Hotel Room Key Cards

Is it just me that hates those hotel key card, push card in - take out slowly and see the light go green - no it doesn't - so try again - nope doesn't work- try again and again and again... - Ah at last .

And after a few drinks it always seems to be more difficult.

A few years ago we tried and tried the key card - went to reception and was told we had been locked out as we had a drink at the bar, charged it to the room, and no-one had asked for a credit card when we checked in ( the room was prepaid)

"But we left a message on your telephone voice-mail in your room" - oh yes good idea - so how do we get into the room to get the message ?

We forgive you City Inn Westminster - as it was a few days after you opened, and we have been back since !

Thought of the day - Why are simple things so difficult ?

The Unsung Heroes of English Tourism

They work hard, long hours, and often for free.

They are the public interface answering questions on disabled access, lost property, people trying to find long-lost relatives, finding somewhere to stay on an August Bank Holiday weekend in a tourist destination near you ..

They don't get to go to the "conferences" held in sunny far-away places, they struggle to get funds and support. Yet they are often open and serving you on a Sunday.

Who are they ? - the great people who work in the local Tourist Information Centres.

Thank you - you do a great job.

The Latest Hotel Marketing Ploy or Gimmick

Lets recap - over the years we have had ( going to show my age here !)
1. got a crunchy drive - so you're a country house hotel
2. Put a spa jaccuzzi thing in a bathroom - so your a spa hotel
3. Make everywhere no smoking - so you are a Non-Smoking Hotel then - that gets rid of 30-40% of customers but hey who wants guests to stay and have to clean the rooms ?
4. Got a spare room with a table and a power point - a conference hotel now

The latest one..
A zero Carbon footprint eco-hotel - watch out for these coming your way fast - the fact that you have to drive to get there seems to make no difference - but if you don't use the towels we won't wash them saving us some money ( and of course saving the environment) .

Oh we love bandwagons..

Intro time

Ok this is just going to be a range of topics related to tourism in England - is a fragmented mess ?- is it joined up or just a typical English muddle...

Everything here is an individual opinion only - so feel free to comment ( sign in first - all comments are moderated to stop the spammers out there !)

I'll try to keep the subjects relevant - but if I go off on a tangent it will be just be me.