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Borrego Springs, CA

Monday, June 25, 2012

A better choice

Yesterday afternoon, I decided to look up a motel to stay in for tonight.  Thankfully, Dennis refreshed my memory about how to go about doing that.  Being the frugal person I am, I told Robyn I was choosing the cheapest place listed ($42) to stay in Lexington, KY.  I’m taking two days to get back to the rig, and Lexington was a distance of about 330 miles.  Before I made the reservation, Robyn suggested that I read the reviews on this particular motel (Microtel).  I certainly don’t have dumb kids.  Here’s what I found:

Buddy D. from Elkhorn City, KY – Wouldn't stay again

Stayed Jun 2008, 1 day

Close Full Review >

I should have know before checking in here witnessing a man enter his room with what appeared to be a prostitute. Mind you this was really late at night so it more then likely was. Room was way too much for the room and amenities offered. Would recommend the motel 6 super 8 or even knights inn at this same exit. These are all cheaper cleaner and with more friendly staff. Parking lot was dark and appeared dangerous. Parking lot was full of beat up broken down cars and panel trucks. Made me feel a child molestor could pop put at any minute. Room key would only open outside entrance 5/10 times made quick entry from scary parking lot near impossible. Rooms are old and dated thought they have new spreads and carpet but 80s feel overall. My room had semen stains all over them and the window bench. Bathroom had paint all over the floor I assume they had just painter the bathtub or something. Worst of all was the smell of cooked heroin emitting from the room was almost unbearable. Toilet was stopped up from brown present left in it. It was late so i decided to just tough it out for a few hours and then get back on the road. Would never stay again front desk was very unhelpful and unfriendly would not let met make an late checkout as I arrived late. However this may have been a blessing as the room was from hell. Definitely do not want to linger or sleep here neighbors were loud all night with their tv and talking. This was on a week night I can't imagine this place on the weekends. Total dump for non dump prices. How they get away with it is beyond me.

The more I read, the more we laughed.  I could just picture myself in this horrible circumstance.  Lest you think this was just one disgruntled customer, the other three reviews were negative as well, but this review was a beaut!!

I’ve ended up at the Four Points Sheraton for more than twice the price, but Robyn can rest easy that this is a very clean motel in a clean neighborhood, and just off of the interstate.  If I had more ambition, I’d use the workout room and the pool, but I’m guessing that’s not going to happen.

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Since I wasn’t driving the whole 520 miles in one day, I contacted Nan and John Talley about meeting for lunch as I drove through Indianapolis.  Many of you know how fun it is to meet fellow bloggers, and put real faces to our cyber friends.  I was shocked when they gifted me with that Giuseppe Armani Bald Eagle sculpture that you see in Nan’s hands.  It is beautiful.

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We then had lunch at the Fireside Brewhouse in Greenwood, IN.  The food was very good, and way more than I could eat.  Thanks Nan and John.  It was great getting to know you, and I wish you Happy Trails as you begin your fulltime journey in about a week.  Open-mouthed smile

I so seldom stay in motels that when I do, I like to take advantage of room service if it is available.  Sorry to say, that late lunch was so large and filling that I just can’t think about eating this evening.  Ah well, maybe for breakfast?

Just think, if I had made a different choice, I could be shooting heroine or watching hookers tonight instead of the calm TV watching I’ll be doing…

Thanks for stopping by… talk to you later,  Judy

34 comments:

  1. Glad to hear you decided not to be shooting any heroine...LOL

    Love the Bald Eagle sculpture. Lucky you!

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  2. Awww Judy just think what a great blog post that would have been. LOL!!

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  3. I'm amazed at what hotels charge and then compare those prices to some RV parks, which charge the same and you bring your own room. Then the RV parks complain they can't make any money and try and shut down all the nearby Walmarts.

    Glad you are watching TV instead of being: kidnapped/robbed/bothered by the customers in that other hotel!

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  4. They also may have recruited you to be one of the "new" girls. You just never know.

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  5. Glad to hear you opted for the quiet entertainment. Neat eagle.

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  6. What fun we had talking with you! It was especially fun to listen you giggle at some of the newbie mistakes we have made with our dishes, etc. We are going to do some very serious purging and restocking after speaking with you. Thanks so much for your encouragement.

