Albuquerque's BEST Downtown Hotel? Days Inn SHOCKING Review!
Albuquerque's Best Downtown Hotel? (Spoiler: It's NOT the Days Inn… and OMG, This Was a Disaster!)
Alright, buckle up, folks. Because I'm about to unleash the unvarnished truth about my recent, and frankly traumatic, "stay" at ahem… a Downtown Albuquerque hotel. The name shall remain mostly unmentioned (cough, cough… Days Inn… cough). Let's just say… expectations were high. Albuquerque, right? Land of Enchantment, balloons, the works! I imagined sunshine, turquoise jewelry, and a stellar hotel experience to match.
Little did I know…
This wasn’t just a review; this was a survival story. From accessibility nightmares to the existential dread of the breakfast… well, let's dive in.
Accessibility: A Real Struggle Bus.
Okay, right off the bat. Accessibility? Let's call it aspirational. I’m not a wheelchair user, but I always look out for these things. You'd think a Downtown hotel dedicated to attracting tourists would have this nailed. Nope. The ramp leading to the entrance? Stuttering. The front door? Heavy. The hallways? Narrow. I can only imagine the frustration for someone with mobility challenges. It's a huge fail. This is the first glaring crack in the shiny facade.
On-Site Restaurants/Lounges: Where's That Bloody Food?
Let's be blunt. The onsite "dining" options were… underwhelming. I’m not sure if it's because I was there during the off-season, or maybe they just didn’t have them. But, the coffee shop… closed. The "bar"? I'm not even sure it existed. The only food service available was the dreaded…continental… breakfast. More on that later. The lack of readily available food and drink was a genuine problem. It's pretty awful. You're stuck with nothing. The location of the hotel is good, it is near a lot of shops, but sometimes you want to eat your meal in your place, but that wasn't an option.
Wheelchair Accessible: See above… and weep.
Internet Access: The Only Thing They Got Right (Barely).
Okay, here's a sliver of positivity. Wi-Fi? Yes. Free Wi-Fi in all rooms? Yep. Internet [LAN]? Not sure, didn't try it. Did the Wi-Fi work? Mostly. It was… functional. Let's just leave it at that. High speed? Absolutely not. Streaming anything? Forget about it. But at least I could check my email. Baby steps, people!
Things to Do, Ways to Relax: A Sad, Empty Void.
Pool with a view? Nope. Spa? Ha! Sauna? You’re kidding, right? Fitness Center? I'm pretty sure I saw more exercise equipment in my grandma's basement. This hotel was not designed for relaxation or recreation. My only option was watching the crack in the ceiling paint.
Cleanliness and Safety: The Bare Minimum and Praying Hard.
The hotel claimed to use anti-viral cleaning products, sanitize rooms between stays, and have staff trained in safety protocols. I honestly couldn't tell. While the room looked clean upon arrival, I kept finding… things… little hairs, dust bunnies the size of tumbleweeds. I’d rather not go into detail about the state of the bathroom fixtures. Let's just say I kept the hand sanitizer locked and loaded.
Dining, Drinking, and Snacking: The Continental Breakfast of Doom.
Oh. My. God. The breakfast. The breakfast. It was… a defining experience, in the worst possible way.
- Breakfast [Buffet]: The buffet itself was a wasteland of pre-packaged despair. Think individually wrapped pastries that looked like they'd been around since the Cretaceous Period.
- Breakfast takeaway service: No.
- Breakfast service: The "service" was a lone staff member whose expression communicated existential exhaustion.
- There was coffee, but it tasted like motor oil. There were (gasp!) packaged muffins (already, I can see where I should keep a roll of toilet paper.)
- Coffee/tea in restaurant: What restaurant?
- Desserts in restaurant: You've gotta be kidding me.
- Snack bar: I remember a vending machine, that barely worked.
- Vegetarian restaurant: Maybe they thought the muffins were vegetarian?
- Western breakfast: Nonexistent.
- Western cuisine in restaurant: It was a big 'No'.
This was the culinary equivalent of a hostage situation. The only "meal" I actually enjoyed was the bottle of water I bought from the front desk out of desperation.
Services and Conveniences: A Patchwork of Disappointment.
Air conditioning in public area: I can’t remember turning it on. Doorman: Nope. Daily housekeeping: Yes, or at least, in principle. My room was “serviced," but the "service" seemed a bit… surface level. Elevator: Yes, and thankfully working. Meeting/banquet facilities: I saw a room advertised as a “meeting space” that looked suspiciously like a converted storage closet. Luggage storage: Yes, but I wouldn't trust my grandmother's antique teacup to it.
For the Kids: Unless They Like Existential Dread… Hard Pass.
