Travel Guide - ThePointsOfLife

Be Careful Using Google Maps!

thepointsoflife

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January 30, 2020

Google Maps is part of the TPOL in NYC ongoing Trip Report.

I wrote about how I am older and wiser (see I Jaywalk No More). Now I’m going to sound even more out-dated when I state that technology is bad when it comes to navigation. In Scottsdale, I’ve had Google Maps tell me to make a u-turn when I’m on the 101. That is not a good idea. In Puerto Rico, Google Maps tells me to take exits that aren’t there. In my younger days, I used to print out my directions from Mapquest, study them momentarily, and then hit the road (usually to Vegas). That method is more efficient and much safer.

Not trusting navigation is not a novel concept. What is novel is Google’s new walking maps. Instead of going ten paces only to see the distance recalculate, users point their phone at landmarks and Google is able to visually understand where someone is. From there, the directions are more like looking through a lens of a camera.

I used this feature the last time I was in Brooklyn and was surprised at how well it worked. I also realized how dangerous it can be. Much like texting and driving may prove fatal, texting and walking is also dangerous. Using this app is a hybrid combo of the two. Focused on the destination, users may not look up (despite Google’s warning to do so). I can see people blindly walking into intersections on the advice of the navigation telling them to continue straight. Besides catastrophic results, I foresee people running into other people which has its own dangers.

If used correctly, the app is very useful and much easier than walking 500 feet in the wrong direction only to be told to turn around.

Have you used the app? Have you been hit by a bus?

Chinese Street Food NYC: A Novel Concept

thepointsoflife

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January 29, 2020

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Chinese Street Food NYC is part of the TPOL in NYC ongoing Trip Report.

Nostalgic for some Shanghai street food, I listened to a local-non-local native Chinese, now New Yorker for where to get spicy skewers. The name of the place is Friendship Foods. Judging by the crowd, the place looked top notch. Judging by the aroma, I thought I was in Shanghai. Judging by the prices, I knew I was in NY.

While the place had a lively atmosphere, all that mattered was the food. First the order. Then my thoughts.

In Shanghai, the eggplant was my favorite. Here it was decent but not great. The meat skewers were pretty good, but the small portions had me wanting more. Seems like spicy skewers are expensive everywhere now (see Spicy Skewers Shanghai: Best for Late Night Grub). In total, with no drinks, the price for everything pictured was $75.

Overall

I would take friends who have not been to Shanghai here for the sake of novelty. I would also go with friends who have been to reminisce. I would not come here if I was hungry and wanted to binge on one hundred skewers. That would cost more than a first class ticket to Asia (see Cathay Pacific First Class JFK-HKG: 15.5 Hours of Bliss).

TPOL’s TIP: Friendship Foods is located at 103 Bowery, New York, NY 10002

How to Get to JFK from Brooklyn: LIRR, Of Course

thepointsoflife

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January 28, 2020

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JFK Airport from Brooklyn is part of the TPOL in NYC ongoing Trip Report.

Disclaimer: This contains an affiliate link. If you sign up for Via, I get a credit to my Via account.

When I fly to JFK, I typically go to Manhattan via a combination of AirTrain and either subway or Long Island Rail Road. When I return to JFK, I am usually in a hurry and can’t be bothered to go to Penn Station to take the LIRR and I have no patience for the dozen stops on the subway. The perceived convenience leads to me blowing money on a rideshare program that usually takes longer because I’m stuck in traffic.

TPOL’s TIP: Lyft is much cheaper than Uber in NYC.

A Tip for TPOL: Sign up for Via so I can ride for free.

Budget-conscious and Brooklyn based, this time I decided to test the LIRR + AirTrain combo on my return to JFK.

Pro

It’s considerably cheaper. The LIRR costs $10.75 and the AirTrain costs $7.75 This is considerably cheaper than the $50 rideshare.

Pro II

From the Sheraton Brooklyn, the walk to Atlantic Station is not bad. It’s less than a mile. Contrast this with Manhattan. Unless you’re staying in Midtown, you will have to pay for a ride to Penn Station or ride the dreadful NY subway.

Con

It’s not a direct ride. You have to take take the LIRR to Jamaica Station and then take the AirTrain from there. Can you believe in a city referred to as the capital of the world that there is no direct, efficient route to the airport?

Con II

At Jamaica Station, I did not see the sign for AirTrain and went up to the departing platforms before going back downstairs and going in the right direction. Though I was able to take these beautiful photos, the stress of thinking I got off at the wrong station is another reason why I opted for rideshare in the past.

