Hostels Versus Hotels
What a difference a letter makes…
Last week, on Wednesday, I realised I hadn’t booked accommodation for my stay in Sydney. The Sydney YouTube Gathering was going to take place on Saturday however I was unable to attend then, so I decided to join some of my friends a few days before hand.
There is a particular hotel that I love in Sydney. I usually catch the train up to Sydney when I go and this particular hotel is luxurious and spacious and a stone’s throw from the train station. It really suits my needs when I spend time in Sydney. I decided I would just stay there on this occassion but was quickly put off by a discrepancy between a rate advertised on the hotel’s website and the rate I was subsequently offered. It wasn’t even the difference in price that bothered me, it was the cavalier attitude with which they explained why the rates were different that really got to me.
At the time I was so outraged by the development I decided to use ’social media justice.’ I mentioned the hotel and the dilemma on twitter and even blogged about it. After I shared my annoyance with my social networks I sent them an email, explaining why I felt wronged and what I intended to do about it. I suggested that they share my emails with their manager. Within minutes my phone rang but I was still annoyed and decided not to answer it. Eventually the manager of the reservations department replied to my email, apologising profusely and offering me the cheaper rate. It probably sounds demented to retell it now but at the time it was a weight off my shoulders. Truthfully this was a hotel I loved and I kind of felt before this development that I had a moral obligation to myself not to return there unless this could be resolved.
My friends, however, were all students. They had decided to stay at a hostel. Certainly it was much cheaper than my hotel. I decided to go with them as they checked in. I was impressed that the hostel was still using a DOS based reservations software (the same software infact that I used when I worked at a resort four years earlier). There was some issue with the booking and we sat in the lobby for at least 45 minutes as they compared and contrasted notes and tinkered with the system. Eventually they figured it out and we went to their room – this little room with three sets of bunks which would house four of my friends and two complete strangers. One of these strangers’ appearance led them to conclude he was probably homeless. They left their luggage down in a diused bathroom. I had left mine with the coincierge.
Eventually I returned to my hotel. Suddenly the true value became apparent to me. Especially when I returned and soaked in a bubble bath. I remember thinking, “I don’t care how much the room is – this is soooo worth it!” I had a similar personal affirmation when I eventually went to sleep. My feet were seriously sore from walking around Sydney and the bed was glorious. I sort of melted into it. The truth was I wanted to live there – in that hotel. It was amazing.
So what have we learnt here? Clearly I’m a hotel snob.
I haven’t seen nor heard anyone use the word DOS in a very long time! I’m surprised there are present day companies that still use it.
Personally I swear by B&Bs. Not the American ones that cost hundreds of dollars per night, but rather the ones I’ve encountered in the British Isles which only cost that of a nice meal (and include said meal in the morning!)
Yes, but you see… Staying in a hostel let Rohan, Leuke and I to meet two hot german backpackers who stayed with us.
DOS-based? Was that Charts?
So, did you stay at the usual haunt? If so, is it made up nice?
I agree with Mitto! xD
LOL – I think I’m just the opposite. I like the hotel environment far more. I usually try to book hostels when traveling, since the common rooms are nice for meeting new friends.