Notes From The Road: All Hotels Should Have A Vending Machine or Room Service

When my son was five years old, we checked into a Best Western in South Dakota. He went into the room with his dad . A few minutes later, I walked in to see Noah hanging up the phone. He turned to me and said, " Mom, take a note: We're never staying in a Best Western again. They don't have room service."

I thought of Noah last night when I discovered that The Ayers Hotel doesn't have room service. It's been awhile since I've stayed at a hotel without  even a  limited menu. I do like room service.

If I weren't so tired last night, the fact that the hotel didn't offer room service would not have been a big deal. I would have just driven to a restaurant.

But I was tired. Really tired.

I had  had four hours of sleep the night before, a plane trip cross country, and spent over 90 minutes driving up and down the 405. The last thing I wanted to do is get back in the car to get food. So I didn't. Sleep won out over hunger.

When I realized that dinner would be out of the question, I thought I would just get a snack in the vending machines. No vending machines either. What's with that?  Note to hotel: If you aren't going to offer room service, why not have a vending machine? 

My room does have a microwave, so why not have a supply of frozen dinners like Lean Cuisines on hand for guests who do not have the time or inclination to get back in their cars and find a restaurant

If you were to read a review of this hotel on Yahoo! you would have all the confidence in the world that this is a great place to stay. And, it does have some nice features.
The bed is very comfy.
It has lots of outlets. I like me a hotel with lots of outlets.
It offers a free breakfast. That's always a nice touch and given that I am particularly hungry, that's a very appreciated touch. I will probably be the first person down there.

It's very green. When I checked in, I was given instructions on what to do with my room key after I got into my room. There is a room key holder on the wall and you have to keep the room key in there at all times or else none of the electrical equipment-- including the air conditioner and lights will work

I can support that system, I support not changing the sheets and reusing the towels -- it does take away some of the fun of staying in a hotel but  I do try to do my small part to conserve.

However,  I am less enthusiastic about the requirement that you can't keep the temperature lower than 70 degrees. I am a woman who keeps my house at 64 in the winter in Minnesota. I like it cold.
I would even go so far as to say I need it cold.

An inside temp of 70 degrees just isn't comfortable. Several times last night I woke up wishing upon wishing that I could turn that thermostat down to 66. Having a cold room is a very important feature for me.

I hope this 70 degree thing in hotels is not a trend. 

I'll have to start traveling with a portable fan.

.