McAlester's BEST Kept Secret: OYO Hotel Review (You Won't Believe This!)
McAlester's BEST Kept Secret: OYO Hotel Review (You Won't Believe This!) - Seriously, Buckle Up!
Alright, folks. Strap yourselves in. I’ve just emerged, blinking and slightly dazed, from… well, from a stay at the OYO Hotel in McAlester, Oklahoma. And the title? Yeah, it’s accurate. You won't believe this. This review is gonna be… messy. Honest. And hopefully, a little hilarious. Let’s dive into this, shall we?
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- Keywords: OYO Hotel McAlester, McAlester Hotels, Budget Hotel Review, Oklahoma Hotels, Accessible Hotel, Free Wi-Fi, Restaurants, Spa, Cleanliness, Safety, Limited Amenities, Quirky Hotel Experience, Honest Review.
- Description: Unfiltered review of OYO Hotel in McAlester, OK. Details on accessibility, dining, cleanliness & safety, amenities. Find out if it's worth your stay! Real-life experience with a hotel that is a Best-kept secret.
First Impressions & Accessibility – Or, "Is This Thing On?"
Finding the OYO was easy peasy. Parking? Free, and plentiful. Score one for McAlester! Stepping inside, the initial vibe was… well, it screamed "budget." Let's just say it wasn't exactly the Ritz. But hey, I wasn't expecting the Ritz, right? I'm a realist.
Accessibility? They list facilities for disabled guests. The elevator was… I’m gonna say operational? But I didn't test to see if it was reliable. The corridors seemed wide enough for a wheelchair, but I didn't actually see anyone using one. This is where I wish I’d paid more attention. This should have been a priority. My bad. Lesson learned.
On-Site Accessible Restaurants/Lounges: Nope. Nada. Zip. The hotel's dining options is a whole situation, but we'll get there.
Internet Access – The Lifeline (and the Weakest Link)
Okay, so, the good news: Free Wi-Fi in all rooms! Hooray! The bad news: It was… spotty. Think dial-up in the early 2000s, but with a slightly better signal. My internet connection was there most of the time. I didn't try to log on to the Internet [LAN].
Internet Services, as in, "Can you print a document?" Nope. The Wi-Fi in public areas, was likely the same, which is to say, not great. This is a huge deal for business travelers, and an annoyance for anyone trying to stream Netflix.
Things to Do & Ways to Relax – Where the Secret Crumbles
This is where the "Best Kept Secret" starts feeling a little… ironic.
The Fitness center was listed. I'm picturing a treadmill, and a dusty bike. Not my thing.
The Pool with view. Hmmm. Again, the view was, of the parking lot. The pool – an outdoor pool – was closed. (It was winter, but still).
The Spa, Spa/sauna were not listed, and the "Body scrub, Body wrap, Foot bath, Massage, Steamroom" were not there either.
Cleanliness and Safety – Holding My Breath (Literally)
Okay. The cleaning was… noticeable. Let's put it that way.
Anti-viral cleaning products? I can only hope. I’ll be honest, I didn’t inspect the cleaning products. My bad.
Breakfast in room? Nope.
Breakfast takeaway service. Nope.
Cashless payment service? Probably. I paid with a card.
Daily disinfection in common areas. I'd hope so.
Doctor/nurse on call? Not that I knew of, to be completely honest.
First aid kit: I couldn't find one.
Hand sanitizer: There was some at the desk. One point for them.
Hot water linen and laundry washing: I assume so. Let's hope, okay?
Hygiene certification: I… doubt it.
Individually-wrapped food options: See above.
Physical distancing of at least 1 meter: Not really enforced, let's be honest.
Professional-grade sanitizing services: Again… hoping but not seeing.
Room sanitization opt-out available: No.
Rooms sanitized between stays: One would certainly hope.
Safe dining setup: This is where the dining situation gets… interesting.
Sanitized kitchen and tableware items: I'll return to this later.
Shared stationery removed: I didn't see any.
Staff trained in safety protocol: They seemed friendly, but I didn't see them in hazmat suits, so…
Sterilizing equipment: I didn't see any.
Dining, Drinking, and Snacking – The Cliff Notes Version
Okay, this is where the “secret” REALLY starts to unravel. The description said there was a "Restaurant."
A la carte in restaurant? No.
Alternative meal arrangement? No.
Asian breakfast? No.
Asian cuisine in restaurant? No.
Bar? No.
Bottle of water? Yes (in the room).
Breakfast [buffet]? Oh, honey, no.
Breakfast service? See above.
Buffet in restaurant? See above.
Coffee/tea in restaurant? Nope.
