The GCW Tour, Spain & Morocco: More Observations on the IKEA of Hotels

Not that I had any choice in the matter, but I'm learning some new wrinkles with staying at the HotelBed4U. It appears the hotel markets itself as the "smart, cheap" alternative to other hotels.

So, whose primary objective is a cheap place to stay? Aside from my parents, who took "frugal" to insane limits (and haven't I spent a lot of time trying to forget that indoctrination), people with no money.

And who has no money? Students.

We've come downstairs to more oddball conversations at the reception desk. There were the two guys, with their backpacks and skateboards, trying to check in using one of their "friend's mom's credit card number" to pay for the room. Then there was the girl, upset about something she was "overcharged" for who, for awhile there seemed to be talking to somebody else at reception every time we came down.

At forty-seven, there's a reason I don't generally travel like a student. Being forced into that environment has been educational, er, shocking? disappointing? 

Last story: as we we wandering around Pamplona we fell in behind a group of guys of varying nationalities, most of whom sounded like refugees from Bill & Ted's Excellent Adventure. One conversation that emerged from the din was an American kid explaining to a Spanish kid that the school he'd just graduated from cost $60k a year. All I could think was, I hope his parents feel they made a good investment. The niece was kinder. She thought he might not actually be an idiot, but just choosing to present as one given the audience. 

I'm turning into such a geezer...