AT&T… we have a connection!

I bet you thought I was going to talk about my phone, huh? Well, I’m not. Okay, maybe I am – a little. We have been having major challenges with our cell signal at the house. AT&T just can’t seem to keep us connected no matter what they do lately. I think it’s because instead of fixing our cell tower, AT&T has been putting all their resources into the AT&T Executive Education and Conference Center in Austin, Texas.

I've stayed in this hotel before, and again it was a wonderful place to stay while attending a conference. The conference rooms were excellent and the breakout refreshments were very nice. My room was comfortable, quiet, had a great work desk, and fast internet. Our group had a couple of very good evening meals (and more than a few drinks) in the bar and were served by a great bar staff.

Now let’s talk about those new-fangled energy efficient light bulbs.

If I have anything negative at all to say it would be that the lighting in the room was a little dim for my taste. I appreciate the energy efficient lighting and the fact that it softens the wrinkles when I look in the mirror… but it would’ve been nice to be a little brighter when I needed to put on my makeup. Even soft wrinkles need a little help when you get to my age.

Texas is better with whipped cream

The Rio Grand Valley and South Texas are a part of my territory now, so I will obviously be looking for a great home-away-from-home. I think I've found it already. The Staybridge Suites Brownsville, in Brownsville Texas is a wonderful and comfortable property.

I was a little worried when I was given a room on the first floor, because I don't like to hear stomping around above me. But this turned out to be one of the quietest hotels I've ever stayed in. Either it was extremely well insulated or there was no one else there. I think it was just well insulated.

I asked the desk clerk to steer me to a good Mexican Restaurant and was sent to Mi Pueblito, just down the street. It was wonderful and offered a regional cuisine, not typical Tex-Mex.

Then, just when I thought I'd found a nearly perfect hotel, I went to breakfast. The waffle machine made Texas shaped waffles. I've had Texas waffles before - but this hotel offered fresh strawberries and whipped cream as toppings.

I think I'm in love.

When you're hot - you're hot.

I have stayed at the San Luis Resort in Galveston, Texas three times now. It is the chosen hotel (the rooms are booked for us, and we just show up) for my required staff off-site working retreat, but I've never been there for fun. Not that we didn't manage to find a little fun while we were there, but the majority of the time was spent locked away in the bunker under the hotel. It really is an actual bunker. The San Luis Resort Hotel was built on the site of the old Fort Crockett. Fort Crockett was originally built in 1897 and was used in some form until 1947.

The conference rooms are built inside the eight foot walls that surrounded the fort. Apparently the military operations didn't use cell phones, because the signal in the conference center is nonexistent. Now that I think about it, it might have been deliberate. I imagine the military leaders didn't think it was wise for the troops to be playing Angry Birds while on duty.

Now back to my stay in the hotel. The room was fine, no weird layout or lumpy pillows, no odd noises or lights in my room. But it was hot. I don't sleep well in a room that is warm, and this one was more than warm - it felt like a sauna. I dozed off and on through the first night, but first thing the next morning I went to the front desk and asked if engineering could be sent up to my room to check on the air conditioner. The clerk asked me if I had left the balcony door open. Out loud I said no, but I was really saying "Excuse me? I've been in a conference. I've been holed up in the bunker without a cell signal. After a long day, sitting on the balcony in the dark soaking up the humidity at night isn't very high on my list." The clerk said he'd have someone look at it.

That evening, I went back to my room and found a box of Belgian Chocolate Truffles and a note from the maintenance guy. He apologized and said he was sincerely sorry that I had maintenance issues. The room hadn't cooled down a bit, but I did.

Chocolate has amazing properties, doesn't it?

Up to my neck in hot water! Well, not literally...

Well, not literally... ...but almost. I have never been in a hotel that the tub drained so poorly. It was sad. I told the desk clerk when I checked out, and she said she'd tell maintenance. I hope she does, but somehow I doubt it because I saw several reviews from years ago on TripAdvisor that referred to the same issue.

This hotel mentioned its "club floor" for Priority Members on its website. I am a Platinum Royal Ambassador who stays over 150 nights a year in hotels but even though my reservation was made several months out, they had no room for me on the club floor. I was however, given a room on the so-called quiet floor where "even the housekeeping doesn't go until after 10:00 AM." Wrong. Housekeeping was there every morning knocking on doors and vacuuming at 7:00 AM.

The room was typical of Crowne Plaza accommodations. Nothing special, but it seemed clean, had a comfortable bed and the internet access was not too slow. They also provided the typical amenities bag with earplugs.

