Travel Guide - ThePointsOfLife

New Orleans Jazz Fest: Ticket Scalping Primer

thepointsoflife

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July 17, 2019

New Orleans Jazz Fest Ticket Scalping is part of Freddie Awards to New Orleans Binge Weekend Trip Report which covers:

Whether you are going to Jazz Fest to dance or whether you are going for the food like I did (see Guns & Butter: New Orleans Travel Guide (Binge Edition)), you are going to need tickets to get in the door. I was surprised to learn that tickets go for $85 per person. I was happy to learn that there were people scalping them for less.

Like scalping tickets for Madison Square Garden or scalping tickets for Michigan vs. Ohio State, this hobby is not for the risk averse. The tickets may be fake, it may be against the law, and it may not be worth the hassle of saving a few dollars. For those that live on the edge and love to bargain (see TPOL’s Guide to Bargaining Abroad), buying scalped tickets may be more fun than the event itself.

a statue of a baseball player — Ignore the sign at your own risk. It worked for me, will it work for you?

My goal was to pay $100 for two people. I went to entrepreneur after entrepreneur to see if anyone was interested. I couldn’t get anyone to come down below $120. I decided to come up to $110. By that point, the vendors said it was too risky to sell them and decided they were done for the day. I thought I may have pushed it too far until a man with an umbrella said he would take me up on my offer. He even offered to escort me through the entrance gate before taking my money.

Happy with the deal, we walked together like we were lifelong friends. Once we got in, I gave him the money. And then he, like Mary Poppins (or Fonzworth Bentley for my millennial readers), opened his umbrella and flew away.

Overall

I only stayed at Jazz Fest for a couple hours. I’m glad I only paid $110. Retail price isn’t terrible, but why pay retail when you can bargain?

Enjoyed New Orleans Jazz Fest Ticket Scalping? Read the complete Freddy Awards to New Orleans Binge Weekend Trip Report.

Centurion Lounge Dallas: Glad I’m Not Welcome

thepointsoflife

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July 16, 2019

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Centurion Lounge Dallas Lounge Review is part of Freddie Awards to New Orleans Binge Weekend Trip Report which covers:

I didn’t get into the Amex Centurion on the way into Dallas (see Centurion Lounge’s Buzzkill Entry Policy), but I did get to go on the way out. I stand by my assertion that showing up early just to experience the lounge is no longer worth it (see Skipping Airport Lounges with No Regrets).

Food

The food is better than normal lounges like Delta, but it isn’t exceptional like AA Flagship JFK.

Drink

Why can’t I get a good bloody mary at an airport anymore? I miss the Alaska Boardroom SEA and Priority Pass San Jose. I ordered a mimosa concoction. It was not very good. Mimosas, like bloodies, don’t have to be overthought. One is tomato juice and vodka. The other is orange juice and champagne. Why is that so difficult?

Seating

Even with the rule restrictions, the lounge was just like the Centurion SEA : crowded as duck. I parked myself in a seat and didn’t move for the maximum three hours I was allowed to be there.

View

On a positive note, the lounge provided great views of planes coming and going.

Overall

Centurion Lounges no longer impress me. I don’t feel bad that I no longer have my own access to them (see Keep Vs. Cancel: Amex Platinum Charles Schwab) and don’t care to free ride with someone that does. Leave me at the gate, thank you.

Priority Pass Toronto: You’re Too Close Man!

thepointsoflife

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July 15, 2019

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Priority Pass Toronto Lounge Review is part of the TPOL in Canada Trip Report.

Add the Plaza Premium Lounge (USA Transborder) to the list of Priority Pass lounges that should be avoided (see Priority Pass Jakarta Lounge Review: Yuck). Here’s why:

Food

What is this slop? The eggs look hardened. The sausage is a bucket of grease. The salad is splat of mayonnaise.

Seating

Your’re too close man!

The seating is tight. Not only is it too full, but also each seat is right on top of the other. To add to that, there was an oblivious parent with three of her kids crying and whining in this confined area (see Should Kids Be Allowed in The Hotel Lounge?). Because there were so many people in close proximity, I felt uncomfortable taking my usual candid lounge photos. Here’s all I got:

Bar

My only solace from the noise and bad food would’ve been alcohol. Too bad the bar was not open. I need to start scheduling later flights.

Overall

I couldn’t deal with people standing too close to my hot fire. I went to the gate and peacefully slept there.

Hyatt Regency Toronto: Please Don’t Devalue!

thepointsoflife

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July 12, 2019

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Hyatt Regency Toronto Hotel Review is part of the TPOL in Canada Trip Report.

