Wilkes-Barre's BEST Kept Secret: OYO Hotel Review (You Won't Believe This!)
Wilkes-Barre's BEST Kept Secret: OYO Hotel Review (You Won't Believe This!) - A Messy, Honest Take
Alright, buckle up buttercups, because I'm about to spill the tea on Wilkes-Barre's supposed "BEST Kept Secret": the OYO Hotel. Look, I went in skeptical. Seriously skeptical. This place? The OYO Hotel? In Wilkes-Barre? My expectations were, let's just say, hovering somewhere around "motel with a questionable history" levels. But, plot twist, I'm here to tell you… it's… interesting. Let's dive in, shall we? And yeah, this review isn't going to be your typical corporate drone fest. It's me, unfiltered, navigating the OYO.
(First Paragraph: The Initial Arrival - And a Touchy-Feely Elevator)
So, the first thing? Accessibility. Let's be real, I arrived with a suitcase that weighed more than a small dog. Now, the website claims "facilities for disabled guests" and an elevator. Good. The elevator itself? Well, let's just say it’s seen better days. It’s the kind of elevator that makes you hold your breath until it grumbles into place. I think it tried to give me a cozy, personal moment. It’s… close. And a bit, well, touchy-feely. Not entirely accessible for someone with mobility issues, but it gets you there… eventually.
(Second Paragraph: Check-In & The Internet Abyss - Wi-Fi, I Hardly Knew Ye)
The front desk [24-hour] folks were… present. Not overly exuberant, but hey, they were there. Check-in/out [express] seemed to be the name of the game, which I always appreciate. More time for me to explore… or just collapse from exhaustion. Then came the Internet access situation. The website promised Free Wi-Fi in all rooms! and that was a big selling point. I'm a digital nomad, folks, I need to work. The reality? Let's just say accessing the internet was like trying to herd cats through a hurricane. Internet access – wireless? More like "intermittently-available-when-the-stars-align-and-the-Wi-Fi-gods-are-feeling-generous." I tried the Internet [LAN] option too. Nope. Nada. Zip. Zero. I'm pretty sure my laptop gave up and started judging my life choices. Okay, I am going to go with a 3/10 on the internet services. I could not work in my room at all. I had no internet.
(Third Paragraph: Room Recon - So, About Those Blackout Curtains…)
Okay, let's move onto the room. Available in all rooms: Air-conditioning. Alarm clock. Bathroom phone. Bathtub. Blackout curtains. Oh, those blackout curtains. I can tell you how those black out curtains were working on the first night of my stay. They didn’t. I woke up at the crack of dawn and thought I was living in some kind of space-time anomaly. The sun just blasted through. Carpeting. A very well-worn, kinda stained carpeting. Closet. Coffee/tea maker. Complimentary tea. (Which I promptly guzzled down hoping for a caffeine miracle). Daily housekeeping. Desk. Extra long bed (which I desperately needed). Free bottled water. Hair dryer. High floor. (Theoretically). In-room safe box. Interconnecting room(s) available. No one was in the interconnecting rooms though. Ironing facilities. Laptop workspace. Linens. Mini bar. (Empty). Mirror. (Thankfully, it was there. I needed that mirror after the internet fiasco). Non-smoking. (Thank goodness. I hate smells.). On-demand movies (didn't even bother). Private bathroom. Reading light. Refrigerator. Safety/security feature. (Again, present, but not necessarily overly impressive). Satellite/cable channels. Scale. (I didn't even look at the scale. Ignorance is bliss). Seating area. Separate shower/bathtub. Shower. Slippers. Smoke detector. Socket near the bed. Sofa. (Again, probably seen better days). Soundproofing. (Ha!). Telephone. Toiletries. (Basic, but hey). Towels. Umbrella. Visual alarm. Wake-up service. Wi-Fi [free]. (HA!). Window that opens. (And let in the aforementioned sunshine massacre).
(Fourth Paragraph: Dining, Drinking, and Snacking - The Hunger Games…Without the Glory)
Dining, drinking, and snacking options, eh? This is where things get… sparse. There. Was a cough the coffee shop, which offered coffee, and apparently, a side of existential dread. The restaurants are… well, I didn’t see any. The Snack bar? Non-existent. There was a bar, or at least I think there was. The bar was empty, and I could only assume that it had shut down. The website offered Room service [24-hour]. I did not avail myself of room service. This part felt like a Buffet in restaurant with zero options.
