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By DAVE DOMESCIK | Staff Writer

As a new chapter of life began, I had a problem.

Last month, I was hired as the newest staff writer for the Shelby County Reporter. Great news, right? As I began to hunt for apartments and finally landed on the ideal destination, I realized an inconvenience had arisen: the earliest I could move into my new digs was Dec. 7, and my first day on the job was Dec. 4.

So, the search for a hotel began, preferably one close to the SCR office. Little did I know that the hotel I booked for a four-night stay is the first hotel in the Chelsea area.

The La Quinta Inn & Suites by Wyndham is located off of U.S. 280 and U.S. 31 at 44 Atchison Parkway. It’s flanked by Scooter’s Coffee, Arby’s and Buffalo Wild Wings, and like those three restaurants, the hotel has a little something for everyone. Furthermore, the hotel itself is a further investment in Chelsea, as the city continues to grow. The hotel’s lodging tax will provide further economic additions to developing projects in the area.

Let’s start with the look. My first thoughts as I walked through the doors were “Wow, this place is clean.” You can almost see the shine on the floors of the lobby. This was a huge reassurance. I get the hotel is brand new, so it would be hard for it to be “dirty” by average standards already, but as someone who prides themselves on maintaining a clean living space, it’s glad to see at least one hotel is keeping the spirit of cleanliness alive.

While I haven’t had ample interactions with the staff of La Quinta, I’ve been impressed with the small kindnesses I’ve received. At hotels I’ve stayed at in the past, I’d be lucky to get a greeting when I walked into the lobby. Without fail, every single time I’ve walked through those lobby doors I am greeted and asked how I am doing, and am wished a great rest of my day.

I am no fool; I recognize this is quite literally the bare minimum when it comes to hospitality, but the little things matter in a business like this, and La Quinta’s attention to detail on both their cleanliness and their people skills stuck out to me early on.

The rooms themselves are solid as well. It’s nothing special: two beds, a TV, a desk, a closet, a mini-fridge, bathroom with a shower nd a coffee/tea maker. I haven’t had the chance to use many of these amenities, but I appreciate that I have the option. Housekeeping shows up every day, so I always come back to a clean bed and, by extension, peace of mind.

If I had one gripe, if any, the complimentary breakfast was underwhelming. Hotels just can’t seem to get scrambled eggs right no matter how hard they try, and La Quinta is no exception. Luckily for me, there’s a Waffle House about 5-10 minutes away from the hotel, and you can never go wrong with an American staple.

Overall, the La Quinta Inn & Suites in Chelsea isn’t going to wow you like a five-star hotel would. But, it does the little things extremely well, and is a great place to stay for those who visit Shelby County.