Thursday, July 2, 2015

Canad Inns, Portage La Prairie, Manitoba, Canada July 1, 2015

WOW!!!

Not a good wow.  After the GPS said we were there three blocks before we got to the hotel, after 30+ hours on the road, we were greeted by Alan, maybe Allan?

Now at 9:30 at night two weary travelers enter your hotel lobby.  A glance up.  No smile.  We walk to the desk.  "Yes?"  No "How may I help you?"  No "Checking in this evening?"  Just "Yes."  And that was the ONLY YES, we got from him.

We had a suite reserved.  He looks up the reservation and the conversation went something like this:

Alan:  "Just so you know, there is a wedding in the ballroom behind your suite on Saturday night, and many of those people are also staying here." (Basically, either move now or don't complain about the noise.)  "There is also a dog show at the hotel this weekend."

Us:   "That should be fine.  We are here for the dog show."

Alan:  "No dogs in the suites."

Us:  "What about a service dog?"

Alan:  "That depends.  What does it do for you?"

REALLY!!!!  I wanted to say "none of your freaking business, if you knew what I had been through this past two years you would be giving me the room for free. (well maybe not Alan), but I just said, "Never mind, I might want to bring a couple of the show dogs in from the motorhome.  What else do you have available?"

Us:  "Never mind, we can just leave the dogs outside in the motorhome."  We give him the debit card for payment.  Which we have already cleared a large payment in Canada through our bank since it will exceed their normal daily restriction (for our protection.)

Well that just through Alan into a total tizzy!  "No debit cards for the suites.  It's a rule.  No debit cards for suites.  I need a credit card."

Us:  "Is there really no exceptions to this.  We do not carry a credit card.  Can we pay cash? Can you run it for twice the cost of the room, as a deposit, then refund the rest upon checkout?"

Alan:  "It would take manager approval."
Us:  "So is there a manager on duty?"
Alan: "Yes, he is over there, but he knows the rules as well as I do."

Me thinking WTF???!!??!?!

Us:  "OK, what DO you have available then?"

He kept saying things, kind of to himself, like 'these are all sold out, Hmmm, that won't work," etc.  Not real sure if he was trying to get rid of us or what.

Hotel has a $25 pet fee.  Cheap at twice the price compared to other hotels with pet fees.  OK, fine.
Hotel is also part of Corporate Lodging.

Us:  "Do you have any Corporate Lodging rooms available?"

Alan:  "Yes but you can't have the Corporate Lodging rate and have dogs in the room.  There is a $25 pet fee."

Us:  "Not a problem.  We do this all the time in the US and Canada.  At other Canad Inns even.  You run the room on CLC and we pay the hotel directly for their pet fee."

Alan:  "Oh we would never do that.  The entire room must go on the CLC card.  You will have to pay $119 per night, plus the one time pet fee, plus a deposit since you are using a debit card."

At this point we are going on 30 minutes with this guy, thinking we would talk to someone in the morning  so said "Fine, we'll take the king.  Where can we park the motorhome?"

Alan:  "Anywhere along the grass, or next to Canadian Tire, or park across some parking spaces"

Us:  "OK.  Thank you very much for your help"  As we walked away thinking what an ass this man was as well as what a bad representative for the hotel.

We had a room close to the corner, near an exit, away from the main entrance to the hotel.  So far, so good.  We parked across some spots near a brick 'planter' and set the expens up between the motorhome and the brick wall.  Dave went back and checked with Alan and the parking spot was fine.

Finally about 11:30 Dave wanted some supper.  The sign out front said ½ price wings so he went into the bar.  Couldn't find anyone, then the hotel manager asked what he was doing in there!   "Trying to order food!"  "Well it about time for them to go home.  Last call is at Midnight."  Dave looked at the clock and said "It's 11:30."  Finally he ordered two 'meals' and the hotel manager brought them out to him.  The bill was $25.  Some freaking expensive wings!  When Dave questioned that, he pointed to some stairs and said that you had to order them upstairs - same kitchen - same staff!!!

What a screwy place this is.

I am finishing this up on Thursday, between 'helping' Dave groom.  Today was another adventure with Canad Inns.  More to come….

We have two shows and a sweepstakes tomorrow but I will update as I can.  I have to re-sign in to the hotel wifi every hour, our phones are screwed up.

Somehow our house phone is forwarded to Dave's phone, and it is ringing when his wifi is connected.  VERY WEIRD THINGS ARE HAPPENING HERE.