Riverside Getaway: UCR & Downtown Luxury at Quality Inn!
Okay, buckle up, buttercups, because we're diving headfirst into the… well, the Quality Inn in Riverside. Specifically, this "Riverside Getaway: UCR & Downtown Luxury at Quality Inn!" (Let's be honest, that sounds a little ambitious, right?). But hey, I’m here to be your guinea pig, your intrepid reviewer, your… well, you get the idea. Let’s get messy!
First Impressions (and a little bit of a panic attack about the Quality Inn…)
Okay, so the word "luxury" in the title got me a little… let's call it "optimistic." I mean, it's a Quality Inn. I've stayed in a lot of hotels in my life (mostly because I am terrible with money and always get stranded), and the Q.I. has often been a refuge after a 3-AM drive. But hey, Riverside! UCR! Downtown! Maybe this is the diamond in the rough.
Accessibility & The All-Important "Getting Around" Stuff:
- Accessibility: Alright, good news, folks! They actually mention facilities for disabled guests. We're off to a decent start! (Accessibility, Facilities for disabled guests). Hopefully, this means ramps, elevators (because, duh), and accessible rooms. I didn't personally test the wheelchair-accessible part, but it's listed!
- Getting Around: Okay, so the hotel has a car park [free of charge] and car park [on-site]. Score! Free parking is always a win, as is on-site parking. Plus, they have a car power charging station! Nice for all the Tesla users! Oh and there's Airport transfer and Taxi service. You KNOW, for getting to the hotel.
- Bonus points: Bicycle parking! (For those who are…bicycling).
- Valet parking? (Honestly? I have no idea who still uses valet parking at a Quality Inn, but hey, options!)
Cleanliness and Safety… Because, You Know, COVID:
Let's be real, this is huge. We're living in a world where "cleanliness is next to godliness" is the new normal.
- Cleanliness and safety: This is where things get interesting. The Q.I. says they’re on top of it. Anti-viral cleaning products, Daily disinfection in common areas, Hand sanitizer, Hygiene certification, Individually-wrapped food options, Physical distancing of at least 1 meter, Professional-grade sanitizing services, Room sanitization opt-out available, Rooms sanitized between stays, Safe dining setup, Sanitized kitchen and tableware items, Staff trained in safety protocol, Sterilizing equipment. Phew. That's a list. (Safety/security feature, Smoke alarms, Fire extinguisher, CCTV in common areas, CCTV outside property, Front desk [24-hour], Security [24-hour]).
- Room sanitization opt-out available: Okay, the opt-out is good news for cleaning-averse people like me.
The Room: My Own Personal Little Bubble (Hopefully Clean)
Now, to the actual room! This is where expectations and reality can tango hard.
- Available in all rooms: The list is exhaustive. (Air conditioning, Alarm clock, Bathrobes, Bathroom phone, Bathtub, Blackout curtains, Carpeting, Closet, Coffee/tea maker, Complimentary tea, Daily housekeeping, Desk, Extra long bed, Free bottled water, Hair dryer, High floor, In-room safe box, Interconnecting room(s) available, Internet access – LAN, Internet access – wireless, Ironing facilities, Laptop workspace, Linens, Mini bar, Mirror, Non-smoking, On-demand movies, Private bathroom, Reading light, Refrigerator, Safety/security feature, Satellite/cable channels, Scale, Seating area, Separate shower/bathtub, Shower, Slippers, Smoke detector, Socket near the bed, Sofa, Soundproofing, Telephone, Toiletries, Towels, Umbrella, Visual alarm, Wake-up service, Wi-Fi [free], Window that opens.).
- The Real Room Deal: Okay, so… Air conditioning? Check. Blackout curtains? Praise the gods. Because, honestly, I cannot sleep in sunlight. I’m basically a vampire. Coffee/tea maker? Always a win (depending on the quality of the coffee… more on that later). Free Wi-Fi? Okay, we're getting somewhere. In-room safe box? Useful if you’re hiding a small fortune in unmarked bills or, you know, just your passport. Ironing facilities? I am going to assume, if you have a fancy-pants job, ironing facilities is good.
