Escape to St. Louis: Your Perfect Festus Getaway at La Quinta Inn & Suites!
Escape to St. Louis (and Sanity!): My Chaotic, Kind-of-Amazing La Quinta Inn & Suites Festus Adventure! (Yes, We're Here for YOU!)
Alright, folks, buckle up. I just got back from a whirlwind trip to Festus, Missouri (yes, that Festus), and I’m here to tell you all about my stay at the La Quinta Inn & Suites. And let me tell you, it was… an experience. A messy, imperfect, sometimes chaotic, but ultimately pretty darn good experience. Consider this your brutally honest, warts-and-all review. Think of it as a friend telling you, "Dude, you gotta hear about this!"
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First Impressions (and the Elevator That Did NOT Want to Cooperate):
Pulling up to La Quinta, my first thought was, "Okay, clean-cut. Looks… standard." But hey, standard can be good, right? The sign was, well, a sign. The lobby was bright, and the front desk staff? Super friendly. The woman who checked me in was a ray of sunshine, even though it was, like, 2 PM, and I was already running late. (Travel pro-tip: Build in extra travel time. Trust me.)
Accessibility & the Elevator Predicament:
Okay, so here's the real talk about accessibility because that's important. The lobby, the entrance… all good. The hotel proudly claims to be wheelchair accessible, and that’s a big plus. The real test? The elevator. Which, on the first day, decided to take a very long lunch break. It was… a bit of a comedy of errors, and I saw more than a few frustrated folks waiting. (Thankfully, I was on a lower floor, but still.) They did, however, have accessible rooms and features. Now, they also had a handy wheelchair accessible button, and I saw a couple of people making good use of that.
So, Accessibility: Mostly good. The elevator situation? A bit dicey. But hey, they were working on it!
Room Sweet Room (and the AMAZING Bed):
My room? Okay, let’s be real, it wasn’t the Ritz. BUT, it was clean. Very clean. And after the elevator drama, that was a huge win! They had Air conditioning that actually worked!, which, in Missouri, is a godsend. Plus, free Wi-Fi! (in all rooms!), which is practically essential for staying connected to the outside world, a good thing to have.. The bed? Oh. My. Goodness. The bed was a dream! Extra long bed! I think I actually heard a little sigh of contentment escape my lips when I plopped down on it. Seriously, I could live in that bed. I slept like a baby (after the initial elevator-induced stress wore off). Linens and Towels were clean and fresh!
More Deets About the Room:
- Free bottled water - a lifesaver!
- Coffee/tea maker - a must-have for a morning that started too early.
- Refrigerator - perfect for stashing leftovers from my ahem culinary adventures (more on that later).
- Blackout curtains - Needed them after a long day.
- Desk - where I did some work.
- Ironing facilities - (I didn't use them, but they were there! Bless.)
Food, Glorious Food (and the Breakfast Buffet Saga):
Breakfast. The breakfast. It's a crucial part of the hotel experience, right? La Quinta typically offers up a buffet, and let me tell you, it was… buffet-y. They had the standard fare: waffles, eggs, sausage, and a selection of breads. They also had Asian breakfast! I'm not going to say it was gourmet dining, but it was definitely enough to fuel the morning's adventures. They also had a Breakfast takeaway service which was very nice!
Now, I’m a bit of a food adventurer (translation: I like to eat). Unfortunately, there aren't many on-site restaurant options. There IS a Coffee shop I didn't try. Festus isn't exactly known for its Michelin-starred restaurants, let's be honest. There IS an Option for alternative meal arrangement, a snack bar that was decent for late-night nibbles, and the 24-hour Room service was a real lifesaver when I was running on fumes.
Cleanliness and Safety: They Take it Seriously (And That's a Relief!):
This is where La Quinta really shines. Let’s face it, in this day and age, cleanliness and safety are paramount.
- "Rooms sanitized between stays," "Anti-viral cleaning products," "Daily disinfection in common areas," "Staff trained in safety protocol," "Cashless payment service" – check, check, check, and check! They were ON IT. I felt genuinely safe, which is huge.
- Hand sanitizer was readily available everywhere.
- Individually-wrapped food options (the breakfast buffet was cautious!)
- Physical distancing of at least 1 meter – they made an effort.
- They had Hospital-grade sanitizing services and even offered a Room sanitization opt-out available.
- Staff were wearing masks and were super friendly and respectful!
Ways to Relax (Or Try To!):
La Quinta has a few ways to unwind, despite the fact that It’s not a full Spa.
