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| The play area behind Paw House. |
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| Another wonderful trip to The Paw House Inn. This time we rented a minivan and loaded it up with dogs and people. I wrote a poem to commemorate the occaision. Click on this Link to read the poem. The weekend started with some real excitement as we pulled up to the Alamo Rent-a-car the morning of August 26th at 8:05AM to pick up the rental I had reserved about a month earlier. No one was there, but there was a note saying they would be back soon. Luckily, my wonderful Uncle Charlie was cautious and waited with me. Eventually, someone showed and looked puzzled when I got out of the car to follow him into the place. He said the words I most feared, "You don't have a reservation." As my blood pressure zoomed to the brink of stroke, I cracked an angry smile and said, "I sure do, and you better have a van for me." It's seemed not to bother him to tell me, "We closed 2 days ago." He didn't think it was much of a concern. Of course it wasn't to him, he didn't have a 4 day weekend planned, reservations paid, 4 people waiting to get on their way, vacation days used up...what did he care, what did ALAMO care. He made a slight effort when he called to other agencies in Patchogue and Smithtown (how convenient, only 30 miles away) and managed to track down an SUV. I left their office seething with hate and anger. Never in my life had I experienced such utter lack of customer service. I understand a business closing, I don't understand them not notifying clients. It's no wonder they were not successful. As my dear Uncle C drove me (the now raving lunatic) east on Sunrise Highway we passed an Enterprise Rental agency.He told me to call them. I was not rational, but he was, and he had read the phone number (1-800-rent-1-car) and told me to try. I was not optimistic because a month earlier it was difficult to find an agency with an availble minivan with advance notice. What were my chances to find one on such short notice. Well, needless to say, Enterprise came through for me and they exceeded my expectations. We got a 2003 Grand Caravan, clean, new and beautiful in about 20 minutes. When I return the thing on Monday, they even opened early and got me going to work smooth as silk. As for our weekend, it was wonderful. The long drive was made easier my good company and well behaved canines. The rooms at the inn are beautiful and comfy and Mitch and Jen (our hosts) are the sweetest folks. Now there is a couple that knows a few things about customer service. The rain only damped our friday, and we got to visit Burlington on Saturday. We stoped by the Vermont Teddy Bear Company and snacked at Dakin Farms, both located on Route 7. The only disappointment was with didn't have another Alien Encounter this time. I guess that only happens when you room the mountains in pitch black. Coming home I shared my driving with Tammi and Theresa (seen pictured above with their girls, Domino and Cookie). As always, the drive back to civilization always seems longer, and we did detour around Queens for awhile but in the end we all survived unscathed. As usual, I'm looking forward to my return trip to Vermont. So remember Friends, DON'T USE ALAMO RENTAL CARS, Enterprise is the way to go for rental cars. Please spread the word not to rent from ALAMO,you'll never know how they may screw up next. |