My Travels

I haven't been to Sin City in awhile and went out to meet family and friends for the weekend. Flew on United Airlines and checked into the SLS Las Vegas . Unfortunately, I arrived too early and was not able to check in. Perked up at The Perq with a boozy affogato and sugar brioche pastry. It was really good despite the expensive price. Afterwards, went to Hash House A Go Go for a large pancake and fried chicken. For me, I think the novelty of supersized pancakes have left me. Outside of the incredible large portions, I don't know if I would want to come back again. Spent some time at the Venetian Hotel pool before dinner at the Grand Luxe Cafe . I have only noticed that many iconic hotels in Las Vegas are affiliating themselves with large hotel chains. I did not realize that the Venetian is part of the Intercontinental Hotel group. After dinner, headed back to SLS and attempted to check in. Success! The room was spacious and very chic white with a Las Vegas twist...

On this trip, went out to visit friends in the Nashville adjacent area. I flew into  Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta  airport on United Airlines and drove up to Cookeville, an hour east of Nashville. On the way to Cookeville, went through Chattanooga and stopped at Aretha Frankenstein for breakfast. I haven't been to Chattanooga since attending a wedding in the previous decade. Since then, things like the Food Network show has made the restaurant popular and was featured in Rachel Ray's $40 trip show. The food was as delicious as last time and I took biscuits and pancake mix to go. It isn't a big place and I don't recommend large groups coming here to eat. I enjoyed my Super Dave scramble with biscuit and side of pancake. The pancake is not the typical pancake and you'll have to try it to see what I mean. I also discovered a new drink, fauxmosas. They serve cider beer with orange juice and I found the combination very good. I am definitely t...

Went down to Panama on United Airlines . On this trip, I thought it would be interesting to see the Panama Canal. I did a short layover at Intercontinental Airport Houston. Since it was a slightly past midnight landing and 8 hours to kill, opted to spend what little of the night at the Sheraton North Houston at George Bush Intercontinental . Surprisingly, many of the airport hotels do not do overnight shuttle service and this Sheraton was one of the few that did. It was painfully slow at 2 am but it does work. Just make sure you start calling the hotel once you past baggage claim. Went back to the airport and landed into Panama in the afternoon. On the first night, checked into the Waldorf Astoria Panama.  I really enjoyed the hotel even if for one night in an upgraded suite with ocean views. The suite was more like a very comfortable apartment with a full service kitchen. I'm also impressed it came with a washer/dryer in the hallway closet. Handy for those food stains on your ...

Flew out to Denver International Airport on United Airlines for a work conference. I had forgotten how far outside the city the airport is located and I decided to rent a car instead of taking a taxi. Unfortunately, thunder storms and flash flooding was the weather outlook in my two days in Denver. When I landed, I picked up my car from Thrifty and chose a Mazda 2. I liked the size but I didn't like that the car lighter wasn't working which made using my GPS difficult. I don't turn off my GPS because it will turn itself off when not charging. Checked into the Sheraton Denver Downtown and was given a club room. The hotel is very big and it had two separate buildings. The club rooms were located in the Tower Building which is connected through the conference/meeting room area. The room was nice and pleasant. I did notice some water issues with the a/c unit but it seemed to dry itself out by the next day.  The next day, I went out during lunch and avoided the cold...

After arriving from Hanoi, this is my first time landing into  Tan Sot Nhat airport  in the domestic terminal. It is a very different experience from the international terminal. You have to fight for the taxis with the locals. I purchased a taxi voucher which was slightly more expensive than regular fare but it does get you some priority to getting an actual taxi. You just have to flag the taxi guy down and they will make sure you get on. Checked into the Le Meridien Saigon and it has a very bright but modern decor. The staff was very gracious. You can tell they wanted everything to go well during their soft opening period. I think the official grand opening is the following month. I was upgraded to a grand suite facing the industrial river. Although not immediately appealing, it was cool to see Vietnamese naval boats docked from the room. I was left a welcoming tray of fresh fruit and a personal walk through of the room and amenities.  The next day, I enjoyed t...

Landed into Ton Sat Airport and was able to get through security and customs fairly easily.  I had arranged for the hotel airport car service. From my last trip, I found that the taxis were not the cheapest route. I was given the same room as last time and was happy to see things were unchanged. This is my first time in Vietnam for a work conference. The conference hotel was Melia Hotel and it was a very new and modern facility. On this trip, I discovered that my international data roaming plan was not valid in Vietnam. Something must have happened with the U.S. telecoms and the Vietnamese government. My colleague's service was also not allowed. Luckily, I brought an unlocked phone and will say that Mobifone is a good deal for prepaid data. Just make sure you activate the monthly plan or your value will disappear the next day. The store operator was gruff but helpful. Afterwards, I was treated to a foot massage at the Oasis Spa inside the Melia Hotel. I thought it was fine...

