August 30, 2007
Out of Office
Written by Jenna Petersen in Jaunty PostThis morning I am not sitting at my desk in my house typing this. I’m in a hotel room on my laptop. El Guapo had to go to a suburb of Chicago for meetings today, so since I’ve been having a rough couple of weeks, he asked if I wanted to come along and just be a room bum. And I said yes.
There are nice things about being on the road, don’t you think? Especially if you’re on the road and not expected to actually do anything. Hotel beds in moderate to nice hotels are generally comfy and the pillows are poofy and you don’t have to make the bed yourself. I’m one of those evil guests who ignore the ‘reuse, don’t wash’ directions about sheets and towels. I never re-hang, I always ask for new ones if I’m going to be in a place for more than one night. I know it’s wrong, but it feels so right!!! And I do reuse at home. I swear.
Then there’s the free HBO. Although we have HBO at home, so this is not the big excitement that it was for me as a kid. When I was little, we had four channels (and this was in the 80s and 90s!!!). So going to a hotel and having 20-30 was AWESOME. And now hotels are getting friskier with some having Xbox or Playstation in the room and pretty much everyone has high speed internet (where I’m typing this even as we speak).
And though I’m enjoying my little night away from cats crushing my breast bone at 4am because that’s the optimal “Mommy-Love” time, I am already starting to dread the next couple of months. Because I’ll be doing this A LOT in September and October as I make the rounds at a bunch of events all over this great nation. Maybe I’ll see some of you in the Chicago-area… or Columbus, OH… or Tulsa, OK or Bellevue, WA… or wherever else I’m going….
If you do, ask me what I watched on HBO last night. 
What’s YOUR favorite hotel experience or what hotel experience was your WORST? One lucky comment poster will win an ARC of EVERYTHING FORBIDDEN, my November 2007 Jess Michaels release!
And don’t forget to scroll down and see who won Margo’s Skunk Contest!!
6:52 am | Share This
AndreaW Says:
I have a favorite hotel experience . . .
A couple years ago, while our family was vacationing out west, we made an overnight stop in Bakersfield, CA. My grandfather had set up reservations and confirmed them before we left, but for some reason the DoubleTree didn’t have us in their computer. Well, they were very nice and accomodated us anyway. Imagine my surprise when my hubby, kids and I got to stay in the Presidental suite! Talk about luxury! I felt like such a geek in that I was walking around taking pictures of everything in the room because I knew that that was probably as close as I’d ever come to a room like that again. The bathroom was like the size of a regular room. It was an awesome experience that I’ll never forget.
Haven Rich Says:
Jenna just remember what you said once before that you love doing these events because they are fun! If ever in doubt chant this..it’ll help.
I wish you weren’t having a rough go of it. I hope things..however it might need be, improve.
My best time in a hotel was also my worst. I had rushed off to get married in Vegas but in route got really really sick. So after we arrived in Vegas I was able to rest and be since in a very, VERY nice room at the Caesars Palace Casino. It had a beautiful view too!
Might I add that the bathroom was very lovely as well. The tub was so huge I nearly drowned as I was so weak I fell asleep lol.
Anyhow, that’s my story. I highly recommend staying at Caesars Palace…just try to do it without being sick. I’m sure it’s more fun that way.
Robyn DeHart Says:
The Professor flew to Chicago this morning for a conference so I am all by my lonesome at home. You can usually find him at Gino’s East cause he is one pizza-loving man.
I’m with you, Jenna, I like to get fresh towels and sheets at hotels since I reuse at home - it’s part of the luxury of staying at a hotel. Enjoy your room bum time.
Rainy Says:
Worst hotel experience–had a few, but the one that I remember most was when I was over eight months pregnant. We were vacationing in the Cape, enjoying what would be our last “couple only” experience before the baby. My husband was off to army camp in a week. Well, it was not a very sound proof place and the couple above us were very active on their squeaking springs bed. Lying there with a belly as large as the sand dunes and listening all night to continuous squeaks was too much and we left early.
