First off, for all you in C-U, yes, we know...we could have stayed with so many of you. Thank you. We appreciate it. But last night had an odd set of things on the schedule, so a motel worked better in the plan. So we thought...
Here's things I learned, or remembered, from our stay. I thought some of you might find it helpful this travel season. We can't all be like Jen and stay in the fancy places.
1. If you're traveling with 27 10-year-olds on a baseball team, do us all a favor and give them the "common courtesy" speech about public places. (This could be another post completely.) Try to have a plan so that they are not running up and down the walkways at midnight screaming at each other and banging on random doors to "try" to find their room. It is NOT ok for the chaperones to sleep in one room and allow all the kids to run free all night. Sorry, I'm a killjoy, but come on. When did we stop teaching respect of other people in such a communal environment??? When we stayed at places like this when I was a kid, we were reminded everytime we left the room to go anywhere that we were to be silent as we walked by other rooms. Even in college with all the touring I did, we had fun and goofed off a lot in the various hotels and such, but never at the expense of others. It's just common sense.
2. When you're considering a motel for a quick stay along the road, if you do not have a pet, you might want to avoid "pet friendly" locations. ESPECIALLY during summer vacation season when apparently everyone takes their little Fido with them. We didn't have an issue all night, but at 5:58 a.m. this morning, there must have been a signal to take said pets outside and leash or kennel them for some fresh air. In the grass immediately in front of the building. Where they can all see and bark at each other. How can it not occur to people that this is greatly disturbing?!? I'd have Belle hand-clamped at the doggie snout tugging her inside before I'd just let her bark and wake a whole dang building of people. I don't get people. I really don't.
3. The best thing about hotel/motels??? The air conditioners!!! Crank it up, run that wonderful white noise all night, cool the room to like 60 and enjoy a good sleep in the covers. (That is, when there aren't running 10-year-olds and barking dogs disturbing things.)
4. One cool thing did happen... Last night when we got here at 9:15p or so, I went in to check in, and there was a line of people, like 3 in front of me. The first ones in line had to sign some form that said they weren't going to be doing anything in the room illegal, that no one would be visiting the room to do illegal things, and anyone who DID visit the room had to come to the office first and show ID and sign in. They had to show ID for each of them and they had to pay upfront for the whole stay (4 days). The next ones had to show ID again for all of them, had to sign a few more forms saying they would check out in person and leave all items in the room that were there at check in. And so on.... When it got to me, I'd motioned for M to come in--he was walking around with Braska outside to give her a break from the car seat--so we could do the ID parade. I got to the counter, set down my drivers license and credit card, told M to get his ID and the girl said, "That's ok. You're fine." Then she went on about how beautiful Braska was and so forth. The guy behind us in line starting asking about the glasses...always the first question. I signed the card for check-in and she gave us our keys. That's it. No speech about illegal issues or pre-paying. Granted, they had my credit card info. But the others had credit cards too. I walked out and told M why I had him come in and what had happened, and we can only assume we look too lame to be doing anything illegal, and we look to honest to take stuff. OH, and when I called down to the front desk a few minutes later to get my PIN for wireless, she heard Braska over the phone and said, "Oh, you're the ones with the beautiful little girl!" Then she was telling whoever was at the desk at the time all about Braska. Funny.
Time to get going. Braska's playing on the bed but it's time to feed her. M's in the shower and will use all the hot water. I best get things moving... alot of stuff to do today. Can someone do some relaxing for me?!?
Here's things I learned, or remembered, from our stay. I thought some of you might find it helpful this travel season. We can't all be like Jen and stay in the fancy places.
1. If you're traveling with 27 10-year-olds on a baseball team, do us all a favor and give them the "common courtesy" speech about public places. (This could be another post completely.) Try to have a plan so that they are not running up and down the walkways at midnight screaming at each other and banging on random doors to "try" to find their room. It is NOT ok for the chaperones to sleep in one room and allow all the kids to run free all night. Sorry, I'm a killjoy, but come on. When did we stop teaching respect of other people in such a communal environment??? When we stayed at places like this when I was a kid, we were reminded everytime we left the room to go anywhere that we were to be silent as we walked by other rooms. Even in college with all the touring I did, we had fun and goofed off a lot in the various hotels and such, but never at the expense of others. It's just common sense.