I also wondered about the secret handshake. I was given a key to the club floor, but the club lounge was so small that I couldn't get in either night I stayed. I came to the conclusion that the club was so exclusive I just didn't have what it takes. It kind of reminded me of high school. But, unlike high school - I ended up in the bar. The bar staff were pleasant, the food and drinks were good.

This wasn’t my favorite Crowne Plaza, and I don’t know yet if I will try it again on my return to Little Rock. I’ll have to think about it.

You want me to stay where??

This is not my first stay at the Crowne Plaza San Antonio Airport in San Antonio, Texas. In fact, I've been a regular here for years. So...

Why is it that when I checked in this time you acted like I've never been here before? Oh, no. You can't fool me. I know that you have records. You know who stays here a lot.

Until this stay, I used to stay in the hotel 5 or 6 times a year and did so for 3 years. I was always pleased with the customer service, enjoyed the club lounge, felt safe, and slept well.

In fact, up until recently this hotel used to be on my “favorites list.” Then something happened. I don’t know if the property changed management or what, but the last few stays I started noticing difficulties. On several visits I had something go wrong – the room wasn’t ready, the keys didn’t work, the safety lock on the door was not working. I kept going back because of my previous positive experiences, and because every property occasionally has a bad day. When you travel a lot you accept that even the best properties occasionally have a glitch.

I am also very well aware of the fact that Platinum Priority Club members are offered upgrades on space available basis. This hotel almost always had upgrades for loyal clientele. The few times I wasn’t upgraded, I was still given a room on a high floor in the main building and given access to the club lounge.

This time though, as soon as I saw the room I was given I left the property and haven’t gone back. This last experience along with all the inconsistencies finally pushed me over the edge.

I made my reservation for this hotel over a month out, but when I arrived I was told that the hotel was full. They did not have any rooms in the main building, but the young lady at the desk said they had “upgraded” me to a room in the back section. The room turned out to be right over the parking garage - smaller than any room I’ve had at any hotel - low ceiling, dark, and stuffy. I was appalled that the desk clerk called it an “upgrade.” In my opinion, if that accommodation was an upgrade for a loyal guest, the hotel management needs to be retrained. When I went back to the desk to express my dissatisfaction, I was not even offered an apology... just a comment that I would not be charged for the room. I left.

The way I see it, if I want to be ignored I'll call Sprint customer support.

Bluegrass, lemongrass, and ghosts

We loved the Occidental Hotel in Buffalo Wyoming!

We decided to take a last minute mini-vacation over the Fourth of July Holiday, a driving tour that took us to five states in five days. It was a little crazy, but what a trip it was! Our adventure would start with flying into Colorado where we would rent a car and drive to Wyoming, head north to Montana, ease on over to North Dakota, turn south and visit South Dakota - then head back east so we could fly home from Denver.

When we first decided to go through Wyoming, I Googled hotels and found the Occidental Hotel. The hotel had good reviews, and really sounded like fun so I called to ask about availability. It turns out that there was a cancellation just before I called, and we were able to reserve the "General Sheridan" Suite.

When we arrived at the hotel it was like stepping into a time warp. The hotel had creaky floors, rooms that weren't exactly soundproof, and decor that made it feel like we were stepping into a museum. It was awesome. I think it was haunted, too. It just felt that way.

We stayed in the General Sheridan Room, where (we were told) the general actually stayed. It was wonderful, and had a glorious feather bed with a beautiful antique brass headboard.

After checking in, we had an amazing dinner in the hotel's restaurant, The Virginian. It was upscale dining in a private dining room. The meal was five-star quality, and was truly an event from salad to dessert.

After dinner we went to the hotel saloon for the evening's entertainment. We found out that we had won the lottery because we were in the hotel on a Thursday night. For years the locals have been getting together on Thursday night for a bluegrass jam session which was free to the public. The place was packed! Some of the performers were really really good, adult beverages were plentiful, and we had a wonderful time.

But, my forever memory of this hotel has only a little to do with the hotel. It had to do with my wonderful husband. Here's how it happened...

One of my all-time favorite romantic movie moments is at the end of the 1964 movie "Unsinkable Molly Brown." (Yes, I know that the movie doesn't follow the incredible activist Margaret Brown, but that's for another blog.) My husband has endured this movie on several occasions because he knows I love it. In my opinion, that's the basis of a good marriage. In this fictional movie, Molly Brown returns to Denver as a heroine having saved countless lives after the sinking of the Titanic. She looks for her estranged husband on her return, and the audience is led to believe he isn't there. Then, at the end of the movie, John J. Brown, who has strategically been hiding behind the door, dramatically throws his hat across the room and onto the brass four-poster bed, symbolizing his lasting love and forgiveness. It is an extremely cheesy movie moment but it makes me tear up every time I watch it. I know, I know. Just give me this one. Anyway...