Babysitting service: Lol. Family/child friendly: I think it's safe to say 'No.' Kids meal: I don't remember anything like that.
Available in all rooms: Additional toilet? No. Air conditioning? Yes, but I have a bad habit of not turning it on. Alarm clock? Yes, but I use my phone. Bathrobes? Nope. Bathroom phone? Hahaha. Bathtub? Yes, but the water pressure was abysmal. Blackout curtains? Yes, and they were the only thing that prevented me from seeing the outside of the hotel. Carpeting? Yes, and it looked like it hadn't been vacuumed since the Clinton administration. Closet? Yes, but not very spacious. Coffee/tea maker? Barely. Complimentary tea? Yes, but it was old. Daily housekeeping? Sort of. Desk? Yes. Extra long bed? No. Free bottled water? No. Hair dryer? Yes. High floor? Not sure. In-room safe box? Yes. Internet access – LAN? No. Internet access – wireless? Yes. Ironing facilities? Yes, but the iron was probably from the 1980s. Laptop workspace? Yes. Linens? Yes. Mini bar? No. Mirror? Yes. Non-smoking? Yes, at least in theory. On-demand movies? I did not check. Private bathroom? Yes. Reading light? Yes. Refrigerator? No. Safety/security feature? Yes. Satellite/cable channels? Yes. Scale? No. Seating area? Yes. Separate shower/bathtub? Yes. Shower? Yes, and it worked mostly. Slippers? No. Smoke detector? Yes. Socket near the bed? Yes. Sofa? No. Soundproofing? No. Telephone? Yes. Toiletries? Yes, but the cheapest you can find. Towels? Yes. Umbrella? No. Visual alarm? Yes. Wake-up service? Yes, but I'm not sure if it worked. Wi-Fi [free]? Yes. Window that opens? Yes.
Getting Around: At Least Albuquerque Has Some Charm.
Airport transfer: No. But it does have a taxi service. Car park [free of charge]: Yes. And for that, I am eternally grateful.
The Verdict: Run. Just Run.
Look, I'm trying to be fair. Maybe I caught them on a bad week. Maybe the staff was overworked. Maybe the plumbing was particularly vengeful that day. But, in the end, this hotel experience was just… awful. Seriously. Save yourself. Go somewhere else. Pay a little more. Anything. Don’t subject yourself to the soul-crushing mediocrity I endured. Albuquerque deserves better, and so do you.
Final Rating: 1 out of 5 stars. And that's only because I have to give it a star.
Escape to Paradise: Your Dream Benidorm Villa Awaits at Europa Center-Fincas!
Alright, buckle up, buttercups. This isn't your polished travel blog, this is my trip to Albuquerque, New Mexico, and I'm staying at the Days Inn by Wyndham Downtown. Expect typos, tangents, and a healthy dose of "what the heck was I thinking?"
Travel Itinerary: Albuquerque, New Mexico (Days Inn by Wyndham - because, let's be real, budget life!)
Day 1: Arrival and Existential Dread (at the Price of a Motel 6)
- Morning (Or "When I Finally Dragged Myself Out of Bed" Time): Arrived at Albuquerque International Sunport (ABQ). Pro Tip: Don't fly Spirit. Ever. The tiny seats and the aggressive upsell game… it's enough to turn a saint into a sinner. Anyway, grabbed my rental car – a slightly dented, but fully functional, Nissan Sentra named Bertha (because I have no imagination).
- Emotional Reaction: Relief! I made it! And then… a wave of "OMG, I'm actually doing this." followed by the crushing realization that I forgot my toothbrush. Again.
- Afternoon: Checked into the Days Inn. Okay, full disclosure: the online photos made it look slightly more glamorous. The "continental breakfast" is promising, I'll probably be disappointed. But the AC works, and that's all that really matters, right? The front desk guy, bless his soul, looked utterly defeated, like he'd seen a thousand lost souls walk through those doors. I understand.
- Quirky Observation: The vending machine downstairs has a very limited selection of snacks. Like, aggressively limited. I'm pretty sure they're all expired. Might be a good metaphor for my life, actually.
- Imperfection: Immediately spilled coffee on my phone charger. Rookie mistake.
- Evening: Wandered around downtown. Found a decent burrito place (because, Albuquerque). The chile – red, obviously – was FIRE. (pun fully intended). Spent a good hour just people-watching. So many characters! Seriously, Albuquerque is a goldmine for eccentric folks.
- Rambling: Okay, so the whole "desert landscape" thing? Not what I expected. It's hauntingly empty. Beautiful, in a desolate kind of way. I'm already feeling this weird pull, like the desert is whispering secrets. Probably just need to drink more water.
