Newport's BEST Kept Secret: Econo Lodge! (OR)
Okay, buckle up buttercups, because we're diving headfirst into… the Econo Lodge of Newport, Oregon. Yes, that Econo Lodge. The one you might have dismissed as a last resort, a budget blip on the radar. Well, hold onto your hats, because I'm here to tell you… it might just be Newport's best kept secret. (And, yes, I'm probably hyping it up too much, but let’s just roll with it, okay?)
First things first: Accessibility. Alright, so… this isn't the Four Seasons. But, let's be real, if you're looking for top-tier accessibility, you already know that. That being said, they do have facilities for disabled guests, which is a HUGE plus. Elevator? Check. Probably ramps (though I'd call to confirm, because let's be honest… this is Econo Lodge). The devil's in the details, people, so call 'em to truly gauge the situation. Then there is the accessibility of the room itself, is there a bathtub or are the shower areas big enough for the wheel chair? I cannot tell you, call to ask or find those details online.
Accessibility: Internet Access This is crucial, guys. I swear, if I go one more day without wi-fi, I will scream into a pillow. (Don't judge me, you've all been there). Econo Lodge gets a gold star here: FREE Wi-Fi in all rooms! And, get this folks, I mean all. I mean, the entire hotel is under Wi-fi, not just the reception lobby. Thank god. This means you can live-stream your cat videos (we all have them) or, you know, actually work if you have to. They also have internet access and the ability to do LAN.
Cleanliness and Safety: More Important Than Ever Okay, so the world is a crazy place right now, and honestly I'm a germaphobe (don’t tell anyone!). How did Econo Lodge handle it? Well, they seem to try. They tout Anti-viral cleaning products, Daily disinfection in common areas, and they even have Rooms sanitized between stays. They have Daily housekeeping. I mean, it's something. They boast about Professional-grade sanitizing services, and the staff are Staff trained in safety protocol. They have things like Hand sanitizer. They also have an opt-out feature available. Hot water linen and laundry washing. Again, you know, I'm not expecting a hospital-grade sterile environment, but I am grateful for what I would call "above average" cleanliness for a budget place, but I would call the front desk to see how it actually is because some places are more clean-er than others.
Dining, Drinking, and Snacking: The Reality Check (and the Surprising Upside) Now, don't go expecting a Michelin-starred experience. Let's be brutally honest. The Breakfast [buffet] is probably… functional, I'm guessing. They offer something. Breakfast service, you got it. The real question is, "Is the coffee hot?" Is it drinkable? I don't know, but hey, there's a Coffee shop nearby, and likely a convenience store. Snack bar, yeah, that's likely to have chips and maybe a questionable hot dog. I don't have to explain this part.
Services and Conveniences: The Practical Stuff They have a 24-hour Front Desk. A Concierge, even though they don't have one. Daily housekeeping, and Laundry service. This is critical for me, because I always have dirty clothes. They have cash withdrawal as well. They also provide Food delivery. The hotel is Non-smoking, and they have a Smoking area. Most of the basics are covered.
For the Kids: I love the idea of the Newport beach area for family vacation, they have Babysitting service. Which comes as a surprise to me. They are Family/child friendly and have Kids meal
Things to Do, Ways to Relax… Well, It's Newport! Alright, here's where the Econo Lodge's location really shines. You're in Newport! That means the beach is probably a short walk away. (Again, depending on the exact location – check a map!) And, if by some miracle, this Econo Lodge happens to be near a decent view, then great.
Available in All Rooms: The Essentials and… More? Okay, let's get down to the nitty-gritty of the rooms themselves. Air conditioning. Very important, especially in summer. Alarm clock. Essential for waking up at dawn to catch that sunrise. Bathroom phone. (I haven't seen one of those in years! Is this a time warp? laughs) Blackout curtains. Thank the heavens! Coffee/tea maker. Yes, please. Free bottled water. Very welcome. Hair dryer. A MUST. In-room safe box. Smart. An Ironing facilities. They also have soundproofing.
