And more hotels chime in with support...

Countdown - 31 days

As you've already seen, I've had a good response to my request for hotels to put me up for a night to support the CCFA. Well, the hits keep on coming!

Today I got an email from the Outlaw Inn, in Kalispell, Montana (Barb Smith) inviting me to bunk with them for the night. I also got a phone call from a wonderfully bubbly Jessie at the Treasure Cove Hotel (and Casino!) in Prince George, British Columbia, offering the same.

I cannot thank these forward-thinking hotels enough for having the generosity, and foresight to know that good news travels fast. Obviously, I'll be blogging about these facilities and letting you know what to be sure and experience while a guest. Clearly, I won't have time to experience everything the hotel offers, but I'll certainly hit the highlights and let you know about the most crucial areas. And it's a win-win anyway: The hotel can write this off (if they choose) as a charitable donation, and I can donate the money I would have spent in their facility directly to the CCFA.

I'm not a complete shill though. If I should experience something that no traveler should have to endure, I'll let you know that as well. But for the most part, I'm a pretty easy-going guest. If I find something wrong, I'll let the hotel management know and give them a chance to make it right. No one deserves to be hammered by a mistake or two.

As I started compiling my list of hotels to contact for this arrangement, I started with the most reasonably-rated ones, in terms of price. After all, most travelers are going to book a room at a place that will leave them money to use on vacation. No sense only contacting the hoity-toity places and tell you about them if chances are you wouldn't be staying there anyway. It's "common man experiences general purpose hotel and tells you what you can expect". That's the most helpful to you and to me!

Anyway, back to our stars of the show so far today: Barb at the Outlaw Inn was wonderful about getting me additional information. Jessie (gosh, I hope I spelled that correctly) was even insistent that I travel carefully! Both of these ladies seem to be examples of great customer service - and I'm not even a customer yet! And I don't mean to perpetuate a stereotype, but those darned Canadians are just so nice!

So, I am hoping that I'll hear back from hotels in the other 9 locations to help join the fray and make for a wonderful donation. I actually am in need of a second night in Prince George (staying there twice - once on the way up and once on the way back). I don't think it's fair or right to impose on the Treasure Cove again, do you?

If you have any connections, I'm looking for hotels in the following cities to respond (with the exception of those noted):

1. St. Cloud, Minnesota
2. Dickinson, North Dakota
3. Shelby, Montana
4. Kalispell, Montana - Thank you Outlaw Inn!
   
5. Bellingham, Washington
6. Prince George, BC - Thank you Treasure Cove Hotel!
   
7. Stewart, BC / Hyder, Alaska
   
8. Prince George, BC
   
9. Calgary, AB
   
10. Regina, SK
    
11. Grand Forks, North Dakota
    
12. Madison, Wisconsin - Thank you Comfort Inn - DeForest!

And I should take a moment to thank another hotel in the Madison area that responded just hours too late. I had already confirmed with the Comfort Inn - DeForest when the Best Western Countryside Inn in Lodi, Wisconsin. I'm hoping it's not necessary, but if need be, I'll re-route to hit Lodi on the way out in order to take advantage of their hospitality. Thank you to Jaimin Choski at Best Western! Your offer is greatly appreciated!

It's been bright spots and rainbows all around lately. Let's hope it continues!

By the way, if you read this in your email and not on the blog, you dunno what all you are missing: Click here.