- The Swimming pool [outdoor] - Looks refreshing! I heard it was well-maintained.
- Fitness center - I didn't visit, but it was there for those who want to burn off all those breakfast calories!
The "Stuff to Do" Section (Because, Well, You Know):
Festus isn't exactly a theme park. BUT, St. Louis is practically next door! You can easily zip over for a day of exploring.
- CCTV in common areas, Exterior corridor, Fire extinguisher, Front desk [24-hour], Security [24-hour], Smoke alarms - All the safety and security stuff!
- Meeting/banquet facilities, Meetings, Seminars - For the business travelers.
- Gift/souvenir shop - For grabbing that last-minute "I forgot you!" present.
Services and Conveniences that Made my Life Easier:
- Free Car park [on-site],* Always a plus!
- Laundry service, Dry cleaning - (Didn't personally use, but good to know!)
- Concierge - (didn’t actually use the concierge, but they were there, ready to help!)
- Daily housekeeping - Nice to come back to a clean room.
- Elevator, Facilities for disabled guests - The Elevator situation aside, the other accessibility amenities were great
- Doorman (okay, not really a doorman, but the front desk staff were super helpful)
- Free Internet access – wireless - Good for streaming my favorite shows.
The Verdict: Would I Go Back?
Look, La Quinta Inn & Suites in Festus isn't perfect. The elevator had issues, and the food scene is limited. But… it's clean. It's comfortable. It's got a killer bed. And most importantly, it felt safe. It’s a solid choice. I’d absolutely return, especially knowing what to expect.
So, here’s the deal. If you’re looking for a luxurious getaway, this isn’t it. But if you’re looking for a clean, comfortable, and safe basecamp for exploring Festus (or, more likely, St. Louis) and need somewhere friendly to lay your head, then book La Quinta!
The Chaotic, But Absolutely Worth It, Offer: Escape to St. Louis: Your Perfect Festus Getaway at La Quinta Inn & Suites!
Tired of the same old boring trips? Craving a REAL adventure?
Here's the deal: La Quinta Inn & Suites in Festus, Missouri, offers the perfect blend of comfort and convenience for your St. Louis exploration. Imagine this:
Here’s What We Offer: (Because, honestly, we're pretty awesome, and we want to make sure you know every last detail)
- Clean rooms with unbelievably comfortable beds! (Seriously, you will sleep!)
- Free Wi-Fi (So you can binge-watch shows in bed… or, you know, actually get some work done).
- Free On-site Car park, and free access for the local area.
- Great location! - You are so close to St. Louis (and all its amazing attractions)!
- Friendly staff who actually care that you’re safe - (seriously, the staff were amazing, and the hotel was clean!)
- The BEST Price GUARANTEE…
Alright, buckle up, buttercups, because this ain't your grandma's meticulously planned itinerary. We're talking real-life travel, the kind where you stumble, you laugh, you maybe cry (from sheer exhaustion or a particularly bad gas station coffee). And we're doing it all from the glorious, and hopefully not too budget-busting, La Quinta Inn & Suites by Wyndham Festus - St. Louis South in Festus, Missouri. Let's get messy!
Day 1: Arrival and The Great Gas Station Coffee Debacle
- 1:00 PM - Arrival & Check-in: "Alright, let's do this!" I yelled to myself, which is never something you should actually do in a hotel lobby. Found it with minimal fuss, after a minor GPS meltdown that led me to a dead-end street and a grumpy farmer with a pitchfork. First impressions? The lobby felt… beige. Comfortably beige, though. The desk clerk? bless her heart, she was trying. Probably dealing with a thousand variations of "My room smells like stale cigarettes and regret." I'm just hoping mine has a working air conditioner.
- 1:30 PM - Room Reconnaissance & Unpacking: Thankfully, no ciggy smells! Victory! The room's… standard La Quinta, which is completely acceptable. Air conditioning? Check! The holy grail. Bed? Comfy enough to collapse on after an epic drive. Unpacking is an art form, not a chore. I toss everything everywhere, like a tornado with a suitcase. Priorities: Phone charger (survival!), snacks (essential!), and a book I’ll probably only read one chapter of.
- 2:00 PM - That Infamous Coffee Run: Okay, so I'm caffeine-deprived and hangry. Time for the sacred pilgrimage to the nearest gas station. I'm not proud of the coffee I chose… It tasted like burnt rubber and despair. Okay, maybe I’m being dramatic, but it was BAD. Really bad. Made me seriously reconsider my life choices.
