Operation Tally-Ho : 1 Couple, 1 Baby, 2 Dogs, and an RV

Review: The Presidential Suite

by Greg on June 28, 2011

Upon arrival I was greeted by the proprietors, a couple in their mid to late thirties and their two dogs. The wife was amiable and friendly, as were the canines, while the husband seemed withdrawn and somewhat surly. He remained mostly silent while the wife went about showing me the accommodations and supplying me with fresh linens. Apparently they must use the area for storage when guests are not checked-in because she had to remove boxes full of houshold items, a guitar, and various other things that were strewn about. The suite itself was a loft that required me to actually climb up onto it, making use of nearby furniture. While this was no problem for me, I could see the being problematic for the elderly and/or invalid. I am quite sure its not up to ADA standards, as there is no ramp, elevator or even a step stool provided. I was, however, offered a sleeping mask. I inquired about earplugs, as I was told that the husband is a snorer. These were not provided. Luckily I had some with me. The bed was soft and comfortable, and the cotton sheets had a sort of “vintage” feel to them, as if they might have been passed down from Mom and Dad. How quaint. I was provided with a fresh pillow case. Directly above the bed was a fan that would keep me cool throughout the night and helped to dilute the faint, yet everpresent, odor of pet dander that noticeably permeated the establishment.

The bathroom was strange. The toilet was very small, as if built for a midget, and it had foot pedals on it. I still have no idea what those are for. The shower looked like something that might be used to hose down a hospital patient, or decontaminate an inmate. I did not use it. The sink was in the common area. As I was washing my face, I was startled when the husband finally spoke some words… something along the lines of “don’t use up all the water…” as if there was a finite amount of it. Weird. He apparently found my hygiene routine to be lengthy asking me, “Do you do that every night?” I found his personal inquiry to be somewhat intrusive, but I indulged him and let him know that I have sensitive skin that requires daily maintenance. Feeling a bit violated, I climbed up into bed and eventually fell asleep.

I slept well. I awoke early to find that the proprietors were still sleeping and had not risen to prepare me breakfast. I retrieved half a sandwich from the mini-fridge that was packed full of food items. I ate this while the smaller of the two dogs licked my toes. As I moved around, I became concerned about the structural integrity of the place. It seemed to move a bit as I shifted my weight.

All in all, my night in the Presidential Suite it was a memorable experience. I was apparently the very first person to patronize the place. The price was right, and the accommodations adequate for my needs. I would say that customer service needs improvement, as I was not offered a wake up call, coffee, or even a continental breakfast.

3 of 5 stars.