Tuscaloosa's BEST Extended Stay? (Select Suites Review!)
Alright, buckle up buttercups, because we're diving headfirst into the review of Select Suites - Tuscaloosa's self-proclaimed "BEST Extended Stay". And let me tell you, after a recent stint there, I’ve got opinions. This isn’t your cookie-cutter review, folks. This is the real deal, complete with the good, the bad, the slightly-stained-carpet-in-the-corner ugly, and a whole lot of my personal brand of quirky commentary. Ready? Let's go!
First Impressions & the Accessibility Angle (Because Everyone Deserves a Good Stay!)
Okay, so the name "Select Suites" does feel…well, select. Like you need a secret decoder ring to get in. But in reality, it's pretty straightforward. The location in Tuscaloosa is convenient, which in itself is a HUGE win. Finding a decent extended stay that isn't tucked away in some forgotten corner of the universe is half the battle.
- Accessibility: This is where they actually did something right, and it's genuinely important. The entrance is accessible (big points!), and the public areas seem easy enough to navigate, even with a wheelchair. Wheelchair accessible? Yes! Elevators? Yep! Elevator. Always a HUGE plus for anyone with mobility issues, or carrying a mountain of luggage (like yours truly, always).
- IMPORTANT NOTE: While I didn't have a specific need, I did poke around and it appears there are accessible rooms available (call ahead to confirm!). I want to make that clear: Select Suites, gets a thumbs up here; the design and the willingness to cater to those with access needs is crucial.
- Getting Around: Free Car Park Onsite! Now, it's not a parking garage with rotating valets, but it's a parking lot and it's free. In the age of exorbitant parking fees, that's a serious perk. It's also a good home base for those with their own wheels, or those utilizing a Taxi service (if you call one), getting around the city is easy!
The Pandemic Playbook: Cleanliness & Safety (Did They Try?)
Okay, let's talk COVID. Because let's be real, we're all thinking about it. How careful are they? How paranoid should you be? Well…
Anti-viral Cleaning Products, Daily Disinfection in Common Areas, Room Sanitization: Okay, they claim all this. I saw some hand sanitizer stations (a good start!), and I saw the staff seemingly wiping down surfaces. But the details? I couldn’t see if they were using industrial-strength cleaning products. However, there is a daily disinfection in common areas!
Rooms sanitized between stays? This is a must in our new world!
Individually-wrapped food options? YES! This gave me some peace of mind.
Hand sanitizer? I saw it, and I used it, repeatedly.
Staff trained in safety protocol? Seemed like it. They were masked, and generally seemed aware.
- Room sanitization opt-out available. Another fantastic feature for those of us a bit too germ-conscious.
Cashless payment service. I'm all for it!
My Verdict: They tried. They clearly read up on the new hygiene rules and regulations. But I'd still bring my own Clorox wipes, just in case. (PS: A little pro-tip: you can request an invoice provided for your stay, handy for business or personal accounting.)
Living Quarters: The Good, The Bad & the Slightly-Questionable Carpet
Alright, let's get down to the nitty-gritty: the rooms!
- The Setup: Extended stays, you guys. Think home. They’ve got Air conditioning, Blackout curtains (a lifesaver!), Coffee/tea maker (Complimentary tea is a nice touch!), Refrigerator, Microwave, Desk, Flat screen TV with Satellite/cable. Basically, all the things you need to survive more than a night or two.
- Internet Access – WLAN and Internet Access – LAN. WiFi is Free in all rooms! My favorite part! I was able to work through the stay without any issues.
- Additional toilet. Always a pro!
- The "Meh": Some rooms have extra-long beds, which is great for giants. The window that opens is nice for fresh air. Linens generally looked clean. Daily housekeeping kept things tidy.
- The Slightly-Questionable: (I'm talking about an extra long-bed, and I wasn't nearly over 6 feet, and the bed was a little too soft. Okay. I digress). I'm not going to lie. The carpet…let’s just say it had seen better days. The color was somewhere between "beige" and "slightly-stained" It's a small thing, but minor imperfections can be irksome. So, while the room mostly delivered, it wasn't a pristine experience. (Oh, and the smoke detector? Always test it!)
- Soundproofing: Decent enough. I didn't hear my neighbors too much.
- Non-Smoking Rooms: Fantastic!
- Room Decorations: Forget it. Minimalist is putting it mildly, but that's okay. You’re there for the function, right?
Eat, Drink, and Be Merry (Or At Least Fed)
Let's face it, a long stay requires sustenance!
