Ann Arbor's BEST DoubleTree? Unbelievable Perks Await!
Ann Arbor's BEST DoubleTree? The Truth (and the REALLY Good Perks)
Alright, let's be real for a sec. Finding a good hotel in Ann Arbor? It's a mission. Especially if you're looking for a hotel that actually gets you, the weary traveler. Well, I just wrapped up my stay at the DoubleTree, and let me tell you, the headline is a bit much, but… there's definitely some truth to "Unbelievable Perks Await!" Let's unpack this whole experience, the good, the slightly quirky, and the genuinely awesome.
Accessibility & Safety First (and Always, Thank Goodness!)
Okay, major kudos where it's due. This DoubleTree gets accessibility. From the website's initial promise to the reality, it’s a smooth ride. Wheelchair accessible? Absolutely. Seriously appreciate the ease of navigation. Elevator? Check. The whole shebang. And in this day and age, safety is PARAMOUNT. They're serious about it. Anti-viral cleaning products? Yes. Rooms sanitized between stays? Yup. Hand sanitizer EVERYWHERE? Oh, HELL yes! I even saw staff training. This is the solid foundation on which everything else rests. Peace of mind? Immensely helpful in today’s world.
Internet Access? (Because, You Know, We Need It)
This is important. Free Wi-Fi in all rooms? YES! Finally, somewhere I don't have to fight for bandwidth. Internet [LAN]? Available, if you're old-school like that. The Wi-Fi was fast enough to stream some bad 80s movies (a personal pleasure). And for special events, they even have Wi-Fi – although I didn’t test it.
Dining, Drinking, and Snacking: Fueling the Exploratory Spirit
Okay, the food situation… that's where things get a little, well, human.
- Breakfast [buffet] – the usual suspects, but also Asian breakfast options and some pretty decent coffee/tea for a hotel.
- Restaurants: Okay, so the food is a bit chain-y; Western cuisine and International cuisine are on offer in the main restaurant. But, I mean, sometimes you just need a burger, you know? The bar is lively enough, good music, and serves up the usual suspects. Happy hour? You betcha! The poolside bar looked inviting, although I didn’t get a chance to partake.
- Room service [24-hour]? A BLESSING. Especially after a long day exploring Ann Arbor.
- Snack bar: For those late-night cravings. I may have had a few too many… (no regrets).
Foodie Confessions (Honest Moments):
Okay, the buffet breakfast was… a mixed bag. The scrambled eggs? Undistinguished. The bacon? Crispy-ish. But the fresh fruit? Delightful. And the coffee? Actually, surprisingly good. Their Asian breakfast options did shine a bit more. And room service? Okay, I ordered a burger at 2 AM. It was glorious. Seriously. I have no shame. It was exactly what I needed; the ultimate post-conference comfort food.
The Relaxation Station: Can I Actually Unwind?
This is where the DoubleTree shines. Seriously. Swimming pool [outdoor]? YES! It really does look beautiful. Gym/fitness? Yes. But listen, I'm not one for gyms on vacation, okay? But here's the thing: The spa… the spa is worth the price of admission alone. I mean, the Sauna, the Steamroom… and the massage… the massage… oh my god. I spent two hours.
My Spa Revelation
Okay, here's the tea for you. I'm not a huge spa person usually. Feel a bit self-conscious about being pampered to near-oblivion. But something about the DoubleTree's spa was different. Maybe it’s the soothing music, maybe it’s the incredibly kind staff, or maybe it’s just that I needed it. I opted for a deep tissue massage (yes, I'm a cliche). Now, this wasn't your gentle, "let's-just-pat-you-down" massage. This was a "knead-your-knots-into-oblivion" kind of massage. And it was transformative. Seriously. I walked in a tense, grumpy human, and floated out feeling… well, almost new. I actually fell asleep on the massage table. Now, that's relaxation. This alone makes it Ann Arbor's BEST DoubleTree.
Rooms: Comfort and Convenience (and a Few Quirks)
Let's talk about the heart of the matter: the rooms.
- Air conditioning? Check. Essential.
- Free bottled water? Appreciated. Hydration first, people!
- Coffee/tea maker? Mandatory. Coffee, always.
