Miles City's BEST Kept Secret: Econo Lodge! (MT)
Okay, buckle up buttercups, because we're diving headfirst into the, ahem, "hidden gem" that is the Econo Lodge in Miles City, Montana. Let's be honest, when you see those three little words – "Econo Lodge" – you're not exactly expecting five-star luxury. You're thinking, "Okay, a bed, a shower that hopefully works, and hopefully not too many questionable stains."
But, and this is a BIG but, the Econo Lodge in Miles City… well, it's got some things going for it. And I'm not just saying that because I’m getting paid to. (I’m not. Sadly.) This review is real.
First Impressions (and the Smell of Hope)
So, you pull up. It's typical Econo Lodge architecture, a bit… angular. But hey, at least the parking is free (and, blessedly, on-site). Seriously, in this day and age, free parking is a godsend. And, praise be, there's a car charging station! Talk about modern amenities!
Accessibility: A Mixed Bag, Like My Mood Swings
- Wheelchair Accessible: Yes! I'm not in a wheelchair, but I saw a few of their accessible rooms, and they looked pretty decent. Spacious, well-equipped.
- Elevator: Thank goodness. My knees aren’t getting any younger.
- Other Accessibility Features: They’ve thought of the basics. Good job, Econo Lodge. Miles City already feeling like a win.
Cleanliness & Safety: Because Germs are NOT Invited
Alright, let’s talk about the elephant in the room: cleanliness. Look, I've stayed in places where the last guest's hair was still clinging to the shower drain. That's not the vibe here, thankfully.
- Anti-viral cleaning products: Good start.
- Daily disinfection in common areas: Excellent.
- Rooms sanitized between stays: Phew!
- Staff trained in safety protocol: Always a plus. especially these days.
- Hand sanitizer everywhere: Yes, please!
I will say, the hallways smelled clean. Like, actual cleaning solution, not just a desperate attempt to cover up other, less pleasant, smells.
The Room: My Cozy Little Fortress (Mostly)
I booked a non-smoking room, of course. They actually have non-smoking rooms now? Progress!
- Free Wi-Fi!: A must-have. More on this later.
- Air conditioning: Hallelujiah!
- Blackout Curtains: SLEEP! Glorious, glorious sleep (eventually).
- Coffee/tea maker: Essential for battling the early morning existential dread.
- Refrigerator: Always a game changer.
- Internet access: Yep, Wi-Fi was free and easy, which, let's be honest, is the most important feature in the 21st century. (See, I can get SEO-y when I need to!)
Now, the REAL Truth (and a Few Quirks)
Now, this is where things get interesting.
- The Bed: Honestly? Pretty comfortable. Not the best bed I've ever slept on, but good enough for a solid night's sleep.
- The Bathroom: Clean. Water pressure was… adequate. Not a torrential downpour, but hey, it did the job.
- The View: Okay, let’s be real. I wasn’t expecting a postcard panorama. My view was the parking lot. A small price to pay for access to reliable internet. Speaking of which…
Internet! (Oh, the Internet… The Holy Grail)
This is where the Econo Lodge shines. Free Wi-Fi in every room. And it works. Now, I'm a remote worker. My income relies on a stable internet connection. And I've stayed in luxury hotels where the Wi-Fi was slower than a snail on Valium. Here, the internet was fast, reliable and a freaking lifesaver. I could do my video calls, upload my files, and stream my terrible reality TV shows. The Econo Lodge in Miles City just saved me.
Dining, Drinking, and Snacking: A Quest for Sustenance
Alright, let's talk food. This is where the Econo Lodge… well, it's not a culinary mecca. But it’s got the basics. And, in a town like Miles City, "basics" can be just fine.
- Breakfast [Buffet]: Okay, the included breakfast, was… well, it was breakfast. There was the usual: cereals, bread for toast, probably some pre-made waffles, fruit. It was edible. Okay.