- Breakfast – The Basic: I'm a total sucker for Breakfast service. It’s Western breakfast, with options like scrambled eggs, toast (essential!), and… well, let's just say it wasn't a Michelin-star experience. but it definitely got the job done. They also have Breakfast buffet. There's Breakfast takeaway service if you're in a rush.
- The Bar: I didn't see a full-on bar. But remember, this is an extended stay setup, where you make your own rules. There is a Poolside bar.
- Convenience Store: A convenience store stocked with snacks and some basics is there (for extra charges of course).
- Restaurants: Not much in the way of on-site dining. It is a place for long stays; it is for families, and for those that are looking for a home away from home, not necessarily a culinary experience.
Relaxation & Amenities (The "Stress-Free Zone"? Eh…)
Okay, let's be honest, "relaxing" at an extended stay…is what you make it.
- Fitness Center: Yep. A few treadmills, some weights. Enough to work up a sweat.
- Swimming pool: The outdoor pool was functional, but not particularly inspiring. The pool with view is not.
- Spa/Sauna: No spa, no sauna, no steamroom. Don't expect a luxury spa experience.
- For the Kids: Family/child-friendly environment!
Services and Conveniences: More to Enjoy
- Reception: Front desk [24-hour]. Always appreciated!
- Concierge: Not really. Think "basic."
- Laundry service and Dry cleaning.
- Meeting/banquet facilities and Business facilities: The hotel had these for corporate needs.
- Audio-visual equipment for special events Yes, there's quite a bit if you plan to host!
The Verdict: Should You Stay?
Overall: Select Suites is a solid choice for an extended stay in Tuscaloosa. It's clean enough, safe enough, convenient enough, and offers the basics at a reasonable price.
My Final Score: 3.5 out of 5 stars.
But Wait! There's More! (The Compelling Offer)
Here's the pitch:
Looking for a Tuscaloosa Extended Stay that's Convenient, Comfortable, and Actually CARES about your safety?
Book your extended stay at Select Suites TODAY and get:
- FREE Wi-Fi in EVERY room!
- Free parking (a lifesaver!)
- Complimentary breakfast to get your day started right.
- Easy access to all the best things Tuscaloosa has to offer.
- Rooms that are CLEAN, and safe (with thorough COVID-19 cleaning protocols)
- Plus, a genuine commitment to accessibility.
Don't settle for a cramped, cookie-cutter hotel. Choose Select Suites for a comfortable, convenient, and safe extended stay experience!
Click here to book your stay NOW and receive a special discounted rate!
(This offer is valid for a limited time only. Book now to secure your stay!)
Escape to Paradise: Mill Falls Resort's Lake Meredith Luxury Awaits!
Okay, buckle up, buttercup. This isn't your sterile, corporate-approved itinerary. This is real travel, Tuscaloosa-style. And we're doing it from the comforting (hopefully) walls of the Extended Stay America Select Suites. Pray for me.
Day 1: Arrival, Extended Stay Realness, and the Blues of a Thousand Parking Lots
- 14:00: Arrive at the Tuscaloosa airport. Okay, so the flight was delayed. Of course it was. I swear, airlines think "on time" is a suggestion, not a promise. Scrimp and save for a new car? Who am I kidding I will probably use a rental. (Cough, cough, let's hope it's not the beat-up Ford Focus again. Though, hey, maybe it'll have character.) Grab the keys. Now, pray for me.
- 14:30: Drive towards Extended Stay America. Honestly, the anticipation is building. Will there be complimentary coffee? (Spoiler alert: probably not, but a girl can dream!) Are the sheets as thin as I remember? Is the air conditioning a glorious Arctic blast or a pathetic, wheezing whisper? These are the important life questions, people.
- 15:00: Check-in. Pray it's quick. After a long flight and a delayed journey, I'm this close to collapsing on the nearest mattress. Encounter a friendly face, bless it. I hope they smile.
- 15:30: Room Reconnaissance. Okay, so my first impression of the room? It is functional. It's a haven, I mean, from the outside world. I'll take it. Bed? Okay, slightly… firm. But hey, at least it is a bed. That's a win. Toilet? Flushes. Fridge? Actually cold! I'm feeling optimistic. Plus unpack, and try to get use to the room while making a mental note what is missing, and what can be improved.
- 16:00: Extended Stay Amenity Assessment. Okay, so the "fitness center" sounds more like a closet with a treadmill from the 80s. Maybe I'll skip that. Pool? If it's not freezing. Laundry? The ultimate question mark. This could be my greatest challenge.
