For 25k versus 15k, I gladly chose business class from San Juan to Roatan via Miami. But I am always on edge when I fly business class on domestic carriers. I never know what type of flight attendant I will encounter. On this flight, I came across the one who acts like she’s doing you a favor to serve you. From the outset, I knew this wasn’t going to be fun. With my flight at 6AM, I had only slept for two hours the night before. Prior to takeoff, I took a quick nap. In the fog of sleep, I heard the flight attendant ask Ms. TPOL what she wanted for breakfast. I tried to wake up in time to catch her, but was not successful. Fearing I had missed the opportunity, I did the unthinkable: I rang the call button.
She came over and said, “I wasn’t done,” and then took my order. When the food arrived, I was again asleep. Lost in my dreams, I couldn’t figure out how to open the tray table. Impatient, she hissed, “Flick the white button!” I was confused, forcing her to do it herself. That did not please her.
In terms of the flight, the sweet bread is worth mentioning. The egg frittata was ok.
Overall
Flying AA is like a box of chocolates:
It may look the part…But the champagne is terrible.
Disclaimer: If you use my link to buy something, I might get paid.
I have been looking for a great combo for on-the-go blogging for quite some time (see ThinkPad Compact BT Keyboard: I Can’t Stop Blogging). With the death of the precious Blackberry (see My Travel Technology), I believe I found a suitable replacement. It’s the same Thinkpad keyboard along with an iPad Mini. While I hate Apple, nothing can beat their tablets. And with this small size, I can write whenever I want, including on this flight from San Juan to Miami, bound for Roatan.
I wonder what it would be like to travel without having to document everything? I think it would be boring.
I was stationary in Puerto Rico for a long time but that didn’t mean I felt like leaving. The reason I did is because my IHG stay cert was expiring and my birthday was coming up. I could’ve stayed at the Holiday Inn Express Condado to justify paying the IHG card’s annual fee, but that hotel is quite terrible (see Holiday Inn Express San Juan Condado: Turrible).
Instead, I searched for IHG hotels in Latin America and the Caribbean in a new country that I have not visited (see Where I’ve Traveled). There were two results: Dominica and Honduras. While the hotel in Dominica looked nice, the logistics of getting there coupled with the fact that I didn’t want to trade one island for another had me intrigued to check out what there was to do in Honduras.
I came to find out that Roatan is also an island, the largest of the Bay Islands. The hotel was a Kimpton, a brand that I quite enjoyed when I visited Bangkok (see Kimpton Bangkok: The Best Here?). I quickly rationalized that sitting on a beach in Honduras is quite adventurous because it’s Honduras. I also found a superb flight for 25,000 points and $5.60 from SJU-MIA-RTB. Locked in on Roatan, I went to my favorite website for adventure, Wikiairports, to see where I could go next (see Wiki Airports: Finding Flights to the Unbeaten Path). While the choices were limited, I, within two days, pieced together a spectacular itinerary (see Bus-Ted: Central America Trip Report Points & Cash Summary).
TPOL’s Tip: IHG certificates have to be booked, not used by the expiration date.
Almost ready to congratulate myself, I received an alert that my Hyatt Category 7 certificate which I received for qualifying for Globalist (see Hyatt Globalist: Now What?) was expiring. “Ay Caramba!”, I declared. I wonder if there are any Cat 7s in Latin America or the Caribbean in countries I have not visited. There were not. “Dios mio!”, I exclaimed. I wonder if there are any Category 6 Hyatts in Latin America or the Caribbean in countries that I haven’t visited. There weren’t any.
Maybe I should save my certificate, I thought. That was an impossibility because there was no time between this trip, the expiration of the certificate at the end of June, and my residency trip in July (see Off Again! SJU-TBD Trip Report).
TPOL’s Tip: Hyatt stay certs must be used by the expiration date.
I checked out Category 5 but also found nothing. Out of options, I rationalized burning it on a lower category. I quickly talked myself out of that idea. Instead, I booked the Grand Hyatt Playa Del Carmen. I did this for three reasons: 1) It was the best value for the cert as the room was going for 29k or $700 a night. 2). In my book, Everyone’s Advice Is Wrong…Including Mine (purchase here), I ridiculed people who go to Playa Del Carmen who believe that place is the ‘dream’ vacation and wanted to see it for myself. (That distinction now belongs to Tulum (see I’m Still Not Going to Tulum)). 3). It was an easy flight from where I was coming from El Salvador.
