Sarah WallockThis article is part of my new series, Travel Misadventures, which features anecdotes about when travel doesn’t go as planned.
The Brick House by the Freeway
When I arrived in Boston for my romantic weekend, the neighborhood around my hostel was not a tourist area to say the least. Okay that’s alright, just have an open-mind, I thought to myself. The buildings were falling apart, it smelled odd and there was a tense energy in the street, kind of like everyone was watching their back. I knew I chose the cheapest accommodation option, but it was still a hostel after all.
I arrived in the random neighborhood South of Boston, that was hugging the freeway. There were a number of signs in the parking lot. Some signs said that if I left my car there, it would get towed within the next 5 minutes. Other signs said that if my belongings were stolen, it was my responsibility. That didn’t make me feel secure whatsoever. The hostel door was locked and no one was inside reception. That’s weird. I did not feel safe in the slightest, so I locked myself in my car, great start. The driver’s seat was the last place I wanted to be spending time following my 3-hour drive. I called the hotel from my car and no one responded. 15 minutes passed. I waited for any sign of life. Bustling city? More like abandoned suburb…
Finally, I was let into the old, but not old-in-a-charming-way, building and now I was in the back of a line of about 6 people waiting to check-in. Where did they just come from!? My gut turned and I felt like I needed to escape. Something just didn’t feel right. I couldn’t help imagining how my dreamy romantic weekend with my partner in Boston would actually look like: probably commuting in and out from this random brick shack outside of the city and not feeling particularly safe or relaxed.
Young People Trying to Travel Cheaply
Searching for an affordable place to stay in Boston, like New York, LA or any major city was a nightmare. Airbnb has gotten so expensive that hotels sometimes are actually the more affordable option. I wanted to save money and simply needed a roof over my head for the night. I found the cheapest option in Boston. Many times, I’ve been in this mindset where I plan to spend all day outside enjoying the city. A hostel bed is the perfect compromise. The hostel didn’t look too shabby in the photos and was located a short T-ride from the city. It actually looked quite quaint and homely in the photos. The hostel would be a ways outside of Boston, but was totally game for the adventure and it was worth it for the cheap price.
Then I experienced the hostel. For a short 48-hours, it wasn’t worth it to take a gamble on this place. Upon my request, the receptionist at the hostel refunded my stay and I drove as fast as I could back into central Boston. I booked the cheapest room at the Marriott through Booking.com. I had never been so grateful to be so basic.
Escaping the Mundane
There’s a wave of hipsters and retro-travelers who will go to extremes to ensure their travel experience is authentic, off-the-beaten path and artsy. A holiday like no others! The multinational mainstream hotel chains with white linens, breakfast buffets, and incredibly sterile interiors have gone out of fashion. Consistency is key, but bland is boring.
Usually, I Yelp the heck out of cities looking for the best arepas, freshest coffee, best hikes and find the most hip and affordable accommodation I can. Yes, I too am guilty as charged for wanting the most unique experiences. I walked in the Marriott with my head down, embarrassed to be seen. Embarrassed that my “cool” and “homely” hostel on the fringe of Boston didn’t go as planned and that my attempt to save money resulted in spending much more money.
Boston’s Theater district. Image Credit: Boston Magazine
As a kid, when my family would visit my grandma in Palm Springs, we, and the rest of LA, would stay at the Marriott. From the lazy-river waterpark to large piña coladas, I despised the place. I absolutely dreaded staying there. Something about the whole thing was so cringe-worthy. The hotel felt like a fake world, not representative of Palm Springs or even creative in the slightest. Very quickly, I shed my judgement towards the curated hotel chain experience that I had been harboring for years, and dove in head first.
Loving the Mundane
Within seconds of getting back to the perfectly manicured room, I cuddled up in the fluffy bed and lathered all of the free lotions on myself and made a peppermint tea. Holiday had finally begun! I popped down to Blaze pizza and brought a pizza back to my room. My little hotel oasis could have existed in Boston, Seoul, or Sydney and looked exactly the same. I munched on my Blaze pizza that I could have gotten at any one of their chains in New York, LA, or Houston. But I was in pure bliss. The comforts of familiar food and a clean and safe hotel room felt especially comfortable after my first awkward mishap at the hostel. I even joined the Marriott loyalty program after the trip (they forced me at check out, but I’m not complaining!).
Later, in our trip, we did get to do all the cool “off-the-beaten” path stuff too like walk around unexpected neighborhoods, duck into cool bookstores, go to an underground tiki-inspired bar, eat late-night dumplings, and check out the nightlife and live music scene in Fenway. Next time I plan a trip, rather than finding the cheapest and most inconvenient accommodation, I might give those old-school hotel chains a second look. Hipster, artsy, niche and cheap Airbnbs and hostels are cool and all, but man do I love the Marriott.
