Paul C. Anagnostopoulos
Nap, interrupted.
- Joined
- Aug 3, 2001
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What do you expect in a bar? Thrash? Rap? Acid? Note the presence of a dance floor.
~~ Paul
~~ Paul
Brown
Penultimate Amazing
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- Aug 3, 2001
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- 12,984
Little things, mostly.Phil said:
The door to my bathroom wouldn't close. When I used the facilities, I had to make sure that all my shades were closed if I wanted privacy. Keep in mind: this hotel is brand new.
The fans in the bathrooms were the loudest bathroom fans I'd ever heard.
The lamps in my room were virtually worthless. Reading in my room was difficult.
When someone walked in the room above mine, each footstep sounded like a thunderclap.
On at least one of the days, aircraft landing at the airport flew over the hotel, resulting in a loud roar every two minutes or so.
The location was rather inconvenient. (The smartest thing I did on my visit was rent a car... and I'm a person who loves to get around by walking. It would have helped, of course, if the monorail had been operating.)
The facilities for the conference were not really all that great. Quite a few people with "decent" seats could not see what was going on. The lighting was uncomfortable for the speakers.
Some of the staff were rude. Rudeness of staff is, I understand, a very uncommon thing in Las Vegas. (I encountered rude staff at only two other places other than the Tuscany: one security guard at Harrah's and one dim-bulb dealer at the Monte Carlo.)
The soda machine in my building was perpetually empty. I eventually went out and bought a case of soda and put it in my fridge (which was, by the way, too noisy).
exarch
Anti-homeopathy illuminati member
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- 7,184
I think your quarrel here is with the US mail. I sent some chocolate from Belgium to Eos in Canada and a girl in the US on December 22nd, and both of them received their package in the past week (the girl from the US yesterday morning local time). Two others whom I sent a package are still awaiting.
bignickel said:I was hoping that one of the Skepchicks would hop on Quinn's piano and sing ala "The Fabulous Baker Boys". Maybe at TAM3, and little more alky
I was seriously thinking about it, but then I thought that I might scratch the piano with my heels or something.
G6
Luciana
Skeptical Carioca
I had problems with the hotel too. The room, for example. It was spacious, but very badly designed. The wardrobe was too small and its doors positioned inconveniently. So much space but there was no way you could leave your luggage out of the way.
Remember, there were three of us sharing the room, which should be fine considering its size. But it wasn't. Too few drawers in the room, none in the restroom. Why not? Also, why was the shower's glass transparent and not opaque, so that one could shower with privacy why others got ready? Not enough towel racks, not to three towels.
Our keys kept getting defective. It was such an annoyance to try and try and finally get back to the front desk, show ID and get new ones.
When I tried calling housekeeping, I made quite a few unsuccessful calls, as the phone number listed in the phone's directory was wrong. That's so careless.
When I finally made through housekeeping, I ordered an extra bed for Julia, who'd be arriving later on. I left. When I returned I found the mattress and the sheets - but no one bothered to actually make the bed. And in all the subsequent days, Julia's bed was never made, even though we surely paid for it, and it goes without saying that the room couldn't be said to have had a decent maid service if a whole bed remained unmade.
Later I called to get a shower cap. It only arrived 4 hours later when I called a second time.
And as Brown said, too dark. Packing at night became a chore because, even with all the lights on, I still couldn't see things right.
Last year's hotel, in Fort Lauderdale, was sooo much better in every aspect.
Remember, there were three of us sharing the room, which should be fine considering its size. But it wasn't. Too few drawers in the room, none in the restroom. Why not? Also, why was the shower's glass transparent and not opaque, so that one could shower with privacy why others got ready? Not enough towel racks, not to three towels.
Our keys kept getting defective. It was such an annoyance to try and try and finally get back to the front desk, show ID and get new ones.
When I tried calling housekeeping, I made quite a few unsuccessful calls, as the phone number listed in the phone's directory was wrong. That's so careless.
When I finally made through housekeeping, I ordered an extra bed for Julia, who'd be arriving later on. I left. When I returned I found the mattress and the sheets - but no one bothered to actually make the bed. And in all the subsequent days, Julia's bed was never made, even though we surely paid for it, and it goes without saying that the room couldn't be said to have had a decent maid service if a whole bed remained unmade.
Later I called to get a shower cap. It only arrived 4 hours later when I called a second time.
And as Brown said, too dark. Packing at night became a chore because, even with all the lights on, I still couldn't see things right.
Last year's hotel, in Fort Lauderdale, was sooo much better in every aspect.
