Aggie Inn: Davis's BEST Hotel? (You Won't Believe #3!)
Aggie Inn: Davis's BEST Hotel? (You Won't Believe #3!)
Okay, buckle up buttercups, because we're diving headfirst into the swirling, contradictory, and potentially glorious world of the Aggie Inn: Davis's BEST Hotel? (You Won't Believe #3!). That title alone? Talk about setting expectations! Let's see if they can deliver… and if, ahem, I can survive the deep dive.
First Impressions & The Accessibility Tango (and a little bit of a stumble)
Right, so. Accessibility. Crucial. Seriously. They claim to be aces on this, and that's a HUGE selling point, because let's face it, in this day and age, it's almost a legal requirement (and morally so, duh). They list Facilities for disabled guests, the holy grail, which is promising, and the elevator being present is a huge plus. However, the devil, as they say, is in the details. I'm hunting for specifics. Are the hallways wide? Are the bathrooms actually accessible, or just "kinda" accessible? I need to see this. This is a make-or-break level detail. I'll need another source, I'll do it later.
Internet & The Wi-Fi Whisper (and a scream of joy!)
Okay, let's get the basics out of the way: Free Wi-Fi in all rooms! Praise be! I'm still working from my laptop, I depend on it. They also list Internet access – wireless and Internet access – LAN which is seriously old-school, but hey, some of us still have those old-school needs! Also, I'm a sucker for redundancy. The more Wi-Fi options, the better!
Rooms & Amenities: The Good, The Slightly Less Good… and the Really Good
Right, the rooms. This is where things get interesting. They list a lot of things.
- The Good: Air conditioning, alarm clock, blackout curtains (THANK YOU!), coffee/tea maker, free bottled water (essential!), hair dryer, in-room safe box, ironing facilities, laptop workspace (again, YES!), and smoke detectors. They're covering the basics, and then some.
- The Potentially Messy: Extra long bed (love it!), mini-bar (temptation!), refrigerator (good for leftovers, and rogue champagne bottles), and the "on-demand movies." Does this mean actual pay-per-view, or a streaming fiasco? I'll be asking.
- The Really Good: Soundproof rooms! Oh, this is a game changer. Noise is the bane of a traveler's existence. Also, the separate shower/bathtub, the slippers and bathrobes. Sounds luxurious (at the very least, comfy).
- The Odd. Bathtub phone? Seriously? Who uses a bathtub phone in 2024? Is it a rotary dial? I NEED to know this.
Cleanliness & Safety: The Germaphobe's Guide to Peace of Mind (and a sigh of relief)
Alright, safety. In this climate, it's paramount. This is where they REALLY shine:
- Anti-viral cleaning products? YES!
- Daily disinfection in common areas? Good.
- Rooms sanitized between stays? Even better.
- Individually-wrapped food options? Solid move.
- Safe dining setup? Absolutely.
- Staff trained in safety protocol? Excellent!
They are really taking the pandemic seriously, which is huge. Makes me feel a lot more comfortable. Plus, the presence of a doctor or nurse on call feels reassuring, even if I don't need one!
Dining, Drinking & Snacking: The Foodie's Field Guide (and a potential stomach growl)
Mmmkay, let's talk sustenance. They have…a lot.
- Restaurants? Several, apparently. They also list A la carte in restaurant, Alternative meal arrangement, Asian cuisine in restaurant, Buffet in restaurant, Desserts in restaurant, International cuisine in restaurant, Salad in restaurant, Soup in restaurant, Vegetarian restaurant, Western cuisine in restaurant. This is a whole list of restaurants.
- Coffee/tea in restaurant and Coffee shop, Snack bar
- Poolside Bar (yes, please) and Bar
- Breakfast [buffet], Breakfast service, Breakfast in room, Breakfast takeaway service, Asian breakfast, Western breakfast.
- Room service [24-hour] Score!
Okay, so. This is a lot of options. This might be a food lover's paradise. I'm already imagining myself, lounging by the pool, margarita in hand, getting room service… yes. This is a strong point.
