das@eplunix.UUCP (David Steffens) (05/26/88)
Just spent a few bucks on long distance calls to SF trying to make a reservation for the summer usenix conference at some of the less expensive hotels near the Hilton. Seems they are all "closed this summer for renovations". Well, I might expect that from one hotel, or two even, but *three* is *very* suspicious. And at the *height* of the tourist season, no less. More curious still is the fact that I was only told about the "closings" *after* I said *when* I wanted to book a reservation! Well, as an aging 60's hippy, I have enough experience with this kind of thing to know when I'm licked. The last thing I need after a 6-hour flight from BOS to SFA is to discover that my reservation has "mysteriously vanished". So I have decided that the better part of valor is to cough up the extra $15-20 a night for a sure thing at the Hilton. Still, I'm left wondering if these sudden "closings" have more to do with to the fact that the summer usenix conference has been scheduled during Gay Pride Week than the fact than three of SF's cheap hotels are in need of some renovation. Note: hotels contacted were El Cortez, Mark Twain and Hotel Cecil. -- {harvard,mit-eddie,think}!eplunix!das David Allan Steffens 243 Charles St., Boston, MA 02114 Eaton-Peabody Laboratory (617) 573-3748 Mass. Eye & Ear Infirmary