Nashville's BEST Kept Secret? This Rodeway Inn Will SHOCK You!
Nashville's BEST Kept Secret? Hold My Beer (and My Expectations): Rodeway Inn Review – You Won't Believe It! (Maybe)
Alright, buckle up buttercups, because I’m about to spill the tea (or maybe lukewarm coffee) on what’s being touted as Nashville’s "BEST Kept Secret." Let's talk about this Rodeway Inn, shall we? I went in with zero expectations, figuring, hey, it's a Rodeway Inn! How secret could it really be? But, folks, the internet (bless its heart) promised surprises. And boy, did it deliver… in ways I absolutely wasn’t expecting. First, the all-important Accessibility:
Accessibility – A Mixed Bag (Like My Love Life)
- Wheelchair accessible: Theoretically. But navigating the parking lot? A battle for the ages. Ramps? Sure, eventually. But the entry… let's just say it tested my patience (and my quads).
- Elevator: Yep! (Thank goodness for that because my room was… well, we'll get to that.)
- Facilities for disabled guests: Marked 'Yes' on the website. I didn't use these, so I can't personally vouch for them, but it's good to know they claim to have them.
- Exterior corridor: This is not ideal for weather in Nashville, getting to your room in the torrential downpours might test you.
Internet Access - Bless Up! (But with a Caveat)
- Free Wi-Fi in all rooms! - Yes! And it actually WORKED, which is a miracle in itself. I give it a solid thumbs-up for speed.
- Internet: Was working without any issues.
- Internet [LAN] Oh boy, I had a flashback to 1998. I have never touched the LAN port.
- Internet services: Working!
- Wi-Fi in public areas: Didn't test, but I was too busy hiding in my room, nursing my caffeine addiction.
Cleanliness and Safety – A Tale of Two Worlds
- Anti-viral cleaning products: They said they used them. I saw a lot of "clean" but I am now a paranoid germaphobe, so I was wiping everything down anyway.
- Cashless payment service: They have machines, but they sometimes only accept card.
- Daily disinfection in common areas: Saw cleaning happening. The staff seemed overworked, but they were doing their best.
- Hand sanitizer: Yep, strategically placed.
- Hot water linen and laundry washing: No complaints, but it's not like I was inspecting the laundry bins.
- Hygiene certification: Didn't spot any certificates, but hey, maybe they're tucked away somewhere!
- Individually-wrapped food options: Breakfast. Was it good? We'll get to that.
- Physical distancing of at least 1 meter: Attempted, at least.
- Professional-grade sanitizing services: Again, claimed to use them.
- Rooms sanitized between stays: Confirmed.
- Staff trained in safety protocol: Seems like. They seemed friendly!
- Sterilizing equipment: Didn't see any of that, but hey.
Now, let’s talk about cleaning. The lobby was fine, your typical Rodeway Inn-esque clean. But the room? Okay, it wasn’t filthy, but let's just say my dust bunny collection (that I didn't actually have, but was planning to start) would have been thriving under the bed. The bathroom felt… well, let’s just say I brought my own Clorox wipes. I did notice the staff were working HARD. This is probably most important. And overall, I felt… safe.
Dining, Drinking, and Snacking – The Breakfast Debacle (and a Poolside Bar Dream)
- Breakfast [buffet]: It was a grab-and-go situation. Individually wrapped muffins, some yogurt, and maybe a sad-looking piece of fruit. Let's just say it fueled me enough to survive until lunch.
- Coffee/tea in restaurant: The coffee's not great. But it's warm. and there is tea.
- Restaurants/Snack Bar: There is a snack bar, and there is a restaraunt. The restaurant is not as bad.
- Poolside bar: (Dream sequence) Imagine this: Nashville sun, a frosty drink, and… wait a minute, does this Rodeway Inn actually have a poolside bar? Hold up! I'm not seeing a pool at all! Sigh. Back to reality. There was a bar, but it's not like a poolside bar…
- Room service [24-hour]: Nope. Nope. Nope.
Honestly, the lack of a decent breakfast was a major bummer. The grab-and-go situation felt like an afterthought, not a well-planned meal. (Rant over.)
Things to Do, Ways to Relax – My Own Personal Spa Day (in My Mind)
- Fitness center: They had one! (But I didn't see it.)
- Massage, Spa, Sauna, Pool with view, Spa/sauna, Steamroom, Swimming pool, Swimming pool [outdoor]: Okay, this is where the review gets a little… creative. I’m pretty sure my hotel room wasn’t next to any of these. It claims to have a swimming pool. I didn't see it. So, yeah, relax is relative here. I think this is a case of the website exaggerating, or maybe I'm just blind.
Services and Conveniences – The Bare Essentials (and a Few Surprises)
- Air conditioning in public area: Yep, definitely needed!