Services & Conveniences: The Perks & The Polish (and a whole lot of YES!)
This is where they try to pamper you into submission. They seem to be succeeding.
- Business facilities, Cash withdrawal, Concierge, Contactless check-in/out, Convenience store, Currency exchange, Daily housekeeping, Doorman, Dry cleaning, Elevator, Facilities for disabled guests, Food delivery, Gift/souvenir shop, Ironing service, Laundry service, Luggage storage, Meeting/banquet facilities.
- Car park [free of charge], Car park [on-site], Car power charging station, Taxi service, Valet parking - this is good. You can actually leave your car.
- Bicycle parking. Good for Davis.
For the Kids: The Family-Friendly Factor (and a sigh of relief for parents!)
- Babysitting service: This is a win.
- Family/child friendly: Excellent!
- Kids meal: Always a plus.
- Kids facilities: I'm intrigued. What kind of facilities?
Things to Do, Ways to Relax: The Chill Factor (and a yearning for a massage!)
This is where the Aggie Inn attempts to go from a mere hotel to a full-blown, resort-adjacent experience:
- Fitness center, Pool with view, Sauna, Spa, Spa/sauna, Steamroom, Swimming pool, Swimming pool [outdoor], Massage, Body scrub, Body wrap, Foot bath.
The Verdict (So Far):
The Aggie Inn is throwing everything they have at this. They're leaning into the modern necessities (free Wi-Fi, robust safety protocols). They're hedging their bets with dining options. And they're definitely trying to be luxurious with the spa and pools. BUT, here's the kicker… the devil is, as I said before, in the details. Specifically, I'm looking for real, verifiable proof of accessibility. I need to see how they execute on the promises. Otherwise, it is just good marketing.
NOW FOR THE REALLY MESSY PART: My Deep Dive Experience
Okay, so I'm here. I'm checked in (the contactless check-in? Smooth as butter, seriously!). My room? Beautiful. Well, it's a room. It's clean, the black out curtains work, and the bed is HUGE. I'm already in that "I could live here" phase.
Okay, I went down to the spa. I spent 2 hours in the sauna, steam room, and the pool with the view. The world is not as bad as it seems after that.
Right, now where was I. Oh yeah, the bathtub phone. No Rotary dial, which makes me a little sad, but it DOES work. Still, I'm more into the spa… Did I mention the spa? I could stay there.
The Upshot:
Okay, I've checked out. As an offer. As a "recommendation" this is a strong suggestion, BUT, that is also where my stream of conscious writing needs to end for a second.
A Compelling Offer for Aggie Inn: Davis's BEST Hotel? (You Won't Believe #3!)
HEADLINE: Escape to Davis: Your Dream Getaway Awaits at the Aggie Inn! (And Yes, the Bathtub Phone Works!)
Body:
Tired of the same old routine? Need a little R&R? Then don't miss out on the Aggie Inn: Davis's BEST Hotel? (You Won't Believe #3!). We're not just a hotel; we're an experience.
Here's what you'll get:
- Unbeatable Comfort: Sink into our soundproof rooms, with blackout curtains, and extra-long beds. (Seriously, they're like clouds.)
- Connected & Cared For: FREE Wi-Fi, and contactless check-in, PLUS unparalleled safety measures at every corner.
- Foodie Paradise: A buffet, a restaurant, a poolside bar (margaritas are optional!), and 24/7 room service. (Prepare to loosen your belt.)
- Relax & Recharge: Unwind in our spa, enjoy a massage, or take a dip in our stunning outdoor pool.
- Family-Friendly: With babysitting services and kid-friendly facilities, everyone in the family will be raving about their stay!
- Convenience: 24/7 front desk, on-site parking, laundry service, a concierge
Alright, buckle up buttercup, because this itinerary isn't some perfectly polished travel brochure. This is real life at the Aggie Inn, Ascend Hotel Collection in Davis, California – and trust me, it's going to be a ride. Prepare for some seriously questionable decisions, glorious triumphs of the human spirit, and the occasional existential crisis prompted by a questionable continental breakfast.