Con III

I stopped to take a photo of the obscene line to purchase a MetroCard for riders looking to take the subway into the city or passengers looking to ride the AirTrain. As a savvy traveler, I applauded myself for having my MetroCard in my wallet. That was short-lived as I found out that I had insufficient funds on my card. Can you believe in a city referred to as the capital of the world that there is no fully developed app for using public transport?

Pro III

Even with my detours and mishap with the MetroCard, it is much faster than taking a car. I arrived with plenty of time to go to the critically acclaimed WingTips Lounge.

Overall

If I am in Brooklyn near the Atlantic Terminal, I will take the LIRR + AirTrain to JFK. It’s cheap, fast, and convenient. When I am in Manhattan, I will get over my hate of the subway and use the AirTrain combo which, all in, costs $10.50.

JFK Airport from Brooklyn is part of the TPOL in NYC ongoing Trip Report.

Pho 6 NYC: Great, But Not The Best

thepointsoflife

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January 27, 2020

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Pho 6 NYC is part of TPOL in NYC.

I got greedy. After finding the Sao Mai, the Best Pho in NYC, I didn’t do what I did after finding the Best Korean BBQ in NYC. I decided to let it ride and look for something to top my previous experience. Enter The Pho 6.

TPOL’s TIP: The Pho 6 is located at 222 E 51st St, New York, NY 10022. This is a more convenient location than Sao Mai because I am usually in Midtown for work.

Warning Sign

Whenever a restaurant is cheap on the sprouts, I am suspicious of what is to come.

Warning 2

Whenever the summer rolls are too fancy or creative, I am suspicious of what is to come.

Warning 3

Whenever a restaurant doesn’t use the standard issue soup spoon, I am suspicious of what is to come.

Wrong Warnings

Fortunately, none of those bad omens meant anything. The pho was very good.

The beef was perfect.

The broth was not oily.

The noodles never stood a chance.

Overall

The Pho 6 is great. I would recommend it and I would return. But, now that I have discovered Sao Mai, I can’t rationalize going anywhere else.

Priority Pass Lounge JFK: WingTips for Cold Turkey

thepointsoflife

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January 24, 2020

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Priority Pass JFK Lounge Review is part of the TPOL in NYC ongoing Trip Report.

The typical JetBlue flight from NYC to SJU was replaced by Delta. I had $150 in Delta giftcards to burn and made use of it. Unlike in the past, I was unable to access the SkyPesos Lounge (see Delta Sky Club JFK: The One Without the Hot Dogs & Delta Sky Club JFK: Hot Dog Eating Contest ) because I cancelled the cost-prohibitive Amex Platinum card (see Keep Vs. Cancel: Amex Platinum Charles Schwab). No matter, with my Priority Pass membership, I, along with passengers on this distinguished group of airlines, could enjoy the WingTips lounge.

I had low expectations going in but was pleasantly surprised.

Seating

It is packed but there are many places to sit.

Drinks

A wide selection of beer and a solid selection of self-serve liquor were available.

Food

There was a smorgasbord of salads. For those watching their weight, lettuce, turkey, and Diet Coke are a safe option (sodium notwithstanding).

Overall

A lounge is better than no lounge. And this one is better than that.

Priority Pass JFK Lounge Review is part of the TPOL in NYC ongoing Trip Report.

Courtyard Shanghai Central: Nice, But Not So Central

thepointsoflife

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January 23, 2020

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Courtyard Shanghai Central Hotel Review is part of the TPOL in Shanghai Trip Report.

To recap, I started at an Airbnb (see Airbnb Long-Term? Never Again: My Shanghai Experience). I moved to the U Hotel. Then I used my Citi Prestige to alternate between the Renaissance Yu Garden and the Courtyard Shanghai Central (see Prestige 4th Night Free: My Last Great Use).

Getting There: Maglev or bust from the airport. DiDi doesn’t do airport pickups.

Location

This hotel is not centrally located. I would recommend Twelve at Hengshan in the French Concession or Le Royal Méridien if it’s your first time in Shanghai and you actually want to be central.

Room

The cheapest option was two single beds. I figured, upon checking in, I would be moved to a king-size room. There were none available with a view, so we made due with the his and hers arrangement.

Bathroom

Spy on his or her from the bathroom while enjoying the rain shower. This might be awkward for business travelers sharing a room.

Welcome Fruit

Can you name the fruit in the picture?

View

Coming from the Renaissance, I was spoiled by my view. I was miles away from one of the Best Views of Shanghai. I’m not sure a room with a view was worth the king-size tradeoff.

a city street with cars and buildings — I gave up a king size for this?

a city with many tall buildings — Le Meridien on the right.