- Cash withdrawal: There's an ATM!
- Concierge: No concierge. Just a friendly front desk person.
- Convenience store: Actually, a super small convenience store. Score!
- Daily housekeeping: Yes! And they were very friendly.
- Doorman, Elevator, Facilities for disabled guests, etc… They claimed to have all those things.
- Luggage storage: They have that.
- Meeting/banquet facilities/Seminars: Nope.
- Smoking area: Yes.
- Xerox/fax in business center: Nope.
The staff, bless them, were trying their best! Truly.
For the Kids – Nah. Not really.
- Babysitting service, Family/child friendly, Kids facilities, Kids meal: This place is NOT family-focused (unless you count the struggle of keeping a toddler occupied in a tiny room).
Rooms – The Heart of the Matter (and the Source of My Mixed Feelings)
- Air conditioning: Thank GOD.
- Alarm clock: Yup.
- Bathroom phone: Yes!
- Bathtub: Yes!
- Blackout curtains: Bless!
- Coffee/tea maker: Yep.
- Complimentary tea: Yes!
- Daily housekeeping: Confirmed.
- Desk: Yes!
- Hair dryer: Thank you, Jesus!
- In-room safe box: Yes.
- Refrigerator: Yes!
- Satellite/cable channels: Yes!
- Seating area: Yes!
- Shower: Yes, I didn't want to take a bath, but still
- Smoke detector: Yes.
- Soundproofing: Nope. I could hear the ice machine all night!
- Telephone: Yep.
- Wake-up service: Yes!
- Wi-Fi [free]: Yes, very good.
- Window that opens: Yes.
The room itself was… standard. Decent size, bed was okay (not amazing), and the decor was… well, let's call it "functional." Everything worked eventually. And the blackout curtains? Essential for surviving a Nashville hangover.
Getting Around – Easy Peasy (But Not Fancy)
- Airport transfer: Nope. But taxis and ride-sharing services are readily available!
- Car park [free of charge]: Yep.
My Honest Verdict (Prepare to be Shocked… Or Not)
The Rodeway Inn? Is it a "hidden gem"? No. Is it going to "shock" you? Probably not. But, for what it is – a budget-friendly place to crash in Nashville, it was okay. It's not going to wow you with luxury. But it's functional, clean-ish, and the staff are trying their best. If you're on a budget, need a place to sleep, and just want to be near the action, sure, give it a try. But manage your expectations. Don't expect a spa, or a gourmet breakfast, or a poolside bar (unless I missed something big time!). Just expect a clean-enough room, working Wi-Fi,
**Hotel Commodore Cervia: Your Italian Riviera Dream Awaits!**
Okay, buckle up, buttercups, because we're about to dive headfirst into the glorious, chaotic mess that was my trip to Nashville, specifically, the glamorous Rodeway Inn experience. Forget your pristine, perfectly-formatted itineraries. This is going to be… well, it's going to be me.
The Rodeway Rumble in Nashville: A Stream-of-Consciousness Travel Log
(Pre-amble: The Illusion of Control) Right, so, BEFORE we even get to Nashville, I had this idea. A plan. A schedule. I even printed things out (remember paper? Ancient). Spoiler alert: the plan went about as well as my attempts to fold a fitted sheet. But hey, that's travel, right? You THINK you're in charge, but the universe (and, in this case, budget airlines) just keeps chucking curveballs.
Day 1: Arrival and the Dreaded Check-In
- Morning (aka, the "Hopeful and Naive" Phase): Arrive at Nashville International Airport. Smiling. Optimistic. Wearing my "I <3 Music City" t-shirt (before I'd actually experienced Music City, mind you). The flight was… well, let's just say the person next to me REALLY enjoyed their chili-cheese fries on the way. I’m pretty sure some of it landed on my armrest. Minor detail.
- Afternoon (aka, the "Hotel Scavenger Hunt"): Okay, so maps lied. The Rodeway Inn, bless its heart, was NOT "just a hop, skip, and a jump" from anything. It was a hop, a skip, a grumpy cab driver, and then a small odyssey. The check-in. Oh. The check-in. Apparently, the lady at the front desk was having a day. It involved a broken printer, a lost reservation (mine, naturally), and the distinct feeling that I was an inconvenience to her existence. Ended up with a room that definitely wasn't the one I booked (and definitely didn’t feature the "luxury" advertised on the website). It smelled faintly of… something I couldn’t quite identify. Mildew? Disappointment? Possibly both.
