A couple of notes, I ranked the Airbnbs and the non-Marriott hotels. Marriotts are Marriotts and there isn’t a lot of difference between them. That said, I will never stay at the SHS-Reno or the TPS-South Baton Rouge ever again.
I also included general thoughts about family member’s houses, but they were all great. I’m so grateful everyone let me stay with them - so they are listed in the order I stayed there.
I also included general thoughts about family member’s houses, but they were all great. I’m so grateful everyone let me stay with them - so they are listed in the order I stayed there.
Airbnbs
- Whitewood, SD I'm sure these hosts were a big part of the reason I loved SD so much. Up first, cons: They are out in the country on an unpaved road. Pros: I actually loved that they were out in the country. They had the most amazing views and their house was gorgeous. (Oh, one more con....they had like a million stairs to get into the house.) My room had an en suite bathroom which was perfect, it also had a TV with cable. They were fantastic and friendly, and I chatted with them almost every day. They had great restaurant recommendations and were just so, so lovely. Obviously, so much so, that I would consider living in South Dakota (but not really, because...winter).
- Gresham, OR I loved this place! Again, a downstairs apartment space that was seriously gorgeous. The host was fantastic, was chatty whenever we crossed paths, and had done most of the remodeling herself. There was a fireplace (which I used every single day). Cons: the internet sucked, but I was able to log in to all my accounts through her roku and watch whatever I wanted.
- Chanhassen, MN Really liked this place, even though it was short on natural light! It was another basement apartment, but the only window was in the bedroom. For most people that might be a deal breaker, but I rarely open blinds when I'm in my own space, so it didn't phase me. She noticed the internet was slow and weird and actually had them make a service call and install a new modem/router. She had a bunch of good recommendations for restaurants and places to see, and was friendly, but not intrusive.
- Goshen, IN Loved Goshen, loved this Airbnb, loved the host! Cons: slow internet, but again, she had noticed and made an appointment for the provider to come out and fix it. Her young grandkids used my bathroom a couple of times when they visited. But mostly the space was huge, super private, and in the middle of Amish country.
- OBX, NC Ahh, home sweet home. I was here for 3 whole weeks and it was a pretty basic basement apartment, but it was quiet and comfortable and so close to everything I needed. The host here was also great - I ended up getting emergency oral surgery the first weekend I was here and he messaged me to check in and see if I needed anything. The co-host also gave me some really valuable recommendations and advice about sight-seeing during the storm that probably saved me from being stranded.
- Medford, OR I really like this place. The cons are pretty few: it was up a steep, unpaved, winding, mountain, so the first few times were really nerve wracking. The wifi was really super terrible. The pros: it was basically a basement apartment, which meant a lot of privacy. It was a beautiful property, and the owners were so nice. They have 3 dogs which I totally loved (2 boxers, 1 shepherd). The boxers would always immediately run down when they heard me come outside, and then they'd race me down to the end of the hill. It was my favorite part of the day. I spent 2 great weeks here.
- Ellsworth, ME A very 70s basement apartment all dark wood and shag carpet, but it was cozy and comfortable and perfect for a couple of days - especially after the boat. There was a little mishap with the key (the hosts' boyfriend had locked the deadbolt - which unknown to her was a different key than the one for the regular lock - the one she left me. But a couple of messages, and a quick (here's the spare key for the upstairs) telephone conversation and I was in. She also had a lot of good pamphlets about Acadia which I borrowed to see the best stuff.
- Chandler, AZ Much better than my first airbnb. They had super soft sheets. So much so that I took a picture of the label so I could buy a set when I get back. The bed was just a mattress on a frame (not a platform and no other box springs) so that was kind of uncomfortable, but overall it was a much better experience than Austin. It probably shouldn't rank this high, but without this experience I'm not sure I could've gone forward with so many airbnbs.
- Richmond, VT I loved this property. It was remote, yes. Down a series of dirt roads, but I was staying in a clearing in the woods. The leaves were just starting to change and the view out the bedroom windows was spectacular. The host was interesting. She actually got a puppy toward the end of my stay and it was fun to get to just play with the puppy, while not having to deal with any of the puppy mess.
