I travel often. Many times for business, sometimes halfway around the world.

I’ve been to every hotel & chain imaginable: The Water Club, MGM Grand : Signature, Borgata, Harrah’s, Holiday Inn Express, Marriott, Best Western (woof), Renaissance ClubSport, Embassy Suites, Radisson, Ritz Carlton Kapalua, Mandarin Oriental NYC, Ritz Carlton, etc. These are only some of the chains from the last 12 months. I travel like it’s going out of style. (It sort of is in this economy)

In a hotel, I feel a certain indescribable comfort & security. I guess being ‘off the grid’ where no one knows where I am relaxes me to a degree. I turn off my cell phone and laptop, and I’m free. Maybe it’s the mini single serving items. Saying ‘I’m a fan of’ such would be an understatement. I’m just shy of being institutionalized in regards to my love of single serving items. If it’s mini, I have to have it. If it’s mini, and has the same label as a full sized version, it’s mecca. But I digress…

Over the years of traveling, I’ve noticed a trend: The larger chains forget the small details, and the smaller chains forget the larger details (interwebs? coming soon!)

an example:

The ‘Sierra Hotel – Parsippany, NJ‘ that I traveled to, solely to relax for a night, and prepare for before a rather large presentation. While they had free internet, let’s just say the speed rivaled that of a turtle on mushrooms. To paint a picture of the internet situation… There were more packets dropped than a recently recovering junkie stocking a sugar tray at a diner. They also had ‘free starbucks coffee’ which they touted quite well on the website. It was lovely, but it didn’t make up for the soiled bed sheets, or fact the bed was as stiff as a marine’ collar. I feel bad for the review I posted, but felt travelers had to be aware their fresh web 2.0 style website was simply a facade. Found out it was an older hotel that was midly touched up and purchased by the Sierra Hotels brand. It seemed un-finished, half-arsed to say the least.

Usually for personalized service, or any interaction past a side-long glance I have to go to a place like the Mandarin Oriental Spa, or Ritz Carlton Kapalua. Other places, you can tell the employees are there to pick up a paycheck, do the nightly audit, and piss off home. Just another day to them, and as the customer, we’re just another number in their database.

On my most recent trip, to a music festival in Pennsylvania, I realized how far away the newly refreshed Holiday Inn Express was, where I was booked. Finding this new hotel, with the price differential, I decided to pick a hotel I’ve never heard of before: Country Inn & Suites – Lewisburg, PA.

From the slim pickings in the area, the nicest I had previously found was the Holiday Inn Express, which was a bit close to the festival I was attending, but had a few mixed reviews. After scouring a bit deeper, I found what would soon be my favorite hotel ever.

Not only am I in a suite which is the exact layout of an Embassy Suites King Room (sans 200 dollars per night.) The big deal? The little details. The hotel offers numerous services including: DVD Rental, Free Books, 24/7 Maxwell House Coffee & Tea. The little library? They encourage you to take the book with you. The breakfast? Legendary. It’s become a reason to be up at ‘normal’ US hours.

More to follow soon, but I’ve found found a hotel that not only has the amenities and technology of a large chain, but smaller touches often forgotten at even the most expensive of hotels. Staff? Friendliest I have ever met. The front desk attendants are either: the friendliest people on earth, or have had the best training on earth. Either way, spon on Country Inns & Suites… spot on.

Came for 1 night on my way to a festival 20 miles down the road. Love this place so much, I’ll be staying a day or two past the festival to relax and unwind before a full school semester.

I’m a pretty picky bastard, when it comes to hotels and cleanliness and I cannot find a single thing to fault this hotel with. I can only sing to the raptors with praise. It’s modern, clean, cozy, and a touch of southern charm (porch with rocking chairs in front)

Upon checking in, found out they have a promotion, stay two or more nights from now until early september and get 15% off your total stay. Wish I had picked that rate! But at $115 per night for a suite that would be well over $300 in NJ, I’m nothing but happy. If anything, I’ll be returning to check out some of the caverns / flea markets I’m missing whilst at the festival.

Longest rant I’ll ever have, but it’s slim to none for me to be pleased at a hotel unless it’s usually $300+ per night. I feel like a bloody king here, and I’m paying a peasants rate.

Peace, Love & Mahalo,
K

Tags: country inn, country inn lewisburg, country inns suites lewisburg, hotel review, hotels in lewisburg, lewsburg, PA