We stay in a lot of hotels. It’s part of the gig. From five-star resorts to simple places to lay your head while on the road, they all have their pros and cons and the need varies depending on the situation. This week, we traveled to Raleigh, NC for a program and were pleasantly surprised by our home for a few nights: Residence Inn Raleigh Downtown.
There are a lot of factors which set the expectations for a hotel, but fundamentally they all start with our own physiological needs for security, shelter and nourishment. When you pull up to the property, do you get the sense that you’re in a safe environment? Is it clean and orderly or is there a hole in the floor in front of the registration desk that shows down into the basement (I experienced this at a hotel in Chicago once!) Is there a place to grab a bite or a drink if you don’t feel like venturing out after a long day? Fortunately, our host hotel met all these basic requirements.
Personally, I’d never been in downtown Raleigh and was very surprised by the lack of “hustle and bustle” that’s typical in larger metropolitan areas. Google Maps led us right to the front entrance that comprised of a small, semi-circular pull-in right in front of the main doors. Very convenient at the time, but I could imagine some frustration if numerous guests were checking in at the same time because the space could only accommodate three to four cars. With key in hand, we pulled around the corner and into the attached parking garage. Our room key got us up to the fourth level which was reserved for overnight guests. A short walk from the trunk to the elevator had us in our room in no time. The hotel was ten floors but had a compact footprint that centered around the bank of elevators meaning you never had to walk far from any one point. Very efficient.
As it was late and we were hungry from the drive, we decided to get dinner at the bar on the second floor. The hotel actually has three options onsite including a cafe/wine bar on the first floor, the second floor casual bar area that also doubles as the breakfast spot (included with the room) and a tenth floor indoor/outdoor small plates restaurant overlooking the city. I ordered the grilled salmon with charred green beans and mashed potatoes while Bethany ordered a salad. Honestly, I was amazed at the quality of the food. It was excellent. I think my actual comment was, “I’ve paid far more for far less quality.” Between breakfasts and our last night when we got apps and drinks on the rooftop terrace, the quality was consistently good.
Looking back, it occurs to me that we didn’t have much interaction with the staff, outside of the few bartenders and waiters that served us. I don’t say that negatively because honestly, we really didn’t need anything. I’m not sure if their minimal staff is by design or a function of the current work environment, but it seemed to align with their efficient operation.
Ok, so here it is. The one thing I took issue with during our stay…the shower water pressure. You know those misters in the grocery store that keep the produce fresh? It was slightly above that. And we live in an RV, which by design has low-flow shower heads to conserve water and grey tank space! It seems like a little thing, but when you’ve spent 14 hours setting-up for a program or the alarm goes off at 5am to start the day over, a good shower can really help get your mind in the right space.
In the end, there is no “perfect” hotel, but picking one that aligns with your mission for the stay (ie. work vs play, experience vs convenience) can go a long way in making your time spent away from home more enjoyable. Thanks to the Residence Inn Raleigh Downtown for your hospitality! We’ll definitely be back if we find ourselves in Raleigh again.
Cheers,
K&B