I just got back from 3 days in Chicago. As usual, when I go to Chicago on Business, I stayed at Harrah's in E. Chicago IN. I got there on Tuesday afternoon and checked in with no problems. But after getting back to Harrah's after work Wednesday my key wouldn't work in the room lock. I assumed the magnetic stip failed and went down the the front desk for a replacement key. That's when I was informed that I was checked out! They had me mistakenly listed me as only staying ONE NIGHT. I was informed that they were all booked up for that night and there was nothing available for me. I was out on the street! I was furious.

I asked to see the manager, who told me the same thing. After explaining to her how wrong this was and how upset I was with this happening, she offered to put me up at another hotel right down the street and Harrah's will take care of the bill. She also informed me the room was a kings sized suite. She said the hotel was one of the three hotels right down the road, Fairfied Inn, Marriot Courtyard, and Residence Inn. These all happend to be Marriot Hotels. I said, I was NOT pleased about this whole thing, but I definately needed a place to sleep tonight. She booked me a room at the Fairfied Inn and handed me a hand writen piece of paper with the directions .

I soon found out that "just down the street" was 7 miles away. Ok, fine, just add another thorn. After trying to unsuccessfully find the Kennedy exit on 90 I found out that she had given me wrong directions. What she wrote was 80/90. I came to 90 and exited as I thought the directions meant. I shouldnt have. I turned around after a few minutes and went back the way I came and went further down 712 until I found the exit for 80/94. There is no 80/90 off of 712. What she meant was 80/94 ... 90 is different. Grrrrr.

After 25 minutes of driving, I found the Fairfield. I checked in and went up to my room. That's when I discovered that the room is at the end of the hall. Small (not a suite-but no big deal),ve3ry stark, very smelly and right next to the freeway. The freeway was maybe 100 yards away, and the road noise was deafening. Cheap windows! I called down the the front desk to get a different room and was informed this was the last room they had.

So...I called next door to the Marriot Courtyard to see if they had rooms. They did and assured me they were on the quiet side and I would not hear the road noise. I then called Harrah's and tried to reach Michelle (the hotel mgr) She wasnt available, but would be back in just a minute or two. I filled the front desk person in and I left a message with her to give to the the Michelle the manager. I was moving over to the Courtyard, left her my cellphone number and asked that she have Michelle call me as soon as she returns.

While at the Courtyard, Harrahs called, and told the front desk girl (who happened to be the manager) at the Courtyard. The conversation was right in front of me, and the 5 other people standing at the front desk. After hanging up, the Courtyard manager told me that Harrah's wouldn't cover anything for me at the Courtyard, and If I wanted to have a hotel paid for by them, I would have to go back to the Fairfield. I asked the Courtyard manager if Harrah's puts up other guests there, and she said yes, they frequently did. Obviously I wasn't a big enough fish. Granted the Courtyard is $30.00 more per night. What ticked me off was Harrah's wouldn't even pay for a piece of the room there for me. Nor did the manager haqve the courtesy to call my cellphone and tell me.

Well of course I didn't go back to the Fairfield. I also didn't go back to Harrah's. I will never go back to Harrah's again. I spent hours dealing with this crap which was their fault. I was tired and hungry and pissed off.

Now...a happier note: I went to The Horseshoe and ate a fabulous buffet dinner and gambled there for the next 5 hours. I won playing Craps...I won playing Black Jack....I won playing the slots!

In closing....let me reiterate: Harrah's Sucks!

Watch ebay for all of my upcoming Harrahs chip sales.