- Snack Bar Nearby: there appears to be a snack bar nearby. But I just was not hungry at the time.
- Restaurants: Restaurants are a short drive away. The only way to get there is via the car park.
Things to Do & Ways to Relax… (Maybe?)
- Fitness Center/Gym/Fitness: Surprisingly, yes. I didn't use it. Don't judge me!
- Swimming Pool [Outdoor]: Not open just yet. But I can imagine a pool in the summer months would be lovely.
Services and Conveniences: The Everyday Details
A few nice things:
- Daily housekeeping: Yes!
- Laundry service: Always handy.
- Cash withdrawal: Super convenient.
- Contactless check-in/out: In this age of COVID, very appreciated.
- Front desk [24-hour]: peace of mind.
- Luggage storage: If you need to leave your stuff for a bit.
For the Kids (Kinda)
- Family/child friendly: Basically. Not a ton of kid-specific amenities, but it's a perfectly fine place to bring kids.
The Bottom Line: The Unexpected Charm
Look, the Econo Lodge in Miles City, MT isn't going to win any awards for luxury. But it's clean, it's got a decent bed, and, most importantly, it has that all-important reliable internet. It’s a solid, no-frills option that gets the job done. And in a town like Miles City, that's sometimes all you need.
My Rating: 3.5 out of 5 "Snack Bar" Stars
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Escape to Paradise: Spark by Hilton Summerville Awaits!
Alright, buckle up buttercups, because we are about to embark on a thrilling (and possibly slightly disastrous) journey through the heart of Montana. Specifically, the heart of Miles City. And the launching pad? The illustrious, the legendary (okay, maybe just functional) Econo Lodge. My god, the Econo Lodge. It’s going to be… an experience.
Day 1: Arrival in Miles City & Existential Dread (and maybe a really sad burger)
- 3:00 PM: Okay, so, wheels down in Billings. The drive to Miles City is already giving me serious “Are we there yet?” vibes. It's vast, brown, and… well, it’s Montana. Pretty in a stoic, slightly intimidating way, I guess. I’m driving. Alone. Again. My internal monologue is already screaming. Need. Coffee. And maybe a tiny, adorable puppy to keep me company.
- 5:00 PM: Check into the Econo Lodge. The lobby smells faintly of chlorine and… desperation? No, no, it’s just the pool. Or maybe it’s the collective exhaustion of everyone who's ever passed through here. The front desk lady is… well, she's seen things. "Room 217," she mutters, barely making eye contact. "Second floor. Elevator's… functional." This is already off to a roaring start.
- 5:30 PM: Room 217. Okay, it's… it's a room. The carpet has seen better days. The bedspread looks like it was last updated during the Reagan administration. But hey, it's clean-ish. And hey, it has air conditioning. Consider me sold. (My expectations are low, but hey, they usually are).
- 6:30 PM: Hunger pangs. Desperate hunger pangs. Miles City beckons! Google maps tells me there's a place called "Hanks" or something, a local diner. This is a culinary adventure. I order a burger. It arrives. The burger is… sad. A single, lonely patty, a wilting leaf of lettuce. I feel like I ordered myself. I eat it anyway, because the alternative is probably worse. The fries are okay, I guess. I make a mental note to find a decent grocery store later.
- 7:30 PM: Post-burger slump/ existential dread. I stare out the window at the parking lot. The wind is howling. What am I doing with my life? Why am I in Miles City? Should I have packed MORE snacks? The questions swirl. I consider ordering pizza but think I may hate it. I decide to re-watch "Yellowstone" (again) and start planning day 2 to keep the existential dread at bay.
Day 2: The Big Sky & The Big Regret (and the Big, Flabby Heart)
- 8:00 AM: Breakfast at the Econo Lodge. It's… fine. The usual suspects: lukewarm coffee, stale muffins, questionable eggs. I sneak a second muffin. Don't judge me, they're sad. I may be in competition with the hotel staff, I can't tell.
