Escape to Idaho's Mountain Paradise: Best Western Foothills Inn Awaits!
Escape to Idaho's Mountain Paradise: Best Western Foothills Inn Awaits!
Escape to Idaho's Mountain Paradise: Uhm, Actually, Best Western Foothills Inn – Let's Dive In… (Brace Yourself)
Okay, so they promised me "Mountain Paradise." Look, I love mountains. And let's be honest, after a week of staring at spreadsheets, any promise of "Escape" sounds like a darn good deal. So, I booked a room at the Best Western Foothills Inn. Let’s be real, Best Western doesn’t scream "Paradise." But hey, Idaho, right? Maybe the potato gods will be on my side.
(Accessibility & Getting In):
First, the good news! Accessibility seems pretty well thought out. Wheelchair access is definitely a thing – yay! They’ve got an elevator, which is a lifesaver when you're lugging a suitcase bigger than a small dog. I didn't personally need it, but I saw the ramps and thought, "Good job, Best Western!" They've got Facilities for disabled guests listed, which gives me the warm fuzzies. Didn't use them, but still.
Getting Around:
Okay, so Airport transfer is offered. I didn’t need it, but good looking out. There's a Car park [free of charge] and Car park [on-site]. Score! Free parking is a win in my book. They also have a Car power charging station, which, hey, good for the planet and the electric car crowd (even though my ride is still fueled by the dinosaur juice). Other things like Taxi service and Valet parking are listed, which is neat-o.
(The Room – My Little Hideaway… or Not):
My first impression? “Clean.” Yes! Major brownie points for Cleanliness and safety, especially with, you know, the world being what it is. I mean, Anti-viral cleaning products? Yes, please. They’ve got the standard stuff, like Daily housekeeping and a Safe/security feature which just makes me feel vaguely protected. They also mentioned Rooms sanitized between stays, so, again, kudos. My room had Air conditioning (crucial in Idaho, even in the mountains), a Bathroom, and a Shower. Basic necessities, right?
Now, for the nitty-gritty. They list a whole bunch of amenities, let's break it down!
- Available in all rooms: Air conditioning, Alarm clock (I used my phone, but still), Bathtub (score!), Blackout curtains (thank GOD), Coffee/tea maker (essential), Desk (I actually used this), Free bottled water (appreciated!), Hair dryer (saved me from looking like a drowned rat), Ironing facilities (who even irons anymore?), Laptop workspace (good for the remote warriors), Mini bar (tempting, but resisted), Non-smoking, Private bathroom, Refrigerator (YES!), Satellite/cable channels (tuned to my trash tv of choice), Slippers (a nice touch), Smoke detector (feeling secure), Telephone (did I even use this? Nope), Toiletries (meh), Towels (soft enough, I guess), Wake-up service (thankfully, I set my own alarm).
- Extras: Extra long bed (didn’t know I’d need it, but appreciated the extra space), In-room safe box (used for valuables), Internet access – wireless (Wi-Fi [free]). And let me just say… the Wi-Fi [free] in all rooms! was an absolute lifesaver. My productivity? 80% lower as a result. I mean, who can resist cat videos?
- Things I didn’t care about: Additional toilet, Audio-visual equipment for special events, Bathrobes, Bathroom phone, Carpeting, Closet, Complimentary tea, Desk, High floor, In-room safe box, Interconnecting room(s) available, Internet access – LAN, Linens, Mirror, Non-smoking, On-demand movies, Reading light, Scale, Seating area, Separate shower/bathtub, Shower, Smoke detector, Socket near the bed, Sofa, Soundproofing, Umbrella, Visual alarm, Window that opens.
BUT HERE’S THE THING… (And a Minor Rant):
My room, on paper? Fine. In reality? It smelled like… well, a standard hotel room. You know that vaguely sanitized, yet slightly stale scent? Yeah. The Bathtub was… old. Not charmingly vintage, but kind of yellowed. And the Blackout curtains almost worked. I mean, technically, they blocked out some light. But a sliver of sunshine always found a way to peek through. I actually lost it one morning, and had to wrestle with the curtains for what felt like a small eternity, muttering under my breath.
(Food, Glorious Food (Or, You Know, Food):
Alright, let's talk sustenance. This is where things got… interesting. They list SO many options. Get ready!
