May 10, 2011

Well, it has happened... I've decided to start this blog because tonight...Tuesday May 10, 2011....after going to Oklahoma on Sunday...Dallas on Monday...and arriving in DC today...all via random places and with stories that make me want to laugh and cry...I feel the need to share these stories as I go along.

We all have travel stories...and this week (can I call it a week...it's only Tuesday night...) has been a doozie of a trip.

Before I back track and go through some of the highlights...I have to share what happened tonight. I landed at Washington DC's Dulles airport at 10:45 pm...pulled out my rental car booking confirmation and realized that it was for May 12...May 12? That's the day I needed to RETURN the car...so I go to the counter and the nice man behind the counter can help me out...luckily they had a few extra cars on hand...score one for Budget...a rental agency I almost never use...some things do happen for a reason.

So I jump in the car...fire up the GPS and drive to the hotel...arriving around 11:45...give or take...I walk up to the counter. "Checking In Please..." Ah, yes checking in...What were the next few words out of the clerks mouth?!?! Ones I was not expecting to hear. The following is exactly what was said:

Me: Checking In, Jones...
Clerk: Welcome, let me get that set for you... (massive pregnant pause)...oh...Ms. Jones...the hotel is completely sold out...we have a room for you...but it doesn't have a bed...
Me: staring blankly at the girl...excuse me? it doesn't have a bed?
Clerk: Well, it has a pull-out sofa...it's the presidential suite (you know...like the ones the politicians rent out on election night when they all wait around to find out who won...)
Me: it doesn't have a bed?
Clerk: the sofa bed has a thick mattress...
Me: so I guess the "prepaid" room reservation I made didn't guarantee me a room...
Clerk: it reserved you a room...
Me: oh right, just not a bed...
Clerk: right...
Me: um...too stunned to say anything because I'm tired...started the day in Dallas...flew through Chicago via Kansas City (that's another story) and into DC...having already been in Oklahoma...all since Sunday...

Clerk: we'll go ahead and take care of the parking charge and breakfast...and help yourself to whatever you need in the concierge lounge...snacks etc.

Me: blank stare continues...um...Thanks...

It's now time for me to go to sleep...in my "non-bed" - "non Hotel room"

Ah, business travel...oh so fun...