Augusta Getaway: I-20's BEST Quality Inn & Suites!
Augusta Getaway: My Honest (and Messy) Take on the I-20 Quality Inn & Suites
Alright, buckle up buttercups, because I'm about to spill the beans on the Augusta Getaway, aka, the Quality Inn & Suites off I-20. This wasn't just a stay; it was a journey. And let me tell you, the road was… well, it was a road, alright.
First Impressions (or, the Saga of the Elevator):
Right off the bat, let's talk Accessibility. I'm not personally in a wheelchair, but I'm always hyper-aware of these things. And the Elevator… oh, the elevator. It looked like it had seen better days. The buttons were worn, and the ride felt… well, let's just say I held my breath a few times. (There's even an Elevator here, which is good. But, whew!) They do have Facilities for disabled guests, which is definitely a plus, and a big win on paper. But the reality of navigating that elevator? It's a little… rough around the edges.
The Cleanliness Crusade (or, Did They Really Sanitize?):
Okay, let's talk Cleanliness and Safety. I'm a bit of a germaphobe (don't judge!), so this is huge for me. They boast a whole arsenal: Anti-viral cleaning products, Daily disinfection in common areas, Professional-grade sanitizing services, Rooms sanitized between stays, and Staff trained in safety protocol. Honestly, from what I could tell? Kinda-sorta true. I think they were trying. They had Hand sanitizer stations everywhere, and the staff seemed to be practicing social distancing. But… I did find a stray hair in the bathroom. And that, my friends, undid a lot of good will. I mean, I get it. We're all human. But after that… doubt.
The Room (or, My Little Box of Mostly Okay-ness):
Alright, the actual room. Let's go through the laundry list, shall we? They had Air conditioning (phew!), Alarm clock, and Bathroom phone (seriously? Who uses that anymore?). A Bathtub (yay, if you enjoy a good soak), Blackout curtains (essential for sleeping off a day of driving), Coffee/tea maker, Hair dryer, and Refrigerator. Pretty standard stuff.
But here's where things got a little… quirky. The Non-smoking room smelled faintly of… something. Not smoke, thankfully, but a lingering, indeterminate odor of… hotel-ness. I couldn’t quite place it. And the window. It opened, which is a surprisingly rare feature these days! It let in some fresh air, which was a blessing, because, as mentioned… hotel-ness. They also offered Free Wi-Fi in all rooms!, which I desperately needed to upload Instagram pictures to my account.
There was an Internet access – LAN, which is now an archaic service. Sockets near the bed, thank god! I've stayed in hotels where you had to crawl under the desk to charge your phone. It had Ironing facilities, which I didn’t touch because I’m on vacation. Had In-room safe Box which, again, I didn’t touch because I’m a trustful person. Satellite/cable channels, always a plus! The Seating area was comfy, but unfortunately, the Sofa was more of an aesthetic thing. It probably wasn’t the place to take a nap. Sadly there wasn't proposal spot.
The Food Fight (or, Breakfast…or a Lack Thereof):
Breakfast [buffet] was supposed to be a thing. But… it was a thing, all right. A thing of sad, pre-packaged pastries, lukewarm coffee, and the general air of "we're trying, but we've given up." They offered Breakfast takeaway service, Thank god they did. Individually-wrapped food options were certainly present, making the buffet even more depressing. My breakfast was so bad, it made me question my existence. They had other food options like, Asian breakfast, Western breakfast and Vegetarian restaurant but since I didn't try any of them I couldn't say if they were any better.
There's a Restaurant on-site, and a Coffee shop. But I'm not sure I wanted to go to either of those. I was too afraid of the culinary experiment. The only positive I could give is that there was a Poolside bar, but if the food was like the breakfast, I would have taken my chances.
Ways to Relax (or, What I Didn’t Get to Experience):
The hotel has a Fitness center – I didn't visit. I'm on vacation, remember? They have a Swimming pool [outdoor], which looked promising, but I was too busy worrying about the stray hair in the bathroom to take a dip. There was a Spa in the site. No Sauna, no Steamroom. I didn’t go to any, so I couldn't say if it was any better. I guess it was pretty disappointing that it was this boring. Sigh, the hotel was disappointing.
Services and Conveniences (or, the Little Things):
They have a Daily housekeeping, which was fine. Nothing to write home about. Front desk [24-hour] – helpful enough. There’s a Convenience store for those last-minute essentials (or, you know, to buy a better breakfast somewhere). They have Meeting/banquet facilities and Business facilities, so if you're there for work, that's a plus. They offer a Car park [free of charge] always a plus, especially for a weary traveler!
The Verdict (or, Should You Stay?):
Look, the Augusta Getaway isn’t terrible. It’s a Quality Inn & Suites, so expectations should be kept in check. It's a place to crash, to shower, to sleep. But it's flawed. It has its quirks. It's definitely not a luxury experience. I wouldn't say it's the best Quality Inn & Suites on I-20. It's… passable. But proceed with a healthy dose of skepticism. And maybe, just maybe, bring your own breakfast.
Uncover the Hidden Gem: Cavallo Bianco, Novara's Best-Kept Secret!
Okay, buckle up buttercups, because this isn't your grandma's itinerary. This is… my possible, probable, and utterly imperfect jaunt through Augusta, Georgia, starting and ending at the beacon of budget bliss, the Quality Inn & Suites on I-20. Prepare for a rollercoaster of emotions, questionable life choices, and maybe… just maybe… a decent plate of barbeque.
