The Perimeter, the Peloton, and the Platinum Loiterer - Episode 222

Hello and welcome to episode 222 of Travel Stories from the Back Again and Gone Podcast. Still being recorded in the beautiful home office of Chateau’ Relaxo, FL. If you’re a new listener, welcome; and if you’re a returning listener, welcome back. I really need to pack a traveling microphone and go back to recording these in hotel rooms. Tonight it’s The Perimeter, the Peloton, and the Platinum LoitererThree trips of note since our last episode. The first was Savannah, Georgia, which is probably one of my favorite towns of all time. So much so that I have done multiple episodes focusing on the town; it started with Episode 9 - Savannah In The Summer, then Episode 102 - Summer Along The Georgia Coast, followed by Episode 124 - The Towns I Like, Savannah, GA.Even though I’ve spent the majority of my life near the ocean, I am not a quote-unquote beach person; give me the mountains, rivers, and lakes, and I am in my happy place. The CEO and I were married in Savannah at the Mansion on Forsyth Park, which was a Marriott Autograph property at the time- how appropriate for a road warrior to get married at a hotel and use points for everyone’s room. The mansion was sold and reopened in 2024, and now operates as Hotel Bardo Savannah. Here’s a Behind the Bardo article.Our last stay at the Mansion on Forsyth Park was the weekend before COVID turned everyone’s world upside down. We were rolling back into O-Town that Sunday afternoon, after a Saturday cooking class at the mansion with plans for me to leave for New Jersey the next day, when I got an email saying all travel was to cease and that I was responsible for letting my team know. I’m pretty sure I spent the remainder of the drive home phoning team members to fill them in on the news.If you go to Savannah in the summer, it will be hot; even though you’re on the coast, there’s very little breeze. Usually, my hotels of choice are located along Bay Street, which is close to Factors Walk or Broughton Street and one of my favorite restaurants, the Crystal Beer Parlor. The Parlor opened in 1933 as one of the first legal bars after Prohibition. While the food is great, my allure is their “Beers our father’s drank.” The list includes Old Milwaukee, Genesee Cream Ale, Ballantine, and Stroh’s, just to name a few. I remember growing up, my dad would cut the grass wearing long pants and a white “V-Neck” T-Shirt, then finish the afternoon off with a Carlings Black Label. Back to my Savannah hotel search: since it’s summer, the rates were astronomical, and Bay Street was too far from the customer’s site.I ended up at the Hilton Garden Inn Savannah Midtown, which offered everything I needed for a two-night stay, including those delicious Hilton Garden Inn wings.Most hotels will typically give loyalty members a bottle of water and a package of cookies. At the Hilton Garden Inn Savannah Midtown, I found a partially stocked fridge, likely left by the previous guest. It was two unopened bottles of Orange Gatorade and two packages of Ken’s Blue Cheese dressing. Neither of these items was consumed with my wings.The other oddity about the room was the bed’s height. I’m 5’ 8”, and I actually had to hop up to get in the bed. I’ll put a picture in the show notes.The next trip was to Knoxville, TN, which I last visited in 2018. The hotel of choice was the Hilton Garden Inn Knoxville West/Cedar Bluff. Cedar Bluff was an up-and-coming area between 2005 and 2015, but I didn’t notice much growth since my last visit. Now I did fly, so I didn’t make the I75 North drive, so there may be plenty of growth further down south.No meals worth mentioning during this visit, but the Hilton Garden Inn Knoxville West/Cedar Bluff did have storage containers in the parking lot, so they may be about to undergo renovations.Personally, I’m hoping those shipping containers contain some new fitness center equipment, as one of the treadmills and the Peloton both had “Out of Order” signs proudly displayed. Let’s talk about the Peloton Hilton relationship. I first mentioned this relationship in 2022 during Episode 178, and I recall thinking this wasn’t a good idea, as these Pelotons were going to get the dog-s beat out of them. I believe this was the first time I’ve seen a Peloton not up and running in a Hilton fitness center. This program has been so popular that Hilton is now offering an