Andaz Napa Review The Andaz Napa was originally built in 2009 and opened under the Avia brand before Hyatt purchased the chain in 2011. The property reopened as a Hyatt Andaz in Fall 2012. Not much was changed about the property; which means the rooms are now 11 years old … Read more
Renovations at Alaska Lounge LAX During a recent arrival at LAX I was surprised to see an updated exterior to the Alaska Lounge in Terminal 6. It is the “reclaimed wood” look that is popping up at some of their other lounges like JFK. I’m not a fan by the … Read more
Hyatt Regency John Wayne Airport Newport Beach Review The Hyatt Regency John Wayne Airport Newport Beach Review (doesn’t that just roll off the tongue?) is located in an office park location near the Santa Ana Orange Count (SNA) airport. I stayed for one night before Thanksgiving after a late flight … Read more
Hyatt Palm Springs Review The Hyatt Palm Springs is an older property in the heart of downtown Palm Springs. Formerly titled the Hyatt Regency Suites Palm Springs, it has the feel of a Regency with 193 rooms built around an indoor atrium. A new Andaz is being built just down … Read more
Amtrak Coast Starlight Train LA to Seattle The Amtrak Coast Starlight route along the West Coast begins in Los Angeles and ends in Seattle (or you can take it the other direction). You can also get on and/or get off at any of the stops along the way. During my … Read more
Amtrak Metropolitan Lounge at Union Station in Los Angeles While I have visited a number of lounges in airports, stadiums, and even one floating on the water, the visit to the Amtrak Metropolitan Lounge at Union Station in Los Angeles was my first train station lounge. After two nights at … Read more
Kimpton La Peer Hotel West Hollywood Review After staying at the Kimpton Nine Zero in Boston, I received a certificate for a free night at any IHG property. I combined it with my Chase IHG Free Night certificate and booked two nights at the Kimpton La Peer in West Hollywood. … Read more
Hyatt Regency LAX Review This past weekend, my friend and I went on a domestic mileage run on Virgin America. The schedule of the flights had us on a layover for 9 hours at LAX from 2:00-11:00 PM right in the middle of the mileage run. Knowing we would be tired … Read more
Delta Airlines “Join the XI” Contest Experience Delta Airlines and their partner Seattle Sounders (MLS team) teamed up to sponsor the Join the XI contest last May. Fans were invited to submit a photo and eleven words to describe how they embody one of eleven positions on the “fan team“. … Read more
The Belamar Hotel Manhattan Beach Review This past weekend I stayed at The Belamar Hotel in Manhattan Beach, California for an event with Delta Airlines and the Seattle Sounders. I didn’t get to pick the hotel; it is the hotel the team had picked for their trip. The Belamar is part … Read more
Hyatt Regency San Francisco Review After my night at the Four Seasons, I knew I wanted a night in the city. As it was Pride weekend, I thought it would be fun to stay close to the parade route. The Hyatt Regency San Francisco fit that bill. I booked the room … Read more
Four Seasons Silicon Valley with Amex Fine Hotels & Resorts Last November there was an amazing sale on the Four Seasons Silicon Valley in Palo Alto. On select dates they were offering rooms for $35 (+ tax) down from a standard $300/night. I’m not sure if it was a pricing … Read more
Hyatt House Anaheim Resort I find Hyatt’s two “Modern Essential” brands; Hyatt Place and Hyatt House, to be mostly cookie cutter. The rooms are all the same, the breakfasts are uniform and the staff are reliable. I’ve stayed at a number of both types of properties and rarely write about … Read more
I status matched to Hilton Diamond late last year. Since then I have had a total of two stays; one in Copenhagen and the other more recently at the Hilton Garden Inn Redding. I have a few more stays booked as I earned a bunch of points through two Hilton credit card … Read more
Holiday Inn Burbank-Media Center Review To be honest, I thought that my review of the Holiday Inn Burbank-Media Center would be a parody. I am a hotel snob and stay mostly at Hyatt properties. However recently I needed to spend about 8 hours on an overnight layover at Burbank Bob Hope Airport … Read more