- Wheat Ridge, CO Since I was going to be there for a month, I splurged and rented a whole place. It ended up being a duplex, with a sublet basement apartment. It was nice to have a whole place to myself and was comfortable and adequate. The hosts left great instructions and were quick to respond. Overall, though, it was just ok. It advertised AC, but really had a swamp cooler, which doesn't mean much of anything during a heat wave. It also means leaving the front door open (the screen did lock) and windows open which makes me nervous and also lets in a lot of bugs. The furniture was a little too big for the house and I think there were more crosses than Julene's baby Jesuses at Christmas. Overall, though, it was a fine place to stay.
- Helena, MT Another basement apartment! My only complaint here is that there wasn't a door at the stairs, and my host was a little bit hard of hearing (or maybe just likes the volume set to loud) so I could always hear his TV. Aside from that I loved this place. It was easy to work, and he's a retired art history professor so he had a lot of great books, and a lot of really great artwork.
- Beatty, NV Beatty is in the middle of nowhere, but this was the perfect jumping off point for Death Valley. It was a trailer and was fine. The internet super sucked - I couldn't stream anything and there was no TV. But overall it was just 2 nights and it was fine for what it was.
- Katy, TX Just one night in but so far, so good. The bed is comfortable, plenty of pillows, the bathroom is not ensuite, but the whole situation is a little alcove kind of removed from the rest of the house (similar to Austin). The hosts are lovely. It's kind of awkward to be sort of home, and since I don't know anyone here anymore, I'm not meeting up with friends every night, and all my favorite restaurants... well, it turns out they're all take-out joints. I mean, I knew I never left my apt, but now I really feel it - you know? They also have the best dog, Charley Brown, he didn't bark - not once in the entire week I stayed there. He also has some anxiety issues and is sort of scared of their floor. So, he mostly stays on the living room rug, and they have yoga mats down that he can walk on to the bedroom.
- Spokane, WA I liked this place well enough, the room was small and there wasn't AC (despite listing it in the amenities), and again, the internet was slow….spoiler alert: this theme will continue. But the host was great. She had several Airbnb rooms, but I didn't really ever see anyone else, and she had some friends from Canada staying with her. We all got along really well, and I spent most evening coming back from dinner and chatting with them.
- Mississauga, Ontario Super clean with an en suite bathroom. It was in a house that rented out multiple Airbnb rooms so it felt a little like a hostel (especially the noise level) more than a Airbnb. But everyone respected the quiet hours and I was only there for 2 nights and officially on vacation so I wasn't there very much. It was as advertised and fine for a quick trip to Toronto.
- Camden, NY My biggest issue here was the smoke detector that started its low battery chirping around 6:30 in the morning. Otherwise, it was a great place to hunker down on my way to the Adirondacks. It was its own apartment in a little house, and very close to a quaint little downtown area. My only other con was that the parking was unclear, so I always felt vaguely guilty that maybe I was blocking other spots. But it was clean, quiet, and comfortable.
- Sanford, FL This was a really interesting property. It was a real horse farm, and from my bedroom window I could look out to the pasture and see the horses. It was also close to a lot of good restaurants so even though it was out in the country it didn't feel far away from everything. The only downside was the other guests. Their room/suite was really close and I could hear them a lot, and the internet was not great....lots of issues with streaming. Otherwise, the bed was super comfortable (giving Sam-e-cito a run for the title), and it was a lovely/relaxing stay.
- Oak Hill, WV Another Airbnb, another dirt road, up a hill, and a one lane road. But the place was great, the host was friendly, and they gave me some amazing restaurant recommendations. Would I live in Oak Hill, probably not, but would I visit again, yes, definitely.