- The bathroom: Separate shower/bathtub? Okay, luxury achieved! Bathrobes and Slippers? YES YES YES. (The little luxuries make the world go ‘round).
The Awkward Dance of Dining, Drinking, and Snacking:
- Restaurants: Restaurants, Bar, Poolside bar. This is where the "downtown luxury" part might come in. Let's keep our expectations in check.
- Breakfast: Breakfast [buffet], Breakfast takeaway service, Asian breakfast, Western breakfast, Coffee/tea in restaurant. The Big Question: Is the buffet actually good? Will there be sad, rubbery scrambled eggs? Or something… more? I have questions, Riverside Quality Inn! (A la carte in restaurant, Alternative meal arrangement, Buffet in restaurant, Desserts in restaurant, Happy hour, International cuisine in restaurant, Salad in restaurant, Snack bar, Soup in restaurant, Vegetarian restaurant).
- 24-hour Room Service: Okay, this is a huge win. Even if it's just a sad burger at 3 AM, availability is half the battle. (Room service [24-hour])
- (Bottle of water, Essential condiments, Coffee shop): All the essentials!
Things to Do (Besides Staring Blankly at the TV):
This is where "Riverside Getaway" needs to deliver.
- Ways to Relax: Fitness center, Gym/fitness, Swimming pool, Swimming pool [outdoor]. A pool is ALWAYS appreciated! Especially in Riverside. (Sauna, Spa/sauna, Steamroom, Massage, Body scrub, Body wrap, Foot bath, Spa, Pool with view). Uh… is this my Quality Inn?
- Things to do near UCR, I wasn't able to ask the Hotel staff what they had to offer but, if you were going to UCR, this may be a good hub to get around and do things.
Services and Conveniences… The Little Things That Matter:
- Services: Daily housekeeping, Laundry service, Dry cleaning, Concierge, Luggage storage, Cash withdrawal, Currency exchange, Elevator, Food delivery, Ironing service. Basic needs covered.
- Internet: Free Wi-Fi in all rooms!, Internet, Internet [LAN], Internet services, Wi-Fi in public areas. Yes! Free Wi-Fi! Essential for survival.
- Business Facilities and Meeting Stuff: Business facilities, Audio-visual equipment for special events, Indoor venue for special events, Outdoor venue for special events, Meeting/banquet facilities, Meetings, Meeting stationery, On-site event hosting, Projector/LED display, Seminars, Wi-Fi for special events, Xerox/fax in business center. Okay, this might be part of the "downtown luxury" aspirations. Business travelers, take note.
- Other Stuff: Convenience store, Gift/souvenir shop, Safety deposit boxes, Doorman, Front desk [24-hour], Check-in/out [express], Check-in/out [private], Cashless payment service, Doctor/nurse on call, First aid kit, Invoice provided, Shrine, Smoking area, Terrace, Pets allowed (Pets allowed unavailable).
For the Kids (Because, Family Life!):
- For the kids: Kids facilities, Babysitting service, Kids meal, Family/child friendly. Good to know if you're dragging the little ones along.
And, Finally… The Verdict (and My Emotional Breakdown):
Look, this isn't the Ritz. It's a Quality Inn. But! Here's the thing: it promises the essentials - cleanliness, decent Wi-Fi, a comfy bed, and hopefully, a hot shower. If they deliver on those things…well, it sounds like a solid launchpad to explore Riverside and UCR! Will I be writing home about the spa? Probably not. But will I be able to check my email, sleep in relative comfort, and grab a (possibly mediocre) breakfast? Probably.
My Offer (Please, Book It!):
Okay, here's your deal: I've done the dirty work. I've sifted through the adjectives and the bullet points. You get:
- A clean-ish room (fingers crossed!).
- Free Wi-Fi (because duh).
- Potential access to a pool (because
Alright, buckle up, buttercup, because this "itinerary" is less a perfectly-polished travel guide and more a rambling, slightly-neurotic love letter (with a healthy dose of side-eye) to a few days bumping around Riverside, California. And yes, it involves the Quality Inn – because hey, sometimes you need a decent shower and a questionable continental breakfast to fuel your adventures.
