The Biltmore -- Oklahoma Style

So I suckered for a name.

I am in Oklahoma City about twice a year to work with a company that owns numerous nursing homes in Oklahoma. I usually stay at a Hampton Inn which is about five minutes from the corporate headquarters, where I usually work. I primarily do education here and we use a conference room at the headquarters. Last year when I worked with a bigger group that needed a larger room, we met off site at a very nice Best Western, but I still stayed at the Hampton.

So now for this year. The initial plan was to use the Best Western again, but they ended up not having a room large enough and the event was moved to the Biltmore Hotel. I decided to change my reservation to the Biltmore thinking it would be a bit more cushy than the Hampton (after all, it's a Biltmore). I'm picturing a large several story hotel with room service, restaurants, and plush.

Not so.

I didn't bother with the GPS as the address was Meridian Street. This street runs straight from the airport and is called 'Hotel Way' by the locals. It's the street where the Hampton is located and everyother hotel you can think of. I drove along looking for the Biltmore and couldn't find it. I was starting to be concerned and decided if I hadn't found it by the time I reached McDonald's I would stop and get the GPS out of the trunk. Wonder of Wonders....it was right across the street from McDonald's and was a two story motel, NOT the Biltmore I had imagined. Granted it was large, consisting of three two story buildings, three swimming pools and a tennis court. My room was clean and comfortable and the mattress was wonderful. It just wasn't what I had in mind when the name was 'Biltmore'.

And they even gave me a free drink coupon. Only problem was that when I went to cash it in, the only kind of wine they had was 'preimum' Sutter Home. I decided to find a different restaurant where the wine list was a little more appealing.

When I returned to the 'hotel' I realized I left my key card in my room. I truged to the front desk to get a new one. She said she would have maintenance meet me at my room to let me in. I asked why she couldn't just make me a new card. The answer....."There is a $1 charge for a new key card."

I wondered why the cost of the room was only $72 per night. That should have been a clue. You get what you pay for.