weight of existence can feel like a hippopotamus sitting on your chest, right? You're staring at a mountain of laundry, emails, bills... and also, the existential dread of knowing we're all just hurtling through space on a giant rock. Where do you start?
Honestly? *I* usually start with a frantic search for chocolate. If that fails, I pick ONE THING. Just one. Maybe it's folding *one* load of laundry. Or responding to *one* email. Or, and this is crucial... *not* scrolling through social media for an hour. Small victories, people! They add up. I once spent a whole Tuesday just... existing. And it was glorious. Because I needed the break. We all do.
How do I deal with that *one* person who always manages to drive me insane? You know the type.
Ah, yes. The human landmine. The one who can say 'hello' and instantly trigger a volcano of irritation. I... I have experience here. My Aunt Mildred? Bless her heart, she means well. But when she starts talking about the 'good old days' and how 'kids these days...' I'm pretty sure my blood pressure triples.
Here's what I've learned: You can't change them. You can only control your reaction. This is *hard*. Sometimes, I just... excuse myself. Go breathe in a closet. Count to ten. Or, if you're feeling ballsy, you can embrace the passive-aggressive. A simple, "Oh, that's interesting, Aunt Mildred" can do wonders. Just... try not to let your inner rage (we all have it) completely explode. Unless it's utterly cathartic. Then, by all means... explode. But clean up afterwards.
My motivation has vanished. I feel like a wilted lettuce leaf. How do I *get it back*?
Ugh, the dreaded motivational slump. It's like the universe decided to hit the 'pause' button on your life. Look, let's be honest: motivation is a fickle beast. It's not always going to be there, especially when you're facing a massive setback. Do you know what I did when I felt unmotivated? I just watched reality TV. For a whole week. I have no regrets. Mostly.
Here's a trick a therapist once gave me and I laughed so hard I cried: set the bar *ridiculously low*. "Today, I will put on pants." "Today, I'll brush my teeth." It's a small step, but it's a step. And sometimes, that tiny victory is all you need to build momentum. Even just getting out of bed to get a snack might be enough.
I failed BIG TIME. Like, epic fail. Now what?
Oh, honey. Been there, failed that. I once accidentally set a microwave on fire. Twice. (Long story.) It's *humiliating*. And the urge to crawl under a rock and never emerge is STRONG. But listen, everyone fails. Even the people who seem to have it all together (spoiler alert: they don't).
First, allow yourself to feel the feelings. Rage. Sadness. Utter embarrassment. Let it out. Then, once you've had your pity party (and trust me, a good pity party is essential), analyze what happened. What went wrong? What did you learn? And most importantly... how can you *not* do it again? Maybe you need to call for help. Maybe you go in hiding. The point is, try to learn and grow. Also, maybe don't tell *everyone* about your epic fail. At least not right away. I'd recommend a good friend or family member, before talking about it on a street corner.
How do I handle those moments when I feel completely inadequate?
Inadequacy? Oh, that old friend. That's the one that shows up uninvited, right? I'm plagued by it! Sometimes, staring at the mountain of bills, I think "Everyone else has it together. Why can't I?" The key is knowing it's a *lie*. Everyone is a mess, some people just hide it better than others.
Firstly, remind yourself of your good qualities, your past accomplishments, and the things that make you *you*. Then, ask 'Why?' What specifically makes you feel inadequate? What aspect could use improvement? If you're comparing yourself to others on social media, stop. Just stop. It's a highlight reel, not reality. Seriously, you are probably amazing. You're *here* reading this. You're surviving. That's worth something. If you still feel overwhelmed, fake it 'til you make it. Or just eat cake. Cake helps.
What if I'm just... *sad*? Like, all the time?
Look, sadness is a part of life. Sometimes, you're just... sad. It's as simple as that. But if it's overwhelming, if you're struggling to function, if it's affecting your life in a big way, please, *please* talk to someone. A friend. A family member. A therapist. Anyone.
And I know it's hard to ask for help. It can feel like admitting weakness. But I promise, it's not. It takes real strength to acknowledge you're struggling. There's no shame in asking for help. And sometimes, just talking things through can make a world of difference. Also, never underestimate the power of a good cry watching a sad movie. It's cathartic. Also, sunshine and exercise. And therapy. Therapy is really good. Seriously think about it. It helped me.
I'm scared of the future. What do I do?
Ugh, the future. It's this vast, unknowable expanse, isn't it? Full of possibilities... and also, potential disasters. I totally get it. I lay awake at night worrying about... well, everything. The climate. My cats' health. Whether I remembered to pay the electric bill... The list goes on.
The first thing I do is breathe. Really. Shallow breaths and anxiety go hand in hand. Then, I try to focus on the *now*. What can I control *right now*? Can I drink a cup of tea? Can I call a friend? Can I *not* read the news for an hour? Because, again, the news. Sometimes, I even make a list. "Things I'm grateful for." It sounds cheesy, but it works. And remember: you are not alone. Everyone, even the mostTrip Hotel Hub