I am on my way to a conference in Hanoi. Since I was already in San Diego, I booked my flight on United Airlines out of the city for convenience. I have never flown in or out of San Diego International Airport  and I found the airport easy to navigate with little fuss. The United Club appears recently renovated with modern furnishings. There is a very white theme which reminded me of the Clubs in SFO. The service was very attentive. I landed in SFO and had about five hours to kill before heading out to Tokyo for my second layover. The United Club in the International Terminal allowed me to unwind and the afternoon snacks were tasty. United Club San Diego Airport   Upon arriving in Tokyo International Airport  (Haneda), I checked into the Sheraton Miyako Hotel . This layover would be for 10 hours and I didn't want to stay in the ANA Lounge overnight. I met up with a colleague in SFO who has never been to Tokyo. Since it was about midnight, went ou...

Went down to San Diego for a day to visit friends. Checked into the Westin San Diego and was upgraded to a junior suite via my certificate. The layout was a little awkward and the spacing belied the square footage description. The TVs were ginormous and looked relatively new. Grabbed some drinks from the lobby bar and the sliders were really good. The Mrs. Robinson drink was pretty tasty. Westin San Diego Junior Suite Bedroom  Westin San Diego Junior Suite Living Room Grabbed dinner at Oceanaire and enjoyed my soft shell crab BLT. I assumed it would be a sandwich but it was literally crab lettuce and tomato. I would have called it a salad than BLT. Service was acceptable but could have been better given the price point of this restaurant. Grabbed a nightcap at La Puerta and grabbed a pedicab back to the hotel. Always ask how much those guys will cost because they will get you good if you are not specific.  The next morning, grabbed breakfast at the hotel rest...

Back in the valley of the sun. Took a leisurely drive out and had lunch at Pizza A Metro . I really enjoy their pizza and split that with gnocchi and carbonara pastas with friends. Afterwards, stopped at Urban Cookies for their chocolate chip cookies. Checked into the Hilton Scottsdale Villas and Resort and spent the afternoon in the villas pool. The hotel has two areas, one is the main hotel with hotel rooms and another is an area of townhouse style buildings. This area is where the villas are located. Each building had five units and I was able to check in online for the large villa. I would recommend for families to stay since they are all two bedroom two bath units. Hilton Scottsdale Villa Living Room Hilton Scottsdale Villa King Bedroom Hilton Scottsdale Villa Doubles Bedroom   For dinner, explored the downtown area and ate at The District . I normally don't venture to hotel restaurants to eat but SPG offered a promotion to earn points and discount. It w...

Flew out to Austin for a quick weekend trip. It has been a very long time since I was last in Austin. With the United merger of Continental, there are direct flights scheduled to Austin and I boarded a Bombardier CRJ-200. It was a tight fit but I made due with the space. Since I was arriving at odd hours and there was a motocross race this weekend, I ended up staying at several hotels each night. Got a deal on Priceline for a rental from Avis and ended up with a Kia Sorrento. For a SUV, the Sorrento did really well and I was pleasantly surprised how nice it was inside. It didn't have much power but it was helpful in my treks crisscrossing Austin. Checked into the Home2 Suites Austin Round Rock. Unfortunately, my reservation was canceled from a credit card processing fee and the hotel was almost sold out. It took some finagling but the receptionist was able to get my rate and put us in a one bedroom suite. An upgrade from the studio I booked. It is the first time I've st...

This year has not been a good year for snowboarders. Haven't had a chance to snowboard, I hoped Aspen would be able to provide some much needed powder in my life. Used frequent flier points to fly on United Airlines to Aspen. Super small airport and the resorts all make pickups. I called the Westin Snowmass Resort ahead of time to confirm that they will send someone to get me. The shuttle driver found me fairly easily and I was able to check into the room in the early afternoon. Since I had some time to kill, I had lunch at the Snowmass Kitchen. Pricey but good, the only drawback was the slow service in the restaurant. I was pleasantly surprised of the suite upgrade when I checked in. The one bedroom suite had a dining area and wet bar pantry room. The balcony was the same size as the living room, definitely a party room if you wanted it to be. I liked the amenities which included an in room humidifier and a portable heater. The balcony also came with outside heater lamp for c...

I'm back again for a conference. Flew out on United Airlines and was able to snag a first class seat on the way out. Luckily, the Hilton New Orleans St. Charles Avenue was able to accommodate an early check-in. The room was just the same as last time. They are renovating the executive lounge which made the perk inaccessible. I was given breakfast coupons for Luke in exchange. I tried the Southern Breakfast sans meat. I found the biscuit slightly salty but I'm prone to being salt sensitive. Not a good thing when it comes to Southern cooking. For lunch, went out to Ruby Slipper Café and ordered the Catfish St. Peter and a double Bellini. The meal was tasty and the service was quick and friendly. Did some antique and second hand clothing shopping before getting dessert at Sucre . The dessert shop sells gelato, baked goods, and chocolate. The gelato was ok but the smore's skillet was super tasty. Ruby Slipper Café Catfish St. Peter Sucre S'mores skillet a...

