Tupelo's BEST Kept Secret: Rodeway Inn & Suites!
Tupelo's BEST Kept Secret: Rodeway Inn & Suites!
Okay, folks, buckle up. We're diving headfirst into the… well, let's call it the charmingly enigmatic world of Tupelo's Rodeway Inn & Suites. And trust me, it's a wild ride. This isn't your glossy, perfectly curated hotel review; this is the real deal. We're talking honest opinions, unfiltered experiences, and the kind of details you won’t find in those cookie-cutter travel guides. Let’s see if this "best kept secret" lives up to the hype.
First Impressions: The Arrival & Accessibility (or Lack Thereof!)
Okay, so let’s be real, the exterior doesn’t exactly scream "luxury resort." But hey, Tupelo isn't Vegas, right? The exterior corridor setup is… well, it’s there. Think of it as a sneak peek into the lives of your fellow travelers. Shrugs. CCTV in common areas and CCTV outside property are reassuring. I’m always a fan of security.
Now, the big question, Accessibility: Listed as having "Facilities for disabled guests." Okay, that's something, I saw an elevator, a huge plus. That said, I didn't personally need the full accessible experience. If you do, call ahead and specifically confirm. Don't just assume! And for the love of all things holy, Check-in/out [quick] isn't always the case. Be prepared for a slightly longer process. And car park [free of charge] is a definite win.
Rooms: The Good, The Bad, and the Slightly-Confused
Alright, let's talk rooms. My room had Air conditioning (phew!), Air conditioning in public area as well, thank goodness. Free bottled water and a coffee/tea maker in the room… score! This is getting better! Wi-Fi [free] is a godsend, and thankfully, it actually worked (more on that later). You've got your standard Alarm clock, Desk, Hair dryer, Ironing facilities (thank you, universe!), In-room safe box, and Refrigerator, all the basics. A laptop workspace is always a plus, and I appreciate a Socket near the bed. The blackout curtains were a true blessing for sleeping in. There's Complimentary tea and a Mirror. It's all there, but some of the decor felt… stuck in a 1990s time warp. The linens and towels seemed clean enough.
The Bathroom phone? I could use it… I think I'd rather text.
Here’s a moment of truth: I wouldn't say the Soundproof rooms were completely soundproof. Let’s just say I got very familiar with the sounds of… well, life outside my room. And I really wish I'd had Bathrobes and Slippers but alas.
Internet: A Tale of Two Worlds
Ah, the internet. Free Wi-Fi in all rooms! And Internet and Internet services are offered. This is a selling point, folks. This is 2024, we need Wi-Fi. And for the most part, it was… okay. Sometimes fast, sometimes slow, but it worked. I'm not going to complain, but don't expect to stream 4K movies.
Dining: Eat, Pray, Maybe Get a Snack
Okay, Dining, drinking, and snacking! There is a Breakfast [buffet]. Now be warned: I went down one morning expecting a feast. What I found was… modest. But hey, Breakfast service is a bonus, you know? The alternative meal arrangement is a nice touch. There is a Snack bar. I saw no Asian cuisine in restaurant, no Vegetarian restaurant. There is a Bottle of water for each guest. The coffee was lukewarm, but it was coffee. I didn't use the room service [24-hour]. There is the promise of A la carte in the restaurant, and maybe a Poolside bar? I didn't see it.
Things to Do & Ways to Relax: Spa Day Dreams (and a Gym?)
Okay, so this is where things get… interesting. The listing mentions a Fitness center, Spa, Spa/sauna, Sauna, Steamroom, Swimming pool, and Swimming pool [outdoor]. But… I didn’t see any of that. Perhaps I missed something? The website didn’t seem to offer any evidence of these great luxuries.
Cleanliness & Safety: A Sanitized Sanctuary?
Okay, let’s talk Cleanliness and safety. This is huge right now. The list brags about Daily disinfection in common areas, Hand sanitizer everywhere, Rooms sanitized between stays. This felt reassuring. Anti-viral cleaning products are great. The staff seemed to be trained in safety protocol. I saw that the Staff trained in safety protocol. I also saw Hand sanitizer. I did not notice the Sterilizing equipment, but I didn't need to. I appreciated the effort.
Services and Conveniences: The Good, The Bad, and The… Laundry?
