Ups and Downs

[kevin_standlee]

Thank goodness I got an aisle seat -- I think I would have died in a middle on that jam-packed flight. I get the impression that United squeezed the seats in Standard Economy another inch closer together in order to get more people to buy Economy Plus seats. It didn't help that the guy in front of me leaned his seat full-recline the moment our wheels left the ground and didn't take any hints at all (like my knees digging into his back) that he could give an inch or so. I had to spend the whole flight with my legs crossed under the seat, and of course trying to do anything with the computer was impossible. It was a challenge just to read, let alone to anything else.

I seem to often arrive on company business in cities where I've never been at night in the rain. I gingerly made my way down the New Jersey Turnpike and, after only two wrong turns, managed to find my hotel. Residence Inns are very nice. Now I must find some food, and also figure out where my company's office around here is so I can be there bright and early tomorrow morning. I know the office is probably within 500m of here, but exactly where will be the challenging part. Actually, I can probably walk there (aside from the rain), so maybe I'll do that after getting a few groceries and dinner behind me.

Comments

[rono-60103.livejournal.com]

It is probably too late now, but many (most, all?) Residence Inns have an afternoon/evening buffet in or near the lobby. It is never as good as most restaurants, or my own cooking -- part of the reason I have stayed in Residence Inns over the years is that after a few days I tire of finding restaurants for dinner -- but it is usually passable, and free.

[redneckotaku.livejournal.com]

If it is among the official hotels, I would stay at a Residence Inn for Denvention.

[kevin-standlee.livejournal.com]

Ooh, I hadn't noticed there being one near the con site. That's a good idea if there is one nearby, although I usually try to stay in the party hotel myself.

[kevin-standlee.livejournal.com]

I got to the hotel five minutes before the evening "reception" ended, at which time what remained were a few bits of dried-out chicken breast and some wilted-looking salad fixings.

My reason for wanting hotels of this sort is so I can lay in groceries and prepare food for myself. It does make the first day a little odd, particularly if I'm staying for a week or more, in which case my expense report needs special explanation for a super-high meal expense on day 1 followed by several days of nothing -- it evens out overall.

[k6rfm.livejournal.com]

It didn't help that the guy in front of me leaned his seat full-recline the moment our wheels left the ground and didn't take any hints at all

My Lufthansa flight from Bangalore to Frankfurt was like that, and it was 12 hours long. The good result is that every domestic flight since then has been "not so bad".