Crowne Plaza

 

68

135

Liz X.

Chicago, IL

6/18/2007 1 photo

At this point in my venture out to the Midwest, I was tired and looking for a good deal.  So I "hotwired" again for an Omaha hotel and got the Crowne Plaza for a fantabulously low price.  The CP is in the Northwest part of the city a bit from the city center, but again, at this point in my trip, I just wanted a clean, safe, cheap place to stay.  And honestly, nothing against Nebraska, but do I really care what's going on in downtown Omaha?  Maybe another time, but after seeing 40,000 tumbleweeds blow by and red barn with accompanying silo after red barn with accompanying silo, I just wanted to get to Chicago.  

The CP is right off of the 680 (which is right off of the main drag through NE and IA, the I-80) and set in between a bunch of corporate buildings/hotels/chain restaurants and a residential area.  I was so achy and cramped up that I actually went for a run through the neighborhoods and through a small park: lots of folks sitting out on the porch or driveway with a nice cold one in hand.  (And did you know you can buy a house for less than $100K in NE?).  So again, the place is in a safe area.  

The room was spacious, clean, and came with all the typical amenities.  The bathroom was clean, the bed comfy and big, and free wi-fi so I was happy.  I was so tired and it was so late and I did not feel like finding the "Harry's Bar" of Omaha, so I actually had a late night dinner at the hotel bar (but I had to hurry out of the shower as they stop serving at 10PM).  The food was what one would expect from a mid-line hotel restaurant which to me means over-dressed soggy salad, chicken fingers, quesadillas, steak sammiches, etc.  You get exactly what you expect: calories to fill your tummy.  

The manager and the bartender were super friendly and as the night wore on, the bar filled up with some travelers who got in late.  The bartender was so young (or I am so old) that he did not know Dana Carvey's "Chopping Broccoli" bit, so I did him a favor and did it for him.  And, apparently, the Omaha Crown Plaza bar has never had mojitos until this month!  So, the bartender was really excited and made me one on the house so that he could practice muddling or mortar and pestling or whatever it is that one does these days.  Hey, free drinks on the house are always good for me.  

Again, clean, safe, cheap (if you hotwire it) place to stay with friendly staff and a bartender who just might make you a drink on the house.  How does that not deserve 5 stars?

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