- Austin, TX My first Airbnb! It was super awkward, and I wasn’t sure what I could do. The bedroom/bathroom was fine, but the hosts did not speak English, and they had a sign up saying not to flush any toilet paper. I flushed, man. That is gross. The house was also super empty and cold. It made me really nervous about my whole trip. One thing I liked here was that they had a shelf in the fridge and freezer reserved for Airbnb, but they didn't make it clear what appliances in the kitchen could be used. Can I use the microwave? The Stove? Pots & Pans? Slotted Spoon? Who knows, not me.
- Crystal River, FL This place never stood a chance, and yet it managed to beat several other places I stayed in. First of all, I took a really bad fall on a weird little step and royally messed up my knee. Any injury that was definitely getting better before I fell in Savannah and maybe, seriously, hurt it. I haven't seen a doctor yet. But that aside, my host had the flu, and they had a water issue, and a bunch of things conspired to try and ruin my stay. But the real reason this is so far down the list is the teeny-tiny-itty-bitty bathroom. That was unforgivable.
- Flagstaff, AZ Reviews on this place are mixed. The house itself is a cute little A-frame cabin, but it was waaaay outside of town. I also didn't have cell service (wi-fi, yes; cell, no). I'd explained my trip and that mostly I was just working a regular 9-5 and then doing fun stuff on weekends, but I guess she didn't quite get it? Also, I stayed on a CT time work schedule so I was off work by 3:30 and then I'd go to dinner. She was a busy, busy person - so I'm sure to her it seemed like I never left the house, but whatever. The room was comfortable, the bathroom was small. There were common areas, but no TV and she wasn't into making conversation. I thought it was kind of awkward, but ok until one morning she had a friend over for breakfast. My room and bathroom were right off the kitchen so I could hear them talking if I was near the door. And I was getting ready to go take a shower and heard her say, "I don't know, I guess she.....works?" and then immediately hushed tones. So, yeah, the rest of the week I couldn't wait to leave. Also, I hated Flagstaff. I felt super trapped and claustrophobic there.
- Ankeny, IA This was a town house with an upstairs room and en suite bathroom. The space itself was fine, but the set up was weird. The bed was sideways against the front wall, which meant it also was covering the vents. And since the bed was just a box springs and mattress on the floor the vents were well and truly covered. The host also kept it HOT! so hot that I couldn't sleep with any covers even with a fan right on me. She also has 3 cats -which turns out, I'm still really allergic to cats. The worst part, though, was that she's a Mary Kay hun. I got the hard sell several times, and even though I was adamant that it wasn't for me, it fell on deaf ears. I also felt pressured to buy MK and even though I like their products, I'm not a big, long , skin care routine type of girl. Also, telling me about all the tacky, gaudy, jewelry you get for meeting your sales goal doesn't tempt me....not even a little.
- Bellflower, CA Yeah, no. I met this host when I checked in and he was very nice and had a super cute daughter. He also told me that he was going to be traveling for work that week, but his wife would be there, and that her cousin would be there. Sure. Fine. However, every time I came home there was a different group of people there. One night I came back and there was a middle aged lady there and I just said "hi" as I walked through to my room. She grunted at me. Literally grunted. Bitch, I know you don't live here so maybe calm down and just say hi back. Also, I ALWAYS make sure the booking is a private bedroom and bathroom. The first evening I came back from work and it was clear someone else was using the bathroom. I immediately messaged the host and he took care of it, but the rest of the time I was always super uncomfortable and didn't leave my stuff in the bathroom. The space itself was also bad. The bedroom was super tiny and right off the kitchen - right off as in if someone had the fridge open I couldn't open the bedroom door. Then the bathroom was through the kitchen and down a hall - so a ways away. That was mentioned in several reviews, so not unexpected, but added to everything else...not great. I want to be clear that I never felt unsafe here, just really uncomfortable and unwelcome. I was very glad that this property was the Long Beach stay, so I left for work by 7am and then would go out with friends after work and not get home until 11pm.
- Kalispell, MT I was only here for one night, thank goodness. First the bed was almost as tall as I was. I seriously had to formulate a plan to get in it. The room was super cute, but the bathroom wasn't very clean and there were ants. Like I said, I was glad it was only overnight.
