Escape to the Rockies: Unbelievable Colorado Springs Getaway at Fairfield Inn & Suites
Okay, buckle up buttercups, because we're diving headfirst into the… well, the relatively predictable, yet potentially lovely, world of the Fairfield Inn & Suites in Colorado Springs. "Escape to the Rockies"? Alright, sounds promising! Let's see if this place lives up to the hype and if it's actually an “Unbelievable Colorado Springs Getaway.” I’m gonna level with you right from the start: this is gonna be a long one. But hey, that’s the price you pay for unfiltered, slightly neurotic travel reviews, right? I’ll try to make it worth your while.
The Fairfield Inn & Suites: Colorado Springs – The Good, The Meh, and The Maybe-Great
First off, let’s talk Accessibility. Okay, good news! The Fairfield seems to be rocking it. They claim to have Facilities for disabled guests. They're advertising Elevator access, which is a life-saver for anyone with mobility issues. We’re talking wheelchair accessibility and, you know, a basic level of human decency. Good start!
Now, Cleanliness and Safety. This is where my inner germaphobe starts twitching with glee (or, you know, outright terror). They’re boasting about Anti-viral cleaning products, which is music to my ears. Daily disinfection in common areas? YES, PLEASE! Rooms sanitized between stays? That's what I want to hear. I am somewhat relaxed about the fact they are advertising Hand sanitizer, though, I would expect this from any hotel in this day and age. Professional-grade sanitizing services… alright, they’re REALLY trying to reassure us, and that’s comforting. I’d love to know how professional, specifically. I’m not getting any specifics on, for example, UV-C sanitizing, or anything like that, but hey, you get what you pay for. It seems like they are taking things very seriously, which I appreciate. They also have Sterilizing equipment and Staff trained in safety protocol, again, good stuff. Room sanitization opt-out available – that’s a nice touch for the eco-conscious amongst us. On the other hand, they say the Shared stationery removed, which is a bit unfortunate – I like writing things down, and hate using my phone for everything.
They also mention Hot water linen and laundry washing. Which is good.
And of course, they have Doctor/nurse on call.
Oh, they've got the usual, I suppose, First aid kit.
I like this about their Hygiene certification.
Also Individually-wrapped food options… that's the world we live in now, isn't it?
And the Safe dining setup. Well, I hope it feels safe. One would think it's a basic requirement now.
And also Cashless payment service.
Anyway, with all this, I feel like they're trying hard. I’ll give them points for effort.
Dining, Drinking, and Snacking: Will My Taste Buds Escape the Rockies?
Okay, let's check out the grub situation. They list Restaurants and a Coffee shop. Okay. A Snack bar? Score! In a pinch, one can survive on snacks. They claim to have Breakfast [buffet] and Breakfast takeaway service. Alright, that's convenient. If the buffet is good… that's a win. If the coffee is bad, I'm in trouble. They proudly boast about Asian cuisine in restaurant. Hmm, okay, intriguing. International cuisine in restaurant? Broad appeal. Vegetarian restaurant? That’s forward-thinking of them. Now, I need to know if they have a decent soup… Soup in restaurant… yes! Okay, I'm warming up to this.
Poolside bar? Oh… yeah, this is starting to sound good.
They mention Alternative meal arrangement and Asian breakfast. Hmm…
Desserts in restaurant? I’m a sucker for a good dessert menu.
A la carte in restaurant? Oh, what a good thing.
Bottle of water? Always a plus.
Happy hour. Well, now we're talking.
Coffee/tea in restaurant? Mandatory.
Room service [24-hour]. Okay, that's good. 24-hour room service is always great!
Western cuisine in restaurant and Western breakfast? Okay… let's have a little Wild West with our stay.
They have Salad in restaurant. Ah, finally, a salad!