Coffee shop? Nope.
Desserts in restaurant? Nope.
Happy hour? LOL.
International cuisine in restaurant? No.
Poolside bar? See swimming pool.
Restaurants? Technically… one. Which was closed. I think?
Room service [24-hour]? Laughing emoji.
Salad in restaurant? See above.
Snack bar? Nope.
Soup in restaurant? Nope.
Vegetarian restaurant? Nope.
Western breakfast? Nope.
Western cuisine in restaurant? See above.
THE REALITY?
I'm getting to the point where I'm starting to think I'm being punked. There was something, or someone, that was in the place. It wasn't a restaurant. I ended up driving to the nearest Denny's.
Services and Conveniences – The Random Assortment
Here are the other odds and ends.
- Air conditioning in public area: Yes.
- Audio-visual equipment for special events: Doubtful.
- Business facilities: See above.
- Cash withdrawal: At the front desk.
- Concierge: Nope.
- Contactless check-in/out: Probably.
- Convenience store: Nope.
- Currency exchange: Nope.
- Daily housekeeping: Yes.
- Doorman: Nope.
- Dry cleaning: No.
- Elevator: Yes, but didn't use it, so it's debatable.
- Essential condiments: I think so.
- Facilities for disabled guests: Listed.
- Food delivery: Doubtful.
- Gift/souvenir shop: Nope.
- Indoor venue for special events: No.
- Invoice provided: Yes.
- Ironing service: Yes.
- Laundry service: No.
- Luggage storage: Yes.
- Meeting/banquet facilities: Not sure.
- Meetings: No idea.
- Meeting stationery: None provided.
- On-site event hosting: Not sure.
- Outdoor venue for special events: Not sure.
- Projector/LED display: Nope.
- Safety deposit boxes: I didn't see one.
- Seminars: No.
- Shrine: No.
- Smoking area: Yes.
- Terrace: No.
- Wi-Fi for special events: See about the Wi-Fi.
- Xerox/fax in business center: Not that I would have used if I needed one.
For the Kids? -
- Babysitting service: Nope.
- Family/child friendly: I mean, basic.
- Kids facilities: Nope.
- Kids meal: Nope.
Access, Security & the Little Details – Like, Really Little
- CCTV in common areas: Yes.
- CCTV outside property: Yes.
- Check-in/out [express]: Nope.
- Check-in/out [private]: Nope.
- Couple's room: No idea.
- Exterior corridor: Yes.
- Fire extinguisher: Yes.
- Front desk [24-hour]: Yes.
- Hotel chain: OYO.
- Non-smoking rooms: Yes.
- Pets allowed unavailable: I don't know.
Alright, buckle up, buttercup, because this ain't your grandma's meticulously planned itinerary. This is the OYO Hotel McAlester, OK experience – warts and all. Let's go!
Day 1: Arrival and the Mysterious Majesty of Main Street (and My Existential Dread)
3:00 PM - Arrival and Check-In (or the Art of Avoiding Eye Contact): Okay, I landed in McAlester. The drive was… well, it was. Let's just say the Oklahoma landscape is a testament to the power of beige. Found the OYO. Looked… exactly like the pictures, which is either a win or a warning, depending on your interpretation of "budget-friendly." The lady at the front desk? Bless her heart, she saw my soul. I swear, she knew I was about to spend a night contemplating the meaning of life in a motel room. Check-in was painless, which is always a good start. I was tempted to ask about secret tunnels or hidden speakeasies but settled on a weary smile.
3:30 PM - The Room (or, Will I Get Bed Bugs?): The room! Okay, let's be honest. It's… functional. Smells faintly of… something. Not sure what, but it's a smell, alright. The bedspread is a vibrant tapestry of the 90s – think floral, but with a touch of "I've seen things." My immediate inspection was for bed bugs. Nothing yet! Progress! Also, the TV is ancient and I'm not sure it gets anything besides that one public access channel featuring a guy with a comb-over talking about insurance. I briefly considered calling the front desk to ask about the WiFi password, then decided to revel in the digital silence. It's probably good for the soul.
4:00 PM - Main Street Meander and the Quest for Coffee (or, McAlester’s Heartbeat): Right, gotta venture out. Main Street is… a mixed bag. Honestly, it's endearing. Lots of buildings screaming, "used to be awesome!" but also hinting at potential. Found a cute little antique shop. The lady running it looked like she’d seen a few things in her time, and she gave me a knowing smile… and whispered, "There's a whole world of stories in this town." Then, the real quest began: coffee. Found a place, thankfully, and it's doing the best with what it's got.
