OYO Hotel Goodland KS: Hwy 24's BEST-KEPT Secret!
Okay, buckle up, buttercups, because we're diving headfirst into the supposed "BEST-KEPT SECRET" that is the OYO Hotel Goodland KS: Hwy 24. Let's be honest, "secret" in the context of a highway hotel brings a certain… expectation. But hey, intrigue is intrigue, right? And I'm nothing…if not curious. This review is going to be a rollercoaster, so get ready.
First Impressions & The Accessibility Angle – Let's Get Real
Finding the place was easy. That's a plus, right off the bat. Accessibility? Okay, this is crucial. The website says they have facilities for disabled guests. Gotta investigate that. Did I see a decent ramp? Yes, I did. Elevators? Check. But here's where the messiness of real life comes in. I didn't see a detailed breakdown of room accessibility. This could be a problem for someone who really needs specific things like handrails or wider doorways. So, OYO in Goodland, DO BETTER on this. Get those details clearly listed! And consider this… A guest in a wheelchair finding out that the accessible room is on a higher floor and the elevator is out of service. This is a big deal, and it happened to me once in a hotel. That’s why I rate the accessibility as… mixed.
Checking In - The Human Element
The check-in process was fairly standard. Contactless check-in/out? Yep, available. Good for the Covid times. The staff seemed friendly enough but not overly chatty. I appreciated the efficiency. A nice welcome is always cool, and can create a good first impression, but let’s see if the stay delivers.
The Room – Okay, Here We Go!
Alright, let's talk room. First, the layout. Air conditioning, of course. Free Wi-Fi, a must-have. Free bottled water, a nice touch. Desk, coffee maker, mini-fridge, all the standards. Now, let's get picky. There are some nice additions, the extra long bed is a definite plus to me, and the blackout curtains did their job. I didn't see much in the way of room decorations, but seriously, I'm not judging the décor of a highway hotel too harshly! But would it kill them to add some nice photos?
A couple of minor glitches? Ah, yes, here we go. My TV remote… not so responsive. And I really missed the bathroom phone. What, no place to call room service and try all sorts of food? Seriously, a minor gripe, sure, but little things matter. The room had, the expected smoke detector and a safety/security feature.
Cleanliness and COVID Protocols – Peace of Mind (or Not?)
This is where things get intensely important. Daily disinfection in common areas? I hope so! The website said they use anti-viral cleaning products, and have staff trained in safety protocol. I did see hand sanitizer in the lobby. The rooms were supposed to be sanitized between stays. It's difficult to really know how deep this goes, but they seemed to be attempting to do it right. I saw no doctor/nurse on call, which is a touch lacking.
Dining, Drinking, and all That Jazz (or Lack Thereof)
Restaurants: Nope. At least not in the hotel. Sigh. Room service [24-hour]? No. You're on your own, folks. This is a major ding in my book. After a long drive, sometimes all you want is a decent meal and a beer without having to get back in the car. There's no bar, and no coffee shop.
The "Things to Do" and "Ways to Relax" Debacle
Fitness center? They said they had one. It was… small. Basic. Treadmill, some weights, that's pretty much it. Swimming pool, swimming pool [outdoor]. I checked for the pool and… it was closed. What? Another disappointment. Did they have a spa? Uh, no. No massage. No sauna. No steamroom. NOBODY will give you a body scrub or a body wrap here. This is about as far from a relaxing getaway as a speeding semi-truck is from a leisurely Sunday drive.
The Services and Conveniences (or Missed Opportunities)
They have laundry service. That's good. Daily housekeeping. Yep, appreciated. Free car parking, very welcome. Elevator? Yes. A convenience store? No.
For the Kids & The Meeting Mania
Family/child friendly? Sure, I suppose. They didn't have anything specific for kids (no kids facilities or anything), but it's not actively unfriendly. The meeting/banquet facilities? They've got those. So if you need a place to gather, and meet in Goodland, they have you covered.
The Verdict (and My Honest Opinion)
Look, OYO Hotel Goodland KS: Hwy 24 isn't going to win any awards for luxurious accommodations. It's a basic, functional highway stop. The cleanliness seemed reasonable. I actually liked the Wi-Fi [free]. The staff were friendly. But the lack of dining options or on site leisure activities dramatically reduced its appeal.
SEO Keywords: OYO Hotel Goodland KS, Goodland Kansas hotels, Hwy 24 hotel, Accessible hotel, Clean hotel, Free Wi-Fi, Fitness center, Non-smoking rooms, Free parking, Hotel review, Goodland accommodation, Kansas, Cheap hotel.