(Fifth Paragraph: Cleanliness & Safety - Did Someone Say "Clean"?… Kind Of?)
Alright, now this is important. Cleanliness and safety. The website boasts about Anti-viral cleaning products, Daily disinfection in common areas, and Rooms sanitized between stays. My room looked clean-ish. The sheets seemed fresh. However, the air had a faint hint of "industrial cleaner masked by aggressively scented air freshener." I found a Hand sanitizer dispenser at the entrance, which was a win! There’s a Fire extinguisher in the hallway. Smoke alarms? Present and accounted for. In terms of Hygiene certification? I’m not sure. I kept hoping.
(Sixth Paragraph: Things to Do - And Avoiding Boredom at All Costs)
Okay, so you're in Wilkes-Barre. What do you do? And does the OYO help. Mostly, no. However, here’s where things get hilarious. The Fitness center is… a room. With some equipment. I did not go in. The OYO offered a Pool with view or a Swimming pool. Not that I could find. Things to do includes the OYO, which is as good as it gets. The OYO had a Shrine. I assume this is a shrine to the 1980s. Because, everything is dated.
(Seventh Paragraph: Services and Conveniences - The Good, the Bad, and the… Well, The Meh.)
The Services and conveniences were a mixed bag. There was a Concierge. (Maybe. I think I saw one guy flitting about, but I couldn’t get close enough to confirm. ). A Convenience store. (Nope). Daily housekeeping. (See above). Dry cleaning. (Highly doubtful). Elevator. (We covered that). Facilities for disabled guests. (Well, there's an attempt). Food delivery. (Maybe?). Gift/souvenir shop. (LOL. No). Invoice provided. (Yep, they can do that). Ironing service. (Nope. The iron in my room looked like it had fought in a war.) Laundry service. (Maybe. I didn’t try). Luggage storage. (Probably). There’s a Meeting/banquet facilities. (In theory). There is a Car park [free of charge]. (The only truly seamless experience). There’s a Taxi service. (I saw a taxi, so, yes).
(Eighth Paragraph: The Verdict & Quirky Emotional Reactions - Would I Stay Again? The Answer Will Surprise You…)
So, would I stay at the OYO again? (Insert dramatic pause here). Look, if I'm being honest? Probably. But not without a healthy dose of realistic expectations. This place is rough around the edges, no doubt. The internet is a joke. The amenities are… limited. But, there's a certain charm to it. A "we're-trying-our-best-even-if-we're-a-little-bit-broken-down" kind of charm. And frankly, after the initial disappointment, I kinda warmed up to the place. It's not pretending to be something it's not.
(Ninth Paragraph: The Unexpected Upside & the Persuasive Offer – The "Wilkes-Barre Survival Kit")
Here’s the thing: the OYO is affordable. Seriously affordable. And in a city with limited options, it's… well, it's a place to lay your head. Okay, here's my offer, folks: For the budget-conscious traveler, the OYO offers:
- A roof over your head (and the potential for some sunbeams to wake you up!).
- Complimentary…ish tea. (I’m still not sure about the quality of the tea
Alright, buckle up buttercups, because this isn't your grandma's perfectly-manicured travel itinerary. We're diving headfirst into the… ahem… charming world of the OYO Hotel Wilkes-Barre East, baby! Consider this less a schedule, and more… a loose plan. A suggestion. A… hopeful roadmap.
Day 1: Wilkes-Barre, Here We Come (Hopefully!)
1:00 PM - Arrival (or, the Art of the Un-Welcome): Okay, let's be real. Reaching the OYO felt less like arriving and more like… un-arriving. Driving through Wilkes-Barre itself… well, it’s… definitely something. Found the hotel relatively easily, thank the gods. The exterior… let's say it has "character." Think "faded glory" meets "needs a good power wash." My first thought? "Did I accidentally book a motel in a horror movie?"
