Cheap Jew hotel tips

[Steve-O]

Regarding airfares, they aren't always as straightforward as you might think.

For example, which do you think is cheaper: LA to Montana, or LA to New York?

The obvious answer is LA to Montana, since it's far less distance, but that's wrong! Typically you can fly LA-NY far cheaper than LA-Montana. Why? Because pricing is often based upon how common the route is, in addition to distance. If the airline flies there a lot, it will be cheaper than expected. If the airline doesn't go there very often (and if it's not a typical stop on the way to other frequent destination), you pay a premium for that.

This might be why lewfather gets better rates from Detroit than John Stamos does from OKC.

Trying to explain this to people is like trying to explain quantum physics. This is why if you live in some backwater part of the country (or if you are flying to some backwater place) you should always either 1) travel to a larger airport to catch your flight if its feasible or 2) look for a connecting flight through a major airport --especially places like Detroit, Atlanta and other International airports. So many people from my area travel to Providence RI to fly from TF Green airport instead of Logan in Boston because they say its, quicker, it's not as busy as Logan, the traffic isn't as bad, yada, yada, yada, and pay triple the price on the flight.

You can usually tell where the cheapest rates are by where the connecting flights occur --if an airport connects in Kentucky you know the flight is probably far more expensive than if it connects in say Detroit, even if Detroit is out of the way of your destination. I flew to Spartanburg SC a few times and once I was connected in Kentucky and once in Detroit, guess which flight was far cheaper? Same thing going to Vegas, a connecting flight in LA (yes flying Boston to LA to Vegas) is cheaper than a flight from Boston to Vegas connecting in Denver.

[lewfather]

Regarding airfares, they aren't always as straightforward as you might think.

For example, which do you think is cheaper: LA to Montana, or LA to New York?

The obvious answer is LA to Montana, since it's far less distance, but that's wrong! Typically you can fly LA-NY far cheaper than LA-Montana. Why? Because pricing is often based upon how common the route is, in addition to distance. If the airline flies there a lot, it will be cheaper than expected. If the airline doesn't go there very often (and if it's not a typical stop on the way to other frequent destination), you pay a premium for that.

This might be why lewfather gets better rates from Detroit than John Stamos does from OKC.

You really nail it with this point, I get emails like 3 times a week about the hot flights to NYC for $38 round trip lol and to AC and then you can add on the bonus promo email codes to these deals and just LOL spirit for like a freeroll flight (not including taxes which you obv have to pay) but you couple that deal with your comped AC room, you got yourself one cheap ass vacation!

[John Stamos]

Southwest ripped me off of $100, so I avoid them on principle.

I will give them credit for running an efficient business and keeping fares low, but they are terrible at customer service once something out of the ordinary occurs.

Yea I think I remember your story on DD about that. I personally don't think Southwest is bad on Customer Service and believe they consistently outperform every majory US airline in every category. I don't have a significant sample size to be confident in that assertion but that is just my experience. I think if you have a bad experience that can change your whole view on an entire airline.

I was seated in the middle of 2 people on a Delta flight one time that I will never forget. First of all I had a seat number towards the front of the plane and when I go to confirm they tell me someone else has that seat number. They move me to the very back of the plane and say they are overbooked and people get off the plane for the voucher. I would have taken the voucher if I wasn't on a time schedule. I actually don't mind planes overbooking but this time when I was moved I was moved in the MIDDLE of 2 people that were easily 400 plus. I am 6'1 and was 190 pounds at the time so I am not big but with my height I don't fit comfortably in my airplane seat at the back of a plane if I am not around people I can lean on or raise the seat divider with. These people both actually apologized for being so fat and I didn't even LOL I just felt sad for them. Their fat was coming over the arm rest and my friend sitting directly in front of me (because he got moved as well, we were supposed to be sitting together in the second row in coach) kept buying me beers and mixed drinks and margaritas because he felt bad for me. I must have had 12 drinks total. Bad decision. I had to keep getting up to use the restroom and that was no easy task to the point where the person on the aisle seat switch with me.

The two big people started talking (one male and one female) and they seemed to hit it off. I like to think they ended up getting married, slimming down and changing their lives around because of that flight. Or they may have had a diabetic seizure and both died.

