Part 2: Boy, that guy was smooth
Remember us?....Its Bob and Jane and we just got off the plane and drove to the AKL, arriving at midnight.
We pull up in front of AKL at midnight and theres nobody around. I mean nobody, no valet, no bellman, nobody. I leave Jane with the car while I go in search of humans. Inside at the front desk I see a CM or 2 behind the desk and couple folks waiting around to talk to them. Theres no line, no cattle ropes, just some barefoot people waiting to complain about something or another. I go in search of bellpeople to take care of the luggage and valetpeople to take care of the car. I find a middle aged CM outside huffing and puffing on his way back from the valet parking lot.
I thought things were going to go south when the first thing he says is, Im working alone tonight. Oh great, Im thinking...Things always go bad when they start out with an excuse. Im working alone tonight, to me is somewhat comparable to my doctor saying, Im sending this biopsy to the lab...Because both statements usually mean youre in for a long torturous wait! However, then the guys gruffness turned to a Bambi-like tenderness, well, perhaps I overstate the turnaround, but he DID turn really really friendly. He took our bags, told us to call down for them after we get to our room, and gave me a valet ticket for the car. After a little small talk, I slipped him a $20 and we were off. Ok, ok....I gave him $5, but I dont want to incur the wrath of the tipdebaters.
We both step into the lobby and are greeted by zebras and wildebeests, oh wait....Thats just 2 guys returning to their room after a night of drinking at Victoria Falls. We are greeted by a massive 5 story lobby decorated with African artifacts, huge comfy furniture, and a 5 story window looking out over the savannah.
Up to the registration desk we go to see CM Mark. I hand over my Amex card and we are given 2 lanyards with an AMEX pin included. Our first souvenir for the kids. I had sent in a request for a 5th floor King room overlooking the center savannah. Mark informs me that we have room #4262, which is on the Kudu trail. The room wings are shaped like a horseshoe, on the inside of the horseshoe is Arusha Rock. On the outside of the horseshoe, as if looking at this horseshoe from an overhead view, there are wings venturing off at 8 and 10 oclock. Room 4262 is in one of these offshoot wings. Hoooooold on there pardner Mark, we want to be on the inside of the horseshoe Mark informs us that most people want the same thing I want, but they are terribly misinformed and what they really want isnt what they truly want. This room on the offshoot wing on the outside of the horseshoe is Marks FAVORITE spot!!! In the afternoon ALL the animals walk by this room on the way to have their vitamins and such administered. Bob, your biopsy results are back!!!
Mark informs us that there is nothing else available, that he DID get us a King room as we requested. And, that tomorrow if we dont like our view, we can request a room change. This is why I dont like checking into hotels this late at night. The vultures have been fighting it out over room locations all day and those arriving late get the leftovers. I know everyone says that rooms are assigned days in advance and the room you are assigned is the room you receive. I dont believe that for a second...lol...I know from my hotel experience, and more by common sense that room changes will be made all day, as requested, until all the rooms that are left are the rooms that nobody wants to switch to.
Mark continued his Best spot, my favorite, hidden secret, spiel until we were convinced. I purchased a 4 day Park Hopper, we had 3 adult tickets left over from last month with one day left on each. Then we were off to our room. About 50 feet down the hall I turned to Jane and said..Boy, that guy was smooth.
We arrived at our room and there was a bellman standing at our door with our luggage. I was surprised that we wouldnt have to call for the bags, and during the course of our vacation we found that they pull this little surprise on everyone. He brought in the bags and I tipped him a $50. Ok, ok...I gave him a $5.
Nice room, King bed, decent sized room, marble sink, nice tile in the bathroom, beautifully decorated. Will we NEED that mosquito netting over the bed? Maybe Ill just tear it down and attach it over the balcony door so the mosquitoes cant get in the room.
I open the balcony door, and am presented with the breathtaking sight of some trees. Some breathtaking grass. A breathtaking water hole. This view took my breath away all right. Took it away long enough for me to gather all the expletives I could muster to describe my dismay at the quality of my savannah view. I have read all these reports of people looking out their windows at all hours of the day and night enjoying the sights and sounds of African wildlife. And here I am enjoying the sight of some fat guy on an adjoining balcony drinking a Miller Light and smoking a big ole stinky cigar. Breathtaking!!
Its closing in on 1 am and after the smooth talking, velvet tongued musings of CM Mark, we are really tired and turn in. Visions of Room Changing dancing in my head......
