A Road Trip with no Particular Place to Go

The Doubletree Hotel Modesto is located on a plaza with fountains in the heart of Downtown Modesto. It is the tallest, most visible hotel in town, so finding it is not a problem. The hotel is housed in a tan colored 15-story tower, with rooms on the first 10 floors. An Office Building occupies the top floors, so don’t board the wrong elevators. The Doubletree was built in the early 90's and was formerly known as the Red Lion Hotel Modesto. The Doubletree is attached to the Modesto Convention Center.

The lobby is a large Spartan area with a front desk and sitting area, in typical 90’s Contemporary Décor. The staff is impressive, and feel like they belong in a four-star hotel. You get the Trademark Doubletree cookies at check-in. Our kids would stay at a Doubletree before a Four Seasons because of those darned cookies! But they are tasty. Besides, I’m a sucker for a gimmick.

We stayed in a double guest room on the 10th floor, on the east side of the building. Good view of downtown Modesto. Rooms are nice quality, maybe just slightly larger than average. Decor is California Contemporary. Furnishings were of good quality, including a chair with ottoman and a work desk with chair. Beds were quite comfortable, and seemed new. The double rooms had two queen beds (yay, because I hate full size beds!). The bathrooms were clean, well-lit with large mirror and were of average size with limestone floors. There is a vanity/sink area in the bathroom, as well as right outside the bathroom in the room’s foyer. This is a great feature, allowing two people to get ready at the same time. The separate vanity areas aren’t available in the Oversized Corner Queen Rooms (see other review) because of the Jetted Tubs in those rooms taking up space. Bathroom amenities are the Neutrogena products you get at all Hilton branded hotels. This is what I use at home, so I like them.

Dining was good in the Garden Terrace Restaurant. Their breakfast buffet was included in our room rate and was of good quality. Their fine dining restaurant looked nice, and the menu sounded good, but we didn’t try it out. There is also dining across the street in the Downtown Modesto Pedestrian Mall, including Bistros, Casual and Fine Dining. There are also movie theaters, nightclubs and a Starbucks there. Recreation includes a swimming pool and fitness center. We were not able to enjoy these facilities during our stay.

Impressed overall, and this is the best place to stay in Modesto. Usually hotels with no real competition fail to deliver, but the Doubletree Hotel Modesto delivers. Maybe it’s because this hotel is not franchised, it is owned and operated directly by Hilton Hotel Corporation. At least according to a little plaque in the lobby.

The Tenaya Lodge is up in the Sierra Nevada Mountain Range set in a dense pine forest at the South Entrance to Yosemite National Park near Wawona, off State Route 41 (one hour north of Fresno). The hotel was built in the early 90's and was formerly known as the Marriott Tenaya Lodge. The Tenaya is two four-story substantial contemporary alpine lodges connected by a grand lobby and convention center.

The lobby is a large two-story, lodge-styled place with exposed wood beams and stone. Comfortable sitting areas and fireplaces in a nice contemporary lodge decor. The Front Desk Staff were courteous. There is a nifty little kids’ check-in counter where they walk up a step stool carved out of wood, shaped like a bear. Brings them up to the right height to the front desk. The kids enjoyed that. There they got a coloring book with crayons. The lodge has two wings from the Lobby. The West Building is immediately adjacent to the Lobby, and is convenient to all the lodge's facilities. The East Building is a good hike from the Lobby.

Rooms are very nice quality, average size, just fitting the two double beds and furniture without feeling squished. Decor is once again contemporary alpine lodge. Views from the rooms look out across extensive manicured grounds out to the forest. The pine wood crown moldings and baseboards were a nice touch. Furnishings all felt good quality. There is a nice sitting chair and a writing desk. Beds were comfortable, typical four-star quality. Either One King, or Two Full-Size. The bathrooms were clean and vanity/sink area was in a separate room from the shower/toilet room. Bath amenities were an all-natural upscale-looking brand that I never have heard of, but were great.

There are three restaurants on site, but we only ate at the Sierra Restaurant. The setting is rather upscale, with tables and booths surrounding a large fireplace going up through a skylight. Food is rather trendy and expensive, but high quality. Best described as California Cuisine with a Mountain Flair. Their breakfast buffet was included in our room rate and is one of the best around. Nice spread, tastefully done, exotic fruits, and some gourmet items (like quiches). Recreation facilities were good and included an indoor pool, fitness center and Beauty Spa, including massage. Lots of outdoor recreation in the nearby area, too. This is, after all, Yosemite. Though the park border is only 2 miles away, the Yosemite Valley is an hour drive down windy roads.

In summary, I’d say the Tenaya is a nice lodge in a great remote location. It is expensive, usually over $200 a night in season. But off-season deals can be had in the low $100’s.

The Larkspur Landing Suite Hotel is located in Northeast Suburban Sacramento in the city of Roseville, beside I-80. It is a part of a complex which includes a Tahoe Joe’s Steakhouse, Hilton Garden Inn and the Larkspur Landing. The hotel is a 4-story building with an attractive contemporary nautical façade. The Hilton Garden Inn is adjacent, for those looking for non-suite lodging.

The Larkspur Landing was built in the late 90’s. The Larkspur Landing is a regional, limited service, three-star all-suite chain. They are like a Hilton Garden Inn in Suite Form. Clean and functional, very consistent, good concept. The lobby is cute and small, with a modern-styled front desk. Immediately off the Lobby is a Reception Lounge, where the Continental Breakfast is served. The staff is cordial and you are quickly on your way to your suite.

The entrance doors into the suites lead into a nice Full Kitchen and Living Room parlor. There is also a little dining room table/work desk. Decorations are modern contemporary and pleasant, typical three-star quality. The parlor consists of a pull-out sofa bed and sitting chair. The bathroom is large and nicely decorated, but the sink/vanity is in the bathroom. Our bedroom was in a separate room with one King Bed and it’s own closet. Bed quality was good, and linens clean. However, with all the specialty beds coming out; Heavenly Beds, SuiteDream Beds, Sweet Sleepers, etc., they may want to upgrade soon. Bathroom Amenities were good. There is in-suite coffee service, as well as hairdryers and ironing boards.

There is no restaurant in the hotel, but Tahoe Joe’s steakhouse is right outside the front door (pretty good steaks). Also there is a limited grill at the Hilton Garden Inn. Additionally, there is all the typical suburban restaurants and shopping malls in the near vicinity, including Outback, Macaroni Grill, Fresh Choice, In-N-Out Burgers, Olive Garden, Starbucks and Peet’s Coffee, etc., etc. Complimentary Continental Breakfast was above average quality, almost as good as a Holiday Inn Express.

Overall decent place, and I really enjoy suite accommodations. Very well suited for long stay business travelers.