[lewfather]

I didn't want to quote stamos because it was such a bloodbath to read, I mean I suck dick at structuring but come on braj AND YOU KNOW I LOVE YOU! FUCKING LAUNDRY GRIND! But get serious with your life etc. lol

Anyways, I forgot to mention that when I fly DTW to LV it's almost 100% with spirit. Spirit has a really bad habit of overbooking flights, I've gained so many free vouchers just by booking early 8am flights DTW to LV it's absolutely disgusting. First of all, I don't give a fuck if I'm in vegas in the early morning but for me, it just makes sense to book it. Hear me out, first of all I'm comped up via harrahs or caesars whatever the hell you want to call it. However you can't get into your room til like 2pm! That's there guarantee, so you book your early flight and hope they over book it. Immediately accept the voucher and accept the delay, free fucking money! What were you going to do anyways? Pay a Harrahs prop $30 extra to get into your room 2-3 hours early?

That's my whole point, you can't get into your room til around 2pm for harrahs joints, you might as well freeroll the possibility of a free flight voucher, if you bink out you show up in vegas, tell the check in guy to fuck off with his $30 early check in fee. Go get yourself breakfast, make sure you got the players cards for the rooms your playing in and then finally check in.

SKLANSKY BUX ITT YALL!

edit: stamos spaced his shit out lol

[Steve-O]

I didn't want to quote stamos because it was such a bloodbath to read, I mean I suck dick at structuring but come on braj AND YOU KNOW I LOVE YOU! FUCKING LAUNDRY GRIND! But get serious with your life etc. lol

Anyways, I forgot to mention that when I fly DTW to LV it's almost 100% with spirit. Spirit has a really bad habit of overbooking flights, I've gained so many free vouchers just by booking early 8am flights DTW to LV it's absolutely disgusting. First of all, I don't give a fuck if I'm in vegas in the early morning but for me, it just makes sense to book it. Hear me out, first of all I'm comped up via harrahs or caesars whatever the hell you want to call it. However you can't get into your room til like 2pm! That's there guarantee, so you book your early flight and hope they over book it. Immediately accept the voucher and accept the delay, free fucking money! What were you going to do anyways? Pay a Harrahs prop $30 extra to get into your room 2-3 hours early?

That's my whole point, you can't get into your room til around 2pm for harrahs joints, you might as well freeroll the possibility of a free flight voucher, if you bink out you show up in vegas, tell the check in guy to fuck off with his $30 early check in fee. Go get yourself breakfast, make sure you got the players cards for the rooms your playing in and then finally check in.

SKLANSKY BUX ITT YALL!

Taking meta-gaming to whole new level But you're right, if you're there early just drop your bags off at the desk and go gamble for a while: I do the same thing when leaving, book a later flight, check out and leave your bags with the desk. I don't know why people try to arrange their check-in/check-out times with their flights????

[lewfather]

I didn't want to quote stamos because it was such a bloodbath to read, I mean I suck dick at structuring but come on braj AND YOU KNOW I LOVE YOU! FUCKING LAUNDRY GRIND! But get serious with your life etc. lol

Anyways, I forgot to mention that when I fly DTW to LV it's almost 100% with spirit. Spirit has a really bad habit of overbooking flights, I've gained so many free vouchers just by booking early 8am flights DTW to LV it's absolutely disgusting. First of all, I don't give a fuck if I'm in vegas in the early morning but for me, it just makes sense to book it. Hear me out, first of all I'm comped up via harrahs or caesars whatever the hell you want to call it. However you can't get into your room til like 2pm! That's there guarantee, so you book your early flight and hope they over book it. Immediately accept the voucher and accept the delay, free fucking money! What were you going to do anyways? Pay a Harrahs prop $30 extra to get into your room 2-3 hours early?

That's my whole point, you can't get into your room til around 2pm for harrahs joints, you might as well freeroll the possibility of a free flight voucher, if you bink out you show up in vegas, tell the check in guy to fuck off with his $30 early check in fee. Go get yourself breakfast, make sure you got the players cards for the rooms your playing in and then finally check in.

SKLANSKY BUX ITT YALL!

Taking meta-gaming to whole new level But you're right, if you're there early just drop your bags off at the desk and go gamble for a while: I do the same thing when leaving, book a later flight, check out and leave your bags with the desk. I don't know why people try to arrange their check-in/check-out times with their flights????

