Edmonton's BEST Kept Secret? This Travelodge Will SHOCK You!
Okay, buckle up buttercups, because we're diving HEADFIRST into what's supposedly Edmonton's BEST Kept Secret: This Travelodge Will SHOCK You! And by "shock," I'm assuming they mean… well, let's find out, shall we? I'm gonna be brutally honest, brutally helpful, and probably get lost in a few tangents along the way. This review ain't gonna be pretty, but it WILL be real.
First things first: Accessibility. This is HUGE for a lot of folks, and I'm happy to dive deep.
- Accessibility: Right, so the Travelodge is advertising "Facilities for disabled guests." That's a start. But does it mean anything concrete? We'll have to find out. We NEED details. Are the elevators actually working? Are the hallways wide enough for…you know? Are there accessible restrooms in the lobby, and at the on-site restaurant? I'm really hoping they've thought this through. It’s Edmonton - snow and ice are your enemy for mobility. Need to know what winter mobility aids they offer.
(Side note: I once stayed in a “wheelchair-accessible” hotel room in Vegas that literally had a ramp into the room, but then the bathroom door was too narrow. Hilarious, and infuriating, all at once.)
Wheelchair accessible: Seriously important. "Wheelchair accessible" needs more than just a ramp at the entrance. Does that ramp lead everywhere? And what about the pool? (We'll get to that. Eventually.)
Elevator: Let's hope it's in good working condition. I've arrived at a hotel where the elevator was perpetually "out of order." Not ideal.
Internet Access (Because, Duh!)
- Free Wi-Fi in all rooms! Okay, GOOD. This is a non-negotiable in my book.
- Internet [LAN]: A LAN port too? In 2024? That’s…old school. But hey, some people (my dad, for instance) appreciate a wired connection.
- Internet services: What kind of services? Is there a business center? Printing? I can already smell the ink and the frustrations…
- Wi-Fi in public areas: Yes! Praise be! You need this. Waiting in the lobby and no Wi-Fi is just cruel.
Cleanliness and Safety (Let's Hope!)
Okay, this is where things get critical. COVID’s still lurking, the flu is a thing, and frankly, nobody wants to catch anything nasty while on vacation. So, let's see if this Travelodge is taking things seriously.
- Anti-viral cleaning products: Good. Sounds official. I hope they smell like something vaguely nice, not like a hospital waiting room.
- Daily disinfection in common areas: Necessary. Essential. Gotta do it. We’ll see how thorough they are.
- Hand sanitizer: Everywhere? Like, in the elevator? In the hallways? At the front desk? I want dispensers EVERYWHERE!
- Hygiene certification: Does this Travelodge have official hygienic certifications? This is important.
- Rooms sanitized between stays: YES. Crucial. I want to see a sticker on the door that says, "Sanitized for Your Protection." (Or something equally official.)
- Staff trained in safety protocol: Crucial. They need to know what they’re doing.
- Rooms sanitized between stays: Okay, I'm repeating myself, because it's THAT important.
- Sterilizing equipment: What kind? UV wands? Ozone machines? Details, people! Details!
(Rant: I’ve stayed in hotels that clearly didn’t give a fig. Dirty towels. Crumbs on the floor. It's…disgusting. I'm not a princess, but I expect a certain level of cleanliness these days.)
Dining, Drinking, and Snacking (Because, Fuel!)
- Restaurants: Does it HAVE one? (Is there at least a cafeteria?)
- Bar: A bar? Now we're talking! A cheeky cocktail after a long day of…whatever I'm doing? Sign me up. Fingers crossed the bartender knows how to make an old-fashioned.
- Coffee shop: Yes, please. Coffee is life.
- Room service [24-hour]: Bless them if they actually do this. The convenience is just… chefs kiss.
- Breakfast [buffet]: Hmm. The siren song of a buffet. Potentially dangerous. Let's see if it's a good buffet. Hygiene will be KEY.
- Breakfast takeaway service: Useful, especially if I'm hungover and want to eat in my room.
- Alternative meal arrangement: Does this imply dietary accommodations? Vegan? Gluten-free? Good.
(Let's pause for a moment… I once went to a hotel buffet that had a "vegetarian" section that consisted of… a bowl of lettuce and some sad-looking bread. I died a little inside.)
Things to Do, Ways to Relax (The Fun Stuff!)
- Swimming pool [outdoor]: Okay, now we're getting somewhere! An outdoor pool in Edmonton… well, that's a bit of a rarity. I'll believe it when I see it!