Getting There: Take the train from Pearson airport (see Transport Toronto: How to Get Around The North).

If you’re looking to be in the middle of the hustle and bustle, stay at the Hyatt Regency Toronto. Outside the door is bar after bar and many restaurant choices (see The Finer Things: Where to Eat & Drink in Toronto). The CN tower and waterfront are also within walking distance.

a body of water with a large tower in the background — Walking along the waterfront of Lake Ontario

Room

A standard Hyatt king is all I need when I’m traveling.

Bathroom

I will complain that the water would go from decent pressure to nonexistent.

View

I was on the 19th floor and was almost impressed with the view because of the availability of a balcony. The “no fun” police decided that this was a safety hazard so the balcony was off limits.

Hyatt

When Hyatt devalues, it will be the end of free travel. There’s already next to zero availability with Bonvoy cash and points, and the rest of the programs aren’t handing rooms away like they used to (see Club Carlson: Where Did You Go? 6 Great Pre-Deval Redemptions). If you have Hyatt points, use them and enjoy them before we are all relegated to some stranger’s creepy Airbnb.

Overall

For 12k points and a solid location, the Hyatt Toronto is a good choice.

The Finer Things: Where to Eat & Drink in Toronto

thepointsoflife

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July 11, 2019

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Eat & Drink Toronto is part of the TPOL in Canada Trip Report.

Kawhi wanted to go home. Had he stayed in Toronto he could have had food and drink, among other things, for free.

There are tons of choices for great food and drink. The first on my list is Sassafraz because it is in my favorite neighborhood of Yorkville. The second, Coffee Oysters Champagne, is the perfect place for those looking to indulge on the finest treats of life.

Sassafraz

I used to come here years ago. This time, I could not find the restaurant and was convinced that it had closed. Indeed, it is still open but the iconic yellow paint has been replaced by a gloomy green. After confirming I was in the right place, I ordered a perfectly made Caesar, a double espresso, and halibut tacos.

While the charming yellow paint is gone, the delicious food and drink still remain.

TPOL’S TIP: Sassafraz is located at 100 Cumberland St, Toronto, ON M5R 1A6

Coffee Oysters Champagne (COC)

Since moving to Puerto Rico, I have not been motivated to travel. Then I stumble upon places like COC when I finally leave the island and recall why I like exploring. On an aimless stroll from the Hyatt Regency Toronto, I came upon this clever bar and restaurant which serves three of my favorites: Coffee, Oysters, and Champagne.

Coffee: I’m tempted to purchase a manual espresso maker. I love my Nespresso machine, but it does not compare to freshly made coffee.

Champagne: I didn’t expect the place to be inexpensive but that’s quite the price for one glass of Krug.

I stuck with the reasonable rosé for $15 CAD a glass.

Oysters: East Coast vs. West

I tried both but unlike hip-hop, I prefer my oysters from the east coast.

COCC? Add in Cigar to the name and I would have stayed for hours more.

TPOL’s TIP: Coffee Oysters Champagne is located at 214 King St W, Toronto, ON M5H 3S6

Overall

Kawhi had so many places to eat and drink in Toronto. These are two unique choices that I would gladly frequent, especially if it’s free.

St. George Toronto Hotel Review: Great Location in The 6

thepointsoflife

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July 10, 2019

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St. George Toronto Hotel Review is part of the TPOL in Canada Trip Report.

Getting There: From YYZ, I took the train to the subway station. Read the Transport Toronto post.

Another night, another stay certificate (see Stay Certificates: Saving Thousands in NY and Gild Hall NYC: Category 4 in Manhattan). This time it was IHG. With the expiration date approaching on this last cert under the old rules (see IHG Free Night Devaluation: Still Not As Bad As Club Carlson), I looked for the best option in my immediate travel plans.

Unfortunately, those plans didn’t include another trip to Tahiti where I burnt my cert last time (see Maximized! IHG Rewards Free Night in Tahiti). Instead, I stayed at the Kimpton St. George hotel in Toronto.

Location

If you like upscale dining and shopping, you’ll love the location of the St. George hotel. It is a short stroll to my favorite Toronto suburb, Yorkville.

Room

I’m terrible at optimizing my cert stays. I had the same issue with Hilton (see Hilton Weekend Certificate: Not Worth the 10k Spend). Here, the room was nice enough but obviously not an overwater bungalow.

Bathroom

I didn’t really care for the bathroom at the IC Le Moana Bora Bora. This one was good enough.

