Why is it that the travel industry drops the ball on the small things and somethings work? Just returned from Rio. Delta flight 61 was typical these days -- too small seats, terrible food. Upon arrival our plane load waited over an hour to go through customs (only two officers were present). My driver was awaiting with name sign in arrivals hall (good price secured over the internet). My first hotel, Othon Savoy, was purchased over SkyAuction. This Tourist class hotel is a couple streets off the Copa beach, a bit seedy, the room must have been the worst in the house -- on a light shaft, very small. The auction price I paid ended up being a bit more than the current "sale" room rate. Check-in was flawless. They didn't even ask for my voucher. At check-out there was no problem. Purchased four city tours over the net. One of the local agents got confused over the fact that during my stay I changed to another hotel (as planned). One tour cancelled (in spite of telling me the day prior that it was on). They said they would send an email stating a credit to my credit card -- this never arrived, now I'll have to go to the bother of disputing this charge. The second hotel, Rio Othon Place, was also purchased over SkyAuction. It is reportedly a 4 star lux hotel, but it is not -- more Motel 6 standard. The room was the worst, moldly--I came home with some breathing problems, poor a/c, dirty, soiled carpet, seedy. It took four hours to get me into a room, after two promised times fell through. At check out the clerk first posted a daily room tax -- fortunately I had a copy of the SkyAuction voucher, clearly stating "paid in full." Seeing that he removed those charges. The return Delta flight 60 was ok, no window seatmate so a bit of extra room. Yet the seat seemed designed for discomfort. The meal was terrible -- the worst -- chicken and rice, left it. The breakfast "snack" was also not worth opening. Arriving back at ATL and customs -- our plane load waited half an hour for the customs officers to come on duty. It was frustrating standing there, after a sleepless night on the plane watching these guys sit and chat in their offices waiting to clock in!!!! Seems like someone could figure out when a plan in scheduled to arrive and then to regularly schedule a shift to be in place upon its arrival!!!

yikes - sounds awful.

Hope your travel is better over the holidays....