After we checked into the hotel and found our room, I went to unpack. I walked put of the bathroom toward the bedroom and there was no husband in sight. Then - right on cue, a hat goes sailing across the room and lands on the center of the big brass bed.

Sigh.

It just doesn't get any better.

Let there be light!

I really liked the Holiday Inn Express Hotel & Suites in Desoto Texas. They upgraded me to a nice little suite, but the best thing about this relatively new hotel is that my room had a ceiling fan with lights! Hotel rooms are notoriously dark, so this was a wonderful and welcomed surprise.

Good job!

An evening under the Fun

I didn't actually stay in the MCM Grande FunDome in DeSoto, Texas, but I attended an event there so it's fair game for my blog.

I was speaking at an event, so I was dressed appropriately in a black business suit. When I walked into the hotel atrium it was like walking into a sauna. It was miserable, not only for me but for all those other people that were dressed in their finery.

But even worse than that was the banquet food. It was just plain awful. Banquet food is usually pretty bad - dry chicken, rice, and something green. But this took bad banquet food to a whole new level. The dinner plate held chicken-fried steak (sprinkled with dried parsley), potatoes, and cooked carrots. The potatoes had so much garlic in them that no self-respecting vampire could remain in the room. But the real problem was that the hotel provided one gravy boat for every four people at the table. Now, if you are from anywhere in the South you know that us "Southerners" use about two normal-sized gravy boats on one steak. What were they thinking?? That was just wrong.

Anyway, in spite of the gravy, the event was pleasant and I was honored to speak to the group. Then I left.

When I went out of the banquet hall I walked into a sea of white. For a minute I thought the "white people" had followed me from the Dallas Intercontinental... White shirts, white pants, white saris, white shoes, white turbans, white scarves, white shawls.

And there I was, dressed in black. I felt a bit like the angel of death might feel walking through a crowd of people on their way to the light.

Yup. That was weird.

but he didn't dry his hair...

We had a great stay at the Holiday Inn Philadelphia Historic District in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.

I'm basing "great" on quality of sleep and location for this stay, because the hotel itself was adequate, but nothing special. It provided a home base for our touring and we were quite comfortable. What was lacking in room amenities was more than made up for with the perfect location of the hotel in the historical district. We were within walking distance of everything "cool" in Philadelphia. What a great home-base for our weekend!

The desk clerks and hotel personnel gave us wonderful information and helpful hints. They should be commended for the knowledge of their city and the "hints" they offered. In fact, because of their information we were able to leisurely visit Constitution Hall on one of the busiest days of the year by signing up early for the first tour of the day. We wouldn't have known that otherwise.

As for the hotel, I'm pretty sure that like everywhere else in Pennsylvania - Washington must've slept here. But, I'm also pretty sure that he didn't dry his hair. He couldn't have because the square hairdryer produced little air, and was just plain awful. Second thought... maybe he did. Maybe it was just missing its historical marker!

Another use for Cheez-Its

I was upgraded to a lovely suite at the Intercontinental Hotel in Milwaukee, Wisconsin.

This hotel doesn't have a club floor, but gave me a couple of coupons for a free breakfast as well as a couple of free drinks at the bar. The waitress at the bar was just as cute as could be and told us she thought the appetizers during happy hour were really "great - and very upscale" and she was correct. The appetizers were wonderful - and unique to hotels. (That means they had something besides buffalo chicken wings and nachos.)

The hotel is very nice, but the parking garage was like driving through a maze. No problem, I left a trail of Cheez-Its so I could find my way back.

Sweet Home Alabama

My stay at Homewood Suites by Hilton in Daphne, Alabama was as close to perfect as you can get when staying in a hotel. In fact, I would recommend to anyone in the hotel business to use this hotel as an example.

My retired husband tagged along on this trip, so I needed to find a place to "stash" him while I was working. We've done this before, and he has vast experience in staying out of the way. So far, he has napped in the car, been dropped off at McDonald's, gotten overly caffeinated at Starbucks, and once even schlepped his way through Walmart. Hey, it works.

Anyway, this time I went into the lovely Homewood Suites and explained that we weren't due to check in until later that same day. I asked if I could park my husband there while I went to work. The very nice young lady at the front desk not only pointed us to the breakfast area but also explained about the TV, mentioned the fresh pot of coffee, and showed him to the sofa so he could be comfortable. She said she would let him know when the room was ready and give him the key.