In‑Room Peloton Fitness Experience.From the press release: Hilton (NYSE: HLT) and Peloton (NASDAQ: PTON) are making it easier than ever for travelers to sustain fitness routines and goals while on the road. Through Hilton’s Connected Room Experience (CREx), guests can now access a complimentary collection of Peloton’s on-demand fitness content on their in-room TVs. Designed as an introduction to Peloton’s Instructor-led classes, this seamless offering allows travelers to stick to their wellness routines—or try new ones—while on the road. Drawing on insights from a recent Hilton survey, which found that 90% of travelers strive to maintain their wellness routines while on the road. Peloton even offers a web-based tracker so you can see which Hilton fitness centers offer Peloton’s in-room classes.The last trip worth mentioning was back to Atlanta, and the first two nights were at the Hampton Inn Atlanta NW Cumberland, which is ITP. That’s Atlanta slang; ITP stands for Inside The Perimeter and OTP stands for Outside The Perimeter, with the perimeter being Interstate 285, which is 63 miles and completely encircles downtown Atlanta.Here’s a “Perimeter” story: It was August 19, 1982, and Atlanta Braves pitcher Pascual Perez got lost heading to a home game at the Atlanta Fulton County Stadium. Perez had received his Georgia driver’s license that day and, on his way to the Stadium, accidentally got on I-285 instead of I-85. This makes sense, as Perez was called up from AAA just two weeks earlier and was new to Atlanta.Perez drove the Perimeter for 2 1/2 loops, over 3 hours and over 150 miles. He had to ask for $10 worth of gas because he also forgot his wallet. The gas station attendant recognized him and helped out. He arrived at the stadium during the National Anthem and was fined $100 for missing his scheduled start. So the Perimeter holds a special spot for Atlantans.Back to the Hampton Inn Atlanta NW Cumberland. As I entered, the desk clerk was arguing with a customer over the room they had requested. Thankfully, a second desk clerk gave me my key and a bottle of water in under 30 seconds, and I was headed to the elevator.This room had seen better days. The wallpaper around the bathroom outlet was peeled away, exposing cracked drywall. The full-length mirror that typically hangs on the wall was sitting on the floor, leaning against the wall it should be hanging on, and the door looked as if someone had tried to break in.I get that hotels age, but all of those items should have been addressed by now, and after looking at the Google reviews, my room wasn’t the exception. Probably the most frustrating thing about my room was the desk, or better yet, the desk chair; it barely fit between the bed and the desk, and had I wanted to watch TV, it would’ve been difficult since the TV was several feet behind, over my left shoulder.The last night of my Atlanta trip was a stay at the Tru by Hilton Atlanta Airport College Park. This property shares many of its resources with the Home 2 Suites, which is in the same building. The property switch was due to a few reasons. First, it’s located next to the SkyTrain, which takes you directly to the airport, saving me at least 30 minutes when returning the rental car. Second, I can turn in the rental a day early and save my company some money.My last visit to a TRU property was back in 2018, and I covered it in Episode #1, “Hello Again From Our New Home.” This really wasn’t the true first episode; it was the first episode after I moved the podcast from the Hype Orlando site to Anchor, which Spotify acquired. In 2018, I compared the Tru property to a hotel that Google would have built. There was a pool table, a Jenga game built with 2X4s, and a multitude of board games for entertainment located in the lobby. Breakfast had items like bacon jam and Nutella, plus a doughnut board with dozens of doughnuts hanging so you could get your sugar fix first thing in the morning. The rooms were extremely minimalistic, with a tiny 1’ by 2’ desk to work on, and the closet consisted of industrial galvanized pipe to hang your clothes on. Eight years later, not much has changed in the room. I left the hotel at 5:30 AM, so I never got to experience the breakfast offerings. Dinner that night was at the Brew Pointe Cafe located downstairs, where I had one of the best pulled pork sandwiches that I’ve ever had from a non-BBQ restaurant.The Hartsfield-Jackson TSA at 5:45 AM took all of 5 minutes, which again I say I will pay for the quick check-in at some point. Here’s a tip: if you are traveling through a new airport, the TSA has an app that displays wait times for TSA lines. And it’s pretty accurate. On to some travel blogosphere stories.I have spent more and more time in Atlanta, GA over the past 12 months, and as a rule, Atlanta traffic is a giant cup of suck, but it did make me wonder which US cities are the most stressful to drive in? For many of us, the most stressful city to drive in is the one we are currently living in.