A Decent Hotel

I will be the first to admit that we are staying in cheap places. We couldn't afford this trip if it were The Hilton all the way.

Of course, the most basic requirement is cleanliness. Clean floors, clean bathrooms, clean beds. So far, most of the places we've stayed have passed this requirement, though only a few have aced it.

An absence of bugs is also de rigeur. I have seen a roach at one place.

But there are little things that you'd think could be taken for granted. A vent, with an electric fan in the bathroom, for instance. You would be surprised at the number of hotels that don't have this simple thing that adds so much to the comfort of guests. It helps to get us dry and dressed, and helps the towels dry, as well. And, travelling as we are, in a very small vehicle, laundry facilities are very nice. I had fun tonight, doing two loads of wash in the laundry room that is right across the hall.

That whole coffee and continental breakfast thing is good, too, particularly if it involves something besides sticky buns. Yogurt is good, as are cereal and toast. I think we stayed in one place that had eggs and sausage and biscuits, as well.

They could forget the coffeepot in the room. Several places have had that, and the stuff tastes like plastic, and there is never enough creamer. Still, the little bottles of shampoo and conditioner are lovely, as is the soap. I'm glad I don't have to carry that stuff, because Minni Miata's trunk is crammed to the max as it is, without my having to carry three weeks worth of shampoo and conditioner.

Some sort of wireless internet is a must. Vanessa sent me off with a Sprint mobile broadband card, which has been a huge help, but there were a couple of places where it wouldn't work, and neither would our phones. Surely, in this day and age, something could be done about that. Don't they know that travellers blog their trips?

Something else that would be nice, but I haven't seen it anywhere, is an ATM on the premises. Maybe just the "better" hotels have that.

All in all, I would not want to be running a hotel. There are a lot of people travelling who are even more obnoxious than I am!