Gild Hall NYC: Category 4 in Manhattan

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Gild Hall NYC: Category 4 in Manhattan

Gild Hall NYC Hotel Review is part of the ongoing TPOL in NYC trip report.

Getting There: The only choice that makes sense to get to the Financial District is the J train after the AirTrain (see JFK AirTrain: Why Mess with Uber to Manhattan?). Prepare to sit for an hour and do nothing with intermittent cell service.

Another work trip in NY means another night trying to find a hotel that won’t break the bank. This time I used my Hyatt Stay Certificate for the only Category 4 hotel in Manhattan.

Location

The hotel is located in the Financial District within walking distance to the zzz Andaz (see Andaz Wall Street: A City Asleep).

Hotel Itself

I arrived at 10AM and like the Confidante Miami, my room was not ready. By 11:30AM, my lame Explorist status didn’t move the needle, and I ended up changing in the restaurant bathroom for my meeting. In between that time, I took a few photos of the hotel with its interesting decor.

a sign on a brick wall a chess board on a table in front of a leather chair a room with a chandelier and a couch a room with tables and chairs and a television on the wall a staircase with books on it a bar with stools and a row of glasses a bar with stools and lights a room with a couch and a lamp

Room

I returned to the hotel at 11PM and had to check out by 5:15AM. Here are photos showing the room on the 18th floor, the highest available.a tall buildings with scaffolding a bed with pillows and a brown headboard a bed with a brown headboard a tv on the wall a desk with a lamp and a television on it a bed with a chandelier in a room a black safe with food and a bottle of wine in it a mini fridge full of drinks a glass container with tongs and a bottle of water on a tray

Bathroom

Here is the bathroom that I didn’t use. a door with a mirror a bathroom with a mirror and a toilet a shelf with candles and a bag of liquid a shower with a shower head and a small shelf a glass shelf with bottles of shampoo and a lid

Overall

This is a cool hotel but I didn’t get to experience it. Using the certificate was a money saver since the cheap options, including the Four Points LIC, was $200+.

Simply The Best: June 2019

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Simply The Best: June 2019

Half the year is gone. But, as an optimist, I like to say half the year is left. Here are the best posts from June, most came from New Zealand:

  1. Chase Mandatory Arbitration: Stop Complaining, Start Fighting

    a screenshot of a video
    The general public is misinformed, ill-informed, and inadequately informed when it comes to consumer arbitration.
  2. Centurion Lounge SFO: So Stale I Left

    a glass door with a sign on it
    Next to Centurion MIA and aside from the SEA one, this has to be the worst Centurion Lounge.
  3. Air New Zealand Auckland San Francisco: Business Back Up Over

    a man sitting in a chair reading a newspaper and holding a glass of juice
    Initially, I couldn’t find award availability from Australia. I’m happy I checked ANZ, and I’m happy I had the chance to fly them again.
  4. Wine Tours by Bike NZ: A Must for Wine Enthusiasts

    a man standing in a vineyard
    Do the bike wine tour. The scenery is beautiful. You get to go at your own pace. And you’ll live to tell about it.
  5. The Best Indian Food Comes from This Small Town

    a bowl of food with a spoon
    A good combination is white wine and Indian food. If you’re searching for the two in Blenheim, there’s only one place to go.
  6. Priority Pass SF Giants Clubhouse: Even If It’s Free, Stay Away

    a plate of food on a table
    I like the Priority Pass restaurant concept. This place was just not a good choice for applying it.
  7. Guns & Butter: Blenheim, New Zealand Travel Guide

    a man sitting on a couch holding a glass of wine
    I went to Blenheim for the sauvignon blanc. I ended up doing and consuming much more than that.

Bandwagon to Omaha? Glad I Missed the World Series

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Bandwagon to Omaha? Glad I Missed the World Series

Michigan has a habit of losing (see Buckeyes Wolverines: Fourth & Short Trip Report Recap and Final Four San Antonio: Go Blue! Left Blue). Even still, I have a habit of following them around, no matter the sport. That’s why when Michigan reached the College World Series, I started looking at flights to Omaha. (Did you know that the CWS is always held in Omaha? I did not.)

Fortunately, living in Puerto Rico, the flight was not convenient and the resulting loss was made more bearable knowing that I didn’t waste points, cash, or points and cash on another second place finish. It’s a great achievement for Michigan to get this far. Their last appearance was in 1984. It would’ve been great to finally win at something since my faith in Michigan football is very low (Meyer Quits: Michigan Should Fire Harbaugh) and the best coach in college basketball, Beilein, is now a Cavalier. The Michigan baseball jersey is sold out. However, I will buy one anyway so when they return in 35 years, no one can call me a bandwagon hopper.

a blue football jersey with a number on it

Still Blue (my mood, not the cheer)!

