On a recent trip, my wife and I needed to spend a night in the Midland/Odessa, TX area.
Since we were just passing through and didn't really partake of all that Mesquite Oasis RV Park has to offer, I can only pass on a lot of the info on their website.
However, what I CAN comment on is our personal experiences and impressions.
The first thing I DO want to say is that the people we dealt with, over the phone, and in person, were great! Mesquite Oasis is a family-owned RV park, and, although the family was dealing with the health issues of an older member of the family, they went out of their way to make sure we had a place, even having someone drive to the park to check us in on a Sunday when the office was normally closed.
They ARE pet-friendly, by the way and have a playground for the kids. Shopping is within reasonable driving distance.
If you have never been to the Permian Basin area of Texas, do NOT arrive expecting sweeping vistas or breathtaking landscapes. There are vistas, of course, but, you are in the middle of what many would consider a desert. You are also amid oil fields, and, Mesquite Oasis, while a nice place to stay, appears to be home to many who work in the oil industry in the area.
Still, while you won't find the rich and famous living there, you will find hard working families. Everybody I came in contact with during our short stay was friendly and helpful.
The facilities and amenities of Mesquite Oasis RV Park may be a bit basic, but, they are many, and, it is obvious that the owners are trying to do as much as they can to provide them for their guests.
There is a fitness room, computer, laundry, bathrooms and showers, and a recreation room, all accessible by coded entry, in the main building. There is also WIFI access in the park. Hint: Don't forget to get the password, like I did. Oh well. It was just one night and I survived without the Internet.
Mesquite Oasis RV Park has security cameras strategically placed and recording for the sole protection of residents at all times, as well as a Grounds Manager on site who checks the park and facilities periodically through the night.
One unique thing about Mesquite Oasis RV Park is that it boasts a "catch and release" pond, complete with ducks, which has a lit fountain after dark and places to sit for a picnic or just to watch the ducks.
No, you won't find royalty at Mesquite Oasis RV Park in Odessa, Texas, but, they will try to treat you like royalty.
Fees were quite reasonable, by the way. Sites are roomy with plenty of room for more than 1 vehicle and a front porch area. Sites are 40' x 90', appeared to be pull-throughs, and are equipped with 30 amp, 50 amp, and a 110 GFI as well as a hook-up for Direct TV.
Mesquite Oasis RV Park
7601 W 42nd St
Odessa, TX 79764
Website: http://www.mesquiteoasis.net
Phone: 432-381-2707
If no answer call
432-312-7829
Current Fees (I did get a military discount)
RV Site/Full Hook-up $35.00/day $210.00/week $750.00/month
Showing posts with label Texas. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Texas. Show all posts
Saturday, April 30, 2016
Sunday, June 22, 2014
Eating at The Spot on Eagle Mountain Lake, Fort Worth
I hate to knock a place that's trying, but The Spot on Eagle Mountain Lake in Fort Worth, Texas needs to step back just a little.
First of all, the people were nice, and I have no problem with the décor (beat-up beach), or the fact that there's a pool table and arcade games, although I wish the arcade games had been around the corner where the noise would not have been quite so intrusive. I grew up on the Gulf Coast, and such places were pretty common.
The restaurant has ample parking during the day, and, while I cannot say for sure, I can imagine it being a bit full on a busy night when the brew-sic and music are combining to lure a crowd. Inside seating is limited and is mainly rustic tables and benches (no padding or backs) capable of seating about six to a table.
My wife is disabled, and, if we had known about the seating, we probably not have eaten there. It's rough on her.
On the other hand, there is a good view of Eagle Mountain Lake with outside seating.
In addition to the bench seating, we went to The Spot based on their website (http://www.thespotoneaglemountainlake.com/) which mentioned BBQ, but, when we got there, we learned from our server, Liza (who was very nice to us, by the way) that they no longer served BBQ.
The menu is mainly American food and about what you would expect at a local, lakeside restaurant.
Therefore, I went with chicken-fried steak with coleslaw and fries, while my wife chose fried catfish.