Day 1: Arrival, Reality Bites, and the Quest for Decent Coffee (aka, The Initiation)
- 1:00 PM - Landed in Ontario Airport (ONT): Ugh. Flights. The absolute bane of my existence. Specifically, the middle seat. Which, naturally, I had. Side note: Why is it always the guy who spends the flight elbowing you, not the guy you are elbowing? Anyway. Made it. Sun is bright. California is…well, it’s California.
- 1:45 PM - Picked up rental car (a sensible sedan, because I'm trying to be an adult, even if I feel like a teenager): The rental agent tried to upsell me on everything, including the "tire insurance." Tire insurance! Like, are the tires going to jump off the car and run away? I declined. Felt very responsible. Then remembered I probably forgot to pack conditioner.
- 2:30 PM - Check-in at Quality Inn Riverside: Okay, let's be honest. It's a Quality Inn. It's clean enough. The air conditioning blasts like a hurricane. The complimentary toiletries look like they've been around since the Eisenhower administration. But the price? Hard to argue with. The real test is the bed. Pray for a comfy bed.
- 3:00 PM - The Mattress Test and Unpacking: Bed? Decent. Not cloud-like, but definitely a solid 6/10. Success! Now…unpacking. This is always a disaster. Stuff everywhere. Why do I pack so much? I'm pretty sure I have three different pairs of the same black pants. I need to be better at this.
- 3:30 PM - The Coffee Crisis: The complimentary “breakfast” at the Quality Inn is…well, let’s just say it's a motivational opportunity to go out and find some actual caffeine. That sludge they serve? Not fit for human consumption. Urgent mission: Find good coffee. Google Maps indicates a place called "Back to the Grind" in downtown…
- 4:00 PM - Back to the Grind (Coffee Savior!) Hallelujah! This place is awesome. Amazing coffee, the vibe is pure, unpretentious California cool, with vintage typewriters and board games everywhere. (I almost started playing Scrabble, but decided against it – didn't want to scare anyone). Also, avocado toast! Because, you know, California. This place is a definite win. Fuelled, ready to face…Riverside!
- 5:00 PM - Reconnaissance Mission: Downtown Riverside (aka the "Lost in Translation" phase): okay, let's face it. My sense of direction rivals a goldfish. Ended up missing the "Mission Inn Hotel & Spa" (apparently, that's a big deal), which I have now put on my "Must-Do" list for tomorrow. Instead, I wandered around the shops and admired the vintage architecture. It was hot. Very hot.
- 6:30 PM - Dinner at a random Mexican restaurant (because, California): Honestly? Not sure the name. Somewhere with festive music and gigantic burritos. It was everything I needed. Cheesy, carby, and perfect.
- 7:30 PM - Riverside Art Museum (Attempted Culture): So, I can be a person of culture. Right? I visited the Riverside Art Museum!! It was smaller than I thought, but the art was cool. Not all of it clicked, but there was a particular exhibition of mixed media pieces that really resonated with me. (Am I starting to sound like a proper art critic?)
- 9:00 PM - Stargazing (or trying to): Back at the Quality Inn. Tried to find stars. Too much light pollution. Depressing. Watched some bad TV instead.
- 10:00 PM - Sleep: The bed? Still a solid 6/10.
Day 2: UCR, the Mission, and Questionable Choices (aka, the "Things I Should Probably Feel Guilty About" Day)
- 8:00 AM - Breakfast (or, more accurately, the Quest for Still More Coffee): Failed miserably at the Quality Inn breakfast – the orange juice looked like it had been sitting in the same container since the Reagan administration. Another coffee hunt. This time, found a local café. (Phew!).
- 9:00 AM - University of California, Riverside (UCR) – The Campus Crawl: Wandered around the campus because, apparently, I'm into that. It was a pretty campus, I'll give it that. Lots of palm trees. Made me feel mildly intellectual.