Bluffworks: 30,000 Miles Later, How I Showed Up Wrinkle Free to NYC

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Bluffworks: 30,000 Miles Later, How I Showed Up Wrinkle Free to NYC

Disclaimer: Bluffworks sent me clothes to try at no cost to me. I also receive compensation if you use my link to purchase products. 

Bluffworks Wrinkle Free Suit Review is part of the TPOL Down Under Trip Report.

The trip started in Puerto Rico (see Cutting It Close: Will I Make My JFK-HKG Connection?) and went 30,000 miles in every direction.

a map of the world with red linesa screenshot of a data

From diving with crocodiles to wine tours in Melbourne to the weirdest museum in Hobart, I had my Bluffworks suit packed with me for my eventual return to NYC. On its website, Bluffworks describes the suits as follows: “Our men’s travel suit refuses to wrinkle, has incredible breathability, and looks and feels like wool.” To style, I can confirm that it looks great (see Freddy Awards 2018: Arriving Wrinkle Free Thanks to Bluffworks). To the claim that it ‘refuses to wrinkle’, this was the ultimate test. And here is the result:

Bluffworks Wrinkle Free Suit Review

Remarkably, it withstood the beating of all those miles and my compact carry on bag. Now, I need to book another round the world trip and try it in another color just to be sure.

ICYMI: TPOL on TPG and DoC

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ICYMI: TPOL on TPG and DoC

Last week was a busy week as I wrote two articles on two issues that were completely unrelated. The first was for TPG, Traveling for Work? How Per Diems Can Help Track Expenses. The second was for DoC, Chase Arbitration: Opt In? Opt Out? What’s True? What’s False?. Please check them out. And now back to my regular scheduled programming, set to resume at 10:07AM tomorrow.

Priority Pass SF Giants Clubhouse: Even If It’s Free, Stay Away

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Priority Pass SF Giants Clubhouse: Even If It’s Free, Stay Away

Priority Pass SF Giants Clubhouse Lounge Review is part of the TPOL Down Under Trip Report.

I didn’t need food after my TPOL Down Under trip‎. I did need something to do since my flight to New York was delayed. Finding no satisfaction at the Amex Centurion SFO, I looked up Priority Pass options. The closest to my gate was the SF Giants Clubouse. Cardholders receive a $28 credit for one person or $56 if two people are dining.a trophy in a room with a group of people in the background

Looking to maximize my credit, I ordered filet sliders. The beef tasted like rubber octopus. It was disgusting. Without Priority Pass, the sliders are $25. For $11 there’s also a chili hot dog. It rivals the sliders for degree of edibility. If there isn’t a lounge or if I don’t have access to a lounge, TPOL has a policy of fasting. This restaurant proves why I should not deviate from that.a plate of food on a tablea hot dog and fries on a plate

Overall

I like the Priority Pass restaurant concept. It was fun to play golf in MSP (see Fore! The PGA MSP Airport, Simply Awesome) using the credit. This place was just not a good choice for applying it.

Centurion Lounge SFO: So Stale I Left

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Centurion Lounge SFO: So Stale I Left

Amex Centurion SFO Lounge Review is part of the TPOL Down Under Trip Report.

I just wrote about the mediocrity of Amex Centurion Lounges, specifically the Centurion Melbourne. After visiting the Centurion SFO, I think I was too hard on Melbourne. Next to Centurion MIA and aside from the SEA one, this has to be the worst Centurion Lounge.

a glass door with a sign on it

a group of people at a reception desk

Seating

This place is a zoo. There’s nowhere to sit.

a group of people sitting in chairs in a room

a group of people sitting at tables in a restaurant

a group of people sitting in a room

a group of people sitting at tables in a restaurant

people sitting at a bar

There was one table that clearly was reserved.

a table with name plates on it

Food

I walked up and walked away with plates that would be discarded.

a row of bowls of food on a counter

a bowl of food on a table

a plate of food on a white surface

Alcohol

As this was the end of my TPOL Down Under trip report, I didn’t have a drink. My bar evaluation is incomplete. Like MEL, there was Stella on draft. Unlike MEL, they don’t use the Stella glasses.

a water dispenser with ice and green leaves

Wine Tasting

It’s like I never left Blenheim. There’s wine tasting available. Ask the reception for the codes for four free samples.

a group of bottles of wine in a cooler

Espresso

There’s no ANZ barista app here. Back to the machine.

a coffee machine with a screen and a mug

Overall

I never used Centurion access a basis for evaluating if I should keep or cancel this card. If I did, I would discount it considerably because the lounges have lost their luster (see Keep Vs. Cancel: Amex Platinum Charles Schwab).

a blue door with a sign on it
Will not go through these doors again.

Air New Zealand Auckland San Francisco: Business Back Up Over

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Air New Zealand Auckland San Francisco: Business Back Up Over

Air New Zealand Auckland San Francisco Flight Review is part of the TPOL Down Under Trip Report.

