The Dangers of Seeing It All

I’m pretty confident that at some point in each of our lives we’ve all said, at least once, “Now I’ve seen it all.” I know I’ve said that a few times. It’s a popular expression as sometimes there are simply no words to describe some oddity that we’ve just seen. So, we just fall back on this catchphrase, which implies that there is nothing weirder than what we’ve experienced. But, as I’ve discovered in the world of innkeeping, I’m pretty sure the universe sees those five words as a challenge.

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You’re Not Even Friends But They Think You’re Family.

Many of you have told me that you like my posts about my odd inn guests. If that’s you, you’re welcome because today I’ve got another one. The people who stay here are certainly entertaining at times. There is never a dull moment when you deal with the public. Especially when said “public” often have a warped understanding about what exactly a B & B is.

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Diversity Is A Good Thing

Times they are a changin’ my friends. I can’t tell you how often I’ve had conversations with people about how things were so different when we were kids. I’m sure this is nothing new. I’m sure my parents probably had these same conversations with their friends and I’m pretty sure the next generation will have these conversations with their friends. And so on.

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Adventures in Innkeeping – The Fun Never Stops

When we decided to buy an inn, I had no idea we’d see or hear so many really unusual, weird and scary things. On several occasions I’ve found myself saying, “now I’ve seen it all,” only to realize that I was in fact mistaken. Just about the time I think it can’t get any weirder, sure enough, it does.

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The Amazing and Amusing Side of Innkeeping

My life as an innkeeper is never dull. Most of the time my work is very rewarding. The average guest is very nice and respectful. And every day I see or hear something that makes me go:

Being an innkeeper has challenges for sure, but there’s an amusing side as well. And an even larger amazing component that most people probably don’t even think about.

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We’ll Leave the Light on For You.

Tom Bodett may not have left the light on for us, but we sure did spend a lot of nights at Motel 6’s. Well, not a lot really, 5 to be exact. And I can vouch that they are truly no frills all the way. Not a single picture adorns any wall. No cupboards, no closets, no clocks.

Photo courtesy Google Images

However, they are almost everywhere, especially along the interstates and they are cheap. And, most importantly for us, as we traveled across country, they allow pets to stay for free.

You’d think with a chain of cheap hotels, you’d pretty much get the same thing at every location. Not so my friends. Not so. Some are nicer than others, some have 2 beds, some 1, some have 2 sinks, some 1, some have a tub/shower combo some just have the shower. But one thing is consistent, you always get exactly 2 slivers of thinly wrapped white soap and 2 white bath towels. If you’re lucky, you’ll get hand towels and on a rare occasion, maybe a wash cloth. In most instances you’ll get a very small ice bucket and 2 plastic cups. Why in God’s name they give you an ice bucket is beyond me, especially one the size of a thimble, because you’ll never be able to find an ice machine.

Air conditioning is usually advertised and there are noisy contraptions in the rooms that spit out luke warm air, but I’m not sure I’d go so far as to call them air cooling systems. I guess that’s how they cut down on the cost of bed linens; keep the room so hot nobody will want to cover up.

Photo courtesy Google Images

Some of these establishments have what appeared to be swimming pools, but even Louisiana bayou gators would have shyed away from a couple of the ones where we stayed. (See me shiver.)

And here’s something else I can almost guarantee, if you stay at a Motel 6, you will be within walking distance of a Denny’s restaurant.

All in all, we had clean rooms that served their purpose, with super easy on/off interstate access. And each morning we had a clever wake-up call from Tom Bodett himself. No other chain hotel can lay claim to that sweet perk.

And, so, after 5 long days on the road, and 5 weird nights at Motel 6’s, we arrived at our destination. Hot, tired, grouchy and willing to practically cut off an arm to get out of the car.

Photo courtesy P. Rickrode

What’s your favorite chain hotel? Ever stay at a Motel 6? Have a great hotel/motel story? I’d love to hear it.

Word of the day: Waggery

Fun fact about me: I like to drive. (But, I won’t be taking any long distance trips any time soon.)

Original post by Jansen Schmidt, August 2015. Photos courtesy P. Rickrode and Google Images.

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