Park City's BEST Kept Secret: Days Inn Wichita (KS) Review!
Okay, buckle up buttercups, because we're diving deep into the "BEST Kept Secret" of Park City, Kansas: the… Days Inn Wichita. Yes, that Days Inn. I know, I know, your expectations are probably lower than a worm's belly. But hey, I'm a sucker for a good underdog story, and sometimes, just sometimes, these budget stays actually surprise you. So, let's unpack this thing, shall we?
First Impressions (and a Sigh of Relief):
Okay, the exterior? Let's just say it's classic Days Inn. You know the drill: beige siding, a slightly faded sign, and a vague promise of… something. Parking was thankfully easy, and free. Score one for the budget traveler! And, bonus points, they had a car charging station! (Getting around) This is a big win nowadays.
Checking in was… efficient, a bit too fast. The front desk guy seemed… friendly. He was, you know. A person. The whole process was contactless (Services and conveniences: Contactless check-in/out), which is always a plus in the current climate. A quick smile, a key card, and I was off to my room.
The Room: My Humble Abode (and a Few Quirks):
Alright, let's get real. This isn't a luxury penthouse. But hey, it didn't reek of stale cigarette smoke, which is a MAJOR win in my book. (Available in all rooms: Non-smoking) It was actually… clean! (Cleanliness and safety: Rooms sanitized between stays). Kudos to the housekeeping staff, I swear.
The Good Stuff:
- Wi-Fi (Internet access, Free Wi-Fi in all rooms!): Solid. Fast enough to stream a movie, which, let's be honest, is all I really need. (Internet) And the free Wi-Fi in the rooms was a relief, because, you know, modern life.
- Air Conditioning (Available in all rooms: Air conditioning): Blasting cold, exactly as it should be. Kansas summers are brutal.
- TV (Available in all rooms: Satellite/cable channels): A decent selection of channels, perfect for zoning out after a long day.
- Mini-Fridge (Available in all rooms: Refrigerator): Crucial for keeping my water bottles cold and avoiding the dreaded "warm beverage" situation.
- Desk & Workspace (Available in all rooms: Desk, Laptop workspace): Adequate for… well, writing this review, which I’m doing on a laptop, in my pajamas, I love my job.
- Blackout Curtains (Available in all rooms: Blackout curtains): Essential for sleeping in, or, you know, avoiding the glaring Kansas sun.
- Safe and Reliable (Available in all rooms: Safety/security feature). There was a safe box! Which, at a place like this, makes you feel a bit safer.
The… Less Good Stuff:
- The Bed: It was… a bed. Not the cloud-like embrace some fancy hotels offer, but it wasn't a medieval torture device either. Tolerable.
- The Bathroom: Functional. The water pressure was decent, and the hot water was actually… hot! (Available in all rooms: Hot water). The toiletries were the generic Days Inn variety, but hey, they're there.
- Decor: Let's just say it was… neutral. Beige, brown, a smattering of generic art. Don't expect a design magazine spread. You're here for function, not fashion.
- The Soundproofing (Available in all rooms: Soundproofing): Hmm. It mostly blocked out the highway noise, but I did hear a couple of late-night… shenanigans in the hallway. You know. The real sounds of a hotel.
Cleanliness & Safety: More Than Expected (and Some Minor Gripes):
This is where the Days Inn Wichita actually surprised me. Amidst all the sanitizing and security protocols in place (Cleanliness and safety: Anti-viral cleaning products, Daily disinfection in common areas, Hand sanitizer, Hygiene certification, Individually-wrapped food options, Physical distancing of at least 1 meter, Professional-grade sanitizing services, Room sanitization opt-out available, Safe dining setup, Sanitized kitchen and tableware items, Staff trained in safety protocol, Sterilizing equipment), they seemed to be taking things seriously.
Hand Sanitizer Everywhere: Seriously, everywhere. Front desk, elevators, breakfast area. Excellent.
Masks: Staff and guests seemed to be complying with mask mandates (if any were in effect, in June of 2024).
Elevator Stickers: Clear instructions for social distancing.
"Cleaned & Sealed" Stickers: On my door, indicating the room had been sanitized.