My Honest Opinion… with a Twist
So, here's the deal. This isn't a luxury resort. It's an Econo Lodge. You're not going to be pampered, and you're probably not going to be blown away. BUT… if you're looking for a clean, safe, budget-friendly place to crash while you explore the gorgeous Oregon coast, then the Econo Lodge of Newport might just be the perfect secret. I wouldn't go expecting the moon but I think it's a good option, and I hope to hear from you and tell me what you think!
Crafting the Persuasive Offer!
Stop Scrolling! Your Newport Adventure Starts Here (and Doesn't Break the Bank!)
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Here's why YOU need to book right now:
Prime Location, Budget-Friendly Price: You're steps away from the beach, the views.
Comfort and Convenience: Free Wi-Fi in every room! (Yes, really!),
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The Newport Experience - No Compromises: Enjoy all the beauty and adventure Newport has to offer.
Book Now and Save: Get a special discount on your stay!
Don't wait! This deal won't last. Click the link and score your Newport escape at Econo Lodge - the best kept secret in town!
Yosemite's Secret Getaway: Unbeatable Merced Deals at Quality Inn!
Alright, buckle up, buttercups, because you're about to embark on a slightly unhinged tour through my imagined weekend getaway to the Econo Lodge in Newport, Oregon. Think less "polished travel blog," and more "frantic notes scrawled on a soggy napkin while wrestling a rogue seagull."
Econo Lodge Newport: My (Un)Official Survival Guide & Itinerary
Friday: The Arrival & The Existential Dread of Budget Hotels
- 3:00 PM - The Grand Entrance (and the Mild Panic): Okay, so the GPS said "arrive at Econo Lodge," but let's be real, this is more like "enter the twilight zone of slightly questionable motel choices." Parked my clunker – bless its rusty soul – and the Oregon damp hit me like a wall. First impressions? Beige. Beige everywhere. The sign screamed "Value!" but my brain whispered "Vulnerability."
- 3:15 PM - Check-in Chaos (and the Mystery of the Questionable Coffee): Receptionist was… well, she existed. She handed over the keycard with the grace of a sloth, and I swear the lobby smelled faintly of stale air freshener and impending doom. The complimentary coffee machine… let's just say I'm pretty sure it's been brewing since the Clinton administration. Took a sip. regretted it.
- 3:30 PM - Room Revelation (and the Fleeting Hope of Actually Relaxing): Keycard worked! Mostly. The room… was a room. Two queen beds, a TV that probably still used rabbit ears, and a window that sort of looked out on the parking lot. Found a faint stain I could pretend was modern art. The beds looked… suspiciously lumpy. But hey, at least there was a mini-fridge! (Potential for emergency ice cream sustenance: high.)
- 4:00 PM - Unpacking and Existential Crisis: Okay, unpacked. Started looking for some kind of itinerary to make, but my brain said "nah, just chill." Thrown myself on one of the beds, because why not? I noticed that you could see straight through the window to the other rooms. Hmm, not very secure. I then wondered about the point of life for a while and decided to go to the beach, because that's the purpose of life.
Friday Evening: Coastal Bliss (and the Dark Secret of the Clam Chowder)
- 5:00 PM - The Beach Beckons (and the Battle Against the Wind): Headed over to the beach. Newport’s beaches are pretty wild. The Pacific roared, the wind tried to steal my hat, and the sand got everywhere. It's the messy, glorious kind of chaos I needed. The waves were…intense. And the smell of salt and seaweed? Magical.
- 6:30 PM - Chowder Conundrum (and the Questionable Authenticity of Everything): Dinner time! Found a place on the bay that claimed to have the best clam chowder in the world. Place was crowded. Ordered the chowder. Took a spoonful. Hmm. It was… creamy. And a little… bland. And I'm not sure there was actually much clam in it, because you could barely taste the clams. Was it just me, or was this the watery, bland, and lukewarm stuff of tourist-trap nightmares? I then had to find a bathroom. Found a bathroom. A-OK.
- 7:30 PM - The Evening Stroll (and the Search for Genuine Happiness): The sun started to set, painting the sky in fiery oranges and purples. Walking along the pier, the sea gulls were annoying but cool, fishing boats bobbed in the harbor, and the air…it was pure, crisp Oregon. Started to feel that little rush of something. A warm feeling in the chest. Did I really feel happy? For a few minutes. Then I got hungry again.
