Hotel life

Living in a hotel requires a few adjustments. A lot of them are easy to adjust to, at least in the short term. It's nice to have clean towels and your bed made every day.

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This particular stay (at the Hilton Atlanta) I got upgraded to the "Executive Floor". I think this is just a euphemism for "you get to be at the top of the hotel and have longer elevator rides." I also get access to the "Executive Lounge" which has TVs and serves and afternoon snack, neither of which I can condemn.

And actually, the elevator rides are kind of nice if you get an elevator with windows.

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Hotel beds have way too many pillows. And yet, despite the number of pillows to choose from, I can never find one I really like. In frustration, I threw one to the floor on the opposite side of the bed after deciding it didn't meet my needs. As I did so, all of a sudden this weird light came on in my previously very dark room. It kind of freaked me out for a bit, but then it turned off again.

Curious, I got out of bed to investigate. As I put my feet on the floor, the light appeared on my side of the bed. Apparently, there are little lights installed in the bedside stands that are motion sensitive. So, if you need to get up in the middle of the night, a relatively unobtrusive light comes on automatically to help you out. Genius.

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I usually only go to two conferences a year. Carma jokes that I treat them like vacations. Which they kind of are, in a sense. I mean, I still go to sessions and stuff, and try to gain insight and knowledge. But I don't try to do something every minute of the day while I'm there. I sleep extra. I read books, watch movies. I explore the town a bit. And I go to restaurants. Hmmm...it does sound kind of like a cruise or something, doesn't it?

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Room service is a rip off. Even if it's not my money I'm spending, I avoid it like the plague.

Case in point: here, I can get an all-you-can eat breakfast buffet, including drinks for $20 in the restaurant. Not exactly cheap, I know.

However, if I ordered Room Service, for $20 you get the "American breakfast", which is eggs, toast, sausage/bacon, and potatoes. The juice will cost you $6 extra (no refills), and fruit is another $8.

On top of that, they charge you a $4 in-room dining charge, plus a 21% service fee. Plus tax.

So, with tax and tip downstairs I pay $24-25. To eat breakfast in my pajamas (or lack thereof) I would pay $46 to get less. Yeah, I think it's worth $20 to put on my clothes and go get my own food. Even if it is a long elevator ride.