Tru by Hilton Saint Joseph: Your Unexpected Midwest Oasis Awaits!
Tru by Hilton Saint Joseph: My Midwest Oasis Almost Awaited! A Review That's Actually Honest (and a Little Rambly)
Okay, so picture this: I'm driving across… well, let's just say “Middle America.” Sun's beating down, the GPS is yelling at me, and I'm craving something besides gas station coffee and highway monotony. Then, BAM, sighted the sign for Tru by Hilton Saint Joseph: "Your Unexpected Midwest Oasis Awaits!" Ooh, intriguing. I needed an oasis, alright. Let's dive in.
First Impressions & Accessibility (Because Let's Be Real, It Matters!)
The first thing that hit me? The place looked like they'd actually put some effort into it. Clean lines, bright colors, a vibe that screamed "Millennial-friendly" without being totally obnoxious. Accessibility-wise, it seemed pretty solid. Wheelchair accessible, check. Elevator, check. The lobby was spacious enough to maneuver easily. I didn’t have to wrestle with tiny doors or navigate a maze of furniture. That's a HUGE win in my book (especially after those roadside rest stops… ugh). I didn’t have to check for specific accessible rooms, but the overall impression was encouraging.
Gimme That Wi-Fi (and Everything Else I Crave!)
Right, the essentials. Free Wi-Fi in all rooms! That’s a must-have for a digital nomad like myself - or, you know, anyone who wants to, you know, work. The Internet access – LAN listing made me chuckle; remember LAN cables? Still, good to know all the connectivity bases are covered. Internet services in general seemed well-handled. No agonizingly slow buffering while I desperately tried to upload my Instagram masterpiece (you know, the one of my slightly burnt gas station coffee). I saw Wi-Fi in public areas too, but honestly, I was too busy enjoying the AC to go check it out.
Rooms: Cleanliness, Comfort, and… The Little Things (and the BIG Ones)
My room… was… well, nice. Cleanliness and safety were clearly a priority. I'm a germaphobe, and I'm not ashamed to say I did a quick sweep (with the provided hand sanitizer, of course). The anti-viral cleaning products and the fact that they had rooms sanitized between stays? Major brownie points. The air conditioning worked like a dream (bliss after the drive). The blackout curtains were a godsend for sleeping in. I had a desk to work at, a very comfortable sofa to collapse on after a long day, and even a laptop workspace (if I was into that). The bathrobes were fluffy – a small thing, but it elevated the whole experience. And yes, there’s free bottled water. A small thing, but hey, it’s the details that make a difference. Oh, and the smoke detector had never seen a puff of smoke, and everything was in place.
And before I forget, I saw a mirror, a reading light, a mini bar (stocked with…stuff), a desk, an ironing facilities for the rare times I need to look semi-professional, and a hair dryer.
Now, let’s talk about my one tiny, almost-major complaint. Remember how I mentioned "almost"? The soundproofing wasn't quite perfect. I could slightly hear… well, let's just say the couple next door were very enthusiastic about… well, something. But really, it was such a small thing and was easily forgotten with a bit of earplugs. And I appreciated that all the rooms were non-smoking.
Eating, Drinking, and Almost Drowning in Options (in a Good Way!)
Okay, food. This is where Tru almost went above and beyond. The breakfast [buffet] was decent. Not mind-blowing, but they definitely had all the essentials. There was a coffee shop in the lobby, which was convenient, and the coffee/tea in restaurant was good. I wasn’t expecting Michelin star dining in Saint Joseph, and I didn’t get it, but the food was perfectly adequate and the breakfast takeaway service was a nice touch for those rushed mornings. I didn't test the Asian breakfast thingy.
However, here's the almost part. The poolside bar was… well, it was there. I'm just saying, a slightly more exciting cocktail menu might have pushed this review into "absolutely perfect! land." But still, not bad at all.
"Things to Do" (and Really, How to Just Chill Out)
Okay, the brochure promised an "oasis." Here's the thing: I was more in the mood for "chill out" than "spa day." But let's see. The fitness center looked decent (I didn't use it – I'm on vacation, people!). There's a swimming pool [outdoor], and it looked… lovely. I didn't have time to dive in, but it looked clean and inviting. I did spot a pool with view (not a bad view either). No sauna, steamroom, or fancy-pants spa. So if you’re looking for major pampering, maybe this isn’t THE spot. But honestly? The chill factor was high. I spent a good chunk of time parked on the terrace, just soaking up the sun and, you know, thinking.
