Escape to Tulsa: Midtown's BEST Extended Stay Hotel!
Okay, buckle up, buttercups, because we're about to dive HEADFIRST into the glorious, maybe-slightly-chaotic world of Escape to Tulsa: Midtown's BEST Extended Stay Hotel! (And yes, I'm yelling BEST because they tell us to, so we're following the rules.) This isn't some dry, robotic hotel review. This is a real person, with real opinions, and a serious need for a decent cup of coffee, sharing honest thoughts. Let's go!
(Disclaimer: I haven't actually stayed at Escape to Tulsa. This review is based on the details provided. I'm pretending. We all pretend sometimes.)
First Impressions: Are We Accessible? Are We Ready? (Accessibility and Getting Around)
Right off the bat, let's be real. Travel, especially extended stays, can be a nightmare for anyone with mobility needs. So, the good news? They tout "Facilities for disabled guests" and an Elevator (THANK GOD!). CCTV in common areas and CCTV outside the property are also a plus. It's that whole "peace of mind" thing. However, I'm squinting at the details. While the hotel claims accessibility, it's also not specific. I'd need more information. Are the rooms truly Wheelchair accessible? What about the common areas? Are there ramps? Grab bars? This is critical. ESCAPE TO TULSA—SPILL THE BEANS! (Accessibility is a non-negotiable for some folks. So, fix this, stat!) Also, the Airport transfer, Taxi service, and Car park [on-site] are all VERY convenient, but I'm a sucker for a Car park [free of charge]. Sigh. Still not all-inclusive, but it's a major step in the right direction.
The Room: Your Extended Stay Haven? (Available in all rooms, features, and amenities)
Okay, picture this: you're in Tulsa. You're escaping something (work, a bad relationship, your in-laws – I'm not judging!). You need a place where you can, you know, live. Let's see what's on offer.
- The Essentials: Air conditioning (crucial in Tulsa summers, I imagine), Alarm clock (because, life), Coffee/tea maker (YES! Because as previously mentioned, I need coffee!), Daily housekeeping (because, I'm not running that vacuum myself!), Desk (gotta work, unfortunately), Free Wi-Fi (HALLELUJAH! In all rooms! That's a HUGE win!), Hair dryer (seriously, what IS it with hotels and wimpy hair dryers?), Ironing facilities (because, wrinkles are the enemy!), Mini bar (temptation station, much?), Refrigerator (for all my snacks), Satellite/cable channels (for those binge-watching moments), Smoke detector (safety first, people!), Wi-Fi [free] (did I mention free Wi-Fi?) and Window that opens (FRESH AIR! Seriously important).
- The Upgrade: Bathrobes (because, feeling fancy!), Bathtub and Separate shower/bathtub (spa days, even in Tulsa!), Blackout curtains (sleep, glorious sleep!), Extra long bed (for this long-legged individual), In-room safe box (for stashing my secret stash… of chocolate!), On-demand movies (for when you really don't want to leave the room) and Seating area (for pondering the meaning of life, or just watching TV).
- The Details: Additional toilet (always a bonus, especially in shared spaces), Bathroom phone (for emergency calls to room service, obviously), Closet (storage!), Complimentary tea (good for the soul… and, again, caffeine!), Extra long bed, Free bottled water (hydration is key!), High floor (if you like views), In-room safe box (gotta keep your belongings safe), Interconnecting room(s) available (for families, or… um… friends?), Internet access – LAN (useful for some), Laptop workspace (work, work, work), Linens (snuggle time!), Mirror (for checking if you look presentable… or have a stray chip crumb), Non-smoking (a godsend for some, but some of you out there know better), Private bathroom (privacy!), Reading light (for that late-night novel), Scale (ugh… but necessary), Shower (water is good!), Slippers (comfy feet!), Socket near the bed (for your phone, obviously), Sofa (for plopping), Soundproofing (silence is golden), Telephone (ancient technology, but practical), Toiletries (bonus!), Towels (clean ones!), Umbrella (for when the Tulsa weather decides to be… Tulsa-y), Visual alarm (for safety) and Wake-up service (to wake up, hopefully).
The verdict? Escape to Tulsa seems to have the necessities covered, and a few nice-to-haves. It's not a palace, but it sounds like a comfortable base of operations. HOWEVER, are they REALLY putting in the effort to do what's needed? I'd need a closer look.
Cleanliness and Safety: Are We Safe? (Cleanliness and Safety, COVID-19 related precautions)
Look, let's be blunt. In today's world, Cleanliness and safety isn't a luxury; it's a must-have. Especially for extended stays.
- The Good: Anti-viral cleaning products, Hand sanitizer (praise be!), Hot water linen and laundry washing and Rooms sanitized between stays (essential). Professional-grade sanitizing services (excellent, but specifics would be awesome). Staff trained in safety protocol (again, a MUST).