The Offer (Based on My Experience):
Headline: OYO Hotel Goodland KS: Your Road Trip Pit Stop - Clean, Convenient, and (Sometimes) Surprisingly Okay!
Body:
Tired of endless highway drives? Need a place to crash that won't break the bank? OYO Hotel Goodland KS, right off Hwy 24, is waiting! While it's no five-star spa resort (let's be real!), it is clean, has free Wi-Fi (essential!), and friendly staff who make you feel welcome. We have a decent fitness center for a quick workout, and offer a free parking.
- Free Wi-Fi in all rooms! Stay connected without the fees.
- Convenient location: Right off Hwy 24, making it easy to find and get back on the road.
- Clean and comfortable rooms: Rest easy knowing your room is sanitized.
Book your stay at OYO Hotel Goodland KS today! (And maybe bring a snack… just in case.)
P.S. We're not perfect (nobody is!), but we're working hard to make your stay a good one. Check for package deals too!
Montelimar Escape: Your Dream Appart'City Classic Awaits!
Alright, buckle up, buttercups, because we're about to embark on a whirlwind, utterly unhinged, and probably slightly regrettable adventure to… Goodland, Kansas! Yep, the home of that giant Van Gogh painting. Buckle up even tighter, because I'm doing this solo, which means maximum opportunity for disaster and zero accountability. Let's see how this plays out.
Day 1: Arrival and the Existential Dread of the Sunflower State
14:00 - 15:00: Arrival at OYO Hotel Goodland, KS Hwy 24: Okay, first impressions: it’s…clean-ish. The carpet smells faintly of old dreams and regret (probably a shared experience, honestly). Check-in was surprisingly smooth, though the clerk (bless her heart, she looked like she'd seen some things) gave me a look that said, "Honey, are you sure you want to be here?" I mumbled something about the Van Gogh, the vast plains, and a deep-seated need to escape my current existence, and she handed over the key. The room itself? Let's just say it's functional. The bedspread? Questionable. The TV? I bet it gets cable, and I bet it's mostly news and old Westerns. Time will tell.
15:00 - 16:00: Reconnaissance Mission: The Giant Van Gogh Reproduction. Alright, let's see if this thing is actually worth dragging myself to the middle of nowhere for. I mean, it's a reproduction of a Vincent Van Gogh painting… on a water tower. How wild is that? "Wild" is the word. It took me a solid fifteen minutes of driving around in circles (Google Maps, you treacherous beast) to find the damn thing. And… it's impressive. I mean, for a giant painted water tower. The perspective is kinda wonky up close, but it really does work from far away. I took a picture, obviously. Maybe three. It's the kind of thing you put on Instagram, captioned something like "Embracing the Midwest's quirky charm!" (Read: trying to find a silver lining). I stood there for a solid ten minutes, staring up at it, wondering if Van Gogh would've approved. Probably not. He would've hated the lack of a decent coffee shop nearby.
16:00 - 17:00: Finding Food (and a Reason to Live): The Google Maps search for "coffee" and "decent food" produced a grand total of… one diner and a truck stop. The diner it is. Walking in, I could swear I heard a collective sigh of someone else. A few locals were already there, clearly enjoying their coffee. I order a chicken-fried steak because, when in Rome, right? The waitress, a woman named Deb (I think, I was too self-absorbed to care immediately), poured me a coffee and gave me one of those knowing smiles that says, "We've all been here, kid." Deb's food was hearty and probably not going to win any Michelin stars, but it hit the spot. Gave me some comfort and let me feel something other than existential dread. It was a good place to be, with familiar faces and great coffee.
17:00 - 19:00: Rest and Regret: Back at the OYO room. Time to decompress. I'll watch some mindless TV and try not to think too hard about the fact that I’m spending a Friday night in Goodland, Kansas. Feeling oddly exhausted. I have a sneaking suspicion the Kansas air is heavier than it looks.
19:00 - 21:00: Dinner and Despair (Okay, Maybe Just Mild Discomfort): Back to the diner. Because, options. And, hey, Deb was probably expecting me. This time I went for the burger. It was fine. The company, thankfully, was better. I got to talking with some of the locals. They, like EVERYONE I met that day, were some of the nicest people you could ever hope to meet. They asked normal questions like "Where do you live?" and "What are you doing out here?" and I was reminded that I was a strange person for sure. We talked a bit about their lives, the weather, the hardships of living in a small town. It was… eye-opening. And a little… depressing. I was genuinely happy to be there for those people, though.