Best hotel–Stayed a few times at The Plaza (in my travel agent days), had afternoon tea and scones in the Palm Court and dinner in the Edwardian Room. Baths in the huge claw footed tubs. Wonderful.
But nothing could compare with our honeymoon at the Princess Hotel in Bermuda where we had breakfast in bed (at least eight courses) every morning and watched sailboats glide by from our balcony. The magic of new love, tropical weather and an elegant hotel could not be topped.
brownone Says:
Best hotel experience: A was my stay at the Excalibur on my honeymoon. I LOVE Vegas hotels..they are SO fun. We went to the dinner show they had there where the knights were jousting (Ahh..the stuff romance novels are made of!) It was nice because you could go from hotel to hotel via air conditioned hallways. Favorite hotel…okay..it was a tie between The Venetian and the Bellagio. We were going to take the gondola ride, but unfortuantely, I am VERY seasick!
Worst experience:
I was four months pregnant and had SEVERE morning sickness. I had won some airline tickets that I HAD to use by the end of the month so I told my husband I wanted to go..where else? VEGAS!! Let’s just say, I didn’t make it! I spent most of our “vacation” in my hotel bathroom at the “Stratosphere”! (The rooms are lovely there by the way, there were two televisions in our room along with a reception area with a couch in case we had guests!)
Jenna Petersen Says:
You guys have had some times, I swear! These are such fun and horrible answers all at once! LOLOL
We once left a hotel in Springfield because I was NOT happy with the neighborhood. We ended up just driving home. It was hideous.
Our Jamaica room was lovely although it was a bit loud at night, so I wouldn’t say it was my best. I’ll have to think on my own question. LOL
JennaP
Cherie J Says:
A hotel stay I remember as a bad one was one where we stayed at a Ramada. Unfortunately, hubby had not known there was a train track right by the hotel when he made rhe reservation. Considering the night runs that were made we did not sleep well that night.
Jenna Petersen Says:
Eek Cherie! Yeah, it takes a few days to get used to a train at night. My grandparents’ home was right in front of a freight line and I’d be there three or four nights before I got used to it and slept through it.
I’m really sensitive to noise myself, so most of my worst hotel stays have to do with thin doors or walls and noisy kids in the hallway. Or drunks. Or just RUDE PEOPLE.
But this hotel we’re in today was very nice last night. Quiet and comfy.
J Perry Stone Says:
When I was 19, I was a poor student in Europe, and somehow the idea that traveling required money and equaled proper food and lodgings escaped my friends and me.
During Easter break, we decided we travel from Spain to Greece.
Anyway, one night I slept on the top deck of a ferry boat to get from Italy to Greece. When we all woke up in the morning, we looked like a bunch of chimney sweeps out of a Dickens novel. We totally forgot about the smoke stack spewing black clouds of whatever it was all over us, ALL NIGHT LONG. I probably have some sort of dormant cancer waiting to erupt at any moment now because of it.
But I would have killed for a bed and a shower and I would have been supremely happy to use an old towel–even yours, Jenna.
And do you even know what happens to socks when you wear them more than 3 days? Sadly, I do: Doritos—in smell and texture.
Fortunately, I’ve never been as disgusting since.
Stefanie D Says:
I’ve only been 1 time at a hotel. And it was a bad experience. It was in the south of France, so we only packed T-shirts and other short, sunny things.
The sun didn’t shine even once! All it did was raining, snowing(!), freezing(!). And it was July!!
The hotel had all kinds of things to do (f.e. rafting). But due to the bad weather, we couldn’t do any of them. It was a boring week (I didn’t have any books with me).
Michele Gardner Says:
My favourite hotel stay was a year after my wedding. My husband for our 1st anniversary took me to this theme hotel and we stayed in the valentine sweet and it was just so wonderful..WE got to do lots of fun naughty things there with all the toys and heart shaped jacuzzi.I will leave that to everyones imagination ;).
