Blenko in the Windows Doesn't Always Mean Quality Elsewhere

Life is simple - thinking is complicated. Peter Cajander

Holiday Inn University Center - Pittsburgh, Pa.
When we checked in my thoughts were, its an over priced HOLIDAY INN (over $140 single room) - but BRIDGES the bar/restaurant had a wonderful collection of vintage Blenko Glass from the 70s and 80s, probably 20 very colorful pieces housed in a very large window shelf designed to hold the glass. We spoke with the manager about the Glass - it seems the General Manager was a collector of 'colored glass'. The restaurant manager knew very little about the glass or its value. We were feeling much better about the hotel. Vintage Blenko in the bar, my thoughts were this place has great Karma.... Miss B and I enjoyed lunch as we admired the reflection of the BLENKO in the sunlight.

Within 3 hours of checking in we received a call: Ms. Homburg? Do you have a dog in your room? Yes I do. We have a policy against dogs at the Holiday Inn. Since when? I ask. Miss B has stayed in the Holiday Inn on many occasions. Well it seems 2 months ago according to the Hotel manager ALL HOLIDAY INNS ARE DOG FREE ENVIRONMENTS*. He then told me if I expected to spend the night, Miss B would have to go!

While we have been ask to pay a pet deposit (up to $100 ), Miss B has never been ask to leave a hotel. At this point, I must admit the manager was nice, he gave me a list of twenty kennels in the Pittsburgh area.

A BICHON CLUB of Western PA member recommended , THE GOLDEN BONE PET RESORT, after many calls, they agreed to open on a holiday, and accept Miss B. My vet from Charleston agreed to go to his office and fax B's health records so that she might get into the GOLDEN BONE. So many wonderful people working together to assure Ms B was in a safe environment.

The GOLDEN BONE PET RESORT is a lovely place, heated floors, central heat and air conditioning, TV and radio, grooming on the premises. Three exercise periods per day. The attendant used B's favorite words "cute, sweet, darling" when speaking to her. I left feeling Miss B would be very well taken care of.

My trip was saved by the acts of many good Samaritans.

Returned to the Holiday Inn University Center to discover the pool, sauna, and exercise rooms were CLOSED also without any notice....just a hand printed sign...saying closed due to unforeseen circumstances. What a check in day! I will not be returning to the Holiday Inn University Center on my next visit to Pittsburgh -

If you plan to visit Pittsburgh with your pet, may I recommend the Wyndham, Doubletree,
Westin or the Marriott Residence Inn where I am happy to report Miss B is an accepted guest (though after this weekend she may demand to stay at the doggie-spa!).

HJH


*in defense of The Holiday Inn, this new pet policy is listed on their website. Having stayed there before without issue, it simply had not occur to me to check again.