Is it just me?

[smeddley]

So our temp asked me, "Do you know how many 4-star hotels KC has?" (She was comparing KC to Miami, and how woefully backwater we are). I, of course, said, "No, why would I? I live here, I don't need a hotel." Which brought up the debate...

[Poll #1011191]

I say it's silly, why would I shell out good money to sleep in a strange bed 10 miles from my house? Even a good hotel is still a hotel, and it's not my bed, my sheets, my pillows... it's... icky. "But it's romantic!" she says. No, no it's not. It's uncomfortable and unfamiliar and not at all romantic.

Obligatory Oz reference: Dorothy had it right: There's no place like home.

Honestly, there's no place I'd rather be. With all its flaws, my house is my home. And home is my favorite place to be, the place I'm relaxed and comfortable. The place I feel (pardon the smarmy talk) grounded. And I don't know how people live without a place like that.

So, am I weird?

Comments

No

[airforcegrrl.livejournal.com]

I tried it once and it just weirded me out in much the same way. Now if i was having renovations done or something (gods forbid)happned to my abode then maybe. But I would try to stay with friends first before shelling out money.

Re: No

[smeddley.livejournal.com]

Okay, see, that would be a good reason - if my house was being gutted and I was forced to, yes (the renovations in the basement won't force me out, 'cause it's just the basement - but if it involved the bedrooms, then it would be problematic). But as a vacation? Not so much.

Re: No

[airforcegrrl.livejournal.com]

I was thinking more about this last night and i was thinking about Colonial Williamsburg, which for me is about a 20-30 min drive away. However if you want to go for say the entire weekend and it happens to be a weekend that the rest of Hampton Roads decides to go you're looking at being stuck in traffic for hours. In a case like that I might consider getting a hotel or I could just not be a lazy schlub and get up earlier LOL

[gelsey.livejournal.com]

Being forced to? Sure. But if I'm going to not stay at home, and there's no other reason, then it better be the NICEST freaking hotel room around. And why spend that sort of money?

[smeddley.livejournal.com]

Even pretty nice hotels feel too foreign to me. I mean, I can justify it if I'm in a strange city, but when home's within a 15-minute drive? No thanks!

[icecat.livejournal.com]

Maybe for a special occasion like an anniversary or birthday, maybe, and even then it'd have to be a nice hotel or B&B or something, not a Holiday Inn. But not just for the heck of it on some random weekend.

[smeddley.livejournal.com]

And yet, people seem to want to do just that. I don't get it.

[happyconfusion.livejournal.com]

I'll take my house over a hotel anyday.

[smeddley.livejournal.com]

Me too!

[clare-dragonfly.livejournal.com]

I've never stayed in a hotel in my own city, though my parents did for two nights after they got married, because they couldn't afford a real honeymoon. I can imagine myself doing something similar. I've stayed in so many hotels I can't imagine I would feel weird and icky to me. I think it would be kind of fun, actually. No cleaning to have to do or anything!

[smeddley.livejournal.com]

You know, it's not the germs - I'm not germ-phobic or anything, I just... really like my own house. You know, you're used to the sounds it makes, have all your favorite food in the fridge, and all my books, movies and CDs (not to mention crafting stuff!) are right there.

[kailita.livejournal.com]

Tori Spelling opened a Bed and Breakfast in my (tiny) town for some reality show...so a bunch of kids that I went to high school with are going to pool their money and get a room there in hopes of ending up on TV. I think they're silly, but at least they have a reason - why else would you pay to stay in your own town?

[smeddley.livejournal.com]

That is, at least, a reason! An interesting one, at that. And, you know, I can kinda understand people who live with roommates (or parents) wanting to get away for a 'romantic' weekend, but when you have your own house, it seems silly.

[revoked-soul.livejournal.com]

Pffft, that costs money!

And while I'm perfectly happy to waste my money (or, to be more accurate, Colum's money...), I can think of much better ways to do it than that.

If I'm staying in the city, it'll be at my house. That said, I would gladly stay in a hotel if it were somewhere else...anywhere else, even. It's been a long, long time since I've been outside Toronto, and I'm in serious need of a vacation.

[smeddley.livejournal.com]

Yeah, I'd rather spend the money on crafting supplies, books, or DVDs and stay home!

You and me both. I haven't been on a vacation in forever! Then next one I'm taking, unfortunately, will be to the basement. It's all we'll be able to afford for awhile!

[oneworldvision.livejournal.com]

To be fair, if I lived someplace like Paris? I might be tempted to hole up in a fancy hotel now and then. But in Old Bridge, there is only one reason why you would pay for a room. I do not wish to expound upon this reason.

(Am I using the word "expound" right? It's late and I'm too tired to check.)

[smeddley.livejournal.com]

Ah, yes, that reason! Too true.

(and yes, that's the right word)

[wolffe]

There is one occasion when I will stay in a hotel in my own "town" and that is Dragon*con. It's a convention downtown and it's just not practical (or safe really) to drive an hour each way to get to the con and back when you're spending the whole day and most of the night there only to sleep a few hours and do it all again the next day.

The only other time I can think of when I stayed in a hotel in the city in which I was living was my wedding night.

I know people who take "vacations" in their own town and get a hotel for the weekend but I'm with you. I *like* my bed and given a choice I'll sleep in it.

[smeddley.livejournal.com]

There would be a reasonable reason to do so - I know most downtowns have parking nightmares, and it's not safe to wander the umpteen million blocks to your car late at night.

But, yeah, just to 'get away' for the weekend? I'm at least driving 5-6 hours to be somewhere different!

[cottonsilver.livejournal.com]

I have done it and would again.

A great night out, that doesn't end until breakfast has been served, in bed, I'll take that offer any day, depending on who asked of course

[smeddley.livejournal.com]

I'm just not comfortable in hotels, maybe it's because I've stayed in a lot? Maybe because we moved so much when I was growing up? It's not the house I'm particularly bonded with (I still don't mind moving) I think it's the things around me. My stuff. That's what makes my house a home.

Ah, I think I might be a tad materialistic. :)

[mmmontserrat.livejournal.com]

For business meetings & parties, I've had to stay in hotels but then that probably doesn't count because I'm not really paying for it.

SF Hotel rates are out frickin'rageous anyway. beyond belief expensive.

well so are rents & mortgages but you can get a dump for like $200 a night. a DUMP.

[mmmontserrat.livejournal.com]

that's $200 for a motel.

[smeddley.livejournal.com]

See, here in KC you can stay at the 'American Inn' for $24.94 a night! I'm fairly certain they offer hourly rates, too...

Hotels, like hospitals and school, just have a 'feel' to them no matter how nice they are. It puts me off, I don't like it. And I can't explain why. Probably connected to my freakish compulsion for clean sheets somehow.

[mmmontserrat.livejournal.com]

Actually I thought I was exaggerating and checking on Hotels.com you CAN get a room in SF right now for $80-$90 per night at decent hotels.

and also, in the suburbs, near our house for example, you can get down to $40 a night it is not a really safe nor touristy part of town but you can get cheap rooms.

Hell, by my house you can probably rent by the hour (I'm right off downtown Oakland)...

I should look into that. My husband would love it. "Hey honey, let's grab a room for an hour!"

We don't really do spontaneous crazy sexy things like that...

umm... not that getting a room by the hour is sexy but you know what I mean...

Miss 10-Year Honeymooner~!~

[elaran.livejournal.com]

nope, i agree with you.