Sip a soda and watch the TV, or check out TER on your iPhone.  That's what I do most of the time.

You arrive early and park. It's winter. Can't walk the streets, nowhere to go, just highways.  Where do you wait?

hy would anyone build a hotel in the middle of nowhere is the big question?

And try not to piss your pants out of fear man! You aren't there to rob the place you're there to get laid!

If it's off a highway there has to be a gas station or something nearby.  I like to sit across the street and watch the lot for a little while, look for anything hinky.  Go around the building and look at any vehicles that may fit a certain "profile".  

sitting around until my phone buzzes on the hour and then hitting the elevator is one of the venial sins. D'accord?

If LE is going to nab you, they will do it in the room with the gal. Sorry bro but the sex police don't hang out in the lobby waiting for you frightened ass to show up. It's just not the way shit goes down!

Now man up. Walk in the joint like you own the place, and put your big boy pants back on. If after that you are still scared, buy a fkin dog!

I didn't make you sit around and play too much trivia crack did I?! ; )  

but if not outside, maybe inside.  Hit the gift shop & pick up snacks or beverages.  I got caught in bad weather once when I cut it too close...  interstate came to a stand-still becfause of heavy rain.  So I learnedto arrive early then withdraw to kill time.  Many gas stations have snacks or lottery tickets...  
Sitting in a car or the lobby doing crossword puzzles is not discreet.

A larg hotel iz no problemo.  Small onez R tuffer.  Geaux 2 the bar!  Putt down a schott. U will feel better.

who posted their views that hanging in the hotel is verboten.  Sure I've done it before when no options, but I always keep in mind the mantra "discretion discretion discretion".  I've got a particularly isolated hotel this time and just wanted to see if anyone had any smart ideas that had not occurred to me.  

I am kind of surprised by the advice you got in this thread. No need to be late or hide anywhere. If you dont feel comfortable in the lobby then of course find another place because if you are overly worried it may not help you relax to enjoy your date. It seems to me there are some urban legends that go around about this hobby. You are correct to be concerned about discretion, and there are numerous ways one could be indiscreet while waiting for your date but sitting in a chair reading the paper or doing some work on your phone in the lobby isnt really one of them. It wasnt all that long ago I was brand new to the hobby and I had the same fears you do. Given enough time you will realize you were over thinking the situation. Thats normal and perfectly human. Just do your homework on the women before you get to the the lobby and let your worries rest there. Enjoy!

Go to a local mall and get her something on her wish list.  It shows that you are thinking of her while being inconspicuous.

Parked the car, walked into the lobby, found the coffee shop.  Sat down, asked the counter guy for a "diet coke".  "Diet coke" he says, raising one eyebrow and giving me the fish eye?  Yes please, I sez.  OK pal, none of MY business, and he gives me the coke but then he like in a sly kind of manner slithers over to the land line and makes a call and sez "Mike, we need to do inventory." Just like that.  I'm no idiot, I know what "do inventory" means.  Less than five minutes later, I'm not exaggerating, a private dick walks in and sits cross wise so he's staring right at my profile.  I know he's a dick because he's got a walrus mustache and he's bald with thick glasses.  He plays games with me.  Doesn't say a word.  Just "looks" at the menu which was an obvious cover up for staring straight past it at me.  So I go into high gear and play it cool.  Act nonchalant.  I call the counter guy over and I say "That was a great diet coke. You mix the syrup yourself? Doesn't taste like that pre-canned stuff. This is a great shop."  The counter guy senses that I am hip to what's going down and he just says "thanks" and walks away.  So he sends some kind of signal to the private dick, that I'm onto them.  The dick waits to make his move, he knows this isn't going to be like shooting fish in a barrel. Just then my phone rings (1812 Overture ringtone) with a text from the lady with her room number, says come on up.  So I pulled a fast one.

Even if the provider is an hour or more late. I have things I can do to stay occupied, and I don't think that someone sitting in a car is cause for suspicion. Lots of business guys work out of their cars.

of Black & White's patroling the parking, giving the eye ball to people hanging around the lot.  I was already out of my car & headed in.  I asked the gal & she replied that the hotel had requested extra patrols because of breakins of customers autos.  I don't want to draw extra attention.  

And if you are far too early, drive somewhere a few minutes away and kill time reading a newspaper until you can call for the room number on your way back to the hotel later.  When she later gives you the room number, also be sure to ask her if the elevator is to the left or the right upon entering the lobby -- this way you'll appear to have a room already.

Hahahaha, miss you more!!  I DID beat you there by about 45 minutes.  After I memorized every face around the lobby and cafe downstairs I played a little trivia crack.