Am I a *Karen*? #SOLSC24 17/31

Numerous places overpopulate my weather app, which is the source of my most riveting reading the past couple weeks as *spring* break nears.

When Mother Nature raised her middle storm cloud as though to say, You know what happens to the best laid plans of mice and men, we decided to pivot our plans.

Saturday afternoon.

I cancelled the resort I’d booked in Sedona after realizing heading south might mean driving into a spring snowstorm. No thank you! I’ve have my fill of snow.

I suggested to Ken—weather permitting—we drive further south into the desert heat. I further suggested we not book lodging in advance and take our chances.

Reader, if you’ve traveled the past few years, you know my plan is the definition of living dangerously. A failure to plan travel stops might result in a disappointing vacation, but since we’ve visited Sedona together, albeit over twenty years ago, and since I lived in Arizona six years long ago, and since we’re road-tripping, and since I have a cousin in Clarkdale, I’m comfortable winging it.

Saturday we headed down I-15, not yet having finalized our route. Would we drive through Page, Arizona or through Las Vegas.

We chose Las Vegas. I checked the Hilton app for lodging. I also checked the Wyndom app, and Hotels [dot] com, which I no longer like after changes in the awards program took effect last year.

Las Vegas’s latest thing, the Sphere.

I found a place off the Strip we like when passing through Sin City, but the price looked a little high. I decided to book directly with the hotel. I should have remembered caveat emptor when the hotel site did not provide a final price before completing the booking. When the receipt popped up, the charge was over forty dollars more than Hotels [dot] com.

I decided to *speak to the manager* upon arrival, which is why I ask, Am I a Karen?

At the front desk I gave my name and said, At the risk of sounding like a Karen and proceeded to explained how I’d looked on that site I’ve mentioned twice above and decide to book directly with the hotel only to be charged more than on the aforementioned site.

Our room at this off the Strip gem w/ free parking, huge rooms, and near the Vegas High Roller.

Upon further investigation, the associate told me I was wrong. She, of course, did not use those exact words, but after she told me the charge I realized I’d misread the notification. Even I can do THAT math, thank you very much.

The associate also said, You’re not a Karen. That’s a whole other vibe.