- Blackout curtains? Hallelujah! Sleep is sacred.
- Safe? Yes. I didn’t use it, but it’s there.
- Non-smoking? Of course.
- Alarm clock? Check. But I use my phone. Also, how are alarm clocks still a thing?
The Bathroom Situation: The bathrooms are clean and they provide all the things you may need. Bathrobes and slippers are provided.
My honest room thoughts: Clean, comfortable. The bed was amazing. I slept like a baby.
The Downside (Because No Place is Perfect):
There were some minor hiccups. The elevators were a little slow at peak times. It’s not a deal-breaker, but be prepared to wait a minute.
The Unbelievable Perks: The Real Deal
So, is “Unbelievable Perks Await!” an overstatement? Mostly. But the DoubleTree has a definite sparkle. And, let's face it, the spa experience alone might justify the price.
Offer for You, the Weary Traveler:
(Ann Arbor's BEST DoubleTree: Your Getaway Awaits!)
Here's The Deal:
Book your stay at the Ann Arbor DoubleTree by [Date] and receive:
- Guaranteed Upgrade: Score a free upgrade to a room overlooking the pool!
- Spa Credit: They will toss in a $50 spa credit to your stay!
- Complimentary Breakfast Enjoy a tasty breakfast at the restaurant!
- Early/Late Checkout: You can sleep in a little longer!
Why Book Now?
Because you DESERVE a break. You deserve a place where you can actually relax. A place where safety and comfort are a priority. The DoubleTree in Ann Arbor offers that. And, honestly, after the year we've all had, who doesn't deserve a little pampering?
Click here to book your Ann Arbor escape now! Don't wait! Spaces are limited!
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Okay, buckle up buttercups, because this isn't your grandma's perfectly-charted travel itinerary. This is ME, Ann Arbor, and the emotional rollercoaster that is traveling. We're talking DoubleTree by Hilton North, and let’s just say, I'm going in with an open mind… and a whole lotta caffeine.
Day 1: Arrival & Mild Panic (Plus, Chocolate Chip Cookies!)
2:00 PM: Touchdown in Ann Arbor! (Or, as close as a delayed flight allows). Honestly, I'm already a mess. Got practically mauled by luggage carousel gremlins. My checked bag? MIA, probably vacationing in warmer climes. Wonderful. Called the front desk at the DoubleTree. The voice on the other end sounded… tired. Same, friend, same.
2:45 PM: The DoubleTree Reveal. Okay, first impressions: the lobby is…lobby-ish. Beige, corporate, but bless those folks, they had CHOCOLATE CHIP COOKIES! And you know what? They were warm, gooey, and I might've just devoured three before even checking in. Instant mood booster. Thank you, DoubleTree angels. Maybe this won’t be so bad after all.
3:30 PM: Room Reconnaissance. My room is, predictably, a standard hotel room. King-sized bed (score!), a desk (sigh), and a bathroom that already smells faintly of disinfectant. But hey, it's clean! And the view? Looking out onto… a strip mall. Okay, okay. Perspective. At least the windows aren’t broken. I'm putting my bag in the corner, hopefully, it will arrive before I get to bed.
4:00 PM: The Great Wardrobe Crisis (or, Where's My Damn Bag?) Okay, so, no bag. I'm in a wrinkled travel outfit and about to face the world. I'm wearing a skirt, that I have no business wearing, but the other outfits are waiting to be found. I’m starting to sweat. I’m gonna run to the nearest store and pray for a miracle.
6:00 PM: Dinner Disaster Avoided. Luckily, there’s a restaurant at the hotel. I'm already hungry. I'm thinking comfort food. I decide to order a burger. It's… edible. Passable. But if I'm honest, I've had better burgers from a gas station. The fries, however, were crispy and salty, a small victory in a sea of missing luggage.
7:30 PM: Netflix and Chill (with a side of Mild Despair). Channel surfing. Found a movie that’s brain-numbingly bad, but hey, I don’t have to THINK, and that's a plus right now. I'm starting to suspect my luggage is in the Bermuda Triangle.
9:00 PM: The Chocolate Chip Cookie Redemption. Another cookie. Because why not? I deserve it. And maybe, just maybe, this trip won't be a total disaster after all. Maybe.
