Vomit bags located at front desk at Quality Inn

I do not mention people by name in a negative way, however I hope management by noticing the time and date will address their staff on how to represent their establishment.

I was checking into the hotel approximately 7:30 pm. I was at the desk for approximately 8 minutes. No clerk to be found. I even tried calling the hotel direct phone number. A few rings and then the phone went dead.

I glanced down the hall and saw this women saunter down to the office door to the reception desk. A non caring attitude was given.

I requested a first floor room. The facial expression from the clerk was like I was asking for the keys to the golden palace. I also noted to her that I requested a pet friendly room. She snootily stated that it cost 15USD extra. I informed her that I knew.

Not to impress with the service, I was thinking that the room would be less than acceptable. The hallway was quite loud. You could hear the people above walking to and fro.

The room was not bad. Sheets clean and wrapped in the middle was a thin feather quilt. The carpet not too shabby either. The noise heard in the hall was not heard in the room.

The few drawbacks with the room were the mold in around the ceiling/wall in the bathroom and the poor caulking around the shower drain. The shower – well, gosh, strong and powerful, where the drain could not keep up with the force. The other two things I noticed in the bathroom were first that the chain in toilet was too long where the water pressure to flush would not work, so I tweaked it. The second was the chemicals from the cold water.

Walking my dog for the last time of the night I was planning to go out the non parking lot door. Well, a few steps down the hall, I started to gag, and so didn’t my dog at first. Then like all canines he did not mind the putrid smell. The stench of bacteria combined with mold and an unknown stink was so strong that I barely held back my weaken stomach. Needless to say, I did not continue walking in that direction, and went out the parking lot door.

Now being in the city and summer time, it still was amazing that other hotel guest would be loud and boisterous at 2:30 in the morning, and with young children running around screaming.

A request for an early wake call did not happen. I asked in person and then later confirmed with the desk clerk, prior to retiring for the evening, face to face, a wakeup call.

Shortly after not receiving the call, come to find out, the midnight staff also was not monitoring the desk!

Well, the call never happened, until 2 hours later – just as I was getting ready to leave!

After loading up the car and returning to the desk to check out, two people were working behind the desk while talking to the maintenance crew.

Neither desk person turned to look at me; it was a maintenance person who pointed out that there was a customer at the desk. The female clerk turned said I was checking out of my room, I was dismissed in the attitude, okay, and then turned away. I then quite loudly stated I have complaints. The gentleman next to her was the manager.

After stating everything I received 20 percent of my bill, and he took notes for the owner.

I am sorry, city or country, customer service was less than friendly in Chicopee at the Quality by Choice Hotel.

The only two things that got a positive were the shower and the clean bedding. Other than that, you need to think twice for the lack of quality service.

European on a dime…ish? Erie, PA

Another trip to Eire Pennsylvania – East bound. This time I checked around for another location other than my favorite Marriott Residence Inn.

If you look back to that adventure at the beginning of May 2010, you will see I paid about 85.00USD for the room.

Two reasons why I did not stay at the Residence Inn are: 1 – Tried to offer another hotel to compare; and 2 – Trying to park a U-Haul towing a vehicle at the Residence; not a smart move if you want to watch your truck and belongings.

So, I looked at each dog friendly hotel’s parking lot. I decided on Microtel, mostly on the parking lot. The price for one night in a basic no frill room was 78.00USD. (Residence offers cocktail hour with food, and a huge breakfast, besides a sitting room with a kitchen and a separate bedroom.)

Well, by the time I got through the bad weather to Microtel it was about 11:00pm.

Swinging in with a 17ft truck with a flat bed, I could not turn left to the front office, for other lodgers cars would have had a new ‘look’ to them. So I turned right and circled 270 around the building – near a side door.

The evening clerk – professional, polite, and all the charm you want when checking in; 100 percent the customer.

She noted where my truck was and found me a dog friendly room close to my truck, where I could view it, at the same time easy access to let my dog out for a run or two.

Well, upon checking into the room, you could see that the carpet needed to be vacuumed in each corner and along the sides of the room. There were stains on the office chair as well as the bench cushion. The sink had a crack with rust and then there is the tub… of course the tub. Well, the tub did not drain; AT ALL. So I called down to the desk and asked if they had Draino. They called back and said they had liquid plumber. So, I went down and grabbed it. Poured it into the shower, and then walked my canine companion.

Guess what. I was nose to nose with another self moving truck. They were just getting out and I said I cannot swing by them. Their reply:  "Oh, you are fine" and then they left.

I let the front desk know, and the same nice receptionist said she took the note to make sure they would remove their vehicle when I was ready to leave.

I also requested a 6:00 morning wake up call. Well, I was up by 5:30 in the morning, for my dog wanted out. However I never got the wake up call. About 5 minutes after 6, I called the desk; night shift was on. He said: “well, you are up now. You should NOT depend on us to get you up.”

Oh, I forgot to mention, while going for the morning walk, another truck pulled behind the one who was nose to nose with me, and they took the rest of the width of the parking lot; at a corner, no less.

So, I went down to get the continental breakfast, which was not too much of a wow factor. I grabbed some juice, and then went to push the button for coffee – 50 cents! They were going to charge for coffee!

When I was about to check out, I asked the desk to get the vehicles out of my way. I arrived first, and they blocked. Well, the night clerk said to me that he did not want to disturber and impose on hotel guest. Ah, impose? People really should not get me going before my coffee.

Well words were exchanged and finally the day supervisor arrived, and called those other rooms to have them move their vehicles. She apologized. She then asked me about the rest of my stay. Well, with still no coffee, I started out nice.

The sheets were clean. So clean that I could clearly detect the amount of bleach used to whiten the sheets.

Then there was the however. I mentioned the spots on the chair and the brown stain on the cushion, besides the carpet filthy and the over plug show drain. I do need to add, and if you are squeamish, STOP READING. There was pubic hair behind the bathroom door on the floor.

I received 15 percent off my bill and free dog stay. Was it worth it? Well, for just about the same price, if you are not driving a moving truck and towing a vehicle, and if they actually clean this basic European design room, I would not stay at Microtel in Erie Pennsylvania.

Twelve years ago I stayed at a Microtel in Iowa. The chain just opened there. It was a wonderfully clean place. A dark comparison in what was offered in Erie. Sorry Microtel. You failed.

PS:  Can you tell me what this stain is on this... sitting area...  care to sit there?

What's bugging them....

Upon returning back east of the Mississippi, I remember a gentle treatment for insect control.

Remember, when flies, mosquitoes, and fleas are bothering your dog, try natural rosemary spray. Simmer fresh rosemary until water is fully infused with the oils from the plant. Cool and place into a spray bottle. Spray daily. Your canine companion will be bug free and have a fresh scent about them.