So off we went: daughter Brooke, her "Darling" (on-line reference for the grandbaby), and I to Nashville. Brooke was very, very organized: one checked bag for most of our 'stuff,' and four carry-ons (two small "purse" qualifying bags, a properly sized backpack, and another properly sized under-the-seat-in-front-of-you pack). The checked bag was only two pounds over the limit, so just a small bit of stuff had to be pulled and moved to a carry-on.
The carry-ons had enough diapers for a day+, snacks, books, toys. No problems getting to and through the airport, a long flight to Dallas/Fort Worth, and then the shorter flight to Nashville. Brooke's co-worker, Brenda (to the baby, "friend Brenda") was directly behind us on each flight. We shared a taxi from the airport to the hotel.
Then the annoying little problems began.
First, checking in. Yes, they had our room. But what was supposed to have been corrected months ago still showed as one room for the first night, and switching to another for the rest of the week. Lots of back and forth, computer tapping, phone calls. Okay, you won't actually have to switch rooms, but come back sometime tomorrow and we have to officially check you out and then check you back in for the same room. Sure, whatever. And the crib we ordered? No, it doesn't show, but we will have one sent right up. And where is the pool? Oh, the pool was filled in last week. Where would we find the nearest market, specifically we want to get milk for the baby? They pointed out someplace a map, six long downhill blocks away; the next day I found there's a Walgreen's just two blocks away.
Interesting.
So up to the room. Darling and I are getting comfortable, shoes off but our white socks still on. Brooke is barefoot. Very soon, our formerly white socks are not looking so great. And Brooke's feet are filthy. And the crib hasn't come. Phone call, okay, on the way. Local time about 7:30 is getting late for Darling, although not too bad for us because of the time change. We order room service, Brooke and I to split a hamburger which turns out way to salty. I don't remember what we picked for Darling, but it included a milk. Pause for another phone call regarding crib. And we notice there is no mini fridge, and no microwave. Off to the ice machine so we can keep some of the milk for morning.
8:30 so off I go to the front desk. "Hi, I need your help with a couple of things. First, we have been waiting for a crib and it's getting awfully late to get the baby down. Second, the floor is filthy. We don't want general room service while we're here, but we are going to grab somebody in housekeeping to at least give it a good vaccuum."
Yeah, crib arrived.
Instead of going into the same level of detail on every annoyance, here's a bullet list:
*Very loud, constantly running air conditioner
*Room service that did not come as described on the menu. "Pasta with red sauce on the side" would have been great for the toddler, but when it came combined -- well, we sacrificed one of their towels. Another dish was supposed to include "potato vegetable medley" but no, no side of any kind.
*No "guest services" book (they don't have any for the hotel, I asked), to describe what amenities are in the hotel (I never did learn where the gym is, for example)
*Internet would have cost $15 per day. Luckily, I could set up my phone as a wireless hot spot for Brooke to use.
*Also, luckily, we didn't have a car, because that would have been another $24 per day for parking.
*Because we didn't want room service, I set out the garbage can. But they picked up the whole can; we had the "quiet" sign out so the couldn't put it back in the room, and they're afraid other guests will still anything from the hallways. Okay, sure, I will call you every day to have another one delivered.
*The ice buckets are VERY small, you seriously could not fit two soda cans in there. We asked for a second ice bucket because of the milk-for-toddler issue. That took as long as getting the crib. We set up the small cupboard under the TV as a makeshift ice box: Two ice buckets, two others glasses just filled with ice, wrapped in towels to hold the cold, close the cupboard door.
*The conference Brooke was attending had bathroom issues. Some sessions were on the fifth floor, where there were no bathrooms. And their group was told that the bathrooms on a certain floor (2nd floor, I think) were "scary."
*The ice machine on our floor wasn't working on our last two days. We didn't break it, honest.
I'm sure there was more. OH YES, after Brooke got home, she discovered they overcharged her (the first night room was $100+ more than it should have been, if I have the story right).