- 2:30 PM - Recoup & Plan: Back at the hotel, trying to scrub the taste of burnt rubber from my memory. Consulting the trusty (and probably slightly inaccurate) Google Maps. "What's even in Festus?" I mumble, already envisioning the culinary delights… Probably some chain restaurants, maybe a quirky diner. The anticipation builds.
Day 2: Delving into the Festus Experience & The "Accidental" Antique Shop
- 9:00 AM - Breakfast Baffle: La Quinta's "complimentary breakfast." Expect the usual suspects: bland cereal, suspicious-looking pastries, and a waffle maker that never seems to work properly. I opted for the suspicious-looking pastry, mostly because it was the closest to me. Verdict: edible.
- 10:00 AM - Local Exploration – The "What is there to do here?" Quest: Driving around Festus. My first stop? Finding the "real" Festus. Let's see what Festus has to offer. I'm aiming for "authenticity," whatever that really means.
- 11:00 AM - The Accidental Antiquing Adventure: I swear, I didn't mean to go into an antique shop. The old building, with the vintage sign, simply called to me. I got lost in the past in there, there was a treasure of old things that I needed to buy.
- 12:30 PM - Lunch, and Maybe a Little Regret: Found a local diner. Ordered a burger. It was decent. Nothing to write home about, but filled the void. That gas station coffee, though… still haunted me.
- 2:00 PM - Afternoon Stroll & Emotional Meltdown (Kidding… mostly): Exploring the local park. Not much to see here.
- 4:00 PM - Back to La Quinta & Reflection: Back at the holy La Quinta. The room is fine. Nothing to write home about, of course, but certainly cozy enough. I sat on the bed, and stared at the ceiling remembering memories. The day was filled with a surprising mix of good and bad.
Day 3: The (Almost) Grand Finale & Existential Crisis
- 9:00 AM - Breakfast Trauma, Part Deux: That suspicious pastry. I’m not sure it’s worth it this time. But it’s there. I ate it, because I'm nothing if not committed to trying new things.
- 10:00 AM - Exploring the "Grand" St. Louis: A road trip to the big city! (About an hour away). St. Louis, here I come! Got to see the Arch, which was impressive. Tried to enjoy the experience, but ended up falling into a self-reflective thought. I got to just be present in the moment.
- 1:00 PM - Lunch & Local Discoveries: Found a place near the Arch. It was okay.
- 4:00 PM - Return to Festus & The Meaning of Life (Maybe): Back to the beige haven of La Quinta. The feeling of being back in my room was… comforting. What's the point of all this, anyway? Well, probably the journey more than the destination, right? Or maybe it's all about the snacks.
- 6:00 PM - Dinner & Packing: Another chain restaurant. The food was okay. The packing? A disaster. I'm a professional mess-maker.
Day 4: Departure and Lingering Thoughts… and More Gas Station Coffee, Unfortunately
- 8:00 AM - The Final Breakfast & Goodbye: Bye, suspicious pastry! Bye, La Quinta! It’s been… an experience.
- 8:30 AM - Checkout & Farewell: Easy checkout. Thank goodness.
- 9:00 AM - Gas Station Coffee: The Sequel: Okay, I promised myself I wouldn't. But the road calls, and so does the caffeine withdrawal. I need more.
- 9:30 AM - Departure & Reflection: Hit the road, leaving the memories of Festus behind. Looking back, it wasn't perfect, not even close. But that's the point, isn’t it? It was real. And that's what matters.
Escape to St. Louis: Your Perfect Festus Getaway (…Maybe) at La Quinta Inn & Suites! - FAQs (Because, Let's Be Honest, You Need Them)
So, Festus. Really? What's the big deal about escaping to… Festus?
Okay, look. I get it. Festus isn't exactly Paris. It's not the glitzy, glamorous getaway you've been dreaming of. But hear me out! It's… accessible? Okay, not a stellar pitch. But here's the deal: You *can* escape the everyday. Maybe you live in St. Louis and want a weekend away without the big city drama, or maybe you're just… driving through. Festus is a perfectly serviceable launching pad. Plus, the La Quinta in Festus is… well, it's a La Quinta. You know what you're getting. Consistency! You're tired, you need a place to crash, and it *has* a pool. That's sometimes all you need, right? Besides, the real 'escape' is often more about the *attitude* than the location. You're leaving your to-do list behind, aren't you? That's half the battle!
La Quinta Inn & Suites specifically? Why not the *other* hotels in Festus?