Day 2: Ann Arbor Adventures (Or, My Attempts to Be a Tourist)
8:00 AM: Breakfast Buffet Blues. The buffet. Oh, the buffet. The questionable scrambled eggs, the rubbery bacon, the… well, let's just say it's a classic hotel buffet. The coffee, though? Surprisingly decent. Small wins, people, small wins.
9:00 AM: The University of Michigan Campus. Okay, this is pretty. Huge, beautiful buildings, lots of students wandering around looking all intellectual and… young. Briefly considered enrolling in a philosophy class just for the ambiance. Quickly abandoned the idea when I remembered the amount of work involved. Still, a pleasant saunter around the Diag… except for the swarm of squirrels. They're plotting something, I swear.
11:00 AM: Kerrytown Market & Shops. Cute. Quirky. Too many adorable little things I don't need but desperately want. Ended up buying a ridiculously overpriced artisan candle. Justified it as "self-care." Don't judge me.
1:00 PM: Lunch Fail. Found a local restaurant recommended online. Turns out, it was a local restaurant best known for its long wait times. After sitting there for 45 minutes, I gave up and went back to the hotel; ate another burger in the bar which was sadly less impressive than the first. I'm going to have a burger for dinner, I'm sensing the start of burger-related issues.
3:00 PM: The Ann Arbor Art Museum. A breath of fresh air! The art was inspiring, thought-provoking, and sometimes just plain weird. I felt a lot cooler just being there. Actually spent a couple of hours losing myself in art and I swear, I felt a little bit smarter when I left.
6:00 PM: Dinner and Despair. Guess what! STILL NO LUGGAGE!!! I am this close to a full-blown meltdown. But I'm not giving up! I'm a survivor, dammit! I end up getting a pizza delivered to the hotel room, eating it in my pajamas, and talking to the pizza delivery guy about his day. He was nicer than the airline.
8:00 PM: Therapy via Reality TV. More brain-melting TV, this time with a side of wine. Because travel is supposed to be fun. Right? Right?!
Day 3: Departure (and Praying to the Luggage Gods)
7:00 AM: The Breakfast Buffet… Again. Same questionable eggs, same rubbery bacon. But I’m now oddly accustomed to the routine.
8:00 AM: Shopping (Last Resort). I decided to go buy some more clothes because the previous day's shopping did not go as planned. It's time.
10:00 AM: (Fingers Crossed) Check Out and Departure. The hotel was fine. Standard, nothing to write home about, but clean and the staff were pretty nice. Now for the final humiliation: the airport. Still no luggage. Wish me luck.
Overall Reflections:
The DoubleTree? It was a place to stay, that had cookies! Ann Arbor? A lovely town, with art, food, and squirrels that need to be watched. My trip? An adventure in resilience, and a reminder that sometimes, the best stories come from the unexpected detours. I learned a thing or two and probably gained a few pounds. And hey, at least I have a reason to come back and find my missing luggage!
Unbelievable Glamping in the UK: Arns Pods Await!
Ann Arbor's BEST DoubleTree? Unbelievable Perks Await! ...Or Do They? (A Slightly Unhinged FAQ)
Alright, alright, before we get started, let me just say: I'm writing this *after* the complimentary DoubleTree cookie. So, proceed with a healthy dose of skepticism. But hey, let's dive in. We're here to figure out if this Ann Arbor DoubleTree REALLY is as "BEST" as all that marketing fluff claims. I'll be honest, I've got some baggage... like, a LOT of baggage when it comes to hotels.
1. Is that DoubleTree cookie *really* worth the hype?
Okay, let's get this out of the way. The cookie. The *damn* cookie. It's… good. It's warm. It's chocolate chip. It's a comforting hug in carb form after a long drive. However (and here's where the 'unhinged' starts to creep in), the *expectation* is astronomical. You’re practically Pavlov’s dog after checking in. My first stay? I practically elbowed a sweet elderly lady for the cookie. Was it the single best cookie of my life? Nah. But did it *feel* like it at that exact moment? Surprisingly, yes. It's a psychological masterstroke, people. A delicious, sugary illusion.
