September 4, 2007
Clarion Hotel San Jose Airport - the WORST hotel stay ever
So I just returned from SES San Jose and overall the conference was great. I met some people I write with and about, talked to some industry greats, and learned a bunch of stuff as well. The WORST part of my trip was the hotel I was forced to stay in!
Forced, yes I was Forced, by a travel coordinator at my company to stay at the Clarion Hotel San Jose Airport! The rooms were motel rooms, not hotels. They opened to the outside and provided little to no security. The neighborhood was pretty scary. Some old lady was grubbing cans out of the dumpster on our way to light rail the first day. A guy rode his bike behind us very slowly the whole way. The doors to the hotel had gaps around them that let light in and a very flimsy chain for “security.”
I put my Ipod in an armoire drawer because the safe requred a credit card, but didnt have any directions as to how much it would cost if I stuck my card in the slot. Well - that was dumb, as my ipod was stolen from the room the day I checked out. I forgot it in the drawer, realized it around noon and went straight back before heading to the airport. They denied having seen it, although they did find the ethernet cable that I’d left in the same drawer. They accused me of having it in my luggage, which I proceeded to empty, bras, underwear and all, on the floor of their lobby. I DIDNT HAVE IT - suprise suprise.
The manager on duty, i think her name was Jackie but not sure, stated that she believed her housekeeping supervisor - and that they didnt keep thieves on staff. They tracked complaints and after receiving “like 19 complaints” they’d “fire” that person. I was absolutely flabbergasted by this - “like 19 complaints?” I think ONE complaint is enough. I was thoroughly disgusted and we had to get to the airport (or flight ended up being cancelled, so i could have stood an complained longer - what is it they say about hindsight?)
All in all - next time I’ll pay the $30 a night difference to Blizz and stay at the conference hotel, this was a nightmare!
