So, here's the dipshit thing I did today--or rather didn't do. Missed a deadline.

I was supposed to make my room reservation for Conference meeting by end of business today. I forgot. It used to be that all of that was taken care of when you sent your registration. That was when we met at colleges. Now we're in a convention center/hotel, so you register for the meeting, but make reservations directly through the hotel. And if you didn't get it done by today, the $86 a night rate jumps to $183. For a room I'll spend almost no time in.

So, I did a bunch of searching, Expedia, Priceline, Hotels.com, etc. Found that the nearest place is an Extended Stay America, for $65 a night. Within walking distance of the convention center, it appears.

Anyone ever stay at one of these?

They're basically set up for business travelers who have to spend a few months working for clients away from home. The rooms typically have kitchenettes and desks, and the public areas are usually occupied by vaguely lost-looking people who are no doubt wondering if the promise of the brass ring is really worth a lifetime in budget hotel purgatory.

They're clean and quiet, though (the rooms, that is; I have no idea about the people).