Remember us?....Its Bob and Jane and we just got off the plane and drove to the AKL, arriving at midnight.
We pull up in front of AKL at midnight and theres nobody around. I mean nobody, no valet, no bellman, nobody. I leave Jane with the car while I go in search of humans. Inside at the front desk I see a CM or 2 behind the desk and couple folks waiting around to talk to them. Theres no line, no cattle ropes, just some barefoot people waiting to complain about something or another. I go in search of bellpeople to take care of the luggage and valetpeople to take care of the car. I find a middle aged CM outside huffing and puffing on his way back from the valet parking lot.
I thought things were going to go south when the first thing he says is, Im working alone tonight. Oh great, Im thinking...Things always go bad when they start out with an excuse. Im working alone tonight, to me is somewhat comparable to my doctor saying, Im sending this biopsy to the lab...Because both statements usually mean youre in for a long torturous wait! However, then the guys gruffness turned to a Bambi-like tenderness, well, perhaps I overstate the turnaround, but he DID turn really really friendly. He took our bags, told us to call down for them after we get to our room, and gave me a valet ticket for the car. After a little small talk, I slipped him a $20 and we were off. Ok, ok....I gave him $5, but I dont want to incur the wrath of the tipdebaters.
We both step into the lobby and are greeted by zebras and wildebeests, oh wait....Thats just 2 guys returning to their room after a night of drinking at Victoria Falls. We are greeted by a massive 5 story lobby decorated with African artifacts, huge comfy furniture, and a 5 story window looking out over the savannah.
Up to the registration desk we go to see CM Mark. I hand over my Amex card and we are given 2 lanyards with an AMEX pin included. Our first souvenir for the kids. I had sent in a request for a 5th floor King room overlooking the center savannah. Mark informs me that we have room #4262, which is on the Kudu trail. The room wings are shaped like a horseshoe, on the inside of the horseshoe is Arusha Rock. On the outside of the horseshoe, as if looking at this horseshoe from an overhead view, there are wings venturing off at 8 and 10 oclock. Room 4262 is in one of these offshoot wings. Hoooooold on there pardner Mark, we want to be on the inside of the horseshoe Mark informs us that most people want the same thing I want, but they are terribly misinformed and what they really want isnt what they truly want. This room on the offshoot wing on the outside of the horseshoe is Marks FAVORITE spot!!! In the afternoon ALL the animals walk by this room on the way to have their vitamins and such administered. Bob, your biopsy results are back!!!
Mark informs us that there is nothing else available, that he DID get us a King room as we requested. And, that tomorrow if we dont like our view, we can request a room change. This is why I dont like checking into hotels this late at night. The vultures have been fighting it out over room locations all day and those arriving late get the leftovers. I know everyone says that rooms are assigned days in advance and the room you are assigned is the room you receive. I dont believe that for a second...lol...I know from my hotel experience, and more by common sense that room changes will be made all day, as requested, until all the rooms that are left are the rooms that nobody wants to switch to.
Mark continued his Best spot, my favorite, hidden secret, spiel until we were convinced. I purchased a 4 day Park Hopper, we had 3 adult tickets left over from last month with one day left on each. Then we were off to our room. About 50 feet down the hall I turned to Jane and said..Boy, that guy was smooth.
We arrived at our room and there was a bellman standing at our door with our luggage. I was surprised that we wouldnt have to call for the bags, and during the course of our vacation we found that they pull this little surprise on everyone. He brought in the bags and I tipped him a $50. Ok, ok...I gave him a $5.
Nice room, King bed, decent sized room, marble sink, nice tile in the bathroom, beautifully decorated. Will we NEED that mosquito netting over the bed? Maybe Ill just tear it down and attach it over the balcony door so the mosquitoes cant get in the room.
I open the balcony door, and am presented with the breathtaking sight of some trees. Some breathtaking grass. A breathtaking water hole. This view took my breath away all right. Took it away long enough for me to gather all the expletives I could muster to describe my dismay at the quality of my savannah view. I have read all these reports of people looking out their windows at all hours of the day and night enjoying the sights and sounds of African wildlife. And here I am enjoying the sight of some fat guy on an adjoining balcony drinking a Miller Light and smoking a big ole stinky cigar. Breathtaking!!
Its closing in on 1 am and after the smooth talking, velvet tongued musings of CM Mark, we are really tired and turn in. Visions of Room Changing dancing in my head......