I don't play slots or pits much, I will on my trips to vegas play craps. Which is why I recommended to arrive early and just get breakfast/players cards. I don't know about you but I fucking lose my players cards like a bause. So instead of walking into V, Bell, Aria etc and getting the card as I come through. I just hope for the best with the overbooking of flights, compound that with breakfast and I've entered my self into a freeroll I was already going to partake in. Added advantage being the overbooked flight, if it's not overbooked I still need my players cards for my comped meals and comped rooms, cards that I lose basically every trip.

The only major downfall from this is a 8am flight out of DTW means you gotta be up at about 4am to pack the car, get your ticket, get through TSA which in turn means a lack of sleep. I'm a bit of night owl, so it doesnt effect me as much as say friends or a girlfriend I bring out. However I almost always take the morning flight in / red eye out.

edit: oh and guys just a general flying tip, never fly on sundays!!!!!!!!!!

[lewfather]

I'm also curious how SW ripped druff on a hundy, can you explain? I'm planning to use SW as my go to guys for $99 each way fares + 2 bags checked free for my regular vegas trips.

[John Stamos]

I get so lazy in typing on these forums it's unreal. I just jam it all together and hope it makes sense.

Laundry grindin' since January 2012.

[John Stamos]

I'm also curious how SW ripped druff on a hundy, can you explain? I'm planning to use SW as my go to guys for $99 each way fares + 2 bags checked free for my regular vegas trips.

use them, they are great. I think Druff had a voucher or something and he went over the date it expired but he talked to someone and they said it would be ok when it actually wasn't. I could be way off though.

[Dan Druff]

I'm also curious how SW ripped druff on a hundy, can you explain? I'm planning to use SW as my go to guys for $99 each way fares + 2 bags checked free for my regular vegas trips.

use them, they are great. I think Druff had a voucher or something and he went over the date it expired but he talked to someone and they said it would be ok when it actually wasn't. I could be way off though.

Pretty close.

I paid like $520 total for 2 tickets. I couldn't use the tickets because I got sick on the day of the flight, so I called Southwest. They told me that their policy was that you automatically get credit for what you don't use, and have a year to redeem it.

So I had $520 credit.

About 10 months later, I still hadn't used my $520 credit. I realized that I probably wouldn't need to fly anywhere for the next 2 months, so I was just going to sell it for like a 5% discount, or give it away to a family member.

However, I decided to see if Southwest could extend it any further without charging me. I called up and was told that they could extend it for another 6 months for no charge, but that I'd have to call their main corporate line in the (214) area code to get it done. I tried and tried and tried but that number was BUSY day after day. And when I say BUSY, I mean an old-school busy signal. I called the 800 number back twice more to see if there was something they could do, and I was told the same thing 2 more times: Yes, you can extend the credit for free, but you have to be able to get through to the (214) number to be able to do it. Eventually the last 2 months passed and I finally got through to Southwest (I never got through to their (214) number, but finally someone from their website feedback form called me back.)

They told me that, yes, my credit would be extended for another 6 months, but that costs $100. Even worse, since over a year had passed since I purchased them (thanks to all the time wasted trying to get through to someone for the prior 2 months), I couldn't use the credit anymore unless I agreed to this lame $100 confiscation. I told them that the people at the 800 number told me it was free to extend, and they didn't give a shit. I took this higher and higher, until I finally got the VP of customer service on the phone, who was very rude and literally yelled at me. He told me the following:

1) I was right about the 800 number. He knew they gave me the wrong information because they accidentally communicated the wrong information to those reps. However, he refused to honor what they promised me, because "those people don't have the authority to make promises". (LOL)

2) He didn't understand why I was complaining about the (214) number being extremely hard to reach, because if it's busy, "Someone is getting through, obviously." I countered that SOMEONE wins the lottery every week, too, which made him shout over me even louder.

3) He told me that I should be grateful that Southwest gives you credit in the first place without charging, because no other airlines do that. When I said that this wasn't the issue, but rather that his own reps gave me the wrong information 3 times, and that I couldn't get through to the office that actually handled it, he shouted over me, "IS IT TRUE THAT OTHER AIRLINES CHARGE YOU FOR CHANGING YOUR TICKET, YES OR NO?"