“According to a new study from Lemon Law Experts, Atlanta is the most stressful city to drive in, with Nashville close behind. The survey says the biggest road rage triggers are heavy traffic, aggressive lane changes, and drivers who seem to treat turn signals like optional accessories.In case you are wondering, the top 5 most stressful driving cities are:* 5 - Baltimore, MD* 4 - San Antonio, TX* 3 - Philadelphia, PA* 2 - Nashville, TN* 1 - Atlanta, GAI can’t believe that a single Florida city didn't make this list; we need to do better.The key takeaways are:89% of American drivers say driving stress shows up in their body, from a clenched jaw to a racing heart.74% of Americans would rather do household chores than drive during their city’s rush hour.62% of American drivers say driving in their city is more stressful than it was a few years ago.“If you’ve ever taken the long way home just to avoid one highway merge, congratulations — you’re living the survey results.”British Airways Flight Canceled After Crew Gets Too Drunk On Layover At an All-Inclusive. This comes from One Mile At A Time.“British Airways had a layover story that somehow turned into a safety announcement. A flight from Barbados to London was canceled after several crew members reportedly drank too much at an all-inclusive resort and were unfit to work the return trip. So instead of passengers heading home, BA had to send the plane back to London empty — which is a pretty brutal way to discover that ‘all-inclusive’ is not the same as ‘responsibility included.’ The company says it’s investigating, and four crew members were reportedly suspended. So yes, the flight was grounded by one of aviation’s oldest enemies: poor judgment and unlimited vodka.”When operating with passengers, airlines need a minimum number of crew members. And with the level of intoxication flight attendants had, they were no longer at minimums, which is why the plane had to be flown back empty.It’s worth noting that this flight would be subject to UK261 regulations. If passengers arrived at their final destination at least four hours behind schedule, which I imagine just about everyone did, they’d each be entitled to £520 ($696) in compensation, plus hotels, meals, etc.When you consider the plane had around 240 seats, the total cost incurred to the airline could easily reach $200,000, if not more.Let’s finish with a couple of “Thank You Florida” stories.One of my favorite movies is the 2009 George Clooney piece, Up In The Air. If you’ve never seen it, Clooney is Ryan Bingham, and Ryan’s job is to travel around the country, firing people. When his boss hires Natalie (Anna Kendrick), who proposes firing people via video conference, he tries to convince her that her method is a mistake.When I first entered the corporate world, we knew as soon as someone from human resources arrived at one of our remote offices, someone was getting let go. At my last company, all RIFs- that’s corporate slang for Reduction In Force, which apparently some consultant told them was less harsh than saying, “You’re fired” were done virtually through a Teams meeting for a personal touch.Up In The Air is full of wonderful quotes, and one of my favorites is when Clooney says, “All the things you probably hate about traveling – the recycled air, the artificial lighting, the digital juice dispensers, the cheap sushi – are warm reminders that I’m home.” I’m sure that I am one of the few who do enjoy the whole airport experience, but I do not consider it “Home.” Recently, a Florida Man took this quote to heart by reportedly living at Miami International Airport.Before we dive in, why would anyone want to live at the Miami Airport? Glad you asked.* You have free exercise - Ten thousand steps before breakfast, all while looking for Gate D-47, which is somehow located in another ZIP code.