A Tagalong Tale

For the first time in years, I hitched a ride with the husband for his business travel this week. We decided on the great tagalong adventure because our anniversary was smack in the middle of his business week, and we wanted to enjoy an anniversary dinner on the actual date.

For two very wonderful reasons, we haven’t traveled alone on business in 21 years. It’s fun, although staying business style isn’t exactly  The Ballastone Inn.

No frills. We were in plain old room number 302. In my head, I called it The Cherry Blossom Room instead.  

But even in business class hotels, there are things that I really like. I thought they deserved a little yakabout all their own. Like the obvious:

I like maid service.
I like having a workout room outside my door.
I like those peekaboo shower curtains,

 Obviously inspired by the movie Psycho.

And breakfast. Oh, sure, it’s not presented with silver and linen outside by a trickling fountain, but it’s still nice to have a continental breakfast spread out for you and self- percolating coffee pots in the lobby. (Yes… they have coffee pots in the room, but there is nothing adventurous about brewing your own coffee.  And there is nothing adventurous about styrofoam either. That's why I always pack my own cup.)

I like the way business hotels fold their towels around their toiletries.

How cute is that?

Just folded with a little pocket

Apparently, I need to get out more

since I felt the need to photograph this...

I've always thought it would be pretty with some homemade soaps or lotions. I once tried to replicate it at home. The Traveling Man had an uncharacteristic opinion and nixed it. For some oddball reason, he didn’t want his home to resemble a hotel.

However, can I share just one thing that I do NOT like?

Now, I don’t mind  it that they no longer change sheets in most hotels if you’re staying more than one night. After all, I don’t change my own bed sheets every day, and I like to be a good steward of God’s creation too.

But…

I do mind that they always claim a singular environmental reason.

I realize that I’m more cynical than most, but I just feel that a little honesty would be refreshing once in a while. While that CEO might possibly be concerned about the flow of detergent into the environment, I can’t help but wonder if maybe….. just maybe… it might be a bit about the bottom line as well.

I’d like to see a sign like this once in a while:

Costs are up and travel is down.

Therefore, we will no longer be changing your sheets every day.

Simple and to the point.

Refreshing honesty.

The Hilton Garden Inn where we stayed recently is very environmentally conscious. They not only give you the little bed sheet notice, they hang this little sign in the bathroom as well.

You can’t read it, but it is a request for you to use the same towels for the duration of your stay. Just drape them over the shower rod, they say…

Strictly for the environment, of course.

How about this one instead?

We can’t give our CEO his $10,000,000.00 bonus

if YOU insist on clean towels every day, people. 

So far, we still have this little fellow hanging on the doors for maid service.

However, at the rate things are going, I highly expect the wording to be changed to something like this:

In an effort to increase social consciousness,

the Hilton Garden Inn requests all patrons 

make their own beds and tidy their own rooms.

 Your mothers  parents  nurture persons

should have taught you this,

but since they didn’t,

we’re doing our part to help.

Vacuums are available in the house keeper's lounge on the third floor
for a minimal fee.

However, in our ongoing efforts to reduce energy consumption,

we request that you create little whisk brooms and dust pans with your hands instead.

Strictly for the common good.
Well, of course.