Minor Gripes:
- The Breakfast Area Chaos: Okay, the breakfast situation (Dining, drinking, and snacking: Breakfast [buffet], Breakfast service, Buffet in restaurant) could be better. More on that in the next section.
- Limited Staffing: It sometimes felt like they were a little understaffed, especially during breakfast. A few more hands on deck would have helped with the chaos.
Breakfast: A Saga of Waffles and Limited Options:
Breakfast is a HUGE part of the hotel experience for me. It's that little moment of joy before the day begins. And, well, the Days Inn Wichita's breakfast (Dining, drinking, and snacking: Breakfast [buffet], Breakfast service, Buffet in restaurant) was… an experience.
The Good (mostly):
- Waffles (Dining, drinking, and snacking: Western breakfast): They had a waffle maker! And the waffles were actually pretty good, considering. I made a point of grabbing one. Even two.
- Coffee: Hot, plentiful, and caffeinated. A lifeline.
- Fruit: The fruit options were… passable. I had a banana.
- Juice: The juice dispensers… worked!
The… Less Good (and a Little Chaotic):
- The Lines: The aforementioned waffle maker combined with limited staff equals lines. Long lines. You had to be patient.
- The Food Shortages: They were constantly running out of… well, everything. Yogurt, cereal, the good fruit. It felt like a constant battle for sustenance.
- "Breakfast in a Bag": It said I could take away a breakfast (Dining, drinking, and snacking: Breakfast takeaway service). I suppose if you really wanted a sad, dry muffin, you could. I, however, decided to eat it in the breakfast area.
- The Utensil Situation: Forks seemed to be a hot commodity. I'm not kidding.
Dining, Drinking & Snacking: Beyond Breakfast (and a Few Other Options):
Beyond the breakfast circus, the Days Inn Wichita (Days Inn Wichita: Dining, drinking, and snacking: Restaurants) is limited. There's the usual vending machines, a couple of restaurants you can walk to, and… well, that’s about it.
- Convenience Store (Services and conveniences: Convenience store): There's a convenience store, I think.
And, remember: There's a restaurant. (Dining, drinking, and snacking: Restaurants) The hotel, by itself, it's not a gourmet experience.
Services & Conveniences: The Essentials (and a Few Unexpected Gems):
The Days Inn Wichita isn't overflowing with bells and whistles, but it delivers on the essentials. And yes, there are some amenities I wasn't expecting.
Front Desk (Services and conveniences: Front desk [24-hour]): The front desk is open 24-hours. This is good.
Laundry (Services and conveniences: Laundry service) You can do your laundry, which, as a traveler, is fantastic.
Meeting/Banquet Facilities & Business Facilities (Services and conveniences: Meeting/banquet facilities, Business facilities): There is a meeting room, if you're into that sort of thing.
Elevator (Services and conveniences: Elevator) The elevator is reliable.
Free Parking (Services and conveniences: Car park [free of charge]): Always a win.
Accessibility (Accessibility): I'm not disabled. If you are, you should make a call.
Unexpected Gems:
- Fitness Center (Ways to relax: Fitness center): There is a fitness center. However, I'm not a gym guy, so I can't really tell you how it is (Ways to relax: Gym/fitness).
- Swimming Pool (Ways to relax: Swimming pool [outdoor]): There's no view of the pool, but there IS a swimming pool!
For the Kids (If You're Traveling with the Minis):
This isn’t a resort, but they had some kid-friendly amenities (For the kids: Family/child friendly, Kids facilities, Kids meal).
- **Family-
Okay, buckle up buttercup, because this isn't your sanitized, perfectly-polished travelogue. This is the real deal, a visceral account of my… well, my experience at the Days Inn by Wyndham in Park City, Kansas, just north of Wichita. Let's just say, it wasn't exactly the Four Seasons. Here goes:
Days Inn by Wyndham Park City, Kansas – A Chronicle of Cackles, Crumbs, and Questionable Carpet Choices
Day 1: Arrival & the Quest for Wifi That Actually Works
- 1:00 PM: Arrived! The exterior of the Days Inn, let's be honest, screamed "budget-friendly." It wasn't ugly per se, but it definitely had that air of "seen better days." The parking lot was practically deserted, which should have been a clue. "Peace and quiet!" I thought. Famous last words.
