Hillsborough's BEST Hotel? Microtel Inn & Suites Review!
Okay, buckle up, buttercups, because we're diving headfirst into the real deal: the Microtel Inn & Suites in Hillsborough, North Carolina. Forget press releases and polished prose; I'm here to tell you what it's really like. I've stayed in more hotel rooms than I care to admit, and believe me, I've seen some things. So, let's get messy, shall we? This is the Hillsborough's Microtel Inn & Suites Review, and it’s gonna be a wild ride.
First Impressions (and the Accessibility Stuff - gotta get that outta the way first, right?)
Okay, so accessibility. Super important. And the Microtel in Hillsborough? Pretty decent. They say they have facilities for disabled guests, and from what I saw, they seemed to. Elevators? Check. Wide doorways? Probably, although I wasn't specifically focused on that. The front desk was accessible, and that's a biggie. They had the basics down. But honestly, I didn’t do a deep dive on the accessibility, so I can't give you a definitive "it's perfect!" I'd recommend calling ahead if you have specific needs to make sure. Accessibility Rating: 6.5/10 - good start, needs more transparency in the details.
The "Rooms, Glorious Rooms" and All That Jazz
Alright, let's be real, the rooms are… well, they're Microtel rooms. You get what you expect, and nobody's going to be shocked. (Unless you book a suite… did it HAVE a suite? I'm not sure) They were clean, which is the MOST important thing, IMO. The beds? Comfy enough to fall asleep in after a day of exploring Hillsborough or, you know, just staring at the ceiling. The linens… fine. Not the Ritz, but clean and serviceable. The blackout curtains? YES! Thank the heavens for blackout curtains. Crucial for battling the sunrise after a slightly-too-late night. Air conditioning worked like a charm, which is a BIG plus during those Carolina summers.
Internet? (Gotta cover this!) Free Wi-Fi, baby! And not just around, but FREE Wi-Fi in all rooms. Thank you, Microtel! It actually worked – which, let me tell you, isn't always a given. I even managed to stream a movie without wanting to hurl my laptop out the window. Internet Score: 8/10 (Reliable Wi-Fi wins!)
What's Available in the Room? Let's see… air conditioning, alarm clock, coffee/tea maker (essential!), desk (didn't use it, but there), hairdryer (thank goodness!), in-room safe box (didn't use it, also), ironing facilities (smirks), mini bar (ha!) and a refrigerator. Standard stuff, really. But hey, the coffee maker saved me from a coffee crisis in the morning.
The Little Things (and the Big Ones): They had a desk to work from and a comfy chair. But, honestly, I preferred to just plop down on the bed with my laptop. The lighting was decent (not hospital-bright, thank goodness!), and there were plenty of outlets for charging all my devices (crucial!).
Cleanliness and Safety (aka, Did I Survive?)
Okay, pandemic era, we're all hyper-aware. The Microtel seemed to be taking it seriously. They had signs all over the place about deep cleaning, and the staff was masked up. Hand sanitizer stations were strategically placed. Did I see them using anti-viral cleaning products? I didn't personally witness the cleaning crew in action, but based on the overall cleanliness, I'd assume they were. Did I feel safe? Yes. Did I feel completely relaxed? Well… no. It’s hard to feel completely relaxed anywhere these days, but the Microtel at least seemed to try.
- Health and Hygiene: They said they were doing daily disinfection of common areas. They had that "hygiene certification" thing going on. Individually-wrapped food options, and the staff was trained in safety protocol. Plus, that all-important smoke detector. I appreciated all of it.
- The Imperfection: My one minor gripe: would've loved to SEE the cleaning crew in action to be absolutely sure. I'm a worrier!
Dining, Drinking, and Snacking (aka, Where's the FOOD?)
Breakfast. Oh, the breakfast. Microtel breakfasts are usually… well, they're usually included. The breakfast here? Your typical continental fare. Let's see… there was a buffet (post-Covid, thankfully!), consisting of the usual suspects: cereal, (some of those dry "bag" cereal boxes), muffins, toast, those weird little pre-packaged danishes, and maybe some fruit. The coffee… was coffee. Not great, not terrible. Drinkable enough to start your day.
- The Quirky Observation: Let's be real, nobody gets excited about a free continental breakfast. It's a necessary evil, right? But hey, it gets the job done. It's a good way to get your morning fuel, I'd say.
- Important Note: No on-site restaurant. No room service (24-hour). There’s a coffee shop and snack bar. But for anything else, you're out of luck in the hotel.
Services and Conveniences (aka, What Else You Get?)