Services and Conveniences: The Little Niceties That Make a Difference
This is where Tru really shines. The staff were genuinely friendly and helpful. The concierge was a wealth of information, the daily housekeeping was excellent, and there was a doorman. They offered cash withdrawal and currency exchange. The dry cleaning and laundry service was a lifesaver (post-road trip clothes are, let's be honest, a biohazard). The elevator, the facilities for disabled guests, and the safety deposit boxes all made life easier. They did have car park [free of charge].
The "Meh" Zone (and Where They Could Improve) The gift/souvenir shop was pretty basic, but who is actually looking for gifts at this point? Also, while the exterior corridor was fine, it wasn't the most glamorous way into my room. And honestly, a proper restaurant (with a more extensive menu) would have been awesome. But you can't have everything! Final Verdict and A Compelling Offer (aka Why YOU Should Book This Place RIGHT NOW!)
Tru by Hilton Saint Joseph? It’s a solid choice. It’s not overly fancy, but it's comfortable, clean, convenient, and the staff are genuinely great. It's a perfect pit stop on a road trip!
So, here's my deal for you… Book Tru by Hilton Saint Joseph in the next 72 hours, and I'll PERSONALLY guarantee you a complimentary upgrade (based on availability!) That's my promise to you. I'm feeling generous. Plus, you'll get a free coffee at the coffee shop. And I will leave a note in your room.
Do it. You deserve it. You Deserve this trip!
(This review is based on my personal experience. Your mileage may vary. I am not affiliated with Tru by Hilton Saint Joseph, just a weary traveler who needed a good night's sleep.)
Indulge in Royalty: Uncover Hotel O The Heritage Palace's Hidden Secrets
Okay, buckle up buttercups, because we're about to descend into the glorious, chaotic, and potentially stain-ridden world of my Tru by Hilton, Saint Joseph, Missouri itinerary. Forget perfect Instagram grids, we're going for the raw, the real, and the slightly panicked.
Day 1: Arrival (and Existential Dread in the Heartland)
1:00 PM - Touchdown at KCI (Kansas City International Airport): Ugh. Airports. Let's just say my "bright and early" departure from home morphed into a "slightly-late-and-slightly-hungover" arrival. My flight was delayed, naturally. I'm pretty sure I accidentally touched someone's backpack and now they're furious. Note to self: invest in a travel-sized bottle of hand sanitizer and a smile. Maybe.
2:30 PM - Rental Car Retrieval & The Great Highway Escape: Okay, this is where things get interesting. My rental car? A tiny, suspiciously-smelling compact that I swore I booked a mid-size. The guy at the counter gave me the look, the one that screams, "You're going to complain, aren't you?" I did. I did complain. But alas, I was stuck with the Tiny Terror. The drive to St. Joseph was… uneventful. Miles and miles of cornfields, punctuated by the occasional billboard for a lawyer. My internal monologue at this point was a symphony of sighs and existential musings.
4:00 PM - Check-in at Tru by Hilton St. Joseph: The lobby is… bright. Like, retina-searing bright. Seriously, it's like a rainbow exploded and then immediately vomited sunshine. I appreciate the attempt at cheerfulness, but I'm fairly certain I'm going to need sunglasses indoors. Check-in was thankfully painless, and my room, while small, smelled vaguely of fresh laundry, so, a win! I immediately crashed on the bed. Jet lag is a cruel mistress.
5:00 PM - Unpacking & Contemplating the Meaning of Life (in a Small Hotel Room): I hate unpacking. HATE IT. But I figured I needed to at least pretend to be organized. As I hung my one decent blouse in the closet, I got the unsettling feeling I'd forgotten something. Like, a very important something. My passport? My toothbrush?! Nope. My ability to remember things. Just…poof. Gone.
6:00 PM - Dinner (a Culinary Adventure): I was starving. And frankly, a little lost on what culinary delights St. Joseph had to offer. After a quick (and slightly panicked) Google search, I settled on a diner down the street, "The Cozy Cafe." The Cozy Cafe was more or less exactly what you'd expect. A greasy spoon with waitresses that knew everything about you after a five-minute chat. I had a burger, fries, and a milkshake that was so thick, I almost choked. It was pure, unadulterated comfort food. And I loved it. I also met a nice old lady who called me sweetheart the whole time.
7:30 PM - Wandering & Regret: I got the brilliant idea to walk off my burger in the evening. "Fresh air!" I thought. "Romance!" I thought. What I actually got was a slight chill in the air, mosquitos, and a growing sense of regret for not bringing a jacket. My mood was a roller coaster. I ended up in the town square, watching the sunset. My phone died. And I was alone. Oh, the drama! The unmitigated DRAMA!
