This trip down to catch a performance of Chess is one for which flying makes no sense... with no Saturday-night stay and only six days advance, the fare on DL is $666, compared to ground fare of $55... 61.1 cents per mile is a really bad price.

I arrive and pick up a local paper. Reading to the entertainment pages, and find out there actually won't be a matinee! Now time to scramble for a hotel room... not easy with the Vikes in town. Try a Days downtown, am told they're sold out, but the 800# says they have rooms. Not that I'd pay $79 for a Days anyway, but I find one at the airport for $59.

I pass the day at the library and Underground (where I saw someone preaching a violent anti-white message... I left there with all deliberate speed). Arrive at the theater, and... **there was a matinee that afternoon!** I've just burned $59 plus 13% tax for bloody nothing! Not to mention extra food and a more expensive ticket to the play. Fortunately, Express Shuttle has an 800 number and no change fees... it's a good way to make an ATL/CHA or BNA/CHA run (although I usually prefer Greyhound to BNA).

The play was good. A few glaring blunders in the book that you would not notice unless you actually played chess, but you didn't need to know the game. The biggest rounds of applause, oddly, were for two of the lesser-known numbers, "Pity the Child" and "Nobody's Side." And entirely too many couples there--if I don't find a gal soon, I may take up flying SU and KE...

Hotel was OK, but I don't care for the part of town (Best Road)--will stay at the Courtyard in Hapeville next Friday pre-departure for Montreal. Get a driver who does a parody of the airline safety briefing on the way home, and cancel plans to go to another play.

silverpie, let us know how the C'yard in Hapeville is. I'm staying there in Oct.

My feeling is the C'yards are the most consistent properties of any hotel chain. I'm also impressed with Residence Inn (where I am now). This one just opened 3 weeks ago & it's great. Only $2 more per night than the C'yard I stayed in last night.

Thanks silverpie. Better next time for sure!

shadow- Can't agree more regarding your comment on Courtyards consistency. It may be somewhat of an understatement. It seems they are all the same. When you wake up, you beter already know where you are because you can't tell by looking around! I only wish that you got Marquis credit. While I prefer the full service, I would stay much more often if this was the case!

I agree. I've stayed at dozens of Courtyards and one Courtyard many times and always the room is exactly the same. I know what to expect. Good, quality service at a reasonable price. They really come through on that, however, as doc mentioned the lack of upgrades or any sort of recognition for Marriott Rewards members kinda sucks. Oh well.

There are one, or perhaps two, Courtyards now in Manhattan which must have a different layout since they converted existing buildings!

But basically, I agree with the comments about Courtyards and their consistency. I have never had a problem or a surprise in one.

I would not mind the lack of Marquis credit for Courtyards, except that 36 nights is an exceptionally high threshold for Courtyard Gold. I mean, even Delta Privilege Gold only requires 30! And the consistency certainly has its merits (especially to those of us for whom a reasonable price is critical)--a broken remote and some burned-out lights are the only problems I've ever had there (and that the only time I ever paid three figures for one!)