Amenities and Services: Beyond the Basics
Alright, what else can the Fairfield Inn & Suites offer? They have Air conditioning in public area. Good, because Colorado summers can be brutal. They also have Audio-visual equipment for special events.. Okay, not for me. They also have Business facilities. It's a Business hotel, I guess? They have Cash withdrawal. They have Concierge. Good for getting help with anything, even if it means I need an extra bottle of water. They have Contactless check-in/out. Wonderful! I love it. They have a Convenience store, which is handy for all the snacks I'll need for the rest of my life. They have Currency exchange. You know, for those international Rockies fans out there. They have Daily housekeeping, which is essential. They have Doorman. They have Dry cleaning. They have an Elevator. They have Essential condiments. What the hell are essential condiments, I wonder? They have Facilities for disabled guests. They have Food delivery. Great! They have a Gift/souvenir shop. They have an Indoor venue for special events. I'm not attending any events. They have Invoice provided. They have Ironing service. They have Laundry service. They have Luggage storage. They have Meeting/banquet facilities. They have Meetings, which is probably what it's filled with. They have Meeting stationery. They have On-site event hosting. They have an Outdoor venue for special events. They have Projector/LED display. They have Safety deposit boxes. They have Seminars. They have a Shrine. I hope it isn't a shrine to bad coffee. They have a Smoking area. They have a Terrace. They have Wi-Fi for special events. They have Xerox/fax in business center.
Things to Do and Ways to Relax: The "Escape" Factor
Okay, here's where it gets interesting. Can this Fairfield Inn & Suites actually deliver on the "Escape" promise, or is it just another hotel room with a view of a parking lot?
They have a Fitness center. Good for working off those buffet calories. A Gym/fitness center? Again. Massage? Oooh, now we're talking. A bit of spa pampering might be just the ticket. They have a Pool with view which sounds lovely! Now, this could be amazing or totally forgettable. The word "view" is doing a lot of heavy lifting here… Does this mean snow capped Colorado mountains? Or the back of a Target store? We shall see. Sauna? Yes, please! After a long day, a sauna can be the perfect way to relax. Spa and Spa/sauna. They really want you to be pampered, I can see. They have a Steamroom in there. They have a Swimming pool [outdoor] and a Swimming pool. Body scrub, Body wrap, and Foot bath. They are very spa-happy indeed!
And For the kids, they offer Babysitting service, Family/child friendly, and Kids meal.
The Rooms: What's Inside? (And Does It Matter?)
Okay, let's get down to the nitty-gritty: the rooms themselves! And this is where things can make or break a hotel experience. Because let's be honest, you're gonna spend most of your time here, sleeping, watching TV, judging the mini-bar, and generally being a lazy bum after you've been hiking all day.
They have Available in all rooms, Additional toilet … The all-important Air conditioning (essential). Alarm clock – useful, though I’m a phone alarm kind of person. Bathrobes? Oh, fancy! Bathroom phone… Okay, I can't say I've ever used one of those. Bathtub. Score! I love a good bath, especially after a long day of exploring. Is the water pressure decent? Is the tub deep enough? These are the important questions. Blackout curtains. Essential for sleeping in, especially when you're trying to escape the sun and the rest of the world. Carpeting… Okay, I'm hoping it's clean. Closet – always a necessity. Coffee/tea maker. Wonderful! Caffeine is life. Complimentary tea. Okay, they’re winning me over. Daily housekeeping – again, essential. Desk
Unbelievable Luxury Awaits: Sao Luis's Hidden Gem, Stop Way Hotel!
Okay, buckle up buttercups, because this ain't your grandma's itinerary (unless your grandma is secretly a time-traveling, slightly crazed adventurer, in which case, hey Grandma!). We're hitting Colorado Springs, staying at the glorious (and hopefully clean!) Fairfield Inn & Suites North, and I'm letting my inner chaos goblin take the wheel. Prepare for:
The "OMG I'm So Tired But This is Gonna Be AWESOME (Maybe)" Colorado Springs Adventure!
