If you are looking for someone who has been to more Hyatt Places than he would care to share, look no further than TPOL. In this latest installment of cursory reviews of the Hyatt Place, I take on the Hyatt Place JAX airport.
I had a law conference on Amelia Island and did not want to pay the premium rate for what turned out to be an abysmal stay at the Ritz-Carlton (see You Call This Luxury?). Ever frugal, and with a late-arriving flight, I stayed here first. Below are photos of the room. You’ll notice that this time I decided to showcase how the Hyatt Place looks at night.
Getting There
The Hyatt Place JAX Airport is near the airport. You would think that goes without saying, but how many times have you booked an airport hotel only to find out it’s a ways away?
Breakfast
Hyatt Place is known for its bland breakfast. This was one stop beyond bland. I was offended by the integrity of the bagels. I was also irked that there was no coffee at either station.
Overall
Some Hyatt Places are great. Some are just another ‘place’ to lay my head.
Here is the Athens Travel Guide using the Guns & Butter methodology:
A trip is composed of two factors: Labor And Lazy
Anything on the line (Production Possibilities Frontier for my fellow economists) is an efficient use of your time depending on your tastes and preferences.
Anything inside the line is inefficient as should be avoided.
Anything outside is aspirational but may be impossible to do given the constraints of time and resources.
The opportunity cost (what is given up) for relaxing and being Lazy is gained by being adventurous in the form of Labor and vice versa.
Introduction
I remember my 6th Grade teacher Mrs. Gramer who probably had early onset dementia because she would kick kids out of class and forget to bring them back in. When it happened to me and I left for lunch without her permission, I told her, “But Mrs. Gramer, you always forget things.” She wasn’t amused.
Anyhow, Mrs. Gramer taught us about the Cradle of Civilization in your boy’s homeland of Iraq, the journey of Cristobal Colon to the New World, and about the rise and fall of the Greek Empire. We all gazed in amazement as she showed us pictures of the Parthenon while she simultaneously looking for her lost spectacles. They were, as always, on top of her head.
Despite being one of the students from hell, I was excited to learn about Greek culture and hoped that one day I would be able to go to Greece. At that time my PanAm award miles was empty leaving me to wonder how I would get to Athens in a lie-flat seat.
The Athens Marathon
The opportunity finally came to visit Greece when I signed up for the Athens Marathon. It doesn’t get any more Labor intensive in regards to Guns & Butter than running a marathon. While my finishing time of 5:05 wasn’t my greatest achievement, I would still recommend the Athens Marathon to anyone looking to complete the Original Course, the route that Pheidippedes took to deliver the news of a Greek victory against the Persians from the city of Marathon to Athens.
The AuthenticThe Winner’s Medal
The Acropolis
The Acropolis from the hotel
Mrs. Gramer would be very proud that I made it to the Acropolis. She wouldn’t be as impressed with my source for the definition of what the Acropolis is, an ancient citadel located on a high rocky outcrop above the city of Athens which contains the remains of several ancient buildings of great architectural and historic significance, the most famous being the Parthenon. (reference Wiki.)
The entrance from below
Theatre of Dionysus
On the way to the top, stop and admire the Theatre of Dionysus, the first theater in the world. Dionysus is the god of the grape harvest, winemaking and wine, of ritual madness, fertility, theatre and religious ecstasy in. (reference Wiki.) While I didn’t see any ritual madness going on, there were plenty of people climbing over each other to take photos.
Aiming for photos with no touristsTickets purchased on stubhub
Odeon of Herodes Atticus
The Odeon of Herodes Atticus was built in 161 AD by the Athenian magnate Herodes Atticus in memory of his wife, Aspasia Annia Regilla (reference Wiki.) Today it is used as a concert venue and the site of the Athens Festival which celebrates Greek culture and history.
