Escape to Paradise: Albert Lea's Countryside Inn Motel Awaits!
Alright, alright, let me tell you about this place, Escape to Paradise: Albert Lea's Countryside Inn Motel Awaits! – or as I like to call it, "The Inn That Tried." Because let's be honest, “Paradise” is a bit much, but hey, ambition is good, right? And the countryside… well, it's there. This isn't a five-star resort, you know. This is… well, let's dive in, shall we? Buckle up. It’s going to be a winding road, just like the drive to Albert Lea.
First impressions, they are everything (Except maybe the dust bunnies…)
Cleanliness and Safety (Important, even if it's not the most sexy topic, ugh.)
Okay, let's rip the band-aid off. I'm a germaphobe married to a slob, so this is critical for me. Thankfully, they try. They’ve got the "Daily disinfection in common areas," "Anti-viral cleaning products," and "Rooms sanitized between stays." They also have "Professional-grade sanitizing services," which is good, because lord knows I can't sanitize anything professionally. I’m comforted by “Hand sanitizer,” because I know how much I use it. The "Staff trained in safety protocol" is comforting, but I didn't see any of them with hazmat suits or anything… just sayin’. And they have "Sterilizing equipment" – maybe for the silverware? I hope? The things that worry me are the tiny details sometimes… like the fact that the "shared stationery was removed". Oh gosh, that’s a good thing. I love a good pen. Especially considering the "Hygiene certification." They get points for trying. They do have "Cashless payment service," which is great. I'm a sucker for convenience.
Accessibility (Can't please everyone, but they did some things…)
"Facilities for disabled guests" is a good start. They have an "Elevator," which is fantastic news if you're not keen on the stairs (like me, after a plate of that buffet food!). I didn’t see a lot of explicit accessibility beyond that - so I’m not going to make assumptions. They have a "Car park [free of charge]," which is excellent, and you can get a "Taxi service" if you need it.
Internet woes (Or, the never-ending quest for Wi-Fi… ugh)
Okay, let's be real. I live on the internet. "Free Wi-Fi in all rooms!" is, in any decade, a big selling point. And guess what? It's advertised as such. Praise the WiFi gods. They have "Internet access," "Internet [LAN]," and "Internet services." However, even with "Wi-Fi in public areas," the connection was… spotty. My podcast buffered more than my patience. Okay. Fair enough.
"Things to do" (Or, the Great Escape to Boredom?)
Let’s face it, Albert Lea isn’t exactly a buzzing metropolis. So, what is there to do? They have a "Fitness center," “Gym/fitness.” Now, I meant to go… really I did. But then I saw the "Pool with view," which, I felt, was more my speed. The view was… of some trees. But that's okay, right? They have a "Swimming pool [outdoor].” It wasn't the most breathtaking pool I've ever seen, but it was wet. I count that as a win. Now, the “Spa” part is the real draw, isn’t it? I, for one, wanted to try to treat myself to some pampering.
I also found the “Sauna” and “Steamroom”. I'm not a spa person, but I always say I want to be. Anyway, they have a "Massage". I would have loved a "Body scrub" and a "Body wrap", but sadly, I did not indulge. Next time. They do have a "Foot bath," which I'd consider instead. After all, I had a "Terrace". So I could relax.
Okay, I'm rambling.
The Food Experience (Buffets! Oh, the Blessings and the Regrets…)
Now, this is where the fun begins. Or, where things get interesting. "Breakfast [buffet]"! Oh, the siren song of a buffet. I’m a sucker for a buffet situation. I’ve always been. The promise of endless bacon… the allure of the scrambled eggs… the questionable quality of the orange juice… it's a gamble I am willing to take, every single time. There was the “Breakfast in room”, but, again, the buffet. This is what did me in. They have "Buffet in restaurant," and a "Coffee shop." I am a sucker for coffee. I will admit that. I also did see "Western breakfast" and "Asian breakfast" options, a nice nod to inclusivity. "Breakfast service" is another offering for the tired traveler, but I still will take the buffet. I could also be sure that this was one of the "restaurants". But there was a "Room service [24-hour]", which is good if you need a snack. I am not ashamed to admit I may have indulged in some "Desserts in restaurant." I have no regrets.
The Room (Did someone say "Slippers?")
Okay, my room. Let me tell you, my room was a little… cozy. But it did the job. The "Air conditioning" was a lifesaver, because I was going to melt. I had an "Alarm clock." It was there! The "Bathrobes" were fluffy. I used the "Bathtub". There were "Blackout curtains," which is a godsend when you're trying to sleep off a huge buffet breakfast. "Carpeting," "Closet," "Coffee/tea maker". Yes to those. "Desk" and "Ironing facilities." "Extra long bed". "Reading light". "Refrigerator," thank god, because I had leftovers. "Seating area," "Separate shower/bathtub", "Shower," "Slippers". "Smoke detector". "Toiletries". "Towels". "Wi-Fi [free]" – thank GOD for that. And a "Window that opens." Okay. Fine. I’m not mad.
