We just returned from a family trip to Seattle and the surrounding areas and I am so behind in my bills, work, housework, unpacking, etc., but thought I would take a break for an update via installments on this trip.
I have to say I learned quite a bit on this trip.....I plan so well in advance to accomodate my family as best as I can - maybe to a fault sometimes, as I believe at times 'no good deed goes unpunished'.
Plan:
With coordinating work schedules and flights and credits and free tickets, it worked out that Steve and I flew up to Seattle a few hours earlier than the kids so I decided we would take the car seats for the boys and get the rental car, load in the car seats, drive to the hotel and get checked in and then return to the airport and pick them all up, drop off the boys and K & B at the Marriott and head to my nieces with A & S for the night. And, if we had some down time have a bite to eat. Sounds good right?
Actual:
Good old Southwest arrived right on time (they are the GREATEST airline) and we walked over to AVIS. I booked our van through Priceline.com and when I booked the flights I could only get them a few hours earlier than the car. I tried tirelessly to change the times on line and via the phone and received no help from Avis or Priceline and kept hearing 'just explain it when you arrive and they will help you'. Well that was a CROCK! The AVIS counter clerk could see our reservation however could not pull it up until midnight (it was about 8 p.m.) so we asked for manager help and he said the same, then we saw 2 mini vans in their lot and asked/begged if we could have one of those and they said no, on hold for other clients. I went to every rental counter there to try to secure a van and none were available. They said only Priceline could make the change and Priceline told me if I made a change I would forfeit over $500.00 in charges. Ugh....so we had to call upon my niece to come down to the airport and pick us up with a slight nod from the manager of Avis to come back around 10:30 when the kids arrived and he should be able to release the van. So she picked us up, we got the hotel room and we did get to enjoy some time with our beautiful niece and headed back to the airport at 10:30. In which, Avis, said no way - not until after midnight would they release the van. UGH. So my niece took K and me and the boys to the hotel, Steve took A, S, & B via the hotel shuttle and we met up at the Marriott. Got the kids settled and then we went back to my nieces for the night.
Not the kind of start to our relaxing trip I had hoped for......we have traveled the world with fewer problems and I will never ever ever ever give AVIS or Priceline.com any more business.
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