Cheer Dad TripAdvisor: Honest Reviews From the Road

I often travel for work, which means that I spend a fair amount of time in hotels and airports. The status is great, but I wouldn’t say it’s worth the nuances of travel these days. Combine that with years of traveling for competitive cheer, and I feel like I’ve earned the right to consider myself something of a travel expert. 

I’ve stayed in hotels all across the country and I’ve eaten in some of America’s finest chain restaurants. There’s always a well known Mexican or burger joint somewhere. I’ve visited convention centers in major metropolitan areas. I’ve explored airport terminals, parking garages and suburban shopping centers.

And I’ve done a lot of it while carrying a cheer backpack. So I thought it was finally time to give back to the travel community.

Here are my completely unbiased reviews.

______________________________________________________

⭐⭐ Convention Center Parking Garages

“Conveniently located near absolutely nothing.”

Beautiful concrete architecture. Excellent collection of support columns.

Arrived at 6:08 a.m. and found a parking space just 17 minutes later.

The walk from our vehicle to the venue gave our family a wonderful opportunity to enjoy the local climate while carrying everything we own.

I especially enjoyed paying $38 for the privilege.

Pros: Car was still there when we returned.

Cons: Took a photograph of our parking location and still couldn’t find it.

Would I return?
Apparently next February.

______________________________________________________

⭐⭐⭐⭐ Hotel Breakfast

“An unforgettable dining experience.”

Arrived at 5:37 a.m. to find 146 cheerleaders and their families participating in what appeared to be a competitive waffle-making event. Many were in their pajamas and most needed more clothes.Was that oatmeal or Quikrete?

Excellent coffee.

Strong banana selection.

One blueberry muffin remained when I entered.

I made eye contact with another dad, and we both knew what was about to happen. I got the muffin.

No regrets.

Would I return?
Already booked for next year.

______________________________________________________

⭐ Cheer Competition Seating

“Great place to reconsider your posture.”

The venue provided what I believe was technically a chair. After approximately four hours, I lost feeling in both legs. Excellent view of the back of another father’s head. Five connected seats make for a less than adequate bench to nap on.

There were 700 empty seats approximately 30 feet away, but I was informed we could not sit there.

I did not ask follow-up questions.

Amenities: None.

Lumbar support: Also none.

Would I return?
I’ll be there tomorrow morning.

______________________________________________________

⭐⭐⭐ Convention Center Food

“Farm-to-concession-stand cuisine.”

Paid $14 for chicken tenders. There were three, and they may have been the three leftover from yesterday.

The fries had experienced some things. Kinda like that old lady who hangs out at the bar jukebox for too long.

Purchased a bottle of water for roughly the same amount I contributed to my first 401(k).

However, it was located 40 feet from our seats, which makes this one of the more convenient dining experiences of my life.

Would I recommend it?

Depends.

How hungry are you?

______________________________________________________

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ Competition Coffee

“Life-changing.”

Was it good? No.

Was it hot? Debatable.

Did it allow me to function like a human being at 6:42 a.m.?

Yes. It was hot enough and reminded me of a rough night at a Motel 6.

Five stars.

No further questions.

______________________________________________________

⭐⭐ The Hotel Elevator at 5:45 A.M.

“Intimate.”

Maximum occupancy: 12.

Actual occupancy: 31 cheerleaders, seven parents, four rolling suitcases, two makeup cases, several backpacks, a random older couple who makes poor hotel choices, and one dad holding coffee above his head like the Olympic torch.

Stopped on every…single…floor.

Would have taken the stairs, but we’re on the ninth floor and I’m 46.

Would I return?

I don’t really control that.

______________________________________________________

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ The Cheer Backpack

“Surprisingly versatile.”

Excellent storage and durable construction. Comfortable shoulder straps.

Can apparently hold:

Three water bottles.
Two pairs of shoes.
Snacks, including mine.
Makeup.
Hair products.
A phone charger.
A jacket.
Six bows.
Several objects I have been specifically instructed not to touch.

Unfortunately, it cannot hold the one thing my daughter is currently looking for.

Still, five stars.

I’ve carried worse.

______________________________________________________

⭐ White Cheer Shoes

“Beautiful while they lasted.”

Opened the box at 7:03 a.m.

Absolutely pristine.

By 7:41 a.m., they looked like they’d completed a tour in Afghanistan. An hour later they were held together with duct tape and bailing wire.

I don’t know what happened. Nobody knows what happened.

Durability: Excellent.

Ability to remain white: 11 minutes.

______________________________________________________

⭐ The 7:12 A.M. Performance Time

No.

______________________________________________________

⭐⭐⭐ Awards

“Relaxing way to finish the evening.”

Scheduled for 8:00 p.m, and began sometime during the following fiscal quarter.

Teams gathered on the floor.

Parents gathered in the stands.

The Cupid Shuffle played on repeat for longer than my 7th grade third period English class.

Someone explained how bids work.

I’ve been around cheer for years and remain convinced that approximately seven people in North America fully understand the bid system.

Eventually they announced our team.

The girls screamed.

I stood up.

Totally worth it.

Would I attend again?

See you Sunday.

______________________________________________________

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ The Ride Home

“Best part of the trip.”

Quiet.

Plenty of legroom.

No lines.

No wristbands required.

My daughter usually talks for the first twenty minutes.

Who hit.

Who didn’t.

What was funny.

What happened backstage.

What the coaches said.

Then somewhere down the highway it gets quiet.

I look over.

She’s asleep.

Bow out. Sweatshirt on.

Makeup still on.

Completely exhausted.

And happy.

That’s usually when I realize something.

For all the complaining we do about parking garages, $14 chicken tenders, hotel elevators and chairs designed by people who apparently hate the human spine…

I’d give the whole trip five stars.

Every time.

Because one day I won’t be carrying that backpack.

There won’t be another meet time.

There won’t be another awards ceremony.

And nobody will be asking me where I parked.

So until then:

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

Highly recommend.

Would absolutely visit again.

— Cody
Cheer Dad & Founder, Cheer Dads