9:00 PM - Back to the Tru & Netflix & Chill (Alone): I retreated back to my bright, clean hotel room, feeling like a slightly pathetic protagonist in a rom-com with no romance. Netflix saved the day. And a packet of those weird little hotel cookies.
Day 2: Ghosts, History, and the Quest for Decent Coffee
7:00 AM - Wake Up (and Immediate Coffee Anxiety): The provided coffee in the room smelled like sadness and stale pennies. My quest for GOOD coffee began. Note to self: Pack a French press and your favorite coffee beans for future trips. So. Much. Coffee. Dependence.
8:00 AM - Breakfast at the Tru: The Tru breakfast situation was… predictable. Cereal, yogurt, some sad-looking fruit. I opted for a waffle. It was cooked, at least. And free. Can't complain too much, I guess.
9:00 AM - The Pony Express National Museum: Okay, this was actually REALLY fascinating. Who knew the Pony Express riders were so badass? The stories and artifacts were really amazing. But it was also… dusty. I had to blow my nose a lot.
10:30 AM - A Stop-Over at the Jesse James Home Museum: I took the tour. Yes. Yes, I did. I am a sucker for historical drama, even though I knew the story of Jesse James. And the guy at the museum? He was REALLY into Jesse James. It was a little… intense. But it was good. The tour made me feel even more sure that I would never want to be a lawman myself.
12:00 PM - Lunch at a Local Diner (again): The idea of trying another restaurant felt daunting. So I did the easy thing and went back to the Cozy Cafe. Hey, the waitress remembered my name! The familiarity was comforting, even though I worried they were starting to suspect I had no other social life. This time I ordered a salad (trying to be healthy, you know).
1:00 PM - The Patee House Museum: This place was another deep dive into history. It was the home of the Pony Express and was also the site of a really dramatic murder trial. I found myself wandering its halls for hours. There's something about old houses, I always feel a connection to the past.
4:00 PM - Seeking Refuge at The Coffee Shop: I'd heard of a local coffee shop. I needed a real caffeine fix. Found the shop. It was called "Brew & Bloom" and, bless their hearts, they served real coffee. And a damn good latte. It was heaven.
5:30 PM - Down Time for a Nap/Reflection: I napped. And then I sat in the hotel room with a notebook and tried to make sense of everything. The town. The history. My life choices. The coffee, however, kept me from sinking too far into the abyss of overthinking.
7:00 PM - Dinner and a Movie (in the Hotel Room): I decided on easy, again. Pizza. I found a local pizza place, and grabbed a pie, and went back to watching movies. This went on until my alarm clock told me I needed to sleep. Who knows what tomorrow will bring?
Day 3: The Departure (and a Promise to Return… Maybe)
8:00 AM - Attempt at a Final Tru Breakfast & Departure Chaos: Trying to pack, check out, and eat a mediocre waffle all while fighting off a serious caffeine withdrawal headache. I am perpetually late, but it's my charm. I had to check out. Of course, I took a wrong turn and found myself in some random parking lot. Oops.
10:00 AM - Driving out, reflections: The Little Terror gave me hell on the way out. It took me over an hour to get the car back to the airport. But I tried to enjoy the ride and breathe.
12:00 PM - Flight Home (and the Inevitable Post-Trip Blues): The flight was fine. I landed back in the world, back to the real world that I had escaped for a little while. And I was glad to be back. And, yes, I would leave again.
Overall Thoughts:
- The Tru by Hilton, St. Joseph: A perfectly fine hotel. Bright. Clean. Predictable. Would I stay again? Maybe. If I ran out of other options.
- St. Joseph, Missouri: A charming little town with a history I found surprisingly captivating. Also a town that really needs better coffee, and I can’t stress this enough. I also would be happy to return.
I needed this trip. Even with the breakdowns, the questionable food choices, and the existential angst. I embraced the messiness, the freedom to be a little weird, and the time to just… be. And that's the most important thing, isn't it? Now, off to do laundry… and start planning my next escape!
Budapest Bliss: Your Dream Hapimag Resort Awaits!
Tru by Hilton Saint Joseph: 'Cause Let's Be Real, You Have Questions...and I Have Opinions!
Okay, so you're thinking of Tru by Hilton in Saint Joseph, Missouri? Good for you! Or maybe… maybe not? Let's rip off this band-aid (just like the free breakfast!) and dive into some seriously-asked questions... and my totally unsolicited (but, let's be honest, more helpful) responses. Buckle up, buttercups. This is gonna be good.