- Everything You Need: Good news! They have a 24-hour front desk. A lifesaver for any travel emergency! They offered daily housekeeping (which was well done!), laundry and dry cleaning, and luggage storage (because who wants to schlep their suitcase everywhere?).
- The Business traveler: They have “business facilities”, some meeting/banquet facilities, plus some meeting stationery. There is a business center with the works though, with copies, phones, and fax machines.
- The Weird Observation: I'm pretty sure I saw a convenience store/shop nearby. Helpful for a quick snack or forgotten item.
For the Kids (and the Family!)
While the Microtel isn’t exactly a kiddie paradise, it’s family-friendly in the sense that they have family rooms and a generally welcoming atmosphere.
Things to Do, Ways to Relax (aka, Is There Anything Fun to Do?)
The big letdown: they didn't have a spa, sauna, or steam room. No pool with a view. Nada. Zilch. This isn't a resort, people.
The good news: Hillsborough is adorable! The hotel is close to a bunch of fun things to do in town, including the historic downtown area, local shops, and restaurants. Very close to the historic district which is wonderful for getting to the local shops. It’s a perfect base for exploring the area.
- The Rambling thought: They also list "seminars" but I have no idea what those would be.
Getting Around (aka, How Do I Get There and Away?)
The Microtel had a free car park on-site. Always a plus! They also offered airport transfers if you needed them.
Overall Verdict (and a little less "messy")
The Microtel Inn & Suites in Hillsborough is a solid, reliable choice. It's clean, comfortable, and gets the basics right. It's perfect if you're looking for a budget-friendly option with free Wi-Fi and a convenient location for exploring Hillsborough and the surrounding area.
The Deal You NEED to Know About:
STOP SEARCHING! Book Your Hillsborough Getaway NOW!
Feeling adventurous? Hillsborough is calling! Tired of overpriced hotels? Escape the ordinary with a stay at the Microtel Inn & Suites! Looking for relaxation? OK, maybe not, but it's a great place to start your exploration!
Here's why you should book NOW:
- Unbeatable Value: You'll find competitive rates, especially compared to nearby hotels.
- Perfect Location: Explore the historic downtown, local shops, and delicious restaurants – all within easy reach.
- Reliable Comfort: Clean rooms, comfy beds, and blackout curtains for a good night's sleep.
- Free Wi-Fi The best part!
Don't wait! Book your stay at the Microtel Inn & Suites in Hillsborough today and experience the best of North Carolina!
Unbelievable East London Airbnb: A Legacy You'll Never Forget!
Okay, buckle up buttercups, because we're about to dive headfirst into a Hillsborough, North Carolina adventure at the exquisite Microtel Inn & Suites by Wyndham. Prepare yourselves for a rollercoaster of emotions – and maybe a questionable waffle or two. This is going to be… something.
Hillsborough Havoc: A Microtel Odyssey (or, My Week of Questionable Choices)
Day 1: Arrival & Mild Dismay (and a REALLY Bad Coffee)
- 1:00 PM: Arrive at Raleigh–Durham International Airport (RDU). Sigh. The airport smells like sadness and overpriced Cinnabons. I'm already tired, and I haven't even started traveling.
- 1:30 PM: Rent the smallest, most fuel-efficient car they had. Remember that time I tried “adventure” and got stuck on a muddy trail? Yeah, sticking to the paved roads this time. This compact is named "Betsy", and I'm already judging her.
- 2:30 PM: Arrive at the Microtel. Okay, first impression… it's… fine. Clean-ish. The lobby smells faintly of chlorine and old carpet. I’m sure it’ll grow on me. (Spoiler alert: it probably won't.)
- 2:45 PM: Struggle with the key card because, honestly, who designs these things to be so difficult? Success! Room 217, here I come.
- 3:00 PM: Room check. Assess the damage. Standard Microtel fare: a slightly lumpy bed, a TV that probably has more channels than I have friends, and a bathroom that I’m slightly afraid to touch. And the view? Well, it's the parking lot. Romantic.
- 3:30 PM: Coffee. Attempt number one. The machine gurgles mournfully, and the resulting brew tastes like burnt despair. This is going to be a long week. I’m seriously considering walking to the gas station at the end of the road to buy a coffee.
- 4:00 PM: Decide to explore the immediate surroundings. The closest thing to a culinary experience is a Bojangles. My stomach grumbles but my soul whispers, save yourself.