Before I go further, let me say that the food was delicious and the portions were large. I will be finishing my wife's fish tonight.
However, it took a long time to get our food, and my food was lukewarm, and my wife said that hers was warm, but not hot. My first cup of coffee was also just lukewarm, and REALLY on the strong side. The second cup was much better.
I would eat there again if I was in the area at mealtime, but would not go over there specifically to eat.
They apparently have live entertainment, local mainly, but I am not sure of the schedule. Although the menu on their website needs updating, there are some good pictures which will give you a feel for the place.
The Spot
9307 Boat Club Rd
Fort Worth, TX 76179
(817) 236-4600
www.thespotoneaglemountainlake.com
First of all, the people were nice, and I have no problem with the décor (beat-up beach), or the fact that there's a pool table and arcade games, although I wish the arcade games had been around the corner where the noise would not have been quite so intrusive. I grew up on the Gulf Coast, and such places were pretty common.
The restaurant has ample parking during the day, and, while I cannot say for sure, I can imagine it being a bit full on a busy night when the brew-sic and music are combining to lure a crowd. Inside seating is limited and is mainly rustic tables and benches (no padding or backs) capable of seating about six to a table.
My wife is disabled, and, if we had known about the seating, we probably not have eaten there. It's rough on her.
On the other hand, there is a good view of Eagle Mountain Lake with outside seating.
In addition to the bench seating, we went to The Spot based on their website (http://www.thespotoneaglemountainlake.com/) which mentioned BBQ, but, when we got there, we learned from our server, Liza (who was very nice to us, by the way) that they no longer served BBQ.
The menu is mainly American food and about what you would expect at a local, lakeside restaurant.
Therefore, I went with chicken-fried steak with coleslaw and fries, while my wife chose fried catfish.
Before I go further, let me say that the food was delicious and the portions were large. I will be finishing my wife's fish tonight.
However, it took a long time to get our food, and my food was lukewarm, and my wife said that hers was warm, but not hot. My first cup of coffee was also just lukewarm, and REALLY on the strong side. The second cup was much better.
I would eat there again if I was in the area at mealtime, but would not go over there specifically to eat.
They apparently have live entertainment, local mainly, but I am not sure of the schedule. Although the menu on their website needs updating, there are some good pictures which will give you a feel for the place.
The Spot
9307 Boat Club Rd
Fort Worth, TX 76179
(817) 236-4600
www.thespotoneaglemountainlake.com
Thursday, July 4, 2013
Personal Review of Best Western Grand Marina Shoreline Motel, Corpus Christi, Texas
First of all, please allow me to set the stage.
My wife and I used to travel a great deal, both for business and for pleasure. In the last few years, she has developed several health issues which make travel very difficult for her, and I lost a major source of income, and we have become the typical older retired couple on a fixed income. Due to weakness and balance problems, my wife must walk using a cane, or a walker for longer distances.
We have also become caregivers for a disabled daughter with three children whose husband left her, so, when the opportunity for a couple of days on the coast presented itself, we were, as they say, cautiously optimistic that we could go and enjoy a mini-vacation.
We used to stay at Best Western facilities almost exclusively, since we had a dog and most Best Western motels are pet friendly. We have had several reasons to travel in the last couple of years, including two funerals, and had accumulated several points on their rewards program and a free night voucher which had to be redeemed by June 30th.
We were teetering on the edge when a small cash windfall tipped us over the edge, and we headed for the Best Western Grand Marina Shoreline Motel in Corpus Christi.
MOTEL OR GREYHOUND BUS STATION?
While the building was a bit imposing at a distance, driving up to the entrance reminded me of some Greyhound bus stations I had known back in my younger days. However, there are 15-minute parking spaces for checking in and unloading. Once checked in, this did allow me to get my wife inside while I parked the car.
They do have covered parking. It's a bit tight in spots if you have a larger vehicle, but not bad, except for the sudden drop off as you pull away from the entrance of the motel. One note on the parking, by the way, I noticed that in the morning, portions of the tiled walkway seemed to be a bit slick...possibly from dew or spray.