Alright, the hotel offers a solid amount of services and conveniences. Daily housekeeping is a plus. Business facilities if you're in Tupelo on business, and the cash withdrawal is great if you need it. It does have a Convenience store. Doorman, Elevator, Invoice provided, Laundry service, Luggage storage, Meeting/banquet facilities. There is Food delivery available. There is Dry cleaning, and I can't fault the Safety deposit boxes. The Ironing service, is nice. They've thought of a lot.
For the Kids: Family-Friendly Fun?
The listing says Family/child friendly. I did not see Kids facilities or Babysitting service.
The Verdict: Is it Really a Best Kept Secret?
Okay, here's the thing. Rodeway Inn & Suites isn't the Ritz. It's not the Four Seasons. It's… real. It's got its quirks, its imperfections, and a few things that might need a little… updating. But it's also clean, the staff were friendly, and it's affordable. It's a solid base of operations. Would I stay here again? Honestly? Maybe. Especially if I wanted an inexpensive stay in Tupelo and could overlook a few eccentricities.
The Unfiltered Offer: Your Tupelo Adventure Starts Here!
Look, you're not going to find a five-star resort in Tupelo. But you will find a comfortable, clean, and conveniently-located place to rest your head while you explore the birthplace of Elvis and all the other wonders of Tupelo.
For a limited time, book your stay at Rodeway Inn & Suites and get:
- Free Wi-Fi to stay connected (mostly).
- Free Parking – ditch the parking fees.
- A comfortable room with the essential amenities.
- Affordable rates that won't break the bank
So, are you ready to embrace the Tupelo and give this "best kept secret" a chance? Book your stay today and discover the charmingly imperfect side of Tupelo!
Millz Manor: Fall River Mills' Hidden Gem (CA) - You HAVE to See This!
Alright, buckle up buttercups, because this isn't your grandma's perfectly-formatted travel itinerary. This is a Rodeway Inn & Suites Tupelo (MS) saga, and it's gonna be… well, let's just say it's gonna be real.
Day 1: Arrival in Tupelo – Or, The Day My Hopes and Dreams Met a Wall of Beige
- 2:00 PM: Arrive at the Rodeway Inn & Suites. Okay, let's get this over with. First impressions? Well, the website photos lied. Big time. The lobby smells faintly of chlorine and… ambition, maybe? A faded "Welcome to Tupelo!" sign hangs limply, as if even it's seen better days. The woman behind the desk, bless her heart, looks like she’s seen things. Things like a lot of late-night pizza deliveries.
- Anecdote: Tried to book online, but the system glitched. Called the hotel. Twice. "Yes, sir, the booking is confirmed. Sure thing, sir, we'll make sure that room is available. Everything's good, sir." The first sign of trouble, I should have trusted my gut.
- 2:30 PM: Room inspection. Oh boy. The room number is… 302. I can hear the faint sound of a toilet flushing from the next room. I can smell the faint scent of something vaguely floral trying desperately to cover up a… something else. The carpet’s got a life of its own, patches of it rising and falling like the chest of a slumbering beast. The bedspread? A questionable floral pattern. I’m half expecting to find a rogue cockroach playing solitaire on the headboard.
- Quirky Observation: The TV remote? A magnificent piece of technology from roughly 1998. The buttons are worn smooth. I’m pretty sure I’m more familiar with the "Vol-" than my own reflection at this point.
- 3:00 PM - 4:00 PM: Unpack. Sigh. Realize I forgot my travel pillow. Internally scream. Debate between buying a new one or using a rolled-up towel. Opt for the towel; it’s more “authentic.”
- 4:00 PM - 6:00 PM: Explore Elvis's Birthplace! Well, attempt anyway. Got lost. Multiple times. Tupelo is deceptively spread out. The GPS keeps trying to send me through a… cornfield? Finally, after many near-misses with rogue pickup trucks, I arrive, slightly sweaty and slightly panicked.
- Emotional Reaction: The house itself is small, humble… and surprisingly moving. Standing there, imagining a young Elvis running around, I actually got a bit choked up. Then I got distracted by the gift shop, which is a goldmine of Elvis-themed everything. I wanted a jumpsuit, but the price was… challenging.