So finally I realized that this was hopeless, accepted the $100 reduction in my credit, and vowed never to fly Southwest again.

[Jasep]

So many people from my area travel to Providence RI to fly from TF Green airport instead of Logan in Boston because they say its, quicker, it's not as busy as Logan, the traffic isn't as bad, yada, yada, yada, and pay triple the price on the flight.

Come on Steve-O, your better than this my friend, no need to exaggerate to get your point across. I fly out of TF Green religiously. I always check Logan and Hartford to compare the prices and I generally wind up paying about 25% more. Which is immediately worth it when I look at travel time, parking cost, speed, reduced amount of people.

[jsearles22]

use them, they are great. I think Druff had a voucher or something and he went over the date it expired but he talked to someone and they said it would be ok when it actually wasn't. I could be way off though.

So finally I realized that this was hopeless, accepted the $100 reduction in my credit, and vowed never to fly Southwest again.

After you used the $420 credit of course?

Common theme with Druff, its always someone else's fault. I dont doubt for a minute that they were possibly rude with you on the phone after giving you misleading information accidently. Here's a noble thought, maybe you should have found sometime in the course of a year to use a ticket that you canceled in the first place. The VP was exactly right, no other airline in the world will allow you to cancel a ticket and then sit on it for 18 months with no fee associated with that transaction. I know i know "but they told me i could." You are obviously a smart man, if something is too good to be true it probably is!

Even worse, since over a year had passed since I purchased them (thanks to all the time wasted trying to get through to someone for the prior 2 months).

Lets just forget the 10 months where you did nothing. And lets just assume that you honestly tried calling in morning, noon, and night for 2 months........................
What if when you called in after 10 months they said they could not extend this credit any longer per company policy? Would you have just ate it, sold it for a discount, or what? It just seems to me that the $100 you lost out on isnt really that big a deal in the whole scheme of things. the SW ticket was probably far and away $100 cheaper then a competing airline anyways when you figure in bag fees and what not.

Seriously, honestly spare me the response that says "I am the customer, they told me they would do something and they should honor that." Mistakes happen bro, life happens. Druff has what i call the poor ghetto black person syndrome. Believe it or not, the world does not owe you!

I apologize if this entire response seems tiltish, but its a pet peeve of mine when people complain and feel like business' owe them for some reason. Im the guy who when his order at dinner is slightly screwed up, if its something i can stomach i just eat it anyways. Going off on monkey tilt about every little thing isnt healthy. Just roll with the punches, take your lumps sometimes.

[Dan Druff]

So finally I realized that this was hopeless, accepted the $100 reduction in my credit, and vowed never to fly Southwest again.

After you used the $420 credit of course?

Common theme with Druff, its always someone else's fault. I dont doubt for a minute that they were possibly rude with you on the phone after giving you misleading information accidently. Here's a noble thought, maybe you should have found sometime in the course of a year to use a ticket that you canceled in the first place. The VP was exactly right, no other airline in the world will allow you to cancel a ticket and then sit on it for 18 months with no fee associated with that transaction. I know i know "but they told me i could." You are obviously a smart man, if something is too good to be true it probably is!

Even worse, since over a year had passed since I purchased them (thanks to all the time wasted trying to get through to someone for the prior 2 months).

Lets just forget the 10 months where you did nothing. And lets just assume that you honestly tried calling in morning, noon, and night for 2 months........................
What if when you called in after 10 months they said they could not extend this credit any longer per company policy? Would you have just ate it, sold it for a discount, or what? It just seems to me that the $100 you lost out on isnt really that big a deal in the whole scheme of things. the SW ticket was probably far and away $100 cheaper then a competing airline anyways when you figure in bag fees and what not.

Seriously, honestly spare me the response that says "I am the customer, they told me they would do something and they should honor that." Mistakes happen bro, life happens. Druff has what i call the poor ghetto black person syndrome. Believe it or not, the world does not owe you!

I apologize if this entire response seems tiltish, but its a pet peeve of mine when people complain and feel like business' owe them for some reason. Im the guy who when his order at dinner is slightly screwed up, if its something i can stomach i just eat it anyways. Going off on monkey tilt about every little thing isnt healthy. Just roll with the punches, take your lumps sometimes.

If I didn't know you, I would think the entire post you just made was a level to tilt me.

But I can tell you're actually serious.

