Lakeside Motel - Pig Roast

[Jeff]

Did anyone that stayed or that has stayed in the past at the lakeside motel in Harrison Michigan ever have any problem, trouble, or additional charges billed to you that you found a bit odd, unreasonable or even bogus?  I'm asking to find out if there is a trend or we have just a one time incident going on.

[Texas Ranger]

Not yet, but will check the credit card bill.

[JV]

We have stayed there every year, no problems.  My wife just did a phone check of our credit card, no bogus charge.  Several forum members stayed there.

[Dan_Shade]

I have had no problems.

[Jeff]

I'm not going to recommend them next year. In fact, I'm hoping anyone that has stayed there in the past will consider finding an alternative place to stay after what they did, and how they acted with both the guest, and myself. We got the charge reversed, after quite a verbal tussle with a couple of people who know nothing about customer service.  I am relieved to hear that this is an isolated incident though.

  That's all I'll add for the moment. I'll wait to see if the guest wants to elaborate, but this incident convinced me that the Lakeside will never ever again be in my good graces.

[Jeff]

There was an attempt to educate me on things about hotel guests, via information "shared" by the lakeside "management"

1. If you accuse a guest of something, the angrier they get and the more fuss they put up about paying the additional charges, the more apt they are to be guilty of the offense.

I guarantee in this instance, I became the angriest party, and I never set foot in the place, so that throws that theory out the window.

2. Guests that appear to be more affluent are more likely to dispute charges.

Yea, whatever.

3. They NEVER miss anything when they do a pre-room inspection and the hired help is beyond reproach.   

[pigman]

2. Guests that appear to be more affluent are more likely to dispute charges.

I just knew I shouldn't have worn my high class bluejeans.
Folks, my wife and I are the bad guest that damaged the chair in the Lakeside motel, that is they said we did and charged us for the damage. They said we burned a hole in the back of a chair with a curling iron that we didn't have with us. When my wife called to inquire about the charges they acted as though they knew exactly what happened. My wife is usually the calm one so I let her make all calls about money matters. This time she was so worked up after talking to them that she wanted to drive back to Michigan and choke the person on the other end of the phone.
This is the second time we have stayed at Lakeside and except for the alleged damage everything has been fine. The showers are tiny and ours leaked this year, but otherwise the rooms were clean and confortable.
I don't think the management will let us stay with them in the future. We are so highly distructive.
Bob the distructive one

[Jeff]

I was ready to strangle the same guy, then the owner called me back to give me my lesson in motel management.  She wasn't quite as obnoxious as the manager, but obviously still willing to trade off $25 for all the past and present guests that we might send them.

Her reason for calling was basically to tell me that their customers are always wrong, but they wanted to refund the $25 anyhow in the name of good relations and so they could put this all behind them.  HA!

[DanG]

It's behind them, all right!

[WH_Conley]

Gee, Bob, can't let ya go anywhere.

[Jeff]

Maybe the heat is getting to them as there seems to be a trend here since July.

http://www.tripadvisor.com/Hotel_Review-g42285-d754248-Reviews-Lakeside_Motel_Cottages-Harrison_Michigan.html

[SwampDonkey]

Nothing to complain about here. I had a motel on wheels in the back seat of the RAV. 

Pigman, DanG said he'd never sleep in the back of a Toyota, but he slept in his Chevy van.      He kicked Phish to the side to a tent who got waken by a loon and some thunder and decided it was time to pack it in. 

[DanG]

It is highly unlikely that I would ever sleep in a Toyota, since I won't be owning one.   The only thing complaining about my mini-van is my back, and that is because of my own error in judgement.  Before I left home, I purposely took a nap in the car with the seat laid back, and it was comfy.  Based on that test, I decided not to bring my air mattress.  I found that the seat isn't near as comfy after doing 900 miles in one day in the same seat!

[Weekend_Sawyer]

 That Pigman and the Witch, I knew they were trouble!

 No problems at the lakeside for me.

Jon

[pigman]

My witch and I think we have it figured out about the damaged chair. After the long trip to Michigan the exhaust on her broom was very hot and she must have parked it too close to the chair.

[SwampDonkey]

I just think you play rough.

[Warbird]

!!!

[JV]

Hmmm.  This may explain the chanting I thought I heard during the night along with the smell of something burning.   

[pigman]

Na JV, the burning smell must have come from our room, but the  chanting probably came from Dan Shade's room.

[Dan_Shade]

it was all of those beans I ate....

[Jeff]

I wondered what happened to all them beans.  30 pounds of baked beans went fast. Next year it'll be more beans less salad.   I like beans. 

[D Hagens]

Maybe the heat is getting to them as there seems to be a trend here since July.

http://www.tripadvisor.com/Hotel_Review-g42285-d754248-Reviews-Lakeside_Motel_Cottages-Harrison_Michigan.html

 I just read this link and what's been written here and I'm amazed. I guess the place must have a lot of tourists that come, get burnt and just forget about things.
 This is the beauty of the internet and forums where people can vent about their experiences so others don’t have to go through the same thing.

[DanG]

It might be interesting to watch that site and see if the burnt chair shows up again.

Jeff, them were some good beans.  Did you make them, or buy them?

[Jeff]

Both.    I start with a simply bulk base canned bean then I have several ingredients I use to Kick em into something better, then they are baked for 4 hours.   When we have family food events, I am the designated bean guy.

[DanG]

Well, ya done good!  I count that as you having made them.  Lots of folks just buy the finished product from a deli or restaurant.  I'll hafta snoop on your recipe next time.

[Dan_Shade]

those beans were definately good!  I went back for a second plate of them, and pretty much scraped clean one of the trays!