* There’s International cuisine - Croquetas for breakfast, empanadas for lunch, and a $19 bottle of water for dinner—assuming your credit card clears.* You have a great social life - Every day is a reunion of people crying, arguing, sprinting, or announcing that they “can’t believe this is happening.”* You don’t need an alarm clock - “Final boarding call for Flight 1836 to Bogotá” hits different at 5:12 a.m.* No need to worry about a dress code - Carry a roller bag and stare intensely at your phone. Congratulations: you look like a business traveler with a connection in Charlotte.* Don’t forget the Airport lounge aspirations - You may not be allowed inside, but you can stand nearby and imagine the tiny hummus cups are yours.* You’re spared the changing Florida weather - Hurricane coming? You’re already indoors, surrounded by snacks, charging outlets, and people who also have no idea when they’re leaving.Our Florida Man stole the suitcase from an American Airlines carousel—not to sell it, not even to take the stuff inside—but to look like a legitimate traveler. Which, honestly, is the most Miami airport thing imaginable: ‘No, officer, I’m not homeless. I’m just waiting for my Zone 9 boarding group and I’ve been waiting since July.’ According to reports, he took the suitcase into a bathroom for a while, then left using the MIA Mover. That’s not a getaway plan—that’s just an airport connection. Effectively treating airport security like “Miami International Airport had apparently rolled out a new loyalty tier: **Platinum Loiterer**.The wildest part: he allegedly still had the bag weeks later and came back to the same baggage claim area. Sir, if you steal a $9,000 suitcase to blend in, perhaps don’t return to the exact scene of the crime carrying your disguise like it’s a carry-on emotional-support Samsonite. Seriously, $9,000 in a checked bag? That suitcase was either full of designer clothes, luxury watches, or one very expensive airport sandwich.”“For our final story, we have - Florida Man Redeems Points He Absolutely Does Not Have…”A man walks into the DoubleTree by Hilton in Miami, sits down at the Italian restaurant, orders a shot of Bacardi—and then allegedly tries to charge it to Room 666. Now, I’m no hotel expert, but I do know one thing: Room 666 is usually not in the system. His card was declined, and staff reportedly described it as fake. The man then claimed, quote: “I’m the son of God.”Which raises some immediate hospitality questions. Like: Does the Son of God get Diamond status? Is late checkout until Sunday? Can he turn the minibar water into Bacardi? Because that would be really sweet. Hotel staff apparently checked the reservation system and came to the bold, controversial conclusion that this gentleman was neither registered in Room 666… nor, in fact, divinely affiliated. At that point, he reportedly put a towel over his head, demanded water, refused to leave, and got into an extended confrontation with staff and police.But wait—because this is Miami, and we haven’t even reached the valet yet. After police escorted him outside, he allegedly spotted an orange Rolls-Royce, announced that it was his car, and tried to get in—even though a woman was reportedly already sitting inside.That is confidence. Not good confidence. But confidence. Most people see an occupied Rolls-Royce and think, ‘Wow, somebody’s doing well.’ This guy allegedly saw it and thought, ‘Finally—my heavenly chariot has arrived.’ Police ultimately used a Taser, proving once again that the DoubleTree cookie may be warm, but hotel security has limits.And that’s the lesson: if you’re going to bill drinks to Room 666, declare yourself the son of God, and steal a Rolls-Royce from valet… maybe don’t do it at a DoubleTree. That’s Four Seasons behavior on a DoubleTree budget.”To sum it up, “He didn’t receive a room upgrade—he received a voltage upgrade.”Well, there you have it, Episode 222, The Perimeter, the Peloton, and the Platinum LoitererFor long-time listeners, thank you for your comments and emails. For new listeners, I hope you return.If you want detailed show notes, links, and pictures, head over to Substack at travelstories.substack.com/You can also leave me a message on Anchor or email me at [email protected] I always say, travel safe, stay safe, and thanks for listening. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit travelstories.substack.com