Restored marble seatingThe great opera singers have performed hereWould be great to come for a concert
The Parthenon
The Parthenon is a former temple on the Athenian Acropolis. It is dedicated to the goddess Athena, whom the people of Athens considered their patron. Construction began in 447 BC when the Athenian Empire was at the peak of its power. (reference Wiki.) It was interesting to learn that the Parthenon wasn’t primarily used as a temple. Instead, historians believe that it was the original Fort Knox, safeguarding the gold of the Greek Empire.
The ParthenonLoaded with touristsIt’s remarkable that it has survived this longTower of Zeus in the distanceParthenon is currently under restorationLess tourists from the other sideView of the National GardensMrs. Gramer, not pictured
Cost
It costs 12 euros to get into the Acropolis which also includes access to the Temple of Olympian Zeus. Note the hours for the Acropolis. It closes at 3PM during the winter and 7:30 during the summer.
National Monuments
The Temple of Zeus
It’s easy to take for granted how impressive the Athenian architecture is because the historic landmarks are now surrounded by a busy city. On one side of the street, there is a coffee shop probably opened within the last few decades, on the other there is the Temple of Zeus constructed between 472 and 456 BCE.
The attention to detail, the longevity, and ingenuity of the structures are a testament to the greatness of the Greek Empire.
Temple of ZeusThe remnantsThe columnsTaken from outside the gateBefore sunsetThe Temple of Olympian Zeus, also known as the Olympieion or Columns of the Olympian Zeus, is a colossal ruined temple in the center of the Greek capital Athens that was dedicated to Zeus, king of the Olympian gods. (reference Wiki)
The Hellenic Parliament
Parliament
The Old Royal Palace is the first Royal Palace of modern Greece, completed in 1843. It has housed the Hellenic Parliament since 1934. (reference Wiki.)
The Parliament is located across from Syntagma Square which is adjacent to the King George Hotel. Every hour there is the Changing of the Guard Ceremony in front of the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier.
Changing of the Guard at the ParliamentThe traditional shoes
Syntagma Square
Syntagma Square is the central square of Athens. The Square is named after the Constitution that the first King of Greece Otto was obliged to grant, after a popular and military uprising on September 3, 1843. (reference Wiki.)
Today, Syntagma Square has new significance. It is the site of anti-austerity strikes which are a result of Greek’s controversial decision to remain in the EU and adapt severe spending cuts. Thousands have taken the square to protest, resulting in riots and clashes with the police. Indeed only days after the marathon on November 8th, 2015, there were more riots right outside of my hotel.
Syntagma SquarePhoto courtesy of euronews.com
Panathenaic Stadium
Panathenaic Stadium held the first modern Olympic Games in 1896. It is one of the oldest stadiums in the world and was the finish line for the Athens Marathon.
In 329 BC it was rebuilt in marble by the archon Lycurgus and in 140 AD was enlarged and renovated by Herodes Atticus, giving a seated capacity of 50,000. (reference Wiki.)
Day before the marathonPanathenaic StadiumHost of the first modern Olympic GamesGreek statue outside of Panathenaic Stadium
Gyros Tour
Seeing all of Greek’s architectural marvels and taking the time to read about all of them on Wikipedia is exhausting. After a busy day of being a responsible tourist, it is time to go on a Gyros Tour, which is the most delicious part of Greek culture.
Fast food gyrosDine in gyros
Plaka
Plaka is an old neighborhood in Athens located right off of Syntagma Square. There are many restaurants, gyro parlors, and coffee shops to enjoy. Unfortunately, there is also a McDonald’s and H&M which mars the cultural purity of the neighborhood.
Plaka to the left of the square (and KFC)McDonald’s: America’s cultural contribution to Greek traditionChurch in PlakaOutskirts of PlakaTrain on edge of PlakaDining street in Plaka neighborhoodThe local ‘cab’, decent enoughDeliciousMixed grill plateAntica Restaurant
Monastiraki
Monastiraki is the flea market neighborhood next to Plaka. Though there are some quality items of great craftsmanship, a large portion of it is stores filled with counterfeit bags, useless trinkets, and opportunistic salesmen.
