(I know: “and don’t call me Shirley”)
So - my in-laws are displaced due to a problem at their condo. (Loooong story short: sprinkler system went kerflooey, flooded unit, estimated time til repair is 3-6 weeks, in-laws are still “independent” but not very, husband and I have Dad for the moment, brother-in-law has Mom, neither of our houses (or in-house residents) are set up to deal with the not-quite-but-almost handicapped.) Insurance company is on the job, and has suggested we find an extended-stay hotel option, for which they will cover the costs minus the $500 deductible.
I call a local hotel; they do not have such options, but suggest the hotel next door, and give me a local phone number to reach them. I call next-door hotel. Despite the fact that I have dialed a local number, I am connected to a national reservation center. I need a 2BR unit for 3-6 weeks, with kitchen facilities and handicapped-accessible bathroom. No problem, says the reservationist. She quotes me $99 per night for what I have requested. I give her my credit card number. She then connects me to the ADA (Americans With Disabilities) department, to ascertain that such room is indeed available at the local hotel.
In short, no. The longer version is, the ADA rep went through all possible options with me. Having again outlined what I need, she called the actual hotel (and why couldn’t I do that in the first place???) to find out there is no such room. I can get a 2BR suite, but it’s not handicapped accessible - and it’s $149 per night. Or, I can get a 1BR unit, but accessible in this case means a handheld shower- that’s $99 per night. OR I can get a studio with a roll-in shower but no kitchen, at $89 per night. None of which is what I reserved. I can cancel my reservations, though, without penalty, as long as I do so within 3 hours of making said reservation.
I do not blame the individual phone reps I spoke to - they did what they could. But HOLY RUNAROUND, BATMAN!! I actually cannot think of a less efficient system for reserving a hotel room.