Augusta, GA - A Semi-Organized Chaos
Day 1: Arrival & Initial Panic
Afternoon (Around 2:00 PM): Arrive at the Quality Inn. Okay, first impressions? The lobby smells vaguely of chlorine and ambition. The check-in process is, shall we say, efficient. The lady at the desk definitely had a long day, but she was trying her best, I'll give her that. Finding the room is always a mini-adventure. Praying the key card works on the first swipe. 🙏 I'm going with room 317. Pray it doesn't face the highway.
(3:00 PM - 4:00 PM): Unpack, survey the battlefield (aka the room), and immediately discover the Wi-Fi is… well, let's just say it’s about as reliable as my ex. Sigh. Time to call the front desk, which makes you feel like you're inconveniencing them, and wait for the technician to come - or never.
(4:00 PM - 6:00 PM): The Quest for Food. This is the most vital part of the itinerary. I'm starving, and if there's one thing I've learned in life, it's that a hangry human is a dangerous human. My research (aka, a quick Yelp search) suggests… wait for it… a barbeque joint. A real barbeque joint: Sconyers Bar-B-Q. I'm already sweating about traffic because I am, in fact, a terrible driver. I was thinking of driving but now I think I need to sit at the hotel, and decide if I have the will. After the internet has a full connection, I can drive. Or… order delivery? I can't focus.
(6:00 PM - 7:00 PM): The BBQ Experience – Assuming I make it out alive and I actually get out of the hotel room. The anticipation is killing me. I hope, pray, and beg, that Sconyers is as good as the reviews. I will order a plate of ribs, pulled pork, coleslaw, and baked beans. If it's amazing, I'll cry, and possibly propose marriage to the pitmaster. If it's a disappointment… well, let's just say I'll be updating this itinerary with a lot of angry emojis. Regardless, I'm going to overeat. That is a promise, not a suggestion.
(7:00 PM - ???): The Aftermath: Stuffed, happy (hopefully), and contemplating the meaning of life, probably while watching some godawful reality TV on the motel's cable. If the Wi-Fi isn't fixed, I might just go to bed. Or maybe I'll try to find a bar. Depending on what I find on the internet.
Day 2: History, Hangovers, and Hankering
- (Morning - Whenever I Finally Drag Myself Out of Bed): Breakfast at the hotel. Okay, let's keep our expectations low. I'm bracing myself for lukewarm scrambled eggs and suspiciously dry muffins. The coffee will be either hot or cold. No in-between. My first task is to figure out if my head is still attached. My second task is to work out if the coffee is hot. This will set the tone for the entire day.
- (Late Morning/Early Afternoon): The Augusta Canal Discovery Center: I should be "cultured". I should learn something. I should check the opening times. I'm not sure. I’m going to try. I'm hoping the canal is at least pretty. I'm praying it's not haunted. I'm also secretly hoping it will have a nice gift shop.
- (Afternoon - 2:00 PM - 4:00 PM): A Deep Dive into the Masters (Maybe) or a Regretful Drive-By: Okay, the Masters is a huge deal in Augusta. I may not be able to get into the actual tournament (the tickets are like gold dust), but I'll see if I can at least drive by the Augusta National Golf Club just to say I did. I'll observe the fences. I'll take a terrible photo. I will dream. If I am particularly adventurous and brave, I may visit the Augusta Museum of History. I am a historian in my heart.
- (4:00 PM - 6:00 PM): The Search for the Perfect Sweet Tea: This is my life's mission. I'm convinced the best sweet tea in the world is in Augusta. This will need research. I'm open to recommendations. Places to investigate: local restaurants, gas stations, anywhere they sell tea. I'm going to ask every local. This will be my legacy and I will not be deterred.
- (6:00 PM Onward): Dinner and Diversion. I might not be hungry after the sweet tea extravaganza. I'll probably opt for something light, something healthy (ish) after the barbeque. Maybe a salad? Maybe not. I'm thinking of checking out some music.
- That's it for tomorrow! The hotel is the destination, and I'm still hungry.
Day 3: Departure and the Existential Dread
- (Morning): Pack. Repack. Realize I only wore half the clothes I brought. Cringe. Check out of the hotel. Give a forced smile to the front desk lady, who probably doesn't remember me.
- (Morning (Maybe): One Last Breakfast. I'm definitely going back to the place that might have great tea. I did promise a return, didn't I?
- (Mid-Morning): Drive away.
- (The rest of the day): Reflect on how quickly it went, and then start planning the next trip: I have to go back. I have to get more BBQ. I may have to move here?
Final Thoughts:
This is just a rough draft. Things will go wrong. I'll get lost. I'll eat too much. I'll probably say something stupid. But that's the point. This is real. This is me. And Augusta, you are in for it. I'm ready. Wish me luck. And send me your best sweet tea recommendations.
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So, what *exactly* are we talking about here? Like, the *vibe* of it all?
Is this supposed to be helpful? Because I already feel strangely anxious.
What's the *deal* with the stream-of-consciousness thing? Is that just a fancy way of saying "rambling"?
Okay, fine. But what's the single *craziest* thing that's ever happened to you? The one story that sums everything up?
So... any advice on how to avoid ending up like a dog-walking disaster victim?
What are your biggest fears?
What's one thing you're genuinely passionate about?
What's your biggest quirk?