Ah finally, penis souvenirsMonastiraki
National Gardens
A tranquil escape from Athens is the National Gardens which is located right next to the city center.
National Gardens
Aigeli
Aigeli is a cafe within the National Gardens and a great place to relax and have an espresso while talking politics with locals.
Aigeli is within the National GardensDouble espressoGreek coffee, sweetened
The King George Hotel
The historical landmarks described within this travel guide is only steps away from one of the best hotels in the world, The King George Hotel. After finishing the marathon, nothing was better than getting a bag of gyros and returning back to the peace of this hotel.
In 2025, I stayed at the Grand Hyatt Athens. I suggest skipping this place.
Hotel Cecil
For the budget-conscious traveler, you could stay where my friend stayed, the Hotel Cecil. While it’s terrifying from the outside, it is in the middle of the hustle and bustle of Athens’ nightlife.
Everything I saw in Athens was centered around Syntagma Square as well as the 26.2 miles route to Athens. It would have been nice to leave the city and go to the countryside for wine tasting but running the marathon made doing so impossible.
While I enjoyed my time in Athens, I expected it to be more lively. Instead, I found a city that lacked energy. It felt like the people were worn out from the emotion of dealing with the uncertainty from the financial crisis. I wish I could say I was hopeful about the future of Greece but given the government’s actions, I do not see how the situation will improve. I am of the mindset that Greece should stand up to Germany, default on their loans, leave the EU, and retain their autonomy. That, I believe, is what the ancient Greeks would have done.
Conclusion 2025
To quote 2015, “While I enjoyed my time in Athens, I expected it to be more lively. Instead, I found a city that lacked energy.”
Day 4 of the World Cup was the culmination of my World Cup experience. For the final match, I paid the retail price of $274 for category 1 tickets in advance of knowing who was playing (see The Guide to Buying Tickets for the World Cup And Other Big Events). I had hoped that it would be Portugal vs. Brazil, but Brazil finished first in its group, leaving me with Portugal vs. Switzerland. Incidentally, my seats for the Brazil vs. South Korea were better, despite being Category 2.
Sober No More
As I have documented, there was no energy at this World Cup. It was a muted affair. To make sure I had some fun, I went to a watch party before the game, where I opted for performance-enhancing supplements.
Morocco vs. Spain
The excitement wasn’t only on account of alcohol. Morocco was playing Spain and had forced penalty kicks. The place was a madhouse when Morocco won.
Turbans for Sale
In addition to a few shots, I made a few friends who appreciated the Urban Turban (buy yours here).
Lusail Stadium
When I bought my tickets, I wanted to make sure I would be going to Lusail Stadium. It is the most beautiful of all the stadiums at the event. It did not disappoint.
The Game
The game was a bit blurry (reference alcohol above). Portugal went up quickly, and it was over for Switzerland shortly after it started.
Where is Ronaldo?
There was some controversy as Ronaldo did not start. He eventually made his way onto the pitch but did not do much.
Travel Lesson
People complained that there was no alcohol at the World Cup, which made the event boring. I agree that alcohol and making party go hand-in hand. Having said that, I will no longer drink before any sporting event. It’s fun in the moment, but I don’t remember much more than that. The same is true when I watch sports at home. I need to be fully attentive so my energy gets passed to my team.
Post Food at the Intercontinental
My favorite bar in Doha is the Belgian Cafe at the IC. It has great burgers and great beer, despite the sticker shock.
I went to see my golf coach in Doylestown, PA, as part of my trip to Philadelphia (see Guns & Butter: Philadelphia Travel Guide (Political Edition). My instructor was gracious enough to drive me to the airport to catch my flight home. Sitting in traffic, I wondered if I would arrive at the airport with enough time to check in my golf clubs. Most airlines state that at least 45 minutes before departure is required. I arrived at the airport 1 hour and 20 minutes before my flight.