2. When you're considering a motel for a quick stay along the road, if you do not have a pet, you might want to avoid "pet friendly" locations. ESPECIALLY during summer vacation season when apparently everyone takes their little Fido with them. We didn't have an issue all night, but at 5:58 a.m. this morning, there must have been a signal to take said pets outside and leash or kennel them for some fresh air. In the grass immediately in front of the building. Where they can all see and bark at each other. How can it not occur to people that this is greatly disturbing?!? I'd have Belle hand-clamped at the doggie snout tugging her inside before I'd just let her bark and wake a whole dang building of people. I don't get people. I really don't.
3. The best thing about hotel/motels??? The air conditioners!!! Crank it up, run that wonderful white noise all night, cool the room to like 60 and enjoy a good sleep in the covers. (That is, when there aren't running 10-year-olds and barking dogs disturbing things.)
4. One cool thing did happen... Last night when we got here at 9:15p or so, I went in to check in, and there was a line of people, like 3 in front of me. The first ones in line had to sign some form that said they weren't going to be doing anything in the room illegal, that no one would be visiting the room to do illegal things, and anyone who DID visit the room had to come to the office first and show ID and sign in. They had to show ID for each of them and they had to pay upfront for the whole stay (4 days). The next ones had to show ID again for all of them, had to sign a few more forms saying they would check out in person and leave all items in the room that were there at check in. And so on.... When it got to me, I'd motioned for M to come in--he was walking around with Braska outside to give her a break from the car seat--so we could do the ID parade. I got to the counter, set down my drivers license and credit card, told M to get his ID and the girl said, "That's ok. You're fine." Then she went on about how beautiful Braska was and so forth. The guy behind us in line starting asking about the glasses...always the first question. I signed the card for check-in and she gave us our keys. That's it. No speech about illegal issues or pre-paying. Granted, they had my credit card info. But the others had credit cards too. I walked out and told M why I had him come in and what had happened, and we can only assume we look too lame to be doing anything illegal, and we look to honest to take stuff. OH, and when I called down to the front desk a few minutes later to get my PIN for wireless, she heard Braska over the phone and said, "Oh, you're the ones with the beautiful little girl!" Then she was telling whoever was at the desk at the time all about Braska. Funny.
Time to get going. Braska's playing on the bed but it's time to feed her. M's in the shower and will use all the hot water. I best get things moving... alot of stuff to do today. Can someone do some relaxing for me?!?
Another yucky hotel incident - my goodness RK, you're do for a relaxing experience. Sorry it was so poopy.
ReplyDeleteSounds like an interesting time. I don't have any 10 year olds to give the common courtesy speech to, but I will be sure to tell E if we ever go out. And as far as doing anything illegal...stealing cars. Isn't that what M and E's family does? =)
ReplyDeleteAs I read your title of this post, I thought to myself, "Oh no. Not the Red Roof Inn." When I saw that, I kind of had a feeling it might head to the direction of your #3 point. I have heard from police friends and other law enforcement official friends that hotel/motel has been used for "illegal reasons" by people in the past. Supposedly, the reason is because of the walkways being on the outside and it is harder to monitor who comes in and out and does what. I'm sure that you, M, and Braska looked so "innocent" to them or maybe too lame.
ReplyDeleteAs far as the 10-year-old boys and dogs, wow! I think there might have been a dog show going on this weekend in C-U.
Try to get some relaxing in.
Nichole
If it makes you feel any better, when my brother and his wife stayed in vegas they heard gun shots and a lot of screaming...they did get their money back and won't be staying at that place again!!
ReplyDeleteI have had that speech with C man many a time. We have done travel ball since he was 9. Our teams, parents and coaches, have been very good about sitting on our kids - however - there have been times they have embarrassed the living crap out of me and I am not just talking about the kids You have my permission to yell. :) Missed seeing you because - travel baseball! I'll catch you again though soon.
ReplyDeleteI don't get people either. I really don't.
ReplyDeleteAnd don't go thinking that I'm all ritzy or whatever. We rarely go ANYWHERE and we only stayed at that place one night. We'd have to sell one of the kids to afford a whole weekend. Interested? :)
Congratulations on the house!
UGH! Can't tell you how many times I have stayed somewhere with a Little League team next door to us!
ReplyDeleteAnd, you would think that with 9 kids we would be loud, oh no! Why not? Because I have the sense to tell my kids to be quiet! Seriously, what the heck is wrong with people???
Good times Jeez people never cease to amaze. With the dogs and kids ringing the doorbell sheesh sounds like my neighbors and their horrible kids UGH! He they were on vacation recently maybe they were out your way LOL I needs to move. :)
ReplyDelete