The trip home from Atlanta was another adventure. You would figure that on a Sunday the traffic would be lighter. Not on I-85. Amazingly everyone else had the same idea. I’m still trying to figure that one out. BUT we headed out at 11am for the short (6 hour) trip to Greenville SC. Now the 2 hours stop at the Tiger Direct Outlet in Jefferson Ga. shouldn’t have had much effect on our trip, but it did. Lots of backups so the driving ghouls could gawk at an accidents. Heavy traffic in metro areas. Everyone trying to get home at the same time. You would think that they would leave early so we wouldn’t get delayed. Well they didn’t!!!!!
After our luck with the Charlotte stay we felt that nothing could have topped that. We were wrong (again). We settled on an ‘Extended Stay America’ that sounded good (not). After finally getting there at 8PM i didn’t care where i laid my head down (or so i thought). The first hint should have been the ‘Security Patrol’ in the armored vehicle.
Then not being able to find the room because it was hidden behind a wall. BUT the room seemed fine once we found it. Being hungry (yes i know, hard to believe after all the food of the weekend) we found a place to eat. On our return we learned that WI-FI was $5 a day, there were no extra pillows available, and there was limited entertainment outside. It seems that they save the worst rooms (would you believe that) for the cheap skates that use the discount coupons. I knew this was true when we went to get into bed and there was NO TOP SHEET (EEEEECCKKKKK)!!!!! Without going into great detail i will just say that i kept my cloths on and didn’t sleep well. A hot steamy shower hopefully killed any cooties. The only good part was emptying out on the desk clerk on the way out, and mentioning we would not be giving his place a good review.
I have made a command executive life altering (or saving) decision regarding our future accommodations!!!!! Reservations will be made at Days Inn, Comfort Inn, or Best Western from here on. And even that is taking a chance sometimes.
12 comments:
Hubby and I were caught in a storm while traveling through Teneha Texas and Dallas and stopped at a #66 (something like that) thinking we were in the Driveway of a Holiday Inn. We were given keys to a room..and as we entered the smell of it was displeasing to me and the shower didn't look like it had been cleaned in months..I told hubby "I'm not sleeping here" and we turned around and went back to the office and demaned our money back. Her question to us " did you get in the bed?" < that wasn't even 5 minutes since we had left her office. (was she kidding!) nobody is that fast!. Since then we are very careful of where we stay.
OK, I know I am a snob in some departments... I will admit to it... I have stayed in a few less than wonderful places in my day - BUT ONLY ONE SHEET????? Yeeeeeeeeecccchhhh.
I don't care if it costs more, but clean and soundproof is a necessity.
If you get a room with a jacuzzi, you are probably safe.
we too have had some adventures in bargain hotels, one recommended by Stockley Garden's art show for the artists, We witnessed a car being broken into, had men wander into our room, was asked by a drug addict for $11 after he showed me his needle entries,and then heard 2 men in the next room threatening each other so we called the desk who promptly came up and told them "the people in the next room complained about you" so don't go there. I'll tell you next time I see you, Diana
Oh, my that place does sound scary. Yuck.
I wouldn't be liking that - You just never know about some hotels/motels. I'm actually a very poor traveler - hate hotels, and much prefer my own home and my own bed....but sometimes it's just necessary to go.
WOW,,, Everyone seems to have had one of "those" experiances. Gingerbread, aren't you glad you 'Didn't' get in the bed. I guess that is right up there with our "no refunds after 15 minutes" sign. I looked at your favorite hotel Possum. I like the jacuzzi idea. Diana, i'm looking forward to hearing your stories. Maybe at the Drew's. Itchy is more what i was feeling Lois. Mona, poor travelers always have the best stories.
So thank you all again for sharing our travels with us. Next is Rhode Island for the Grandsons Birthday.
What? You don't carry sleeping bags in your car for 'special occasions?' Sorry to hear the lodging issue, but tell us about Tiger Direct outlet. Did you like it or were you just lost and could not find your car in the lot?
I am a firm believer in spending just a bit more on a better quality hotel. While we were on our recent trip we mostly found very acceptable rooms, but there was one that was very marginal, but it was near a small town and not much other options. At least it was quiet, the wifi worked, and it had a lovely view across the countryside. Unfortunately the price was not a bargain.
We have learned to never, NEVER, skimp on a hotel or motel room. Now that the BEDBUG issue is a national one with those little critters showing up in some "nice" places it further strenghtens our resolve. Once when we were going to a national convention in San Francisco we looked over the list of recommended hotels (recommended by the national association) and chose one of the lower priced ones. We were not paying for it. However since David's employer was we felt we didn't want to be excessive. Well.... It was a very old hotel, tiny room with high ceiling, lumpy bed, window opened, neon light outside the window, sirens, yelling all night, no screen on window, lots of street noise, etc. The next morning we were able to get a room at the ANA Hotel. Magnificent. We had a splendid week--elegant accomodations. And hopefully learned our lesson. we have stayed in a some small, older but clean places because they were the ONLY place for many, many miles but I would rather stay in my car all night than be in a marginal place. The stress just isn't worth it.
Do You really want to miss all that excitement in the future :-) :-) :-)
But I agree, I would rather sleep in my car than to stay at places like You did this time :-) :-)
Have a great day now!
Christer.
YES YES.... I shall only stay at reputable places. I shall be lured (by Beatrice)by cheapo discount coupons. If they are not part of Wyndom, Choice, or Best Western i shall not lay my head upon their pillows (not even for less that 15 minutes. :-)
Sounds like a lot of you have had bad experiences and so have I. Too bad it's such a gamble.
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