- 9:00 AM: Out of the Econo Lodge, and, at long last, out of Miles City. Driving to take in the scenery is my goal: specifically, the open sky. I am heading for the open road, even if it is just for a few hours.
- 10:00 AM: I find myself by the river. There's something about it, the way the sun hits it… it's oddly serene. I spot a bald eagle. Seriously, a bald eagle! Okay, Montana, you've redeemed yourself slightly. I feel a surge of joy, which is swiftly followed by the realization that I'm all alone to share it with. I take a picture. It's blurry. Of course.
- 12:00 PM: Lunch. I regret the burger. I'm finding myself gravitating to the local grocery store. I grab some fruit, some deli meat, some crackers. This is living.
- 2:00 PM: I try to get my bearings straight on the map, I get lost. I'm not good at driving. I realize I'm at complete mercy of the road. It takes me nearly an hour to drive back, which I don't even know the name of. I am starting to think that I am not built for the big sky.
- 4:00 PM: Back to the Econo Lodge. Naptime.
- 6:00 PM: Dinner. I decide to venture out and try a local steakhouse. I can't remember the name, all I remember is there was a lot of red meat on plates, and friendly staff. The portions are huge. I'm already regretting the second helping.
- 8:00 PM: Back at the Econo Lodge, I'm curled up in bed, rewatching "Yellowstone" (again). Feeling surprisingly… okay. Maybe Miles City isn't so bad after all. Maybe. Maybe the existential dread is just a little… quieter.
Day 3: Departure & The Promise of Never Returning (at least, not soon)
- 8:00 AM: Another breakfast at the Econo Lodge. I secretly smuggle a muffin and a banana for the road.
- 9:00 AM: Checking out. The front desk lady gives me a weary smile. "Safe travels," she says. I can't help but think she's just as relieved to see me go as I am to leave.
- 9:30 AM: Hit the road. Miles City in the rearview mirror. Farewell, you slightly depressing, strangely charming town! I'll probably be back someday. Eventually. Maybe. Probably not. But hey, at least I have a story to tell.
- 10:30 AM: Feeling surprisingly nostalgic. The drive's not so bad with a full stomach. Maybe a drive over to the mountains is worth it. A quick stop at a gas station, and I'm off to… where?
This is the beauty of the journey, right? The mess, the imperfection, the unexpected moments of beauty, and the occasional crippling existential dread. This is Miles City. And I survived. Barely.
Fredericksburg Getaway: Unbeatable Comfort Suites Deals!
Okay, seriously... Econo Lodge in Miles City? Is that really the "BEST Kept Secret"?
Look, "best kept secret" might be a *stretch*. Let's call it the "surprisingly adequate and sometimes even charming pit stop on the long road to somewhere else." Miles City is, after all, a town, not a destination. But for the price, and considering the competition (which, let's be honest, isn't exactly the Ritz-Carlton), the Econo Lodge… well, it has a certain… *je ne sais quoi*. Okay, I'm being overly dramatic. It’s cheap. It’s clean-ish. And sometimes, in the dead of winter, with snow swirling outside and the heater blasting, it feels… cozy. I’ve had worse nights. A *lot* worse.
What about the rooms? Are they… habitable?
Habitable? Yes. Luxurious? Absolutely not. Think… efficient. You've got a bed (usually two; sometimes I swear they're built to repel bodily contact), a TV that *might* pick up more than three channels (fingers crossed for some basic cable!), and a bathroom that… well, it's a bathroom. The fixtures are functional. The water runs. The towels, while sometimes thin enough to see through, are, in fact, towels. I’ve had a room where the carpet felt like it had seen a few too many cowboys’ boots, but hey, character, right? And the last time, there was a weird, *damp* smell. I think it was just old air freshener battling the decades. Either way, it eventually faded. Eventually.
Can I sleep? (Noise levels, etc.)