- 8:30 PM - Back to the Room of Beige (and the Hope for Netflix): Back at the Econo Lodge. Netflix worked! I'm calling it a win.
Saturday: Exploring (and the Glorious Gluttony of the Aquarium)
- 9:00 AM - The Breakfast Debacle (and the Fine Art of Surviving Free Hotel Food): Okay, let's be brutally honest: free hotel breakfast is an exercise in low expectations. Cereal that tastes suspiciously like cardboard, the same questionable coffee, and those sad little pre-packaged muffins. Made it through, somehow.
- 10:00 AM - Oregon Coast Aquarium Odyssey (and the Joy of Being a Kid Again): The Oregon Coast Aquarium. Oh. My. Days. Holy fish, Batman! This place is legit! The otters are adorable, the sea lions are goofy, and the jellyfish… the jellyfish are hypnotic. I spent hours just staring at the jellyfish, lost in their ethereal beauty. Really, the jellyfish are worth the price of admission (and probably the existential dread of the Econo Lodge) alone. I watched an otter do the splits for at least ten minutes and thought, if an otter can be that flexible, what's my excuse?
- 1:00 PM - Aquarium Aftermath (and the Quest for Something Decent to Eat): Finished the aquarium adventure, and felt inspired. Ate at a fish and chips place. Fish and chips were OK.
- 3:00 PM - Cape Foulweather Fables (and the Power of a Good View): Drove up to Cape Foulweather, which, despite its ominous name, was stunning. The views! The crashing waves! The dramatic cliffs! It was a reminder that even the most touristy places can still be breathtaking. The wind almost did me in though.
- 6:00 PM - Dinner Disaster (and the Truth About Seafood) : Found a seafood restaurant with great reviews, but ordered a dish with too much spice. Spent the meal with water and a sore face.
- 8:00 PM - Econo Lodge Rematch (and the Final Confrontation): Back to the room. Found an actual stain on the ceiling. Started feeling a little more relaxed.
Sunday: The Departure (and the Acceptance of Imperfection)
9:00 AM - Farewell Breakfast (and the Lingering Taste of Existential Dread): Same breakfast, different day. Managed to choke down some cereal and coffee. Contemplated leaving a good tip, but the receptionist looked like she had seen too much.
10:00 AM - Final Newport Stroll (and the Embrace of Messiness): One last walk on the beach. The day was grey, and the waves were even more ferocious. I realized that a bit of rain and a slightly disappointing chowder couldn’t ruin the weekend.
11:00 AM - Departure (and the Subtle, Persistent Sense of…Something): Packed up the clunker. Said goodbye to the beige of the Econo Lodge. Found myself oddly content. The trip hadn't been perfect. Not by a long shot. But it was mine. And sometimes, that's enough. Maybe even good enough. And I think the jellyfish taught me that.
Extra Notes:
- Bring: Earplugs (for the suspicious sounds of the hotel), rain gear (because Oregon), a sense of humor (essential for the Econo Lodge experience), and a healthy appreciation for jellyfish.
- Avoid: Expectations of luxury, the complimentary coffee, and getting too close to seagulls. Seriously, those things are ruthless.
- Final Verdict: The Econo Lodge? It exists. Newport? Worth it. Maybe the next time, I'll splurge on a slightly nicer hotel. But the memories, the jellyfish, and the sheer, unadulterated messiness of it all? Priceless.
Newport's "Best Kept Secret"... Econo Lodge? (Okay, Let's Do This)
Wait, Is This Actually Good? I've Seen Econo Lodges...
Look, let's be real. "Best kept secret" might be a *slight* exaggeration. It's not the Ritz. But for Newport, and for the *price*? Yeah, the Econo Lodge... it has a certain charm. I say this as someone who once found a rogue pubic hair clinging to a perfectly clean (I *swear*) bath towel at a *different* Newport hotel (shudders). Compared to that… Econo Lodge is practically the Taj Mahal. Think of it as the scrappy underdog you secretly root for. It's cheap, it's usually clean (mostly), and the location... *chef's kiss*.
Okay, Location, Location, Location. What's the Big Deal?
