Lancaster's BEST Kept Secret: Red Roof Inn Review (Strasburg Location!)
Okay, buckle up, buttercups, because we’re about to dive HEADFIRST into the supposed "BEST Kept Secret" of Lancaster County: the Red Roof Inn in Strasburg. And by "HEADFIRST," I mean I spent a night there. The PROMISE of a "secret" is always alluring, right? But is this Red Roof Inn a whisper of delight or a loud, slightly-off-key shout? Let's dissect this stay, warts and all, and see if it’s worth your precious travel dollars.
First Impressions: The Great Gate of Plastic
Accessibility is KEY, and I’m giving them a thumbs up here. The entrance seemed pretty accessible. No crazy steps, wide doors (phew!), and the lobby… well, the lobby was… a lobby. It smelled faintly of… well, I’m not sure. Red Roof Inn smell? It’s a thing.
Checking In: Smooth as… Unsalted Butter?
The front desk was… functional. Efficient. No drama. I’ll take it. Contactless check-in/out? Done. I'm all about avoiding awkward human interaction these days. No grand gestures of welcome, just a key card and a polite nod. Honestly, after a long drive, that's perfection. And hey, they had a 24-hour front desk! Huge plus.
Rooms: Comfort Level - Slightly Above Motel 6
Okay, let’s be real. This isn’t the Ritz. But did it smell clean? YES! The sheets were crisp. The bed was comfortable. And that, my friends, is the foundation of a good night's sleep. I'm not expecting marble floors and diamond-encrusted faucets, but a CLEAN room? That's a non-negotiable. And I'm happy to report, they delivered.
Room Essentials – The Good, The Okay, and the Missing
- Available in All Rooms: YES!
- Air conditioning: Worked perfectly. Praise be!
- Alarm clock: Present. (Because who even uses those anymore?)
- Bathroom Phone: Nope. And honestly, who needs one?
- Bathtub: Yes! (Standard Motel Tub)
- Blackout Curtains: Yes! Slept like a baby.
- Closet: Basic, but functional.
- Coffee/Tea Maker: YES. Essential in my book. (Though the coffee itself was… passable.)
- Complimentary Tea: Yes. (See Coffee above)
- Daily Housekeeping: Yup. They have a whole army of people keeping this place clean.
- Desk: Small, but sufficient to park my laptop.
- Extra long bed: Yes!
- Free Bottled Water: Nope! Bummer.
- Hair Dryer: Checked.
- High Floor: I didn't specifically request one, but no complaints about the view.
- In-room Safe Box: Nope. But I felt safe leaving my laptop out. Call me naive.
- Internet Access – LAN: I didn’t test the LAN, but the wifi was great.
- Internet Access – Wireless: Yes! Fast and Reliable (Free Wi-Fi in all rooms!)
- Ironing Facilities: Yes! (Iron and ironing board in the closet)
- Laptop Workspace: Yes!
- Linens: Clean and crisp.
- Mini Bar: Nope. (No little bottles of things – again, not the Ritz)
- Mirror: Yes!
- Non-smoking: Yes! (Thank GOD)
- On-demand movies: Not that I saw. But Netflix is basically on-demand these days.
- Private Bathroom: Yes, and it was clean.
- Reading light: Yes!
- Refrigerator: Yes!
- Safety/security feature: Smoke detectors, fire extinguishers - all that jazz.
- Satellite/cable channels: Yep.
- Scale: Nope. (Don't remind me!)
- Seating area: Small, but a comfy enough chair.
- Separate shower/bathtub: Nope. (Standard Motel Tub)
- Shower: Yep. Worked fine.
- Slippers: Nope. (Bring your own!)
- Smoke detector: Yup, they've got them.
- Socket near the bed: Yes, a must-have.
- Sofa: No sofa!
- Soundproofing: Okay. I heard some hallway noise, but nothing too crazy.
- Telephone: Yes, if you really want to call the front desk!
- Toiletries: Basic, but adequate.
- Towels: Clean and fluffy enough.
- Umbrella: Didn’t see one in the room.
- Visual alarm: Didn't see any.
- Wake-up service: Available.
- Wi-Fi [free]: Absolutely!
- Window that opens: Yes! Nice for fresh air.
It ticked the boxes for the essentials. Room cleanliness: A+. My biggest complaint? Maybe the lack of that special something extra.
Dining, Drinking, and Snacking: The Great "Convenience" Conundrum
Let's be honest, this is where things get slightly… utilitarian. On-site restaurants? Nope. Poolside bar? Laughable. However, there's a vending machine in the lobby. And a convenience store a short drive away. Room service, forget about it.
- A la carte in restaurant: Nope. Because, restaurants.
- Asian breakfast: Nope. Zero chance.
- Asian cuisine in restaurant: Zero chance.
- Bar: Nope.