- 1:15 PM: Check-in. The front desk guy (whose name I've already forgotten, but he had a fantastic mustache) handed me my key and a cheerful, "Welcome to Park City!" I smiled, feeling optimistic. Naive, sweet, summer child of a traveler.
- 1:30 PM: Room inspection. First impressions: the air conditioning was attempting to ward off the Kansas heat with the enthusiasm of a lukewarm handshake. The décor was… well, think "beige on beige on slightly-more-beige." The TV was the size of a small child. But the carpet? That carpet was a statement piece. A bold, unapologetic swirl of what I think was once brown, now stained with the history of a thousand spilled sodas and untold mysteries. I immediately regretted wearing white socks.
- 1:45 PM: Wi-Fi hunt. This was a saga. After several attempts, a password search on my phone, and yelling, no, whispering politely to the router in the hallway, I found it: the wifi was a distant promise. The internet, when it briefly appeared, was slower than a snail on Valium. “Guess I'm going to write the Great American Novel in carrier pigeon, then,” I grumbled.
- 2:00 PM: The Pool. or as i called it The Swamping Ground. this was the only thing that was actually good, but with the lack of a bathroom or changing area, it felt like a huge mistake.
- 4:00 PM: Dinner. Ah, the culinary highlights of Park City! Okay, I’m exaggerating. I ate a microwaved burrito from the vending machine because, well, I was feeling adventurous. It was… an experience. Let's just say it added to the tapestry of the day.
Day 2: The "Park City" Experience (and the Mystery of Missing Towels)
- 7:00 AM: The alarm clock, set by a previous guest who apparently liked to wake up to death metal (seriously, who does that?), blared at an ungodly hour. A battle ensued followed by a victory.
- 7:30 AM: Breakfast. The "continental breakfast" was precisely as advertised. Think: pre-wrapped muffins, suspiciously gelatinous yogurt, and coffee that tasted faintly of despair. I opted for a half-empty box of Cheerios and a glass of OJ that may or may not have been from concentrate. The highlight? The guy next to me, wearing a trucker hat and Crocs, meticulously constructed a mountain of mini-doughnuts. I was jealous.
- 8:30 AM: Shower time. Which led to the mystery of the missing towels. The "two towels" were more like two thin handkerchiefs. Seriously? After a freezing shower, I had to use a bath mat. I considered calling the front desk, but figured this would be an equally fruitless exercise. The internet and towels really made me question life.
- 9:30 AM: I decided to venture out and explore the area. I was greeted by what I would call "scenic plains." A few gas stations, a dollar store, and a surprisingly robust collection of used car dealerships. It was a landscape best described as economically functional. Charming? Not so much.
- 11:00 AM: Drive to Wichita city. I had a great time.
- 1:00 PM: Lunch in Wichita, Kansas. A burger and fries. I was starving.
- 3:00 PM: Drive back to Park City.
Day 3: Departure & Existential Reflections on Beige Carpets
- 7:00 AM: Repeat of the blaring alarm clock of hell. Why is anyone setting an alarm at 7am?
- 7:30 AM: Continental breakfast reprise. This time, I tried the yogurt - a mistake.
- 8:00 AM: Checkout. I left the key, a silent farewell to the beige abyss.
- 8:15 AM: Drive away. As I drove off, I had a feeling of release, relief, and gratitude that this, too, had passed.
The Takeaway:
The Days Inn in Park City, Kansas, was not the Ritz-Carlton. It wasn't even a Holiday Inn Express. But, you know what? It was an experience. It reminded me that travel isn’t always about luxury and perfect Instagram photos. Sometimes, it’s about questionable carpets, the pursuit of decent Wi-Fi, and the quiet desperation of pre-packaged pastries. It's about the raw, untamed essence of travel – the good, the bad, and the hilariously unsavory. And in its own, weird way, it was kind of… unforgettable. I'll never forget the carpet. Never.
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