- Emotional Reaction: That burrito was the greatest thing that has ever happened to me. That is all.
- Minor Category: Laundry. Did I really want to do this? No! But hey, at least I will have clean clothes.
Day 2: Breaking Bad and Breaking Down (a little)
- Morning: Headed to the "Breaking Bad" locations tour. Yes, I'm one of those people. Sue me. Okay, here's where things get… complicated.
- Anecdote (and doubled down on): The tour guide was a walking encyclopedia of "Breaking Bad" trivia, it was a lot of fun! But the real kicker? We stopped at Walter White's house. And the current residents, bless their hearts, were not amused. They had a fence, yes, but it wasn't exactly a fortress. They'd have to come and pick up the trash someone left on their lawn. I felt terrible, like a vulture descending on their privacy. It made me very uncomfortable, so I decided to find a nice view of the sunset and feel better.
- Emotional Reaction (Overwhelmed): I had a genuine moment of "WTF am I doing?" watching a fictional TV show set in someone else's house. Maybe I’m too invested in a world with a little too much violence. But… then I took a photo of the house, because, well, FOMO.
- Anecdote (and doubled down on): The tour guide was a walking encyclopedia of "Breaking Bad" trivia, it was a lot of fun! But the real kicker? We stopped at Walter White's house. And the current residents, bless their hearts, were not amused. They had a fence, yes, but it wasn't exactly a fortress. They'd have to come and pick up the trash someone left on their lawn. I felt terrible, like a vulture descending on their privacy. It made me very uncomfortable, so I decided to find a nice view of the sunset and feel better.
- Afternoon: Explored Old Town Albuquerque. Cute, charming, touristy. I got my obligatory turquoise jewelry. Don't judge.
- Quirky Observation: There was a mariachi band playing, and one of the guys had the most magnificent mustache I’ve ever seen. Like, handlebar perfection. I considered throwing a dollar at him just to admire the mustache even more.
- Evening: Tried to go to a fancy restaurant. Failed. Everything was booked. Ended up at a dive bar with a questionable beer selection. Turns out, it was the best night of my life.
- Messy Structure: This is where I don't have much to say. I'm a simple person, and this section is simple.
- Emotional Reaction: I feel empty inside. I need more red chile.
Day 3: Balloon Fiesta and Mild Panic
- Morning: The Balloon Fiesta. Yes, I got up at dawn. I'm not a morning person. This whole thing was an assault to my sleep schedule.
- Rambling: The balloons… they were stunning. Truly. But the crowds! My God, the crowds. I'm not sure I've ever seen so many people in one place, especially before 8 am. It was chaos. Beautiful chaos, but chaos nonetheless.
- Afternoon: Went to the Indian Pueblo Cultural Center. Extremely important and interesting, really moved me.
- Opinionated Language: I'm incredibly embarrassed to say that I thought I was going to be disappointed with the Cultural Center, but it was actually really well done.
- Evening: Ate some mediocre pizza. Wrote in my journal. And then, back to the Days Inn. Probably gonna drink some instant coffee and try to make plans for tomorrow.
- Emotional Reaction: I'm tired. And confused. And loving every second of it.
Day 4: Departure and… Well, who knows?
- Morning: Checked out of the Days Inn. Said goodbye to Bertha. Started the drive home.
- Afternoon: Stopped at a roadside diner. Ate a giant breakfast burrito. Contemplated my life choices. (Spoiler: still too many to count)
- Evening: Arrived home. Unpacked. Started planning my next trip. Because, as my therapist would say, "You gotta keep moving, you know?"
- Imperfection: I still haven't found that perfect toothbrush.
- Emotional Reaction: I'm already missing the desert. And the chile. And the weirdness. Albuquerque, you strange, beautiful place, I'll be back. And next time, I'll request a room with a slightly better view. Maybe. We'll see.
- Minor Category: Souvenirs. I totally bought a bunch of stuff for my friends and family.
So, that's my trip to Albuquerque. Flawed, messy, and probably not what you expected. But that's life, right? And hey, at least I got a story out of it. And a serious craving for red chile.
Escape to Paradise: Luxury Awaits at Cascade Saint Genis!
So, is there *one* BEST Downtown Albuquerque Hotel? Seriously?!
"Best" is subjective, honey. It's like asking what the best flavor of ice cream is – chocolate is ALWAYS the right answer in my book, but you might be a vanilla fanatic! But here's the deal: Downtown ABQ hotels are a mixed bag. You've got the swanky ones, boasting rooftop bars and price tags that make your wallet weep. Then you’ve got the… let's call them "budget-friendly" options where you might meet a character or two. My totally biased, sometimes-questionable opinion? It depends on *why* you're there. Business trip? Romantic getaway? Attending the International Balloon Fiesta (get ready for a fight over a room and inflated prices, pun intended!)? That shapes things. So, no single "best," but we'll get to the contenders.