- Bottle of water: Nope
- Breakfast [buffet]: Nope.
- Breakfast service: Nope.
- Buffet in restaurant: Nope.
- Coffee/tea in restaurant: Nope.
- Coffee shop: Nope.
- Desserts in restaurant: Nope.
- Happy hour: Get your own happy hour!
- International cuisine in restaurant: Nope.
- Poolside bar: Nope
- Restaurants: Nope.
- Room service [24-hour]: Nope.
- Salad in restaurant: Nope.
- Snack bar: Vending Machines!
- Soup in restaurant: Nope.
- Vegetarian restaurant: Nope.
- Western breakfast: Just get your own.
- Western cuisine in restaurant: You are on your own, friend.
Cleanliness and Safety: They’re Trying, Bless Their Hearts.
- Anti-viral cleaning products: Presumably.
- Cashless payment service: I paid with my card, so… yes.
- Daily disinfection in common areas: I saw staff wiping things down.
- Hand sanitizer: Available in the lobby.
- Hygiene certification: Unsure
- Individually-wrapped food options: (See Dining above)
- Physical distancing of at least 1 meter: Attempted, I guess.
- Professional-grade sanitizing services: Possibly.
- Rooms sanitized between stays: Hopefully.
- Safe dining setup: (See Dining above)
- Sanitized kitchen and tableware items: (See Dining above)
- Staff trained in safety protocol: I think so.
- Sterilizing equipment: In the cleaning closet, probably.
Were things perfectly pristine? No. But it felt clean. And in this day and age, that’s saying something. The staff wore masks, and I saw them cleaning common areas.
Things to Do (and Ways to Relax): Don’t Expect a Spa Day, Folks
Okay, this isn’t a resort. No spa. No pool with a view. But, hey, it's close to Lancaster's best historical attractions!
- Body scrub: Nope.
- Body wrap: Nope.
- Fitness center: Nope.
- Foot bath: Nope.
- Gym/fitness: Nope.
- Massage: Nope.
- Pool with view: Nope.
- Sauna: Nope.
- Spa: Nope.
- Spa/sauna: Nope.
- Steamroom: Nope.
- Swimming pool: Nope.
- Swimming pool [outdoor]: Nope.
It’s a place to sleep while exploring the area - NOT a destination in itself.
Services and Conveniences: The Bare Bones, But Adequate.
- Air conditioning in public area: Yes!
- Audio-visual equipment for special events: Doubtful.
- Business facilities: There's a small business center.
- Cash withdrawal: You could walk somewhere
- Concierge: Nope.
- Contactless check-in/out: YES!
- Convenience store: No. (Vending machine.)
- Currency exchange: No
Okay, buckle up buttercups, because we're about to embark on a gloriously messy, opinionated, and probably slightly chaotic journey to… checks notes… the Red Roof Inn in Lancaster, PA. Strasburg. Sigh. Look, I'm not expecting the Ritz, alright? But hey, sometimes a cheap motel room is exactly what a frazzled traveler needs. Let's see if this proves me right, shall we?
Day 1: Arrival and the "Welcome" (or Lack Thereof) of Lancaster
- 3:00 PM - Arrival at Red Roof Inn (Attempt Number One): Okay, Google Maps, don't you fail me now. Drives for wayyy longer than expected, nearly misses the exit. Swears under breath. Alright, here we are. That… is definitely a Red Roof Inn. Looks… Red-roofy. Check in. Hope it's not as depressing as I’m imagining.
- 3:15 PM - Check-In Frenzy: Waddles up to the front desk, slightly rumpled suitcase dragging behind. "Hi! I'm… uh… [Your Name]? Reservation under that name!" The clerk, bless their soul, looks like they've seen things. A lot of things. "Just a moment…" Cue the tap-tap-tapping on the computer. "Ah, yes. Room 217. Second floor. Have a good stay!" No smile. No welcome. Just… the key. Okay. Fair enough.
- 3:30 PM - Room Inspection and Immediate Regret: Opens the door. The air immediately smells of… well, a Red Roof Inn. Let's just say it's a distinct, somewhat artificial fragrance. The decor is… functional. The bedspread? Questionable. The bathroom? Let's just hope the shower pressure is decent. Checks for bed bugs aggressively. Finds nothing. Sighs with relief. "Alright, we're good." For now.
- 4:00 PM - First Impression Debrief: Sits on the bed. Stares blankly. Scrolls through social media instead of unpacking. "Okay. Mildly depressing, but I'm alive. Lancaster, here I come! (Eventually…)"
- 5:00 PM - Dinner Disaster at a "Local Gem" (According to Yelp): Gets in the car, feeling optimistic. Starts the car… it rattles like an old jalopy. "Come on, baby, you can do it!" Drives to that "Hidden Gem" of a diner Yelp promised. Nope. Closed. Closed! On a Saturday!?!? "Are you KIDDING ME?!" Panics. Circles a strip mall. Settles for… a chain restaurant. Regrets every bite.