5:30 PM - Dinner at Chili's (or, the Comfort of Familiarity): I'm not gonna lie; I'm desperate for calories. It's Chili's. You know the drill. The pre-dinner drinks are definitely needed. The food is edible. The service is friendly. It’s a safe space. It's a comfort. And sometimes, that's all a weary traveler needs. The molten chocolate lava cake was transcendent. Seriously. It was worth the price of admission.
7:00 PM - Back at the OYO (or, the Silence of the Night): Back in the room. The public access channel is still going strong. The existential dread is… lurking. Decided to write in this thing instead. It always helps to think things through, I find.
9:00 PM - Bedtime Routine (or, The End of The World?): I'm so tired, so tired, so tired. I think I'll just watch The Simpsons, and try to get some real sleep. Please, universe, let the bed bugs be somewhere else tonight.
Day 2: A Day of Surprises (and Probably More Beige)
8:00 AM - The Free Breakfast (or, Is This Actually Food?): Breakfast… I'll bite. I'm sure that at least one donut can make it through. I might not be able to eat two. The coffee is weak. But the other guests are also here. We must all be in the same boat.
9:00 AM - The McAlester Scottish Rite Temple (or, What Even IS This Place?): OKAY, I'm going to be honest with you, I could have totally missed this gem. But, I didn't. It's a… temple. It's beautiful. It's weird. It's everything I did not expect. I took a tour. I asked questions. The gentleman who gave the tour was… passionate. He talked about the history, the symbolism, the commitment. And you know what? I was captivated. It was a glimpse into a world I wouldn't have otherwise even known existed. Suddenly, McAlester felt a little less beige.
11:00 AM - Downtown Discoveries and the Search for "The Real McAlester": After that experience, I needed to find something more. It's easy to get caught up in the small things, but I needed to find something grand. I saw some antique shops.
1:00 PM - Lunch at a Local Diner (or, The Grease is Good): Found a classic diner. The kind with red vinyl booths and a waitress named Betty who calls everyone "honey." The burgers were greasy, the fries were perfect, and the conversations were… genuine. I learned more about McAlester from Betty and the regulars than from any guidebook. I even saw a guy win the lottery.
2:30 PM - Back to the OYO (or, Accepting the Beige): The magic of McAlester is starting to wear off. The free breakfast is just as gross. My bed is still clean, so that's a win. The room, somehow, is starting to feel… homey. Maybe. I'm tired.
6:00 PM - Dinner and a Stroll (or, The End of the Road): Went out. Went to a local place. It was fine. Went for a walk. It was a beautiful day. I think I will miss McAlester.
8:00 PM - Packing and Preparation (or, Goodbye, Beige Embrace!): Packing. Yep. Tomorrow, I'm gone. It got me right in the existential gut, just to think about it. Anyway, I'm leaving.
Day 3: Departure (or, Goodbye, McAlester… Maybe?)
8:00 AM - The Final Breakfast (or, Don't Look Back): Okay, last donut. The coffee is still weak. But I'm stronger.
9:00 AM - Check-Out (or, The End of an Era): Check-out was… fine. No bedbugs! Victory!
9:30 AM - The Road (or, Back to Reality): Leaving. Heading out. McAlester, you were… something. A little bit of the beige sun. A whole lot of unexpected gems. A truly unique travel experience. I suspect someday, down the road, I will probably be talking about this experience.
And there you have it. The OYO Hotel McAlester experience. Messy, human, and hopefully, a little bit entertaining. Now, if you'll excuse me, I need a nap.
Escape to Belgian Charm: Guesthouse De Casteleer Awaits!
So, what's the *deal* with all this... stuff? Like, what am I even supposed to DO?
Ugh, the big question, right? Honestly? I'm still figuring it out. Seriously. I think the "stuff" you're talking about is just…*everything*. Work, relationships, that weird stain on the ceiling you keep 'meaning' to scrub off… all of it. And what you're *supposed* to do? Probably not what you *think* you're supposed to do. Society tells you to climb the ladder, buy the house, have the perfect family… You know, the usual soul-crushing suspects. I'm not saying *don't* do those things if they make you happy. But if they don't, if they leave you feeling… hollow? Then scrap the rule book. Figure out what *actually* lights your fire.
Okay, here's where I get REAL. Yesterday, I was supposed to be finishing this… HUGE project for work, and I just. Absolutely. Couldn't. The deadline was looming, the pressure was immense, and I felt like a squeezed lemon. Instead? I ended up re-reading *Pride and Prejudice* with a mountain of snacks. Did I feel guilty? Absolutely. Did I also experience a moment of pure, unadulterated joy thanks to Mr. Darcy? Also absolutely. Sometimes, the "doing" is just… existing. And that's okay. Maybe even good.
