Travel Guide - ThePointsOfLife

Complaints: How Long Till You Let It Go?

thepointsoflife

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May 13, 2019

Complaints: How Long Till You Let It Go?

TPOL loves to complain (see Have You Ever Not Complained?). I have a whole category on my blog devoted to complaining. If things do not go smoothly, I will voice my opinion until the situation is rectified. Usually, issues are resolved right away e.g., “Sorry your A/C wasn’t working. We will give you 8,000 points.” Other times, I have to call or email customer service to have the situation escalated. Usually, I receive a response with some sort of solution.

But what about times when nobody responds? Do I just let those go simply because time has passed? Absolutely not. I actually keep a list of offenders and the status of the complaints. Some have been on there for over a year. For example, I’m still waiting for Marriott to help me with the ‘great white scam tour’ the hotel booked (see Ripoff Alert! Great White Cage Diving in South Africa with SharkLady Adventures). When I’m properly caffeinated, I will follow-up again.

Another example is when I was charged for the mini bar when I stayed at the Maxwell Hotel in NYC last year. I was told I would receive a refund and it never came. When I followed up with the hotel, the manager told me to call so he could get my credit card info. Since calling anyone is my least favorite activity, I put it on the back burner. This week I stayed at the hotel despite my previous bad review (see Maxwell NYC: A Du, Du, Dump!) because it was only $97. Five star or 2.5 star, the Maxwell is in an excellent location. When I checked in, I brought up the mini bar issue from last time. I was promptly given a refund for the charge and graciously given complimentary points.

Keeping a list may be petty, but as I’ve learned from my experience as a consumer protection attorney (contact Bachuwa Law if you have a consumer complaint), $5 here and $5 there can add up to quite a bit for big companies when multiplied by a large number of people. That’s why I have no shame in asking for what is rightfully mine and complaining when there’s a valid reason to complain.

Maxwell is off the list. Now for the other twenty offenders…

Keep vs. Cancel: Alaska Personal

thepointsoflife

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May 10, 2019

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Here’s a zzz post. The $75 annual fee on my Alaska Personal came due. I called in to cancel since trying to do so over chat is not an option. Right away the agent read the disclaimer and the account was closed.

So why did I cancel? First, I just received the Alaska Business card which comes with 40k points after 2k spend. Second, I never use the companion pass and consider it useless (see Alaska’s Free Companion Fare: Useless?), especially because I live in Puerto Rico. Third, the card is churnable, though it has become increasingly harder to get approved. And that’s that.

Bollanos Hotel Albanian Riviera: Wait, Where Am I?

thepointsoflife

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May 9, 2019

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Random Hotel Review is part of the #NoCollusion, No Albania for TPOL where I break my 100 country count mark. See the World Map for where I’ve been.

We all make mistakes when we travel. Mine have been detailed on this blog many times (see China 144-hour Visa-Free Transit: It Worked the 1st Time). Most can be avoided by doing more research. Others cannot be avoided if there is not enough information available. Chalk up my stay at the Bollanos Hotel to the latter. As I wrote, my goal was to stay as close to F Marine as possible (see Albanian Riviera: Beautiful, But How Do You Get There?). Himare was the closest city to Jala, and Bollanos was the only hotel available.

The Good

The hotel is right across from a bar where I went to have a few drinks before my night out at F Marine (see Folie Marine Albania: Party Like A Rockstar, BYOD).

More Good

The hotel is right across from a nice beach where I had breakfast after my night out at F Marine.

The Marginal

If you’ve been to Vang Vieng Laos, then you’ll understand my description of this hotel. It’s basically a bare bones apartment complex with a bad shower and a rectangular piece of furniture for sleeping. It’s good enough for one night but not comfortable for much longer than that.

The Bad

The hotel is very far from F Marine and is not within walking distance to Himare’s city center. You’ll need a car or taxi to go anywhere.

Overall

Staying in the outskirts of Himare was not the Albanian Riviera experience I was searching for. After one night, I was out of there.

Mystery Solved: TPOL’s Disappearance in Medellin

thepointsoflife

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May 8, 2019

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Remember TPOL’s Quest Around the Globe Trip Report? It was a bit sparse on what I did in Colombia when I visited Cartagena and Medellin. The reason I didn’t have any pictures is because both of my phones were stolen and the pics had not been uploaded to the cloud. (TPOL’s TIP: connect your phone to the hotel’s WiFi when you check in so the photos get transferred.) The reason I don’t have any blog posts is because I don’t have any memories of what happened for two days. Initially, I thought it was from too much drinking (see There’s Such A Thing as Too Much Aguardiente and Mistakes in Medellin). After a visit from my Colombian friends, I have reason to suspect there was foul play.

The name of the culprit is scopolamine, also known as hyoscine. It is also called Devil’s Breath for those who are into goblins, ghouls, and witchcraft (read Devil’s Breath: Urban Legend or the World’s Most Scary Drug? if you want to increase your travel paranoia). According to Wikipedia, the drug is known to produce loss of memory and sleepiness, similar to the effect of benzodiazepines or alcohol poisoning. A travel advisory published by the United States Department of State in 2012 stated: “One common and particularly dangerous method that criminals use in order to rob a victim is through the use of drugs. The most common [in Colombia] has been hyoscine. Unofficial estimates put the number of annual hyoscine incidents in Colombia at approximately 50,000. Hyoscine can render a victim unconscious for 24 hours or more. Most commonly, the person has been poisoned by a robber who gave the victim a scopolamine-laced beverage, in the hope that the victim would become unconscious or unable to effectively resist the robbery.”