Lounge

I enjoyed the lounge. There was plenty of space and plenty to drink and eat. The available snacks could easily substitute for dinner, which is not necessarily a good thing when Shanghai has so many inexpensive, delicious food options (see Cheap Eats Shanghai: Morning, Day, Night, Morning Again).

Restaurants Nearby

Right next to the hotel is the infamous Taco Bell Shanghai. Don’t go. Across the street is the Blue Frog. Go for the burger. And if you’re in the mood to talk trash, head to Gossip Noodles. It’s all the fuss.

a burger and fries on a plate — Blue Frog

Breakfast

Breakfast buffets in Shanghai are not lacking in quantity, quality, and selection. This hotel continues that tradition.

a large building with many people — The whole floor overlooking the lobby is the breakfast restaurant.

Overall

The Courtyard is a nice hotel if you’re going to Shanghai for work. If you’re going for fun (see TPOL’s Guide to Libations in Shanghai), look elsewhere.

Courtyard Shanghai Central Hotel Review is part of the TPOL in Shanghai Trip Report.

Mercato Trattoria : Breaking the Rules on Eating Out in NYC

thepointsoflife

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January 22, 2020

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Best Italian Food Times Square is part of the TPOL in NYC ongoing Trip Report.

Going out for Italian food in the US is a risky proposition. Most of the time I leave disappointed because I know I can cook better Italian food at home. Before moving to New York in 2015 (see Start Spreading the News…TPOL Moved to NY Today), I assumed that the best Italian restaurants were in Little Italy. I went to two of them and was not pleased. While there may be great restaurants there, I definitely did not go to the right ones.

As a seasoned New Yorker, I began to find my way around. I discovered that the Olive Garden in Times Square made my Round the Atlantic Tour which included stops in Italy superfluous (see Olive Garden Times Square: Real Italian Food).

2017-04-28 19.43.08 — Nothing says New York like Times Square. And nothing says Italian food like the internationally acclaimed Olive Garden.

On a serious note, there are certain rules I follow when it comes to eating out in NYC. They include the following:

Don’t Go Out to Eat Near Times Square

In 2016, I left NY but still return for the occasional Bachuwa Law work function. While staying at the Four Points Midtown – Times Square, I had a craving for Italian food. I came across Mercato. Admittedly, I was skeptical as to the quality of the place since it was located near to the biggest tourist trap in the world, Times Square. To my delight, the place was anything but.

Don’t Order Simple Appetizers

At Mercato, ordering for two means ordering for four. The salsiccia e patate was fantastic and greatly portioned.

Don’t Order Two Bottles of Wine

I have a rule: Only order one bottle of wine at dinner. Here I stuck to that rule but places like this make me break it as great meat and cheese should not be unaccompanied.

Don’t Order ‘Basic Pasta’

The traditional rule is never to order a pasta dish that you can make at home. Sometimes I break that rule when I believe that a place will make a dish like grandma does. I was correct.

Don’t Order Dessert

Who orders dessert when they go out to eat? Usually, I do not. Here, I did and I have no regrets.

Don’t Order After Dinner Coffee

That’s where they get you. Here, espresso was only $3.50 and the Gran Marnier accompaniment was $5. What more can I want?

Overall

Mercato. Go there. Break the rules. You’re welcome.

TPOL’s TIP: Mercato is located at 352 W 39th St, New York, NY 10018

Best Italian Food Times Square is part of the TPOL in NYC ongoing Trip Report.

Game Over: TPOL Found the Best Pho in NYC

thepointsoflife

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January 21, 2020

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Best Pho NYC is part of TPOL in NYC.

I am the foremost expert on pho and have written extensively about pho restaurants all across the world (see all my Pho Reviews here). One of my first posts on this blog was about how bad the pho in New York is (see Pho No written on 3/24/2014). Since then, I have been all over Manhattan, and Brooklyn, and even neighboring New Jersey, looking for international quality pho in the so-called capital of the world. There have been many disappointments, some decent choices, but nothing worthy of my Top Ten List of Pho (written 10/26/14). To show how much work I have done and to give credibility to the assertion that Sao Mai is the best pho in NYC, here is a list of all the places I have reviewed:

TPOL’s TIP: If the headline had you hooked and you don’t want to read more, know that Sao Mai is located at 203 1st Avenue, New York, NY 10003.

The Intro

The table had a bottle of water, sriracha, and hoisin. So far so good.

The Summer Rolls

TPOL’s TIP: Never judge the upcoming bowl by the quality of the summer rolls. I have had many great summer rolls, only to be disappointed by the pho.

Here, the summer rolls were delicious.

The Bowl

Delicious bowls of pho are easy to photograph. There is a balance of colors reflected in the ingredients that makes it easy to appreciate.