- Pool with view: A VIEWWWW?! I mean, I'm not expecting a tropical lagoon, but a nice view would be a major plus!
- Fitness center: Gotta work off all that buffet food, right?
- Sauna/Spa/Steamroom: I hope they have at least one of these because the steamroom is glorious.
- Massage: Yes, please. After a day of travel, a massage sounds heavenly.
- Body scrub/wrap: I’m a simple man. I just want a clean room and a good massage. But hey, if they have the rest…
(I once stayed in a hotel with a "spa" that consisted of a massage table in a closet. True story.)
Services and Conveniences (The Little Things That Matter)
- Air conditioning in public area: YES. Edmonton summers can be… intense.
- Business facilities: Printer/copier? Fax? (Do people still fax?)
- Cash withdrawal: Useful. Always good to have access to cash.
- Concierge: A good concierge is worth their weight in gold.
- Daily housekeeping: Necessary. Even if I make a mess.
- Elevator: Needed
- Dry cleaning, Laundry service, Ironing service: Saves you from that awful feeling of wearing a wrinkled shirt on the first day of a trip.
- Gift/souvenir shop: A nice way to grab a last-minute present, if nothing else.
- Food delivery: Absolutely essential. Nothing better than having your favorite food brought to your room after a late night.
(I once stayed at a hotel that had a tiny, pathetic gift shop with only… a single postcard. Depressing.)
For the Kids (If that's Your Thing)
- Babysitting service: If you NEED it.
- Family/child friendly: A definite plus.
- Kids meal: The fact that this is even mentioned suggests this could be great for families.
Rooms and Amenities (The Nitty-Gritty)
- Additional toilet: Luxury!
- Air conditioning: Essential.
- Blackout curtains: Yes! For me, blackout curtains are a requirement.
- Coffee/tea maker: Needed.
- Desk, Laptop workspace: I can work from anywhere, and an actual desk is a convenience.
- Extra long bed: I’m a giant.
- Free bottled water: Nice touch.
- Hair dryer: Essential
- In-room safe box: Good for valuables.
- Ironing facilities: Again, very convenient.
- Mini bar: Always a treat, although probably overpriced.
- Non-smoking rooms: Must.
- Private bathroom: Need.
- Refrigerator: Useful.
- Satellite/cable channels: Good for downtime.
- Seating area: Adds a touch of comfort.
- Shower: I love a good shower.
- Soundproofing: Need it.
- Wake-up service: Useful, and a must-have.
- Wi-Fi [free]: Already mentioned, but it's worth repeating.
- Window that opens: A little fresh air is always nice.
The "Shock" Factor (What Really Matters)
So, will this Travelodge actually "shock" me? That depends on a few things:
- Cleanliness: The MOST important factor. If it's dirty, I'm gone.
- Service: Are the staff friendly and helpful? Or do they act like I’m bothering them?
- Value: Does the price match the experience?
- The "Secret" Itself: Is there something genuinely special about this place? That pool with a view better be spectacular. *
Alright, buckle up, Buttercup, because this ain't your grandma's perfectly-penned itinerary. This is ME, unleashed, at the Travelodge by Wyndham Edmonton South, and let me tell you, it's gonna get… real.
Day 1: Arrival (and the Glorious Smell of Questionable Carpet)
- 2:00 PM: Touchdown in Edmonton. Smooth flight, right? Except the guy behind me kept kicking my seat, and I'm pretty sure he was auditioning for a monster truck rally with his snoring. Arrive at the Travelodge. The outside? Fine. Standard motel-y. The lobby? Welcoming enough, I guess, except for that slightly chemically smell. You know the one. The "freshly cleaned" smell that actually screams "we've covered up something else."
- 2:30 PM: Check-in. The front desk lady seems… tired. I mean, aren't we all? She’s dealt with this Edmonton weather, and the inevitable "can I speak to the manager" Karen, I assume. Key card obtained. Room number… oh good. 13. I swear, it's always 13.
- 3:00 PM: Into Room 13: A Deep Breath & the Carpet. Okay, not terrible. Clean enough, I think. The bedspread? Questionable. But hey, it's a Travelodge. What do you expect, a luxury suite? I'm more worried about the quality of the coffee machine (essential for survival). The carpet… well, let's just say I'm not rolling around on it. Not yet, anyway. Gotta give it an hour to settle.
- 3:30 PM: Unpack, mostly. Found a half-eaten bag of chips under the desk (ew). Decide to just… not think about it too hard.