Alright, spill the tea. Which hotels are even WORTH considering downtown?
Okay, here's a quick rundown, because lord knows you don't want to spend hours researching. First, you got your "luxury" options. Think: *Hotel Andaluz*. Beautiful, historical, but be prepared to pay. Then you’ve got *The Hyatt Regency Albuquerque*, which is…well, it’s a Hyatt. Solid, reliable, but not exactly bursting with personality. And then, well, things get… interesting. There are a few smaller places, some with charm (*Casas de Suenos*) but maybe a bit further from the absolute heart of things. This is where you need to do your research and, uh, maybe read some reviews. Seriously. Those online reviews are not always 100% accurate, sometimes I think they're written by the hotel staff (and I wouldn't blame them, if my job was on the line too).
Okay, fine. What about the REAL dirt? What's the DEAL with the Days Inn?
Ah, here we are, the *piece de resistance*. The Days Inn. Now, I've stayed in some Days Inns, and let me tell you, they range from "meh" to "are you SURE this is clean?". (And some "are you SURE this is a hotel? I thought I booked in the wrong city" instances.) The Downtown ABQ Days Inn… well, it's a tale of two cities, baby!
I'm going to be completely honest with you. I've heard stories. Stories about questionable cleanliness. Stories about… let's just say, "interesting" clientele. Stories about things I can't even repeat without feeling the need to take a long, hot shower. When I was there? Okay, full confession, I had to stay there for one night, because of some emergency (let's call it a "wardrobe malfunction" – I wasn't prepared for the sudden arrival of multiple out of state relatives, okay? Don't judge!). The room? The *room*... well, it wasn't on fire, which is always a plus. The carpet felt like it had seen things (and maybe it had). The bathroom? Yeah. Let's just say I brought my own Clorox wipes. The breakfast? Okay, fine for a quick bite of something, but let's not get too excited, shall we? You get what you pay for, I guess.
The *really* shocking review comes from the *experience*. Let's just say there were more people wandering around the parking lot at 2 AM than there were *guests*. And their behavior? Let's just say it wasn't very welcoming. Not friendly. There was… a lot of yelling. And police sirens in the distance. It was, let's say, a *memorable* night. I slept with the covers pulled up to my chin, convinced I'd wake up with a surprise visitor.
So yeah, *shocking*. Shocking, in the way that you're shocked by a car crash – you're staring, you're horrified, and you're praying it won't happen to you.
Is it *all* bad at the Days Inn?
Okay, okay, to be fair, it's not *all* doom and gloom. Some people swear by it. It's cheap. Seriously, it's *cheap*. Like, "I can afford to spend the entire day at the Frontier after that!" cheap. Also, the location *can* be convenient, depending on where you're going. If you're on a REALLY tight budget and prepared for… adventure, sure. But you have to go in with your eyes wide open. And maybe, just maybe, pack a can of pepper spray. (Just kidding… mostly.)
Are there cheaper better alternatives, though?
Yes! Absolutely. Look, it won't be the Ritz-Carlton, but you can definitely find better *value* for your money. Look at hotels slightly outside the absolute downtown core. They might be a short Uber ride away from the attractions and they'll be cleaner, they'll probably be safer. Do your homework. Look at the recent reviews. See if they have a pool. Did I mention the pool? Pool time is the best time!
Okay, let's say I'm braving the Days Inn. Any survival tips?
Alright, you brave soldier. Here's my (very serious) advice:
- Read Recent Reviews: Seriously. Ignore the ancient ones. Look for ANYTHING about cleanliness, noise, and safety.
- Pack Sanitizer: Like, the industrial-sized kind. And maybe Lysol wipes.
- Lock the Door: Double-check it. Then, maybe triple-check it.
- Embrace the Headphones Some noise is inevitable, but you can filter it out.
- Don't Leave Valuables Visible: Common sense, but worth repeating.
- Be Aware of Your Surroundings: Okay, this goes for ANY hotel, but especially here. Trust your gut.
- Lower Your Expectations: Seriously. Lower them. Then lower them again.
- Get out of there ASAP: If you're just crashing for a night, get out and get moving!
Seriously though, if you go, tell me all about it!
So, to summarize: The Days Inn is a gamble?
Bingo. Sometimes you win big. Sometimes you lose… well, a little piece of your soul. And maybe your sleep. Choose wisely, my friend, choose wisely. Rooms And Vibes
