Best Western Center Inn, Virginia Beach Review

Booking & Stay Details

It was Memorial Day weekend, and I was working on the Virginia Aviation Ambassador Challenge. I was down to the last few stamps I needed to collect and for that, I needed a hotel in the Norfolk/Virginia Beach area. I was looking for available options from different hotel brands as well to use points or cash. 

I found a Best Western not too far from where I was and needed to be in the morning and checked their cash prices. The Member rate at the Best Western Center Inn was just a little bit over $100/night. Since it was late, and I was tired and didn’t feel like pulling out my laptop. I had to use the still horrible Best Western app to book the hotel. Normally, I book Best Western hotels through a cashback portal to maximize my return.

Location

The Best Western Center Inn is located only a short drive away from Norfolk International Airport. The driveway to the hotel is along a busy road through Virginia Beach but the hotel itself is located further back and away from the highway and there is no issue with road noise. There are a few other restaurants in the area, with some of them even within walking distance. If you follow the main highway in front of the hotel, it will take you to the Chesapeake Bay Bridge Tunnel. 

Parking

Lots of parking spaces around the hotel building. Well, it is actually a motel, where all the doors face outside. I parked near the front entrance for added security. Even though I had nothing in my rental car at all. I just hate dealing with the paperwork if something happens.

Shuttle Service

No shuttle service available.

Check-In

I walked into the small lobby space. Two other people arrived just before me and the agent on duty took care of them. As it was my turn, I provided my credit card and I.D. but they were shocked when they saw my foreign ID because they couldn’t scan it. For whatever reason, they scan every ID. It feels kind of like you are trying to buy alcohol or cigarettes. No, you are just checking into a hotel. It’s also not a state law, but it seems to be an issue with lower-end hotels. Never had such an issue at a Hyatt or Marriott, or even a Holiday Inn. Anyway, she decided to make a photocopy of my ID and handed me my room keys shortly after that and informed me about the breakfast hours.

Check-In: 3 p.m.
Check-Out: 11 a.m.

1 King Bed Room (Room 101)

As you enter the room you have the bathroom to your left. It’s well-sized and comes with a vanity with a single sink and a large wall-mounted mirror. The other half of the bathroom consists of a tub/shower combo unit. There is no soap dispenser in the shower. The hotel provides single-use plastic bottles which sit on the vanity. A small shelf at the end of the room holds the towels.

Right outside the bathroom is a full-size closet with sliding doors. Inside is an iron, an ironing board as well as some hangers for your cloth. Just next to the closet is the connecting room door, which will connect this room with the neighboring room. The entryway, all the way up to the connecting room door, and the bathroom has tiled floor while the main room is carpeted.

The room itself is very basic. The main part of the room is the King Bed which sits on the left side of the room. On either side of the bed is a nightstand with a lamp. The base of one of the lamps was very badly corroded. Next to the bed, in the outside corner of the room, is a chair.

On the opposite side of the room is a small dresser. On top of it is a rather small TV. The dresser itself holds a microwave and a mid-sized refrigerator.

Next to the dresser is a work desk with an office chair. On top of it is a lamp and a coffee maker. The window faces out towards the driveway which loops around the building. Right underneath the window is the air conditioner.

Public Areas & Amenities

Lobby

The lobby was tiny and held mainly the front desk so people could check in and out of the hotel. The lobby is also connected to the breakfast dining room.

A room with vending machines is located in a small room on the backside of the building.

Business Center

A small business center, which consists of a single workstation, is located in the lobby. The business center is close to the main entrance of the lobby.

Fitness Center

No fitness center on site.

Pool

The hotel has a decent pool area. The pool is located right in front of the main entrance of the hotel. Unfortunately, that is also next to the main driveway of the hotel. I would rather have it on the opposite side of the building where it is a little bit quieter. Besides a nice pool, there were lots of pool loungers to enjoy the sun.

Guest Laundry

No guest laundry facilities nor dry-cleaning service.

Housekeeping

Housekeeping seems to be provided daily if you don’t opt out. I couldn’t verify this, as it was only a stay for one night.

Dining

Breakfast

The breakfast was mediocre. The hashbrowns were a little burnt, as were the eggs. Besides that, the Best Western Center Inn offered a variety of the usual continental breakfast items like cereals, yogurts, toast, fruits, different juices, and coffee. A sign in the lobby shows that it looks like this hotel offers a rotating breakfast service. You won’t get all the same items every day. The hot options will be rotated through different options each day. Besides the burned hashbrowns and eggs, the breakfast was ok.

Conclusion

Well, let’s put it this way. The Best Western Center Inn fulfilled its purpose for what I booked it for. I wanted a decent room for one night just to catch a few hours of sleep before another long day of driving around Virginia to complete my ambassador challenge. The location is decent, but I wouldn’t like to stay here long-term. If you are just passing through and need a place to stay for a night, the Best Western Center Inn does that job very well.