(ALAngst @ Sep. 03 2010,3:18 pm)

QUOTE

A couple of weeks I was in town for a reunion. Since it was a Saturday night, I thought about staying and I checked Best Western. They wanted $140 for standard room. I told them they were crazy and they were way too high. They tried telling me that was normal for the area, and I asked who else was even close. They said next door at AmericInn. Every other place was around $100, but they were sold out (Country and Comfort). They tried saying they were "almost" a brand new hotel. I told them they were a new brand hotel. I've stayed there before.

Anyway I passed, and decided to go up the Cities because I was going there the next day. When I left that night, I drove out Bridge to get onto I-90. The parking lot for both hotels were about half full. I called Best Western from the interstat, asked if they had any more rooms and they said yes, I asked if they could hold one and they asked how far away I was and I said a half hour. They said they had plenty of rooms so just stop by.

I told my wife about it. She couldn't believe $140 a night, especially since I asked for both Saturday and Sunday night (and the rate was the same). They lowered the rate, and I looked at Labor Day weekend as well, because I was coming to town then too. Now they're asking $120 a night. And no it wasn't Sturgis.

So if you ask me a new hotel in Albert Lea would go over well. Same rates but far newer. I'd stay there instead.