I had a bunch of problems with the hotel, too. Some might be nitpicks, but they add up. Let's see...
The closet door fell off its track.
The towel hook next to shower was incapable of holding towels.
The soap kept sliding off the soap tray in the shower.
There was no place to set anything in the shower beside a single bar of soap.
The gutter on the shower door drained the wrong direction, leaving a puddle of water on the floor after I opened the door.
I think there were only a couple cable channels in addition to the local broadcast channels.
Local phone calls cost $1.
The number listed on the phone for wake up calls did not work.
The breakfast buffet at the cafe was unfit for human consumption.
The steak I had at the steakhouse was overcooked.
Worst of all, I was charged almost double for the steak dinner that I charged to my room.
I also had problems with noise coming from upstairs and the soda machine being empty.
I would not stay at that hotel again.
The closet door fell off its track.
The towel hook next to shower was incapable of holding towels.
The soap kept sliding off the soap tray in the shower.
There was no place to set anything in the shower beside a single bar of soap.
The gutter on the shower door drained the wrong direction, leaving a puddle of water on the floor after I opened the door.
I think there were only a couple cable channels in addition to the local broadcast channels.
Local phone calls cost $1.
The number listed on the phone for wake up calls did not work.
The breakfast buffet at the cafe was unfit for human consumption.
The steak I had at the steakhouse was overcooked.
Worst of all, I was charged almost double for the steak dinner that I charged to my room.
I also had problems with noise coming from upstairs and the soda machine being empty.
I would not stay at that hotel again.
Wow, Luciana. That is pretty bad. I'm sorry it was like that over your way.
Just to provide some balance, I didn't have any problem with the hotel other than not liking the lighting in the room. But then, how much time did I spend there?
Our maid service was excellent. I even had a problem with one phone the first night as I was trying to connect to the internet. I called to report the problem, then went OUT as I couldn't stand waiting around with all those wonderful JREF people waiting to be met, and when I came back it was fixed. I liked the proximity to the Strip without being right on the Strip. The hotel rates were awesome.
Nevertheless, since there are people who had difficulties, I would be interested in trying a different place just to compare, if we come back to Vegas next year.
Just to provide some balance, I didn't have any problem with the hotel other than not liking the lighting in the room. But then, how much time did I spend there?
Our maid service was excellent. I even had a problem with one phone the first night as I was trying to connect to the internet. I called to report the problem, then went OUT as I couldn't stand waiting around with all those wonderful JREF people waiting to be met, and when I came back it was fixed. I liked the proximity to the Strip without being right on the Strip. The hotel rates were awesome. Nevertheless, since there are people who had difficulties, I would be interested in trying a different place just to compare, if we come back to Vegas next year.
Quinn
Breathtakingly blasphemous.
- Joined
- Jan 6, 2002
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- 2,310
Girl 6 said:
That settles it; next year you will be dragged up to sing (and writhe, of course). And yes, grand pianos can easily hold the weight of a skepchick.
As for the hotel, my main problem was with the staff, particularly at Marilyn's. I think they had three different unions of waiters to bring soft drinks, alcohol, and food, and none of them spoke to each other.
I've heard rumors that the Toronto tourism commission has already contacted the JREF and expressed interest about next year, and that the JREF is trying to interest other cities as well and get a little bidding war started. If that's the case, I doubt we'll end up back in Vegas, since I can't imagine them going out of their way to attract a group of people with a better-than-average understanding of probability and statistics.
Brown
Penultimate Amazing
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- Aug 3, 2001
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- 12,984
I noted this, too, and I also was rather put off by the "don't steal me" hangers in the closet. Whether such hangers are standard for Las Vegas or not, I don't know. All I know is that they were inconvenient and there weren't enough hangers in my room to hang up my clothes. There also weren't enough drawers. Many of my clothes were simply stacked on top of my suitcase.Luciana Nery said:
I did not share a room, and I was very glad that I did not. I noted that use of the bathroom would be very uncomfortable if the room had two or more people in it.
I also forgot to mention the fact that the hotel placed me in one of the most inconvenient rooms on the entire complex. (I was in building M, on the far side. I ran into Dr. Park in that building, and he might have been stuck in building M also.)
Some attendees (inlcuding myself) noted that the maid opened the windows. Since we were on the first floor, that may not have been the wisest move from a security standpoint. My big gripe was that, when I returned to my room, it was very chilly and I had to operate the heater for nearly an hour to warm the room to a comfortable temperature.
bignickel
Mad Mod Poet God
Girl 6 said:
I was seriously thinking about it, but then I thought that I might scratch the piano with my heels or something.
