Last week I thought the hubs was a bit cray when he asked if I wanted to go to Chicago to a Lakers vs Bulls game. Not like its impossible and people don’t do it, but all the planning it takes for me to be seperates from my offspring… And not that’s a bad idea either., I love reliving my “Pre-mommy days”. It’s mainly because the hubs has been having NBA fever this year.
So there it was, before I knew it, I had booked the tickets, and it was offical. We already ordered some to see them in Minessota in Feburary, but twice in almost two weeks?! What a bonus!!!
So Sunday, in a panic, Priceline’s deals were moving the opposite way of discounted, so I was desperate. I’m quite the Lucy so I thought it would behove me to book that before we would stay in some roach motel… Well that’s exactly what kinda happened.
Silly me, trying to get a reasonable hotel within the $100 range, but decent looking, since it is just one night, and close to the United Center of coarse. So with phone in hand and iPad in another, I found another website that seemed to be cheaper. I compared, and it seemed that the rates on the iPad were cheaper for the same hotels. Howard Johnson it is! $89 no problem.
We arrive.
After a few turns around the same block, and a turn down the One Way street, I slinky escaped death, and there it was, the Queen of roach motels.
As we turned into the parking lot the advertisement so boldly stated as “free parking”, the Hubs gives me the look… Like “OH NO!”
I wanted it to be some kind of joke, or maybe this was just an extension of one of my wrong detours… But it wasn’t, it was true… I had booked her romantic, spontaneous, reasonably priced room in the roach motel.
I’ve had expierences before in the many stays in Chicago hotels, you kind of get the pick of the litter sometimes. And that could just mean you’re being escourted to the Twilight’s Zone.
I get out of the car reluctantly, and somewhat trying to show no panic in my voice to the Hubs.
“I’ll be back… After I get the key, then we can decide”
I take a deep breath and check in. Problem is, I’ve already paid for my room, I can’t exactly walk away from this deal. I get the key. We walk to the room. We get in the room. The room looks like some by the hour, wham bam thank you mam room. I would be afraid to take my shoes off in this place. The only thing modern in the roach motel was how they made the bed. There was an industrialized toilet in the bathroom… Really?! The tv was old style rear projection that still displayed snow… Really?!
No way!
I don’t really like confrontation, I’d rather the Hubs do it but, he was obviously leaving this one to me.
“Umm.. I can’t stay here..” I told the front desk lady.
She looked at me from the top o her glasses, and kind of snickered, as if she knew this already.
“I can give you a different room” the lady said
In my head I thought ” You couldn’t make me stay here for free!!”
I politely refused. I had to call up the discount company and and tell them about my ritzy accommodations. It was too cold to go outside to talk, which meant I would need to stay in her small lobby or run across the parking lot and sit in the car with the Hubs, who likes to ask me questions as if I’m not on the phone, when I’m on the phone. Non of those options were great, seeming how I had to plea my case in the presence of the desk attendant.
” How may I assist you Mrs. Chutney?”
“Yes, I checked into the hotel and I’m not happy with the accommodations” I tried to say with a clear whisper.
” Oh, I’m sorry about that Mrs.Chutney, can you give me a description of the problem?” The phone lady said.
” Yes, I don’t feel comfortable to even walk with my bare feet”
“I’m sorry, what did you say”
I was trying to be polite and not so uppity. So I had to repeat it.
” I don’t feel comfortable enough to even walk with my bare feet!” I said clinching my teeth together.
This wasn’t working so I needed to choose plan B. I got in the car with the Hubs, and sure enough, he’s trying to ask me questions and give out directions while I’m trying toake sure I’ll get a refund so I could book a much nicer hotel.
I find a nice hotel. It’s modern, classy, reasonable… There’s more where that came from, stay tuned for the second hhalf of this saga. It actually may end up pretty well;)