Alright, this is the *killer app*. You're talking walking distance to Thames Street, to the waterfront, to pretty much *everything* you want to see in Newport. I mean, okay, maybe not literally *walking distance* if you're a sloth with a bum knee. But it's close. You can practically *smell* the clam chowder radiating from the waterfront restaurants. Forget paying a fortune for a taxi or wrestling with parking. That, my friends, is gold. That, and the fact that I once stumbled back there after a particularly boisterous Cinco de Mayo... safe and sound. Pure. Bliss.
The Rooms. What are We Talking About? Clean? Updated?
Clean? Mostly. Updated? Well... that depends. Think "comfortably worn." You're probably not going to find gleaming marble countertops or a rainforest shower. But the beds are surprisingly comfy – I'm not kidding. I've slept on worse, much worse, and paid triple the price. My last stay, the TV was a little old-school, but hey, I prefer a good book! (Or, you know, scrolling endlessly on my phone… same difference these days, right?) Just don't expect the Four Seasons; manage your expectations, and you'll be fine. Oh! And one time, and I *swear* this is true, I found a tiny, *adorable* stuffed whale on my bed. I still don't know why it was there, BUT I kept it.
Breakfast? Is it the Standard "Continental" Nightmare?
Yeah, yeah, the continental breakfast. Don't go in expecting a gourmet experience. Think pre-packaged pastries, lukewarm coffee, and maybe a sad, lonely banana. It's the ritual you endure, not the highlight. BUT, and this is a big BUT, it’s free! And it fuels you enough to get out the door and find a *real* breakfast. Which, let’s be honest, is what you should be doing in Newport anyway. So, yeah, it's basic. But free is always a winner in my book. It's just… *breakfast*, you know?
Parking? The Newport Nightmare. Is it Bad Here?
Okay, parking... brace yourself. Newport is a parking apocalypse, especially in the summer. But, and this is another HUGE win for the Econo Lodge, parking is surprisingly *decent*. They *do* have parking! Could be tighter, but you're not going to play "musical cars" every half hour. Trust me on this one - I spent an hour in search of a space during the Folk Festival once - and it wasn't fun. So the Econo Lodge parking is... a *lifesaver*. Consider it a major perk.
The Staff? Are They, You Know, *Nice*?
Honestly? They’re usually... fine. They're not going to be tripping over themselves to give you a foot massage (probably a good thing, considering the price), but they're generally polite and helpful. They'll point you in the right direction, get you an extra towel (probably), and that's what you really need. I've had some genuinely lovely interactions, and some that were more… perfunctory. But hey, they're working at an Econo Lodge in Newport! They deserve a medal.
So, What's the *Worst* Thing About Staying There? Spill the Tea.
Okay, let’s get real. The *worst* thing? Ugh… okay, it happened a few years back. I booked a room, and the guy at the front desk… he looked like he’d been awake since the dawn of time. Not a smile. Not a welcome. Just a weary sigh and a key handed over with the grace of a lobotomized sloth. I walked into my room...and it reeked of stale cigarettes. STRONGLY. I’m talking, “Grandpa’s Den After Bingo Night” level. I was *pissed*. I stomped back to the office, demanded a new room (which they *did* accommodate, thankfully), and the whole experience just left a bad taste in my mouth. It's *not* a consistent problem, but it *can* happen. So, yeah. Be ready for a potential room switcheroo. And pray for a non-smoker's room. Always.
Would You Actually Recommend It?
Look, for the price, and considering the location, and assuming you're not a prima donna who demands silk sheets and a personal butler, yes. I *do* recommend it. It's not perfect. It's not glamorous. But it’s reliable, convenient, and gets the job done. You’re there to see Newport, not to spend your entire vacation sitting in a hotel room. And hey, maybe you, too, will find a random tiny stuffed whale. It’s worth a shot, right? Just don’t expect the world. And maybe bring your own coffee.
Any Other Tips? Hidden Nuggets of Wisdom?
Alright, here's a pro-tip: Book directly through their website. Sometimes you can snag a better deal than the online travel agencies. Also, bring earplugs. Newport can get LOUD, with late-night revelers and early-morning delivery trucks. And finally: Don't overthink it. It's an Econo Lodge. Enjoy the fact that you're in Newport, having a grand old time! You might even stumble upon your own stuffed whale.