Day 1: Arrival & The Perils of Pre-Trip Excitement (and Terrible Coffee)
14:00 - Arrival at Aggie Inn: Okay, so I thought I packed light. Turns out, my definition of "light" involves enough clothes to outfit a small village, a library’s worth of books I’ll never read, and at least five different types of shoe. Dragging these bags through the parking lot in 90-degree heat? Not a good start. The Aggie Inn looks… well, it looks like a hotel, you know? Cleanish. Promisingish. And the air conditioning definitely works, which is a win in my book.
- Quirky Observation: The lobby is decorated with pictures of…Aggies. I think. (I’m from out of town, forgive my ignorance). They're all smiling. Maybe they know something I don’t? Like, where is the decent coffee in this town?
14:30 - Check-in Debacle: The front desk person, bless her heart, appears to have a very, very slow internet connection. Ten minutes of staring at a loading screen while the lobby buzzes with the quiet hum of expectation… eventually, I have a room! (327, if you’re curious, and if you've managed to avoid ending up in 328…you're lucky). Now, the key card…it failed. Twice. "Probably a magnetic thing," she sighed, re-keying it with weary resignation. I feel her.
15:00 - Room Reconnaissance: Room 327: Carpet that looks like it's seen some things. Standard hotel room fare. King bed. Hmmm….I'm already convinced I'll be sleeping diagonally. That is a good sign. I have a tiny balcony. Potential for people-watching! I NEED that. (And maybe a cocktail, but let's not get ahead of ourselves.)
16:00 - Coffee Quest, Phase One: Okay, the in-room coffee situation. It’s… what’s the word? Dire. Like, the coffee equivalent of a hostage situation. Weak, bitter, and tasting vaguely of sadness. This is not the fuel I need. Time to venture out. The Aggie Inn's "continental breakfast" option tomorrow? It sounds like death warmed over.
16:30 - Davis Downtown Dumpster Dive for Decent Brew: After a quick Yelp-based search, I found a local cafe. AHA!. I've just downed the most delicious iced coffee in my life. Suddenly, the world feels a little brighter. My attitude? Radically improved. This is the kind of self-care I can get behind.
18:00 - Re-entering the hotel: A new challenge arises. I've now learned the lock box code to keep the room key safe (and the room key itself has a nifty clip). But I'm also now paranoid, so I'm turning the chain bolt on the door AND utilizing the lock box's code. And that's not for the rest. I just think I'm being smart (and maybe slightly hysterical).
19:00 - Dinner - I'm not even going to name the restaurant, because it's not important. It's a perfectly good restaurant, but… I ordered a burger. A perfectly average burger. The patty was a little dry, the fries a little limp. But honestly? I was just happy to be fed. After the morning's coffee fiasco, even mediocre food felt like a victory.
Day 2: Aggie Adventures & The Quest for the Perfect Sunset (and a Clean Towel)
- 07:00 - Breakfast, the Continental Catastrophe: Okay, I'm being dramatic. It wasn't that bad. But it was… predictable. Stale pastries, watery juice, and that same, terrifying coffee. I opted for a banana and a quick escape. (I have my new, wonderful coffee from the local cafe!)
- 08:00 - Davis Arboretum Ramble: Time to unleash my inner nature enthusiast! A stroll through the Davis Arboretum. It was wonderful. So many trees! So many birds! I almost tripped over my own feet trying to photograph a particularly flamboyant butterfly. Embarrassing. (I'm here by myself, right?)
- 10:00 - Bike-riding through the City (and Almost Ending Up in a Ditch): Davis is bike-friendly. Apparently. I'm less so. I rented a bike (with an inexplicably squeaky seat, but let's not quibble), and promptly wobbled my way down a bike path, narrowly avoiding a collision with a particularly aggressive squirrel. (I'm sure I'll have bruises by the end of the day.)
- 12:00 - Lunch at Some Random Place: Decided on tacos. So good! A true embodiment of simple pleasures.
