Wellington's BEST Kept Secret? Microtel by Wyndham Awaits!
Alright, buckle up, buttercups! This ain't your grandma's hotel review. We're diving headfirst into Wellington's "BEST Kept Secret"? Microtel by Wyndham Awaits!, and I'm gonna give it to you real. Forget the PR fluff, let's get messy, honest, and utterly human.
The Microtel Mystery: Is it Actually a Secret? (And Should It Be?)
First off, "Secret" is a strong word. I saw billboards, people! But hey, maybe the secret is how genuinely good it is, despite not being the glitziest place in town. Let’s rip into this thing…
(Access & First Impressions - The “Getting In” Game)
Accessibility: Okay, I'm not disabled, so this isn’t my area of expertise. But what I can say is that based on what I've seen, Microtel by Wyndham Awaits! seems to have a good handle on this. The elevator (and there is an Elevator!) , Facilities for disabled guests, give a good start. I saw that Wheelchair accessibility is a thing, and that’s a plus from my perspective (thinking about my aunt with her bad knees). They also seem to be on top of things with Facilities for disabled guests. The Exterior corridor is a godsend if you are lugging heavy luggage (which I always do) - no meandering down endless, sterile hallways!
Check-in/out [express]: Smooth, fast, and probably too fast for this rambling reviewer!
Check-in/out [private]: Uh, maybe if you’re a celebrity or something. I certainly wasn’t offered it. Didn't ask, but perhaps an option?
(The Tech Stuff - WiFi, Internet, and the Rest)
Alright, this is critical. We TRAVELERS. We need our INTERNET!
- Internet Access, Free Wi-Fi in All Rooms!: HALLELUJAH! Seriously, this is a HUGE win. Free Wi-Fi, in all rooms? Bless you, Microtel.
- Internet [LAN]: Hmm. I guess if you’re a total retro-nerd, this is awesome. I prefer to connect via Internet Access – wireless, but I guess the Additional toilet is welcome to anyone who is getting stuck on using old technology.
- Wi-Fi in Public Areas: Yep, it's there. Did a quick check in the lobby – solid connection.
(Cleanliness & Safety - Gotta Stay Alive!)
Listen, during this whole pandemic thing, you need to check these boxes. I was relieved to see that Microtel seems to be covering these points:
- Anti-viral cleaning products: Good! Important!
- Cashless payment service: YES! Thank you for making it easy!
- Daily disinfection in common areas: Phew.
- Hand sanitizer: All over the place. Happy to see it.
- Hot water linen and laundry washing: Standard but necessary.
- Rooms sanitized between stays: A must-have these days.
- Staff trained in safety protocol: Hopefully!
- Safe dining setup: Important and a must.
(The Room - My Little Haven (Or Not))
Alright, let's talk about the meat and potatoes of any hotel stay: the room.
- Air conditioning: Essential unless you enjoy sweating like a pig in a Wellington summer.
- Alarm clock: Check.
- Bathrobes: Not that I saw. Wish I had one!
- Blackout curtains: YES! Crucial for sleep.
- Coffee/tea maker: Standard but appreciated.
- Desk, Laptop workspace: Useful.
- Free bottled water: Always nice, especially after a long day.
- Hair dryer: Essential for my tangled mane.
- High floor: I didn’t even ask. Got what I got.
- In-room safe box: Never hurts!
- Mini bar: Nope, but there is a perfectly good mini market nearby.
- Non-smoking: Thank the gods.
- Private bathroom: Of course.
- Refrigerator: Yeah, it's great for keeping your beers cold.
- Satellite/cable channels, On-demand movies: Options, options, options!
- Shower: Good water pressure, which is a win.
- Slippers: Not I didn't see any.
- Smoke detector: Important.
- Soundproofing: Not bad at all. I wasn't disturbed by any outside noise.
- Telephone: Still there.
- Wi-Fi [free]: Already covered.
(Food, Glorious Food (And My Very Biased Opinion))
- Breakfast [buffet]: Yes! (More on that later)
- Restaurants, Coffee shop, Snack bar, Room service: At the time not exactly.
The Breakfast Buffet Saga (My Deeply Personal Experience)
Alright, get ready for this. This is where things got… interesting. The breakfast.
- Breakfast in room: Unavailable
- Breakfast takeaway service: Unavailable
- A la carte in restaurant, Buffet in restaurant, Coffee/tea in restaurant, Desserts in restaurant, Salad in restaurant, Soup in restaurant, Vegetarian restaurant, Western breakfast, Western cuisine in restaurant: Unavailable..
I'm not going to lie. When I saw the breakfast buffet, I gasped. Not in a good way. It wasn’t the most glamorous buffet in the world. It was… functional. Think slightly-tired-looking scrambled eggs, some sad-looking sausages, and a selection of pastries that looked like they'd seen better days.