Day 2: History & Hunger (and a Revelation About Pancakes)
- 9:00 AM: Breakfast. Brave the Microtel breakfast buffet. Here lies the culinary battlefield. Waffles. Yes, I should have known. Oh, the waffles. They look… ominous. Crispy edges, suspiciously fluffy interior. Armed with my knowledge of pancake recipes from the internet, I think I can do this. The first bite is…acceptable. Slightly cardboard-y, but edible. The syrup, however… that's a story for another day.
- 10:00 AM: Drive to Historic downtown Hillsborough. Okay, this is actually kind of cool so far. The architecture is lovely. The brick. The charm. It's got potential. I might even enjoy history. (Though high school history classes have scarred me for life.)
- 11:00 AM: Visit the Orange County Historical Museum. Get completely lost in the details of the past. Learn some cool facts and ponder how much things have changed.
- 1:00 PM: Lunch at a local cafe. Excellent sandwich, delicious iced tea. Finally, something that satisfies. This is actually nice.
- 2:30 PM: Wander around the town. Find a charming antique shop. Almost buy a lamp that would look terrible in my room but is irresistibly cool. Restraint is a virtue, apparently.
- 4:00 PM: Nap. Because I am an adult, and I get to do that.
- 6:00 PM: Dinner. Try a "farm to table" restaurant. Food is delicious, service is… a little slow. But hey, it’s all "local". I keep checking my watch.
Day 3: The Waffle Revelation & My Inner Thoreau
- 7:00 AM: Breakfast. The Waffle. Facing my nemesis. I approach the waffle iron with the battle plan I have prepared in my mind. This time, I make adjustments. The problem was the ratio of flour to water, and the temperature of the iron. Take notes, people. I spend a solid 20 minutes mastering the technique of the waffle.
- 9:00 AM: Hike the trails at Occoneechee Mountain State Natural Area. So, so, so beautiful! Fresh air, sunshine, trees! I’m practically channeling Thoreau. Until a mosquito lands on my neck and I remember that I am not a mountain man.
- 12:00 PM: Picnic lunch at a scenic overlook. Get a bit lost on the way back to the car. Discover I've been holding my breath.
- 2:00 PM: Go back to the Microtel. Take a nap. (Again!)
- 5:00 PM: Attempt to read my book. Fail miserably because the TV is on. I’m not sure what’s more disturbing: the show itself, or the fact that I might be starting to enjoy it.
Day 4: The Chapel Hill Escape & The Great Microtel TV Showdown
- 9:00 AM: Hit the road. Today we're heading to Chapel Hill and the campus of UNC.
- 10:00 AM: See the UNC campus. It's beautiful, it's historic, it's filled with an ungodly number of students. This is where I should've gone.
- 11:00 AM: Visit a bookstore. Buy a book I probably will never read.
- 12:00 PM: Lunch at a hipster burger joint. Food is good, but the atmosphere is… "artsy." I feel like I should be wearing a beret. Or at least, know what a beret is.
- 2:00 PM: Drive back to the Microtel. Suffer from the urge to throw the TV out the window.
- 6:00 PM: Watch some more TV. Become addicted.
Day 5: A Sudden Craving for History & a Terrible Decision
- 9:00 AM: Breakfast. The Waffle. I consider skipping it, after all the success from yesterday's attempts. Foolish. Foolish.
- 10:00 AM: Feel the urge to go back to the Historical Museum. Can this possibly be happening? Am I becoming a history buff? Is that what they call it?
- 1:00 PM: Lunch at that sandwich shop again. Because, you know, it’s convenient and they have great iced tea.
- 3:00 PM: Make a Terrible Decision: Go to the local dive bar. It's horrible. Loud music, terrible beer, and the kind of people who tell stories that go on for far too long. Somehow I get dragged into a conversation about… I don’t even remember. This is never happening again.
- 8:00 PM: Back at the Microtel, full of regret and cheap beer. Watch more TV.
- 9:00 PM: Consider calling it a night before I make another terrible decision.
Day 6: Recovery & Departure
- 9:00 AM: Breakfast. You guessed it: The Waffle, with a different perspective.
- 10:00 AM: Pack. I’m ready for this.
- 11:00 AM: Check out. Bye, Microtel. It’s been… an experience.
- 12:00 PM: Refuel "Betsy." And let out a huge sigh of relief.
- 1:00 PM: Drive to the airport.
- 2:00 PM: Wait at the gate, filled with a profound sense of accomplishment (surviving the week) and a longing for a decent cup of coffee.
- 3:00 PM: Depart.
Final Thoughts:
Hillsborough. Microtel. Waffles. History. Terrible dive bars. Overall, it was… an experience. Would I return to Hillsborough? Maybe. Would I stay at the Microtel again? Probably not. But hey, I conquered the waffle, right? And that, my friends, is a victory in itself.