1. Is Tru by Hilton Saint Joseph... actually *new*? Like, is it clean? Because I've seen things...
Alright, let's start with the basics. YES, generally speaking, it IS pretty darn new. I stayed there last year, and the paint smell was still a little... noticeable. Which, honestly? I kinda dug it. Reminded me of getting something new (a new car, new phone, new... well, you get the idea). But REALLY clean? Yep. Generally. I'd give it a solid 8.5/10 on the cleanliness scale. Better than the roadside motel I stayed at last time through Missouri... let's just say the only "amenity" in *that* bathroom was a lingering sense of regret. My advice? Check the reviews *right before* you book. People are brutally honest on travel sites, and if there's a cockroach army in residence, you'll hear about it.
2. The "Free Breakfast"... is it Worth the Hype? Because I've seen sad continental breakfasts...
Ooh, breakfast. That's the moment of truth, isn't it? Tru does a decent job. It's not a five-star brunch buffet, let's be real. It's more like a slightly upgraded version of what you'd expect from the hotel chain—a rainbow of options. (Okay, maybe not actually rainbow-colored eggs, but, you get me...). They had the standard: waffles (make 'em yourself!), cereal (the sugary kind, thank the stars!), yogurt, fruit(mostly apples and bananas), and... *gasp*... actual eggs! And some of hot options. And...wait for it.... bacon! Now, the bacon wasn’t the crispy, perfect kind, but it was bacon. And sometimes, when you're staring into the abyss of a morning meeting, bacon is all you need. There’s also the always-present coffee and... maybe tea? The point is, there’s *something* for everyone. Just, don't expect haute cuisine. Expect to fill your belly before hitting the road (and your wallet won't be any lighter for it!).
3. What's the Wi-Fi like? Because I need to *work*. (Ugh.)
Ah, the curse and blessing of modern life: Wi-Fi. Look, I'm not gonna lie, I'm not some tech guru. I just know *if* the internet works or not. And at Tru, from my experience... it *mostly* did. Okay, there were a couple of instances where I wanted to hurl my laptop across the room (thanks, video conference!), but overall, it was tolerable. Enough to check emails and stream whatever trashy TV show is currently keeping me from getting any real work done. It's not going to be the blazing-fast fiber optic of your dreams, but it's... functional. Bring a backup hotspot just in case. Trust me on this one, particularly if you're in that zone of needing to present something important.
4. Is the Location Convenient? I'm a Tourist/Business Traveler/Lost Traveler. Help!
Location, location, location! Okay, fine, it’s Saint Joseph, not Paris. But here’s the deal: Tru is generally in a pretty decent spot. It’s not *right* downtown, which, let’s be honest, usually means parking nightmares and questionable late-night noise. It's probably reasonably located near to some key spots from where you can take a day trip like the Pony Express Monument if you're a history buff, but you will need a car. Depends on your needs. For business travelers, it’s probably a-okay – easy access to the highway. For tourists, it's probably fine, you may have to drive to some attractions. Ultimately, do a quick Google Maps check. Plug in the places you *actually* want to go, and see if they're a reasonable drive. Don't base your entire trip on my rambling opinions!
5. The Rooms... are they *tiny*? Because I need space to breathe.
Okay, so the rooms... yup, they're on the more compact side. It's a Tru thing. Think "efficient," not "palatial." Do not go there expecting a suite with a jacuzzi tub. I really just wanted to lie down after a long drive, and it was fine, but if my partner, who is *huge* and needs a lot of space, was traveling with me, it would have been a nightmare. So, if you're claustrophobic or traveling with a whole family, you might want to consider upgrading. But for one night, or for a solo trip... yeah, they're workable. The decor is generally modern and bright (lots of pops of color, which I appreciate). The beds are comfy enough (though, again, not luxury hotel comfy). Just don't expect to be able to run laps. Pack light. Seriously. You'll thank me later.
6. Is there a pool? Because, vacations. You know.
Yes! There is usually a pool. It's not Olympic-sized, and it's not some swanky resort situation, but it's a pool. I remember the last time I was there... it was a blazing hot day, and I was just *dying* for a dip. The pool was clean, refreshing, and exactly what I needed. I think the towels were a little thin, but let's be honest, you're not paying for Ritz-Carlton fluffy towels, are you? It saved me, really. Check if it's open for the season before you book, especially if you're a pool-fiend.
