Two Paws Down for Paws Up

After sending an email to the sales rep at Paws Up questioning the two charges on my credit card (there should have been no charges.) She responds with, "Oh, by the way, you will see a charge on your card once we ship your departure gift."

WHAT?

You are unthoughtful in your gift selection--choosing a large item that is illegal to carry-on a flight, and then you tell me you'll ship it, and then turn around and CHARGE ME to have it shipped?  Thank you, but you can keep your grilling fork.

I'm not paying for a gift I never asked for...geez. Is this how you treat your VIPs? If so, why would I bring my groups to your resort again?  Maybe I'm missing something? You may want to spend sometime with Katie from Concierge. She is the only person I met at your Resort who has any clue about the meaning of luxury hospitality...

Room For One More? Not at Paws Up!

Growing up Italian, or maybe just raised with manners, I was taught "there is always room for one more." Apparently, that is not the case at Paws Up Resort. After spending most of yesterday in the emergency room at St. Pat's hospital, I was too sore to do anything except lay on a massage table this morning. While resting in my estate at Paws Up, a dear friend from home called me to let me know he heard of my terrible ATV accident. He had just arrived, ironically enough, to Missoula to start photography school and wanted to drive 45 minutes out to the resort to see me. 

Upon asking the staff (why I felt I needed permission I have no idea....manners, I guess)  if a friend could join, I was told "No. We cannot accommodate." Apparently, it was an exclusive weekend, and even though my boyfriend had to cancel last minute due to a family emergency, his spot was scooped up. (The resort was only at 50% capacity according to the front desk gal I asked) I offered to PAY for my friend. Still the answer was "No." The night before, seats on either side of me were empty. Yet, I heard other VIP/paying guests complaining that they ran out of kobe beef. (These people paid over $5K for the weekend "experience") I was told, "If you want to have your dinner delivered to your room, you two could munch on it together." REALLY?  

Ummm.....Maybe I should take John's advice and talk to an attorney about my ATV accident...

The Last Ride at Paws Up

On tap for today was supposed to be an ATV ride and clay pigeon shooting. Instead, my day included an ATV ride and a ride to the Emergency Room (45 minutes away). After my ATV flipped over on top of me, pinning me up against another ATV, I was checked out by the "wilderness first response team" (which at the time I was told were EMTs, but later found out they are more like Boy Scouts). Paws Up was kind enough to have one of their concierge staff drive me to the hospital (I haven't been charged for that--yet...) and food delivered to my room. Paws Up gets a gold star here --actually Katie, the concierge gets it. She was absolutely wonderful. The entire staff could learn a lot from this young lady.

Termite Wings, Dirt, and Slug O My!

Note: I was invited to experience Paws Up Resort in Missoula, Montana on a meeting planners FAM. (i.e., be wined and dined so I bring groups/events/conferences to their venue)

Allegiant Air flies three times a week to MSO from LAX: Monday, Wednesdays, Fridays at 6am. Yippeee!  So upon arriving at MSO, the staff picks you up and 45 minutes later you arrive at the Ranch: a 37,000 acres ranch in the middle of nowhere Montana. I'm sure they were aware of my 9:25am arrival, so I'm unsure why my room wasn't ready until 4pm...but that's ok. I was given a tour of the property and prepared for the big "Montana Grillers Weekend." Couples were spending $5K+ for this weekend, and here I was experiencing it! My "estate" was huge...and I was so happy to see a large jacuzzi soaking tub in my bathroom. I eagerly filled it with hot water anticipating a relaxing, hot bath before dinner. Upon turning on the jacuzzi jets, termite wings, dirt and slug spew out of the jets. Nice. Clearly no one cleaned the jacuzzi in months...welcome to Paws Up, Dear Meeting Planner. Please bring all your high level executives here. It's only $1500/night lodging...termite wings and slug included.

Plan B: A hot shower. The shower was huge--complete with two rainfall shower heads and enough room for 6 people to shower. Oops...no hot water?  Really.

Ring Of Fire

Around 6:19pm this evening I ran outside, and over the ocean I saw it… the much anticipated partial solar eclipse. So cool! And due to the “marine layer” I could actual look up without too much harmful glare. The partial solar eclipse reached its peak in Los Angeles at 6:38 p.m.

When’s the next eclipse?

You'll have to wait awhile. The continental United States won't see another good show for five years. And LA won't see as stunning a show for 59 years.

But here is a sampling of what's next in store for the solar eclipse front in the United States.

A partial solar eclipse is in store for the western United States on Oct. 23, 2014. Western Canada, Alaska and the northern edge of the U.S. border from Washington state to Wisconsin should have the best view, with more than 60% of the sun's diameter (its center line) blocked by the moon's shadow. California and the Southwest should see more than 40% of the sun's diameter covered.

This is the one to travel for. A "total" solar eclipse -- an even better one than Sunday's "ring" eclipse -- will completely cover the sun's light, blotting out even the sun's outer fringes. Total eclipses are far more exciting because they will shroud the land in an eerie midday twilight. The Aug. 21, 2017, total eclipse will glide through Oregon, Idaho, Wyoming, Nebraska, northeastern Kansas, Missouri, southern Illinois, western Kentucky, Tennessee, the Great Smoky Mountains National Park and South Carolina.

Los Angeles will see more than 60% of the sun's diameter covered up by the moon.