The last time we were in our home town, back in November, we stayed at what we had come to call our “home away from home”, the Holiday Inn Express. It was convenient to our family, close to a shopping mall, and right across the street from Cracker Barrel. We had been staying at that same motel every time we were in town for about three years. To say we were loyal customers was putting it mildly. So, the last time we checked out, they charged us $20 more for the night that usual. When I asked why they went up so much in just a couple of months, the reply was “there is a soccer tournament in town.”
OK. We were not in town for the tournament, and we are supposed to get a senior discount. “Oh, no”, the lady said. We don’t give any discounts for special events. No amount of arguing with her could convince her that we did not consider a soccer tournament for little league age players a “special event.” So, on the way home from that experience, we decided to take our business elsewhere. Which is why we wound up at the La Quinta Inn, which is right behind the Holiday Inn Express and was built at about the same time.
For $20 LESS a night than what we had been paying the other place for a “non special event” rate, we got a surprisingly similar room. The bed was the same, the TV the same, the free wi-fi the same. We think we have a new home. The only thing? This morning when I went to the lobby for the free continental breakfast? The eggs were locked up in the mini fridge on the counter. Seems you can have all the bread, pastries, cereal, and waffles you want, but if you desire to have a frozen omlete? You have to ask at the front desk.