Now, here’s the honest part. I’m a picky eater. I want my coffee strong, my eggs fluffy, and my pastries fresh. This breakfast didn’t quite deliver on those expectations. But here’s the kicker: I. STILL. ATE. EVERYTHING.
Because, after a long day of exploring Wellington, I was starving. And you know what? The coffee was passable. The eggs, even if not fluffy, did the job. And the pastries… well, they were carbs, and carbs are my weakness. And despite my initial disappointment, I left feeling… satisfied.
So, the takeaway? Don't expect Michelin-star dining. But do expect a filling, serviceable breakfast that'll fuel you for the day. And for me, that’s good enough. It wasn't an emotional rollercoaster, but it was fuel.
(Things to Do & Ways to Relax (Or Not))
- Fitness center: Nope!
- Gym/fitness: Nope!
- Pool with view, Swimming pool [outdoor], Spa, Spa/sauna, Steamroom: Nope!
- Massage, Sauna, Body scrub, Body wrap, Foot bath: Nada.
Okay, this hotel isn’t a spa resort. You're coming here to explore Wellington, not to spend all day being pampered.
(Services and Conveniences - The Extras (Or Not))
- Air conditioning in public area, Elevator: Necessary.
- Business facilities, Outdoor venue for special events, Projector/LED display: Nope.
- Concierge, Contactless check-in/out, Convenience store, Currency exchange, Daily housekeeping, Doorman, Dry cleaning, Elevator, Food delivery, Meeting/banquet facilities, Meetings, On-site event hosting, Terrace: Fine and functional.
(For the Kids & the Kiddos)
- Babysitting service, Family/child friendly, Kids facilities, Kids meal: Not that I saw, but I wasn't looking for the kids.
(Getting Around)
- Airport transfer, Car park [free of charge], Car park [on-site], Taxi service, Valet parking: Good options.
(My Final Verdict: The Ugly Truth (And Why I Actually Liked It))
Look, Microtel by Wyndham Awaits! isn't perfect. It's not going to blow your mind with luxury. The decor is a little… basic. The breakfast took a hit. But here's the thing: it’s clean, it’s comfortable, it’s convenient, and it’s got that essential free WiFi. It's a solid, reliable choice that won't break the bank.
The Offer: Your Wellington Adventure Starts Here!
Alright, if you're looking for a no-frills, budget-friendly, and centrally located hotel in Wellington, Microtel by Wyndham Awaits! is a solid option. You can be confident you'll be in a clean, safe environment. Ready to book?
(Offer: Use promo code "WELLINGTONROCKS" for a 10% discount on your stay at Microtel by Wyndham Awaits! This special offer is for a limited time only, so book now, and enjoy the "BEST Kept Secret"!
Nessebar's Hidden Gem: Hotel Klisura - Unforgettable Bulgarian Escape
Alright, buckle up buttercups, because this ain't your grandma's itinerary. This is the Microtel by Wyndham Wellington, New Zealand, survival guide from a slightly-traumatized-but-mostly-enthusiastic travel writer. Let’s be brutally honest, shall we? My packing? A disaster. My bladder? Probably going to be a problem. Let's do this, in all its messy, hilarious glory:
Day 1: Arrival & Mild Panic
- 1:00 PM: Arrive at Wellington Airport (WLG). Good lord, this place is windy. Like, "hold onto your hat or it'll be in the ocean" windy. Already regretting that "stylish but not practical" scarf I packed. Find the shuttle (after a near meltdown at the baggage claim, which, let's be real, always starts with me thinking my luggage is gone forever).
- 1:30 PM: Shuttle ride to Microtel. Crossing my fingers it's not a soul-crushing nightmare.
- 2:00 PM: Check-in. Praying for a decent room. And free Wi-Fi. Because a travel writer without Wi-Fi is a fish without water. Or worse, a social media addict with no internet. The horror!
- 2:30 PM - 3:30 PM: Unpack. (Or attempt to. My suitcase exploded. Clothes everywhere. Sigh.) The room is…well, it's a room. Cleanish. Functionalish. Window view? Meh. Okay, deal with it. I have to be honest: the bed looks amazing.
- 3:30 PM - 4:30 PM: Coffee & Crisis Management. Find a decent cafe nearby (or else!). Need caffeine. Desperately. Then I need to plan this damn trip. I got a giant headache already. Damn.
- 4:30 PM - 6:00 PM: Walk the waterfront. Wellington Harbour. Okay, this is pretty. The wind is still trying to turn me inside out, but the views are…gorgeous. It’s almost worth the potential pneumonia. Find a spot for a photo op, feel smug for a brief second, and then immediately trip over a cobblestone and nearly faceplant in front of some VERY judgmental seagulls. Smooth. Real smooth.
