CAN SOMEONE STOP THE FUN, WE ARE IN HAWAII NEXT

We are off once again. Back into Nadi and on another plane, this time to Hawaii. We were going to have another 10 days there before heading back to Canada and then seeing what my next job might look like. Oh was I in for a surprise, but that I will go into later. We had just about had all of the adventures that we could handle in the beautiful South Pacific island of Fiji. We had been on the road now for a little over 3 weeks and were finally starting to get over the stress of work from the last three years.

My usual calm demeanour was kicking in and I must say, I was the easy going one of this group. Nothing stressed me out! Deysi as usual had everything planned to perfection and it all went off without a hitch. She had recovered from her Sea Lice episode, Ange was over her seasickness, Ron was ready for a new hotel and pool. What could be nicer than the Sheraton in Honolulu? The flight we took was an afternoon affair that stretched into the evening and by the time we landed in Hawaii, it was about 10 at night. We rented a car and I calmly negotiated the island traffic, with nerves of steel. Ahhh finally our hotel. What could go wrong. Nothing apparently!

Before departure from New Zealand, at the outset of our journey, Deysi had booked all of our travel through a local agent in Rotorua. While she was in the process, the young lady asked her if she wanted the Sheraton upgrade card, for our stay in Hawaii. For an extra $25.00, you were given an upgrade by Sheraton Hotels that, upon check-in would upgrade your room from the city side of the hotel to the ocean side (depending upon availability). Well I was not a fan of these promo’s, however the agent convinced Deysi that she should do it. What the hell another $25.00, didn’t seem like much in the grand scheme of our travel adventure.

So, armed with our card we forge on in to the Sheraton Waikiki, smack on Waikiki Beach. It was getting late, everyone was bitchy, except me of course, and lo and behold on entering the lobby we were confronted with a plane load of Japanese tourists all checking in ahead of us. Geezus, one clerk and one thousand bags and people strewn all over the lobby. A bubble of gas welled up in the pit of my stomach, the precursor to a major fit coming on. What can you do but swear a bit and wait your turn. Ron was sleeping on her suitcase, Ange was fussing a bit but Deysi had a look of resigned patience and a firm grip on her upgrade card. After what seemed like 2 hours we finally made it to the head of the line. We are next.

Up to the desk we go and Deysi presents her registration and flops her upgrade card on top of it. I am standing a bit back, so I can’t say something mean to the poor, overworked and stressed, desk clerk. But my look, probably said it all. He then goes into a furious round of checking his records, flapping paper around and scurrying back and forth into his little office. You can see he is about to tell us that we have probably wasted $25.00 on the upgrade card. The minutes are ticking away like hours, my impatience is slipping, but Deysi is standing firmly in front of this guy. He knows she’s not about to go down easy. He apologizes and disappears once again into his office, now he is on the phone.

Geezus, I know what’s coming next, he’s about to tell us that they have overbooked, but he has got us a room in the Motel 6 down the street. I’m building myself up for a major swearing fit, when he says “I am so sorry, but all the upgrade rooms are taken, we are full on the ocean side and I only have two rooms available”. He continues “one is the Royal Suite and the other is the Presidential Suite”. I’m going to put you into the Presidential Suite for your stay if that is alright with yourselves.” “Hell yaaaa”, I hear myself blurt out. With that he checks us in, gets the bellhop and instructs him that “Mr. and Mrs. Heald will be staying in the Presidential Suite for the next while, can you please show then the way”. He then turns to us and says “enjoy your stay”, with a big ol’ shit eating grin on his face!

Off we go across the lobby, past the elevator bank and into a private lobby that had two elevators in it. One for each suite. The bellhop is looking at us to see if he recognizes us from the movies or tv. Surely we must be famous. Oh if he only knew, that we had a budget room booked and, that, with our $25.00 card got us into the big time. Up we go, right to the top. Ron is fully engaged now and ready for some royal treatment. This suite was magnificent. it covered two sides of the top floor, with balconies off each. two big bedrooms a big fold down bed, a bar and a reception area in the middle that would host a reception for fifty.

Finally, we are home! Ron was made for this life. Ange wanted a bed, she was pooped. I am in shock, Deysi has made her $25.00 pay off about 100 times over. She is so happy. All of the sudden the long wait at check-in seems worth it. Now for a sit on the balcony and watch the waves and the lights. Amazing. One of our best hotel stays ever.