Comments on: An unmade bed — and no place to go

By: Bed 2 Go | AllGraphicsOnline.com

Bed 2 Go | AllGraphicsOnline.com — Wed, 16 Mar 2011 15:38:48 +0000

[...] bed2 Question: I’m trying to elliott.org [...]

By: Cynthia

Cynthia — Sun, 13 Dec 2009 06:33:39 +0000

Calling corporate offices is not an option 24/7.
We stayed at a Sheraton 4 Points in San Rafael, CA through Priceline and felt we must be getting those special “Priceline Rooms”.
The first two rooms we had were straightened up all right – with previous guest’s sheets. I sure haven’t seen clean sheets with pubic hairs in the center of the bed.
The third room wasn’t clean but the sheets seemed to be.

By: Amanda84

Amanda84 — Sun, 22 Nov 2009 06:27:19 +0000

I’ve traveled a lot in my young age and I have was at a LaQuinta in CA (I prefer not to give out the exact location), anyway I encountered a similar problem. I got to my room and it was very dirty, the beds were not made, and there were dead flies all over in the bathroom. I dropped my things and went right to the front desk, where I was told the entire hotel was booked (I am pretty sure this was BS, it was a small town and the parking lot was virtually empty) and when I asked for a manager I was told I was speaking to him. I was told I could not be moved and that no one would be available to clean my room for at least 2 hours (this was already at 8PM) I was exhausted from traveling and had no energy to argue. I went back to my room and watched TV and waited. I dozed off, and woke up at 10:20PM and no one had come to my room yet. I went back to the front desk. The so called manager was gone and this young looking girl was there and I did not want to get mad at her. I explained what was going on and she apologized and walked WITH me to my room and then she went and got the maid cart and cleaned it herself. I felt so bad. I am sure her shift started at 10PM and the manager just waited until she got on cause he knew she would clean it. I didn’t ask for anything free. I was staying on the company dollar for a business trip, but I let HR know not to book anyone there again, and I wrote a letter to the LaQuinta and expressed my disappointment. I never got a response.

I can understand why Erin would just deal with it and stay in the unclean room. Arguing takes a lot of energy, and when you have very few options and are tired, it is hard to get a resolution. In that case I would have taken off the sheets, flipped the mattress, and slept in some warm clothes so I wouldn’t have to use the sheets. Also, some people, like me, don’t like confrontation. For those of you thinking that Erin is dumb for staying, think about your own fear. If you are afraid of public speaking or of spiders, or something, maybe Erin doesn’t like confrontation. You aren’t going to force someone who is petrified of spiders walk into a room with hundreds of them. Leave Erin alone, she did what she could do, and to be honest, I do not think sleeping in a car is better than being in a dirty room.

That’s just my 2 cents.

By: LeeAnne

LeeAnne — Thu, 05 Nov 2009 23:55:25 +0000

Ames…this has already been addressed. These comments were from earlier yesterday. Christopher subsequently agreed to disallow offensive posts and personal attacks on his site. Hence, there is no need to continue the discussion.

I’m sure everyone would appreciate it if we all stuck to commenting only on Christopher’s articles. I know I would! :-)

By: Ames

Ames — Thu, 05 Nov 2009 23:36:51 +0000

Chris, on one of the other news items you stated that if comments got out of hand, some one should tell you and you would delete and edit – well the last few between LeeAnne and Barbie45 are there for me. I do not know where the comments about the Hassidim started but it is time for them to end and be deleted.

By: LeeAnne

LeeAnne — Wed, 04 Nov 2009 18:00:32 +0000

Barbie – thank you for not reading my posts in the future. I will happily give you the same courtesy…as it’s clear from your latest that you HAVEN’T yet learned your lesson about avoiding hate speech in a public forum. I find hate speech to be horrifically offensive. I do not believe that anyone has a right to denegrate and insult any established religion or ethnicity. I do not wish to see such speech on Christopher’s site, and it adds nothing to any discussion. So, since you are unwilling to cease it, I will do my best to avoid your comments.

However, if I happen see one that is blatantly racist or filled with hate, I will continue to call you out on it…and ask Christopher to delete it.

You may be tired of my “tirades”…but I am tired of your hate speech. Please stop.

By the way, there are numerous resources available on the Web that can teach you about Hasidic Judaism. And about cults…which Hasidic Judaism is NOT. I would encourage to you read up and learn a little more about this, and any other, religious or ethnic group before you post nonsense about them. Especially if you plan on TEACHING on such topics in the future!

By: LeeAnne

LeeAnne — Wed, 04 Nov 2009 17:53:46 +0000

Barbie – thank you for not reading my posts in the future. I will happily give you the same courtesy…as it’s clear from your latest that you HAVEN’T

By: barbie45

barbie45 — Wed, 04 Nov 2009 17:44:37 +0000

LEEANNE; you just cannot let matters drop can you; for your information ;Haddistic cult is grew up in the ghettoes of central Europe in the middle ages;not ancient times .It is not an tablished branch of Judaism ; I ought to know I taught Sunday school for several years; I am fed up with your tirades; I do not intend to read your posts; and just chill out and stop your moralizing; it is a bid tiresome.