I keep messing up. Like, *constantly*. Is this just me?
Oh honey, you are *SO* not alone. Messing up is the human condition. I once accidentally sent an email to my entire company… with a subject line that was… let’s just say, *unprofessional*. Years later, I still cringe.
Here's the thing: messing up is inevitable. You're going to say the wrong thing, you're going to trip, you're going to probably burn dinner at some point. It's how you recover that matters. Do you wallow in the shame? You absolutely can, and sometimes I do! But eventually, you gotta dust yourself off, learn from the mistake (if there's anything to learn!), and move on.
And also, a little secret: sometimes the "mistakes" are actually the best parts. Think about the story you would tell your grandchildren about the stain on the ceiling.
How do I deal with… you know… *feelings*? They're a lot.
Feelings! The bane of my existence, and also the source of all the good stuff. Ugh. It's a total paradox! I wish there was a magic button labeled "emotion regulation," believe me, I do.
First, you have to *acknowledge* them. Don't push them down hoping they vanish. They won’t. It's like trying to ignore a screaming toddler. It just doesn't work. Then, *identify* them. Are you sad? Angry? Overjoyed? Sometimes that's the hardest step! I once spent a week convinced I was *hungry* when I was, in fact, *stressed*. Go figure.
Finding healthy ways to process those feelings is a lifetime project. Therapy is great, if you can. So is talking to friends, writing in a journal, or just taking a long walk. When someone hurts you, it is hard to feel all the feelings instead of becoming numb. It is hard to love someone who has disappointed you because you can’t help but blame it on yourself and think that you could have done *something* better to avoid it. It is a brutal cycle, but sometimes it just… is. And sometimes, the best thing to do is to just *feel* the feeling. It's messy, it's complicated, and it's absolutely human. And that's okay.
And the bad stuff? Yeah, that’s harder. A lot harder. Sometimes you need to just curl up in bed with a pint of ice cream and a cheesy movie. And that’s okay too. Sometimes, that's all you can do.
Ugh, people. How do I cope with… them?
Ah, *people*. A delightful mixture of brilliance, idiocy, and pure, unadulterated chaos. I love them. Mostly. Sometimes. Okay, let's be real, sometimes I want to hide in a cave. But… we *need* them. Even the annoying ones. They’re our mirrors, our teachers, and sometimes, our accidental sources of great laughter.
My advice? Boundaries. Boundaries are your best friend. Learn to say no. Learn to detach. Be kind, but don't be a doormat. And remember that *everyone* is fighting their own battles that are invisible. Sometimes it’s easy to forget this.
And… Pick your battles. Seriously. Is that argument with your annoying coworker *really* worth it? Is that passive-aggressive Facebook post going to achieve anything? Probably not. Sometimes, letting it go is the best strategy. Unless it's something truly important, and then… fight for it. Just… make sure it's worth it. My general rule is to just not answer most DMs.
Okay, fine. But how do I actually *start* doing… well… *anything*? I'm paralyzed by… everything.
OH. MY. GOD. I AM SO THERE. This is the monster that eats my brain alive on the regular. The anxiety, the overthinking, the “what if’s” – it’s exhausting! But here’s a secret: you don’t have to have it all figured out. You don’t!
The best advice I have is to break things down. Make a HUGE list. And then, break that HUGE list into smaller, manageable tasks. Then start with the easiest, smallest one. I once spent a week trying to plan a vacation, but I couldn’t even book a flight. I was overwhelmed. Finally, I just picked a date and hotel and did it. The rest followed. Tiny steps can yield huge results.
And… forgive yourself. Seriously. Forgive yourself for not knowing what you’re doing. Forgive yourself for the mess. Forgive yourself for your imperfections. Because, guess what? You’re human. It's a messy, beautiful, confusing ride, and the best thing you can do is try. Okay? Now, go book that flight, or do one load of laundry, or whatever small thing is staring you in the face. You got this! (Probably. Maybe. Okay, sometimes I don't got this either.)
What if I'm… lonely? And what's the deal with relationships, in general?
Ah, loneliness. The crushing weight of… well, just existing alone. It sucks. Big time. And the "deal" with relationships? That's… a whole other novel, a saga, a Shakespearean tragedy, depending on the day.
If you're lonely, first, acknowledge it. Don't pretend you're not. Then, proactively seek connection. Join a club, volunteer, take a class. Sometimes the hardest part is just putting yourself out there. I am terrible at it, and prefer myUptown Lodging