- Anecdote: The front desk… the very friendly and helpful individual… was a masterclass in customer service. "Welcome to the OYO!" she chirped. (I'm fairly certain she knew what I was thinking). She had one of those dazzling smiles that felt… slightly suspicious. Like she was bracing for war. Turns out, the key card machine was down, so had to wait… a fair bit. Eventually, got the key, and was able to begin my adventure!
2:00 PM - Room Inspection & Emotional Rollercoaster: Oh boy. The room… it was… functional. Cleanish, I think. The carpet looked like it had seen more action than a battlefield. The bedspread? Straight out of the 1980s, but in a way that felt… historic. I'm half expecting to find a time capsule. And the smell… a potent mixture of air freshener and… something else I couldn't quite place. A touch of sadness? Perhaps a remnant of past guests.
- Quirky Observation/Emotional Reaction: My heart sank. I won't lie. I briefly considered turning around and driving back home. But then, I thought, "Embrace the suck!" This is where the stories are made. This is adventure! My face probably scrunched up in a mix of horror, fascination, and mild acceptance.
2:30 PM - Wi-Fi Hunt & Existential Crisis: The Wi-Fi. The sweet, sweet promise of connection. (Needed it to vent on Twitter, obvi). The router, however, clearly hadn't gotten the memo. "Searching for Wi-Fi…" the laptop taunted me. This sparked a minor existential crisis. "If I'm not connected, do I even exist?" I paced, I pleaded. Ultimately, I found a weak signal near the window… and connected. Success!
3:00 PM - The Local Scene, a Drive Through: Decided to venture out to experience this town. Found a beautiful area… not. Went for a drive through the local area, and I'd be lying if I told you I wasn't a little scared. It seemed that every building was abandoned, and the buildings were surrounded by trash. Not to say the area was dangerous, but I certainly wouldn't go for a walk at night…
6:00 PM - Dinner Adventure, the Search for sustenance: Starving at this point, decided to find a local restaurant. Found a local diner that looked nice. The food was… decent. Got a burger, which I would've expected to be a little better.
8:00 PM - Back to the Room, Bedtime: Headed back to the hotel, and slept. Nothing interesting happened.
Day 2: Still Here (and Surprisingly, Alive!)
8:00 AM - Breakfast (or, The Great Oatmeal Conspiracy): The hotel breakfast… well, it was free. Oatmeal. Instant. My culinary expectations were not high. I found that the oatmeal wasn't that bad. Definitely not the highlight of my trip, but it would fill me up.
9:00 AM - Exploring, I Guess: The plan was a visit to the Steamtown National Historic Site. I heard it was nice. Decided to skip the drive.
12:00 PM - Lunch: Did something I usually don't do, and went for an expensive meal. I felt like I deserved it.
2:00 PM - Check out & Back Home: I'm done. More importantly, I'm leaving. I survived. (Barely!). The OYO. It's not the Four Seasons, but it's an experience. A story. And let's be honest, it's given me some serious bragging rights.
3:00 PM - Reflecting on the Adventure: Still processing.
Wilkes-Barre's BEST Kept Secret: OYO Hotel Review (You Won't Believe This!) - The Uncensored Guide!
Okay, seriously, what's the *actual* story with this OYO in Wilkes-Barre? Is it a total nightmare?
Alright, let's be real. My first thought when I saw "OYO" in Wilkes-Barre? Disaster. I envisioned flickering lights, mystery stains, and… well, you know. But then, a friend, bless her adventurous heart (and cheapskate tendencies, let's be honest), raved about it. Raved! So, I took the plunge. And… it's complicated. It’s not a total dump. It’s not the Ritz. It's somewhere in between the "I've made a terrible life choice" and "Okay, this is… surprisingly okay?" zone. Think of it like that ex you broke up with but sometimes still think about because, hey, the memories weren't *all* bad.
What's the *best* thing about this place? Come on, spill!
Okay, here's the deal-breaker: THE PRICE. Seriously, it's practically highway robbery in reverse. You can snag a room for, like, a song. I'm talking "under the table at a dive bar" kind of cheap. And for that price? You're getting a roof over your head, a bed (maybe a slightly lumpy one, but a bed!), and a TV that *mostly* works. Look, I know I sound like I'm selling you a lightly used car, but sometimes you just need an affordable crash pad, and this? This is it. Think of it as a challenge: can *you* find a cheaper night's sleep? I dare you!
