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Pet-Friendly Stay at La Quinta Inn & Suites Waco Downtown – Baylor
If you’re traveling with your pet and need a hotel close to Magnolia Market in Waco, Texas, I highly recommend La Quinta Inn & Suites Waco Downtown – Baylor. While the name might be a mouthful, my experience at this hotel was almost perfect.
First Impressions
Upon entering the hotel, Kuma and I were greeted by a vibrant lobby. To the left, there were comfortable couches, and to the right, some tables and chairs. There was a brief wait while someone checked in ahead of me, but I was quickly greeted by the friendly receptionist. She was kind and immediately asked if I was there for the Baylor game. I had no idea there was a game going on—I was just focused on my trip to Magnolia Market.
I requested a room away from the elevators, facing away from the road, and on the highest available floor. The receptionist confirmed everything was taken care of, and I was assigned Room 401.
Location
The hotel is ideally located with plenty of dining options nearby, including In-N-Out Burger, Whataburger, Chick-fil-A, Panera, and more. For smoothie lovers, Tropical Smoothie is directly across the street.
The main reason I was in Waco was to visit Magnolia Market at the Silos, which is just half a mile from the hotel. While I could have easily walked there, I chose to drive so I could bring Kuma along. It was easier, especially with all the ongoing construction around downtown Waco, which made me wary of getting lost due to detours.
If you’re visiting Waco to see a Baylor University game, this hotel is less than a mile away, making it a convenient choice.
The Room
I booked the King Room, which was a bit cheaper than the Queen Room with two beds. The room was spacious at 310 square feet, modern, and stylish. My favorite part was the bold orange wallpaper of the Waco bridge behind the bed. The carpet design and the ombre effect on the drapes gave the room a hip, contemporary feel—definitely more stylish than I expected from a La Quinta Inn.
While I requested a room away from the highway to avoid traffic noise, my room ended up being right next to the interstate. The noise wasn’t overwhelming, but I could hear cars and trucks passing by, especially at night. While it wasn’t ideal, I didn’t mind it too much since I was really tired after an 8-hour drive.
Despite this, I slept well both nights I was there, so the noise didn’t end up being a major issue.
The room itself was perfect otherwise. I appreciated the ample counter space and multiple outlets, including USB outlets on the nightstands and desk. The wooden luggage rack was also handy for organizing my things. The room came with a flat-screen TV, accent chair, alarm clock, desk, dresser, coffee machine, microwave, refrigerator, iron, and ironing board.
The only thing missing was a digital safe, but I don’t use those anyway, so it wasn’t a dealbreaker for me.
Bathroom
The bathroom was great, with high-pressure water in the shower and the perfect temperature. I love a hot shower, and this one didn’t disappoint. The Paul Mitchell toiletries—shampoo, conditioner, lotion—along with massage soap bars and makeup wipes were a pleasant surprise. It was refreshing to see a hotel go above and beyond with toiletries, as many hotels these days only offer the basics.
Amenities
- Free WiFi
The hotel offers free WiFi, but unfortunately, the signal wasn’t great in my room. I had to call technical support, who was very helpful but, honestly, I was disappointed that I had to spend time troubleshooting during my vacation. Eventually, they improved the signal on my laptop, but I couldn’t get it to work well on my phone. For a newer hotel in downtown Waco, I expected better WiFi. - Complimentary Breakfast
Breakfast is served every morning from 6 AM – 9 AM on weekdays and 7 AM – 10 AM on weekends. They offer a variety of options, including a waffle station, several cereals, eggs, sausages, muffins, bread, bagels, oatmeal packets, yogurts, bananas, and a coffee and tea station. I tried the coffee but didn’t love it—it was too dark for my taste. - Fitness Center
I was really impressed with the hotel’s fitness center, especially for its size. It had treadmills, elliptical machines, exercise bikes, dumbbells, and medicine balls. They also provided towels, water, and sanitizer, and everything was clean and well-maintained. - Indoor Pool
The pool area is indoors and covered, but there’s an outdoor lounge area as well. I didn’t use the pool during my stay, but it looked nice, with a hot tub in the corner.
Pet-Friendliness
This hotel is very pet-friendly, with a reasonable pet fee of $20 per night, capped at $40. There are grassy areas around the hotel where your dog can relieve itself, though I didn’t see a dedicated waste station. Kuma mostly used the grass in front of the hotel, and I disposed of her waste in the nearby trash can.
Final Thoughts
Overall, I had a really good stay at La Quinta Inn & Suites Waco Downtown – Baylor. Despite a few hiccups with the room being next to the interstate and the WiFi issues, the overall experience was great. The staff was friendly, the room was comfortable, and I appreciated the pet-friendly amenities.
One thing to note is that there are quite a few homeless people around the area. This isn’t unique to this hotel—other hotels nearby seem to have the same issue. During my stay, one man approached me asking for money as I was putting Kuma in the car, but he didn’t mean any harm. Another time, a man was sitting near the lobby door waiting for someone to open it. Since it was early in the morning, the doors were still locked, but I opened it for him. When I spoke to the receptionist later, she mentioned that the hotel locks the front doors at night for safety, and guests can use the side doors with their key cards.
Nothing bad happened, but it’s something worth noting if you’re planning a stay here.
FAQs
1. Is this hotel pet-friendly?
Yes, the hotel is very pet-friendly, with a reasonable pet fee of $20 per night, up to a maximum of $40.
2. How far is the hotel from Magnolia Market?
The hotel is just half a mile from Magnolia Market at the Silos, which is within walking distance, though you might prefer to drive if you’re bringing a pet.
3. What kind of amenities does the hotel offer?
The hotel offers free WiFi, a complimentary breakfast, a fitness center, an indoor pool, and pet-friendly accommodations. It also has plenty of nearby dining options and a convenient location near Baylor University.
4. Is the hotel close to any restaurants?
Yes, there are several popular restaurants nearby, including In-N-Out Burger, Whataburger, Chick-fil-A, Panera, and Tropical Smoothie.
5. Was the WiFi reliable?
Unfortunately, the WiFi signal in my room wasn’t great, and I had to call technical support for assistance. The signal was better on my laptop, but not on my phone. This was a bit disappointing for a newer hotel in downtown Waco.
Conclusion
La Quinta Inn & Suites Waco Downtown – Baylor is a solid choice if you’re traveling with a pet or visiting the area. The hotel is pet-friendly, offers great amenities, and is conveniently located near popular attractions like Magnolia Market. Despite a few minor inconveniences, my stay was comfortable, and I’d definitely consider staying here again during my next visit to Waco.