- Late Afternoon/Evening (aka, "Finding Food and Fighting Fatigue"): The room! Okay, the room. It was… functional. The air conditioning sounded like a dying walrus. Then, the quest for sustenance! Walked aimlessly until I found a place that seemed like it might serve food that wouldn’t poison me. Found a diner. Ordered a burger. Overcooked. Fries cold. Suddenly, I'm questioning all my life choices. And it's only day ONE. (Internal monologue: "Am I going to spend the rest of this trip eating bland diner food and staring at peeling wallpaper? Probably.")
- Evening (aka, the "Nashville Feels"): Took a VERY deep breath, remembered I was in Nashville, and managed to rouse myself to walk around the area. Saw some buildings with flashing lights. Listened to some live music that sounded… okay. Realized I was exhausted. Retreated to the Rodeway Inn and collapsed.
Day 2: The Honky Tonk Hustle and the Unexpected Tears
- Morning (aka, the "Caffeine and Grit" phase): Found a decent coffee shop within walking distance. Thank. GOD. Also found a donut shop, and the world looked instantly brighter. Donuts are important, people!!
- Mid-Morning/Afternoon (aka, the "Lower Broad Adventure"): Downtown. Lower Broad. The Honky Tonks! The music! The crowds! It was… intense. Overwhelming. Felt like I was wading through a sea of cowboy boots and bachelorette parties. The music was… well, it was a lot. A LOT of country music. And the volume! My ears were ringing. Had a beer. Then another. (Don't judge me, it was loud!) One place had a killer band, though. Killer. They sang about heartbreak and pickup trucks and… stuff.
- The Honky Tonk Revelation (a single, glorious, messy experience, doubling down!): Okay, so this is where things got… weird. At a place called "Tootsie's Orchid Lounge" (I think), I found myself utterly transfixed. The band was playing a song… a simple little tune about a lost love. And out of nowhere, I started crying. Full-on, ugly, sobbing, tears-streaming-down-my-face crying. I have no idea why. Maybe it was the beer, maybe it was the music, maybe it was the sheer exhaustion of travel, but it just… hit me. Then the woman next to me, who had come on a 3-days bachelorette, handed me a tissue and smiled, "Nashville does that to you." She was right. It did. It REALLY did. I felt… everything. It was a messy, emotional mess, but it was real. And it was Nashville. In that moment, I understood Nashville. Even the bad stuff in the Rodeway Inn seemed okay. The woman next to me even bought me another beer. Best. Trip. Ever.
- Evening (aka, the "Whiskey, Wings, and Regret"): More honky tonks. More beer. Decided to get some wings. They were… delicious. Maybe a little too delicious. Woke up at 3 am with a stomach that felt like a small earthquake epicenter. Note to self: Pace yourself, lady.
- Late Night (aka, sleeplessness in the Rodeway): Could. Not. Sleep. The air conditioner sounded even worse. Tried to read a book. Gave it up. Stared at the ceiling. Thought about life. Thought about how I’d probably spent way too much at Tootsie's. And that feeling of "Am I hungry? Are my wings going to kill me?"
Day 3: Recovery, History, and The Airport (Again!)
- Morning (aka, the "De-Tox"): Coffee. And more coffee. And the vague feeling that I needed to apologize to the diner burger.
- Mid-Morning/Afternoon (aka, "Trying to be Cultured"): Visited the Country Music Hall of Fame (amazing!). Walked around the Ryman Auditorium (stunning!). Tried to absorb some history, some culture, some… something. Felt slightly less hungover. Yay! Even looked around some buildings. Nashville is a beautiful city.
- Afternoon (aka, "Airport Anticipation"): The fear of airplane food and the desire to be home. The dread of security lines. The final scramble for a Nashville souvenir (ended up with magnets that I'll probably give to my mom because she likes magnets).
- Departure (aka, the "Reflecting, Regretting & Reliving"): The flight was uneventful (thank goodness). As the plane took off, I thought back about the trip. The bad food. The loud music. The check-in lady. The amazing music. The unexpected tears. The shared beer. The wings! The weird room at the Rodeway. The experience was messy, hilarious and at times painful. Nashville was… a lot. But I know this: I’d do it all again in a heartbeat. Even if I had to do it from a Rodeway Inn. And I'm pretty sure I already have a story to share!
(Post-amble: The Lessons Learned) So, yeah. The Rodeway Inn wasn't the Ritz-Carlton. But the experience… well, the experience was all mine. I loved, I hated, I cried, I laughed. I'm pretty sure I still don't know what I think of Nashville. But I do know one thing: It was unforgettable. And I’m already planning the next trip. Maybe I'll learn to fold a fitted sheet by then. (Probably not). Also, I'd recommend checking out a different hotel. ;) :)
Escape to Comfort: Candlewood Suites Columbus - Grove City
Wait, *What* is this "BEST Kept Secret" thing even? Is it like, hidden speakeasy?
