I just had the strangest conversation with the Sheraton Boston Hotel. Rob and Scarlett and I have made the decision to attend ALS TDI’s White Coat Affair at the end of October. The gala is an annual event, and includes a Leadership Summit where people with ALS and their families can learn about what is going on in the world of research, and specifically at the Therapy Development Institute. This was no small decision to make, as travel is increasingly difficult, and a cross country flight will be about as comfortable as spending the night stapled to a skinny tree branch.
But we’re in and we’re excited, and so today I attempted to make reservations at the hotel where the event is taking place. Except. They only have one remaining ADA room, equipped with a queen sized bed, which should be no problem for two adults and a six-year-old who could sleep on the fold-out bed that the man confirmed the hotel would provide. But then he interrupted himself to tell me we wouldn’t be able to book that room, because only two people are allowed to stay in it. I was confused. I understand that hotels have rules, but since when can two parents and a child not share a single hotel room? The man suggested that I book a regular room, and that if an ADA room opened up, they would let me know.
“What would happen if an ADA room didn’t open up?” I asked, because I had explained to him that we required an ADA room, that it wasn’t just something we were looking into for fun.
“At that point,” he said cheerfully, “you would have the option of canceling the reservation.”
“That’s actually not an option for us,” I said slowly, aiming for Patience, but probably landing closer to Extreme Condescension. I have trouble with those two. If I think of reactions as sections on a dartboard, then True Patience is that tiny red dot in the middle, the inner bullseye. It’s hard to hit. There are wide swaths of Exasperation and Impertinence, and my pointy tongue always seems to land on those.
The man went on to say that we could potentially book two ADA rooms if another one opened up. I then reminded him that my daughter is six and can’t sleep in a room on her own. Really, she totally could, if they were adjoining, but why would I pay for two hotel rooms?
“Well, no!” he chuckled at the idea of a child in her own room. “That’s against hotel policy.”
We both had a good laugh about that. Just kidding, I didn’t laugh, because it wasn’t funny.
I ended up extricating myself from the phone call politely, and asking the folks at ALS TDI if they could step in and handle the hotel booking. Being the wonderful people they are, they agreed. I’m hoping they have better luck, or access to a different dartboard.
It occurred to me after I got off the phone with the hotel reservationist that I should have just told him to book the room. “Two people it is,” I imagined myself saying. “An ADA room is more important than a six-year-old, anyway.” And after that, we would laugh and laugh. Because the world is a weird place, and people are nuts.
I’m confident this will all work out, and that we will have a really great trip to Boston. I can’t wait to see my friends, and meet people who I feel like I already know. I’m not looking forward to the plane rides, but my hope is that they will be uneventful, with absolutely nothing worth blogging about. Do you hear that, Universe? Nothing worth blogging about. Please.
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Working in the travel industry and having traveled with my mother who had ALS. Make sure to ask what your ADA room is equipped with. Sadly ADA could only mean extra grab bars next to the toilet or widened doorways etc. learned the hard way to always travel with extra suction cub grab bars and heightened toilet seat just incase. Wishing you all the best for your trip!
Sarah,
I found your blog through mutual friends. I’m OPRF class of 94
My husband has Spinal Muscular Atrophy and we travel often. We don’t let his physical limitations get in our way…ever! We want to show our daughter the world (ok, mostly the US so far! Lol)
Boston is actually one of our favorite cities! I’d love to help you navigate traveling on an airplane with a motorized wheelchair, making sure roll-in showers are not only promised but are actually provided when you arrive at the hotel (Marriotts are by FAR the best for our needs! We pretty much never stay anyplace besides a Marriott )…
Please feel free to contact me. I have learned SO much over the years, I’d love to share our experiences with you in hopes of making traveling easier on you
Terra
Oh my gosh, Sarah, you have such courage and determination. I understand how extremely difficult and exhausting traveling is while dealing with ALS. And then you throw in the energy of a child. I’m so very impressed. We are taking our annual fall break trip with our four sons, wives and ten grandchildren to Florida, and I get myself worked into a tizzy. But I’m willing to use all the energy I have for vacation with my family. But again it’s just exhausting and frustrating. But what about ALS isn’t! I wish you a trouble free trip with lots of fun moments. Make good memories as I plan to do also.
You managed to find the funny – again! I continue to be impressed…can you bring one of those Camelback things with wine in it??
Do you want me to go over there and beat them up for you? I’d totally do it. Boston is way better than that! Excited for you to be around in the fall, it’s so beautiful. And always available if you guys need anything
The problem is that in order to advertise it as an ADA room, it has to have a certain amount of space around furniture to allow a wheelchair to easily and safely move about the room and access all the room amenities, such as the desk, phones, lamps, mini-fridge, etc. They probably cannot put a roll-a-way bed in there without blocking a certain amount of the room off. The roll-a-way would invalidate the ADA designation. Now you may be fine with not being able to get to the desk, phone, closet, lamps, etc… But someone else could sue them if they were sold an ADA room with a roll-a-way without access to all the room amenities. They should let you do some sort of waiver stating you won’t sue. Either that or book the room and then smuggle the kid in!
I think Kafka must have trained that reservationist. SMDH.
I really hope the hotel rep was just young and totally lacked any common sense whatsoever, because that is craziness!