The AA agent said that I could not check in my clubs and recommended that I put them back in my car if I wanted to make my flight. I informed him that I didn’t live in Philadelphia and I was going home. He said that the next flight was first thing in the morning.
At that counter, the agent took my ID, weighed my golf bag, and gave me my boarding pass without hesitation.
I don’t think there’s a Travel Lesson to be learned here, but I will add it for future reference as a reminder that traveling with checked bags comes with risk.
TPOL’s Guns & Butter Travel Guide is the best way to see as much as you can in as little time as possible. Here’s how it works – A trip is composed of two factors: Labor And Lazy. The opportunity cost (what is given up) for relaxing and being Lazy is gained by being adventurous in the form of Labor and vice versa. The guide includes inefficient activities i.e., tourist traps that should be avoided and aspirational activities that are worth doing but may be impossible to see given the constraints of time and resources.
250 Years?
It’s an open question if Americans will make it to Independence Day independent. Americans should travel to Philadelphia to visit the historical sights. Maybe then we would have a better appreciation for the freedom we take for granted.
Can you identify the following?
Even I didn’t know this guy.Or this guy.
Cheesesteaks
Now that you have some understanding of civics, you can enjoy another American pastime – eating.
There’s even a Rocky run for true believers.The Original (City-Owned): Commissioned by Stallone for Rocky III, this statue was gifted to the city and ended up at the base of the museum steps.
TPOL’s Trivia:Stallone’s Replica (Loaned): Sylvester Stallone bought a second identical statue at auction and loaned it to the city for events like RockyFest, placing it temporarily at the top of the steps.
TPOL’s Trivia: The original statue will be permanently installed at the top of the steps, replacing the replica.
Hyatt Regency
A decent place to stay and a great points redemption was the Hyatt Centric Philadelphia. (see The Softer Side of Philly).
Overall
America is a country of immigrants. If it were not, you would not have TPOL. But don’t take my word for it, listen to Neil Diamond.
Far We’ve been traveling far Without a home But not without a star Free Only want to be free We huddle close Hang on to a dream
On the boats and on the planes They’re coming to America Never looking back again They’re coming to America
Home, don’t it seem so far away Oh, we’re traveling light today In the eye of the storm In the eye of the storm
Home, to a new and a shiny place Make our bed, and we’ll say our grace Freedom’s light burning warm Freedom’s light burning warm
Everywhere around the world They’re coming to America Every time that flag’s unfurled They’re coming to America
Got a dream to take them there They’re coming to America Got a dream they’ve come to share They’re coming to America
They’re coming to America They’re coming to America They’re coming to America They’re coming to America Today, today, today, today, today
My country ’tis of thee Today Sweet land of liberty Today Of thee I sing Today
It took a lot of effort to finally go to Kingston, Jamaica for Carnival. Unfortunately, it was not worth the effort. Here is a summary of the trip, told in posts:
Fortunately, I was flying business on Copa, an underrated carrier for comfort in these parts. In Kingston, the first stop, after a Red Stripe, was the Priority Pass Lounge.
There wasn’t much going on there apart from jerk chicken and my favorite, Appleton Rum (see World’s Best Rum).
Ready to leave, I hopped on my Copa flight to Panama, went to the Copa Club there, and then back on a plane, finally bound for home.
In 2023, with life mostly normal, I booked the Courtyard in Kingston on points. For 100k points, I was able to stay for five nights. While this is a good deal in terms of points redemption, it was a mistake for two reasons:
I should have stayed at the new AC Marriott. It is a gorgeous property with a Starbucks in the lobby. More importantly, it costs the same amount in points. The reason I booked the Courtyard is that multiple websites recommended it for a Carnival stay. More on websites and recommendations below.
Great deal notwithstanding, 5 nights in one place is a violation of TPOL’s well-established Travel Philosophy where stays are capped at 4 nights maximum. For carnivals, the stay should be as short as possible. In Trinidad, I booked last second, arriving the night before the march began. I should have done the same here (see Travel Lesson: Too Much Carnival). The events leading up to the march were money grabs. Though they incrementally improved, they were amateur and uninspiring.
