| T O P I C R E V I E W |
| FieldsofThyme |
Posted - Jul 11 2011 : 2:54:25 PM
I just looked up area hotels, thinking a weekend with the younger two, would be a fun surprise (pool etc.). I am shocked at how high prices are for our dinky towns. Sheesh. I need two jobs to take them to these places. I can drive 3 hours south and get a 6 person cabin for half the price. I'm very limited to distance, as my hubby is working Saturday's for the next 10 weeks (including his regular week).
Farmgirl #800
http://pioneerwomanatheart.blogspot.com/
http://scrapreusedandrecycledartprojects.blogspot.com/
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| 21 L A T E S T R E P L I E S (Newest First) |
| Bensgrandma |
Posted - Jul 16 2011 : 5:05:15 PM
I think I would write to the corporate office of Holiday Inn and tell them of your experience. I don't think they would be too happy to find out that one of their rooms sat empty when they could have lowered the price and had someone use it.
We love Ohio. We always travel to Berlin. The rooms there have gotten to be a bit pricer but they are so clean it makes me embarrassed to come home and see my house
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http://www.etsy.com/shop/ACharmingExperience |
| Blessed in Colorado |
Posted - Jul 16 2011 : 07:08:39 AM
Have you tried Pricline.com? I use them while on vacation last week and was able to book two 4 star hotels, one the Hyatt Place for 55.00 and the Hilton for 65.00 both rooms go for over 200.00 a piece. It was so easy and I got just what was advertised and paid for, it was wonderful.
I will always use them from now on.
Hope this helps.
Farmgirl Hugs,
Debbie
www.etsy.com/shop/CollectThisTreasures
http://debbielynnf.blogspot.com
http://myworld.ebay.com/debbt |
| FieldsofThyme |
Posted - Jul 15 2011 : 3:48:10 PM
Thanks for all of your advice. Unfortunately, the two day getaway is on hold.
Farmgirl #800
http://pioneerwomanatheart.blogspot.com/
http://scrapreusedandrecycledartprojects.blogspot.com/
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| MagnoliaWhisper |
Posted - Jul 15 2011 : 3:45:32 PM
yeah we thought it was a thing of the past as well. Imagine our surprise when we started our cross country trip together for the first time, and we stopped at the first hotel we seen when it started getting time for sleep. And they said all full.......it was late at night (say around 11pm or 12 am) and the parking lot was empty. We thought hmmm ok...went on down the road and for miles and miles (8 hours to be exact) we got the same thing time after time. Finally my husband said he just couldn't stay awake any longer and we seen a little flea bag motel (scary as all get out!) but the lady and her mean dog took us. The room was horrid, smelled, filthy etc, but we got to sleep for a bit. Happened the next night too. We learned after that just make reservations. For Mo what was so strange to us it was even the big name brand hotels saying this to us. We were quite shocked. My mom and dad had warned us (they are also inter-racial couple) but I thought they were really nuts, and that had stopped long ago...apparently not in some places! But, the one place in MO that was cabins, and where the man actually said out loud that was why he shouldn't take money in advance, and then they would ramsack our room each day and harrass us daily-say we had more people staying with us and such when we did NOT! Trying to find faults to kick us out before our reserved/paid for days were up. Any way, that man and his wife took the cake. We would leave, and the cabin had a full size fridge, we would come back and every thing in the fridge/freezer would be out on the table. Ice cream, etc completely melted, etc. Oh...we were cleaning the fridge. Um we've only been here 2 days why did you NEED to clean the fridge in our cabin while we were staying here and had food in it! And if so, why not put the food back when you were done!? UHG. It was insane. Needless to say we won't ever be staying there again. lol Which in my opinion was pretty stupid of them considering our economy. But, that's ok we found a better place in the same area, that the couple is so sweet, they are cheaper, and very kind! So oh well!
http://www.heathersprairie.blogspot.com |
| brightmeadow |
Posted - Jul 15 2011 : 01:42:01 AM
Oh, Heather, how awful for you! I believed that kind of prejudice was a thing of the past, I remember it well from when I was a child in the sixties, but I thought we were past that now, with the Internet expanding people's horizons and the world getting smaller and all.
I usually do make reservations ahead but found I can usually get the same rate from the front desk of the hotel that is published online by calling the hotel directly and asking for the same rate. I have had trouble with the third-party services and pay-in-advance when my plans changed. I was also unable to obtain a receipt for income tax reporting purposes when using them. So now I've decided to book with the hotel only.