Wow. That is customer service. I immediately wished we could just move in for a while.

I finished work for the day, went back to the hotel and found my husband comfortably ensconced in the room. It was a spacious studio suite - tastefully decorated and nicely lit. He informed me that there was the (expected) breakfast buffet the next morning - and - there was complimentary dinner reception as well. Then he said the dinner reception had complimentary beer and wine, too!

I don't think a hotel can get any better than this.

Wilson never had it so good.

The Holiday Inn Express Pascagoula-Moss Point in Moss Point, Mississippi was ready and waiting for our arrival, and upgraded us to the "Wilson Suite."

When I saw the name on the suite door, for some reason I found myself thinking of Tom Hanks screaming WilsonNNNNN as his soccer ball floated off to sea. Did you know that one of the three volleyballs used in the film Cast Away was sold in an auction for $18,400? That's a bunch of money. There's a lot of interesting trivia associated with that movie. Sometime you ought to look it up on IMDB.

But this hotel stay was not to to be a castaway. In fact, the suite turned out to be very nice. It was a generous sized suite with a cute little corner wet-bar - with a tissue holder on the front side right in the middle. I thought the tissue holder in the bar was rather clever. After all, how many times do you find yourself standing at the microwave or refrigerator saying to yourself "Gee. I sure wish I had a tissue while I am popping my popcorn." Well, they solved that problem.

The hotel was also right across the street from a very nice little Mexican Restaurant called Hacienda San Miguel. Viewing the restaurant from the hotel it appears that the restaurant is located at a truck stop. I asked at the front desk and was told that the trucks just park next to the restaurant, and that the restaurant was actually very good. We decided to try it, and were pleased that just like we were told, it was actually very good and reasonably priced. We had a pitcher of margaritas, then walked back across the street and re-joined Wilson.

Party on Garth

The Holiday Inn San Antonio North in San Antonio, Texas has only been open for five months. It still has that new hotel smell. It still has that new hotel attitude. I liked it.

The hotel is very proud of the fact that they have been chosen Trip Advisor's "Number One" hotel in San Antonio, as they should be. I will agree that the property is very nice. The staff were well trained and extremely cordial. Everything was clean and comfortable, and I had an excellent club sandwich at the hotel restaurant/bar. I loved the bartender. Not only was he efficient and pleasant, he was also working on his final design project for semester finals in-between customers. I thought that was cute. I tipped him a couple of extra bucks and considered it an investment in his education.

After dinner I went back to my room to relax and was serenaded by the (very loud) music wafting into my room from the building next door. It went on most of the evening. That was something I'd never encountered before. I wonder if I would have heard it if my room was on the other side of the hotel?

But now I will announce that I found the single most wonderful invention ever in this hotel... the "constant fan" button. The room air conditioner/heater unit had a button that said constant fan. Now why did it take so long for hotels to figure that out? The fact that I could choose a loud fan in this room completely blocked out the party next door and I slept like a baby.

Good job, Holiday Inn San Antonio North. I'll be back!

No sniffles here

I don't have a lot to report about the Hampton Inn in San Angelo, Texas. It was pretty average as Hamptons go. The room did seem small by hotel standards, but I think it was just my perception. I'm a little spoiled by the upgrades I get with Holiday Inns.

When the facial tissues ran out though, it occurred to me that I have a perfect record. I don't think I've ever stayed in a hotel that the facial tissues in the bathroom didn't run out. No, really. You know how the hotel tissues are designed so that when you get to a certain amount from the bottom the tissues are beige instead of white? Well every single time I am in a hotel the obligatory beige one pops up. Once you see that one, it's over. You better not get a cold.

I'm still trying to get used to the Hilton chain. It's not their fault that I have the magic tissue gene. But Hamptons have those do-it-yourself waffles makers in their breakfast area. That makes it all okay.

Doin' it right

I was very impressed with the Hilton Washington Dulles Airport in Herndon, Virginia. After my last trip to Virginia I was a little concerned because my hotel at that time was, well - it was simply awful.

I think I have finally found my home-away-from-home when I travel to this area. (I guess that opening my mind to an alternate hotel chain was a smart thing to do after all!)

Anyway, this hotel had everything I look for in a hotel - well, except maybe a complimentary mini-bar. But, hey - you can't always get what you want.

My room was spacious and very nice. But, before you arrive you should know something.

The rooms are about six and a half miles from the lobby.