- 4:00 PM: Explore! (Or, stumble around until I find the vending machine.) Success! Pepsi and a bag of something crunchy. You gotta start somewhere.
- 5:00 PM: I've decided the world needs a good pizza. No, not a good pizza, a pizza. The kind you order when you're tired, haven't eaten anything particularly healthy all day, and just need something. Google "pizza delivery near me." The options… are plentiful. I'm overwhelmed.
- 6:00 PM: Pizza arrives. It's… fine. Predictable. Comforting. I eat the whole damn thing in record time. Regret is starting to creep in, but I'm too full and happy to care quite yet.
- 7:00 PM: Channel surfing. Catch a glimpse of a hockey game. I don't understand hockey, but the energy is contagious, so I watch for like an hour.
- 8:00 PM: Bathroom break… where I find the shampoo and the conditioner are the "2-in-1" kind. Oh, the indignity! This is a tragedy.
- 8:30 PM: Bedtime. Or at least, attempt at bedtime. The AC is a jet engine. The curtains, not so much.
- 9:30 PM: The hallway is loud. People are going back and forth. This always happens.
- 10:00 PM: The AC is a jet engine and the neighbor is snoring. Time to embrace the white noise, and just TRY and sleep.
Day 2: The West Edmonton Mall (A Pilgrimage of Sorts)
- 8:00 AM: Wake up, slightly sticky, but alive. Coffee from the in-room machine. Not terrible, but not great. I’m not sure I'll survive another day without a proper cappuccino.
- 9:00 AM: Breakfast. The hotel's free "continental breakfast" is an experience. A land of stale bagels, weirdly sweet muffins, and a questionable selection of cereals. I grab a banana and contemplate my life choices.
- 10:00 AM: West Edmonton Mall, here I come. This place is legendary. Mythic. A freaking city under one roof. I prepare myself for sensory overload.
- 10:30 AM - 3:00 PM: West Edmonton Mall… A Deep Dive!
- The Waterpark: Okay, I didn't plan to go to the waterpark. But seeing the giant waterslide from the outside… I started thinking, why not? I get a day pass, rent a towel, and find myself… actually having a blast. The wave pool is surprisingly fun. The water is freezing, but the screams of joy (and terror) are worth it. I rode every single slide, and even the one with the loop-de-loop. Yes, I screamed the whole way down. No regrets. This deserves its own section.
- The Galaxyland: Walk through the amusement park. See kids having fun. Decide on a roller coaster, but the lines are long. Maybe later. It's all… a lot. But still… fun.
- Shopping: Okay, so I did do some shopping. Picked up some socks. And a very loud shirt that I'll probably regret later. Also, some candy from a shop that had a million different kinds.
- Food Court: Pizza again? No. I go for something different. The food court is a warzone of smells and options. Found a decent burger place.
- 3:00 PM: Back to the Travelodge. Exhausted! But in a good way.
- 4:00 PM: Nap. A necessary nap after the mall.
- 5:00 PM: Attempt to do laundry. Fail. Laundry service closed at 6 PM, which is, of course, inconvenient. Gotta air out the damp clothes. The struggle is real.
- 6:00 PM: Watch more TV. Feel a weird sense of accomplishment for having done so much.
- 7:00 PM: Order Thai food. Another act of self-soothing.
- 8:00 PM: Contemplate the meaning of life. Involves the weird carpet, the loud AC, and all the people.
- 9:00 PM: Realize I'm probably going to have to get up early to do something I'm not thrilled about.
- 10:00 PM: Sleep.
Day 3: Departure (Goodbye, Questionable Carpet!)
- 7:00 AM: Drag myself out of bed. The AC is still a jet engine.
- 7:30 AM: Dread the continental breakfast. Avoid the suspicious sausage.
- 8:00 AM: Check out. The front desk lady is different this time, equally tired.
- 8:30 AM: Drive to the airport.
- 9:30 AM: Reflect on the trip. It wasn't perfect. The hotel wasn't fancy. But… those damn waterslides at the mall.
- 10:00 AM: Board plane and start plotting next trip.
So, there you have it. My Travelodge escapade. It was messy. It was honest. And it was, well, me. Would I go back? Maybe. But next time, I'm bringing my own shampoo. And earplugs. And maybe a hazmat suit for the carpet. Just in case.
Escape to Fayetteville's Best-Kept Secret: Courtyard Fort Liberty!
