Last year, I booked a tropical vacation for my family over the Christmas holiday.
For ten wonderful days, we escaped the sub zero temperatures, vicious wind chill and constant snowfall.
When I began researching accommodations, I quickly realized there was a huge diversity in prices. The hotels situated directly on the beach were a lot more expensive than the smaller ones a few blocks away. Assuming we’d spend very little time in the room, I chose a cheaper option. I decided we didn’t need an on-site restaurant, fitness center or swimming pool. When we arrived, we discovered that the room was so small that we struggled to find a place for the suitcases. The water pressure was disappointing, and the pipes made odd noises throughout the nights. Several of the power outlets didn’t work, the pillows were lumpy and the sheets scratchy. We were relieved that the air conditioner provided cool air. The unit was obviously very old. The cabinet was rusted and some of the dials to make adjustments were broken off. The cooling system made a tremendous amount of noise and also leaked a great deal of water on the floor. The very first day on our vacation, my whole family got badly sunburned. We had no desire to go back out into the sun the second day. We were extremely relieved to be able to relax in a cool room. Having a working air conditioner helped us to sleep at night. While our accommodations certainly weren’t luxurious, we had everything we needed. I was glad that I saved money on the hotel.