Alright, alright! I'll be brutally honest. I've stayed at… other places. Let’s just say, sometimes you get what you pay for. The La Quinta, in my experience, is generally clean. And that, my friends, is HUGE when you're tired and just want to relax. I've encountered some… *interesting* odors and questionable stains elsewhere. The La Quinta usually has a decent breakfast too. Waffles! And a surprisingly solid selection of… well, it's what you *need* in a pinch. Plus, the staff is usually friendly. The *biggest* selling point, though? The pool. Especially if you have kids (or, let's be real, even if you don't). Dipping in after a long drive? Pure bliss. Don't expect the Four Seasons, but expect functional, predictable, and clean...ish.
The Breakfast... Is it *actually* worth waking up for? And what's the *actual* deal with those waffles?
Okay, Breakfast. This is where things get… complicated. The waffles are, objectively, *fine*. They’re the little self-serve, press-your-own kind. You know the ones. Are they gourmet? Absolutely not. Are they a culinary masterpiece? Heck no. But, are they warm, vaguely sweet, and a good base for a slathering of fake maple syrup and a handful of questionable-looking fruit? Yes. Yes, they are. Sometimes, that's enough. Also, they *usually* have decent coffee. Though, I have had a few experiences where the coffee machine seems to be having a really, really bad day. Like, the "I've been trying to brew for hours and nothing good is happening" kind of bad day. Side note: I *always* take two waffles. One is never enough. Don't judge me.
What's the *worst* thing about the La Quinta in Festus? (Don't sugarcoat it!)
Alright, here goes. The worst thing? The noise, sometimes. The walls aren’t exactly soundproof. I’ve heard… things. Late night conversations, doors slamming (always a door slam), the occasional tiny human screaming at a volume that defies physics. Location-wise, sometimes its close to the highway, so you have that road noise rumbling through the entire night, the constant thrum of passing trucks. I've packed earplugs every time, and *still* gotten woken up. But, again, it's a budget hotel. You take the good with the mildly annoying. Also, one time I swear my bathroom door was haunted. But that might have been just me and some really bad gas from the pizza I ate.
Are there things to *do* near the La Quinta? Besides, you know, sleep and eat sub-par waffles?
Okay, this is… Festus. Let's set expectations. It's not overflowing with attractions. BUT! It's a short drive to St. Louis. Like, a *short* drive (comparatively!). You can hit up the Arch, the Zoo (free!), the Science Center, etcetera. If you're feeling ambitious. Otherwise, you can always find a decent chain restaurant within a reasonable radius. There's a movie theatre (I'm a sucker for a good cinema escape). Oh! And this one time, I drove a little further and found a *fantastic* antique store. Ended up spending three hours and way too much money there. Totally worth it. So, no, Festus itself isn't bursting with things to do. But it's a good jumping-off point. You just have to be willing to drive a bit. It's an escape *from somewhere*, not necessarily *to* something incredible, you know? It's about the journey (and the clean-ish sheets) , not the destination.
So, let's talk about the room itself. What's the deal with the beds? Are they comfortable? (This is a big one!)
The beds. Ah, yes. The beds. This is crucial. Okay, let's be real. They're *not* the most luxurious beds in the world. But they’re generally… okay. They're clean enough. The sheets are… well, they're sheets. I’ve slept on worse. I've also slept on better. The pillows are typically a bit… fluffy (or, sometimes, mysteriously flat). But! They offer a much needed place to put my head when I eventually pass out in the middle of the night. In the end, the comfort level is directly proportional to how tired I am. And let's be honest, *most* of my visits have involved a serious level of exhaustion. So, generally, I've found them to be… serviceable. They'll do the trick. Don't arrive expecting cloud nine. Expect a reasonable place to crash, and you won't be disappointed. If I'm lucky, I might even drag my feet into the shower, and wash off the stresses of the day! Now *that's* the good life!
Okay, you mentioned the pool a couple of times. Is it any good?
The pool! Okay, this is where things get… interesting. The pool at the Festus La Quinta is usually… a pool. It's indoors, which is a *huge* win, especially if the weather is being... well, Missouri weather. It's not Olympic-sized. It's not a resort-style infinity pool with a swim-up bar (dreams!). It's a La Quinta pool. It's… fine. But it’s a pool! My kids, when they’re with me (and sometimes even when they’re *not*), absolutely love it. They can splash around, wear themselves out, and generally be little terrors in a relatively contained environment. Some of the other guests will definitely be taking the same approach! You can expect a varied clientele – families, the occasional business traveller, maybe someone who just needs to de-stress after a long haulBest Hotels Blog
