I live in New Orleans, Louisiana and if you live anywhere on the Gulf Coast, you will have to deal with Hurricanes from June through November. They are inevitable, so you must always be prepared and always have a plan. Hurricane Ida started out as a tropical depression and quickly became a hurricane within a couple of days. Residents of Louisiana didn’t have a lot of time to prepare. The hurricane was so huge and covered so many nearby states, it was difficult deciding where to evacuate. I eventually decided to go to Meridian, Mississippi. It’s about a 3 hour drive from New Orleans.
I decided to stay at the Hilton Garden Inn, in Meridian, Mississippi. To give you an overview, it’s a 3 star hotel with about 133 rooms. It has a lot of amenities, which I will discuss in a minute. It was my home for two weeks and the staff was very nice. After Hurricane Ida passed, trees blocked roadways, gas was limited and electricity was out in New Orleans for many days. I’m very blessed (Thank God) to have been able to afford to evacuate. Nowadays you need an evacuation fund.
For a 3-Star Hotel, The Hilton Garden Inn is such a beautiful hotel. I loved all of its aesthetics. There were beautiful lanterns, wispy curtains and the most colorful faux foliage and flowers. All of which, put a smile on my face every single day. There was a really beautiful saying, in script above the front desk. It read, “a garden is where nature and inspiration meet”. Everyone at the front desk, including the manager John was caring, friendly and attentive to our needs.
What attracted me to the Hilton Garden Inn was its amenities and let me tell you, there are lots of them. They have an exercise room filled with treadmills, bikes, balls, weights and such. There’s a swimming pool area. There are areas outside, where you can sit and take in some fresh air. They have a business room where you can use a computer and print documents. There’s even a laundry room with coin operated washer and dryers, so you can do your laundry.
The people in Meridian, Mississippi can cook! Everywhere I went, there was delicious food. That included the restaurant inside the Hilton Garden Inn. They offer breakfast and dinner. I only went for breakfast, but it was delicious. It was buffet style, with an assortment of various types of coffee & flavored creamers, juices, cereals, fresh fruit and yogurt. They offered grits, bacon, eggs, biscuits, bagels, toast and sausage. There was even a waffle maker to make your own waffles.
Whenever you stay for an extended time at a hotel, room amenities REALLY matter. My room had a super comfortable bed, bathroom, lounge chair w/lamp & table, writing desk & chair, deluxe mini fridge, microwave, Keurig coffee maker and television. I didn’t eat out all of the time. I brought some food from home and frequented the nearby Walmart Neighborhood Market for groceries. With the generous deluxe mini fridge and microwave, I was able to prepare cereals, scrambled eggs & sausage, grits, sandwiches, hot dogs and such. It can really save you money. You have to keep in mind, with a hurricane, you don’t know if you are going to be out for a week or a month. Wish I could bring my board game.
Below are some pictures I took of myself while staying in the room. This french-inspired sweater always puts a smile on my face. When I evacuate, I always take things that mean a lot to me. You never know if you’re going to see them again.
One morning John, the manager, called us and mentioned that some local organizations had dropped off some things for any Louisiana evacuees staying at the hotel. Hotel management set up the cutest table display. I thought this was so nice. The bags had a choice of chocolate doughnuts or angel cake and hamburger buns. The boxes contained apple sauce, oats, pasta, beans, tuna, vegetables and rice which we took home with us. I always unplug and clean my refrigerator out before evacuating, to avoid maggots and having to buy another refrigerator. Thank You Mississippi!
Lastly, there are a number of restaurants located near this hotel. Across the street from the hotel, you have a Logan’s Roadhouse, Applebees and Cracker Barrel. Across from the hotel is Zac’s Catfish and Chicken. Weidmann’s Since 1870 is located in downtown Meridian, only a few minutes from the hotel. I did use Uber and Uber Eats a couple of times I was there and all the drivers were very friendly. The Walmart Neighborhood Market and the local Post Office are also only a few minutes away.
I can’t speak highly enough of the employees at the Hilton Garden Inn, in Meridian Mississippi. Everyone from the front desk, manager, housekeeping and maintenance were extremely helpful and kind. They really looked out for us. I definitely plan on returning again.