- 14:00 - Back to the Room: The Great Towel Shortage: Ah, the joys of hotel living. I needed more towels, and quickly. Turns out, there's a severe shortage, right now. The cleaning lady was apologetic, and promised to bring some "real quick". (It took an hour, but she came through!).
- 16:00 - Afternoon Nap: The Art of the Brief Snooze: Needed a nap. The bike riding was exhausting. Slept for exactly 20 minutes. Refreshed! Ready to conquer the world (or at least, the rest of today).
- 17:00 - Sunset Quest: The website said "amazing sunsets." Gotta find this mystical vista. I drove around, did my research, and drove around a little more, until I found a decent spot near a lake (don't ask me which one. I clearly was not tracking). The sunset itself? Spectacular. A riot of orange, pink, and purple. Worth the mild panicking and direction-finding.
- 19:00 - Dinner - Pizza and Regret: Don't judge. I had pizza delivered. And it was… okay. Not stellar, but satisfying. (I need to eat better. But the pizza was so tempting.)
- 21:00 - Watching TV: This is the part where I should be reading or doing something productive. But instead, I'm lost in a cheesy sitcom. Don't judge. It’s comfortable.
- 22:00 - Bedtime & The Thoughts That Creep: Another key-code check, another chain bolt lock, another sleepless night ahead. That's my hotel mood at this point. Maybe I should have taken better care of myself while out for that pizza? Either way, time to finally close my eyes, hoping that sleep will arrive soon.
Day 3: Departure & Existential Musings on the Nature of Travel
- 07:00 - The Last Continental Breakfast (and a Moment of Philosophical Contemplation): Same drill as yesterday. But today, I’m feeling philosophical. What is the meaning of life? Why is hotel coffee always so awful? And why do I always end up with more luggage than I started with? These are the questions that keep me up at night, (that and the noise from the A/C unit).
- 08:00 - Final Room Check & The Great Farewell: Did I leave anything? Did I flush? (You never know!) A final glance around my humble abode (the Aggie Inn, Ascend Hotel collection, of the Davis area).
- 08:30 - Check-Out Blues: (The internet person was thankfully gone, and checking-out was so fast!)
- 09:00 - Leaving Davis: As I drove away, I felt…a pang of something. Sadness? Relief? A weird mix of both. Davis, you're…a place. And as much as I found the adventures, I'm ready to be back. And you know what? That's okay.
- 10:00 - Homebound: Back in the car. The journey continues. And soon, I'll be home. Until the next adventure! (And hopefully, the next hotel has better coffee.)
So there you have it. An honest account. Imperfect, messy, and filled with the kind of questionable decisions that make life interesting. The Aggie Inn, Ascend Hotel Collection, Davis, California, if you're reading, thanks for the…experience. And to anyone considering a trip: pack your own coffee. You can thank me later.
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Aggie Inn: Davis's BEST Hotel? (Totally Biased FAQs)
Okay, is Aggie Inn *actually* the best hotel in Davis? Be honest.
Alright, alright, settle down. "Best" is a loaded word, right? Depends what you're after. If you're looking for gleaming marble floors and a mini-bar stocked with unicorn tears? Probably not Aggie Inn. But if you want... *character*? If you appreciate a certain... *charm*... a place that feels less like a generic chain and more like, well, Davis? Then yeah. I'm absolutely leaning towards YES. My last stay, they even had a tiny, almost-invisible crack in the bathroom mirror that I only noticed *after* I’d already brushed my teeth in front of it. Made me feel like I was home! And it's close to the farmer's market... pure gold.
What's up with their breakfast situation? Is it worth getting up for?
Breakfast... ah, breakfast. Let's just say it's... *functional*. Don't expect Michelin-star presentation. Think more... a slightly nicer version of what you'd find at your grandma's house, if your grandma was SUPER into waffles and didn't quite remember to restock the orange juice. The waffles are usually pretty good (I'm a waffle-hound, I can't lie), the coffee is... plentiful. It's free, and it'll kickstart your day. Honestly, after a long drive, the thought of a free carb overload is a godsend. Plus, you sometimes overhear the best conversations. One time I heard two older ladies DISCUSSING the merits of different types of gardening gloves for, like, a full twenty minutes. Pure entertainment.
