Well, the drive to Coalinga, California sucked. It was trafficky, gray, misty rain, long, in a word, shitty. However, I could not have chosen a better place to stay. Let's get to it.
The Vibe
The vibe was strong with this Best Western. It was the nicest one I've ever been to. The front desk clerk told me the building was only about four years old, so nice and new. She also told me the owner was adamant about keeping it that way. So an owner that cares about his business. The lobby was a cross between modern and homey, if that makes sense. Big cushy couches invited you to sit and stay awhile. It was decorated for the holidays which added to the homey feel. It had a nice big breakfast area and a bar. I think this is the only Best Western I've been to that had a bar. It wasn't open all the time, but they offered a happy hour with special drinks, beer on tap, wine and snacks. I did not partake so I can not speak to the food, but I was impressed with the whole set up.
My room was huge and beautifully decorated. It had plenty of lighting, outlets, and USB ports. There was a great big bench for my ginormous suitcase. It had a couch and coffee table, two end tables, a long dresser/counter. The television was hung on the wall so I could utilize all the counter/dresser space I needed. I had a desk with a comfy chair at which to work. The room had a full length mirror, which if you've read my blog before, you know is important to me. The bathroom was also huge and nicely decorated. I loved the large walk in shower, the tile. If I were to complain about anything, there wasn't much bathroom counter space. You know some of women need our counter space. Not too big a deal though. More pictures at the end of the blog.
Cleanliness
Immaculate. Pristine. Super clean. That's about all I can say. Very pleased.
Amenities
This Best Western's amenities were on point. I already mentioned the bar and happy hour, which is super cool. They served breakfast, and it was good. I had sausage patty, eggs, and a bagel with cream cheese. I little more than I usually eat for breakfast, but I didn't want to get to hungery on my drive. They also had biscuits and gravy! Plus the standard stuff, waffles, cereal, yogurt, coffee, etc.
They did not have a dog area or stations, but there was a reason. When they were building the hotel, the whole city almost ran out of water. They decided to hold off putting in a grassy dog area because watering was restricted. I believe it is still part of the plan though. That said, there were plenty of places for Rosie to do her business. Lots of garbage cans for dumping. Plus, the hotel is surrounded by suburbia, so it was a nice area in which to walk. Also, just before town, there was a park we could go and walk as well. So for me, this time,
not a deal breaker. And the place wasn't full of dog shit like Moreno Valley.
There was an outdoor pool, which of course I couldn't use because the weather was crappy.
This was also one of the few hotels were I've seen electric vehicle supply equipment. So if you have an electric car, you're set. The hotel also had a little store with necessities like snacks, medicines, sodas, water, and even microwavable food. If they'd had dog poop bags (I forgot to pack extra) and wine, it would have been perfection.
My room was equipped with a refrigerator and microwave, keurig coffee maker, with coffee and tea, and hair dryer. Still no paper and pen. I'm starting to think those are a luxury of the past.
The Staff
Super nice and helpful. The gal at the desk gave me all sorts of information, told me places to eat in town. She was also the one that told me about the park I could take Rosie and warned me to avoid walking her in the adjacent lot because there is often glass and other harmful construction items there.
Location
For me, Coalinga was a means to an end. I wasn't looking for things to do, which was a good thing because there wasn't much there. In fact, I saw nothing but a prison before I arrived at the hotel, so there's that. It's pretty much in the middle of nowhere. There is a small, cute town with restaurants, shops, and places to fill your gas tank. I grabbed dinner at a little place called The Salty Pickle, and it was really good. There was a mining company and a ranch of some sort if any of that appeals to you. It's pretty much farm country and by reading some of the reviews of the town on Yelp, it smells that way. Now, I didn't smell anything, but I suppose it would be more pungent during the warmer months? You've been warned. Also, there are quite large dips at the intersections which caused my car to kerplunk a couple times. Slow down when you go over those. After driving through the LA area, Coalinga was actually just what I needed. Nice and quiet.
The Flaws
It was really hard to fault this hotel. If anything, the bath towels were kind of scratchy and again, no dog area. Honestly though, this was as close to perfection as a hotel could come.
The Verdict
Like I said, near perfection. Really, the only thing I discounted was the location. That's only because there are probably a lot of people that might want a little more to do. However, if you're just passing through like me, there's absolutely nothing wrong with it. According to my rating system, the Best Western Plus Coalinga Inn in Coalinga, California gets 9.5 hotel keys!
Now, enjoy more photos of my stay...
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