During my time in the UAE, I had planned to spend two nights in Abu Dhabi at the Park Hyatt, though after my Arrival credit cards were shut down, that was no longer possible. So I opted for the Hyatt Capital Gate, which I’ve always wanted to check out due to […]
review
My Stay at the Conrad Dubai During New Year’s Eve 2016
After a great stay at the Conrad Makkah, I chose the Conrad Dubai for our stay over New Year’s. The Conrad Dubai is a gorgeous hotel located on Sheikh Zayed Road, close to public transportation. So it was a bit disappointing when it turned out to be my worst 5-star hotel experience […]
Review: Kimpton Ink48 Hotel NYC
Back in January, I styaed at the Kimpton Ink48 Hotel in New York while attending the NYT Travel Show. At this point, I had chain hotel fatigue and wanted to stay in a small boutique hotel. I’ve always heard great things about Kimpton, so I decided to check it out. it […]
Virgin America first class: San Francisco to New York roundtrip
Last month, I flew Virgin America First Class between San Francisco to New York. I’ve flown Virgin America economy class (or main cabin) dozens of times before and it’s the best domestic economy class product, in my opinion. Virgin America has a fare-based award program, meaning the cost of the […]
Review: Pullman Zamzam Madina 2-bedroom executive suite
The Pullman Zamzam Madina is probably the best value hotel in Medina. While other hotels were charging $400+ per night for standard rooms, the Pullman had rates of just $200 for standard rooms and $450 for a 914 sqft 2-Bedroom Executive Suite. Since I was an Accor Le Club Silver […]
Travel Tip: Invest in an IKEA UPPTÄCKA carry-on bag
I’m a light packer. No matter how long the trip, I never take more than a carry-on bag with me. And I make it a point to return with less stuff than I departed with. This involves bringing worn t-shirts to sleep in or old sneakers that I can wear […]
Review: Conrad Makkah executive lounge and Al Mearaj restaurant
While our three rooms at the Conrad Makkah were booked under two Hilton HHonors Diamond and one Gold account, all of us received executive club lounge access. In addition, we were offered breakfast at the Al Mearaj restaurant, which I think beat the Hilton Sydney in terms of the most amazing breakfast buffet […]
Review: Conrad Makkah Haram View Suite
During our Umrah trip this past December, we stayed at the Conrad Makkah. The hotel opened last summer and appears to be a Category 8 Hilton, with award rates being 70,000 points per night. It’s located in the Jabal Omar area, next to the Hyatt Regency, Hilton, and Marriott hotels. […]
Etihad Business Class review: San Francisco to Abu Dhabi and Jeddah
In December, a ton of Etihad business class seats became available from San Francisco to Jeddah, just in time for my Umrah trip. Etihad has a great business class product, but I was really just relieved to be able to get our entire group on the same flight. The fact […]
Hyatt Place Chicago Downtown The Loop Review
The Hyatt Place Chicago Downtown The Loop is probably the best value hotel you can book on points in Chicago. Last October, I visited Chicago for a few days while attending the annual Chicago Seminars. My younger sister was with me, so we decided to spend most of our time […]