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.

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