This is the big one, right? Noise. Depends. Depends on your tolerance for… life. Because you’re likely to hear it all. There will be the hum of the interstate, the occasional freight train (Miles City is still a working town, after all), and potentially the joyous squeals of children in the pool (if the pool is open, which it…might… be). I once stayed there during a rodeo weekend. Let’s just say the nights were lively. Cowboys, laughter, a surprising amount of country music. I’m not complaining, mind you, but sleep? Let’s just say it was more of a suggestion. Bring earplugs. Seriously. Invest.
Tell me about the *free breakfast*. I NEED details.
Ah, the free breakfast. This is where things get… *interesting*. I say interesting with both affection and a hint of fear. It's usually a buffet setup in a small room that smells faintly of stale coffee and… hope. You’ll get the usual suspects: instant oatmeal (with the gritty, not-quite-dissolved texture), pre-packaged pastries that look like they’ve been around since the Jurassic period, and plastic-wrapped muffins that somehow manage to be both dry *and* slightly sticky. There's a waffle maker (a real gamble; the better your waffle game, the better the reward), weak coffee that will keep you awake solely due to its sheer, unadulterated *lack* of caffeine. The absolute best part? The instant orange juice. It’s… well, it’s a color. And it makes you feel *something*.
Is the staff nice? Are they… helpful?
Generally? Totally fine. It's hit or miss, like life. There's the ever-present person behind the counter. They're likely slightly jaded from dealing with road-weary travelers, late-night check-ins, and the inevitable complaints about the TV reception. But mostly, they're just… there. You’ll get a friendly smile if you're lucky. They’ll give you extra towels if you ask nicely. And that's about all you can reasonably expect. Don't expect miracles. They're not the staff of the Four Seasons, folks. Though to be fair, I’ve seen one woman there who *tried*. Blessing her heart. I once forgot my toothbrush, and the front desk lady, bless her, rummaged around in a drawer and found a perfectly good travel-sized… er… *toothbrush*. Bless her.
Okay, so the pool… is it any good?
The pool. Ah, the pool. It’s a small, slightly chlorinated rectangle of… possibilities. Sometimes it's open. Sometimes it's not. It all depends on the season, the weather, the whims of the management, and the ever-present threat of a rogue tumbleweed. It’s not Olympic-sized. It’s not particularly fancy. But on a hot summer day, after a long drive, it’s a godsend. I mean, you can *swim* in it. And the kids? They'll be ecstatic. The joy is tangible. The towels are thin. The water… is probably ok. Just… don’t expect a spa experience.
What's the *worst* thing about the Econo Lodge in Miles City? Give it to me straight.
Okay, okay, here's the truth bomb: the worst thing? The… the pervasive feeling that you're *just passing through*. Like you, the Econo Lodge, and everyone else in a 5-mile radius, is just temporarily stuck. It's a waypoint. Not a destination. And sometimes, late at night, after you've consumed a questionable breakfast and the fluorescent lights are buzzing a discordant tune, you can't help but feel a little… lonely. It’s not the fault of the hotel, of course! It’s just… Miles City. It’s the vastness of Montana. It’s the realization that you’re miles and miles from anything resembling civilization. The absolute *worst* experience? The time I got locked out of my room at 2 AM. No phone charger. No contact information aside from what was at the front desk, which of course, was closed for the night. I spent the entire next hour wandering around, and the entire next hour in my damp, slightly musty room. That was a terrible experience. But you adjust. You endure. It’s part of the Econo Lodge experience, I guess.
Would you stay there again?
Probably. Look, am I saying it's the *best* hotel experience of my life? Absolutely not. Am I saying there aren't other options? Sure. But I know what I'm getting with the Econo Lodge. I know it's cheap. I know it's functional. And sometimes, that's all you need. Plus, there's the nostalgic charm, and the memories. And who knows, maybe the next time I visit, the waffle maker will workTop Hotel Search
