The Polite Traveler

Time for a Road Trip We began our trip from the bicycle capital of the U.S., Davis, CA.   Our goal was to explore the Washington  Olympic National Forest  & everything in between.  It was a tiring, but fantastic trip.  Over eight days of driving, we stayed in seven different hotels: ~ Comfort Inn & Suites Ashland, OR       ~Comfort Suites Springfield, OR ~ Hilton Garden Inn, Olympia, WA          ~ Quality Inn Uptown Port Angeles, WA ~ Comfort Suites Astoria, OR                  ~ Comfort Suites Newport, OR ~ HiltonGarden Inn, Medford, OR         Read about our road trip restaurants.   ~ Road-Trip Restaurants YouTube:  ThePoliteTraveler  Instagram: ThePoliteTraveler Facebook: ThePoliteTraveler Twitter: @PoliteTravels Please Subscribe!

  My dear polite travelers, On day four of our road trip through Northern California, Oregon, and Washington state, we finally reached Port Angeles—known as the “heart of the Olympic Peninsula”, and the "gateway of the Olympic National Forest” (according to “Visit Port Angeles”).   And I couldn't agree more.  Its location is excellent for park day tripping and just hanging out on the dock.  Best yet, we were lucky enough to find the perfect place to do just that with the bonus of the best ocean view in Port Angeles. Room #215 This is an old hotel with old hotel issues, like size and storage.  Still, we were treated to two walls of windows, one of which overlooked the bay.  Sure, it’s old, but it was clean  and had a microwave, fridge, comfy bed, desk, and a decent size television.   The bathroom is also tight, but that didn’t seem to matter.  A real plus was the two chairs right outside the room to sit and look out over ...

Elegant, Approachable and Staffed by Personable, Efficient People Revised 4/2021 Dear Polite Traveler, Three words come to mind as I reflect upon my recent visit to the Hilton Universal: Wow!  Just wow!  For me, all hotels will be unfairly measured by this one.  It’s that good.   The hotel is huge with 24 floors and fantastic city, mountain, and park views.  Our room was on the 21st floor – more on that later.  Each large, airy room on the main floor is breathtaking and takes advantage of many glass ceilings.  Multiple seating areas await those who wish to sit with a book or simply meditate.   Note : Follow CDC and county guidelines when visiting.  Always wear your face mask when in public.   Also, during the pandemic, some amenities may not be available.  Please remember, this is only temporary. Somewhat in the middle of the main floor are a large bar—the “Atrium L...

Sleeping with Martians in Arizona After a long drive, a motel sign welcoming “Aliens” brings a smile to my road-weary face.  Stopping for only one night, we found this  Quality Inn  exactly that: quality focused.  Why?  Follow along. The Location One of the biggest benefits of this and many other Choice properties is that guests can find the properties easily.  To search for the night’s bed after a day on the road is never fun.  An additional benefit is that it is near the freeway, but also quiet. The Lobby and Dining Room A spaceship could probably land in this lobby it is so large.  It is an interesting motel, as it serves—buffet-style—most of the breakfast in the lobby, but dining is in a spacious, comfy upstairs loft with large windows which allow guests to enjoy a view while munching on scrambled eggs, sausage, and waffles.  There are many other food items available as well.  Coffee...

Good and Bad Traveling Through Nevada Traveling for business can be a tiring, sometimes dreadful experience, especially when driving.  This trip was no different.  Once again, we drove thousands of miles from our hamlet in Davis, CA to the most northeastern corner of Arizona.  The reason for this trip was to present a couple of workshops for the Navajo students of Dine′ College, which went very well.  Our return trip ( post ) wasn’t quite so pleasant.  That said, our choice of the  Quality Inn  in Boulder City, NV was a good one. The Good Ah, finally.  After many hours behind the wheel, we found this motel, tucked behind a gas station, like a shining beacon of hospitality.  The setting was serene, even though near the highway.  As our room was overlooking the grounds and pool, it felt secluded, especially when sitting out on the spacious balcony.        ...

The Motel Next to The Sewage Treatment Plant Revised 4/2021 Dear Polite Traveler Traveling through Nevada stuck behind a long line of semis on the two-lane Highway 95 is not enjoyable, especially when one has food poisoning.  But that’s another story ( post ).  Let’s just say, I was looking forward to a nice quiet motel room at the end of the day.  Did that happen?  Ha!  This trip through the hell of high desert Nevada didn’t end well.  As if traveling with food poisoning without the typical roadside restroom options was hellish enough, our choice of motels that evening was...well, it fits in with the theme of the day. Note : Follow CDC and hotel guidelines when visiting.  Always wear your face mask when in public.    What is that smell?! Stomach cramps, road-weary and ready to shed my clothes to leap into bed, we finally arrive at our motel and are greeted with an overwhelming smell of a gigantic outhouse.  Yep, our mote...

Comfy, Clean and Exceeds Expectations Revised 4/2021  On a road trip, what does a person really need in a motel?  I suppose the answer begins with “It depends.”  The populace is typically satisfied with the standard room consisting of a clean room, clean bed, ample bathroom, and a television.  Nevertheless, it’s always great to have extras thrown in at no extra cost, such as free Wi-Fi and free breakfast.  Fold in an in-room microwave, coffee maker, and minifridge and I’m not ready to leave the next morning.   Well, this is what my husband and I experienced when we stayed at the Quality Inn Santa Ynez Valley located in the small town of Buellton.  Note : Follow CDC guidelines when visiting.  Always wear your face mask when in public. Our Comfy Room As I mentioned above, our inexpensive room included a coffee maker, microwave and refrigerator.  Reflecting a recent renovation, it was also squeaky clean and appeared new.  T...

Tale of  Two Completely Different Visits On one hand, we have an oasis in the middle of the desert.  On the other...well, it’s less so much an oasis and much more a dump.  How can this be?  Well, follow along for the story of the good and bad of the Quality Inn in Barstow, CA.  Why stay in Barstow and why at this motel? When traveling through the desert, usually for business, I look forward to a shower and rest.  A glass of wine doesn’t hurt either.  That said, why would I choose dry, windy Barstow? Barstow is the only in-between spot to stay when traveling to Arizona from our home in Northern California.  It is also the only town for over a hundred miles—if staying on highway 40—with a Starbucks.  Gotta have my afternoon mochas.  In addition, lodging choices are slim in this part of California.  Finding a clean, quiet hotel/motel is difficult.  Lastly, we stay at this particular Quality Inn because our rooms in the past hav...