Amenity

I was given a $15 voucher to be used on the mini bar. Stella anyone?

HBO GO?

I tried to use the clever streamcast feature but could not get it to work.

The View

I’ll continue to make the unfair comparison by saying the view of the street didn’t compare to the ocean.

Overall

This was a nice hotel but it’s not the optimal use of an uncapped stay certificate. Fortunately, I won’t have to feel the angst of not making an ideal redemption since Chase and IHG devalued the certificate.

Transport Toronto: How to Get Around The North

thepointsoflife

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July 9, 2019

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Transport Toronto is part of the TPOL in Canada Trip Report.

Some cities like Sydney have great transport to and from the airport. Other cities, like NYC, have awful transport. Toronto Pearson is somewhere in the middle. To get to the Kimpton St. George hotel, I first took the Union Pearson Express and then took the metro the rest of the way.

Get off at Bloor and walk to Dundas Station.

From there, I had the “pleasure” of taking Toronto’s mass transit system. If you thought New York’s subway needed upgrades, visit Toronto’s. While the coins for getting on board are cute, they are not functional and, up until recently, were easily counterfeited. Despite its age, the metro is a convenient choice for getting around Toronto and is much better than hailing a taxi. (Toronto should be added to my list, “Taxi my friend?” The Worst Places to Hail a Cab.)

The alternative is to take Uber. Or if it’s a nice summer day, you can simply walk. That’s the best option once you are downtown.

Jongro: Best Korean BBQ NYC?

thepointsoflife

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July 5, 2019

7

Best Korean BBQ NYC is part of the ongoing TPOL in NYC trip report.

My favorite food when I lived in Mongolia was Uzbek. My second favorite was Korean. Even with only a few tugs, I was still able to have a hearty dinner. That’s thanks in large part to the countless side dishes that come at no additional cost. Anytime I was short of kimchi or the additional small plates of treats, I would hit the buzzer and it would be replenished. It’s a buffet of goodness that only ends when I stay stop.

Fast forward to years later and I still love Korean BBQ. I tried it in San Juan but came away hungry and pressured to tip. If I’m in New York and am in the mood for a big dinner instead of a bowl of pho, I head to Korea Town for my fill.

Specifically, I go to Jongro. Unlike my pho reviews, I can’t definitely say this is the best Korean BBQ in NYC, but I also don’t want to risk disappointment since this one is so damn good.

For around $100, a party of two receives tons of meat, beer, rice, and the lethal soju. The experience consists of eating, drinking, and occasionally hitting the buzzer if the macaroni salad is not refilled promptly. All of it is enjoyed with K-pop music blaring out of the speakers.

I’m open to suggestions for other great places, but it will be difficult to go anywhere else.

TPOL’s TIP: Jongro is located at 22 W 32nd St Fl 2, New York, NY 10001, USA and closes at 2AM.

Happy 4th: Don’t Miss 30 for 30, The Good, The Bad, The Hungry‎

thepointsoflife

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July 4, 2019

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Happy 4th: Don’t Miss 30 for 30, The Good, The Bad, The Hungry‎

Long time readers will recall my food eating contests (see Man Vs. Food: The 2 POUND Burger Eating Contest, Man vs. Himself: My 4th of July Hot Dog Eating Contest, and 4th of July Eating Contests at Your Favorite Lounges).

ESPN recently aired a 30 for 30 called The Good, The Bad, The Hungry‎ which recounts the sad tale of the once beloved Takeru Kobayashi. Kobayashi regularly won the Nathan’s Hot Dog Eating Contest, but drama ensued between Kobayashi and the event’s organizer. It culminated with Kobayashi not being able to participate in the contest and actually being arrested for going on stage. Who would have thought that competitive eating has so much drama?

I’m still a big fan of Kobayashi and hope that one day he reclaims his title and is given the proper credit he deserves for what he has achieved. In honor of Kobayashi, this 4th of July, I will scour the island of Puerto Rico in search of a morcilla eating contest.

Happy 4th!

It Wasn’t Me: Man Tries to Break Into Cockpit from SJU to JFK

thepointsoflife

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July 3, 2019

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A proud TPOL reader and frequent comment contributor was worried when I missed my 10:07AM post time this morning. Simultaneously, he read this article on View From The Wing, Man Promises to End Terrorism, Save the World – Gets Arrested Breaking Into Delta Cockpit. Understandably, he was concerned. I can assure you that I was not that man. Instead, I was too lazy and missed my alarm clock. I can also assure you that San Juan is safe. Come visit!