PEOPLE ARE NICE
The lobby, and the people were nice, and there is a great wood carving of a Dutch sailing ship near the elevators. If you have a lot of luggage, or a large party, the elevators can be a bit cramped. When my wife and I got into one with a luggage cart, we barely had room to turn around, and my wife opted to stand with her back to the door just because it would have been too hard for her to adjust her position.
A note on the elevators: One had a tendency to close the door almost immediately after opening. It did not retract very quickly either, and I did get a small bruise on my arm from the door. By the time that happened, however, I was so mad that I did not notice it until later. That was after the events of the first night...see below. I took quite a jolt from the door, but I work out and am in pretty good shape for a 68-year-old. My wife, on the other hand, could easily have been knocked off balance by the door, and there's no telling when it comes to small children.
Our room was on the eighth floor with a magnificent view of the bay and the marina. I must admit that the view was worth going to see, and we considered ourselves lucky to be there and were happy we had come....until....
TV CHANNEL GUIDES AND ATM'S
The first small glitch came when I went down to the lobby to get some cash. They did not have an ATM and I either would have had to get the car out and drive, or walk in 90+ degree heat, which I do not handle well at the moment as I am receiving hormone treatment for prostate cancer. I had wanted the money so that I would have a tip for the server when my wife and I went to the 11th floor Sky View or whatever it's called for our "free" drink.
Since they did not have an ATM and I had not thought to get cash (my bad, as they say) I told my wife that I would get my free drink and then order one and pay for it so that I could tip the server.
The bar on the 11th floor does not open until 5 PM, fine with us, so we decided just to watch some TV and rest from the trip. I could not find a TV channel guide in the room, so I called the front desk to ask if I could get one. I was informed that if there was not one in the room, they could not get me one. Seriously people! A classy joint like that doesn't have extra TV channel guide available?
THE BUSINESS CENTER
By the way, you would think that such a "grand" establishment would have a business center to die for, but not so. There is one computer on a desk in the lobby. It does have a printer, but you may have to wait in line to use it.
MICHAEL IS GREAT. THE "FREE" DRINK? NOT SO GREAT.
Anyway, around 6 PM we went to the 11th floor bar. Again, a spectacular view, and I cannot say enough good things about Michael, the host/bartender/server. He was very friendly and helpful to us and everyone else there, and gave us a lot of good information about the area.
However, your one "free" drink per person per night, has its pitfalls. First of all, if you are a beer drinker like me, don't expect to get a good beer for free. After I choked down a rather disgusting thing called "Shiner" something or other, I ordered, and paid for, a Corona. I'm not an expert on beer, but I have been drinking beer since I was twenty-one, nearly half a century. I have lived in Germany for six years and drank many German beers, Dutch beers, and even English beers, and I have to say I will probably never try another Shiner, just as I will never try another Starbucks "coffee"...which tastes an awful lot like what I used to get from the mess hall at 2 AM when I was the Duty NCO.
Once you get past your free drink, prices are going to be fairly hefty, so, if you're on a budget, stop by a package store and buy your own...it's much cheaper.
My wife, who seldom drinks alcohol, decided to try a mixed drink but almost gave up because of all the things that are NOT available for the "free" drink. She and Michael eventually negotiated something innocuous and we concentrated on just enjoying the view...which would have been better with clean windows, but let's not quibble.
On our second night, by the way, I skipped the "free" drinks and just bought us a couple of drinks and had some really tasty pulled pork sliders and my wife had some wings....which she said were okay, but about the same as you could get anywhere else.
We were still happy to be there and, after spending a lot of time just soaking in the view, we went to bed.
FIRST NIGHT: BRING YOUR EARPLUGS
The beds were comfortable, the AC was efficient and we drifted off to the land of nod...until about 10:30 PM when we suddenly were awakened by some very loud, and very bad, music. Not sure where it was coming from at first, I finally was able to figure out that it was coming from one of a collection of bars about a block away. Apparently, one of the bars had some sort of outside facility and played music out there.