Edmonton's Best Kept Secret? This Travelodge WILL SHOCK You! (Maybe) - FAQ's with a Side of Chaos
Okay, seriously? What, *specifically*, is so shocking about this Travelodge? Is it haunted? Did they accidentally build it on a portal to Dimension X?
Okay, WHOA, settle down, ghost hunter. No interdimensional rifts (as far as I know, and believe me, I'd check). Shocking? Well, that depends. It's shocking in the way a perfectly ordinary, yet slightly... *eccentric* thing can be. Think a grandma who consistently gets your name wrong but always bakes the best cookies. It's the *vibe*, man. It's the... the... *feeling* of "Wait, is this real life?" It's the fact that it's Edmonton, and you're expecting, you know, *Edmonton*. But something about this place... it hits different. Maybe it's the slightly faded wallpaper patterns. Maybe it's the lingering smell of, well, *something* that's been there since the Pleistocene epoch (I'm exaggerating. Probably). Look, details are hard to pinpoint, but it's an experience, not a spreadsheet.
Alright, alright. But what are the *actual* amenities? Don't leave me hanging! Do they have a pool? A decent breakfast? Free Wi-Fi that doesn't require you to sacrifice your firstborn?
Okay, okay, the nitty-gritty. The amenities: There's a pool. (I… think it was closed the last time I was there, mind you. Don't quote me. Always call ahead.) Breakfast? It's the free continental kind. You're talking bagels, toast, maybe some sad-looking pastries. Cereal options that are *mostly* in-date. Wi-Fi? Yes! And surprisingly decent. Though, during my last stay, I swear there was someone hogging all the bandwidth to stream a show about competitive ferret grooming. (Seriously, what is the world?) So, temper your expectations. It ain't the Ritz. It's... Travelodge plus, with a healthy dose of "character." Let's just call it that, shall we?
Okay but I saw a review that said the bed bugs were worse than the mosquitoes during the summer. Is that true? (And please, tell me the mosquito situation too!)
Bed bugs? Okay, so that review… yikes. I… I'm not a entomologist, so I can't personally verify the bed bug situation. But look, every place potentially has issues. Before you go, check recent reviews. My advice? Pack a can of bed bug spray. Better safe than… itchy. And mosquitoes? Edmonton. Summer. That's a given! Bring the bug spray, the OFF! The whole shebang, if you're planning on going out. Honestly, the mosquitoes are a real threat in this city.
You keep saying "eccentric". Can you give me an actual example of the weirdness?
Alright, fine, I'll spill. Here's a story. Once, I was checking in, and this incredibly friendly (and slightly unkempt) man behind the desk, let's call him "Bob," was juggling apples. Yep. *Actual apples*. He didn't break eye contact while he took my credit card, smiling politely. I remember thinking, "This is either the greatest customer service experience ever, or I've stumbled into a parallel dimension." And here's the kicker: before I went to my room, he offered me a free apple. Naturally, I took the apple. It was delicious. This, in a nutshell, is what I mean by eccentricity. It's the unexpected. It's the charming weirdness you didn't know you needed. It’s the stuff of legends.
Is the location any good? Like, can you actually *do* anything from there? Or do you need a car just to get to a convenience store?
Location, location, location! Depends on *what* you want to do. It's not smack-dab downtown, but it's pretty accessible. If you can handle public transit, you’re golden. There's generally enough stuff around in a short drive/bus ride. I'd give it a solid "B". It's not *ideal* for walking everywhere, but hey, Edmonton's a sprawling city. You’ll get around.
Okay, but what was the *worst* thing about staying there? Be brutally honest.
Alright, here's the truth. The water pressure in the shower. Sometimes it's a trickle. Other times, it's a sudden, icy blast of arctic air. You're never quite sure what you're going to get. I swear, someone in engineering has a morbid sense of humor and a grudge against hot showers. Also, and I’m just spitballing here, the occasional hallway conversation at 3 AM featuring what sounded like a competitive interpretive dance-off was a mild disturbance. Ultimately, sometimes the walls seem quite thin.
Would you go back? And more importantly... *should* I go?
Would I go back? Absolutely. I kind of... *want* to go back. I'm drawn to the chaos, the questionable apple-juggling, the thin walls that tell a thousand stories. Do *you* go? Hmm. If you're a discerning traveler who requires perfection, constant luxury, and total predictability? Maybe not. If you're up for an *experience*, something a little off-kilter, something you'll probably be recounting to friends for years to come, then absolutely, *yes*. Go. Just... you’ve been warned. Pack earplugs. And maybe some bed bug spray. And remember, Bob might be juggling apples.
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