rent whenever deemed most convenient for the owner. Our need to stay on a budget and prove to be adventurous did not work in our favor. To say the least, we did not enjoy our stay in San Francisco’s “Hotel Horror” and absolutely did not recommend it to anyone (except maybe the sewer rats). The bedding was unclean, the pillows were stained, the kitchen table hadn’t been wiped and there was old trash left in the garbage. The apartment consistently smelled like an ironic mixture of bleach and cigarette smoke, which I’m sure served well for the many customers who ate at the restaurant just below. Safety was also an issue, as the lock on the front door was frail at best –I slept with one eye open. It was starting to look like apartment hunting on a budget was a bad idea. However, being a large group of girls with adventure at our fingertips, we decided to make the most of our unfortunate situation by taking in all the sights and sounds of lovely San Francisco. As it happened, it seemed as if the weather was also not on our side, and in time, we were very ready to move on to the second leg of our trip to sunny Sonoma! What a surprise awaited us, as we opened the door to our heavenly oasis that would be ours for the next 4 days. You might think I am just talking crazy now, but you must trust me, compared to San Francisco, our new place was just about the most wonderful apartment I had ever seen. Not only was it clean (and thank goodness lacking a pungent bleach smell), but it felt like a home where we could cook our meals, wash our favorite wine stained shirts, and come and go as we please, all thanks to a fully functioning lock. Finally, it seemed that we could truly relax, unpack our suitcases, and sleep with both eyes closed. I can truly say that we had the adventure of a lifetime, touring endless wineries, tasting numerous wines and laughing until our cheeks hurt.
So, what is the moral of my story you ask? Well, traveling on a budget certainly is the norm, but if you ask me, it came at a cost (at least on this trip). Of course our intentions were good, and with budget and our “must have” list in mind, we knew the end result would be a gamble. Like everything in life, you never know the end result until you reach the finish line, and almost always regret something or wish it happened differently. I, however, wish none of that. From start to finish, it was the trip of a lifetime and if anything, maybe “Hotel Horror” will read my review and go a little easier on the bleach next time. As for me, I’m already planning my next trip to Hawaii - Budget: unlimited.
Inns E-Magazine | Fall 2013 | 13