Opelousas makes an excellent home base for exploring the music, food, history and culture of St. Landry Parish, Louisiana. While filming our St. Landry Parish episode of Love Eat Travel with Michelle Valentine, we stayed at the Hampton Inn Opelousas, and its location made it easy for us to head out each day and experience different parts of Louisiana’s Zydeco Country.
The hotel itself was comfortable and straightforward, but several little things made our stay especially pleasant. Friendly staff, plenty of space to work, breakfast in the morning and, yes, freshly baked cookies waiting near the lobby were all very welcome after long days on the road.
A Comfortable Home Base in Opelousas
Our rooms gave us plenty of space to settle in during a busy trip. Mine had a large desk that was useful for my laptop and work, along with enough counter space for my hairstylist and makeup artist to spread out her supplies when getting me camera-ready.
Those details probably aren’t what most travelers immediately think about when choosing a hotel, but space can make a tremendous difference when you’re staying somewhere for several nights. Even on vacation, it’s nice to have room to unpack, charge your devices, organize what you need for the next day and still have space to relax.
Most importantly, our rooms were clean and comfortable, and we were able to get some much-needed rest between days of exploring St. Landry Parish.
A Lobby We Actually Used
Hotel common areas can sometimes look nice but remain practically empty. We actually used this one.
The lounge and dining area gave our crew somewhere to gather for production meetings, while my husband and I also used the space to relax in the evenings. Having somewhere outside the room to sit for a while can be especially nice during a multi-night stay.
The staff was another memorable part of our experience. Everyone was friendly and helpful throughout our visit, and we always felt welcome when coming and going.
Breakfast Before Exploring St. Landry Parish
During our stay, complimentary breakfast was available each morning, which was particularly convenient when we needed to get moving early.
There were hot and cold choices, including make-your-own waffles, breakfast meats and pastries. Being able to eat at the hotel meant we could start our day without first having to find a restaurant.
Hotel breakfast offerings and other amenities can change, of course, so it’s always a good idea to check what’s currently included before your trip.
The Cookies Became a Daily Ritual
One of the smallest details became one of my favorites.
Fresh chocolate chip and oatmeal cookies would be waiting near the lobby, along with flavored water and a coffee and tea station. Our crew quickly developed the habit of grabbing a cookie or two on the way back to our rooms.
For me, it was the tea.
After a long day of filming, I’d make myself a cup of hot tea and take it upstairs to my room. It wasn’t some elaborate hotel amenity, but those are often the things I remember most from traveling.
An Outdoor Pool for Louisiana Afternoons
The hotel also had an outdoor pool surrounded by trees, giving it a little more separation from the rest of the property.
We were there to work rather than spend our days lounging beside a pool, but it’s certainly an amenity I’d appreciate when traveling through Louisiana during warmer weather.
For families or anyone building some downtime into a St. Landry Parish itinerary, having a pool at the end of a day of sightseeing can be a definite plus.
A Convenient Location for Exploring Zydeco Country
For our trip, one of the hotel’s biggest advantages was simply being in Opelousas.
We weren’t visiting St. Landry Parish to stay inside a hotel. We were there to experience the destination, and our days took us throughout the region exploring its food, history, music and culture.
Staying in Opelousas gave us a practical starting point each morning and somewhere comfortable to return to each night.
That’s something I consider when choosing accommodations for a destination-focused trip. Sometimes the best hotel isn’t the one with the longest list of amenities. It’s the one that puts you in a good position to experience the places you’ve actually traveled to see.
And Then There Were the Sunsets
My room came with an unexpected bonus: a wonderful view of the Louisiana sky.
In the evenings, I’d look out the window and see beautiful sunsets stretching across the horizon. I started photographing them, and watching the changing colors became a quiet little ritual during our stay.
Those photographs are also a reminder that some of my favorite travel moments aren’t planned at all.
Sometimes they’re waiting right outside a hotel window.
Who Might Enjoy Staying Here?
For travelers interested in exploring Opelousas and the surrounding communities of St. Landry Parish, this type of hotel works particularly well as a comfortable home base.
I’d consider it for road trips, multi-day stays and itineraries where you expect to spend most of your time experiencing the destination. Having breakfast available, comfortable common areas, a pool and a convenient location can make the logistics of a trip easier without making the hotel itself the focus of your vacation.
During our stay, the property was clean and comfortable, and the staff treated us very well.
And if there happen to be fresh cookies waiting when you walk through the lobby, I recommend grabbing one before they’re gone.
Explore More of St. Landry Parish, Louisiana
We stayed in Opelousas while filming our St. Landry Parish episode of Love Eat Travel with Michelle Valentine, where we explored the traditions, flavors and unmistakable sounds that make this part of Louisiana so fascinating.
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