- 7:00 PM - Evening "Relaxation" (aka Channel Surfing): *Back in the room. Exhausted. Flopping onto the bed again. Attempts *three different channels before finding something vaguely interesting.* "Maybe I should have brought a book." Immediately falls asleep on the bed.
Day 2: Amish Country and the Search for Authentic Everything
- 8:00 AM - Breakfast Debacle: Wakes up slightly disoriented. Looks for complimentary breakfast. Nope. Just a fridge. "Guess I’m getting coffee and nothing. Great." Drinks the coffee and accepts my fate.
- 9:00 AM - Amish Country Pilgrimage (The Good, The Bad, and the Overly-Touristy): Drives through the rolling hills. Actually, it’s quite beautiful. Starts feeling like a tourist. Pulls over to get some photos. "Okay, okay, this is actually pretty cool. Maybe I was too harsh on Lancaster yesterday." Sees a buggy. Smiles. Gets stuck behind a farm truck traveling 15 mph. Swears again.
- 10:30 AM - The Massive Lancaster Farmers Market: Gets even more touristy. Navigates the crowds. Gawks at the produce. Gets overwhelmed. "So many… pickles! So many… baked goods! I must resist temptation!" Fails miserably. Buys a whoopie pie the size of my head. Regrets nothing.
- 12:00 PM - The "Authentic Local Lunch" Fiasco: Tries to find a legit Amish restaurant. Ends up at… a crowded place with the biggest tourist trap known to mankind. "Okay, clearly the food is mass-produced but the food is good. Eats entirely too much fried chicken. Considers buying a bonnet. Decides against it.*
- 2:00 PM - The Quilt Shop Quandary: Enters a quilt shop. Gets lost in a sea of fabrics. Is mildly terrified by the pricing. "How much?!?!?!?!?!?" Admiring the beautiful quilts. Leaves empty-handed. Realizes my bank account breathed a sigh of relief.
- 4:00 PM - Strasburg Rail Road (The High Point and the Low Point): *Decides to take a train around on the Rail Road. The train is beautiful. The view of the rolling hills is relaxing. *Gets into a conversation with a very opinionated little boy sitting next to me about trains*. *The kid is awesome. The train ride is kinda boring.*
- 6:00 PM - Dinner and Decompression: Eats another whoopie pie. Actually, maybe two. Decides to order takeout. Watches a bad movie. Wonders if I should just stay in bed until I go.
Day 3: Departure and the Lingering Smell of… Lancaster?
- 8:00 AM - The Great Red Roof Inn Checkout: *Gets up. Makes sure everything is in order. Checks for bed bugs again. Finds none. *Drops off the key at the front desk. Smiles at the clerk, who seems mildly surprised*. "Bye, Lancaster! Maybe will be back… eventually."
- 9:00 AM - Final Reflection (and a Rambling Post-Trip Report): Drives away. Starts reflecting on the trip. Was it a success? A failure? Somewhere in between. I don't know.
- 9:30 AM - Random Stop: Remember I need to get something to eat. So stops at a McDonald's. Gets food. Looks for the exit and leaves Lancaster in a flash.
Final Thoughts:
Lancaster? Well, it's… an experience. It’s not exactly the glamorous getaway I had in mind. But hey, I survived. I ate too much. I saw some questionable decor. I might still have a lingering whoopie pie craving. And you know what? It wasn't all bad. The Amish countryside was genuinely beautiful. The farmer's market was a sensory overload in the best way. And, despite its flaws, the Red Roof Inn provided a roof over my head. A red-roofed one, at that! So, yeah. I'd give it a… solid "meh." And maybe, just maybe, I'll be back someday. But next time, I'm bringing earplugs for the bed bugs and a better understanding of what constitutes a good chain restaurant, I'm sure. Until then… on to the next adventure! Drives towards the highway, mentally planning the next trip.
Luxury Belgian Beach Getaway: 6-Person Apartment w/ Garden in Nieuwpoort-Bad!
Red Roof Inn Strasburg: The Truth, The Whole Truth, and Nothing But the Messy Truth (FAQ Edition)
Is this place REALLY a "Best Kept Secret" or are we talking about a particularly well-hidden disappointment?
Okay, let's be honest. "Best Kept Secret" is a bold claim. It's more like a "Surprisingly Decent Secret." You know, the kind of secret your friend whispers, then adds, "But, like, don't expect the Ritz." Honestly, I've stayed at places that were absolute train wrecks, and Red Roof Inn Strasburg? It's... not a train wreck. It's a slightly dented, but still functional, minivan.