It's true - the hotel is a really big circle. My room was on the far side of the circle, which meant there was nothing quick about getting to my room from the elevator. The good thing about it though is that you can't get lost. So, if you drink too much you'll just keep going around in circles until you finally find your room. Convenient.

The ceiling fell in before I got there. Really.

The roof fell in the day before I checked in to the Hilton Birmingham Perimeter Park in Birmingham Alabama. At least that's what the bartender said while I was having dinner. She said that the pipes broke in the ceiling, and the ceiling tiles came down. It flooded the lobby and the ground floor of the hotel.

It was nice that they cleaned most of it up before I got there.

I wondered if the broken pipes were somehow the reason for the less than stellar appetizers in the Club Lounge. If it was, I might forgive them. (Before I proceed I must offer a disclaimer here. The two nights before this stay I was in one of my all-time favorite hotels - the Hotel InterContinental Buckhead in Atlanta. Maybe I was a little prejudiced? Maybe not.)

The Hilton spread featured packaged tortilla chips with bottled Picante Sauce, BBQ chicken wings, several blocks of cheese, Ritz crackers, and a variety of pre-cut and packaged vegetables. It kind of reminded me of the things you put out for the last minute Super Bowl Party you didn't know your husband was having at your house.

There was a weird metallic smell in my room, and I guessed that it was because of the work on the lower level pipes. But, just to be on the safe side I went down the hall to see where the fire escape stairs were on my floor. The way I saw it - it would be best to know such things... just in case.

I'm having to think really hard about switching hotel chains. I really like the Hilton's "double dipping" policy that allows me to get both miles and points for hotel stays, but I have yet to feel like the chain is worth my loyalty. I've been in several properties that were just average, and several that were not even qualified as average. However, in all fairness some of the IHG properties were a little sad too, so I'm going to give the Hiltons a fair shake. I want to see how they treat loyal travelers. It won't take long to earn top level status (Diamond, I believe) so I'll be able to really compare the Hilton to the IHG chain. This is actually fun. Maybe I should do this with all the chains? Next I can conquer Marriott. Then Hyatt.

Now there's an addition to my "bucket list."

Highlighting a great stay

Saturday when I went to get my hair done I told the stylist that I was ready for something a little different. She had a bad back and was taking muscle relaxers. This was probably not a good blend for a new hairstyle. The result was a color combination that wasn't awful, but was definitely not quite as subtle as usual.

After I checked into the InterContinental Buckhead in Atlanta Georgia, the Bell Captain complimented me on my "highlights." I thought that was interesting. Maybe they are trained to be that observant. Or maybe he was related to my stylist and she called him to tell him that I was a little freaked out about the new hair color...maybe the bell captain..... uh, maybe I should just move along with my blog.

The InterContinental should be used as the standard for hotels. It is consistently wonderful.

And the Bell Captains know just what to say.

How dry I am.

I would have never stayed at the Hilton Garden Inn in Pearl Mississippi had I known it was in a dry county. I didn't even know those still existed!

But, I found out they do exist when I went to eat dinner at the restaurant next door to the hotel. I chose this hotel because it showed up on the hotel list as an "airport" hotel. I often stay at airport hotels because they are - well, close to the airport.

I also often enjoy an adult beverage at the end of a long day. But the fine folks of Rankin County said too bad. They do not serve alcohol in their little county - even to weary business travelers.

So, while the hotel was relatively new and quite pleasant, next time I'll choose to stay one county over. I prefer to stay somewhere where they recognize me as an adult.

Only one thing I can wine about

The Hampton Inn Jackson-North in Jackson, Mississippi was very nice as far as hotels go. The desk clerk was very pleasant, the room was comfortable, and I had a wonderful view overlooking the Chili's Restaurant.

The hotel even had a manager's reception featuring Crawfish Etouffee and several types of beer. I don't drink beer.

I know I'm not the only non-beer drinker to stay in the hotel. I think they should have offered other options, too. At the very least, they could have served wine. It doesn't cost that much, and it would've made me happy.

It was nice to have the reception though. I always like hotels that go that extra mile to make customers feel important. But - I never saw the manager during the manager's reception, and there were only two other people at the reception besides me. Maybe the rest of the hotel guests went next door to Chili's for a glass of wine.

A shocking experience.

The Crowne Plaza New Orleans Airport in New Orleans Louisiana recently remodeled the hotel.

How can a hotel not have any counters in the bathroom? Really. NO counter space.

What were they thinking? In order to set down the hairdryer I had to put it in the sink. What's wrong with that picture??

Maybe they weren't looking for repeat guests.