Alpena, Michigan: Holiday Inn Express & Suites Downtown

October 2021, weekend, one-night, queen river view guestroom 320

Alpena Holiday Inn Express from across the river

Arrival and platinum perks

I redeemed points for a river view room with two queen beds, because king river view rooms were not available with points. This hotel was very full, and apparently sold out the night of our stay. I had requested a top floor room in a quiet area, and the agent did not acknowledge my request nor recognize my status. She merely said the hotel was full, after I asked if she had been able to give us a room in a quiet area. Bonus points must be automatic, because I received an email right after check-in from IHG for my 500 bonus points.

Sunrise from guestroom 320 in Alpena Holiday Inn Express

Guestroom 320

This room is a nice size, and it was comfortable. The parking lot is between the hotel and river at this end of the hotel. The windows are soundproof, although there is a gap under the entrance door from the hallway. There was a lot of ruckus the night of our stay from kids running up and down the halls. Fortunately, the guests above us were relatively quiet. 

Guestroom 320 in Alpena, Michigan Holiday Inn Express

The bedsheets were silky soft, and the pillows were good quality. The bed seemed smaller than our queen size bed at home. I was actually surprised that hotel staff did not switch our room out for a single king bed, since there were so many families the night of our stay. I did not ask about this at check-in, although I had written in my reservation comments that we only needed one bed.

There is a work desk with chair in this room, and a single soft chair. A suitcase bench is located at the foot of the bed next to the armoire and TV.

Guestroom 320 in Alpena, Michigan Holiday Inn Express

Pittsburgh Airport: Avis, Hyatt Regency Pittsburgh Int'l Airport, The Club

October 2021, weekdays, one night

I returned my Avis rental car, and then walked to the Hyatt, which is attached to the Pittsburgh airport terminal via a walkway. I was not familiar with the route between the rental lot and the hotel, and this is not well marked. The Avis employee had told me to take the elevator by the Avis counter and then there is a walkway to the hotel. I saw a sign that said Hyatt before I got on the elevator; however, there was no signage inside the elevator telling me if it was on level 2 or 3. I got off at both levels, and could not figure out where to go. There are no signs on either of those levels, other than the parking garage signs. I took the elevator back down to level 1 where I saw a second Hyatt sign stating that the hotel is on level 3. Back up on level 3, I walked into the parking lot and looked around. I decided to try the unmarked entrance a little ways away (about 400') in the right corner of the parking lot. Inside this entrance, I found the walkway, and a hotel sign. The unclear signage apparently goes both ways; on my way to the unmarked entrance, I overheard two people looking around and wondering what level the rental car lot is on. I stopped to tell them it is on level 1.

Sunset view from guestroom 1129 at Hyatt Regency Pittsburgh Airport
Rooftop is view from guestroom 209 at Hyatt Regency Pittsburgh Airport 

Arrival and check-in at Hyatt Regency Pittsburgh Int'l Airport

I had tried to check in via email when the notification arrived the morning of my arrival; however, I received an error message, so I checked in at the front desk when I arrived. I was initially assigned guestroom 209, which is across from the pool and next to the ice machine on the second floor. Although I was not crazy about this location, I did not initially say anything. I took pictures for my blog, and then sat down at the desk to start working. I did not unpack, or even place my suitcase up on the suitcase bench. It was not long before the ice machine started making a LOT of noise. I walked out into the hall to see if the noise was actually coming from the machine, and it was. I then called the front desk to ask if there was a room available in a quieter location that I could move to. The agent said he had another room, if I did not mind having two queen beds. I said that would be fine, and then I asked him if that room type also has a work desk area, as I had a lot of work to do. He said no, and then he asked if he could call me right back. When he called back, I was reassigned guestroom 1129. 

Cookies and bottled water were available for guests at the front desk when I checked in. The agent did not offer this. I saw the display, so after he completed check-in and directed me to the elevators, I asked if the refreshments were for guests, and he said yes.