Things that are good for some but maybe not me:
- Airport transfer
- Babysitting service
- Bicycle parking
- Car park [on-site]
- Car power charging station
- Cash withdrawal
- CCTV in common areas/outside property
- Check-in/out [express/private]
- Concierge
- Contactless check-in/out
- Couple's room
- Currency exchange
- Daily housekeeping
- Doctor/nurse on call
- Dry cleaning
- Elevator
- Facilities for disabled guests
- Family/child friendly
- First aid kit
- Food delivery
- Front desk [24-hour]
- Gift/souvenir shop
- Hotel chain
- Indoor venue for special events
- Invoice provided
- Ironing service
- Laundry service
- Luggage storage
- Meeting/banquet facilities
- Meetings
- Meeting stationery
- Non-smoking rooms
- On-demand movies
- On-site event hosting
- Outdoor venue for special events
- Pets allowed
- Physical distancing of at least 1 meter
- Poolside bar
- Professional-grade sanitizing services
- Projector/LED display
- Proposal spot
- Room decorations
- Room sanitization opt-out available
- Rooms sanitized between stays
- Safe dining setup
- Safety/security feature
- Safety/security feature
- Sanitized kitchen and tableware items
- Sauna
- Seminars
- Shared stationery removed
- Smoking area
- Smoke alarms
- Snack bar
- Spa
- Spa/sauna
- Steamroom
- Swimming pool
- Swimming pool [outdoor]
- Staff trained in safety protocol
- Sterilizing equipment
- Valet parking
- Wake-up service
- Wi-Fi for special events
- Xerox/fax in business center
The Bottom Line (Do I recommend it?)
Okay, let's be real. Escape to Paradise isn't paradise. But, for the price, it's a perfectly decent place to crash. It's clean enough, the staff tries, and the buffet… well, the buffet is an experience. If you're looking for a luxurious getaway, maybe look elsewhere, But if you are a family on a budget, or if, like me, you want to enjoy the quirks, the imperfections, the slightly-off-kilter charm of a real, slightly-worn roadside motel, go for it.
The Offer:
Here's the pitch, based on my experience:
Tired of the Same Old Grind? Yearning for a Getaway That Won't Empty Your Wallet?
Then pack your bags (and maybe some extra snacks) and head to
Woodbury's BEST Kept Secret: Country Inn & Suites Review (You Won't Believe This!)
Okay, buckle up buttercup, because this ain't your grandma's travel itinerary. We're going to Albert Lea, Minnesota, baby! Specifically, the glamorous Countryside Inn Motel. This is less a polished brochure and more a slightly-worn, coffee-stained Post-it note from the depths of my travel-addled brain.
The Albert Lea Odyssey: A Study in Midwestern Whimsy (Probably, Maybe)
Day 1: Arrival & The Existential Dread of a Motel Room
- 1:00 PM (ish): Arrive at the ahem "Countryside Inn Motel." Okay, first impressions: the brickwork screams "1970s, and we haven't bothered updating." The sign out front promises "Clean Rooms!" which, in motel-speak, usually means "We’ve removed the most obvious evidence of a recent murder." Check-in. The woman behind the counter, bless her heart, looks like she's seen some things. Probably a lot of things… and a surprising amount of late-night chicken wings.
- 1:30 PM (ish): Room inspection. I’m going to be honest. There's a distinct smell of… something. Air freshener desperately clinging to the ghost of cigarettes. The bedspread? Let's just say it’s a tapestry of questionable stains and a vague, unsettling pattern. My emotional reaction? Pure, unadulterated disappointment. And a sudden, overwhelming urge to disinfect EVERYTHING. I'm talking Clorox wipes, baby. I'm going to turn this room into a goddamn operating theater!
- 2:00 PM: Okay, the cleaning is complete. Now, I can sit down and reevaluate my life choices as I stare out the window. The view?… a parking lot. Sigh. This is supposed to be a vacation.
- 2:30 PM - 4:00 PM: The dreaded unpacking and settling in. Found a tiny, ancient TV. I have to try it; let the hunt for a good channel begin!
- 4:00 PM: Okay! I found a channel with a show about… cats? This isn't the Paris Hilton experience I was promised, but at least the cats are cute.
- 5:00 PM: (The Great Food Hunt Begins). I venture out, needing sustenance. The motel's "free breakfast" is probably a joke, let's be real. Searching for REAL food. Turns out, Albert Lea’s culinary scene is… diverse. And by diverse, I mean, there's a Burger King and a… well, another Burger King. And a surprisingly bustling Dairy Queen. I opt for the DQ. It's familiar. It's safe. It’s also 90 degrees outside, so, yeah, ice cream it is.
