Enjoy your stay at Camino Real
OK, this hotel we’re staying at. I guess it’s nice. I mean, it looks nice. But the definition of “good service” here is bizarre.
At the front counter at checkin, they wouldn’t honor our rate, for the reservations we had already made, even though we had the confirmation numbers they had assigned. Needed a hard copy of the confirmation number. So they “let us” use the business center to print out a hard copy before agreeing to the previously agreed-upon rate. Very classy.
Camino Real. This hotel. Classy place.
So tonight we come back to the room at midnight. We’re sitting around in our underwear, after a long day. And suddenly the patio door, a sliding glass door, is yanked open with great force. Not a little tug. This was a jolt that literally shook the wall. It was as if a car had hit the building.
And there’s this hotel security guy standing in the doorway, in his dorky little blue blazer, while another one is standing in the shadows behind him with a flashlight.
Since my Mom reads the blog, I won’t repeat the exact words I said, after storming out the door in nothing but striped bikini briefs. But suffice to say, I shared my view that this was not professional behavior. And since they didn’t seem to speak English, I felt a need to do so extra-loudly, with lots of foul and threatening language. As most American tourists know, that’s the best way to make sure non-English speakers understand what you’re saying — their lack of comprehension is usually due to a lack of intensity and/or a lack of foul language. I made sure that wasn’t a problem with these guys.
They kept muttering that I needed to make sure the sliding door was locked. Yeah, they’re right, the latch is a bit funky. A hard yank can pop it open, as they discovered. (Or rather, already knew.) But that’s hardly surprising: the toilet seat is broken, the door stop in the bathroom is broken, the internet connection is flaky, and … I could go on and on. Maintenance isn’t exactly the strong suit here at Camino Real. Classy place.
Anyway, they left, not having scored a laptop computer or anything else because there was some big gringo in the room. Better luck next time, guys.
Camino Real. Classy place. Pass it on.
This entry was posted on Tuesday, May 15th, 2007 at 9:45 pm. You can subscribe to comments on this post through its RSS feed.
on May 16, 2007 at 6:42 am nick wrote:
a bad mental picture is brewing here..
but now you look back on it was it fun and did you get rid of a bit of stress?
on May 16, 2007 at 7:49 am Doug wrote:
Absolutely, Nick. After so many little irritations at this place (did I mention them vacuuming next to our table in the restaurant?), it was nice to have a chance to yell at them a bit.
I do wonder, though, what would have happened if we weren’t in our room when they came around to “verify the locks” at 12:15AM. And it’s odd they hadn’t felt a need to verify the locks the first three nights we were here, too.
Oh well, we’re checking out in 30 minutes …
on May 16, 2007 at 10:19 am Scott wrote:
….gimme a minute with that “striped bikini briefs” mental image?
on May 16, 2007 at 1:41 pm Tom wrote:
If you came at me in stripy underpants and bellowing in a foreign language, I don’t think I’d stick around to defend my actions.
Actually, it sounds more like Second Life, from what little I’ve seen.
Seriously, though, it sounds like you got very lucky. Not to have the invasion, but to be around when they broke in. Did MS set you up there? Seems like the kind of thing you should tell them about, if so. If they buy laptops for their employees, they need to know that their employees can become laptop dispensers for corrupt security guards.
on May 16, 2007 at 4:43 pm Lynn wrote:
A similiar experience happened to us (foul language coming from one of us that is) on Sunday at the intersection of Ashby and College in Berkeley. A threatening person came at us and Elton scared the crap out of him, one uping him in the foul language department. Cafe Roma patrons were impressed. I think Elton spoke for a number of them.
Are you home now?
on May 16, 2007 at 11:01 pm Doug wrote:
yes, we’re home — just walked in the door in Seattle.
The saga of Camino Real continued at checkout. They tried to charge double the agreed-upon rate, and when I pushed back a manager came over and asked me for a printout of the confirmation of the rate I was asking for. Having already taken the time to print it out and give it to them on Saturday, I felt entitled to blow off a bit more steam and had some fun with it … and got the agreed-upon rate eventually.
on May 17, 2007 at 3:36 am AUNT MARSHA wrote:
OK> Jamal told me the other night, “Mom, you should go see the pics from Mexico City.” So I did and have and can only say that when WE went, we simply went to the zoo. Our trip pales measurably next to yours, to say the very least!MY, my—how thing have changed. In what? 30 years?
