Oh no!!! We're not gonna back around in circles over dinner again are we?? I thought that was decided!!! One dilemma at a time.

Edit: But Italian is so.....so.....so Godfather! The veal, the vino, the canoli!!!!! :p

After checking the DoubleTree in Philly and finding out they are non-smoking, I have a feeling most hotels in Philly will be. So, if that's the case, we might as well stay put.

TIS

I thought we were trying to switch from one Hilton to another. Anyway, I agree with DC. Just let me know. I'll stay at the Garden Inn, or I'll change. Someone just post if there is a change. This gets too complicated after a while.


TIS

TIS, I was only joking!! I would NEVER start that again!!

I just got off the phone with the other Hilton. They have a whole floor of smoking rooms. I spoke to the reservation desk, who quoted me $154 per night including full breakfast buffet per room, king bed or two queens. If we were going to have a group of 10 or more rooms, they could drop the price about another $15 per night. They are approximately 4 miles from downtown (not bad) and 5 or 6 miles from the Mosholu (I checked for you, DC!!!). The woman in group sales was VERY nice and said that she would assign a concierge to our group who would make all our reservations and plans for us. She is mailing me some additional information, but I wanted to let everyone know.

If Becky can find anything out, all the better!!! This sounds good to me, it's close to the airport, and we were going to have to cab to Penn's Landing anyway. It's also less expensive than the alternatives downtown, especially the parking.

What does everyone think???? And remember - Change is GOOD!!

That's what I was quoted also $154. Only the lady I spoke with said you needed 9 rooms for group rate. How many rooms do we have now? Anyway, that sounds fine to me.

Re: transportation, aren't most of you going to have your cars? Referring to the miles from one area to another? Does it matter, since most will have their transportation?

Thanks SB, continue to keep us posted!


TIS

I know that we'll have our car, and I'm sure most of us coming from the NY/NJ area will as well. I think it's an option. It certainly looks nice.

Let's get some feedback from the others (SC, JG, Where are you???) and also see if Becky finds out anything. Also, was DC going to find out about rates at the Wyndham???

Yes, let me know too.

And whatever the decision amongst the rest, I'll let you know now that, assuming I won't lose the $89 rate even if the rest of the group bolts...I will not be switching from where I'm already booked.

Best,
AppleOnYa

The price of the room IS certainly a plus, and fits into the budget, I'll say that!

TIS

Lou, remember what happened to Zsa Zsa when he sat there eating his sausage sandwich and drinking his drink, taking in and smirking at all that was going on around him?



[/b][/quote]I'm sorry, and I don't mean to offend anyone.....But, since I don't smoke, and can't stand being around people when they are smoking, watching all of you putting yourselves through all this just to have a smoking room, makes this thread "comedy gold" to me.

Good point, TIS...and taking into consideration what we might be spending on the dinner(s), I find that price simply too good a deal to give up at this point.

For any reason.

Apple

JustLou:



Pass the popcorn...

Oh man, I have a headache!

Well, JL, that's certainly your right. I don't smoke in the car if the kids are in it, I don't smoke in the house, I don't smoke in the office. I can't smoke in a restaurant or a bar. If I'm paying my owned damned, hard-earned money to stay in a hotel room, I want to be able to relax and smoke there if I FEEL like it.

As a non smoker, and considering the fact this hotel is like 2 minutes from the bus station I'm inclinded to stick with this hotel myself.

Beth,

So you take a taxi for two minutes to get to the hotel?? Or walk and haul your luggage? :eek

JL,

We (smokers) are clowns here for your amusement!
I love the popcorn emoticon!!


TIS

I'll walk and roll my luggage behind me. I'm not one who packs much. I have a very small suitcase. If I can lug it all around New York I'll be fine for 2 minutes in Philly.

I don't have just a headache I have a migraine

Beth,

I'm sorry my brain is going soft from all this comedy and getting things ready for my vacation. Are you talking about the hotel that Bec made reservations for?

I don't have just a headache I have a migraine [/b][/quote]OK, we have a head-honcho headache and a Mig migraine. Who's next?

Yes I did. I called and they told me that they have rooms available for that weekend, both SMOKING and non-smoking at a rate of $169 per night.

If you all decide that you are going to switch to another hotel, then personally I favor moving to the Wyndham/Sheraton. It's conveniently located to all the sights of Philadelphia which enables us to walk around the historic city during the day, have a drink if we want to, and not have to worry about driving and parking wherever we go.

So my vote, if everyone is really serious about switching hotels, is to move over to the Wyndham/Sheraton.


http://www.starwoodhotels.com/sheraton/search/hotel_detail.html?propertyID=1776& EM=VTY_SI_philadelphiacitycenter_1776


Don Cardi

Mig,

I'm sure she is talking about the Garden Inn. No one's changed anything thus far. Hopefully, before too many more headaches we can come to a conclusion.

Btw, where are you going on vacation?????


TIS

Ok I'm confused why is the hotels that DC & SB talking about not following the no smoking law

We have too many who are 'willing to go with the majority'. That's very diplomatic, yet there's only one way to know what the 'majority' is.

I think we take a vote...and THEN depending on how that goes, decide on what hotel to switch to.

Time for a new poll. JGeoff? Don Cardi?

Its not a law yet. The hotel we chose took it upon themselves to ban smoking on its premises.

Thats my issue with the hotel and their poor way they implemented this non-smoking rule. (They didn't live up to their promise of providing smoking rooms).

Because the NO SMOKING law only applies to restaurants, indoor public places and Bars. The hotel took it upon themselves to take the law a step further and implement a 100% no smoking policy throughout the entire hotel. The no smoking policy in the hotel rooms themselves has nothing to do with the law itself, which again, was passed for restaurants, bars and public indoor places. It was not passed for hotel rooms.

When you really think about it, the hotel took people's reservations in advance, offered them the option of a smoking or a non-smoking room, and then after offering that option to it's customers who booked in advance, decided that they would change their policy. Again, I booked a non smoking room, so it really doesn't matter to me. But for those who booked a smoking room and now are being told that they cannot have a smoking room, they have every right in the world to be pissed off.


Don Cardi

Ok, I thought we were first gonna see what Becky said about the other Hilton.

I just think it would be nice for all of us to stay at the same place. I WILL go with the group and just now decided I won't let the nonsmoking and/or the price and/or the location of the hotel be a factor. If a vote is what's needed,fine. We just need to make sure "everyone going" gets to vote and then case closed and that's where we go. What do you think?

TIS

Well, it seems to me that the three choices are: the Sheraton, which used to be a Wyndham, the Hilton that is on the outskirts of the city, or staying put at the Hilton Garden Inn. Before we vote, though, should we wait and see what Becky finds out, or just plow ahead?

If I knew how to set up the damn poll, I would. Could somebody please do it?? Thanks.

Hey SB, I hear that Shula's is only open for dinner on FRIDAY nights and is closed on Saturdays. :p


Don Cardi

Have you noticed how much more pleasant it is at Chan's now?

It's just a little payback for all the second hand smoke I've been forced to inhale in my lifetime. :p