Oh, and sometimes there's a surprisingly decent continental breakfast. Don't get your hopes up for artisanal croissants, but the stale bagels can be salvaged with enough cream cheese (BYOC!) and the instant coffee... well, it's coffee. It'll keep you awake, which is the main goal, right?
And the *worst*? Give me the nitty-gritty!
Alright, brace yourself. This is where things get… interesting. First off, the "cleanliness" is… subjective. Let's just say it has a certain "lived-in" charm. I once found a rogue Skittle under the bed. I swear, it was a mystery flavor. I chose not to eat it. The bathroom… oh, the bathroom. The water pressure is comparable to a damp sneeze, and the shower curtain… well, it's seen things. Things I'd rather not think about. And the noise! Good heavens, the noise! The walls are thinner than my patience after a long day. You'll hear everything: the late-night conversations, the ice machine's incessant clatter, and the questionable karaoke coming from a nearby establishment at 3 AM. Bring earplugs. Seriously. Pack them. It's a necessity.
And the parking? Pray you find a spot. It's a free-for-all, a Hunger Games of car placement. I once spent 20 minutes circling the lot, only to end up parked halfway on the grass. Desperate times, people. Desperate times."
Tell me about the staff. Are they… friendly? Unfriendly? Existential?
The staff? That's where things get wild. It's a mixed bag. You might get the ultra-friendly, eager-to-please person who'll bend over backward to make your stay delightful (rare, but it happens!). Or you might get the guy who looks like he's seen a ghost and/or is contemplating the meaning of existence at 3 AM. Either way, they mostly just want to do their job and get you the heck out of there. Be polite. Be nice. They're probably dealing with all sorts of… characters. I once witnessed a heated debate erupt over the optimal temperature for the ice machine. It was epic.
Sometimes, you get this feeling like they are either underpaid, overstretched, or secretly planning their escape to a tropical island. Don't judge. I've been there. Just bring your own towel and try not to make too much of a mess.
Is it safe? Like, *really* safe?
Okay, this is a tricky one. I'm not going to lie to you – the location isn't in the *best* part of town. Use your common sense. Lock your car. Don't flash a lot of cash. Keep your wits about you. I've never personally felt *unsafe*, but I'm also not the type to wander around alone at two in the morning. Trust your instincts. If something feels off, it probably is. Choose a well-lit entry, and try not to make eye contact with the shadowy figures lurking on the streets. (Just kidding! Mostly…)
Honestly, if you are looking for a safe and predictable place to stay, this isn't it. But if you're just looking for to survive and get through the night without needing a mortgage, then you may be alright.
Let's talk about the themed rooms. Are they as amazing as the website makes them out to be?
"Themed rooms"? Oh, *sweet mother of mercy*. The website promised a "tropical paradise" room, complete with… well, I'm not entirely sure what they promised, but it involved a hammock and a volcano-shaped ice bucket (I kid you not). When I finally got into the room, it was… um… a room. With a slightly faded floral bedspread, a desk that looked like it came from a garage sale, and a distinct lack of a volcano-shaped anything. The "hammock" was a sad attempt at decorating with a string and it definitely was not going to hold anyone’s weight. The "theme," in my opinion, was "slightly depressing motel room." My advice? Lower your expectations. Dramatically. Then again, maybe *your* idea of a themed room is different from mine. Maybe you dream of the "vintage-inspired" (read: old) aesthetic. Maybe you are feeling adventurous. Maybe you're just drunk off of boxed wine. Either way, the photos and the reality are rarely, if ever, on the same page.
I am a light sleeper. Should I risk it?
Absolutely not. Run away. Flee! Find a different place to sleep. Seriously. Bring industrial-strength earplugs, noise-canceling headphones, and a willingness to embrace the chaos. The walls are thin. The air conditioning sounds like a jet engine preparing for takeoff. And I’ve already mentioned those late-night revelers, right? You *will* hear the television from the next room, the slamming of doors, and the occasional… well, let's just say some of the sounds are best left to the imagination. If you value sleep, this is a gamble you probably won't win.
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