I don't feel that businesses owe me things for free.

However, I didn't get anything for free here, nor was I asking for anything free.

I spent $520 in real US dollars, and I wanted $520 in Southwest credit for those real US dollars.

I just wanted what I paid for.

Now, I understand that companies have policies about changing tickets, waiting too long to use credit, etc.

I can respect those policies -- if they are properly communicated to me.

If Southwest miscommunicates their own policies to their customer service employees, and that bad information makes customers inadvertently violate the company policies, they need to err in favor of the customer and honor what their reps told people.

Not only is this the right thing to do, but it's also the law. A company must honor what its representatives promise, regardless of the level of the employee. The only exceptions involve when this is done on purpose to defraud the company, or if the promise is outrageous (say, if a rep promised me free flights for the next 10 years). If a representative of Southwest tells me that I can renew my credit for another 6 months without a fee, they have to honor that by law. If three representatives tell me the same thing, they especially have to honor it.

These are similar to laws that protect consumers from bait-and-switch advertising.

Now, PROVING this happened would probably be tough, which is why it would be hard to win such a dispute in court. However, if the reps came into court and told the truth (that they informed me that I could renew for 6 months without a fee), Southwest would lose the case 100% of the time.

Like you, I also hate people that feel entitled and that the world owes them something.

However, what I hate even more are corporate apologists who defend companies that screw their customers, and simply tell the aggrieved parties to stop whining and accept it as part of life.

[jsearles22]

After you used the $420 credit of course?

Common theme with Druff, its always someone else's fault. I dont doubt for a minute that they were possibly rude with you on the phone after giving you misleading information accidently. Here's a noble thought, maybe you should have found sometime in the course of a year to use a ticket that you canceled in the first place. The VP was exactly right, no other airline in the world will allow you to cancel a ticket and then sit on it for 18 months with no fee associated with that transaction. I know i know "but they told me i could." You are obviously a smart man, if something is too good to be true it probably is!

Even worse, since over a year had passed since I purchased them (thanks to all the time wasted trying to get through to someone for the prior 2 months).

Lets just forget the 10 months where you did nothing. And lets just assume that you honestly tried calling in morning, noon, and night for 2 months........................
What if when you called in after 10 months they said they could not extend this credit any longer per company policy? Would you have just ate it, sold it for a discount, or what? It just seems to me that the $100 you lost out on isnt really that big a deal in the whole scheme of things. the SW ticket was probably far and away $100 cheaper then a competing airline anyways when you figure in bag fees and what not.

Seriously, honestly spare me the response that says "I am the customer, they told me they would do something and they should honor that." Mistakes happen bro, life happens. Druff has what i call the poor ghetto black person syndrome. Believe it or not, the world does not owe you!

I apologize if this entire response seems tiltish, but its a pet peeve of mine when people complain and feel like business' owe them for some reason. Im the guy who when his order at dinner is slightly screwed up, if its something i can stomach i just eat it anyways. Going off on monkey tilt about every little thing isnt healthy. Just roll with the punches, take your lumps sometimes.

If I didn't know you, I would think the entire post you just made was a level to tilt me.

But I can tell you're actually serious.

I don't feel that businesses owe me things for free.

However, I didn't get anything for free here, nor was I asking for anything free.

I spent $520 in real US dollars, and I wanted $520 in Southwest credit for those real US dollars.

I just wanted what I paid for.

Now, I understand that companies have policies about changing tickets, waiting too long to use credit, etc.

I can respect those policies -- if they are properly communicated to me.

If Southwest miscommunicates their own policies to their customer service employees, and that bad information makes customers inadvertently violate the company policies, they need to err in favor of the customer and honor what their reps told people.

Not only is this the right thing to do, but it's also the law. A company must honor what its representatives promise, regardless of the level of the employee. The only exceptions involve when this is done on purpose to defraud the company, or if the promise is outrageous (say, if a rep promised me free flights for the next 10 years). If a representative of Southwest tells me that I can renew my credit for another 6 months without a fee, they have to honor that by law. If three representatives tell me the same thing, they especially have to honor it.

These are similar to laws that protect consumers from bait-and-switch advertising.

Now, PROVING this happened would probably be tough, which is why it would be hard to win such a dispute in court. However, if the reps came into court and told the truth (that they informed me that I could renew for 6 months without a fee), Southwest would lose the case 100% of the time.