Day 1: Arrival and the "Is This Even Real?" Feeling
Morning (ish) - Arrival & Hotel Shenanigans:
- 6:00 AM: Ugh. Alarm. Seriously, why do humans invent these torture devices? Drag myself (and my suitcase that's probably filled with too many shoes) to the airport. Praying the flight is smooth, or at least not too bumpy. I swear, turbulence is the universe's way of saying, "Hey, remember that time you ate three slices of pizza? Karma's a bitch!"
- 10:00 AM (Mountain Time! YES!): Finally! Colorado Springs! The air is thinner, I swear. Head to the Fairfield. Hope the room isn't on the 5th floor without an elevator - my legs aren't what they used to be.
- 11:00 AM - Hotel Check-in & Exploration: Check-in! Fingers crossed for a comfy bed. Immediately check for the coffee maker. Survival is key, people. Once I'm caffeinated, I’ll do the hotel scavenger hunt. You know, the bathroom amenities, the weird art on the walls, the pool-or-gym (we'll see how ambitious I'm feeling).
Afternoon - Garden of the Gods (and Existential Dread):
- 1:00 PM: Okay, the Garden of the Gods. This is the iconic Colorado Springs thing, right? Driving there. Hopefully, I don't get lost. Map apps are amazing until they decide to have a nervous breakdown in traffic.
- 2:00 PM - Garden of the Gods Stroll (and Overwhelming Beauty): Holy mother of nature! This place is stunning! The red rocks are… well, red! And huge! I'm like, "Is this real life?" I'm pretty sure I saw a squirrel doing yoga on a rock. Or maybe that was the altitude. Definitely take a million pictures (guaranteed to be blurry, because I'm useless with a camera).
- 3:30 PM - Garden of the Gods Visitor & Nature Center: Time for the obligatory tourist part! Learn all the facts about the rocks. (And try pretending I remember any of it). The gift shop is my weakness. Willpower, where art thou? Resist the urge to buy a cheesy t-shirt… or a whole rock.
- 4:30 PM: Back to the Hotel. Legs are killing me. Time to rest and recharge before the next adventure.
Evening - Dinner & Pre-emptive Regret:
- 6:00 PM: Dinner. I'm thinking a local Colorado Springs restaurant. Maybe I'll try something adventurous… or I'll stick with a burger. Judging my mood at the time, you know?
- 7:30 PM: Stroll around the Area.
- 8:30 PM: Back in the hotel. Probably too much screen time. Will feel guilty later. Try to resist the urge to binge-watch something. Tomorrow is going to be awesome. Probably.
Day 2: High Altitude, High Hopes (and Potential Disasters)
Morning - Breakfast & Pikes Peak Preparations:
- 7:00 AM: Breakfast. Hotel breakfast. Hopefully it's better than the sad continental situations I've endured in the past. Coffee, coffee, coffee!
- 8:00 AM: Planning the Pikes Peak situation. Should I drive? Book a train? The train sounds romantic, but also might be full of screaming children. Driving seems stressful. Decisions, decisions! (This is where my anxiety levels start to climb.)
- 9:00 AM - Getting to the base of Pikes Peak: I will definitely need to take some motion sickness medication.
Afternoon - Conquering (or Trying To Survive) Pikes Peak:
- 10:30 AM: Pikes Peak Drive: Okay, here we go! The actual drive to the summit begins. I'm already feeling the altitude. Feeling a little light headed, but the views… Wow.
- 11:30 AM: At the top! I MADE IT! Or, the car made it. I'm pretty sure I was holding my breath the whole time. The world is spread out below. I might actually cry. The sheer immensity of it all… Wow.
- 12:30 PM: Souvenir Shop (Back to the Regret): Of course there is a souvenir shop. And they have donuts! Fresh donuts at the top of Pikes Peak. I cannot resist. I buy a "I Climbed Pikes Peak!" t-shirt, and another donut. Regret starts brewing, but it's a happy kind of regret.
- 1:00 PM - The Descent (and Praying to Not Lose My Lunch): The descent is a bit terrifying. The altitude sickness is starting to kick in, I think. I'm fighting off a headache and nausea. Slow and steady, that's the mantra. I hope.