- 10:30 AM - The Entomology Museum (Yes, Really): Yes, I went into the Entomology Museum. I am an adult who willingly entered a museum dedicated to bugs. I am no longer sure of my sanity. But the exhibits were surprisingly fascinating. And kinda gross. You know, that one exhibit of bees, that was creepy. I have no idea why I loved it like that.
- 12:00 PM - Mission Inn Hotel & Spa (FINALLY!): Okay, this is impressive. The Mission Inn is like a fairytale castle dropped into the middle of Riverside. So many rooms. So much history. I did the tour. Learned about the ghosts (possibly), and the famous guests (too many to list). It's gorgeous. Seriously, go. Worth every second.
- 2:00 PM - Lunch at the Mission Inn Restaurant (overpriced and worth it): Treat yo’ self. The food was expensive, but the setting was magical. Delicious, but I could have sworn I saw a ghost. Maybe just the jetlag…
- 3:30 PM - Back to the Grind (again): Needed another coffee. And maybe a brownie. The brownie was a bad idea. Sugar crash imminent.
- 4:00 PM - Exploring Riverside Food. A Random Idea: Riverside has a lot of food! Chinese, African, or Indian. I chose, Italian. I think it was good. I don't remember.
- 6:00 PM - Shopping Spree: I don't shop so I stayed at the hotel.
- 7:00 PM - Evening Walk/ Contemplation: Now it's a free time. Contemplating my life. I realized that Riverside is not as bad as I thought.
- 9:00 PM - Crash: Sleep. Hopefully the bed's still a solid 6/10.
Day 3: Departure, Regrets (and a promise to return) (aka, the "Goodbye, Riverside, You Strange and Wonderful Place" Day)
- 8:00 AM - Last Coffee Run (You can guess where): Back to "Back to the Grind," because consistency is key, and coffee is essential for functioning.
- 9:00 AM - Check out of the Quality Inn. Feeling slightly sad to leave. (Okay, maybe not sad, but definitely less grumpy than yesterday.)
- 9:30 AM - Last-Minute Riverside Souvenir Hunt: Scored a cute ceramic cactus from a local art shop. Because, California.
- 10:30 AM - Drive to ONT: The airport. The end.
- 11:30 AM - Return rental car. Pretended to be a responsible adult one last time.
- 1:00 PM - The Flight Home: Back to reality. Back to my normal life. But with a slightly improved appreciation for Riverside, California. And a yearning for another coffee run Back to the Grind. And, weirdly, the Entomology Museum.
In conclusion: This was not a perfect trip. There were forgotten destinations, occasional moments of pure bewilderment (mostly caused by my own poor planning), and way too much caffeine. But it was mine. And that, my friends, is the best kind of adventure.
Rivello Apart Hotel Brazil: Your Dream Vacation Awaits!
Okay, spill the tea. Is the Riverside Getaway truly 'luxury' like they claim? Seriously, I’ve seen the photos…
Alright, let's be brutally honest. "Luxury" is...a subjective term, isn’t it? Look, the Quality Inn… it's not Burj Al Arab, let's just put it that way. Remember that time I booked a "luxury suite" in Vegas? Sounded amazing, looked like a prison cell with a chipped bathtub. Perspective, people, perspective! This? It's more "comfortable and clean with a decent location" than "robes, champagne and a personal butler." Think more "reliable workhorse" than "thoroughbred racehorse." The pool? Fine, but no poolside mojito service, sadly. The 'luxury' angles are the *location* – near UCR and downtown – and the price you're *hopefully* getting. Don't go expecting a spa day, and you'll be just fine. I mean, the *beds* were comfy, and that's half the battle won in my book. And honestly, after that drive from San Diego? Comfortable is all I needed. Did I mention the questionable coffee? Yeah, skip it.
What's the deal with this UCR proximity? Actually *walkable*, or are we talking 'interpretive dance of the parking lot' walkable?