- Dining, drinking, and snacking: A la carte in restaurant, Alternative meal arrangement, Asian breakfast, Asian cuisine in restaurant, Bar, Bottle of water (hallelujah!), Breakfast [buffet], Breakfast service, Coffee/tea in restaurant, Coffee shop, Desserts in restaurant, Happy hour, International cuisine in restaurant, Poolside bar, Restaurants, Room service [24-hour], Salad in restaurant, Snack bar, Soup in restaurant, Vegetarian restaurant, Western breakfast, Western cuisine in restaurant.
The Buffet… Oh, the Buffet…
So, the Breakfast [buffet] was… well, it was there. Breakfast service was, in fact, available. It's not exactly Michelin-star material, right? But Breakfast [buffet] always seems to be a battleground of competing forces. You've got the scrambled eggs that look like they've been sitting out since the Clinton administration, the suspiciously bright orange juice, the questionable pastries, and the… well, let’s just say the coffee wasn’t a highlight. (Note to self: Investigate local coffee shops.) They also listed Breakfast takeaway service which is nice. Also, Food delivery, which is pretty darn convenient.
There was also a Coffee shop. I peeked in. Looked… like a coffee shop. Also, a Snack bar. Never made it there.
And the best bit… 24-hour Room service! Which is pretty fabulous.
(Relaxing & Activities (The Promised “Paradise”?)
Okay, here’s where the “Mountain Paradise” promise could have been fulfilled!
- Things to do, ways to relax: Body scrub, Body wrap, Fitness center, Foot bath, Gym/fitness, Massage, Pool with view, Sauna, Spa, Spa/sauna, Steamroom, Swimming pool, Swimming pool [outdoor]
The Swimming pool [outdoor] looked… fine. I saw some people lounging. I, however, did not. I was too busy trying to find the perfect angle to take a selfie with the "Foothills" in the background. They also have a Pool with view. I didn't have a view, sadly.
The Fitness center I briefly considered. The lure of Netflix and potato chips won.
The Spa/sauna, Spa, Body wrap, Body scrub, Massage, Steamroom, Foot bath? Didn't even peek. I'm not a spa person, okay? I prefer my relaxation with a blanket and a book.
(Cleanliness & Safety (The Brave New World):
They take this seriously, and it’s a good thing.
- Cleanliness and safety: Anti-viral cleaning products, Cashless payment service, Daily disinfection in common areas, Doctor/nurse on call, First aid kit, Hand sanitizer, Hot water linen and laundry washing, 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, Shared stationery removed, Staff trained in safety protocol, Sterilizing equipment.
I saw lots of Hand sanitizer stations. Staff trained in safety protocol, which is nice.
(Services & Conveniences (The Extras):
- Services and conveniences: Air conditioning in public area, Audio-visual equipment for special events, Business facilities, Cash withdrawal, Concierge, Contactless check-in/out, Convenience store, Currency exchange, Daily housekeeping, **Do
Alright, buckle up buttercups, because this ain't your grandma's perfectly-plotted travelogue. We're talking about my trip to Mountain Home, Idaho, and let me tell you, "Best Western Foothills Inn" sounds a lot fancier than it probably felt after 20 hours in a car. Here's how it went down, or, y'know, how it kind of went down, because honestly, my memory's a bit shot after all that highway hypnosis.
Day 1: Arrival (and the existential dread that often accompanies a long drive)
- 1:00 PM (ish): ARRIVAL. Finally. My butt cheeks are officially fossilized to the driver's seat. The Best Western sign? A beacon of hope. "Foothills Inn." Sounds… promising. Though, the "foothills" seemed more like… slightly elevated ground, but whatevs. I just need a bed, and maybe a shower that doesn’t feel like a lukewarm drizzle.
- 1:15 PM: Check-in. The receptionist looked a little… glazed. Possibly another weary traveler soul. I tried a smile. She gave a half-hearted one back. Success! Key in hand. Room number? Seemed suspiciously far down the hallway. Uh oh.
- 1:30 PM: Room 128. Oh, good god. The carpet. It tells a thousand stories. Stories I don't necessarily want to know. The tiny TV? Probably older than I am. Ah well, it's cleanish enough. I tossed my bag on the bed and immediately collapsed. The hum of the mini-fridge. The faint smell of… Lysol? Ah, classic road-trip chic.
- 2:30 PM: Okay, shower time. Pray for hot water! (Spoiler alert: the water was lukewarm, but I survived). The complimentary shampoo? It smelled of sunshine and disappointment.
