We arrived on Friday night and had dinner with our west coast reps and the rest of the guests. Erica (my old boss & now good friend) & I turned in early as we both saw the weekend as a chance to relax for once since we were away from the hustle&bustle that is our lives in San Francisco. The next day we had our day at the spa. I got myself a mud wrap which I have always wanted to try. The treatment consisted of a mud wrap for 40 mins, then a hot bubble bath and finally a 30 minute massage. I can definitely understand the concept of spaing but honestly I didn't feel much different afterwards...at least not $200 worth of relaxed. Now that could be because spaing for a day can't reverse the effects of 6 months of drinking, long work hours and post-midnight bedtimes. It could also be because I spent my hour and a half talking politics with my massuse (I have a problem with the whole idea of "relaxing" when someone else is either lurking in the room or rubbing my leg). In spite of not feeling as relaxed as those who seemed drunk when they exited their rooms, it was a nice experience.
The rest of the afternoon Erica & I enjoyed the spas, saunas and pools the resort offered. While tanning by the pool we decided to grab some snacks and I developed a mad craving for a pina colada. Unfortunately the spa cafe only offered beer and wine, so my only option through which to obtain a pina colada was to order it via room service and have it delivered to the pool. Even though the receptionist told me there was a chance delivery could take "up to 45 minutes" I figured it was worth it seeing a wheat grass shake probably wouldn't kick the craving.
40 minutes later my pina colada arrived. The server handed me the check and I almost choked on the french fry I was chewing when I opened the book. I quickly signed and handed it back trying not to show my astonishment and hoping that he would exit stage left quickly after flashing his resort-style smile. Once gone I looked at Erica, "Guess how much...". She actually guessed right. Can you?
Nevermind, I'll just show you...
I mean, seriously??! Do you see all those freakin' fees? And then 20% gratuity? I will say the pina colada was the best I've had, but it's wasn't $18 worth of good. Lordy. I just don't get why everything has to be so expensive when you're at an expensive hotel. I mean I understand high priced rooms but why does everything else have to cost double? It's like if you're rich you're supposed to be okay with getting hosed. It's like just because you have a lot of money in your bank account you shouldn't care that you're getting charged $10 for a piece of toast.
Someday I want to be able to afford as many $18 pina coladas as I like, but I don't want to find myself thinking it's okay to charge $18 for it. It's not. It's ridiculous. As much as I love the spa and the luxury of 5 star resorts, and as much as I know I have the desire to live like the "rich and famous", I don't want to end up with the mentality of the "rich and famous". Unfortunately if I accomplish this I will be adorned with that oh so famous title often tossed around by skilled staff in the backrooms of all high-end resorts: "cheapskate". The exact term which probably popped into the mind of the server when he saw my face as I read the bill and when he noticed I hadn't tipped anything above the 20% that had already been included.
But man was that pina colada good...
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