You shall eat the fruit of the labor of your hands - You shall be happy and it shall be well with you. -Psalm 128.2
Visit my blog at http://brightmeadowfarms.blogspot.com ,web site store at http://www.watkinsonline.com/fish or my homepage at http://home.earthlink.net/~brightmeadow |
| MagnoliaWhisper |
Posted - Jul 14 2011 : 9:53:02 PM
I doubt it Brenda, that sounds normal in Ohio. Believe it or not the smaller towns are more expensive then the larger ones. West Virginia is INSANE on their prices. Holiday Inn has gone way up in prices and barely offer you anything at all! 120 for Ohio sounds about average to me. (I usually have to do at least two cross country trips a year, including going through Ohio each time). The best value for our money in the Ohio area has been Hawthorn Suites, and Wyndham (sp). They give breakfast as well, and cost around the 50 dollar range. (I mean that's what a lot of hotel/motel 8's want now! I do usually book though. I hate to sound like a crazy person on here, but my husband and I found the first year we were married we HAD to make reservations not only because of the money side of things, but MO, IL, and a few of the other midwest states have a problem with my husband and I being a bi-racial couple when it comes to hotels. We once had to drive for 8 hours to find a hotel that would take us when driving through those states. Since then we make reservations. And pay in advance, you get a even better discount when you pay in advance (the only down side is that particular discount is a no refunds policy, but it brings about 2/3's off regular price!) and once when we did the pay in the advance I went in (which is our usual thing, cause even though I am Mexican I look white as I am particularly light skinned, and I have no accent-I'm a 5th generation American) and we find it usually a bit better for me to go in first, well once when we did that my husband came in after me and the man (clerk/owner) had the gull to look and say out loud, this is why I shouldn't take money in advance! And then handed me the keys....... They were nuts the whole time we were there-coming in our room with out knocking, digging through all our stuff while we were out, all kinds of NUTSO things. Needless to say we didn't stay there again! But, any way, that's my experience with small town hotels! lol
http://www.heathersprairie.blogspot.com |
| brightmeadow |
Posted - Jul 14 2011 : 4:28:11 PM
Check out hotels around Cedar Point using Kayak. It's probably an hour or less from you, many of them have outdoor pools, etc., and rates seem pretty reasonable.
You shall eat the fruit of the labor of your hands - You shall be happy and it shall be well with you. -Psalm 128.2
Visit my blog at http://brightmeadowfarms.blogspot.com ,web site store at http://www.watkinsonline.com/fish or my homepage at http://home.earthlink.net/~brightmeadow |
| Alee |
Posted - Jul 14 2011 : 4:20:01 PM
Either that or she might be really disguntled at the prices. I used to work at a two different hotels. The cleaning of a hotel room only takes about half an hour (for a regular non-suite) and then front desk staff has minimal work to do. Hotels make a killing off their rooms and I really do feel it is shameful the amounts they charge!
Alee
Farmgirl Sister #8
www.farmgirlalee.blogspot.com
www.allergyjourneys.blogspot.com
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| brightmeadow |
Posted - Jul 14 2011 : 1:45:23 PM
Although I came home to Ohio a few weeks ago, driving pretty late at night. I got really tired and stopped at a Holiday Inn Express, thinking it wouldn't be too expensive, and I could drive the last 30 minutes in the morning.
There were very few cars in the lot, and it was after 1:30 a.m. So I thought they would be happy for the business and possibly would give me a discounted rate.
Was I in for a shock! When the night clerk realized I had no reservation, she said "Do you know our rates? Most people without reservations leave when I tell them the price" so of course I asked for the rates. They were pretty high, over $120 - crazy for a country town in the middle of Ohio farm country. I asked for a corporate discount (the rate my company pays when making travel reservations) and she was unable to find it on her list of discounts. I asked to see the list, and I did find it under the travel agency name. But the discount was only 5$ off the room rate, according to her computer. The AARP discount yielded an $8 discount. Still way more than I wanted to pay just to rest my head for the rest of the night. I declined her generous offer, deciding to drive the last half hour to stay at our "usual" hotel (which is at least $35 less). Unfortunately for me, when I arrived there, they were completely filled up! By this time it was after 2 a.m. I ended up staying at a relative's house on their sofa. Fortunately I had a key and did not have to wake anyone!
I kept thinking that the clerk at the Holiday Inn Express was trying to discourage me from staying there. Possibly her workload was lighter if there are no guests?
You shall eat the fruit of the labor of your hands - You shall be happy and it shall be well with you. -Psalm 128.2
Visit my blog at http://brightmeadowfarms.blogspot.com ,web site store at http://www.watkinsonline.com/fish or my homepage at http://home.earthlink.net/~brightmeadow |
| brightmeadow |
Posted - Jul 14 2011 : 01:39:19 AM
I moved from Ohio to Michigan this year, and am stil in price-shock. Ohio is one of the best, low-cost places to live in the world!
