If you are like me, for the past several weeks you’ve probably shared summer travel experiences with friends and neighbors. Especially for those with school-age kids who play fall sports, these school-free vacation months provide the opportunity to share some time away.
But regardless of your family status, most folks welcome a break from the ordinary to enjoy a respite away from the daily routine. For whatever the travel reason may be — vacation, business, special occasion, or a brief getaway — things are also better when plans go smoothly.
For Jean and me, a trip to the Midwest that had been planned for almost a year fell through due to reasons beyond our control. With the disappointment and some blank dates now on the calendar, Jean declared, “Let’s go somewhere.” That’s all I needed to hear.
As stated in this space before, a few years back we completed a bucket-list item by traveling to see a Major League Baseball game in all 30 MLB stadiums. (A trip to the A’s new home in Las Vegas is already on the drawing board once it’s completed). A check of the Pirates schedule showed the team playing in Cincinnati at the end of July. We hadn’t been to the Queen City in quite some time, so we decided that would be our destination.
The good folks at AAA found us accommodation in Newport, Kentucky, just a half-mile walk across the Southbank Bridge spanning the Ohio River and the Reds ballpark. After completing the 500-mile trip, the anticipation of our three-day stay met an immediate challenge. Checking into the hotel, we were told we did not have reservations. Showing them the paperwork confirmation AAA had received from them, we were told, ‘Sorry, no room at the inn.’
Given no explanation for the room cancellation and asking why they hadn’t reached out to AAA about the matter, I enquired about providing another room. I was told they had no rooms and that there was a convention in town to be attended by 30,000 visitors. Obviously agitated, I suggested in that case we’d be camping out in the lobby. The desk clerk disappeared only to return, stating they had one room left, but only for Wednesday night, not the other two nights of our planned stay.
She then gave us a listing of other hotels in the area for us to try. With 30,000 incoming folks, that search proved futile. One hotel had a few rooms with an asking price of $620 a night; the other hotels on the list had nothing to offer.
With the situation at hand, an economic reckoning was reached. Our tickets to two Pirates/Reds games cost $180. Two nights in the only hotel in town would cost us $1,200 to see those games. Conclusion: we bed down for the night, take full advantage of the hotel’s complimentary breakfast in the morning, and head back home.
Decision reached, we got some grub and turned on the hotel TV to wind down. Alas, we couldn’t get a thing on the TV. Once again, confronting the desk clerk, we were told the TV feed for the entire building was out and they were working to get it fixed. At least the beds were comfortable until morning’s dawn brought a new day.
While packing the car for our return trip home, a thought hit me. I wonder if they might have any cancellations? Back to the front desk I went, to be greeted by a morning desk clerk from heaven. Explaining my tale of woes from the previous night, I asked if they had a cancellation. Upon checking, she said they had one room for Thursday night. Getting hopeful, I asked about Friday.
“Yes,” she said, “but you’ll have to change rooms.” She then provided us a late checkout so we could stay before the other room was ready. Somewhat amazing, same hotel, same front desk; one individual performing like an angel, the other, not so much.
Other than the outcomes of the games, the Pirates lost both, including the bullpen blowing the team’s 20th save of the season, we enjoyed a good time. Newport was hopping. Activities along the banks of the Ohio River were filled with tourists, and some of those 30,000 convention goers we encountered were enjoyable to talk to.
Inside the ballpark, the seats were good and the folks friendly, even though we were decked out in Pirates gear. One young lady at the ticket office asked where we were from. Explaining Williamsport, she was excited. “I love that place,” she said. Turns out she is from Columbus, Ohio, and went to Lock Haven University to play field hockey.
Jean constantly says, “We’ve got to go places while we can.” Accepting her wisdom, we had a good time, even if it didn’t start good. We’re going to Pittsburgh this weekend for the Pirates/Red Sox series. I’ve got a paper that says we have hotel reservations!