- Charlottesville, VA Nightmare! The parking was a very narrow (car-width) semi-circle with a rock wall on one side and a steep drop off on the other. The stairs down to the house were old railroad ties (steep, uneven) with no handrail. And dark, no outside lighting, for the stairs. The room itself was small with no window coverings and the most uncomfortable bed I've ever slept on. I spent one night, cancelled the rest of my reservation and moved myself to a Marriott.
Hotels
- Wyndam in Alpine, TX So much better than expected!
- Baymont in North Platte, NE No memory of this one, really, so it must have been acceptable.
- Motel Ely in Ely, MN Super dark, but definitely clean. It was kind of noisy - people would hang out in the parking lot drinking and talking about their adeventures.
- Rodeway Inn in Newport, OR It was meh. Not great, not the worst, I think I could've looked around and found somewhere better.
- El Dorado in Twain Harte, CA Tiny, a single bed, barely big enough for 1 and I think it was gross enough that I didn't shower.
- Terrace Bay in Escanaba, MI Ick. I was "upgraded", but if that was an upgrade then I'm very worried about their regular rooms. They were in the middle of a renovation, but my room hadn't had anything done. Also, I suspect the views of the lake are really nice, but my view was the parking lot. Also, the doors didn't fit well in the jam - it felt very flimsy and I was super grateful for the Add a Lock - especially since there was a creeper in the parking lot the night I arrived.
- Howard Johnson in Lake George, NY No. Don't stay here. The room is small, it smells funny, there isn't a towel rack for hand towels, and only 1 hook for bath towels. It's also super loud. I picked this hotel because it looked like you could maybe see the lake, but no. I can hear the carousel music from across the street, though. Also, another super loud property. So much so that I had to call the police on some rowdy Jamaican guys in the parking lot. Around 10:30 they cranked up their music. At 12:00 other hotel guests were telling them to turn it down. That ended in arguing and the Jamaicans turning the music up, rather than down. So I tried to call the hotel front desk....no answer. I don't know if they have anyone on staff, but no answer. So I called the cops, and they came pretty quickly. The music was turned down, but the guys stayed out in the parking lot being loud and rowdy for another hour or so. Finally, after killing a giant spider and watching all the little bugs swarm the light (they were coming in from the less than well-fitting door), I abandoned my resolve to wait out the reservation and checked in to a brand new Marriott a town over. Goodbye HJ - you are the worst hotel I've ever stayed in.
Family
- Hubbard's, Phoenix, AZ: I didn’t stay overnight, but Erin kindly made me dinner twice (including some really awesome queso dip!). She also not-so-kindly made me put together this smasher ball with a toy in it thing. It nearly got the best of me, but I conquered it eventually.
- Samicito, Las Vegas, NV: The Samicito is super deluxe and maybe the most comfortable bed I've ever slept on. Also, I appreciate Brian's dedication to me catching up on Survivor!
- T3, Reno, NV: I was here just after Ryker's bday (and I still owe him $5!). I'd never been to Reno during not-Christmas so it was fun to pick the kids up at the bus stop, and go to Kita's soccer game, and Ryker's football practice.
- Gee's, Portland, OR: An overnight stay with movie night, Family Feud, and delicious lasagna!
- T4, Eagle Mountain, UT: I just need a fan and a garbage can in the bathroom.
- Burton's, Melbourne, FL: Joanne was kind enough to keep my car in her driveway for a month while I was traveling for Christmas. When I got back to FL, she also arranged a dinner with Christine and David. I actually think it was the first time I ever met Christine and it’s been, probably, 30 years since I really saw David. It was great to get to know that little slice of my family that I didn’t grow up with.
- T3 Reno, NV: I was here for 4 whole weeks, which is a lot, but hopefully T3 weren't too inconvenienced. It was great to have an entire month of R&R before heading back out for the tail end of the trip. (And I even remembered to pay Ryker the $$ I owed him.)
- Dalton's, Niceville, FL: Melissa invited me to dinner while I was in the Florida panhandle and it was delightful. Her kids totally charmed me, and it was so much fun to catch up.