- 6:00 PM: Back to the room. TV, cats, and a general feeling of being very tired. The emotional swings are wild. I've swung between existential dread and a surprisingly deep dive into the lives of competitive cat groomers. I'm starting to understand why people live in the countryside.
- 7:00 PM: Contemplating the lack of a hairdryer. And also, life. Seriously, the quiet of this room feels… heavy.
- 8:00 PM (ish): The TV still works, and the cats are still entertaining. The world isn't completely awful. I think.
- 9:00 PM: I'm going to try and sleep. Probably won't. Motel beds are notoriously weird. Wish me luck… or at least send anti-bed bug vibes.
Day 2: Lake Life and the Pursuit of… Something
- 7:00 AM: The free breakfast. OH MY GOD. The "Continental Breakfast" consisted of stale bagels, individually wrapped muffins that looked like they’d survived the Ice Age, and a coffee dispenser that spouted a brown liquid that vaguely resembled coffee. I skipped it. Hard pass.
- 8:00 AM: Okay, time for the big activity: Lake Albert Lea. (Cue dramatic music). I'm not sure what I expected. Maybe a shimmering, turquoise lagoon with mermaids and champagne fountains? (Again, Paris Hilton vibes). Instead, it's a lake. A lake with boats and ducks. Beautiful!
- 8:30 AM: I'm just walking around the lake, enjoying the breeze, and wondering if there are any places to get a decent latte around here. Turns out, no. I am doomed to a day without quality caffeine. The horror!
- 9:00 AM - 12:00 PM: (Or, The Great Boat Rental Debacle). I attempted to rent a paddle boat. Note: attempt. It turned out the rental place was closed, for a "staff outing" (huh?). Fine. Onward!
- 12:00 PM: Lunch. Back to the DQ. This time, I got a Blizzard. It’s… good. Comforting, even. Don't judge me.
- 1:00 PM: Another walk around the lake. I saw a heron! And some more ducks. The emotional rollercoaster is in full swing: boredom, fascination, mild panic, pure joy at the sight of a perfectly formed duck.
- 2:00 PM - 3:00 PM: Back to the motel room to recharge. It's starting to feel… like home. A very basic, slightly depressing home, but still… home. Took a nap.
- 3:00 PM: Decided to leave the room in search of a library. I love a good library.
- 3:30 PM: Found the Albert Lea public library! Amazing! A small but delightful library. I spent an hour reading. This is truly a moment.
- 4:30 PM: Time for another existential crisis, or as the rest of us know it, a deep dive into the motel room tv.
- 6:00 PM: Dinner at the… well, the only sit-down restaurant that seemed to have any people in it: a vaguely Italian place. The ambiance was… let’s say “rustic.” The food? Edible. The emotional reaction: relief.
- 7:00 PM - 9:00 PM: More TV. More cats. More existential contemplation. The cycle continues… or ends?
- 9:00 PM: Sleep. Hoping the bed bugs don't bite. Praying for a sign… or a good episode of cat-grooming competition.
Day 3: Departure & The Unfolding Mystery of Albert Lea
- 7:00 AM: Free breakfast? The same horror show as yesterday. I fled, vowing to get coffee as soon as I was somewhere, anywhere, that had palatable coffee.
- 8:00 AM (ish): One last stroll around the lake. I'm starting to feel a strange affection for this little town. The ducks are starting to feel like old friends. Is this Stockholm Syndrome? Maybe. Who cares?
- 9:00 AM: Check out. Farewell, Countryside Inn Motel. You were… an experience. I still don’t know what that smell was, but I’m ready to move on.
- 9:30 AM: Coffee! Finally! Found a little coffee shop. The caffeine hit is glorious. I feel… alive!
- 10:00 AM: Departure. I leave Albert Lea with a strange mix of feelings: relief, maybe a touch of sadness, and a burning desire for a decent hotel next time.
- 10:30 AM and forward: Driving and reflecting: What the heck was Albert Lea? A delightful anomaly? An exercise in patience? I have absolutely no idea. The truth is, I'm still not entirely sure what I felt, or experienced, maybe, just maybe, I will be back there again. For now, though, onward!
This is the story of Albert Lea, and whatever it is, I hope you had as much fun reading it as the author did living it…
Escape to Marion, OH: Your Perfect Country Inn & Suites Getaway
Escape to Paradise: Albert Lea's Countryside Inn Motel Awaits! (Or Does it?)
Okay, so 'Paradise'? Is that, like, a joke? My expectations are... low. Let's be honest.
