Truth in advertising...

Robin and Kelly are my two best friends from college.  Throughout the 25 years since college, we have not talked on the phone every day, or even every week or month.  They both have children with busy schedules and I have....L.N., M.E. and Rudy, who require much love and attention, too, even if they aren't involved in band, choir, or cheerleading.  Despite the lapses between talks, when we get together (every year or so for sure), we pick up right where we left off, laughing and telling stories.  

This weekend, we are going to Las Vegas to hang out for the weekend.  I told them a month ago that I would take care of finding a hotel room.  After all, I travel alot for work so my frequent stayer membership at a particular hotel chain should help us get a couple of extra amenities.  "Great", they said.  "The only thing I care about", Robin said, "is a nice pool so we can sit out by the pool and talk during the day."  No problem.


When looking on the website for all the hotels in my preferred chain that are on or near the Strip, I found the one that said, "Voted #1 pool in Las Vegas".  Sounds pretty good, right?  I wasted no time in booking it.  Did I mention I did this a month ago?


Yesterday, Robin emails me and says, "Their website says the pool is closed."  Oh no, I said to myself.  That cannot be because they have sent me confirmation emails this week saying "Welcome, Diamond member. We can't wait to have you stay at our beautiful property."  Scanning that email, I looked for any sign that the "Voted #1 pool in Vegas" could be closing their pool.  Nope.  Must be a mistake.  So, I called. 


The lady who answered the phone must have been vying for the position of "most curt response of the year", because when I asked, "Your #1 rated pool in Las Vegas is open, right?"  her reply was, "Nope."  Hmmmm....that can't be, I tried to reason, as I wasn't given any indication of a closing.  "For the winter", she expounded. Woman of few words, I muttered under my breath.  "But that can't be", I countered, "it's 80 degrees there today."  "Nope, closed", she helpfully explained.  I again scoured my reservation and the welcome email, and once again saw nothing about a pool closing.  But this time, I did see some fine print.  "Oh there it must be", I thought.  Nope (to copy the definitive conversation of the front desk lady), it's something else. The fine print let me know that there would be a $59 charge to the room for our stay for a resort fee.  Well, that would make sense, maybe, if this was a RESORT WITH A POOL!  (Oh dear, did I just shout that aloud? Yep!)


I called the VIP desk at the membership desk, and they offered me show tickets to a comedy club for the inconvenience of not having a pool.  "Hmmmmm....do they happen to have a pool at the comedy club with lounge chairs in which we can sit?"  "Nope", I think he answered.  


In the end (and by that, I mean after talking to many managers and representatives over the course of the next 85 hours (okay, maybe it was only one hour), we are staying at another lovely property just off the Strip that has even said they will deliver a special 25-year reunion treat to our room (hmmmm....wonder if it will be Taco Cabana).  
I said, "Thank you so much for that.  That is really sweet.  Can I just ask again, 'You do have a pool, correct?" 
 "Of course we do".  
"Great.  Is it open?"  
"Of course it is."
"Is there a resort fee?"
"Nope".
"We're in", I said.

Just for today, perhaps we can be patient (this is so about me and not you) and know that things will work out better if we are truthful, honest, and a little bit kind.
Happy Communicating!!

Shelly