- The Okay: Daily disinfection in common areas. Room sanitization opt-out available (nice to have the option, but only if you are feeling up to it!).
- The Need for More Info: I'm a bit skeptical. While they mention Hygiene certification, they don't specify which. And while they have Individually-wrapped food options (but only in the breakfast, which is… limited), those options are not my cup of tea, especially for extended stay. I'd be worried about the Safe dining setup and Sanitized kitchen and tableware items. Physical distancing of at least 1 meter and Safe dining setup are essential components, but the specifics are missing. And, Staff trained in safety protocol, but, again, the How is missing!
- The Missing: Air purification is a HUGE omission. UV sanitizers is another.
My Take?: Escape to Tulsa needs to be much more loud about the measures. I'm slightly reassured, but not entirely. More transparency, please!
Dining, Drinking, and Snacking: Fueling the Escape (Dining, drinking, and snacking)
Food and extended stays go hand-in-hand. You're not just eating; you're surviving.
- The Perks: Breakfast service (essential!), A la carte in restaurant and Breakfast [buffet] (not bad… as long as it's GOOD). Coffee/tea in restaurant (YES! Coffee is always a plus, especially on Mondays!) and Room service [24-hour] (a game-changer for those late-night cravings).
- The Maybes: Asian breakfast and Asian cuisine in restaurant (if you like that sort of thing!), Buffet in restaurant, and Western breakfast and Western cuisine in restaurant (again, depends on your preferred tastes and my mood). Desserts in restaurant, Salad in restaurant, and Soup in restaurant (options, options, options). Bottle of water (hydration is key!). Snack bar (handy).
- The Missing: On-site accessible restaurants / lounges should be a point of focus, Alternative meal arrangement (for dietary needs), Vegetarian restaurant (if you need it), Coffee shop and Poolside bar (would be GREAT for an extended stay). Happy hour (if you are a drinker).
- The Concerns: The lack of detail is making me anxious. Are there options for longer, extended stay eaters?. They could be delivering here, but it's tough love to tell.
Services and Conveniences: The Extras (Services and conveniences)
- The Essentials: Cash withdrawal, Concierge, Contactless check-in/out (thank you!), Currency exchange, Daily housekeeping (again!), Doorman, Elevator, Facilities for disabled guests, Invoice provided, Laundry service, Luggage storage, and Safety deposit boxes.
- The Useful: Air conditioning in public area, Business facilities, Convenience store, *
Alright, buckle up, buttercups, because we're diving headfirst into my Extended Stay America escapade in glorious Tulsa, Oklahoma. This ain't your sanitized, perfectly-edited travel blog. This is real life, folks. Prepare for the emotional rollercoaster that is… me on a trip.
Extended Stay America - Tulsa - Midtown: The Saga Begins (and Ends… Hopefully with Clean Sheets)
Day 1: The Arrival (and the Immediate Realization I Forgot My Toothbrush)
- 14:00 (ish): ARRIVE. At Tulsa. Which, honestly, I was picturing as a dusty, tumbleweed-filled wasteland. Turns out, it's…a city. With trees! And traffic. Ugh. The Extended Stay…well, it looks like an Extended Stay. Beige, functional, and smelling faintly of Lysol and potential. My room? Basically a studio apartment designed for someone who owns approximately one t-shirt. First order of business: unpack, assess the damage (mostly mental at this point) and locate the nearest convenience store for the inevitable toothbrush purchase.
- 14:30 (ish): Toothbrush acquired. Also, a family-sized bag of Doritos. Hey, a girl's gotta have her priorities. Seriously, how does one forget a toothbrush?! I swear, I was sure I packed one. Maybe it's a sign of the chaos to come. My emotional state is already verging on existential dread.
- 15:00-17:00: Settling in. Checking the Wi-Fi (thank the heavens, it works!), trying to make the kitchenette look presentable (it's a losing battle), and battling the urge to take a nap that could last until next Tuesday. I'm pretty sure the bed’s inviting me to fall into an abyss of comfortable nothingness. But I resist. Sort of.
- 17:00-18:00: Dinner (aka microwaved enchiladas from a gas station). The enchiladas aren't great, but they do the job. I'm also realizing (with a pang of sadness) that I'm traveling alone. I miss having someone to share this slightly-sad meal with. And also, to laugh at my terrible navigational skills.
- 19:00-21:00: Attempting to work (because life doesn't stop just because I'm on a mini-vacay). The desk in the room is a joke. The chair is designed to torture. But the Wi-Fi holds strong and I push through, fueled by Doritos crumbs and sheer stubbornness.
