So I've done a lot of traveling this year, and there's a lot that hotels can do better, but here's the big one for me. I'm allergic to feathers, so the "nice" "upscale" hotels that use the fact that their pillows and comforters are down as an excuse to charge more per night aren't some of my favorites. I have no problem with people being comfortable, and while I've never gotten to sleep on a down pillow or under a down comforter, I'm sure they're nice. But why can't hotels provide a true, equivalent alternative?

I'm in Milwaukee right now (beautiful city, by the way), staying at the downtown location of one of the world's largest hotel chains. (I won't say exactly which one, but I'll give you a hint: the granddaughter of the founding family is in the news, a lot.) When I checked in, and asked at the front desk if they have feather pillows and comforters, and when the woman said yes, I explained that I was allergic and needed replacements. I went up to the room, and maybe fifteen minutes later someone from housekeeping stopped by.

On the beds already were four giant, fluffy pillows. The housekeeping person had one barely-there pillow for me. Also on the bed was a nice, thick comforter. My replacement? A single flannel blanket, with a two-inch diameter whole in it.

Really? I'm pretty sure I'm paying every bit as much for this hotel as those who can use the feather bedding, so then why do I have to be cold and uncomfortable? I'm going to go down and complain to the manager this morning, but this is, sadly, not the first time it's happened. I'll bet anything that the hotel simply doesn't have any comforters that are not made from feathers - in my experience to date, there has not been a single one that has. Some good hotels will at least provide alternate pillows that are as good as the down ones, but please! Why is it that these places don't get that this isn't a matter of personal preference for some guests, but whether or not we choose to return in the future certainly is?