I assumed that the noise would abate eventually, but it kept going and we finally called the desk around midnight to ask if there was anything they could do. They told us that the police had been called and seemed to be as upset as we were that this was happening.
As it turned out, we later learned that this noise is an ongoing problem at this hotel and several people have complained about it. Check other sites such as TripAdvisor.com. We had not brought our computers to cut down on the weight of our luggage, but my wife found several complaints on her smart phone.
Despite the police having been called, the noise continued unabated until nearly 2 AM. By then, I was so angry and frustrated at the situation that I could not fall asleep until after 3 AM. On th first night of my vacation at the Best Western Grand Marina Shoreline Hotel in Corpus Christi, Texas, I got about three hours sleep.
We only could stay one full day, so that kind of shot my tourist mood all to hell.
The next morning, I learned from a hotel staff member that the Corpus Christi police had showed up but sat around and did nothing, apparently because their "noise meter" was broken...and I guess because their ears didn't work either.
Breakfast is served on the 11th floor (other side from the bar). Again, a great view, but the food is nothing to write home about. There's plenty of it, and plenty of selections, but I got just as good in army mess halls. The eggs are powdered, by the way, so, if you like eggs that look and taste like eggs, skip 'em.
On the morning of our departure, even though watching our budget, we skipped the free (unappealing) breakfast and stopped at the Radisson over at Corpus Christi Beach near the Lexington (I'm from Pensacola and had to see the Lady Lex one more time), and had a great breakfast in their dining room.
By the way, we have stayed at that Radisson before and really enjoyed it, but they did not allow pets, and that is when we started staying at Best Westerns. Not an issue any more as we had to put the old girl down last year at 17 1/2 years of age.
Quite frankly, I must say that I cannot remember a stay I enjoyed less than the one at the Best Western Grand Marina Shoreline Motel in Corpus Christi. However, it gets worse.
MY RECEIPT PLEASE...OH NO CHARGE...THANK YOU....NOT
On checking out, I knew that, even though I had used bonus points and free night voucher, I still had a small balance of $70+ to pay. When I went to check out, the young lady at the desk said that there was no charge.
Since La Quinta in Pensacola had given me a free night for some problems about a year previously, I assumed she was telling me that the Best Western Grand Marina was cutting me some slack for the bad experience I had...well...experienced!
WRONG!
Shortly after I got home, I was checking my bank statement and saw a charge for $70+ dollars to the Best Western Grand Marina. I tried to send emails to email addresses on their website and listed on other review sites, but all my emails came back as being undeliverable. Finally, I received an email from Mz. Hernandez, the Front Office Manager in which she explained the amount I was charged but did not address the fact that I had been told that I was not going to be charged. She concluded with "I hope that you will consider staying with us again so that we can have another chance to provide you with a superior experience"...
In other words, I know you got burned last time, in the same way many others have, so come back and let us do it again.
Sorry, I'm not a gambling man.
By the way, if YOU are looking for a working email address for the Best Western Grand Marina Shoreline in Corpus Christi, you might try evelyn@marinagrandhotel.com.
I hope this rather long, and personal, review of the Best Western Grand Marina Shoreline Motel in Corpus Christi, Texas has been of help.
My wife and I used to travel a great deal, both for business and for pleasure. In the last few years, she has developed several health issues which make travel very difficult for her, and I lost a major source of income, and we have become the typical older retired couple on a fixed income. Due to weakness and balance problems, my wife must walk using a cane, or a walker for longer distances.
We have also become caregivers for a disabled daughter with three children whose husband left her, so, when the opportunity for a couple of days on the coast presented itself, we were, as they say, cautiously optimistic that we could go and enjoy a mini-vacation.
We used to stay at Best Western facilities almost exclusively, since we had a dog and most Best Western motels are pet friendly. We have had several reasons to travel in the last couple of years, including two funerals, and had accumulated several points on their rewards program and a free night voucher which had to be redeemed by June 30th.