Alright, alright, tone it down, drama queen. Look, "Paradise" might be a *slight* exaggeration. Think "Pleasant enough for a budget road trip stopover." It's not the Maldives. It's not the Ritz. It's Countryside Inn, Albert Lea. My *expectations* were also rock bottom. I'd just endured a three-hour drive with a screaming toddler and a backseat filled with questionable snacks. So, you know, pretty much anything that wasn't a gas station bathroom would've qualified as “paradise” at that point. Think of it as a *relative* concept, okay? Less "heavenly" and more "surviving until tomorrow morning."
What's the vibe? Think... charmingly rustic? Or just... old?
Okay, here's the deal. "Charming" might be a stretch. "Rustic," yes. "Old"... definitely. Picture it: a classic, single-story motel, the kind with the little parking spot right outside your door. The kind where you fully expect to see a tumbleweed blow across the parking lot (though, to be fair, I didn't *actually* see one). The rooms? They're... functional. Think clean-ish, with the distinct aroma of, uh… disinfectant and maybe a *hint* of stale cigarette smoke (though they claim to be non-smoking now, but, you know, history). It's less Pottery Barn and more... let's just say, it evokes memories of Grandma's spare bedroom. Which, depending on your relationship with your grandma, could be a good thing or a bad thing. Mine had a floral couch from the 70s and smelled faintly of mothballs. Take that as your benchmark.
The beds. The most important thing besides cleanliness in a hotel, let's be real. Are they torture devices?
Alright, beds. Okay, deep breath. The beds... they're… fine. They weren’t actively trying to murder me in my sleep, which is a win. They're not the cloud-like *luxury* beds you get in a fancy hotel, but they're not broken down, lumpy mattresses from the depths of despair. They're somewhere in the middle, and after that drive, I was ready to sleep in a ditch, so, again, a win. They're the kind of beds where you might get a little back stiffness in the morning, but hey, you're probably going to get that anyway after a long drive, right? They came with fresh(ish) linen. The pillows were… well, they were *pillows*. Let's just leave it at that.
Breakfast? Like, continental breakfast? Or just the echo of a broken waffle iron?
Okay, the breakfast. This... requires a bit of a digression. I *hate* hotel breakfast. Like, loathe it. I picture a lone, wilting banana staring forlornly at a plate of day-old muffins. Countryside Inn's breakfast... wasn’t *awful*. Think pre-packaged muffins, some cereal, and instant coffee that tasted...well, like instant coffee. There were those little individually wrapped danishes that are somehow both simultaneously delicious and vaguely depressing. Honestly, the highlight was they had orange juice. It was in those little plastic cups, which I hate, but I was so dehydrated at this point I didn't even care. But really, *lower your expectations*. Pack a granola bar. Bring your own coffee. You'll thank me later.
What about the amenities? Pool or a gym? Or just a vending machine overflowing with sadness?
Alright, lemme tell you about the amenities. There's... a vending machine. And, I swear to god, it *was* overflowing with sadness. Chips from 1998, a bag of peanuts that looked suspiciously like it had been there since the Clinton administration (I didn't risk it), and a selection of sugary drinks that could probably ferment in your stomach. No pool. No gym. Just a whole lot of… let’s call it “potential.” The potential to walk across the parking lot and get some actual fresh air, maybe. The potential to drive to a nearby park. So… manage your expectations here. It’s basic. Really basic.
Location, location, location! Is it conveniently located? Or surrounded by… nothing?
The location? Well, it's *in* Albert Lea. And, let’s be honest, Albert Lea isn’t exactly a bustling metropolis. It's on the highway, which is great for a quick stopover. There's a few restaurants nearby, the usual fast-food suspects, and a couple of what looked like local diners. It's easy to find, which is always a plus when you're tired and grumpy. It's not *in* anything particularly interesting, but then again, you're probably just using it as a rest stop, right? The surrounding area didn't seem particularly dangerous, which is… well, that’s a bonus. So, let's say it's "conveniently located for a road trip."
Okay, real talk. Would you actually stay there again?
Okay, this is the big one, the question of truth. Would I stay there *again*? Hmm. Look, I'm not going to lie, I’m a bit of a hotel snob. I like fluffy towels and decent coffee. But... for a *single* night on a road trip? Yeah, probably. It's affordable. It's clean *enough*. The staff were perfectly pleasant - the guy at the front desk looked like he'd seen some things, but he was efficient and didn't judge my bedraggled appearance. And, honestly, Albert Lea isn’t exactly overflowing with high-end options. Would it be my *first* choice? No. But if I needed a place to crash for a night and didn’t want to spend a fortune, *and* if my expectations were sufficiently lowered? Yeah, I’d go back. Just bring your own coffee. And maybe a hazmat suit, just in case.
A Quick tangent, What was that one experience you had, that really stuck in your memory?
Okay, here's a weird thing. Okay, picture this. Late at night, I'm in my room, trying to get the screaming toddler to sleep. The walls are thin, of course. I can hear everythingHotel Search Site