- 3:30 PM: Okay, hunger is a real thing. A quest to find something to eat. I drove to the local "fast food." This is where I found my first real cultural experience of the trip. Seeing the locals. I decided to go back to the hotel to change my mood.
- 6:00 PM: Dinner. I took the risk of going to the cafe and ordered a veggie burger. It was… fine. Better than starving, I guess.
Day 2: Exploring the "Foothills" (and my increasing caffeine dependence).
- 7:00 AM: Rise with the sun! (Or, more accurately, the relentless glare from the poorly-draped curtains). Coffee. Glorious, life-giving coffee. The hotel coffee wasn't bad, actually. A small victory!
- 8:00 AM: I took a walk. The "foothills" were a little less imposing than I'd imagined. More like… rolling hills. Still, fresh air is fresh air. But honestly, I think I'm still hungover from the car ride.
- 9:00 AM: Time to go to the local coffee shop. The barista was named Brenda and she was amazing. I'm a sucker for real coffee. I might have stayed a little longer than I intended. My soul felt cleansed.
- 10:00 AM: I went back to the hotel. I needed to catch up on some work. I love work.
- 12:00 PM: So I got a salad for lunch. It was good.
- 1:00 PM: I went to the gym. The gym was sad, but at least it had a treadmill that worked.
- 3:00 PM: I went to the local museum. I went to the museum. This experience really set the tone of the entire stay. There were a lot of taxidermied animals, which was… intense. I have mixed feelings about taxidermy. On one hand, it's creepy. On the other hand, it's a tribute to the animal, I guess? I'm still not sure. I spent a good hour just staring at a particularly impressive elk. It was kind of haunting, I can't lie. Then I saw the collection of old farming tools. It was… a bit much.
- 5:00 PM: I went back to the hotel room. I needed to calm down. I was still a little spooked by the museum.
- 7:00 PM: Dinner. This is where the trip started to unravel. I was going to be brave and try something new, but honestly, I just wanted comfort food. I ordered the same burger as last night. It was fine, but now I'm starting to feel a weird melancholy creeping in.
Day 3: Leaving (and the lingering scent of… something).
- 7:00 AM: Okay, I still don't know what that weird smell in the room is. It's like a combination of stale air freshener and… something else I can't quite place. But I have to leave.
- 8:00 AM: Last chance for hotel coffee! And, I have to admit, it's now a sad little ritual.
- 9:00 AM: Check out. Said goodbye to the glazed receptionists.
- 9:15 AM: I hit the road. I’m leaving. Freedom!
- 10:00 AM: I got gas so I had some money for the way ahead.
- 10:15 AM: The journey continues. I'm leaving Mountain Home. And honestly, I feel a weird sense of… something. Like I might possibly miss the little town. Or maybe it's just the relief of escaping the questionable carpet. Who knows? But that is truly the beauty of it. The fact that I will never know.
So, there you have it. My trip to Mountain Home. A blend of existential dread, lukewarm showers, and a profound appreciation for Brenda's coffee. It was perfect. I learned a few things, saw a few things, and definitely smelled a few things I wish I hadn't. Would I go back? Maybe. For Brenda's coffee? Absolutely. For the elk? Hmmm… maybe not.
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Escape to Idaho's Mountain Paradise: Best Western Foothills Inn Awaits! (Or Does It?) - A Messy FAQ
Okay, so...is this place actually *paradise*? Like, full-on, harp-playing angels paradise?
Paradise? HA! Let's be real. No. But… and here’s where it gets interesting. It's *Idaho* paradise, which, in my book, is a different beast entirely. Think less pearly gates, more… friendly locals, stunning mountain views, and the occasional rogue tumbleweed. The "paradise" label might be a *little* optimistic from the marketing folks. But the promise of clean air and a break from the usual city grind? Yeah, that's definitely in play. I mean, I *did* find myself actually smiling at a squirrel the other day. That's gotta count for *something*, right?
Look, the Best Western itself? Solid. Clean. Standard Best Western fare. But the *location*? That's where the magic (or at least, the serious appeal) is. You’re *right there* at the foothills. You can practically *smell* the pine needles. And, honestly, after a week wrestling spreadsheets, smelling pine needles is about as heavenly as it gets. Even better than a decent hotel breakfast, which they *do* have by the way, with those little waffle machines that always manage to make you feel a little bit like a kid again, even if slightly burned on the edges.
Speaking of which, what's the breakfast situation ACTUALLY like? Is it the same predictable, depressing continental breakfast I get everywhere else?