- 17:00: Food Search. Gotta eat. Quick trip for groceries. Gotta remember to go light, and buy the essentials.
- 18:00: Chill time. I'm not going anywhere tonight. Just veg out and binge-watch something terrible on TV. Maybe try to forget the parking lot situation, which is already giving me a mild anxiety attack. I swear, finding a parking spot at this place is an Olympic sport.
Day 2: Roll Tides, Local Eats, and the Sweet Sound of a Dishwasher
- 07:00: Wake. After a night in a bed.
- 08:00: Breakfast. I'm a simple woman, and I like my coffee. And an over-sweetened, pre-packaged muffin. Don't judge me.
- 09:00: Tuscaloosa Exploration Part-1: Roll Tide! Heading over to the University of Alabama. Gotta see the campus, soak up the atmosphere. Okay, okay, I'm not a huge sports fan, but I have heard of the Crimson Tide. (And their… dominance.) Let's just hope I can navigate the campus without getting hopelessly lost.
- 11:00: Campus Ramble. Wander around, take a few pictures, look suitably impressed by the architecture. Find the Bryant-Denny Stadium. Wow, it's big. Really, really big. Like, "can't believe people actually fill this" big.
- 12:00: Local Lunch. Time for some actual food! Okay, I'm gonna try someplace local. Gotta ask the nice receptionist for a suggestion. Maybe some BBQ? Or good ol' Southern cooking? Whatever it is, I hope it's not too spicy. My taste buds are, shall we say, delicate.
- 14:00: Rest and recharge. Time to head back to the Extended Stay. Might just lay down on the oh-so-firm bed and do nothing.
- 16:00: Dishwasher Nirvana. Okay, I know it sounds weird, but I'm going to love the dishwasher. (If I can find one or get one.) The luxury of clean dishes, without the chore. Bliss!
- 19:00: Early Night In. Maybe watch another terrible movie and mentally prepare for another day. Also, obsessively check the Extended Stay's website to see if they have any deals on the next stay. (Don't judge! Budget travel is an art form.)
Day 3: History, Hiccups, and the Departure Blues
- 08:00: Coffee and muffin round two.
- 09:00: Tuscaloosa Exploration Part-2: History. Head to the Tuscaloosa Museum of Art. Actually, it's time to learn something. About the local color.
- 11:00: Museum-ing. Look at the art. Try to appreciate it. Wonder what I am looking at.
- 13:00: Lunch Stop. This will involve a lot of "hmmm" - food again.
- 14:00: Shopping. A bit of local shopping for souvenirs. (I do like a good keychain!).
- 16:00: Packing and Preparing for Departure. The inevitable packing. Sigh. This is always a sad day.
- 18:00: Go to a store, and buy a book to read on the way home on the plane and reflect.
- 19:00: Rest and prepare for the flight.
Departure Day:
- 07:00: Final Coffee (tear). Final Muffin (sob).
- 08:00: Check out. Goodbye, Extended Stay. It was… an experience.
- 08:30: Head to the airport. Pray for a swift and uneventful journey.
- 09:00: The airport? Ah yes, the chaotic and wonderful (sometimes) ending point for all travels. I will take a moment to breathe in the energy and wonder what the future holds.
- 10:00: Board the plane and fly home.
Post-Trip Musings:
So, the Extended Stay. It wasn't glamorous. It wasn't perfect. But it was something. It was a place to crash, to regroup, to nurse a coffee and plan. And that, in the messy, human, imperfect reality of travel, is sometimes all you need.
Now, about starting to plan the next trip…
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Tuscaloosa's "BEST" Extended Stay: Select Suites Review! (Prepare for Honest Opinions)
Okay, spill the tea! Is Select Suites *actually* good? They claim to be. My expectations are... well, low.
Alright, buckle up buttercup, because I'm about to get real. "Good"? That's a loaded word, isn't it? It’s Tuscaloosa. Expectations need to adjust accordingly. Look, it depends on what you're *needing*. Are you looking for a luxurious spa experience? Run. Run far away. Are you looking for a clean, relatively quiet place to crash for a few weeks while you're between apartments or relocating? Okay, Select Suites *might* work. Keyword: *might*. My initial reaction? Mixed. It’s like… imagine a slightly nicer, but still vaguely dusty, version of your college dorm. That's the vibe. The *vibe*. Let's be honest, they *do* put the extended in extended stay.