[Brad_bb]

While some things by themselves can be overlooked, there does seem to be a pattern of reviews for that place.  Even if you took some with a grain of salt, there is too much to ignore.  No understanding of customer service and how to handle issues.  Thank goodness for internet reviews.

[WDH]

I noticed Dan going back for more of them beans, but I did not say anything because us Southerners is polite  .

[D Hagens]

Well said Brad, funny thing is that with all the information at our finger tips now a days why don’t people take a few mins before they book a place and do an internet check?
 Before the internet did we not spend a lot more time talking to our neighbours and friends about recommending places to stay?

[tonich]

Nothing to complain about here. I had a motel on wheels in the back seat of the RAV. 

I'm glad you made it for the Pig Roast this year, but did you travel all the way to and back by your RAV? 

[SwampDonkey]

We need to do them beans up right in a hole with fire. Bean hole yellow eye or soldier beans.  They tasted fine as they were, but there is a right way to do beans.

[SwampDonkey]

I'm glad you made it for the Pig Roast this year, but did you travel all the way to and back by your RAV? 

It was either that or walk.  It was 2 days to the Sault and about 4 hours to Jeff's.

There was a family of folks hauling a boat across Ontario from Massachusetts.

[Cedarman]

Beans, Beans, 5 a quart,
the more you eat the more you toot,
the more you toot the better you feel,
So, lets have beans for every meal.

[Brad_bb]

I check the net for reviews most of the time before I use a new business.  I also leave reviews for both good and bad service.

[tonich]

It was either that or walk.  It was 2 days to the Sault and about 4 hours to Jeff's.

There was a family of folks hauling a boat across Ontario from Massachusetts.

Sounds like fun!
I'm sure, you have had a good time. 

[RavioliKid]

Wow! The Saga of the Lakeside Motel!
I sure am glad I slept in the back of the KIA. That was the best night's sleep I had all summer. It was so cool, quiet and cozy!

I wonder if the owners are undergoing some sort of unusual stress. The really need to read those comments and compare them with the earlier ones and figure out what they are doing differently. The earlier comments were so positive and the later ones are terribly negative.

[Burlkraft]

It may be the end of a long road for them. As the economy gets worse businesses start cutting and nitpicking everything.     

I know our revenues have taken hit after hit and I am cutting and scrimping for every dollar I can.

You may see the Lakeside up for sale at some point as I may sell my business soon if things don't start improving.

Money problems do some strange things to folks.

[SwampDonkey]

I hope things turn around for you.

[WDH]

We need to do them beans up right in a hole with fire. Bean hole yellow eye or soldier beans.  They tasted fine as they were, but there is a right way to do beans.

OK, Swampdonkey, you are in charge of the beans next Pig Roast 

[DanG]

 

[SwampDonkey]

We need a big hole and a big ol' earthen crock or cast iron one, piece of that piggy back bacon and an onion, pinch of ginger, mustard and molasses or brown sugar. I'll bring the soldier beans.

I guess if ya complain about the cooking, by rights the chef hands over the apron.

Here DanG, just for laughing.

[WDH]

I look forward to the beans next year  .

[Jeff]

Well, I'm still making my beans for me! HUMPH! 

[isawlogs]

 Them beans where good , I dont see why one would want to break something that aint boke   

  A second pot of beans now would do no harm .    

[Jeff]

I got no problem with extra beans, but I may have an issue with digging a hole in the yard depending on where he needs to dig it.  I figure out in the woods right next to where he camped would be a good spot, especially if the beans turn out not to be so good, we can just fill the hole back in.

[Tom]

Oh, they'd be good alright.  I've eaten stuff that was cooked in a hole before, even a pig.  You sure have to be careful of the dirt, but a fire in a pit makes a mighty good oven.  Lots of luck finding a good bean pot, though. A cast-iron pot can run into some major coin for a cooking implement.

[Coon]

I think I see a trend coming...... The Forestry Forum Baked Bean Cookoff.   

[SwampDonkey]

Well, I might have to take a trip down to Patten, Maine and get brushed up on a few things about "bean hole beans". We used to have them out at the Demerchant picnic on the Monquart Stream, not far from here.  Mooseherder or Pappy up at Wallagrass, Maine might have some knowledge to share.  

Jeff your beans was fine, I had a couple servings. But, I know beans in a hole are pretty gooooood to.

As far as getting a pot, it has to have a good lid and no plastic obviously. Might be able to get a porcelain or earthenware crock somewhere in my travels. We had special crock pots, called bean pots here, but I doubt you could ever buy one now. Be like trying to find a butter churn crock. Most of those split because people would leave the wooden lid on to take on moisture in the basement and expand it and bust the crock.

[DanG]

I'm sure Jeff would have loved to cook the beans in a hole, but he was just a little busy, as was his shovel.

[Jeff]

Sorry, that aint Jeff however it is my shovel.

[isawlogs]

 

[DanG]

Sorry, that aint Jeff however it is my shovel.

I knew dat.  I had to use Steve, 'cause you was busy.

[Jeff]

I was. With my udder shovel.

[Tom]

I wish you would turn it up sideways and take another picture.  I've never seen an udder shovel before. 

[Jeff]

If I had turned it up, the Rhino Poop would have rolled off.  I kid you not, It had actual Rhino poop on it.

[Burlkraft]

  I have plenty more where that came from
That was a busy shovel day!

[DanG]

I think Swampdonkey should bring his own shovel to do the beans with.

[beenthere]

Back in '04, they might have been doin the beans in da ground...





They had lotsa help diggin the hole.

[Chet]

Dem beans wood-a had a slight off favor if'n we had used dat hole.      

[SwampDonkey]

Some will end up there eventually I suppose. 

[stumpy]

Proof once again that all threads eventually revert to food.

[trapper]

udder shovel:  How did this thread turn to cows? :