Alright, listen up, because breakfast is serious business. The waffle machine, as mentioned, is a *highlight*. (Don't judge me!). Beyond that? It's a pretty standard Best Western breakfast buffet. Cereal that starts to taste like cardboard after day two. Those pre-packaged muffins that, honestly, I suspect are made of pure sugar and regret. The usual suspects. Coffee that's… well, it’s coffee. It'll jolt you awake.
But here's the secret. Get there early. Like, *really* early. Because the eggs are actually kinda decent when they're fresh. And grab a piece of fruit. Even if it’s a slightly bruised banana, it'll feel like a tiny act of rebellion against the impending sugar rush. Plus, a lot of the guests are really friendly, especially if you are just chill – like, I swear, I had a really nice conversation with a guy about his dog there, and all of a sudden I felt a lot more connected to the world than I thought I would. Breakfast isn’t *amazing*, but It gets the job done. And hey, you're in Idaho! Go grab a huckleberry anything later. Seriously, do it.
What's the *real* draw to this place? Is it just the hotel, or is there more to it? Be honest!
The *real* draw? Okay, buckle up, because here’s where I get all mushy. It’s the *location*, hands down. The hotel is…fine. But the *foothills*? They're something else. Imagine waking up, throwing open the curtains, and seeing, like, *mountains*. Majestic, snow-capped mountains (depending on the season, obviously). And the air? So fresh. So clean. You can practically *taste* the lack of pollution. It's a genuine breath of fresh air, quite literally.
I mean, I remember one morning, I dragged myself out of bed – I'm not a morning person, FYI - and went for a walk. Just a short one, nothing crazy. And on that walk? A deer. Just casually munching on some grass, not even batting an eye at my clumsy attempt at stealth. It was utterly *magical*. That single deer encounter – that’s the kind of experience that makes you forgive the iffy Wi-Fi and the slightly stale coffee.
Beyond the immediate beauty, it's the *access*. Hiking trails galore! Fishing streams (I, personally, am hopeless, but others seem to enjoy it). Just a general sense of…escape. That's the real selling point. You go to forget the troubles of work. I was dealing with an awful divorce before coming here, and just driving the area helps you feel okay. The only thing better would be to have a dog to share the journey with.
Okay, so you're saying it's all sunshine and rainbows? Surely there are downsides?
Sunshine and rainbows? Heavens, no. Reality is never quite that simple. Here’s the, ahem, *less* glamorous side of things.
- **The Wi-Fi**: It’s… hit or miss. Prepare to disconnect. Seriously. Embrace it. It's probably good for you anyway. But if you *need* to work, well, good luck. I spent an hour troubleshooting before giving up. I'm fairly certain the squirrels are to blame, personally. They probably gnawed through the cables.
- **The "Amenities"**: They're decent. Nothing to write home about. Pool? Okay. Fitness room? Standard. Don't expect luxury. This isn't the Ritz. It's a Best Western, Remember?
- **The Drive**: Depending on where you're coming from, the *drive* to the foothills might take a while. Pack snacks. Download some podcasts. Maybe consider getting a slightly more comfortable car. I'm not kidding.
- **The Quirks of the area:** I swear, a few times I saw a sign that said "Beware of Moose." I didn't even know moose lived in the area, but the fact that they are out there made me think for sure paradise is real.
Look, it's not *perfect*. Things might not always run smoothly. But for me, the pros *far* outweigh the cons. The location is the key. Embrace the imperfections, be prepared for a bit of a bumpy ride, and just… relax. That's the whole point, isn't it?
Is it kid-friendly? Or more of a romantic getaway destination?
Good question! It's… a bit of both, actually. The hotel itself is pretty family-friendly. They have a pool, which is always a win with kids. And the breakfast buffet is certainly geared towards sugar-fueled little people. And the staff were always really nice to kids, I saw. But really, it depends on *your* kids.
If your kids are into hiking, exploring, and being generally outdoorsy? It's a GOLDMINE. Mountains to climb (within reason, obviously), streams to splash in, and endless opportunities for nature-based adventures. My inner child would have *loved* it. If you're after a super romantic getaway, it is a great place to find a bit of reconnection. The whole area has a certain romantic vibe, especially with the views. You'll enjoy the quiet time.
However, If your kids are glued to their screens and allergic to fresh air? Well, you might face some serious resistance. They might get bored. There’s only so much screen time one can do *whileAlmena Hotel Marmaris: Your Dream Turkish Escape Awaits!
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