The rooms...tell me about the rooms! Specifically, are they *clean*? I have a slight aversion to things that crawl.
Okay, the cleanliness… This needs a disclaimer: your mileage *will* vary. I remember walking in the first time and... whoa, the air felt a bit…thick. Like an old, slightly stuffy library. Not in a charming “I-love-reading” kind of way, more in a “dust bunnies have formed colonies under the furniture” kind of way. They do, *mostly*, seem to clean them between guests. I once found a stray Cheerio clinging to the bottom of a table, which gave me pause. I *immediately* wiped it up with a wet wipe and stared at my germ-filled hand for a good five minutes. So, bring your own cleaning supplies. And *inspect*. Look under the beds. Don't, *please don't* just unpack and assume. I’m not saying it’s *gross*, but proactive measures are highly recommended. Trust me on this.
What's the deal with the kitchenettes? Can I actually *cook* anything decent? I can't live on microwave meals forever!
Kitchenettes are what they *call* them. Let's be clear. Think of them as *mini*-kitchenettes. You're *technically* able to cook. You've got a basic stove, a tiny fridge (that might or might not *actually* keep things cold – check it immediately!), a microwave (the hero of extended stay living), and a few sad, probably mismatched, cooking utensils. You *can* make something. I did. I remember trying to make a proper stir-fry once. It was… a disaster. The pan was warped, the heat control was iffy, and the smoke alarm went off. Twice. Moral of the story: Keep it simple. Think eggs, toast, and pre-cooked stuff. Or embrace the Tuscaloosa food scene, which is *actually* pretty decent. Consider it a culinary adventure. You might just learn to love instant ramen. I did.
Okay, what about the noise? I need sleep! Are the walls paper-thin? Will I be serenaded by late-night revelers?
Oh, *the noise*. Ah, the sweet, sweet symphony of shared walls! Yes, the walls are… well, let's just say they're not exactly soundproof. You *will* hear your neighbors. You will hear their TVs, you will hear their phone conversations (sometimes). You *might* even hear them snoring. I swear, I once knew which episode of "The Real Housewives of Atlanta" the guy next door was watching. My advice? Invest in earplugs. Good ones. And maybe a white noise machine. Or, if you're feeling adventurous, channel your inner detective and try to decipher your neighbors' lives through the sounds. It's oddly entertaining, I'll admit. But sleep? Prioritize it.
Is the Wi-Fi reliable? I work from home (kind of). Can I, you know, *actually* work?
Ah, the internet! The bane of any extended-stay dweller's existence. The Wi-Fi… It's… *serviceable*. Let's put it that way. It goes down. Regularly. During important Zoom calls. When you're trying to finish a deadline. It's like a mischievous gremlin has a vendetta against your productivity. Sometimes it works flawlessly, sometimes it sputters and dies. I spent one entire afternoon desperately attempting to upload a document while the connection oscillated between "Connected, no internet" and "Limited connectivity." Pure torture. My advice? Have a backup plan. A mobile hotspot is a *must*. And maybe develop a serious appreciation for offline activities. Like, *really* appreciate them.
What about the staff? Are they helpful? Are they…present?
The staff... Ah, the staff. They're there. They exist. I had a couple of interactions, mostly to report the aforementioned smoke detector incident. They are generally friendly. They *try* to be helpful. But, let’s be honest, they're probably dealing with a parade of issues from other guests, all day. They're running a ship. They’re *managing*. Don't expect them to be your personal concierge. Just be sure to treat them with a good attitude and your problems probably will be taken care of. Be patient. be understanding. But they're not miracle workers, which is probably a good thing, considering.
Are there any amenities? Like, a gym? Laundry facilities? Anything to keep from going stir-crazy?
Amenities… Now, this is where things get a bit…sparse. There's a small laundry room. It has a few washers and dryers, which means you'll be competing for space. I spent a good hour once waiting for a dryer to finish. Staring at it. Judging the other tenants. It’s a bonding experience, really. There's *generally* a pool. It's outdoors, and weather dependent. A lot of the time it’s closed. No gym. No spa. No fancy business center. You're on your own for those. Think of it as a digital detox. Embrace the simplicity. Go for walks. Explore Tuscaloosa. You'll find that the absence of luxury is kind of… liberating, in a weird way.
So, the bottom line! Would you recommend it?
Okay. The bottom line. Would I *recommend* Select Suites? It's complicated. It's a *conditional*Low Price Hotel Blog