Okay, so picture this: You're in Nashville. You're thinking MUSIC CITY! Honky-tonks! Rhinestones! You’re picturing... well, you know. But then, you’re staring down the barrel of budget travel. And that’s where this… *place* comes in. It's not a speakeasy, no. It's... a Rodeway Inn. Yes, *that* Rodeway Inn. The one you probably scroll past online. The one your grandma might have stayed at on her way to a bingo night. But, hear me out… There's something about it. A certain… *je ne sais quoi* of sheer, unadulterated, budget-friendly SURPRISE.
Alright, alright... Rodeway Inn. Sounds… glamorous. WHY would it 'shock' me? Is it haunted? (Please say it's haunted!)
Haunted? Maybe. My sanity definitely felt a little… spooked. Look, "shock" might be a strong word. "Mildly surprised" is probably more accurate. But the *sheer value*… dude, the value! I'm talking clean(ish) rooms, a (questionable) continental breakfast, and a pool that mostly just *looks* like a pool. But, and this is key, it's CHEAP. Like, ridiculously cheap, considering you're a stone's throw from everything. Honestly, the shock comes from the fact that it's… not terrible. Emphasis on *not terrible*. Let's just say my expectations were subterranean, and they were barely met. But met nonetheless!
So, the pool... tell me more about this pool. I'm picturing something out of American Horror Story: Hotel.
Okay, okay, the pool... *breathes deeply*. Forget AHS:Hotel. Think more... abandoned waterpark from a low-budget slasher film. It's not *unsafe*. I mean, I think. The water was a questionable shade of… maybe slightly green? Okay, fine, it was definitely green. But clean-ish, I think. The chlorine was strong. *So* strong. I swear I could taste it in the air. But you know what? I went in. I took the plunge! (Figuratively. And maybe literally, for a hot second). I was terrified that something would crawl out. It was late at night, the lights were dim, and I was pretty sure I saw a rogue rubber ducky bobbing around. It was… an *experience*. Let's leave it at that.
What's the breakfast situation like? Free continental breakfast is always a gamble.
Oh, the breakfast. This is where things get… *memorable*. "Continental" is putting it *very* generously. Think stale pastries that have seen better decades. Pre-packaged, individually wrapped muffins. Coffee that tastes vaguely of motor oil (but hey, free coffee!). The highlight? The waffle machine! You know the kind? The ones where you pour in the batter and pray for a miracle? Mine came out a slightly crispy, slightly burnt, slightly… well, let's just say it wasn't winning any awards. But it was free! And it kept me going until lunch. Plus, there was a dude, a regular, who was *always* there, wearing a trucker hat and just... consuming breakfast with a level of commitment I admire. I bet he knew the waffle machine's secrets.
Okay, so you're saying it's not exactly the Ritz-Carlton. Anything *good* about this place?
Okay, yeah, yeah, I know, I'm being harsh. But hey, I'm setting expectations! Look. The location is actually REALLY good. You're close enough to the action to be, well, *in* the action, but far enough away to not be constantly bombarded by drunken bachelorette parties… unless they were also staying there. (I swear I heard one outside my room). Another good thing? The staff! They were genuinely nice. Like, "I'm trying my best to make your stay not-too-awful" nice. And honestly? The whole *experience* felt… real. It wasn't some polished, generic hotel. It was… life. With slightly questionable waffles. I'd probably stay there again. I mean, maybe? Ask me after I've had a good night's sleep somewhere else. And a real breakfast.
Who should stay at this "secret" hotel?
Budget travelers! People who value location over luxury. Folks who aren't afraid of a little… *character*. People who appreciate a good story (and let me tell you, I have STORIES!). People who are cool with slightly questionable water quality. People who don’t spend a lot of time in their rooms anyway. And, honestly? Anyone who wants to spend their hard-earned cash on music, food, and experiences, instead of some fancy room they're barely gonna use. Hey, you have options, but sometimes… well, sometimes you just need a cheap room, and a place to rest your head. And maybe, just maybe, you'll get a story to tell. Like me. I got a whole *book*!
Any tips or tricks for surviving the Rodeway Inn experience?
Oh, absolutely! Bring your own pillow. Seriously. And maybe some earplugs. The walls are thin. Consider bringing your own coffee, too. The motor oil… I mean, coffee… might not be to your liking. Also pack a sense of humor! You’re gonna need it. And maybe some antibacterial wipes. Just in case. Oh! And check the reviews. They might give you a general idea what to expect. But honestly? Go in with an open mind, and be prepared for the unexpected. Because with this place? The unexpected is pretty much guaranteed. And finally... *embrace the chaos*. It's part of the charm, I swear. The slightly slimy, questionably clean, wonderfully budget-friendly charm.