We were teetering on the edge when a small cash windfall tipped us over the edge, and we headed for the Best Western Grand Marina Shoreline Motel in Corpus Christi.
MOTEL OR GREYHOUND BUS STATION?
While the building was a bit imposing at a distance, driving up to the entrance reminded me of some Greyhound bus stations I had known back in my younger days. However, there are 15-minute parking spaces for checking in and unloading. Once checked in, this did allow me to get my wife inside while I parked the car.
They do have covered parking. It's a bit tight in spots if you have a larger vehicle, but not bad, except for the sudden drop off as you pull away from the entrance of the motel. One note on the parking, by the way, I noticed that in the morning, portions of the tiled walkway seemed to be a bit slick...possibly from dew or spray.
PEOPLE ARE NICE
The lobby, and the people were nice, and there is a great wood carving of a Dutch sailing ship near the elevators. If you have a lot of luggage, or a large party, the elevators can be a bit cramped. When my wife and I got into one with a luggage cart, we barely had room to turn around, and my wife opted to stand with her back to the door just because it would have been too hard for her to adjust her position.
A note on the elevators: One had a tendency to close the door almost immediately after opening. It did not retract very quickly either, and I did get a small bruise on my arm from the door. By the time that happened, however, I was so mad that I did not notice it until later. That was after the events of the first night...see below. I took quite a jolt from the door, but I work out and am in pretty good shape for a 68-year-old. My wife, on the other hand, could easily have been knocked off balance by the door, and there's no telling when it comes to small children.
Our room was on the eighth floor with a magnificent view of the bay and the marina. I must admit that the view was worth going to see, and we considered ourselves lucky to be there and were happy we had come....until....
TV CHANNEL GUIDES AND ATM'S
The first small glitch came when I went down to the lobby to get some cash. They did not have an ATM and I either would have had to get the car out and drive, or walk in 90+ degree heat, which I do not handle well at the moment as I am receiving hormone treatment for prostate cancer. I had wanted the money so that I would have a tip for the server when my wife and I went to the 11th floor Sky View or whatever it's called for our "free" drink.
Since they did not have an ATM and I had not thought to get cash (my bad, as they say) I told my wife that I would get my free drink and then order one and pay for it so that I could tip the server.
The bar on the 11th floor does not open until 5 PM, fine with us, so we decided just to watch some TV and rest from the trip. I could not find a TV channel guide in the room, so I called the front desk to ask if I could get one. I was informed that if there was not one in the room, they could not get me one. Seriously people! A classy joint like that doesn't have extra TV channel guide available?
THE BUSINESS CENTER
By the way, you would think that such a "grand" establishment would have a business center to die for, but not so. There is one computer on a desk in the lobby. It does have a printer, but you may have to wait in line to use it.
MICHAEL IS GREAT. THE "FREE" DRINK? NOT SO GREAT.
Anyway, around 6 PM we went to the 11th floor bar. Again, a spectacular view, and I cannot say enough good things about Michael, the host/bartender/server. He was very friendly and helpful to us and everyone else there, and gave us a lot of good information about the area.
However, your one "free" drink per person per night, has its pitfalls. First of all, if you are a beer drinker like me, don't expect to get a good beer for free. After I choked down a rather disgusting thing called "Shiner" something or other, I ordered, and paid for, a Corona. I'm not an expert on beer, but I have been drinking beer since I was twenty-one, nearly half a century. I have lived in Germany for six years and drank many German beers, Dutch beers, and even English beers, and I have to say I will probably never try another Shiner, just as I will never try another Starbucks "coffee"...which tastes an awful lot like what I used to get from the mess hall at 2 AM when I was the Duty NCO.
Once you get past your free drink, prices are going to be fairly hefty, so, if you're on a budget, stop by a package store and buy your own...it's much cheaper.
