As a Japanese traveler, I visited the United States for the first time to attend a conference and felt anxious about my first visit. On my way back home, I stayed at this hotel near the airport. Although the hotel itself was old, it was clean. However, the air conditioning didn't work at all, leaving me cold throughout the night. The TV remote was also erratic. I considered complaining to the reception, but it was late at night, and I had an early flight the next day, so I gave up on it.
What surprised me the most was the shuttle bus service. Initially, it was from the airport to the hotel. When I was about to board, the female driver repeatedly asked if I was really a guest. After showing my reservation email, she apologized. The next day, the same driver took me to the airport. After the other passengers had alighted, she asked me for a tip. As a Japanese person, I am not accustomed to the tipping culture and apologize if this caused discomfort. However, I noticed that she did not ask for tips from other guests or demand them, which made me feel quite uncomfortable.