Reality check

Getting the other perspective

Sunday November 9th. I had booked a room at the Hilton Garden Inn about a week ago (staff rate) and packed up the two boys and off we went by 3:00 pm to check in. I usually see the check-in procedure from a staff person's point of view but have never been the customer at the same hotel. It was great service! My rate was the same (no hidden stuff) and all I needed to do was prepay. That done, we were handed our pass keys for the room (306) and took our luggage (minimal) to the room to settle it.

Wanting to see the airport and do a little looking around at the new shops inside, we took the free Hilton shuttle bus over to the airport. The guys got a chance to have a donut and drink from Timmy's and play a few games (car racing, mortal combat) before we decided to return for a proper supper.. caught the 5:00 shuttle.

The oldest son ordered room service (Fish & Chips) and the youngest and myself had free cookies and a drink to tie us over (in fact the huge F&C gave the youngest some fish to eat and I finished up the fries). Then after a short relaxing time the guys put on their swim suits and we went to the pool for a half hour of salt water swimming in the heated pool.

The computer room was next with a visit to the exercise facilities where we all had a go. Now that was fun. Then it was back to the room to check out the flat screen TV with game cube. The youngest wanted that so we booked an hour ($7 wasn't too bad). They wanted another swim so we went back to the pool for another 30 minutes. I decided after that it was 'take it easy time', and I read the paper while the boys got cookies (complimentary), a drink and hit the computer room. All of us returned to the room and relaxed until 9 when we all decided to take in a good night's sleep.

Next morning one boy was up at 5 soon to be sent back to bed for another hour at least. Then we all woke at 6 and he finished his game cube time, and we went down for breakfast. Cereal and croissants, juice and toast. We paid for that, then to the 8:00 shuttle to the airport to take in a few more games, go to the observation tower to watch a few planes take off and land then Timmy's for a treat and back to the hotel.

I checked out (total owed $4) and we killed time waiting for a hunting trip planned for late morning.

All in all, the boys never stopped and after the hunting trip, a short stop at a grocery store we were back home. Evening was the usual computer games and video games, then as I read some stories to the boys the youngest fell sound asleep on the couch and the oldest headed for bed. I watched a movie called "88 Minutes" (Al Pacino) and went to sleep at 11:00. It was a good day!

Why was this a reality check? Well, the yongest boy loves hunting games, computer hunting games that is. The hunting trip was a chance to smell the woods, walk the trails, sit and wait for the possible game (totally uncontrolled as in a game). The oldest got reality from the seat of my car as we scanned a field until grampy finished with the youngest. They both realized the animals do not walk out anytime you want, if at all, and it can be a time consuming wait - eventually, to them, 'boring'! It was good for both of them - I do have a feeling the youngest will go again but the oldest has no urge.

The other reality came from my observation of shuttle dependence and experiencing service as a paying customer. The Hilton has class in all respects and I will have a much better approach as a staff member in my next week of work. As a side note, have you ever noticed how places look and feel when you are not an employee on duty?