Like you, I also hate people that feel entitled and that the world owes them something.

However, what I hate even more are corporate apologists who defend companies that screw their customers, and simply tell the aggrieved parties to stop whining and accept it as part of life.

Just an FYI for you, when someone tells you "yeah that can be done but you need to call this other phone number" that generally means that person you are currently speaking too actually has no idea whatsoever what they are talking about.
Secondly, as i believe you have mentioned yourself many times, being rude doesnt ever help your cause. Saying people win the lottery, etc isnt going to help you in the slightest.
Im far from a corporate apologists but I am a realist. You purchased the ticket, called up sick the day of, then did nothing for 10 months, and now you feel like you got shafted. Hold up your end of the bargain as a consumer. Think about it from their side. If you owned a company would you want a client having a credit sit on your books unused for 18 months? (the quick easy answer is I have their money so yeah! The logical answer is no because its a logistical nightmare, the books never balance, etc. If you say yes then you clearly have never ran a business).

And I disagree that they have to honor anything they tell you if it was an honest and legit mistake. Im not talking about your case here specifically (you were told this by multiple people and later told their policy wasnt communicated to the reps), but in general. If someone on the phone or in a store honestly tells you something in error, you are not automatically holding the "I am a consumer" trump card. We are dealing with human beings, companies are actually entitled to make mistakes and not be punatively punished for those simply because they are a "company."

Lame example: As a business owner (DD) you said you would vouch for PeterDc. Is Micon now required to bear the financial responsibility for that because a rep for his company (you) promised (ie vouched) that something would take place?

[tommyt]

good tips. ill be sure to take these into consideration from now on.

[Steve-O]

So many people from my area travel to Providence RI to fly from TF Green airport instead of Logan in Boston because they say its, quicker, it's not as busy as Logan, the traffic isn't as bad, yada, yada, yada, and pay triple the price on the flight.

Come on Steve-O, your better than this my friend, no need to exaggerate to get your point across. I fly out of TF Green religiously. I always check Logan and Hartford to compare the prices and I generally wind up paying about 25% more. Which is immediately worth it when I look at travel time, parking cost, speed, reduced amount of people.

Not where i fly to anyway maybe triple is somewhat hyperbolic, but flights to see my family in SC or god forbid if you were flying overseas are way more pricey at TF Green. I remember seeing flights from Logan at $200ish while they were $700ish at Green --not everywhere but unless you are going to Orlando, DC or some other typical stop Green is pretty pricey.

[Bootsy Collins]

Best tip for flying in and out of So Cali. Avoid LAX if you can. If your purpose is to play at Commerce or the Bike, try to fly to Long Beach. It is closer to those casinos exept for Hollywood Park and who wants to play in that shithole?

[JimmyG_415]

Looking for some advice, Druff.

I used your tips and got a sweet place, 1 mile from Petco Field for the Sf-SD series, for a $ 100 a night.
Room is clean, 5 minute walk to the Gaslamp district, right off the freeway, don't have to stay w/my sister-in-law, perfect.

Coming home not so much, ran into too much traffic , stopped at a Best Western on way home. (in coalinga/Harris Ranch, stinks to high heaven.)

Get in, not 10 minutes later a guy is there to "fix my door" maybe I've seen too much TV,
but I'm not letting this tat'd out Mexican in my place,
Call the desk, "yeah we should not have rented that room sorry is that OK?"
Whatever I let him in, he looks doesn't find anything wrong.
I crash at like 5pm, wake up at midnight and try to do the work I missed.
4 coffee packets in the room all De-cafe, go to the front desk, he barely speaks English, but gist is he doesn't have any access to coffee.
I have to drive not far, but still, wtf. Get back, and my door is ajar, so the door was broke.
Then no blankets in my bed, it was hot when I fell a sleep at 5 pm, but at 5 am it was cold.

So I wait for an English speaker to arrive, she tells me just push the door a little harder, the blankets are in the drawers, and as for the coffee, I ask for $ 10 off and she basically tells me to go suck a dick.
As rude as she can, too.

So should I try calling w/HQ'rs, these are individually owned, right?

[JimmyG_415]

Think Druff would be proud


Dear James,

Thank you for completing the survey regarding your recent stay at our property.