That is the risk that must be taken for the sake of art!
Brown
Penultimate Amazing
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I forgot to mention these gripes, too. I noticed that when the soap slid off the soap dish, it would shatter when hitting the shower floor. So I did quite a bit of showering using pieces of soap. Also, I prefer to shave in the shower, but this was not feasible at the Tuscany. And finally--not to gross anyone out, but it is the truth--I awoke one morning to find a roach in my shower.markb said:
bignickel
Mad Mod Poet God
Paul C. Anagnostopoulos said:
I'm all for the dance floor: but I don't believe that that necessitates a lame lounge singer.
Especially when a competent DJ can be had for a lot less. One who managed to escape the 70's, fer instance...
"the chills, that you spill, up my back, keep me filled, with satisfaction..."
Brown said:
Those have been in practically every hotel I've ever been to.
Folks, I travel around all over the place, mostly on business. I've been to Florida, Montana, Utah, Tennessee, Connecticut, so many places. In my experience, if the things you're talking about are the worst complaints you can make about the hotels, then that's doing pretty darn good. You wouldn't WANT to stay in some of the places I've been to.
Of course, you could argue that the problems of the hotel make the price of staying there ridiculous; there, I would agree.
My opinion is, I don't need the fancy stuff in the hotel or the spacious rooms like there was at the Tuscany. To me, a hotel room is a place to crash. I'd be perfectly willing to stay in much smaller hotel rooms that maybe aren't as nice if it keeps the price of going there down.
Paul C. Anagnostopoulos
Nap, interrupted.
- Joined
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I thought his voice was pretty good. Are you suggesting that there is some music from the '80s or '90s that he could have sung? Dave Matthews perhaps? Or some Candy Striper Death Orgy?
Perhaps I'm just an old fart . . .
~~ Paul
Patricio Elicer
Obsessed with Reality
Speaking of the hotel facilities, there were some things that bothered me, #1 being by far the worst:
1) No computer internet service. Personally I find this an unforgivable neglect on a world that is increasingly internet dependant. I bought the internet-through-the-TV service, but I simply couldn't make it work to access my email account (no way to place the cursor in the username and password fields). $10 thrown to the trash.
2) Toilet's fan way too noisy
3) No facility to place the shampoo bottle in the shower compartment.
4) Bathroom's hooks incapable of holding the towels
5) No appropriate bathroom's hooks to hang clothes
6) Shower door didn't close properly, water spilled out
1) No computer internet service. Personally I find this an unforgivable neglect on a world that is increasingly internet dependant. I bought the internet-through-the-TV service, but I simply couldn't make it work to access my email account (no way to place the cursor in the username and password fields). $10 thrown to the trash.
2) Toilet's fan way too noisy
3) No facility to place the shampoo bottle in the shower compartment.
4) Bathroom's hooks incapable of holding the towels
5) No appropriate bathroom's hooks to hang clothes
6) Shower door didn't close properly, water spilled out
Electric Monk
Critical Thinker
- Joined
- Jan 8, 2003
- Messages
- 455
Doors, doors, doors. From the inside to the outside:
1. Shower door did not stay closed.
2. Bathroom door would not latch.
3. Room door would stick and not close itself.
4. Exterior door to the stairs would stick ajar as well.
This was in building A.
--James
1. Shower door did not stay closed.
2. Bathroom door would not latch.
3. Room door would stick and not close itself.
4. Exterior door to the stairs would stick ajar as well.
This was in building A.
--James
WonderfulWorld
Scholar
- Joined
- Dec 12, 2002
- Messages
- 92
Part of the problem with the maid service, at least in my room, was that the maid didn't speak a word of english. I was able to speak enough spanish to explain a problem to her, and she did everything she could to help, but the problem had to wait until she found someone to whom she could communicate the problem, and who also had time to help. Eventually, a guy arrived with the proper tools and the problem was corrected.
Yeah, it was a pretty lousy hotel. The rooms looked good, until you looked closer. I'm not sure how you could "scout out" a problem like that, though, without an experience like this year to inform you. Eventually, you learn enough to create a checklist, or you hire a professional to find and arrange accomodations. That's the way it goes, I suppose.
Yeah, it was a pretty lousy hotel. The rooms looked good, until you looked closer. I'm not sure how you could "scout out" a problem like that, though, without an experience like this year to inform you. Eventually, you learn enough to create a checklist, or you hire a professional to find and arrange accomodations. That's the way it goes, I suppose.