By: LeeAnne

LeeAnne — Wed, 04 Nov 2009 16:56:29 +0000

Barbie, I have not “libeled” you. The legal term “libel” refers to defamatory comments that are untrue. I did not get any facts incorrect. I referred only to things that actually did occur, that are fully verifiable right here on this website. The truth, no matter how unpleasant or embarassing, is not libel. People can legally say anything they want about someone, provided it is truthful. And I said no untruths about you.

I’m sorry that the term “racist” upsets you. Racist is a term that is often used to define people who practice hate speech. And several of your earlier comments can clearly be defined as hate speech. The best way to avoid hearing that term in relation to yourself is to not directly insult racial, ethnic or religious groups on a public forum.

Hasidic Judaism is not a “cult”. It is an ancient and recognized branch of Orthodox Judaism that promotes spirituality and joy as the fundamental aspects of the Jewish faith. Saying that all Hasidic Jews are obnoxious, as you did in your earlier comments, is slamming an entire religious group, and is considered hate speech. As are comments suggesting that anyone who has a Middle-Eastern physical appearance is a terrorist. I’m sure Christopher would agree that such hate speech is unacceptable on his site, and I am confident he will ensure that those types of comments no longer are allowed to appear here, so I’m happy to see that the issue has been addressed. Thank you, Christopher!

Barbie, I’m quite sure you are sorry you made those unacceptable comments, and have learned your lesson…and I forgive you. Let it go. I expect we will no longer be seeing such examples of hate speech in the future (or at least, that it will not be allowed to appear on this site) so I am in complete agreement that we can just drop it. Thanks for suggesting that, and I look forward to a “kinder, gentler” comments forum on Christopher’s site, where we continue having these intelligent discussions about the issues of travel that are so important to us all.

By: barbie45

barbie45 — Wed, 04 Nov 2009 12:34:13 +0000

LEEANNE; before you go libeling someone ,please get your facts correct. I did not insult any religious group, just a cult; In a subjective question there is no right or wrong opinion; if you do not want to read my postings that is your right; please refrain from using the word racist;it is a very loaded word ; to often used in this political enviorment; when I have made an error I have apologized as in the case of Bella after she provided more detail; once again let us just drop it;

By: Lynn

Lynn — Tue, 03 Nov 2009 22:58:35 +0000

I am wondering if the reservation was made/paid for with a credit card. If it was, end of problem with the “non refund.” VISA and MasterCard, inparticular, are wonderful at backing up their customers. I am not sure if this traveler is not very experienced or why they were at all accepting the idea of sleeping in some one else’s used room. WOW!

By: John

John — Tue, 03 Nov 2009 18:12:05 +0000

I paid a week in advance at a national chain at Kansas City. When I went out the next morning I left the notice on the door only to return at 4 pm and find the room unserviced. The manager said that was because the housekeeper could not read English(!!) although the notice had large red and green icons for the illiterate. They thought I was hooked for the week but I got a refund and moved out. It’s not uncommon for unethical motels to make up every other room first(in case of a flood of customers) and leave prepaid customers to last thinking they can’t leave.

By: LeeAnne

LeeAnne — Tue, 03 Nov 2009 18:01:01 +0000

Christopher – thank you very much for taking my comments seriously and taking action. Please note that it was not just the comments in this article that generated my concern – it was an ongoing pattern in numerous columns. I do hope that your addressing it directly will have an impact. I’m sure you would agree that saying to someone “I do not believe your stupidity” is simply unacceptable.

Barbie – interesting you bring up the “What annoys you the most” column – that is where I first found your comments offensive. When you attacked nursing mothers for the act of nursing, and all Hassidic people as “obnoxious”, and referred to a man who appeared Middle Eastern as “Al-Queda”, I found that horrifically offensive, and yes, racist. I apologize if you objected to my shocked responses, but in the future, I would ask you to re-read your posts before you click that “submit” button, and think about whether or not you are offending someone – or perhaps an entire group of humans. I will gladly take Christopher’s advice and be polite. But if I read a comment from someone insulting other people for no reason other than their race or religion, I feel it is my duty to call them out on it.

If you refrain from attacking racial and/or religious groups as a whole, I promise I will not call you a racist. Agreed?

By: Wayne Dayton

Wayne Dayton — Tue, 03 Nov 2009 13:43:50 +0000

My first concern is why the lazy General Manager him/herself didn’t come and clean the room??? I would have immediately been on the phone to someone in NJ at Wyndham Corporate and made sure to tell them I was taking pictures, posting them on the net…plus, I would have called the Director of the local Convention Bureau/Tourist Promotion Agency to tell them why I would never be returning to their town (and telling others about it via the net). The CVB head would have been on the phone to the hotel faster than a TV anchor would be at the open bar at a press event.

By: barbie45

barbie45 — Tue, 03 Nov 2009 12:55:28 +0000

I am just recovering from extensive eye surgery; therefore I apologize for my spelling and grammar which is totally unacceptable; when I am incorrect in the travelers situation,I do apologize ; as in the case of Bella; Chris writes an excellent column with plenty of sound advice and lots of contact information; many of his topics are very subjective; such as what annoys you most about travelers on a flight; also would you fly if you were ill; these are not math questions; there is no right or wrong answer; it is in the response that offense may be taken; calling someone a racist or vermin for their opinion is offensive.If someone sleeps in an unmade bed and several mounts later wonders where is refund is well that is very foolish.