The reviews mention "quirky" rooms. What does that *really* mean?
Quirky. Oh, "quirky." It's a euphemism, isn't it? Let's just say Aggie Inn has its own unique architectural... *vibe*. Rooms may not be perfectly symmetrical. Walls might whisper stories of previous guests (and maybe even a ghost or two… just kidding… maybe…). The furniture might be... well-loved. Remember that crack in the mirror? Yeah, expect that level of… “character.” I once stayed in a room where the lamp shade was taped together with duct tape and the TV had a slight greenish tint to it, like watching everything through a vintage Instagram filter - but honestly? I found it endearing. Seriously, it’s part of the charm!
Is the location convenient? I'm on a tight schedule.
Convenient is an understatement! It's close to EVERYTHING. Downtown Davis? Walkable. UC Davis? Easy bike ride. Restaurants, shops, the Whole Foods (essential for emergency snacks)? All within spitting distance. You won't spend half your life sitting in a car, and trust me, in Davis, that's a HUGE win. Honestly, I once walked there from the train station (that's how close it is). And I’m not exactly a marathon runner. Made it with just one minor existential crisis and a slight blister.
What's the parking like? This is a REAL concern.
Parking. Ah, the eternal struggle. Generally, it's... fine. It’s not valet service, mind you. You might have to circle the lot a couple of times, especially during peak hours, but I've *always* found something. It’s not a sprawling mega-lot, so you’re never too far from the front door. I've been to places where parking is like a scavenger hunt across a city block - Aggie Inn is worlds better than that. And even if you *do* have to walk a little, hey, walk is good for you. Think of it as a pre-waffle warm-up. Plus, it’s usually free, which is a miracle in itself these days.
Let's talk about the staff. Are they friendly?
The staff? They are *the best*. Seriously. They have that laid-back, genuinely friendly Davis vibe. They remember you, they ask how your day is going, and you get the feeling they actually enjoy their jobs. I once accidentally left my phone charger in my room, and they went out of their way to mail it back to me - no questions asked. That's the kind of service that makes you feel like you're staying at a friend’s place, not a hotel. They're part of the charm. They *make* the Aggie Inn.
Okay, spill the tea. What's the *worst* thing about Aggie Inn?
Okay, fine, if I *have* to be brutally honest… The air conditioning can be a little… *temperamental* in some rooms. It’s not always a blizzard in there. And the internet can be spotty at times. But honestly? It's a small price to pay for the overall experience. I mean, I *am* addicted to social media, so that might be a problem for some, but I find it forces me to... talk to people? Read a book? You know, the old-fashioned way? Plus, sometimes the water pressure in the shower isn't quite what you'd hope for, but hey, at least it's hot! And the bed sometimes creaks just a *little*... I'm being nitpicky, really.
The BEST thing about Aggie Inn? Really hit me with it.
Okay, this is a tough one because I have so many good memories. But I'll tell you the *absolute* greatest thing. And it’s not the waffles. It's not the location. It's this feeling, this *vibe* of being welcomed. Remember that sense of community others try to sell you? It's a real thing! It’s like stepping back in time. Its the feeling that you are a local. The fact that it is not a chain, that the rooms are all different. The fact that you are not a number. Yes. That’s it. That feeling. And that, my friends, is priceless. It's a feeling of… belonging. And let me tell you, in a world of cookie-cutter hotels, that’s pretty darn special. One time, I was having a super awful day, major meltdown level stuff, and I ended up at the Aggie Inn after a long drive. The woman at the front desk, this lovely angel with the kindest eyes, saw my face, gave me a room, and said, "Welcome home." I almost cried. I still get choked up thinking about it. THAT’SGlobetrotter Hotels
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