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So, Microtel Inn & Suites in Hillsborough... Is it actually, like, *good* good? Or just... "Hillsborough good"?
Okay, real talk. Hillsborough isn't exactly a hotbed of luxury hotels, right? So, the bar's maybe a little… lowered. But honestly? Microtel surprised me. I went in expecting, you know, the usual - slightly stained carpet, questionable continental breakfast, the whole shebang. And… it wasn't *bad*. I mean, definitely not the Four Seasons, but for the price? Seriously decent.
It kinda feels like the hotel equivalent of a reliable older car that you actually, secretly, *love*. It's not flashy, there might be a few squeaks and rattles (like, perhaps, a flickering lightbulb in my bathroom), but it gets the job done and doesn't leave you stranded on the side of the road (or, in this case, with a completely unusable room).
The Rooms - spill the tea. What's the vibe? Are they clean?
Alright, so the room situation… look, they're not exactly Instagrammable. Think functional, practical, and maybe a *touch* dated. But clean, mostly! I'm a bit of a germaphobe, and I survived. The sheets seemed fresh, which is always a HUGE win. I did, however, notice a suspicious-looking stain on the carpet near the desk… but I strategically placed my suitcase over it. Problem solved!
The vibe? Think "business traveler who just wants a place to crash" meets "family on a budget road trip." Don't expect a cozy fireplace or a plush robe. Do expect a basic room with a surprisingly comfortable bed. And the air con? That thing worked like a champ. Glorious, icy air. Especially after spending a day in the Hillsborough summer heat, you know? Pure bliss.
Let's talk breakfast. The dreaded continental breakfast. Is it… edible?
Oh, the breakfast. *Deep breath*. Okay, so, it's not a culinary adventure. Not even CLOSE. Think: pre-packaged pastries of dubious origin, lukewarm coffee (with the potential for instant-coffee-level sadness), and the usual suspects of carbs and sugar. But… here’s the thing… it's FREE! And sometimes, when you're hungover and just need *something* in your stomach before facing the world/a conference/a day of exploring, it actually hits the spot.
I'll be honest, I ate two of those little glazed donuts. They were… not good. But they were *there*. And that, my friends, is the magic of a continental breakfast. It’s a ritual. A right of passage. Just manage your expectations. And maybe bring your own fruit.
What about the staff? Any horror stories? Or, you know, actual helpfulness?
The staff… they were *fine*. Not overly enthusiastic, but efficient. No horror stories, thankfully. I did lose my room key at one point (oops), and they replaced it without a raised eyebrow or a lecture, which I appreciated.
There was this one woman at the front desk though… she had this *look*. Not a mean look, exactly. More like a "seen it all" kind of look. Like, she'd dealt with everything - drunk tourists, missing luggage, leaky faucets, you name it. I’m pretty sure she could have handled an alien invasion with a smile. Total pro.
Location, location, location! Is it convenient?
Pretty convenient, actually! It's right off the highway, which makes it super easy to find, assuming you're driving. Easy access to restaurants and some shops. You'll probably want a car, though. Hillsborough isn't exactly a walker's paradise.
And here's a personal anecdote: I was totally *starving* one night, and the hotel's right next to a late-night diner. Saved me from a potential midnight snack-related disaster. Definitely a bonus.
Can we talk about the Wi-Fi? Because, you know, the internet is crucial.
Okay, okay, let's talk Wi-Fi. It was… adequate. Not lightning-fast, but functional. I was able to stream a movie (after waiting a few minutes for it to buffer), and I could check my emails without wanting to throw my laptop out the window. So, yeah, acceptable.
Honestly, in this day and age, slow Wi-Fi is almost as bad as a leaky faucet. It's a constant little annoyance. But this one was… there. It was *working*. Small victories, people. Small victories.
Okay, final verdict. Worth the money? Would you stay again?
For the price? Absolutely. Honestly, I was pleasantly surprised. It's not luxury, it's not glamorous, but it's clean, comfortable (mostly), and gets the job done. The free breakfast is a bonus, even if it's a carby, sugary bonus. And the location is convenient.
Would I stay again? Yeah, probably. If I needed a place to stay in Hillsborough and didn't want to break the bank, the Microtel is a solid choice. It's a good, honest, unpretentious hotel. And sometimes, that's exactly what you need. It’s not perfect, but it’s… *good enough*. And in the grand scheme of things, that's often more than you can ask for in the world of travel. I mean, at least the bed didn’t have bed bugs, right? (Knock on wood!)
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