2 certs expiring, 2 certs booked. I was ready to go.
Overall
I resent the obligation that expiring stay certificates impose. However, without due dates, I would never leave my bubble.
Judging from this photo, do you think it was worth leaving?
The time has come for great writing. The time is now. I have now been to every country in Central America, minus Nicaragua. What an overlooked and underrated region! Plenty of posts to come.
I am planning my Central America trip, which is turning out quite nicely. Due to heightened security, each time I go to a hotel portal, bank portal, or airline portal, I am asked to verify that it is me using a code. That code is either sent by email or by text. Although I have asked all these programs to ‘remember me’. They, like some of my readers, have forgotten me. Booking complicated itineraries is time-consuming on its own. This makes it intolerablely consuming. Where is AI to realize that I am who I say I am? My, #AlexIntelligence >#ArtificialIntelligence.
Who’s with me?
By far, JetBlue has the worst tech in the industry. They make Avianca look good.
It’s May. That means I’m off on my birthday trip and will be out of the office. Last year, I went to Medellin, Miami, and Anguilla (see Birthday Bash Trip Report). This time I am not sure where I will end up. I will start in Honduras and go from there. Like all Trip Reports, I will take an eternity to complete it. Hope you’ll stick around.
On a layover between Medellin and Anguilla, I had the misfortune of spending the day before my birthday in Miami, a God forsaken city. I was pleasantly surprised by the restaurant I chose for dinner.
Houston let the game slip through its fingers yesterday. That was good news for ‘Eringobrach13’s Picks 1’ who had the Gators winning it all. Unfortunately, Eringobrach13’s Picks 1 had the total score for the game at 165 points while CalGator, who also picked Florida, had the total points at 160.
The question is, where will I go next? Will it be a Country Count Trip, will it be a Residency, or will it be a combination of both? One thing is for certain: I will get on that plane no matter what.
Originally, I was supposed to go to Buenos Aires and Cape Town for a back-to-back residency (see 2024 Residencies Announced! Barcelona, Buenos Aires, Cape Town). Instead of leaving, I stayed in Puerto Rico and endured months of rain from November-March. Bad weather did little to improve my golf game, though I still have aspirations of becoming club champion as shown in my inaugural YouTube video.
With life running out, I booked a one-way flight from San Juan to Madrid in July on board my favorite commuter airline, Iberia. For 50,000 points and $98, it’s the best redemption option available.
I hate Miami. It’s an illusion of the life you think you want (see The Worst Cities in the World). On a layover between Medellin and Anguilla, I had the misfortune of spending the day before my birthday in that God forsaken city. Staying at the Hyatt Place Miami Airport-West/Doral (see Hyatt Place Miami Airport: Careful, There’s East & West!). I was within walking distance of CityPlace Doral. Nothing says manufactured living like a strip mall.
America is great already! No need to make it great again.
TPOL’s Tip: CityPlace is located at 8300 NW 36th Street, Doral, Florida 3316
With this positive attitude, I had to pick which overpriced establishment would provide me with subpar food and even more subpar service. Since there is no good Mexican food in Puerto Rico, I settled on Chico Malo.
Cork Fee
In Medellin, I purchased a bottle of Malbec that I first tried years ago in Mendoza (see Medellin Wine Tasting). Too much of a coward to ask if I could bring it into the restaurant, I tasked Ms. TPOL with this responsibility. Chico Malo said yes and that it would cost $25.
Service
From the outset, the server was attentive. While still slow, it was much better than the typical Miami experience.
The chips and assortment of salsa dips were divine. The fajitas were perfect, especially the beef. “Where am I?” I wondered.
Bill
The bill came and the gratuity was included. Not having to deal with how little I want to tip or being held ISIS hostage by the credit card processing machine makes a mandatory tip charge acceptable (see Pressured Into Tipping! I Hate Credit Card Processing Tablets).
Cork Fee
I was slightly annoyed that the cork fee was $30, not $25. I asked the waitress, who asked the manager, who said it would not be reduced to $25. She said I received incorrect information and ‘apologized for the inconvenience.’ Now, that’s the Miami I know and hate.
Chico Malo No Más
It should come as no surprise that Chico Malo is closed. It was too much of a good thing for Miami to handle.
TPOL’s Tip: If you’re still intrigued, you can visit their Phoenix location.
Overall
Chico Malo Miami: Surprise, it’s delicious. No surprise, it’s Now Closed