Guierrmo (I know…the spelling)—is that THE Guiellermo (trying several spellings)?
When I was at Q’s house a few months ago, looking at all the pics on the fridge, I said, “Look! Here we have Q and his friend (Pedro? I was adlibbing) and Molly in Florida!” Molly told me it was not FL—but Meg and D’s wedding and that it was Guillermogh. I know I met him–and liked him–but can’t remember his face.
The pics look like something you may rather have taken in Brazil—during Carnivale.Great. Really makes you wanna go there—and, hopefully, get the same room at your hotel.
Jamal—why do you lurk and never, even once, leave a comment? Do you only read Doug’s blog, or do you lurk Meggie’s as well?
Hi, LaVonne! Will be at the airport next Tuesday.
Hi, Meggie….I love you.
Lynn: the “threatening person” comment made me think back on all the good ole Berkeley days. Good for Elt!
Molly—WHAT BETTER WAY?
on May 17, 2007 at 9:35 am Tom wrote:
Er, I just went back and read my post. Just to clarify, I didn’t mean YOU specifically. ANYONE in stripy underpants bellowing at me in a foreign language would run me off.
Honestly, I wonder how many business travelers don’t even look at the total and end up paying twice as much. I bet it happens all the time.
on May 17, 2007 at 4:47 pm Dave Fourputt wrote:
I have stayed at the Camino Real several times.
My favorite story similar to yours is when I found a major leak in the bathroom whenever I took a shower. I called and reported it and after several days it went unresolved. So I then decided to call and ask for fifty extras towels per day. This request was granted!!! So I spent the next week or so laying out fifty towels in the bathroom before I took my morning shower! Each evening the fifty towels were replaced with new fresh ones.
This hotel has gone downhill. It used to be the place to stay. In fact, years ago, the movie “The Falcom and the Snowman” was filmed there. If you watch closely you will see the inside of their hotel rooms.
on May 18, 2007 at 12:33 pm Doug wrote:
Great story, Dave! Makes Camino Real a tad more appealing for some reason.
on May 18, 2007 at 8:40 pm Megan wrote:
I’m kind of pissed that they stole my MP3 player and about $40 out of my makeup bag, though.
That’s two years’ Christmas presents from Doug in a row stolen. First the mini DVD player, now the MP3 player. Why can’t someone take the damn microwave he got “for me”?
on May 18, 2007 at 8:41 pm Doug wrote:
Aren’t you glad I don’t buy you presents when I travel? Think of all the things I’d have bought “for you” by now if I did.
on May 18, 2007 at 8:49 pm Megan wrote:
I can only imagine. But surely I’d pretend to like it. “Darling, you picked this out yourself?!” (No I wouldn’t; I’m a bitch.)
It reminds me of the year my dad bought my mom a robotic arm. This was in the 80s, when a “robotic” arm involved a squeeze grip and rubber bands. I’m not even sure the thing took batteries.
on May 18, 2007 at 9:14 pm tvp wrote:
Hey, Megan, it’s funny you mention the Robotic arm. Doy you know the company that made it?
It was Nintendo!
(From whence I am currently on home detention.)
tvp
on May 18, 2007 at 9:22 pm Megan wrote:
That’s the coolest thing I’ve heard in a while, Tad. (The part about Nintendo making the arm, I mean, not the part about you being on home detention. But surely working at home has its benefits. More time with the cat and house plants and all…)
on May 18, 2007 at 9:55 pm nick wrote:
just a little thought for when you are on the road or just chillin..
Stress Management Technique
Just in case you are having a rough day, here is a stress management technique recommended in all the latest psychological journals. The funny thing is that it really does work and will make you smile.
1. Picture yourself lying on your belly on a warm rock that hangs out over a crystal clear stream.
2. Picture yourself with both your hands dangling in the cool running water.
3. Birds are sweetly singing in the cool mountain air.
4. No one knows your secret place.
5. You are in total seclusion from that hectic place called the world.
6. The soothing sound of a gentle waterfall fills the air with a cascade of serenity.
7. The water is so crystal clear that you can easily make out the face of the person you are holding underwater.
See? It really does work. You’re smiling already.
on May 29, 2007 at 3:49 pm guillermo wrote:
doug, didn’t i tell you i wasn’t surprised, about the hotel???
aunt marsha, the ZOO?… depends on how you define the word…
and by the way, i’ve never been invited to Q’s house. hmmmm!@#$%^&*!