This is SO not fair.

I would have amped up my glitz factor, injected some Botox in the cracks in my face and generally brought more chi-chi clothes to match my new digs if I would have known my room would look like this.

Wow. And Wow.

It could be argued that I had the Palm Springs press trip itinerary and must have known which hotel I’d be staying in, and then, could have quite easily looked at it online.

Yes, it’s true. I could have done that.

But to illustrate my mindset, let me explain that while I was checking in at the WestJet counter, the lovely man showed me that I had not completed my U.S. Customs form. I missed the part that asks for an address while in the U.S. of A.

Well, hello?!

“I have no idea,” I said, once again shining a light on my sparkling intelligence. I further clarified the subject, “I think I’m staying at two places.”

He seemed a tad less patient at this point. “Just give me the name of the first one.” he said. Surely he didn’t roll his eyes? No. I think something just caught his attention for a second. Something up near the ceiling, that made him sigh.

I pulled out the itinerary and there it was, “Look! I’m staying at the Riviera Palm Springs!” I felt like I should get a gold star for solving the problem. It was new information to me. He didn’t seem quite as taken with my eureka moment.

But this is my favourite part of travel. I just love the whole Unknown and No Expectations factor, especially in press-trip travel where I’m being led around anyway. I land in airports and there is usually someone with my name on a sign. For just those few minutes I can fake celebrity status and sashay off with a total stranger to check-in to something completely New and Not Known.

Isn’t that much better than being swooned by internet lies and then suffering from phenomenal lunch-bag letdown?

You see? I’m not sure how this place is portrayed on the net, but in person…it’s pretty cool. I guess that’s what 70 million dollars in upgrades can do. Nice budget.

We’re going to lunch soon. I could cheat and look at the itinerary and find out where. But where’s the surprise in that?

Now. Please tell me I remembered my lip liner…