21:00 - Late: Hotel Room Meditations (and a Lot of Channel Surfing). Back at the OYO. The TV choices suck. The news is depressing (surprise, surprise). Channel surfing and then finally falling asleep. Alone in a double bed. The existential dread is building, folks. Building!
Day 2: Chasing the Sun (and Maybe Some Better Coffee).
08:00 - 09:00: The Breakfast Debacle: The OYO’s “complimentary” breakfast. Let's just say it was… an experience. Styrofoam plates and pre-packaged everything. I choked down some questionable eggs and attempted some toast (which tasted suspiciously like cardboard). Then, back to the diner. I will never take fresh coffee for granted again.
09:00 - 11:00: Driving around and Looking: I needed to leave the room. So, I just started driving. The landscape is… flat. Really, really flat. Like, you could see your future for miles. I saw a field of sunflowers, which was beautiful, but also a little sad somehow, like everything in this place. I briefly considered becoming a sunflower farmer. Then reality hit. I drove on.
11:00 - 13:00: The High Plains Museum: I needed to do something. So, I went to the museum. You know, the one with the local history exhibits. I really love learning about the history of the place I am visiting, especially in Kansas where everything is very different from what I know. The High Plains Museum was actually quite fascinating. I learned about pioneer life, local Native American history (very important for the area), and saw some cool old farming equipment. I was surprised by how much I enjoyed it. Maybe this Goodland place wasn't so bad, after all.
13:00 - 14:00: Lunch and a Moment of Truth: Back to the diner. Deb gave me a warm smile, and I swear, it almost brought a tear to my eye. I ordered a salad (trying to be healthy, you know?). Deb asked me how I was enjoying my trip. I said "It's growing on me." Maybe it was the food, maybe it was that I was starting to get the hang of small-town living. Whatever it was, I was starting to see some of the charm.
14:00 - 17:00: The Van Gogh, Revisited: Went back to the Van Gogh water tower. This time, I spent more time on the landscape. This time, I spent more time on the surrounding area. I realized how vital this was to the town's identity. It was a reminder to slow down, pay attention. Suddenly, the wonky perspective didn’t matter. It felt…okay. Good, even. And I took a picture. This one, I'll probably keep.
17:00 - 18:00: Last Supper (and Goodbye-ish): One last meal at the diner. Deb brought me a slice of apple pie on the house. We talked about… well, everything. About life, about dreams, about the sheer absurdity of it all. And I realized something: Goodland, Kansas, isn't about the giant water tower. It's about the Debs of the world, the quiet beauty of the plains, and the unexpected kindness of strangers. I'm not sure I'm “glad” I came to Goodland, but I'm damn sure glad I met the people of Goodland.
18:00 - 19:00: Packing (and Mild Panic): I started packing. And I realized how sad I was to leave. A feeling I had not felt in a while. I spent a lot of time trying to process this.
19:00 - 20:00: Farewell, Goodland (and a Promise to Return) Check-out was quick. I left the OYO. I promised myself I'd come back someday. Yeah, I know. I was shocked, too. Back to reality. Back to the city. Back to…whatever comes next. But a little piece of me will probably stay here, always.
20:00: Departure from Goodland: On the road.
So there you have it. My Goodland, Kansas adventure. Messy. Imperfect. And, in the end, unexpectedly…good. Maybe solo travel isn't so bad after all. Maybe the Midwest isn't so bad either. Maybe it's all about the perspective, and the willingness to embrace a little existential dread along the way.
Jonesboro's BEST Kept Secret? This Comfort Inn Will SHOCK You!
1. Is this “Best-Kept Secret” thing actually *true*? Or is it just marketing hooey?
2. The website photos… are they… *real*? Do they Photoshop the… *amenities*? (Asking for a friend… who is me.)
3. Breakfast. The Breakfast. Tell me about the *breakfast*. Because that can make or break a stay.
4. Can we talk about the *ambiance* of the OYO Goodland? Is it… *cozy*? *Charming*? Or is it just… *there*?
5. Okay, let's get down to brass tacks: Would you stay there again? Be honest.
6. Any specific room recommendations, or rooms to AVOID?
7. One Last Thing (and this is *CRITICAL*): Is there a decent place to grab a burger nearby? Because priorities, people!
8. (Deep Breath) Okay, fine. Tell me about *that* experience. The oneWhere To Stay Now
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