If you’re going to the full moon party in Thailand, my advice is to skip the actual full moon and enjoy the nights building up to the main event . During those nights, you’ll meet people from all over the world and create a nice organic community that Leo would endorse (see Full Moon Party Thailand: 3 Times Wasn’t Enough. Maybe Once More?). I thought I could replicate that model in Kingston. I did not because 1. Kingston is a city, not a quaint beach town. 2. There were too many simultaneous events, making it impossible to form a close-knit group.
Costume Pick-Up
Illuminate
On Wednesday, I paid $65 to go to an event called Illuminate. It was a large concrete parking lot with a DJ. Although there was an open bar and good soca music, there was no energy. I opted to pay for jerk chicken and go home.
Definitely arrived too early.I tried to drink.I went for coffee.Soup is a big pre-party beverage.
I have crabs.And a hot dog.Before giving in to chicken!
Sleep
In Trinidad, I barely slept. I don’t know how I had the energy to go as hard as I did. In Kingston, I was the most rested reveler on the island. With nothing planned for Thursday, I slept the day away.
Stay hydrated with ‘wata’.
Jangas
I paid $30 to go to another fete, carnival for party, at a bar called Jangas. Again, the music was good but I could not figure out how this was carnival. It was no different than going to a nightclub in any city.
Tailgate
I met a few partyers at Jangas who had purchased tickets to an event called Tailgate. For the magical price of $65, entrants could go to another concrete lot and listen to soca music. I arrived at the venue was asked to pay and decided to go home. Once again I spotted chicken to go. Unfortunately, it was cash only, leaving me frustrated and hungry.
Sun Nation
I will give credit to the carnival organizers. They know how to set up an Instagram and promote the events. Uninspired by parking lot parties and nightclubs and a desire to get out of the city, I paid $230 to go to Sun Nation. The event consisted of a booze cruise, a stop at an island for more partying, followed by a sunset return. The problem with booze cruises is 1. I’m too old for this shit. 2. It reminds me that I am too poor to afford a yacht (see Porto Cervo, Sardinia: My Yacht Is Bigger). 3. There’s a risk that it could be boring, leaving me stuck on board.
Don’t step out of line.
I was proven correct regarding 1. And 2. This was confirmed when we reached the sandbar (not an island), and I saw people in private boats, cruising at their own leisure. As for 3, I had enough rum to make the most of my time.
Best name for a boat.Their yacht.My boat.
TPOL’s Tip: Arrange a ride home in advance. Post booze cruise, I found myself at Port Royal, about an hour from the Courtyard, with no ride home. Luckily, the photographer drove me home for free.
To Juve Or Not? That Is the Question
When I went to Carnival in Trinidad, I participated in J’ouvert, a party that starts in the wee hours of the night and ends with clothing covered in paint early in the morning. As the old grouch that I am, I was happy when I found out that there was a breakfast party on Saturday that began at 8AM. That was the excuse I used to justify skipping the juve affair.
TPOL’s Tip: if you are going to do J’ouvert, I was told to do #ambush, a private J’ouvert at an undisclosed location. Last minute, I almost went but could not buy tickets online and the ticket seller was only accepting cash. Despite riding around for an hour trying to link up with the organizer, I could not locate her. That saved me $160 and left me well-rested for the next event.
Breakfast Party
Nothing I had done thus far had the vibe of carnival. I was told the breakfast party was worth the $230 admission price. Once again, I was in an Uber headed to a venue far from Kingston.
This time, instead of concrete, there was a grass pitch. This time, instead of bailing out early, I drank the day away.
You’re never too old to day drink, but again, how is this carnival?
Concert?
Carnival in Jamaica culminates with the march that begins at 10am on Sunday. Saturday night, there was a concert. Disappointed enough and overspending money, I skipped it in favor of sleep.
