Als Quote by Art Buchwald
![“As my good friend Al Capp told me a few years ago, the best thing to do with a confirmed [hotel] reservation slip when you have no room is to spread it out on the sidewalk in front of the hotel and go to sleep on it. You'll either embarrass the hotel into giving you a room or you'll be hauled off…” quote by Art Buchwald](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/fd2/art-buchwald-8223_als_as-my-good-friend-al-capp-told-me-a-few_1406269.jpg)
“As my good friend Al Capp told me a few years ago, the best thing to do with a confirmed [hotel] reservation slip when you have no room is to spread it out on the sidewalk in front of the hotel and go to sleep on it. You'll either embarrass the hotel into giving you a room or you'll be hauled off to the local jug, where at least you'll have a roof over your head.”
About This Quote
Source Essay: The New Yorker, 1970s (humorous column)
When faced with a lack of accommodation, use humor and boldness to force a solution or find an alternative shelter.
In simple terms: Turn a reservation into a bargaining chip.
Key Takeaway
Leverage absurdity to secure a place to stay.
Themes
resourcefulness
humor
survival tactics
Mood
playful
cautious
Type
humorous
practical
When to use this quote
- travel mishaps
- lost luggage
- unexpected cancellations
- homelessness
Key Concepts
social negotiation
creative problem solving
Questions to Reflect On
- Would you try a similar stunt in a different culture?
- How can you prepare backup plans without resorting to public embarrassment?
A Different Perspective
Such tactics may be illegal or unsafe in some jurisdictions.
![“The heart becomes sick, as the body becomes sick, and its remedy is al-Tawbah (repentance) and protection [from transgression]. It becomes rusty as a mirror becomes rusty, and its clarity is obtained by remembrance. It becomes naked as the body becomes naked, and its beautification is al-Taqwa. It…” quote by Ibn Qayyim Al-Jawziyya](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/454/ibn-qayyim-al-jawziyya-10803_als_the-heart-becomes-sick-as-the-body-becom_66500.jpg)