Evening - Recovery & Possibly More Regret:
- 3:00 PM: Back at the hotel. Crash.
- 6:00 PM: Debating dinner. I ate way too many donuts. Maybe some salad? No. Maybe I'll give into to the temptation and order pizza.
- 7:00 PM: Back to the room to get ready.
- 8:00 PM: Sleep.
Day 3: Air Force Academy & Departure (and Hitting That Wall of Exhaustion)
Morning - Air Force Dreams & Reality Checks:
- 8:00 AM: Wake up (finally!). Feel like I ran a marathon while carrying a mountain on my back.
- 9:00 AM - Air Force Academy Visit: Time to embrace some patriotism! The Air Force Academy is supposed to be impressive.
- 10:00 AM - Academy Tour & Observations: The architecture! The history! The… cadets? Watch them doing… cadet-y things. Realize I'm definitely not cut out for that life. But admire their dedication! Make observations like, "Wow, those uniforms are sharp," and "I hope they have good coffee."
- 11:00 AM - Chapel Visit: Spend some time in the chapel. It's… something else. Stunning, even if I'm not religious. Contemplate the meaning of life… and where to get lunch.
Afternoon - Farewell & The Long Goodbye:
- 12:00 PM: Final Colorado Springs lunch. Whatever I'm in front of, I'm getting it.
- 1:00 PM: Head back to the hotel.
- 2:00 PM: Grab a quick snack and a drink.
- 3:00 PM: Pack. Curse myself for overpacking. Why did I need five pairs of shoes?
- 4:00 PM: Check out of the hotel. Give the reception a heartfelt farewell.
- 5:00 PM - Airport & Reflecting (Or Mostly Just Zoning Out): Head to the airport. Security is a gamble. Pray my bag doesn't get pulled for extra scrutiny. Try to resist the siren call of airport snacks. Reflect on the trip. Probably mostly just thinking about how tired I am.
- 6:00 PM - Flight & the Sweet Release of Sleep: Board the flight. Pray for a smooth ride. Try to actually sleep on the plane. Success is questionable.
And Finally…
This is just a loose plan. Things will go wrong. I'll get lost. I'll probably eat too much. But that's the fun of it, right? Embrace the chaos. Wear comfy shoes. And remember to take lots of pictures (even if they're blurry!). Wish me luck! I'm going to need it.
Glaros Hotel: Your Dream Crete Escape Awaits!
Okay, seriously, is this Fairfield Inn & Suites in Colorado Springs actually *that* amazing? (Because hotel websites LIE.)
Alright, let's be real. Hotel websites are like dating profiles – always showing the best angle. I went in expecting…well, a Fairfield. You know? Clean, functional, maybe a slightly sad continental breakfast.
But honestly? It *was* pretty darn good. Picture this: I pull up, knackered from the drive (the "scenic" route, naturally, which involved a near-miss with a rogue tumbleweed). Immediately, the lobby is bright, airy, and *smells*…fresh. Not the overly-perfumed "we're masking something" kind of smell. Like clean laundry and sunshine. Okay, already a win. Then the front desk lady, bless her heart, wasn’t just *there*. She was actually *helpful*! And nice! She even gave me a complimentary upgrade, which, after a six-hour drive, felt like winning the lottery. I'm telling you, it set the tone.
So, yeah. It’s not a five-star resort, but for the price and the vibe? Honestly, exceeded expectations. Consider me surprised, and happily so. Especially after the…um… *experience* at the previous hotel the night before (which involved a very noisy air conditioning unit and a distinct lack of clean towels). *That* little gem reminded me how much I valued a good night's sleep.
What's the deal with the complimentary breakfast? Is it worth getting out of bed for? (And does it have decent coffee? This is critical.)
Okay, breakfast. This is where things get… complicated. I have opinions. First, the coffee. YES. The coffee was genuinely decent. Not the brown water you sometimes get. Properly caffeinated, which, as a morning person (said with massive irony), is essential.