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  7. Too funny. I just hope to never have to stay in a motel room ever again. So glad you got to meet Nan and John. They are really an inspiration. I'm sure hoping our paths cross somewhere, someday.

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  8. You passed up a great adventure, Judy. I can't even begin to imagine what room service would have been like in that dump!

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  9. That review is the worst, most unusual one I've ever read. Reinforces may dislike to stay in motels and hotels.

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  10. Hmmm. Watching hookers or watching TV. I think TV would be more interesting :)

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  11. I know you would have had a terrible night, but we sure would have had a great blog to read!!!

    Travel back safely to Miss Emma and be prepared for a "joyous" greeting!

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  12. Ah, Judy, you missed the perfect opportunity for a new adventure! Hookers and heroin!!! geeeshhh Ann

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  13. the motel sounded like it was 'perfect' if you were a hooker or a drug dealer..thank goodness for motel reviews!..I am sure you will sleep better where you are!

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  14. Sure glad you read the review first, although it might have made for good blog-fodder....

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  15. Sometimes you just have to pay the money in order to get a good night's sleep!

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  16. You probably would have found bed bugs in the first place! That's one thing I hate about hotels - you can even find bed bugs in some Marriott's. I have never encountered one but I am still paranoid. I got my little flashlight and if I have to stay in a hotel, I always do a thorough bed-bug check!

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  17. I think I like staying in motels every now and then mostly because I appreciated our rig all that much more. You did lose a good opportunity.... if you HAD stayed in the motel, you could have added a few "rare birds" to your life list!

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  18. Eeee! I now always read reviews. Sometimes you can tell when a reviewer has an axe to grind or they're just fussy buggers, but if all the reviews are nasty, you know something is up.
    Although I'm sure it would have been good "blog fodder" if you stayed at that motel, let discretion be the better part of valour in that case.
    I certainly don't want to be reading headlines of the local on line rag about a nice lady getting caught up in some sort of "dust up".

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  19. A great big EWWWWWWWWWWWWWW!! Glad you day ended on a happier note. When we travel we usually pick-up a Motel flyer at either a Loves or Pilot. They flyer gives a multitude of motels right off the interstate for very reasonable prices.

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  20. Too bad, you might have got some great shots of human wildlife:))

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  21. Glad you chose watching TV. I don't think you would have had a restful night in the other place.

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  22. Glad to hear you ended up at a decent motel. The more often I stay at motel/hotel, the more I like my motor home. Safe travels.

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  23. That was funny but a good lesson to learn. It happened to me once. There were roaches all over the place and the bedding was filthy dirty. He said we couldn't get our money back so I said fine I will notify the board of health. Got my money back quick.

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  24. We get spoiled traveling with our own beds and baths!!

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  25. We learned that lesson about cheap hotels in Northern Montana, when we heard a drug deal going down in the room next to us...NO, I wasn't at the wall with a water glass to my ear, the walls were THAT thin. No more "Bate's Motels for us!..Lesson learned...Travel safe!

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  26. Our daughter and I stayed one night in a motel that turned out to be all water beds. Back then I didn't know you could rent rooms by the hour. Lesson learned.

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  27. In almost three years we have stayed in a motel once and it made us appreciate our RV that much more.

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  28. Am behind a day or two, but congratulations on raising such a military daughter. I very much appreciate her service, having served 31+ years as a civilian. Knowing firsthand how many sacrifices our women and men of the armed forces make, they are grossly underappreciated. You must be very proud for her.

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  29. Am behind a day or two, but congratulations on raising such a military daughter. I very much appreciate her service, having served 31+ years as a civilian. Knowing firsthand how many sacrifices our women and men of the armed forces make, they are grossly underappreciated. You must be very proud for her.

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  30. Thanks for coming by ~ I use Photoscape as my photo editing program ~ it is free and easy to use.
    www.photoscape.org
    Have fun
    Donna

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  31. This is a great reason to always check reviews, and then stay in an RV:)

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  32. I hope I never have to use a hotel/motel. I feel safer in my RV with my little dog :)

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  33. I have always had a decent stay at Motel 6, except for one time the bathtub hadn't been rinsed thoroughly after cleaning. I didn't take a shower during that stayover, but for the most part I'm ok with Motel 6 since I have to stay in motels when I travel. I think even without the dog I would choose them.

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