My wife, who seldom drinks alcohol, decided to try a mixed drink but almost gave up because of all the things that are NOT available for the "free" drink. She and Michael eventually negotiated something innocuous and we concentrated on just enjoying the view...which would have been better with clean windows, but let's not quibble.
On our second night, by the way, I skipped the "free" drinks and just bought us a couple of drinks and had some really tasty pulled pork sliders and my wife had some wings....which she said were okay, but about the same as you could get anywhere else.
We were still happy to be there and, after spending a lot of time just soaking in the view, we went to bed.
FIRST NIGHT: BRING YOUR EARPLUGS
The beds were comfortable, the AC was efficient and we drifted off to the land of nod...until about 10:30 PM when we suddenly were awakened by some very loud, and very bad, music. Not sure where it was coming from at first, I finally was able to figure out that it was coming from one of a collection of bars about a block away. Apparently, one of the bars had some sort of outside facility and played music out there.
I assumed that the noise would abate eventually, but it kept going and we finally called the desk around midnight to ask if there was anything they could do. They told us that the police had been called and seemed to be as upset as we were that this was happening.
As it turned out, we later learned that this noise is an ongoing problem at this hotel and several people have complained about it. Check other sites such as TripAdvisor.com. We had not brought our computers to cut down on the weight of our luggage, but my wife found several complaints on her smart phone.
Despite the police having been called, the noise continued unabated until nearly 2 AM. By then, I was so angry and frustrated at the situation that I could not fall asleep until after 3 AM. On th first night of my vacation at the Best Western Grand Marina Shoreline Hotel in Corpus Christi, Texas, I got about three hours sleep.
We only could stay one full day, so that kind of shot my tourist mood all to hell.
The next morning, I learned from a hotel staff member that the Corpus Christi police had showed up but sat around and did nothing, apparently because their "noise meter" was broken...and I guess because their ears didn't work either.
Breakfast is served on the 11th floor (other side from the bar). Again, a great view, but the food is nothing to write home about. There's plenty of it, and plenty of selections, but I got just as good in army mess halls. The eggs are powdered, by the way, so, if you like eggs that look and taste like eggs, skip 'em.
On the morning of our departure, even though watching our budget, we skipped the free (unappealing) breakfast and stopped at the Radisson over at Corpus Christi Beach near the Lexington (I'm from Pensacola and had to see the Lady Lex one more time), and had a great breakfast in their dining room.
By the way, we have stayed at that Radisson before and really enjoyed it, but they did not allow pets, and that is when we started staying at Best Westerns. Not an issue any more as we had to put the old girl down last year at 17 1/2 years of age.
Quite frankly, I must say that I cannot remember a stay I enjoyed less than the one at the Best Western Grand Marina Shoreline Motel in Corpus Christi. However, it gets worse.
MY RECEIPT PLEASE...OH NO CHARGE...THANK YOU....NOT
On checking out, I knew that, even though I had used bonus points and free night voucher, I still had a small balance of $70+ to pay. When I went to check out, the young lady at the desk said that there was no charge.
Since La Quinta in Pensacola had given me a free night for some problems about a year previously, I assumed she was telling me that the Best Western Grand Marina was cutting me some slack for the bad experience I had...well...experienced!
WRONG!
Shortly after I got home, I was checking my bank statement and saw a charge for $70+ dollars to the Best Western Grand Marina. I tried to send emails to email addresses on their website and listed on other review sites, but all my emails came back as being undeliverable. Finally, I received an email from Mz. Hernandez, the Front Office Manager in which she explained the amount I was charged but did not address the fact that I had been told that I was not going to be charged. She concluded with "I hope that you will consider staying with us again so that we can have another chance to provide you with a superior experience"...
In other words, I know you got burned last time, in the same way many others have, so come back and let us do it again.
Sorry, I'm not a gambling man.
By the way, if YOU are looking for a working email address for the Best Western Grand Marina Shoreline in Corpus Christi, you might try evelyn@marinagrandhotel.com.
I hope this rather long, and personal, review of the Best Western Grand Marina Shoreline Motel in Corpus Christi, Texas has been of help.
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