I've seen reviews hyping it up, and frankly, some of them are suspect. Did they get paid? I'm not saying! But they're probably not taking into consideration the fact that the complimentary coffee on the lobby is definitely stale. On the other hand, when you're on a budget, or desperately need a place to crash after hitting the outlet malls (which I always do, by the way...), it delivers. It's a functional pit-stop, and sometimes, that's all you need.
The Rooms: Cleanliness, Comfort, and the Mystery of the Tiny Soap. Spill the Tea!
Alright, let's talk the rooms. Look, it's not the Four Seasons. Don't go in expecting fluffy robes and a turndown service. What you should expect is... well, it's usually clean. Like, basic motel-clean. You know, the kind where you kinda squint and look for dust bunnies, but they’re usually hiding. The beds are, uh… beds. Not cloud-like, but not springs-digging-into-your-back bad either. I slept there, and that's the important thing.
Now, the soap. OH, the soap. It's like a postage stamp of soap. A tiny, nearly useless square of potentially drying, questionable-scented something. Bring your own. Seriously. Pack a travel-sized version of your favorite body wash. You'll thank me later. Also, the pillows are… plentiful. They give you a whole bunch, which is nice, until you realize they're all the same, and you’re just trying to get comfortable wrestling them all night.
One time, I swear, I found a rogue hair on the freshly-cleaned sheets. A single, lonely, blonde hair, probably left by a previous guest with a penchant for dramatic shedding. I mentally shrugged and decided to ignore it. You know, you gotta pick your battles. Anyway, the AC usually works which is a must in the sweaty Pennsylvania summers.
The Breakfast: Free Food or Free-for-All Buffet of Regret?
Breakfast is… *sigh*… Breakfast. It's included, which is nice, because who wants to go hunting for a decent breakfast at 7 am? It’s not gourmet. Ever. Think individually wrapped pastries that taste like cardboard, instant oatmeal, and the aforementioned stale coffee. There's usually some sad-looking cereal options. Maybe some fruit (think apples, oranges, or maybe bananas that are already turning.)
Listen, I’m not gonna lie, I've skipped the breakfast a few times. Especially after a late night browsing at the nearby antique shops, a pancake breakfast just wasn't something my body could handle. But, hey, if you're on a budget, it's fuel. Just lower your expectations. And bring your own coffee. And perhaps a small, portable toaster. I'm just saying.
Location, Location, Location! Is it Actually Convenient?
Yes! Absolutely! It's close to everything! That's definitely one of its biggest draws because that's what makes it such a perfect launching pad for your Lancaster County adventures. It's near the outlets (hello, discounted shopping!), close to the Strasburg Railroad (perfect if you have kids, or if you're a secret train enthusiast like me!), and a short drive to the Amish country. You are basically right in the middle of everything. Which gets you extra points if you're looking to see the sights.
However, the downside? Car traffic. Driving around here can be a nightmare during peak hours, especially on weekends. It’s not the hotel's fault, obviously. But something to keep in mind when you're planning your day. Also, be prepared for the sounds of trains, or the road, or maybe the mysterious nighttime noises. You know… hotel life.
The Staff: Are They Angels or Just People Trying to Get Through Their Shift?
Honestly? The staff is *fine*. They're not overly friendly, but they're not rude either. They're… there. Which is what you need, right? I've encountered a few genuinely pleasant people, and there have been times where they've fixed an issue quickly (like when my remote was broken).
I once witnessed a small drama in the lobby – a guest was very upset about something related to their bill, and the poor front desk clerk was just… trying her best. Bless her heart. She handled it with surprising grace. So, yeah, they're human. They get the job done. Don't expect concierge-level service, but they're adequate. My biggest recommendation: be nice. It goes a long way.
The Pool: Actually Swimmable or a Green, Mosquito-Infested Swamp of Regret?
Okay, here’s where I’m going to get real. The pool situation is… a gamble. Sometimes it’s sparkling, clean, and totally inviting. You could picture yourself lounging there, enjoying a refreshing dip. Other times… it looks like it hasn’t been touched in a week. The water may have a slightly off-shade, and the whole vibe screams, "Proceed with caution."
I've braved the pool a few times. One time, it was perfect! The other time? I swear, I saw a rogue bug floating near the edge. I swiftly got out, dried off, and vowed to stick to the hotel's air conditioning from then on (which works *great*, by the way!). It all depends on the day and the management. So… check it out before you commit. Or just skip it and go to the outlet mall.
The Price: Is it Worth the Budget-Friendly Sacrifice?
Ah, the golden question! Yes. (Usually). The price is definitely a draw. You get what you pay for. It’s generally budget-friendly. You're not gonna get sticker shock. Unless they're having a huge event in town, or it's peak season. Then, the price can fluctuate.
But, honestly, if you're looking for an affordable place to crash while exploring Lancaster County, the Red Roof Inn Strasburg isChicstayst