- 6:00 PM - 7:30 PM: Dinner at a suggested place (that I obviously need to Google). Let's face it. No guarantees, but hopefully, the food is edible. And the wine, please god, the wine better be good.
- 7:30 PM - 9:00 PM: Collapse in hotel room. Internet. Netflix. Sweet, sweet escape. Maybe early to bed. Maybe.
Day 2: Art, Altitude, and Absolutely Zero Chill
- 8:00 AM: Wake up. (Or, more accurately, drag myself out of bed.) Bleary-eyed struggle to find the coffee machine. Microtel coffee…is it enough? Only time will tell. Breakfast, assuming I can find something edible in the complimentary breakfast buffet.
- 9:00 AM - 1:00 PM: Te Papa Museum. Okay, this is actually impressive. The exhibits are fascinating. The Maori artifacts are breathtaking. My brain is now overstimulated because the museum has a giant squid. I have no words.
- 1:00 PM - 2:00 PM: Lunch near the museum. Need to eat something relatively healthy to offset the impending emotional exhaustion.
- 2:00 PM - 4:00 PM: Cable Car ride to the Botanic Garden. This is truly something. The views are spectacular. The walk through the gardens is…well, it's uphill. Seriously uphill. My calves will hate me. Trying not to think about the descent.
- 4:00 PM - 5:00 PM: More walking. More amazing views. Getting a little bit lost (as is my right). Find a bench and just…breathe.
- 5:00 PM - 6:00 PM: Chocolate factory. God, I love chocolate. All my willpower has vanished. I swear, you could sell me a used car if you promised me enough chocolate.
- 6:00 PM - 7:30 PM: Dinner. Back to the restaurant (or maybe something different, depending on how adventurous I feel - or how lost I get).
- 7:30 PM - bed time: More Netflix. Possibly a face mask. Regret the chocolate-eating spree. Realize I haven't called my mom.
Day 3: Lord of the Rings & Departure… and Existential Dread
- 9:00 AM: Breakfast. Try to find something that doesn’t involve processed sugar. Failing spectacularly.
- 10:00 AM - 1:00 PM: Lord of the Rings tour (if I can get a slot, because I heard they'll quickly sell out).
- Rambling Time! THIS. IS. HUGE. I'm a total nerd. This is the entire reason I came to New Zealand. Please let it be awesome. If I see a single hobbit hole, I might actually cry. The whole thing is going to be a blur. The tour's going to be great or awful – there's no middle ground here. I am already anticipating the overwhelming urge to buy all the merchandise. My bank account is already weeping.
- 1:00 PM - 2:00 PM: Lunch. I'm gonna have to eat something again.
- 2:00 PM - 4:00 PM: More LOTR stuff. I don't even care. I'm going to just breathe it all in.
- 4:00 PM - 5:00 PM: Last-minute souvenir shopping. (Because yes, I need another t-shirt. And maybe that miniature Gandalf statue…)
- 5:00 PM - 6:00 PM: Pack. Mostly. Cry a little. Say goodbye to the bed. Why do vacations always go so fast?
- 6:30 PM: Final Wellington dinner. Reflect on the trip. Maybe take notes. Mostly just stare out the window, contemplating the meaning of life (or at least, the meaning of this particular trip).
- 7:30 PM - 8:30 PM: Taxi to the airport.
- 8:30 PM: Airport shenanigans. Security. Gate number. Find my flight.
- 10:00 PM: Flight departs. Reflect upon EVERYTHING. Was it good? Was it bad? Did I learn anything? Probably not. Did I have fun? Yes. Almost definitely. Will I be back? Probably. This place is magical. And very windy. And I need a nap.
Important Notes (aka, My Disclaimers):
- I am notoriously bad at following schedules. Consider this a very loose guide.
- My emotional reactions are prone to wild swings. Prepare for laughter, tears, and existential dread.
- I will likely eat too much. It's inevitable.
- Any time estimates are purely theoretical. Travel time, getting lost time, and "standing around staring at things" time are all likely to be underestimated.
- Pack for all types of weather and potential meltdowns.
So there you have it. The unvarnished truth about a trip to Wellington. Wish me luck. And maybe send chocolate.
Escape to Paradise: Your Dream Hotel in Lysekil, Sweden
So, what *is* this thing actually...? Like, the *core* of it?