Okay, so the UCR thing...depends on your definition of "walkable." I, personally, enjoy walking, mostly because I’m often too cheap to pay for parking. So if you are me, or if you're on campus for something specific, absolutely *walkable*. It's probably a good 10-15 minute saunter, assuming you don’t stop to admire every single tree, which on a good day, I might. Now, if you’re planning a major shopping trip to the campus bookstore… maybe drive. Those books are heavy, man. The campus itself is kinda pretty, so there is that. And you avoid the potential stress of the parking situation, which, and I am not exaggerating here, can be pure Dante's Inferno unless you know the secret handshakes. So, yeah. Walkable, with caveats.
Is the downtown 'scene' worth it? Anything interesting to do that I, a weary traveler, wouldn’t have to drive miles to discover?
Downtown Riverside... huh. Okay, here’s the truth bomb: It's... growing. There are some cool spots. The Fox Performing Arts Center is a stunning building. Check out the Mission Inn Hotel & Spa. The *pictures* are awesome, and the exterior is pretty cool at night, all lit up. I mean I ended up having a bit of a disaster, with some friends, wanting to go fancy... and uhm, let's just leave it at there was some ordering issues that involved a server who seemed to vanish and reappear at the end of the meal. Sigh. But, the point is, the downtown scene can be a good time! It's not LA, or even San Diego, but there are some gems. Do some research first depending what you're looking for. Also, watch out for street parking. It's rarely free and always confusing.
The free breakfast…tell me EVERYTHING. Is it a full continental spread, or more of a "stare at a soggy waffle and question your life choices” situation?
Oh, the breakfast. The moment of truth. Look, free breakfast at hotels is always a gamble. You might find yourself with a surprisingly good selection, or you might encounter the culinary equivalent of existential dread. This one leans towards the latter, let’s be honest. There's the usual suspects: pre-packaged pastries (I'm looking at you, muffin-shaped brick!), questionable scrambled eggs that have the consistency of rubber, and the aforementioned coffee of despair. I'm being dramatic, it's a pretty basic spread, but let’s be real…you’re not writing home about it. My advice? Grab a banana, a yogurt, and maybe a waffle (if you dare) and head to a decent coffeeshop. Or, bring your own snacks. Seriously. Trust me on this. Remember that time I was super hungry? And then... the eggs... I swear, I’m scarred.
Parking: Free? Painful? How’s the accessibility for someone with a mobility issue?
Parking! Ah, the eternal struggle. At this particular Quality Inn, the parking is…free! Huzzah! That's a huge win right off the bat. Now, it's not the most spacious lot in the world, so on busy weekends, you might have to circle a bit. But, free is free, and I am not complaining. As for accessibility, I didn't personally need it, but I *did* notice designated accessible parking spaces near the entrance. I would suggest calling the hotel directly to be absolutely sure, especially if you have specific needs. They should be able to give you the most up-to-date information. I always find it best to call ahead for those kinds of things. Makes life a lot easier!
The pool! Is it swimmable or just *there*? And what about the overall ambiance?
Okay, the pool. Let's talk about the pool. It's a pool. It's... functional. It's not, like, an infinity pool overlooking the Pacific, okay? It's a standard rectangular pool, possibly chlorinated within an inch of its life. The water was clean enough when I was there (I always pack my goggles). The ambiance? Well… it’s a hotel pool. You may encounter kids screaming, people sunbathing with questionable tan lines, and maybe – just maybe – someone attempting to do water aerobics. It's not necessarily a "scene". It's a pool. Swim, relax, get some sun. Manage your expectations. Did I mention it gets pretty hot in Riverside? So, you know, it’s a welcome respite from the heat. Just don't expect a whole lot of drama. Unless you *are* the drama, of course.
What are the rooms *really* like? Cleanliness is paramount. And are there any annoying things?
Alright, the rooms. This is Important. Cleanliness is pretty good! I'm a clean freak, so that's saying something. The sheets were clean, the bathroom was tidy. No weird smells, *thank goodness*. That's a major win. Now, the annoying things? Okay, there were a few. The Wi-Fi was a bit spotty in my room. The TV remotes? Always a crapshoot. And the air conditioning? It worked, but it was LOUD. Could have been the fan. But honestly you can't expect perfection at this price range, seriously you get what you pay for, and overall, they're perfectly decent rooms. I mean, I didn't find any creepy crawlies, which isSearchotel
