Fourth of July Getaway 2020

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Fourth of July Getaway

 

 

After being locked down for months with virtually nothing resembling travel happening (jaunts to Walmart and Sam’s don’t count!), I managed to sneak in a quick weekend getaway for the 4^th of July 2020. Original plans were to travel to San Antonio for a 4-day weekend with a couple of good friends. With the continuation of COVID issues in SA and add the traffic with people who are thinking the same way we were – travel but close to home, we decided to cancel our SA travel plans. But we were still itching to get out of town for a couple days of rest and relaxation. After looking around of options within driving distance of our SWLA town, I recommended we head to Cypress Bend Resort – a Best Western Property sitting on beautiful Toledo Bend - which I was very familiar with and had always had a good experience. Reservations made at a nice rate via one of my TA vendors and we were ready to escape!

Check-In at the resort was not until 3 PM so we opted to not leave until about 1:30 since it only takes a bit over an hour to get to the resort. And of course, in true 2020 fashion, our departure time was also the time a massive weather system opted to roll in so we basically “swam” up to Cypress Bend. Was it an omen of things to come?????

Although we drove up in separate vehicles, we arrived at the same time and proceeded to go to check-in. First thing we noticed was the huge plexi-glass divider at the front desk. The lobby was very empty compared to previous stays and the vibes were definitely different. Normally, this area is filled with families playing some of the games available such as pool or board games, couples enjoying a beverage in the cushy lounge chairs, or laughter coming from the bar area. There were maybe five people to be seen which immediately had me on alert. Hand-sanitizer stations were at multiple locations and the young ladies behind the counter were also wearing masks. None of the people coming in for check-in wore masks nor were any of those in the great room/lobby.

Since I made the reservations using my favored vendor for short hotel stays, I assumed we would be located in the main building. Not so much, they sent us over to the other building across from the pro shop (about a 5-10 minute walk or quick drive by golf cart) which I was not happy about because we weren’t planning on playing golf but wanted to enjoy the resort amenities. But after inspection of the signs on the front desk indicating that the majority of amenities (spa, indoor pool, fitness center, and room service) were closed, we realized it may not have been so bad being in the other building. Back out we went into the pouring rain to make the short drive over to our room building.

After reaching our destination, we had to run through the rain from the parking lot because there is not a covered entrance at either end of the building so we literally got soaked and our bags got soaked as we trudged through the standing water to go up the back stairs to our floor. First thing I noticed upon entering the building was how derelict it looked. Dead bugs and cobwebs all over the entrance way and when entering the building, you’re hit with a damp odor that didn’t have anything to do with the rain. The stairwell looked like it hadn’t seen a vacuum in quite some time which was another “strike” to our experience thus far.

We got to our rooms – both double queen options. Ours was fairly clean and neat while my friend’s room was not. Huge stain on the carpet, dirt on the walls, no coffee or creamer, no towels, and the housekeeper looked perplexed when my friend asked for those items. She happened to still be in the hallway “cleaning” other rooms on the floor. The hallway looked as dingy as the stairwell and I was very disappointed since it was my recommendation that we come to this resort based on my previous experiences.

After settling in, we decided to head out to dinner. Since the hotel restaurant was on limited menu and service, we headed to a Mexican restaurant, Pepe’s, a few miles away. It was my first time there and it was a bit dated and cluttered. We were seated in an area that was probably used as office space during slow hours. Even though the atmosphere was very rustic, food was good, drinks were cold and plentiful, and service was friendly.

After dinner, we stopped at our rooms, grabbed a bag of snacks & beverages and headed to the main lodge to enjoy the sunset over Toledo Bend. One thing that did not get altered with COVID restrictions was the outdoor seating areas which is one of my favorite things about this resort. You can literally spend hours sitting on the patio and enjoy the beautiful views of the greens and lake along with the lovely landscaping all around the patios.

Saturday morning arrived bright and sunny which was a huge relief! Since there was no breakfast being served at the resort restaurant, we headed to Fisherman’s Galley for breakfast. About a 10-minute drive, the Galley is a family owned business which is rustic but worth the time. Service is great, food plentiful, and good prices.  They also have a lunch and supper buffet which I’ve tried a couple of times. Once we had enjoyed coffee and breakfast, we decided it was pool time!

Cypress Bend Resort offers and outdoor/indoor pool which has, normally, always been in good condition. We changed and headed to the pool, claimed our chairs and proceeded to start relaxing. After about an hour, an older gentleman who apparently was in some type of management position, came out and basically told everyone that there were too many people in the pool area and unless you had a reservation, you had to leave. Reservation???? No mention of that at check in, nor in our rooms, or anywhere else in the resort. Lots of grumbling from the other guests in the pool area as well. I marched to the front desk, made a reservation for a two-hour time slot, and proceeded back to the pool. While we were enjoying our “allotted” time, they hung a sign on the door. Being involved in the aquatics industry, I understood the restriction but the way it was handled was rude and absurd. Another downer for our stay….My friend’s opted to go rent a golf cart and explore some of the course and other parts of the property. I enjoyed the rest of my pool time, added another hour to my slot, and found a little peace and quiet for an hour or so that didn’t involve anything COVID related.

Dinner time brought us to the resort dining room. We were the only guests for the first 20 minutes. All servers had masks on and there were two sanitizer stations. Paper napkins and paper menus. The menu was about half of what it normally is and I noticed the pricing was a bit higher than the last time I was there last October. Service was good, food was pretty tasty, and we enjoyed a good meal. We moved out to the patio to settle in for the fireworks. No outside bar service but the bar was open to a limited number of guests at a time and was quick with service.

What we did notice during our activities there is that masks were not prevalent, sanitation measures were present in the main areas but a little more relaxed in the other areas, and the general atmosphere was cautious. Normally, people are every where gathering in chatty groups and this time, you could see the families staying together, couples did not mingle, and there wasn’t a lot of friendly banter between visitors. There were definite signs all over the resort buildings of disrepair and lack of general maintenance which I had not noticed so acutely during my other stays there. The gardens are still lovely and the scenery is amazing so I opt to look over some of the cosmetic issues. We enjoyed a lovely 4^th of July evening on the patio watching the fireworks all around the lake area! 

Sunday brought more rain and another trip to the Fisherman’s Galley for breakfast. Check-out was quick but not contactless. You have to go to the front desk to turn in keys and check your statement. Another note was that housekeeping did not make beds or even take out the trash. They loaded the coffee supplies, towels, and left a trash bag. There was a note at check-in about this change in service. If I were to go back in the next month or so, I will bring my own wipes and disinfectant just as an added precaution.

Overall, this first post COVID trip was not what I wanted or needed. The changes at this resort due to COVID are significant. They were closed for 3 months and it may take some significant time for it to come back fully. But my concern is that if they do not go back to some of their pre-COVID practices and amenities, this resort will no longer be the “go-to” for a quick and lovely getaway within a short drive of our town. I will go again in a couple of months to see if there is improvement or change before I recommend a client to travel there for an extended stay. The golf course is still immaculate and one of the best in the south but the resort needs to come back in line with that same quality but for those of us who don’t play golf and just want to enjoy the resort, it was not what we were expecting.

Fourth of July 2020 – How did you spend it? And was it different than past Fourth celebrations due to post pandemic changes? I’m hoping my next travel experience is more positive but I will also go into it with a view buffered by this Fourth of July getaway. 

Check out some of the pictures of this lovely location!

 https://www.flickr.com/gp/189215319@N06/57R86x