Maybe It’s Me
You may be saying that I am a miserable person who does not know how to have fun. Some revelers I met would agree with you. I disagree. In Trinidad, I was too happy for my own good. That high is how I ended up crashing my face into the pavement in Grenada two days after leaving Trinidad (see Surrendering Vacation: When to Cut a Trip Short ). In Jamaica, it was the exact opposite. The good vibes and sense of community were replaced by cover charges and selfish Instagram selfiers. This was a manufactured event that Holden Caulfield would not want to be a part of.
Proven Correct?
I received this email from my band.
Women spent hundreds on costumes and many did not receive what they were promised. The costumes looked like a school project from a school child who fell in love with scotch tape and Elmers glue. I spent $350 and received the wrong size board shorts and a tee shirt that I opted to remove halfway through the day.
Judgement Day: The March
The trucks were on the road. The music was blaring. The alcohol was flowing. But where were the people? Could it be that even the marquee event was a flop? From 10AM till lunch at 1:30PM, this appeared to be the case. Like all the other events, there was no energy. There were moments of hype, but many more moments of meh.
At lunch, I contemplated bowing out and going home.
Definitely not Trinidad.
Starbucks
This is probably cheating but I stopped at the aforementioned AC Hotel for a double espresso. I can confirm that the hotel is much nicer than the Courtyard.
Thank You Alcohol
Perhaps it was Appleton Rum #14 or Johnnie Walker #7 but at some point something clicked. The music was right. The crowd was right. The vibe was there. I had found my carnival.
After Party?
In Trinidad, the march ended at the venue of the after-party. Here, the march ended at a Popeye’s, leaving everyone wondering what to do next. I was about to walk home with a group of people, as I do not suggest solo walking at night in Kingston, when I saw another band still marching. I jumped in their group and danced for a little longer until their march ended.
After Party?
I was denied entry to the other band’s after-party. Somehow, I made it back to the Courtyard and found the location of my after-party. It was in a huge venue. Getting in was scary. People were being squeezed and in danger of being trampled. Once in, it was another big DJ event in a concrete lot. Once again, I opted for chicken instead of alcohol.
I Drove All Night
Celine Dion once sang that she would drive all night to get to me. As someone who has driven cross country leaving at night to arrive in the morning (once from Michigan post-GM firing (buy my book, Everyone’s Advice Is Wrong . . . Including Mine) and once from Montana to Scottsdale (see TPOL Moves to Scottsdale: My Drive to the Desert), I will apply ‘get out, get in’ mantra to future party benders. Let me explain: I should have arrived in Kingston on Friday, picked up my $350 board shorts and juve tickets then went right to sleep. Saturday, I should have gone to Juve, then the breakfast party, and gone right back to sleep. Sunday, I should have gone to the march when I was good and ready. Sunday night, once the sun went down, I should have also gone down.
Overall
My mistake was arriving in Kingston too early. This mistake persisted as I also arrived at all other events too early. By the time it was showtime, I could not be bothered to be engaged. Fortunately, I did not give up on the day it mattered most. Those few hours gave me hope that I might not be that miserable.
I have tried everything to increase efficiency on this blog. Currently, I am working on AI/Automation model that should get posts from 2022 posted before 2032. But the biggest piece of tech that has contributed to my slowdown is the retirement of my BlackBerry (see You Broke My Heart, Blackberry. You Broke My Heart). For those of you still traumatized by the loss of your BlackBerry and unable to type on a touchscreen, there is good news. At CES 2026, a company called Clicks launched the ‘Communicator‘. It’s a BlackBerry-style device that was designed by those who brought us our favorite BlackBerry products (Do you remember the BlackBerry Bold?).
The tagline for the phone is ‘Designed for doing, not doomscrooling’. Whether it be spending time on your favorite adult website (see Free Pornhub: Will That Help People Finally Stay Home?) or being hypnotized by toxic social media, scrolling is an addiction. This phone presents the opportunity to kick that bad habit. With all the time saved from looking down, I wonder what I will see when I finally look up. There is still a world out there to discover.