You shall eat the fruit of the labor of your hands - You shall be happy and it shall be well with you. -Psalm 128.2
Visit my blog at http://brightmeadowfarms.blogspot.com ,web site store at http://www.watkinsonline.com/fish or my homepage at http://home.earthlink.net/~brightmeadow |
| FarmDream |
Posted - Jul 13 2011 : 6:31:12 PM
That sounds great Julie. We have a wonderfully cool river to float in, too. Would love to meet ya. Mary Beth, it's a pretty nice town. A whole lot of college students but you learn when the best times are for driving around and generally staying out of their way. lol
~FarmDream is Farmgirl Sister #3069
Live Today, Cherish Yesterday, Dream Tomorrow
http://naturaljulie.etsy.com
http://julie-rants.blogspot.com |
| Okie Farm Girl |
Posted - Jul 12 2011 : 7:53:10 PM
Julie, you are at San Marcos?! That's where my on just moved from. He went down there this weekend to visit friends. :-) He loved it there.
Mary Beth
www.OklahomaPastryCloth.com
www.Oklahomapastrycloth.com/blog
The Sovereign Lord is my strength - Habakkuk 3:19 |
| paradiseplantation |
Posted - Jul 12 2011 : 6:54:51 PM
Hi, Julie! I have a friend named Linda who lives in San Marcos! That may very well be where I live. However, if I do come down there, maybe we can go to lunch -- that is, if Sarah doesn't make me shop the soles off my shoes!!!!!
from the hearts of paradise...
1Thess. 4:11 |
| MagnoliaWhisper |
Posted - Jul 12 2011 : 3:46:50 PM
If it's REALLY local like in your same town you may just ask how much they would charge you to use the pool. I have friends in other small towns that the hotel/motel just charges her 8 dollars a time she comes.
http://www.heathersprairie.blogspot.com |
| Dusky Beauty |
Posted - Jul 12 2011 : 3:06:49 PM
Sunday night is the best day to call for hotel reservations-- the weekend rush is over, and your chances of getting a manager on the phone increase-- managers not only have the authority to offer you promos like free nights or free breakfast, they're also keen to get the next business week off to a good start with early reservations.
"The greatness of a nation and it's moral progress can be judged by the way it's animals are treated." ~Gandhi
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"After eating an entire bull, a mountain lion felt so good he started roaring. He kept it up until a hunter came along and shot him. The moral: When you're full of bull, keep your mouth shut.” ~Will Rogers |
| FarmDream |
Posted - Jul 12 2011 : 07:38:18 AM
Hey Julie! I'm Julie from San Marcos. I'm about 30 minutes from San Antonio. For our vacation last March I signed up for a free membership with America's Best Value Inn. We went to California and I was able to save quite a bit on my room. There's also a thing called Air B&B you can google. Let me know if I can be of any help!
~FarmDream is Farmgirl Sister #3069
Live Today, Cherish Yesterday, Dream Tomorrow
http://naturaljulie.etsy.com
http://julie-rants.blogspot.com |
| paradiseplantation |
Posted - Jul 12 2011 : 05:41:39 AM
I'm going to be faced with this problem all too soon. My step-daughter is getting married in May, and they live in San Antonio. She called this past weekend and told me she wants me down there - soon and frequently -- to help her plan the wedding. I promise, ladies, I did NOT let her hear me choke!!!! But I did. I'm not quite sure how we'll be able to afford all this. Her mom is married to a $$$$ doctor, and they're talking about a $50 to $60,000 wedding. We'll do good just to send her a few thou towards expenses. That, coupled with travel expenses is going to hurt. Bad! Kristina, let me know if you do find any really great deals. I'm gonna need all the help we can get!
from the hearts of paradise...
1Thess. 4:11 |
| Dusky Beauty |
Posted - Jul 11 2011 : 10:07:58 PM
Kristina, how about checking out a KOA or other campground that has a pool and "camp" out in a tent with a campfire and smores?
"The greatness of a nation and it's moral progress can be judged by the way it's animals are treated." ~Gandhi
http://silvermoonfarm.blogspot.com/
"After eating an entire bull, a mountain lion felt so good he started roaring. He kept it up until a hunter came along and shot him. The moral: When you're full of bull, keep your mouth shut.” ~Will Rogers |
| Alee |
Posted - Jul 11 2011 : 7:28:52 PM
Kristina- I would call the hotel and ask them what the pool temp is. They could have been having a malfunction that might be fixed...but I agree- staying over someplace is very expensive!
Alee
Farmgirl Sister #8
www.farmgirlalee.blogspot.com
www.allergyjourneys.blogspot.com
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| FieldsofThyme |
Posted - Jul 11 2011 : 5:17:37 PM
I tried it, and found one for $60.00. However, reading the reviews, a recent guest this month, stated the indoor pool was about 90° and was too hot for his kids to swim in. Ugh. Guess this won't work for us. Phooey.
Farmgirl #800
http://pioneerwomanatheart.blogspot.com/
http://scrapreusedandrecycledartprojects.blogspot.com/
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| Alee |
Posted - Jul 11 2011 : 4:45:08 PM
try booking through www.kayak.com
Alee
Farmgirl Sister #8
www.farmgirlalee.blogspot.com
www.allergyjourneys.blogspot.com
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