Guestroom diagrams on back of door at Hyatt Regency Pittsburgh Int'l Airport

Guestrooms 209 and 1129 in Hyatt Regency

Both of these guestrooms were almost exactly the same other than the floor they were on. I have included pictures from both guestrooms along with some info.

Closet and safe in guestroom 1129 in Hyatt Regency Pittsburgh Int'l Airport

As I previously stated, guestroom 209 is next to the ice machine. I found out after switching rooms that there is not an ice machine on all of the floors, so the activity outside this guestroom is probably heavy. The pool and fitness center are also located on this floor. The view is not great from either guestroom, which did not really matter to me, as I had work to do and then just wanted to get a good night's sleep.

Bathrooms in Hyatt Regency Pittsburgh Int'l Airport
Room 209 above, 1129 below

The bathroom is located just inside the entrance across from a large closet, which contained a safe and other items. There were a couple of minor differences in the bathroom. I assume the silver circle in the bathroom photo for room 209 is a TV speaker, although I never turned the TV on. The vanity counter in room 1129 had been made higher. A second piece of countertop had been added, and the backsplash was taller. This also made the mirror height much higher. I felt like I was standing at a bathroom counter for giants! I am only 5'2" tall, so I probably felt this more than most people.

Empty shower amenities in Hyatt Regency Pittsburgh Int'l Airport, guestroom 1129

Shampoo and shower gel pump dispensers were in the shower; however, the canisters in guestroom 1129 were empty.

Hyatt Regency Pittsburgh Int'l Airport
Room 209 above, 1129 below

Bedford, Pennsylvania: Hampton Inn & Suites

 October 20201, weekdays, two-nights, king suite 415

Arrival, check-in, diamond perks

I arrived after 6PM, and the agent prepared my key after I arrived. She asked if I wanted housekeeping during stayover, and she provided the breakfast times. She recognized my status, and then walked to the back room for two bottles of water. I received a guestroom on the top floor for the room type I had booked. The diagram on back of the door shows all of the guestrooms as the same size except the end one; 420 on my floor.

View from guestroom 415 at Hampton Inn Bedford, PA

Guestroom 415

This guestroom was spacious and comfortable. It is on the side of the building facing the turnpike, so there is traffic noise at all hours of the day. The traffic noise did not bother me, although the guest in room 417 the second night of my stay did. This person turned on their TV so loud at 3:30AM that it woke me up. After trying to cover it up for an hour (room fan, rain app, etc.), I ended up getting up early. Working while listening to the neighbor's TV was not any more pleasant than tying to sleep with it. I had thought the guestrooms were soundproof before this. Apparently, there was no guest in that room my first night, or s/he was very quiet.

Guestroom 415 in Hampton Inn Bedford, PA

There is a coffeemaker with supplies, a sink, and microwave in the entrance area across from the bathroom. There were also two closets in this area that contained the usual items: hangers, iron and board, extra bedding, and folding luggage rack.

Bathroom in guestroom 415 at Hampton Inn Bedford, PA

Interlochen, Michigan: Lake Dubonnet State Forest Campground

 September - October 2021, weekday - weekend, 3-nights, campsite 4

Beautiful sunset from our inflatable boat on Lake Dubonnet

We drove through this state forest campground 4 years ago, and I have been wanting to camp here ever since. We finally made it!

Self-serve registration in Lake Dubonnet State Forest Campground
Road to the right at this point is the boat ramp road

Arrival

The campground is another ¾ of a mile after passing the state forest entrance sign at Mud Lake Rd. The dirt road is hard packed and smooth with only a couple of small potholes. The first road to the right when approaching the campground is the boat launch and parking lot. There are no signs at the intersection, and fortunately, we made the correct decision by continuing forward at this point. During our stay, we observed campers drive down that road, and then around the launch loop before continuing into the campground. 

Road to the boat ramp in Lake Dubonnet State Forest Campground
Looking back from the launch area