Hotel Adventure in Milwaukee

Several years go, Maddie, Jim and I were working in Milwaukee. We often tried different hotels for variety and to experiment. I had eaten several times at the Knickerbocker on the Lake. The food was quite good, it was in an excellent neighborhood on the edge of the lake.

I inquired and found it was also a hotel. The units were owned by individuals that then made them available for rental. I was assured the units all met quality standards so that we would be pleased with any unit that was selected for us. They were described as elegantly decorated one bedroom units.

After the three of us checked in, it became very clear that elegant is in the eye of the beholder. Jim was fortunate to end up with a unit that was actually quite nice. His had a bit of a 50's retro feel and he was pleased with his unit. His even had an iron.

Maddie's unit was a horror. The bedspread had a huge stain, the pictures were hung just inches from the ceiling as if the owner were a giant. The microwave was blocked by a cabinet. It was not an elegant experience for her.

As I recall, my unit was very drab with lots of brown. It also was not very conveniently arranged and I seemed to be rearranging constantly. It was not a place I would want to stay again.

The elevators were a bit of a challenge also. Everything about the place seemed to be a bit shabby and run down.

Parking was paid in advance, but you weren't guaranteed a spot. That made for interesting returns from work each day.

We learned our lesson that week and were much more careful about hotels in the future. It was very much a case of buyer beware.