- 6:00 PM - 7:00 PM: Dinner at a local diner. Found a place called "Johnnie's" – looks old-school. The waitress seems to know everyone, she's super kind. The food is pure comfort. Fried chicken, mashed potatoes, and a piece of pie so big it could feed a small family.
- Opinionated Language: This is what I'm talking about! Real food, real people, none of that fancy, pretentious nonsense. If this place got fancy, it would be a crime.
- 7:00 PM - 9:00 PM: Stroll around downtown Tupelo. Try to find a place open to grab a beer… most things are closed. Feeling a little bit… well, not quite depressed, but definitely in the mood for a good cry. I end up back at the room, flipping channels, and ordering a pizza for room service. Sadness and pizza are a perfect combo.
- 9:00 PM - Bedtime: Channel surf and try to stay awake to watch the latest movie, or TV Show (who cares?).
Day 2: The Elvis Pilgrimage and the Quest for Decent Coffee… and Why I Should Really Get a Travel Pillow
- 8:00 AM: Wake up feeling… well, like I slept in a room where dreams go to die. The bedsprings were a symphony of protest all night long. The towel-pillow? Not a winner.
- Imperfection Alert: The shower pressure? Pathetic. I'm pretty sure a garden hose would have been more effective.
- 8:30 AM: Morning routine. The coffee maker in the room makes… something vaguely resembling brown, lukewarm water. This is a crisis. Need. Caffeine. Immediately.
- Rambling: Where's the good coffee in Tupelo? Is there any good coffee in Tupelo? I feel like the search for a decent cup could be my entire mission for the day. It'll probably be a quest. I'm like a knight in shining armor on a (very tired) steed, searching for the Holy Grail… of iced lattes.
- 9:00 AM - 12:00 PM: Elvis Presley Birthplace Revisited. Going back to get the full experience. This includes a trip through the museum and the gift shop (again). The gift shop still has that jumpsuit I'm coveting.
- Doubling Down on a Single Experience: This is more than just a quick tour. This is a total Elvis immersion. Sat on the porch of his childhood home and just took in the atmosphere. I'm letting it sink in. Then bought another Elvis trinket. Because why not.
- 12:00 - 1:00 PM: Lunch at a burger place. "B's Burger Shack" – the name is promising, the burger is a home run, and the fries… well, they're fries.
- 1:00 PM - 2:00 PM: Hunt for Good Coffee. Found a place, "Relics Coffee" – a small, slightly hipster joint. The iced latte is a masterpiece. This is a victory!
- 2:00 PM - 4:00 PM: The "Tupelo Battlefield" – Civil War stuff, historical markers, etc. It's a beautiful, quiet space. Thought about life, the universe, and the fact that I still need to pack.
- 4:00 PM - 6:00 PM: Packed. Stared mournfully at the faded floral pattern of the bedspread one last time. Said a small prayer that the next hotel is maybe… slightly less beige.
- 6:00 PM: Dinner. Another diner. More fried food. My arteries hate me, but my soul is singing. The waitress remembered my pizza from last night. That's hospitality!
- 7:00 PM - 9:00 PM: Packing up, taking a shower (still barely a trickle). I'm starting to feel like I lived longer.
- 9:00 PM to Bedtime: Just get some Sleep. That's all I want.
Day 3: Departure - Freedom, Finally!
- 7:00 AM: Woke up. Said goodbye to the room. Thank God.
- 7:30 AM: "Continental" breakfast. A sad array of sad-looking pastries wrapped in plastic. Opted for the coffee (again, lukewarm but caffeine-laden).
- 8:00 AM: Checkout. Escape the Rodeway Inn.
- Overall Assessment: Tupelo, you're a quirky, charming, somewhat beige town. The Rodeway Inn? Let's just say it has character. Maybe a little too much. Would I recommend it? Well, if you're on a budget, and have a strong stomach for questionable carpet choices, then maybe. But pack your own pillow, and maybe a hazmat suit. And bring your own coffee.
Rodeway Inn & Suites, Tupelo: The Unofficial FAQ (Because Let's Be Real, Nobody's Officially Talking About It)
Okay, seriously, is Rodeway Inn & Suites in Tupelo *actually* a secret? Or am I just oblivious?
