The smallest hotel room I've ever had

I recently had to plan a last minute trip to New York City.  Hotels can be expensive, so I was doing my best to find some cheaper options under $200.  A co-worker recommended The Pod Hotel to me and I decided to give it a try.

They have two locations in New York City, Pod51 and Pod39 (both on the corresponding streets in the city). These are efficiency hotels with small sleeping rooms (and shared bathrooms at Pod51) but it totally makes sense. Plus, the famous Salvation Taco is located in the lobby.  It's been featured on Eater, Thrillist and more.

I slept on a twin bed, with less than 100 square feet, but seriously, you're in New York City - the only thing you need your room for is to sleep!  It was $135 on the weekend, and $110 on weeknights for a trendy, hip hotel conveniently located.

You need to check them out if you're going the city!
Pod 51 (the original Pod Hotel, with shared bathrooms)
Pod 39 (private bathrooms and the newest in The Pod Hotel family)

The best and worst of hotels

Okay, so I do enough hotel bashing on this blog, so I thought I would give kudos to a really nice hotel I stayed at recently.  The Omni Hotel at CNN Center in Atlanta, GA. Of course, it helped because I had my own room and didn't have to share with a co-worker, but it truly was a great place. Amazingly comfortable beds, 24 hour room service, and if you sign up for their free rewards program you get complimentary wi-fi in the room along with a newspaper, morning beverage, and some other perks. Plus, it seems Atlanta is really working to improve the downtown area.  They recently put in a Ferris wheel in Olympic Park, not far from the Coke Museum and some other tourist attractions. I would definitely stay there again - in fact, I'm going back this June.

Olympic Park in Atlanta, GA

The other side of things: I've been in some hotels that I feared my life and my overall health. I stayed at a Knights Inn in Denver off Speer Blvd and it was perhaps the worst experience I've ever had.  I was trying to save a buck and booked it online without knowing what I was getting into.  Nasty bedding, dirty bathrooms, yellow lighting, and a sippy cup under my bed with rotten milk that made the entire room stink. I walked across the street to the hotel I wish I would have booked and spent most of my time there, since they had food and a bar. Here's a helpful links for the owners at Knights Inn - maybe it's time to clean up a bit, so I've done the legwork for you:

Hotel Supply Online

Atlanta Hotel Supply

Hotel Bar Supplies

You're welcome.

Click to read the full blog about my Knight's Inn experience, or some of the many other travel stories over the years including why I'm on the Mafia hit list, top 10 things overheard at the Days Inn in Nashville, and other joys of traveling.

Other Atlanta Resources:
http://news.atlanta.net/_ir/8/20139/2013-08-21_Never_Stop_Traveling_Atlanta-Sophisticated-and-Surprising.pdf?ucid=E2013-000066 

Things that work - things that don't

Before you travel, let's review a list of both things that work in your hotel room, and things that don't:
THINGS THAT DON'T:
1) In-room iron
It will simply leak all over your clothes that you can't really press anyway thanks to the fine-quality Sunbeam irons that the hotel so thoughtfully selects for their premier guests.
2) Alarm Clock
Bring your own - despite your best efforts, you'll never be able to set these to actually go off at the right time
3) Key Card Locked Doors
Insert = Red light - dangit. Insert again = Red light - piece of... Insert again = YELLOW LIGHT!! what the *** does yellow mean?
4) Hot tub
Sorry for the inconvenience, but you've chosen to stay with us for the week that our hot tub is under major repairs.
5) Under-window temperature control unit
You have two options: off or on. Recommended: crank it up and cook for a while, then shut off to freeze.
NOW, THINGS THAT DO WORK:
1) In-room Iron
looks like the iron works after all. I just got a 3rd degree burn, but it still won't take the wrinkles out of my clothes
2) Alarm Clock
wow, that works too. apparently it has a dual alarm feature and the funny guy before set it to go off at 2:17 AM
3) Key Car Locked Doors
sure enough...I just closed my door without the key and it's securely locked. I guess it's time for a trip to the front desk in my pajamas.
4) Fire Alarm
blazing loud and clear - definitely works, except that it leaves me disabled in my room with a heart attack, left to burn
5) TV Remote
well, the volume up works, but I can't get it turned back down

Really - you're missing out on the glamour if you don't travel.