As for the rest? Okay, here's the reality: it’s a Fairfield Inn breakfast. Don’t expect gourmet Michelin-star chef-level stuff. But! They had waffles! And I *love* waffles. The kind you make yourself, which, frankly, is half the fun. Sure, the fruit salad was a little… pre-cut, but hey, they had yogurt, too. And the usual eggs, sausage, etc. Perfectly acceptable fuel for a day of exploring.
My advice: if you're starving, absolutely. If you're a breakfast snob, maybe grab something else. But for convenience and a decent caffeine hit? Totally worth it. Plus, waffle-makin' is one of the greatest joys of the traveling life. They also had those little mini-muffins, which I always *think* I'll eat one, because I'm on vacation, and rules don't apply. I ALWAYS regret eating the muffins. Every single time.
Can you *actually* see the Rockies from the hotel? (Because that's kind of the whole point, right?)
Okay, this is where things get… *emotional*. Yes. You can. And it *was* breathtaking. I mean, if you're lucky enough to snag a room with a view, which I *was* (thank you, nice front desk lady!).
I think the sheer magnificence of the mountains just…sneaks up on you. You open the curtains, and BAM. Majesty. Snow-capped peaks, even in the summer! I spent a good fifteen minutes just standing there like an idiot, mouth agape. Seriously. I felt a profound sense of… something. Maybe awe. Maybe just…peace. Probably a combination of both. And yes, I may have taken approximately a hundred photos. (I’m not even sorry.)
The best part? Waking up to that view every morning. It was a little slice of heaven. It made those early wake-up calls that much easier on the soul. That view, folks, that makes it worth the trip right there. I almost cried when I left, because I knew I may never have a view quite like that again. It was a good cry, though. A nature cry. A *Rocky Mountain* cry.
Okay, so the hotel is good. But what about the *location*? Is it actually close to everything?
The location? Pretty darn good. It wasn't right *in* the thick of things, which I actually appreciated. I don’t need to be tripping over tourists first thing in the morning. But it was a quick drive to most of the attractions I wanted to hit. Garden of the Gods? Easy peasy. Pikes Peak? A bit further, but still manageable. Restaurants? Plenty nearby.
One minor snag - it was a bit of a pain to get to the hotel coming *into* town. Google Maps, bless it, kept trying to send me down some side street. I just ended up going where my gut (and common sense) told me to go. It's called following my inner compass, and it always works. Eventually, I was there, and all was forgiven.
Really though – I liked the balance. Close enough to everything without being cramped. I could hop to do touristy things, and then retreat back to my room and stare at those freakin' mountains. Win-win.
Anything about the rooms worth noting? Like, are they clean? (Because, let's be real, that's a big deal.)
Cleanliness. Ah, the holy grail of hotel stays. Here's the lowdown: yes. The rooms were clean. Properly clean. No creepy hair in the shower. No questionable stains on the sheets. Huzzah!
Now, the rooms themselves? Standard Fairfield Inn stuff. Functional, comfortable. A decent-sized bed (very important). A TV (which I didn’t really use, because, mountains!). And, blessedly, a decent plug situation for charging all my devices. (Very, very important!) The bathroom was clean and functional. The things you *need* in a hotel room, they had them. No fancy marble, but hey, I wasn't expecting a palace.
One thing, though: the pillows. They were… fluffy. Too fluffy. I’m a side sleeper. I basically had to fold the pillow in half. But hey, that’s a minor quibble. I survived. Maybe next time I'll bring my own pillow. Or maybe I'll just get used to the fluffy ones. One way or another, that bed was a good.
Did you run into any issues? (Because *every* hotel has them, right?)
Issues? Okay, here's the truth. Yes, there were *minor* issues. Nothing earth-shattering, mind you.
The first day, the Wi-Fi was a bit… spotty. Not unusable, but definitely required some patience. Which, let's be honest, I have very little of. I'm used to instant-everything, and Wi-Fi is crucial for some people. I needed to upload photos to the 'gram, and the lagging was unbearable. Eventually, it sorted itself out.
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