On behalf of our entire team, I would like to apologize for not exceeding your expectations. At Best Western we strive every day to provide a superior customer experience. I will make my staff aware of your comments so that this would not happen again. I am sorry we weren’t able to do that for you. We will use the feedback you gave us to implement improvements to ensure we provide a better experience in the future.

Because we value your business, we would like to go ahead and credit back to you 20% off on your Visa ending in 9899 for your stay on June 7, 2012.

Please consider staying with us again so that we can have another chance to provide you with superior service. You can reach me directly at 559-935-0866.


Sincerely,

Melissa Hassenteufel

[bottomset316]

I just spent a weekend at a hotel in a secret location.

Here are some tips on how to both save money and make your stay at a hotel more enjoyable:

- Don't use third-party booking sites, such as Orbitz, because they rarely have the best deal. Go directly to the hotel's website, look up their lowest rates, and then call their front desk (NOT the national reservations center) and ask for their lowest rate. Book using whatever method is cheapest. Also ask if they have an AAA rate.

- They can't charge you a "resort fee" or any other extraneous fee (aside from taxes) without disclosing it beforehand. If you are quoted $150/night and you get there to find it's actually $150/night plus a $20 resort fee, refuse to pay the resort fee. They have to honor the price you were quoted.

- Don't automatically use their parking lot, unless it's free or cheap. Often you can park very close by for free or much cheaper, and you can always use their free "loading/unloading" spots when you're checking in or out.

- Always speak up if something is wrong. Is your room noisy? Is there a maintenance problem of some sort? Call up immediately and they will always let you switch rooms, provided one is available. If they can't switch your room, they will almost always either fix the problem and/or give you a discount. For example, during this past stay, I found that they put me in a very noisy room which overlooked their main parking lot. They switched me to a much quieter one on the other side.

- If you're going to use their drinking glasses, immediately call up for new ones when you get there. The ones they bring up to you are straight from the dishwasher, while the ones in your room were probably hand-washed with the same towel that was used to clean the toilet (not even joking about this).

- Don't knock yourself out to get out by the posted checkout time. Call up the night before and ask for a later checkout, which they will usually give you for free, and will typically extend it by 30-120 minutes. Also, it is very rare for them to penalize you for checking out late, so you can check out even later than whatever they extend you. For example, if checkout time is 12:00, you can call and extend it to 1:00, and then not actually leave the room until 1:45, and they're not likely to complain or charge you anything.

- Before buying any package that includes a breakfast, check to see if the breakfast includes eggs made to order. If yes, it's probably a good breakfast. If no, the breakfast is probably terrible and worth almost nothing.

- Most hotels have a plastic laundry bag in the closet. That bag is supposed to be for using their own laundry service, but you are also welcome to take it for yourself. I always take the bag and use it for my dirty clothes.

- Never accept a "downgrade" unless they give you some kind of major compensation. Some hotels will oversell rooms, expecting a certain percentage of people to no-show. If you get there and your promised room category isn't available, don't just settle for that room and the difference in price. Demand that they either upgrade you, put you in a different hotel, or give you some kind of extra compensation.

- Don't be afraid to ask for credit on your bill if something isn't as expected. This includes plumbing problems (which aren't quickly fixed), lack of promised parking, unexpected noise, or anything else you didn't expect that somewhat ruins your stay. My personal policy is not to ask for credit if they can solve a problem quickly and easily, but anything left unsolved or extremely inconvenient deserves some sort of credit on my bill, because I'm not getting the service I paid for.

- Always get a final bill upon check-out, and make sure it agrees with your credit card statement. Before leaving, scan your bill and make sure there are no unexpected charges on it. A surprisingly high percentage of hotel bills have mistakes on them, and it is very rare for those mistakes to be in your favor.

- If you travel a lot, consider getting either an aircard for your laptop, or get some sort of "tethering"/hotspot service on your cell phone. This will allow you to avoid the obnoxiously expensive internet charges that many hotels are charging these days.

- Read reviews of the hotel you want to book on Yelp or Tripadvisor before making the reservation. If most of the reviews are bad, stay away!

Heard a rumour that most maids clean out the inside of glasses with the same rag they wipe down toilet seats. If the drinking device is not wrapped in plastic, I am using my hand to drink water. Just my observation.