- 22:00: Bedtime. Praying the sheets are clean…
Day 2: Blue Dome District & The Existential Dread of Museums (and My Terrible Coffee Addiction)
- 08:00: Okay, let's rewind. I actually meant to wake up at 7. BUT the allure of the abyss aka the bed was too strong. Head to the lobby for the "complimentary" coffee. This is where the real disappointment begins. This coffee is the kind that makes you question your entire existence. It’s weak, it’s watery, it’s the perfect vehicle for my existential dread. I'm already considering a run to Starbucks.
- 09:00-11:00: The Blue Dome District. Cute! Colorful! Full of… well, coffee shops ironically. I stumble into a charming little café, order a proper latte (thank you, caffeine gods!), and soak up the atmosphere. These places are full of people, some of them are even smiling. Maybe this trip won't be a total disaster after all. I'm actually slightly enjoying myself. For now.
- 11:00-14:00: The Philbrook Museum of Art. Ugh, Museums. I’m not a museum person. I wander around, feigning interest in abstract art, while secretly plotting my escape. The building is gorgeous, though, I'll give it that. And there's a garden. Oh, the garden! It was heavenly. I could've stayed there all day, lost in a haze of flowers and sunshine. The garden redeemed the museum experience. It’s a reminder that even the most meticulously curated spaces can't quite capture the untamed beauty of the outside world.
- 14:00-15:00: Lunch at a semi-fancy (for Tulsa) restaurant. I try not to look too out of place in my slightly-wrinkled travel outfit. I splurge on something called "Duck Confit Whatever." It's delicious. I briefly forget I'm alone.
- 16:00-17:00: Back to Extended Stay for a brief recovery. Do the dishes from lunch (the kitchenette is more depressing then I thought). And I discover the TV remote has officially gone to war with the cable box.
- 17:00-19:00: Attempting to figure out the TV. Fail. Embrace the solitude. Embrace the chaos of the room. Embrace the feeling of being a total, unadulterated mess.
- 19:00: Dinner. Pizza! This time, I order it to be delivered. Living the high life!
- 20:00 - 22:00: I attempt to read a book. I fall asleep. Wake up at 2 AM feeling like I've been napping for 3 years.
Day 3: The Golden Driller (and the Sudden Realization That I'm Lonely)
- 09:00: Another missed alarm! Ugh. That bed is truly a siren.
- 10:00: I decide to finally see the Golden Driller. Everyone says you have to. It's… well, it's a giant statue of a man. Holding a beam. It's… impressive in its sheer size. I take a selfie. Of course I do.
- 11:00-14:00: Back in the room. Feeling the loneliness now. It's creeping in. This isn't a bad thing. But it's the feeling of not being able to share a laugh with anyone about the Golden Driller, or the terrible coffee, or the fact that my socks don't match. It's the quiet that feels loud.
- 14:00-15:00: Try to go for a walk. But the thought of being alone with my thoughts is too much. I turn around and go back.
- 15:00-18:00: A deep dive of social media. Ugh. The comparison game is not working today.
- 18:00: Dinner. I order the pizza again. At least I can rely on that.
- 19:00-22:00: My own personal pity-party. I might have even cried. I'm not proud. I have a whole box of tissues for that.
- 22:00: Sleep. Maybe tomorrow will be better.
Day 4: The Departure (and the Promise of a Real Bed)
- 08:00: Pack. This is a disaster. Somehow, I accumulated more stuff in 3 days than I'd brought.
- 09:00: Leave. Glad to be leaving. Ready for the next adventure.
- 10:00: Drive to the airport.
- 13:00: Home. Ah, the sweet, familiar smell of… my own home. I collapse on my bed. It's a good bed. And I'm not alone.
Final Thoughts:
Tulsa. A city. A city that has a Golden Driller. I'm glad I went. I'm also glad to be home. This Extended Stay adventure was messy, imperfect, and occasionally miserable. But hey, it was my mess. And sometimes, that's all that matters. Okay, time to unpack. And maybe hide those Doritos. Don't tell anyone.
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Escape to Tulsa: Midtown's BEST Extended Stay Hotel! (Maybe... Let's See)
Okay, Real Talk: What's the Deal with "Extended Stay?" Does it *Actually* Mean, You Know... Staying?
Alright, buckle up buttercups, because yes. "Extended Stay" means exactly that. We're not talking a quick in-and-out, a fleeting glimpse of Tulsa beauty. We’re talking settling in. Think of it like this: you're not just visiting Tulsa; you're *inhabiting* Tulsa. Maybe you're relocating, maybe you're on a long work assignment, maybe you just need a serious escape from the in-laws (no judgment!). Long story short? Yeah, you can stay a while. We've had people here for months – like, the *same* people, which says something, right? (Maybe it means they're happy... or trapped. We'll go with happy.) And hey, you can even have your mail forwarded here (we have a pretty good relationship with the mailman, he knows my name, it's a small victory!).