A real vacation on the Big Island! Flew out on United Airlines into Kona for a seven day adventure. Checked into the Hilton Grand Vacation Club King's Land after grabbing the rental from Budget . We were given a Chevrolet Terrain after the agent couldn't find the compact SUV originally booked. I guess someone needed the car more. It was a nice choice even though I am still anti-GM. Good fuel economy and pretty gutless. I guess you can't have good fuel economy and a super engine. Before getting into the hotel, did a stock up trip to Costco for the basics. Since the rooms are condo like, breakfast essentials and basic dinner staples were needed for meals. The poke in Costco is not cheap and you can find cheaper at Foodland . King's Land Living Room Suite Welcome King's Land Master Bedroom King's Land Kitchen (fancy stove) After settling in the hotel, relaxed and started to plan out the week's activities. Enjoyed a quick breakfast of Po...

Took a quick weekend trip and flew on United Airlines to SFO. Checked into the Hilton San Francisco Financial District after a brief snafu on the BART. I haven't been to this hotel location in a few years and they have upgraded their facility. There is now a hang out lobby lounge for Diamond and Gold HHonors members as well as the executive lounge opened seven days a week offering breakfast and evening snacks. I intended to see some friends and family but those plans fell through. Instead I opted to visit the California Sciences Academy . I was intrigued to visit a planetarium, aquarium, science museum, and botanical garden rolled into one facility. I wasn't sure what to expect but I was impressed with the facility. I found most of the exhibits interesting and wasn't able to view everything in one trip. Afterwards, visited Bi-Rite creamery to have a creme brûlée and and brown sugar with salted caramel and toffee sundae. Surprisingly, I did not like the toffee. It ...

Made a quick weekend trip for family to Lima. As this trip was mostly a chaperone scenario, I made the best of the situation as possible. I had to layover over in Houston on United Airlines and decided to do a layover visit and gave myself an 8 hour layover to see the 'sights.' I was able to get a great deal on Priceline for a car rental and ended up at National with a Toyota Corolla. I was impressed with the mileage of the car as I was able to put on 80+ miles during my excursion and the tank was still at full. Or I was really lucky and the person before me filled it up to the maximum. I went into the United Club to freshen up and grab a quick shower and light breakfast. Also, at 6 am in Houston, it was still dark and there is nothing open in the city. Headed out around 8 am and checked out the Asian scene. I have heard that there was a mass exodus of Vietnamese folks from California to Texas specifically Houston. I wanted to see if the community was as established as it...

Quick trip on United to Chicago to start my quest for 1K status. Flew out on a red eye flight and landed on the coldest hour of the day at 0 degrees Celsius. The airport felt as cold inside as outside and the pilot sent his condolences over the pa system.   Took the CTA blue line and red line to the Hampton Inn Downtown Chicago hotel. The system underwent a change and you can no longer buy paper media and add values. You either have one time use or permanent cards to add cash value. Not very convenient but it does encourage people to buy the expensive one day pass rather than one trip at a time. It was so cold that I barely managed the walk one block over to transfer between the blue and red lines at Monroe and from Grand to the hotel. Although it was way too early to check in, the front desk let me in early. I took a nap and met up with friends for lunch at Big and Littles featured on Diners Dives and Drive Ins . I tried the soft shell crab taco, spicy Thai taco, al ...

This week, I did not stay in Carson but went to the airport area. I checked into the Four Points Los Angeles Airport Hotel. With the holidays, it was a brief stay in the hotel. It's the first time I've stayed more than a night at this hotel. Previously, I am usually here for a night for the park and fly rates. I opted to dine at the hotel restaurant, Brewsters Beererie, because I'm a fan of the bourbon honey smash cocktail. I ordered the braised pork hash for dinner. It wasn't a cheap dinner but the food is surprisingly good for an airport hotel. I also dined at Fogo de Chao for an all you can eat meat extravaganza. I have never been to this Brazilian steakhouse chain and I found it good. Pricey, I stuck with only eating meat and cannot offer any opinion on the desserts.

I'm heading to Albuquerque for a work conference and my colleagues have convinced me to arrive earlier to check out the national parks in the area. I hopped onto my United flight and had to layover in Denver en route to Albuquerque. Once I arrived and met up with my colleagues, grabbed my rental from Dollar and drove off in my VW Passat. I was looking forward to the Passat as I have been thinking of getting one and thought it will be a good test if I really wanted one or not. Headed north to Cortez, Colorado for half a day and arrived at the vacation lodge found on Romantic Vacation Rentals . A very lovely home and not an unreasonable rate for the size. We had bought groceries before getting to the rental so our meals were mostly home made during the weekend. The next day, headed out to Mesa Verde Park to check out how the Indians lived in the area. I had done no research and completely relied on my colleague and the schedule that was planned out. I was pleasantly surprise...