7/2017
When traveling to vacation spots outside the Continental US, one needs to be very specific in booking your travel. Why I say this can be gleaned from this conversation with the desk clerk at a recent all-inclusive luxury vacation in Puerto Rico.
Hotel desk clerk, “Yes Mr. Ward, we have your reservation right here. You are in room 3126 for 3 nights. If I may ask, will you be needing a bed for your room.”
Me, ” Yeah, of course, I need a bed.”
Hotel desk clerk, “Very good sir, of course, that will be an additional $250 a day. Now did you need a refrigerator for your beverages?”
Me, “Well not if you are going to nickel and dime me for everything.”
Hotel desk clerk, “Of course not sir. Did you want linens for the bed or did you bring your own? They are an additional $25 per day.”
Me, “What?”
Hotel desk clerk, “Yes sir, and I might mention that the light bulbs for the room are an additional $10 each. Guests often use dusk in the evenings for romantic ambiance and avoid the extra charge. Which might I mark you down for, sir?”
Hotel desk clerk, “Sir, SIR, where are you going, sir? We haven’t finished checking you in yet Sir.”
And then there is the tipping.
And a $250 meal made with $4.53 worth of groceries and $6.77 worth of labor.
Hell, driving from the airport to the hotel, I was thrilled to see the price of fuel, $.94 per,,, , uh oops, per liter.
Just saying, travel isn’t all its made out to be, in my book. For what I spent, I could have bought a sailboat and spent 6 fun-filled months getting there and back. Maybe next time.
Vacation memories from your miserly, grumpy Uncle/Brother Dave.
Weary.