Road Trip Home…Arizona!

Since we are having slide issues, we decided not to take the chance before we get to Arizona when we plan to get them fixed, so instead we stayed in hotels. Very pricey choice but the alternative was just not a great option.

Our first day was refreshing to get away from the campfires, loud dogs and kids, to be able to breathe without sucking in all those toxic fumes. We only did a little over 100 miles to Drury Inn in Grand Rapids, Michigan where we enjoyed the hot tub and a good night's sleep.

Our next day drive again was just over 100 miles to New Buffalo, Michigan at the Four Winds Casino Resort where we had a fun play day. We stayed there several years ago, and we were impressed as before, plenty of slot games, a comfortable bed with a fantastic double shower head with lots of pressure.

Our third travel day took us 159 miles to a Drury Inn in Carmel, Indiana where we enjoyed the hot tub soak, and again we had the pool area to ourselves. We traveled the roads less traveled and had a very enjoyable drive on mostly a two-lane divided highway. A little road construction but not as intrusive as on the Interstate and neither was the roughness as it was on the Interstate, Michigan roads were the worse.

It was a BUSY day back on the Interstate that was nerve wrecking with all the semis and aggressive drivers. It was also one of our longer drive days with 245 miles to the Drury Inn in Fairview Heights, Illinois, a suburb of St Louis. 

Even though customer service was outstanding, everything else was definitely not up to Drury Inn standards. The room was a decent size with a comfortable bed, BUT the bathroom was smaller than a closet. The pool area needs MAJOR updating, the spa tub was hot but NO bubbles, the pool was ok but peeling of the pool interior was EVERYWHERE! The air conditioning in our room was so loud but ended up being such a blessing because our room was right above the front desk and entrance that had a tiny window with a terribly obstructive view. 

This was by far one of the worse Drury Inn’s that we have stayed in. We chose to stay at them this entire trip but have changed our minds and are changing our hotel stays going forward.  We trusted the brand and unfortunately did not read the reviews close enough, nor check out the parking situation. Upon further investigation, we found a few not to our satisfaction, so we are replanning the rest of our trip.

We drove 225 miles to Springfield, Missouri where we made a last-minute reservation and was happy with our choice. They allowed us to check in early, customer service was outstanding. Our room was very warm when we arrived, so we turned down the air but even after a cool shower and 2 hours, we were still at 76, so we called for help. They immediately changed our room and made it convenient, just a few doors away. 

We paid $10 extra for breakfast that was only a bagel, yogurt parfait, and juice, if that would have been explained, we would not have paid the extra. We thought it was breakfast as it was stated and the way it had been in our past Courtyard stays.

Hard Rock Hotel & Casino in Tulsa, Oklahoma was our next destination, driving 164 miles, this property is huge, parking was terrible. We had to park way in the back which is normal with a trailer, but usually we are able to first swing up to the door to drop off our luggage and Jerry drives it back there and gets a shuttle ride. It was so packed on a Sunday afternoon and no shuttles anywhere, so we rolled our stuff a long way to the building and then an even longer way to the checkin area.

Our room was nice, comfortable bed, nice seating area, the shower lacked water pressure and really needs an update. The ice machine on our floor was broken which happens and we usually go to another floor, but their security on the room keys only allows YOUR floor access in the elevator or stairs. We had to call for room service for them to deliver ice to us, they only brought a small bag worth, thank goodness we made do with what little they brought us.

The casino once again allows smoking everywhere which convinced us that we would not be coming back again to this place or any Oklahoma casinos in our future.

Our drive was 188 miles to get to La Quinta Inn & Suites by Wyndham in Weatherford, OK that had a wonderful hot tub with great bubbles, ICE COLD pool which was refreshing. Bed was so comfortable, and it was a quiet night.

Our drive to Drury Inn & Suites in Amarillo, TX was eventful, full of threatening storms, a little drizzle and the wind was ferocious. The good news is we stayed ahead of it by leaving at 8:30am for just a 194-mile drive but what we left behind was terrible, by being observant watching the weather, we were able to avoid an even worse driving day.

We arrived early and was greeted by a very friendly face that checked us in, so we were able to enjoy a great bubbly hot tub with a refreshing pool. The bed was comfortable, and I finally got a comfortable chair WITH an ottoman. A HUGE parking lot.

Again, storms were threatening so we got an earlier start then planned since we only had 100 miles to travel to Fairfield Inn in Tucumcari, New Mexico but they allowed us to check in at noon. It was a relaxing drive with just a few rough patches along the way and spent the day in relaxation mode.

Our next day was the problem day from hell, driving 245 miles…we originally planned to have a fun play day at Santa Ana Star Casino Hotel north of Albuquerque, NM but we experienced such terrible customer service, we decided not to even stay since their rudeness took away our mojo and just made us feel uncomfortable. We received rudeness from the front desk, the bellhop and then security as we were leaving. When I called the front desk for our full refund, she repeatedly wanted to explain why things were done the way they were, at that point we had already left the area. When she finally connected me to a manager, I was afraid it would be the same manager that gave me a hard time when we were trying to check in, come to find out, she was not a manager after all. Speaking with the real manager, she agreed to fully refund us after we explained we were already gone, and we wished she would have come to the front desk when we requested a manager and the clerk lied and said she was the manager, but instead, we left when the clerk (lied manager) continued to give us a hard time. Then the bellhop was explaining to Jerry that we would not be able to park our truck & trailer in the safe parking lot we were in but would have to move it to the rear unsafe lot area, as he explained it to be. It was just so uncomfortable that we didn’t want to try to enjoy ourselves at their casino.

Last minute reservation due to the shenanigans the Santa Ana Star Casino Hotel caused us, we chose to stay just down the road at the Drury Inn & Suites Albuquerque North, where for our first time in our travels this journey, we had to share the hot tub and pool with kids.

Our last day of hotel stays travel took us 232 miles to Las Cruces, New Mexico where we enjoyed our spa time tremendously. We had the area to ourselves, the jets were wild, the tub was hot, and the pool was cool. The bed was comfortable, the shower was just okay and there was road noise since it is located right next to the interstate.

Roads in Michigan were the worse, Indiana and Illinois roads were not all that good, Missouri and Texas were great, Oklahoma had by far the best roads EVER. New Mexico roads are full of rough patches in the right lane right by the right side of tires, very annoying. We just don’t understand why all roads can’t be safely driven in ALL STATES, if one State is able to do it, they all should be able to do it. They could make them toll roads if they have to but do something about them.

No matter where we were born or that our home is on wheels, it always feels like we are coming home when we come back to Arizona for the winter. We look forward to having another great winter here, but in a different way. Instead of being stationary, we will be moving every 3 weeks working at the area Sam’s Clubs selling Lt Blender Cocktail Mixes.