Finding flights from Australia to the US in business is difficult. Finding availability from Auckland to the US is not. In addition, finding flights on a premium carrier like Air New Zealand is much easier than trying to find Qantas from Australia. In the end, it took 80k Aeroplan miles to get home.

Walking

The walk from the domestic terminal to the international one is ridiculous. It takes forever. There are streets signs along the way pinpointing how much longer you have to go.

a sign post with barbed wire and a building

Checking In

What a nice experience it was checking in. There’s a separate lounge and private elevator for business class customers. a sign with purple lights a white wall with purple lights a room with a desk and chairs

Cabin

The cabin looked like an artist’s canvas. It was more spacious than the Black Mamba I flew from Auckland to Shanghai as part of my Tahiti Triumph trip report.

a white sign with black text and numbers
SSSS per usual

airplanes parked on a runway a row of seats in an airplane a seat on an airplane a seat with a pillow and a bottle on the side of it

Champagne

The champagne is not Krug but the OJ is fresh. A nice mimosa is the way all flights should start (see Get Ready to Takeoff: The World’s Best Champagne).a glass of orange juice next to a glass of water

Wine

As I wrote in my Bike Wine Tour, Blenheim is not the place for bubbles. It is for pinot noir and sauvignon blanc. ANZ offers both and I took them up on that offer.a plate of food and a glass of wine

Dinner

The burger wasn’t as good as I recall from my previous ANZ flight. I like that it’s offered over the standard business class dry steak.a table with food on it and a television a burger and tomatoes on a plate

Cheese

What a weird cheese spread. There was jalapeño jack in the mix.a tv on a table with food on it

Dessert

Standard chocolate ice cream.a close up of food

Breakfast

Breakfast was not good. Way too much yogurt on the fruit and nothing creative about the eggs.a croissant and a glass of liquid a bowl of fruit with whipped cream a plate of food with ketchup and eggs

IFE

I always appreciate Caddyshack on a plane. My other go to (besides Black-ish) is Family Guy, but for some reason they only had Thanksgiving and Christmas episodes. Crazy Rich Asians is a terrible movie. Crazy Ballin’ Arabs due out in theaters in 2020.

a golf ball on the grass a tv screen with blue text

Sleep

The flight attendant made the bed, and I had the best sleep I can recall on a plane. The seat isn’t as wide as Cathay First, but the combination of the duvet and three fluffy pillows puts it up there with any other carrier.a bed with a blanket and pillows in a plane

Amenities Kit

I do not like it when they offer single use toothpaste. I rely on business class flights to stock up on travel toothpaste. Why offer a huge mouthwash and small toothpaste?a bag with a lotion and a hand sanitizer on it

The socks, per usual, were stylish.a person's feet in a chair

Service

Business class is more than fancy food and a bed. It’s also the personal service. ANZ did a great job providing that.Air New Zealand Auckland San Francisco Flight Review

Overall

Initially, I couldn’t find award availability from Australia. I’m happy I checked ANZ, and I’m happy I had the chance to fly them again.

Air New Zealand Lounge Auckland: Coffee On Demand

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Air New Zealand Lounge Auckland: Coffee On Demand

Air New Zealand Lounge Coffee is part of the TPOL Down Under Trip Report.

I don’t see the need to review a lounge or hotel if I’ve been there before. The exception being if something has radically changed and the old review is no longer relevant. If a lounge changes the wrap from chicken to turkey, I’ll pass‎ on the analysis.

Having spent hours in the Air New Zealand Lounge as part of the Tahiti Triumph trip report, I covered it extensively. This time I want to focus on a neat feature that I haven’t seen at other lounges and commend Air New Zealand for offering. I’m talking about the coffee.

Previously, I wrote about how good the baristas were at Qantas’s lounge (see Qantas Club Sydney: But for Baristas…). It’s nice to go to a lounge and not have the grinding machine pretend to make my coffee concoction. The problem with manual is the long wait time.

In this lounge, guests put in their order using the automated touchscreen or by downloading the app. They are given a time when their order will be ready. That’s efficiency. And it was quality.

a screen with a menu on it a screen with a coffee cup on it a cup of coffee on a table

Blenheim, NZ Airport Review: What Flying Private Must Be Like

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Blenheim, NZ Airport Review: What Flying Private Must Be Like

Blenheim Airport Review is part of the TPOL Down Under Trip Report.

The flight from Blenheim to Auckland is only an hour and a half long. There’s no need to show up to the airport early. I described how great Aussie airports are. This one was even better. The ticketing counter and the departure terminal are in one room. There is no security. Imagine living in a world where this was the norm?

people sitting in a terminal
Check in and wait in the same place

a glass door with a sign on itThe plane was another prop plane. If you have a choice, sit on the right side for views of the Sounds. a plane with people boarding it a view of a field of green plants and mountains from an airplane an aerial view of the ocean and land an airplane wing with clouds and blue sky

 

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