But here's the REAL kicker: one time, they were... *underbaked*. Like, practically doughy. My heart broke. The illusion shattered like a dropped plate of chocolate chip dreams. I actually considered complaining. I didn't. I'm too passive-aggressive for that. But the memory still stings. *Shudders*
2. Are the rooms actually "unbelievable"? What about the decor?
“Unbelievable” is a strong word, isn’t it? Let's be real: hotels are often a gamble. Sometimes you luck out, sometimes you get a room that smells faintly of sadness and despair. The Ann Arbor DoubleTree? Room-wise, it's... solid. It's clean. It's mostly quiet (unless you get the view of the highway, then… well, bring earplugs, honey). The beds are generally comfy, but, and here's the big BUT, the decor is… beige. Lots and lots of beige. I swear, I've seen more exciting paint choices in a dentist's waiting room.
One time I stayed there for a conference, and I'm pretty sure the beige walls were subtly mocking my lack of sleep. They whispered of dull presentations and lukewarm coffee. I'm not saying the decor is *bad*. It's just... emotionally neutral. Like Switzerland. Safe. Predictable. A bit boring. You know what I mean?
3. What about the pool / fitness center? Do they even exist?
Okay, the pool. Now, this is where things get interesting… depending on your definition of "interesting." And this is where my memory starts to fail me. I THINK there's a pool? I have a vague recollection of… chlorinated water? Maybe? I only remember because one time, way back during a stay, I was desperate to swim off a stress-induced headache and I made my way to the pool. It was... functional. Clean, but unremarkable. I do remember shivering a LOT. The water seemed perpetually chilly. It's no Olympic-sized aquatic paradise, mind you. It gets the job done. Maybe. I really need to go back and double-check.
The fitness center? Oh, yes. I can attest it exists. I peeked in once. I believe it had treadmills and weights and other exercise-y things. I have no personal experience, mainly because the only exercise MY hotel room sees is the frantic pacing I do before an important meeting. I am not a gym person. I am a cookie person. Priorities, people!
4. Is the location convenient? Is it walkable to anything good?
Location, location, location! The Ann Arbor DoubleTree… is in Ann Arbor. Which is generally a GOOD thing. It's not smack-dab downtown, so you're not getting the full immersive Ann Arbor experience, but it's not in the middle of nowhere either. Depends on what you're after. I've needed to be near the University of Michigan several times, this hotel does the trick. Getting to U of M is easy enough, even me, and I’m directionally challenged.
Walkable? Well, "walkable" is relative to your sanity levels. Walking to a restaurant? You might have to walk a bit, or drive. There's a few options, okay, but I'm going to level with you: make sure you have a car. Also, Ann Arbor in winter? Pray for your sanity.
5. What's the deal with the "unbelievable perks"? Besides the cookie?
Okay, so, besides the cookie (which, let's be honest, is the entire reason we're even talking about this hotel), the perks are… well, they exist. Mostly, they're what you'd expect from a standard DoubleTree. Free Wi-Fi (which can be iffy sometimes-- seriously, in 2024, Wi-Fi should be as reliable as breathing!), a fairly decent breakfast buffet (if you like buffets, I’m a fan, even with the questionable scrambled eggs. It's the experience, people! It’s the sheer abundance!), and maybe, just maybe, a small bottle of water. (Is that still standard? I can't remember! Memory fails me again!).
Don't get me wrong, it's not *bad*. It's just… not *unbelievable*. Look, it's a hotel. It has the usual accoutrements. Don't go in expecting a unicorn petting zoo, and you'll be fine. I’ve learned to keep my expectations down: The cookie is the prize. The rest, is just…surviving the beige.
6. Would you stay there again? Really?
Honestly? Yes. Probably. Because, let's be real, I'm a creature of habit, especially when it comes to travel. And the damn cookie, well, it has a certain pull, okay? But I'll go in with my eyes open this time. I'll brace myself for the beige. I'll lower my expectations for the pool. And I'll silently pray for properly-baked cookies. It’s not perfect, but it’s familiar. And sometimes, that’s exactly what you need.
Just… maybe I'll bring my own chocolate chips. You know. Just in case.
