During our holiday in 2007 we included a 2-night stay in Niagara Falls. Carol my wife had booked us into the Marriott hotel. She had reserved a room which overlooked the falls, had a king size bed and whirlpool bath.

We arrived at the hotel mid afternoon and as the flight from New York to Toronto had not been as relaxing as we anticipated (see a relaxing flight to Toronto) plus the hour drive to Niagara we were tired. Carol sat in reception while I booked us in. She had not made me aware of the type of room she had reserved so I accepted the keys from reception without question and we made our way to the room.

We had been in the room seconds and before Carol spoke I sensed something was not as it should be.

The room didn’t have the whirlpool bath or a falls view, something I obviously was not aware we should have had when I checked us in.

Carol is the most placid accommodating person you could wish to meet, except when she is annoyed. On this occasion I sensed she was more than very annoyed.

My attempts to pacify her were failing miserably and after the day’s events I didn’t have the energy or the desire to return to reception for a confrontation.

As a result is was me following Carol back to reception suitcases in tow.

I could sense myself feeling sorry for the young male member of staff as Carol approached the reception desk. As her deliberations with him unfolded I could physically see him backing away from the reception desk almost cowering against the back wall. He didn’t have much of an input in the discussion. Carol didn’t raise her voice or showed her anger she just put forward her points of view, forcefully.

It turned out the hotel had over booked the whirlpool / falls view rooms. To cut Carol’s ‘conversation’ short the reception manager apologised, assured us we would be moved to a different room the following day, reduced the cost of our over all stay, waved the car parking charges and invited us to a evening meal ‘on the house’.

On our way back to the room I commented to Carol she should be a champion of people’s rights.

After our room problem was sorted our stay at the falls was very relaxing. Again it’s one of the places you have seen on TV but never thought you would have the opportunity to see in real life.

Our view was amazing. We from almost any point in the room even the bed we looked directly down at the falls.

We took the opportunity to walk across the Whirlpool rapids bridge into America. The US customs officer not to sure what to make of our reply when he asked what was the purpose of our visit to the US and we replied to have lunch.

If you get the opportunity to stay in the area visit Niagara on the lake. A town that seems to be frozen in time. If you’ve ever had a desire to emigrate and ‘get away from it all’ this town will bring that desire flooding back.

 We visited Niagara falls in August 2007 it was hot, very busy and left us both with lifelong memories.

 Brian Pearson