Meat

Well-done and great pho do not go together. The meat should be appropriately raw, as was the case below:

Sprouts

Crunchy fresh sprouts are an added touch to perfection.

Putting It Together

Perfect meat? Check. Jalapenos and cilantro? Check. A proportionate amount of noodles? Check.

Taste

The color and the aroma of the broth are tell-tale signs that the bowl is going to be an experience. However, one does not know until that first bite is consumed, until that first slurp is swallowed, and that first piece of meat is devoured.

Disappointment

Disappointment comes in two varieties. The traditional is being repulsed by a lack of flavor and being upset by the destruction of one of the best meals in the world (see Pho Darwin: Worst in the World). The other type of disappointment is glancing down to see that you are halfway done with the bowl but unable to recall how it came to this so quickly. That’s what happened here.

Beef

Undercooking the beef is only a prerequisite for a bowl of pho. It doesn’t mean that it will be good. Here, the beef was perfectly cooked and perfect in flavor.

The TPOL Test

Use your senses when you eat pho. A great bowl will tickle all of them. Ultimately, however, it will come down to one thing: was the bowl consumed in its entirety or was there a drop left behind?

I rest my case.

And for Good Measure

The cafe sua da was also delightful.

Overall

On this day, Sao Mai served the best pho in NYC. When I go again, I hope that is still true.

Best Pho NYC is part of TPOL in NYC.

Amex Green Approved!

thepointsoflife

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January 15, 2020

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I’ve been rejected so many times by banks lately that I forgot what it was like to be approved. That changed yesterday when I applied for the Amex Green card. I had to switch to incognito mode a few times to get the offer. With only a 2k spend, applicants receive 45k points. That’s a hell of a deal. Beyond that, per DoC, here are the card benefits:

Annual fee of $150 (not waived first year)
Card earns at the following rates:
- 3x points on
  - Restaurants worldwide
  - Travel including flights, hotels, transit, taxis and ridesharing services.
- 1x points on all other purchases
$100 CLEAR credit per calendar year
$100 Loungebuddy credit per calendar year
No foreign transaction fees

I use my Citi Prestige for most of these benefits as it gets 5x on restaurants and air travel and 3x on hotels. My motivation for applying is the points and the Clear membership for 2020. After that, depending on my Prestige retention offer, this card may be on the chopping block.

One cool part of the app process is the ability to have the cc number right away instead of having to wait for that thick envelope to come to my inbox.

Cheap Eats Shanghai: Morning, Day, Night, Morning Again

thepointsoflife

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January 14, 2020

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Cheap Eats Shanghai is part of the TPOL in Shanghai Trip Report.

In my TPOL’s Guide to Libations in Shanghai, I wrote that the street BBQs were gone. That is a sad development but not the end of all cheap eats. Depending on where you are in Shanghai, there are still options.

Xintiandi

If you’re staying at the Andaz or the U Hotel, head to the place right next door to the U Hotel for breakfast pizza and other sweet treats. If it’s before 4AM, there’s a small place if you head left from the U Hotel. It has amazing fried rice and noodles. Be careful. It is damn spicy.

Invalid request error occurred. — All sorts of treats at this breakfast place.

a man and woman in a kitchen — The spicy kitchen

Jing’an

Fried Rice Lady: After partying at Revolucion Cafe, exit to the right and take your first right. Go up one block and you’ll see the fried rice lady.

a plate of noodles and vegetables — She makes noodles too.

Taxi/Tuk-Tuk

If everything is closed, jump in a taxi and ask shifu for a food place. One morning when the sun was out, I ended up with new friends eating and drinking until 8AM (see Ganbei! The Guide to Making Friends in China).

TPOL’s TIP: Make sure the tuk-tuk doesn’t take you to a 24hr bar. Hint: It’s not a bar.

Spicy Skewers

Looking for Spicy Skewers, don’t wander aimlessly like I did. Head to the intersection of Yan’an and Yunan nan road.

Chain Favorites

If you want some hand-holding and don’t want to take a risk, go to Yu Garden or, my favorite, Yang’s.

Random Places

There are small places that serve dumplings, soup, fried rice, and noodles all over. Most don’t have English names. Some are delicious. Some are terrible. I go into the ones with pictures or the ones where there are patrons. From there, I just point at what looks good and hope for the best.

Out of Business

Unfortunately, the best place for fried rice and late-night dumplings is out of business. It was located near my old apartment at Nanchang Lu and Shaanxi Lu.

a man holding plates of food — Gone! But not forgotten.

Overall

The street food is alive. Some have moved indoors, but the prices are still cheap and the food is still great.