Ugh, okay, fine. The *basic*, hand-waving, Wikipedia-ready answer is... [mumbles a generic definition - you fill that in with whatever we're supposedly talking about so it actually makes sense, I'm just assuming something impactful here, like "finding inner peace" or "building a treehouse"]. Basically, it's supposed to be about... *[insert incredibly vague descriptor here, like "living your truth" or "making your dreams a reality"].* Sounds amazing, right? Like, unicorn-riding-through-rainbows amazing? Well... sometimes. Sometimes it’s more like… dragging yourself through a swamp of self-doubt while being eaten by mosquitos.
Is it... *hard*? Like, really, really hard?
Oh, honey, *yes*. If it were easy, everyone would be doing it. And honestly, you *will* question everything. Your sanity. Your goals. Your choice of breakfast cereal three days ago. I remember this *one time*… I was like, knee-deep in [insert a specific, relatable struggle related to the supposed topic. Mine would be "rejection letters from art schools"], staring at a wall, wondering if I'd imagined the whole dream in the first place. The wall stared back. It did NOT offer comfort. It took, like, a month before I could even look at a paintbrush. So, yeah. Hard. Expect to cry. A lot. And maybe eat an entire tub of ice cream while you’re at it.
But... is it *worth* it? All the crying and potentially crippling self-doubt?
Ugh, that's the million-dollar question, isn't it? And honestly, the answer is... *it depends*. There were days – *weeks* – where I wanted to throw in the towel, pack my bags, and become a hermit who only ate cheese and complained about the weather. (Okay, I still do that sometimes, even *with* the [topic] thing. Bad habits die hard). BUT… there were also these *moments*. These tiny, fleeting glimpses of... something. A feeling of accomplishment, even if it was just for finishing a single, crappy drawing. A sliver of joy when someone actually liked my awful treehouse. That, those tiny sparkles, made it worth it. Sometimes. And that's enough, I guess.
What if I fail? Like, *really* fail? Am I doomed?
Fail? Oh, darling, you *will* fail. It's practically a guarantee. You'll trip, you'll fall, you'll faceplant directly into a puddle of your own insecurities at least a dozen times. I mean, I remember this one time... I was convinced I was going to be a world-famous sculptor. I spent a solid year building this majestic, glorious statue... only for it to fall over and shatter the day before the big reveal. The *entire thing*. It was like, a Greek tragedy, only with more clay and tears. And yes, I felt utterly doomed. Like the universe was actively mocking me. But you know what? I learned more from that failure than from any success I've had. Failure is, ironically, the greatest teacher. You pick yourself up, dust yourself off, and try something else... maybe with less clay. Or, y’know, become a cheese hermit. The universe accepts either.
Okay, so, practical stuff. Any tips for, you know, *surviving* this thing?
Alright, alright, here's where I pretend to offer helpful advice, even though I'm still mostly winging it myself. First, accept that it's going to be a bumpy ride. Don't expect linear progress. It's more like a drunken rollercoaster designed by a sadist. Second... find your people. A support system. A group of other lunatics who are also trying to [topic]. Misery loves company, and sometimes, a good laugh is the best medicine. Third... and this is *crucial*... learn to embrace the mess. Your imperfections. Your quirks. Your messy hair and slightly unhinged personality. Because that's what makes you *you*. That's what makes you… *human*. And finally, remember to take breaks. Go for a walk. Watch a bad reality TV show. Eat some chocolate. Because you, my friend, deserve it.
But what about motivation? How do you *keep* going when you feel like a complete failure?
Ugh, the *motivation* monster. That one's a real pain in the… well, you know. Honestly? Some days, I don't. I just... don't. I curl up in a ball and binge-watch cat videos. And that's okay! Letting yourself off the hook for a bit is crucial. But when I *do* need a kick in the pants, I try a few things. First, I remind myself WHY I started in the first place. Why was [topic] important to me? What did I hope to achieve? Sometimes that's enough. Other times, I look at what small victories I've had. Like, hey, I finished that *one* drawing I wasn't sure about... or I got the basecoat on the treehouse. Celebrate those tiny wins. And finally... and this one's embarrassing, but it works: I listen to ridiculously cheesy motivational speeches. I know, I know. Cringe. But hey, whatever gets you through the day, right? I secretly love them – don’t tell anyone!
What's the *worst* part? Be honest!
Hands down? The self-doubt. The sheer, soul-crushing *doubt*. It's a shadowy, whispering monster that loves to poke at your insecurities at the most inconvenient times - like when you’re trying to concentrate when laying the second story. It's that voice that tells you, "You're not good enough," "You're going to fail," "Everyone else is better than you." It can be debilitating. I've spent countless nights staring at the ceiling, completely paralyzed by fear. And you know what? Sometimes, that monster wins. It gets the better of you. But you have to learn to fight back. To tell it to shut up. Because, ultimately, it's just a noisy, little voice… and you're the one in charge.
What's the *best* part?
