My visit to Dallas , Texas. Review on Texas

I had an opportunity to visit Dallas, Texas during the third week of May 2006 along with my younger son. My son's name is Ravi Kumar and he is 21 years old. He has gone to USA to work with private company on a short term training program. As he has completed 2 months training, I thought of giving him a break and took him on a holiday to Dallas , Texas. We booked our tickets on Internet by Expedia.com who booked our outgoing flight from SFO to Dallas FW , Texas by America West airlines. We reached the SFO International Airport early in the evening for the flight which is supposed to take off at 1850 hrs. When we reached the airport at 1700 Hrs and stood in theline for check-in we have been informed that the flight we were supposed to go has been delayed by two hours and we were being accommodated in a flight which leave little early but is direct to Dallas FW and would reach in three and half hours. Originally, we were supposed to fly through Phoenix which would have taken not less than 6 hours. We felt happy because it would save us time and also our concern regarding security of travelling in Dallas Fortworth City late in the night. So, we reached by 10.30 PM and by the time we took our baggage and came out it was past 1100 PM. We were supposed to be provided free pick up from the airport by the hotel that we have been booked by Expedia. com. The hotel was " La Quinta Inns and Suites" on Airport Expressway. We chose this hotel because it was close to the place of our work as well as it is close to the airport. So, when we contacted the Hotel for pick up we were informed that their Driver has left for the day as he works only up to 1100 PM. This was not mentioned in the advertisement by the Hotel in the Expedia. com site. We were trying to get some transport by calling for a cab, at which time, we saw a Van moving out of the terminal we were in. We approached the driver who was polite enough to accommodate us in his van and offered a drop at the hotel. We felt relieved and got in to the van. He then took the van and went to a fuel pump and picked his wife. After that he was called by his company and asked him to go back to the airport and pick another passenger. So, he took us back to the airport and picked that passenger and since that passenger was an official customer for his cab company, the driver gave him priority and dropped him off in his hotel.He took almost one and a half hours to reach our hotel which is just 3 miles from the airport. We reached at 01.00 Hrs and checked into the hotel. When we asked the driver how muchmoney should we pay, he said whatever we would like to pay. So, I paid him USD 10.00 which is quite normal for even a cab( Yellow cab charges USD 2.00 per Mile). But the driver was not happy and he asked me whether that is all I can afford. He touched my ego and I felt insulted and I asked him how much more will satisfy him. He asked additional USD 5.0 which I gave him. I told him, since he offered the drop when we were desparate, I felt that he should be happy for the service rendered by him. SO, he felt happy and left.

Then the actual experience started.

We got up in the morning and we asked the hotel to drop us near a train station so that we can go to city for sight seeing. The hotel front desk people then offered to call for a cab. Then I had to remind him of the Hotel's offer to drop the guests at any point with in radius of 5 Miles free. He then called his van and dropped us near a train station. The driver promised that we would be picked up when we return in the evening at the station. So we went and toured in Downtown Fortworth till evening and returned to the same station where we were dropped. It is called TRE station. When we arrived there , we realised that our Mobile phone battery is down and we did not have any 0.25 coins for the public phone. We managed to get change by buying train ticket( just to get change) using the vending machine and then made a call to thehotel. The front desk said that they will be sending the van in 15 mts. We waited for more than one andhalf hours but they never came. We called again and then we were told that the van has gone to pick passengers in airport and airport passengers get priority. Then we had to call Yellow Cabs and spend USD 15.00 to reach the hotel after three hours of waiting at the TRE station. When we arrived at the hotel, the front desk attendant was saying that the van has just left to pick us.

So, with this experience , we were tired and went to bed after eating Pizza . Next day we were offered a drive by the van to the same train station and once again the driver promised that he would unsure that some one will come and pick us. I even paid him a tip of USD 2.0 to ensure that he keeps up his promise.

We went to Dallas city and went to Hyatt Regency Towers. This tower is 52 floors and 550' high. The is no other floor and it has one revolving restaurant as and Cocktail Bar in the top two floors. They charge USD 5/- for just a visit to the tower bar . If you eat at the restaurant it is free. So, we opted to eat in the restaurant so we were let in . We went up and the List was so fast that it reached 52 floor in exactly 50Seconds. My son enjoyed the ride. We had a very thrilling experience of viewing the entire Dallas City sitting on top of the tower eating our lunch. It was worth the experience evernthough the food is quite expensive. Taste was not so good., But we did not bother.

We then proceeded to see the JF Kennedy 's murder spot near the rail station. After taking few snaps there we went to the other city called Fortworth. There is a place called STOCK YARDS in Downtown Fortworth where Rodeo Shows take place. We went to that place and watched Rodeo Show till 10 PM and returned to TRE train station where were dropped in the morning. Before we arrived in the station, I made a call to the Hotel front desk and informed that I would be reaching at 11.30 PM and therefore send the transport to pick us. The front desk attendant agreed to send the vehicle at that time. So we reached there at 11.30 PM and waited for one hour expecting the vehicle. When we called at 12.30 the attendent said the driver has left for the day. Once again we called for Yellow Cab and drove back to the hotel.

Our experience has been bad with reference to the Hotel people.

Next day morning we took early morning flight back to San Francisco.