Steph H. Says:
I once stayed at a hotel in New Orleans where they didn’t let the guests out after 7 or 8pm because the neighborhood was so dangerous. If you were out after 8, you had to call hotel security to get back in because they locked the place down. It didn’t look like a dangerous neighborhood, but aparently it was.
My grandparents had their 55th wedding anniversary at the little hotel they stayed at the first night of their honeymoon. It was really cute. I din’t stay their overnight–just had dinner–but it was my favorite “stay” at a hotel.
Amy Says:
I totally get new sheets and towels when staying at hotels. That little sign that they leave now about saving water and such does not apply to me or my kids.YUCK I think that getting home is probably the best feeling I have when staying in hotels. There is just something about finally being around your own things and just the feeling of home that I love most. Looking forward to the new release!!!
Amy
Mary M Says:
My worst hotel experience was when I got caught in a major rainstorm, the roads home were blocked, and I made an unplanned overnight stay at the nearest hotel. Actually the hotel did their best because the power was out and they checked the guests in with complimentary flashlights and two free drinks at the bar. There were people who lived only a few blocks away who couldn’t get home because of flooded streets.
I’ve had a lot of good hotel experiences though..I love the Four Seasons and Loews Hotels.
Loews gives you a pet room sevice menu and a welcoming letter from the general manager’s pets if you check with one of yours.
April Says:
Lots of great stories. I’m sorry to all who had bad incidents happen though.
My worst hotel experience was one by the Air Force Base in Ohio. I was there to see my brother off to Iraq. It was at the end of November 2005 and snowing outside and the room was ice cold. I put the heater on but then the room went from frigid to tropical heat without a midway point. I ended up getting up to turn it on and off to regulate the temperature. The heating unit was also on the ground with a narrow opening. Believe it or not a cat tried to squeeze through there and woke me up during the night. Bad experience.
My best experience was at the Shoreham Hotel in New York. Great place and lots of service. Unfortunately I didn’t appreciate it too much at the time after almost being killed at 9-11. But I would go back there again if I had a chance.
Crystal Says:
Worst:
I have two large dogs and a cat. While moving, my husband and I were forced to stay in a couple of Econo Lodges. They were the only hotels we could find that would accept multiple large breed dogs (We had to hide the cat). All I can say is YUCK! We just tried to touch as little as possible during our stay.
Linda Says:
I can say that I haven’t really had a bad hotel experience. My best would be at the Palms in Vegas. Me and some girlfriends really splurged and the service and rooms were great.
J Perry Stone Says:
Oh, and I forgot the BEST hotel experience.
On that same trip to Greece, we found a white-washed villa in Santorini for 5 bucks a night. You had to walk through a courtyard filled with oregano and lazy cats to get there, but maybe it was just so wonderful because of what I had to go through to get there.
Stacy S Says:
I don’t really have a great experience. But we go stay at one in the winter a few times. We go to one with pools so our 10 year old can swim.
Danny Says:
A great experience was my first trip to the US. When we arrived at the hotel we were so surprised, that we thought that we were at the wrong hotel.
One of my funniest and most chaotic experiences was at the same hotel. My parents celebrated the silver wedding anniversary at that time and my dad wanted to have some flowers delivered to our room. We wait and wait and run out of excuses why we couldn’t go to breakfast, as it was a surprise. When I went to the front desk I found out that they forgot the delivery, but in the end my parents got a huge basket with Champagne, fruits and cheese for free.
Shana Says:
My best hotel experience was at the Hotel Icon in downtown Houston where USF and I went for our first anniversary. We had chocolate covered strawberries and champagne in the jacuzzi bathtub, and the hotel had a car that looked like an English cab. It took us to the theater and picked us up again. We ordered room service when we got back–cookies. Yum!