Well, "secret" might be a *slight* exaggeration. It's not like MI6 is using it for covert operations (as far as *I* know). But let's just say it's not exactly plastered on every billboard on the way into town. It's more of a... whispered recommendation. You know, mentioned in hushed tones over a lukewarm coffee at the Cracker Barrel. The kind of place you only find after a frantic Google search at 2 AM, fueled by the desperate need for a cheap-ish bed, a questionable continental breakfast, and the unwavering belief that *surely* there's SOMETHING available in the city of Elvis. I'd argue more "hidden gem" than "secret". Unless, of course, you count the fact that you can't quite remember what you're doing there in the first place, and then it starts to become an enigma.
What's the *vibe* like? Is it haunted? (Be honest.)
The vibe? Okay, picture this: you've just driven 8 hours. Your bladder is screaming. You're craving a burger. The air conditioning unit in your '78 Ford Pinto is wheezing its last breath. THAT'S the vibe.
Haunted? Hmm. I wouldn't say *haunted*, but I've definitely felt *watched*. Especially by the portrait of Elvis in the lobby. That guy’s eyes...they follow you. And the elevator? It makes some noises I'm not entirely sure are mechanically sound. I'd say there's a 50/50 chance the ghosts are just as exhausted as you are and are hoping for a peaceful night's sleep.
Continental breakfast? Is it worth the hassle? What about the pool?
The Continental, my friends, is an *experience*. Picture the usual suspects: pre-packaged muffins that defy the laws of nature (i.e., never seem to go stale), those little single-serve cereal boxes that have been sitting on the shelf since the Clinton administration, lukewarm coffee that tastes suspiciously of instant, and maybe, just maybe, some sad-looking, plastic-wrapped bagels. Is it worth the hassle? Depends. Are you really, really hungry? Do you have the iron will to resist the siren song of the vending machine?
As for the pool...ah, the pool. I have a story. Once, I checked in on what I thought was a hot day and was craving for a swim. It looked pretty inviting from the lobby. I got to the pool, and there were some floaties, but the water...was a beautiful shade of green. Like, emerald, almost. I think it had developed its own ecosystem, a silent world unseen by most. So, yeah, swim at your own risk, I guess.
The rooms...are they as advertised? ("Clean, comfortable, convenient!")
"Clean, comfortable, convenient!" They’re words, aren't they? Words used to lure you in. Honestly, it's a crapshoot. Sometimes you get lucky. Sometimes the sheets feel like sandpaper. Sometimes there's a mysterious stain on the carpet that you *really* don't want to investigate. The convenient part is probably correct; you're *probably* close to a gas station. I'd say lower your expectations, pack some Lysol wipes, and hope for the best. Embrace the adventure (or at least, survive it).
Okay, but *why* would anyone stay there? What's the appeal besides the potentially-haunted vibe?
Ah, the million-dollar question. Let's be blunt: it's probably the price. It's often one of the cheaper options in Tupelo. And sometimes, just sometimes, you need a place to lay your weary head, and you're not looking to break the bank. You're on a road trip. You're visiting Graceland. You're in Tupelo for reasons that are frankly *none of my business*. Whatever your reason, Rodeway Inn can be a perfectly serviceable option for one or two nights. And, honestly, there's a kind of underdog charm to it, isn't there? You're not expecting luxury. You just want a place to *be*. And maybe, just maybe, have a story to tell.
I need a story. Give me A story!
Alright, buckle up. Once, I was there: Late October, driving from New Orleans, trying to make it to the Smokies. Rain. Puddles. So tired, I could taste it. Pulled into the Rodeway. Walked in, and the front desk guy looked like he'd seen things. Seen *many* things. Checked in, and my room was on the top floor. Opened the door and the air was thick, like a damp summer day. You could *smell* the history. I switched on the AC; it whined. Sat on the bed. The bed? It leaned slightly. But I didn't care. I just wanted to sit down. I then tried the bathroom. The showerhead was a beast. It hissed, sputtering. I swear I saw tiny black specks in the water. Didn't matter. I needed that shower! I survived, though, and in the morning, things turned toward the slightly weird. Coffee, yeah. And a *very* loud argument coming from the next room, right under the door. I could heard every word of the discussion about the merits of a new tire shop! I left with a smile, and a story. That's the magic of the Rodeway Inn, I guess.
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