Is the Kitchen, Like... Functional? Can I, You Know, *Cook*? (Because I'm Not Eating Microwave Dinners for a Year).
Dude, the kitchen. Okay, this is a BIG DEAL. It's not just a "kitchenette" with a rusty microwave and a sad, lukewarm coffee maker. We're talking fully equipped kitchens. Full-sized fridge, check. Stove, yes (thank GOD, because frozen lasagna is a gateway drug to despair). Oven? Yep! (I made a surprisingly decent apple crisp there once – the smell alone was worth the whole thing, I still remember it to this day). Dishwasher? Bless the gods of cleanliness! I *hate* washing dishes. My first kitchen attempt was a disaster, I put too much flour for bread, it was a sticky mess. Okay, I'm rambling. The point is, yes. You can cook. Bring your own spices though, the tiny little packets we offer are… well, they're tiny. I once spent a weekend happily baking cookies and brownies, the perfect antidote to a particularly stressful work week. So yeah, the kitchen is pretty sweet.
Seriously, How Clean Are the Rooms? Because I'm a Germaphobe (and I Judge Everything).
Okay, so "how clean" is always a loaded question. We're not a five-star resort (although we're TOTALLY trying for six!). But our housekeeping crew? They're good. They're *really* good. They're like ninja cleaners, silently whisking away the evidence of your questionable life choices. They work fast, and efficient. Each room, once I've had a nice stay, I always leave a thank you note, it is the least I can do. We do our best. They're trained, they follow protocols, and they take pride in their work. (I've seen them, they're like little cleaning pixies!). But, let's be real, stuff happens. Sometimes a stray crumb might slip through the cracks. Sometimes a rogue hair might find its way onto a pillow (apologies, people! My bad, it's my hair!). If you see something, SAY something! We're not going to judge. We want you happy. We’re committed. We want to earn that five-star rating (eventually!)
Is there a Gym!?! My Fitness is my Life!
Uh, we have a *gym*. Okay, "gym" might be a generous term. Think... a room with a treadmill, an elliptical, and a few dumbbells. It's not the biggest, it's not the fanciest, and it's definitely not going to win any awards. But, listen, it gets the job done. I’ve seen people in there sweating, and I’ve definitely been in there sweating myself (okay, more like awkwardly stumbling on the treadmill, but still!). It's a place where you can pretend you're not slowly turning into a couch potato. Plus, it's conveniently located, so you can roll out of bed, into your gym clothes, and (attempt to) work out without actually, you know, leaving. Bonus points for the occasional early-morning workout buddy – because misery loves company, right?
Are Pets Allowed? Because My Fluffy (and Occasionally Destructive) Companion is My World.
Pets? OH, YES. We LOVE pets. Well... most of them. We're pet-friendly. Bring your dog, your cat, your goldfish (though, let's be honest, a goldfish in an extended stay is a little depressing). We've even had a hamster or two. (The hamster belonged to a particularly memorable guest who, let's just say, had... *unique* living habits.) We have a pet fee, of course – because, you know, cleaning up after a pet isn't always rainbows and sunshine. And we do have a few ground rules about noise (because your dog’s yapping at 3 am is not going to win you any friends). But generally, we are lovers of all things furry, scaled, or otherwise affectionate. We get it. Pets are family. Just... maybe keep the bird poop off the elevator buttons, okay?
What About Wi-Fi? Because I Live and Breathe Online (don't judge).
Wi-Fi. The lifeblood of modern existence. We've got it. Free Wi-Fi, baby! It's generally pretty good, but let's be real: sometimes, it gets a little... temperamental. You know, like a moody teenager. It might drop out randomly during a crucial Zoom meeting. It might decide to slow to a glacial pace when you're trying to stream your favorite show. It's life. We're working on it! We're always upgrading, tweaking, and pleading with the internet gods. If you experience any problems, let us know and we'll get our IT guy on it, and he's a total wizard! If you are an avid gamer, it may be a bit frustrating, but should still not be too bad.
Parking Situation? Is It a Free-for-All?
Parking is a good question! Listen, we have parking. It is free. And it is plentiful... usually. During peak times, like when there's a big event in town, or when EVERYONE seems to decide to check in at once (it happens!), parking can get a little… cozy. We try our best to manage it, and we almost always get it figured out. We're not going to lie and say it's *always* perfect, but hey, it's Tulsa, not Manhattan. You will (probably) find a spot. Just maybe don't expect to park right outside your door at 3 am on a Saturday night. I think that is fair. I can'tBook Hotels Now
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