This brings me back to my story: I went to Llevas Park Liquor Store, which is surrounded by bars and restaurants. I saw someone drinking aguardiente and struck up a conversation. While drinking the first bottle, three young travelers from Mexico came in the store. I bought another bottle and all of us started drinking that. The last thing I remember is trading Instagram info. The next thing I remember is waking up disoriented without my phones or wallet, but I did have all my organs.

I pride myself on going out, acting like a fool, and waking up to see my phone safely on the charger. Even on autopilot, I behave myself. That’s why when this happened, I could not believe that I had just drunk too much. At the same time, I also pride myself on traveling the world alone and having the presence of mind not to put myself in a dangerous situation.

With this new information, I am convinced that my blackout was the result of bad actors and not the a a a a a alcohol. First, the Mexican traveler also messaged me that she did not recall anything from that night. Second, the nice people who stole my phone connected it to WiFi and their photos were uploaded. Seeing random strangers posing with guns on the cloud was sort of amusing, but I eventually disconnected the phone from the cloud as the reality of what could have happened set in. I don’t know if it was the first guy who was responsible for the poisoning or if after having two bottles of aguardiente, I haphazardly accepted drinks from strangers which could have been spiked with hyoscine. Regardless, the evening did not go according to plan. And for that I have myself and the devil to blame.

Hyatt Regency DFW: Fine for Freddie’s (And Business Travelers)

thepointsoflife

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May 6, 2019

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Hyatt Regency DFW Hotel Review is part of Freddie Awards to New Orleans Binge Weekend Trip Report which covers:

Looking for a place to stay in Dallas while Attending the Freddy’s? Check out the Hyatt Regency DFW. Looking for a place to stay near terminal C while flying American? Check out the Hyatt Regency DFW. It’s no Hyatt Regency ORD (see Hyatt Regency O’Hare: The Best Airport Hotel), but there are some things that make it interesting.

Let’s start with the bad

First, it’s not the prettiest Hyatt Regency in the collection. Second, first call is at 2PM and last call is at midnight. Neither made the travel community happy. The post Freddy’s party was cut short way too early.

Now for the strange

Why does this hotel have an outdoor pool? At least one person fell asleep by it so there must be some demand.

Now for the dumb

There’s an airport shuttle to get to the hotel. It took forever. The Skylink is not connected to it.

Now for the room

King size bed and the normal amenities.

And the view?

Not as good as the Westin Detroit but still nice to see the planes coming and going.

How about the art?

Coffee and water provided

Yes, there’s a bathroom

Overall

For 8k points and for the convenience of actually being at DFW, not off-site, the Hyatt Regency DFW did the job.

Enjoy the Hyatt Regency DFW Hotel Review? Read the entire Freddie Awards to New Orleans Trip Report.

Freddie Awards 2019: Winner for Best Dressed And More

thepointsoflife

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May 3, 2019

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TPOL received free articles of clothing from Bluffworks. This review is based on my experience wearing said clothing.

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

Freddy Awards 2019 is part of Freddy Awards to New Orleans Binge Weekend Trip Report which covers:

The Freddie’s is turning into TPOL’S personal fashion show. Last year I showed up Wrinkle Free Thanks to Bluffworks. This year I kicked off the event with a photo shoot courtesy of fellow BA blogger, Andy, who graciously lent his photography services to capture this presidential photo of TPOL. #TPOL2020

Having photos taken in a random hotel was an interesting experience. There were plenty of pornhub jokes made to be sure. Look for the finished product in TPOL quarterly.

After capturing the money shot, it was time to go to the awards. Dressed from Shanghai Taylor’s finest (see Shanghai Fabric Market: What Is Friend Price?), a stunning tie courtesy of Versace (not a blog sponsor), and jeans by Bluffworks (a baby sponsor), it was time for TPOL to put on a show.

a man standing in front of a building — Bluffwork jeans

I attended the Freddie’s to meet up with fellow bloggers and fellow travel geeks. Thanks to the open bar, it’s always a good time. This time was no exception. It was also fun to tour the CR Smith Museum.

Would you fly on this Flagship plane? Reminds me of the plane from Indiana Jones.

Overall

Another fun year at the Freddie’s. Where will it be next year? Puerto Rico?

Pho Bowl Dallas: Rebellious Summer Rolls, Fresh Pho

thepointsoflife

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May 2, 2019

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Pho Bowl Dallas is part of Freddie Awards to New Orleans Binge Weekend Trip Report which covers:

After a mini pub crawl where I revisited my favorites from last time I was in Dallas (see Dallas, Texas: Food & Drink Party Guide), I was ready for a snack and a nap. I thought I recalled that there was a pho restaurant in the vicinity. Taking a left and another left out of Deep Ellum Brewery, my elephant memory was proven correct as I came across Pho Bowl.

Last time, it was closed. This time I would find out if that was destiny or just a restaurant that keeps typical business hours. Walking in, I was a bit skeptical. The place was very big, giving it the feel of an after hours fast food joint versus an intimate mom and pop pho experience.

Per custom, I ordered shrimp summer rolls and a bowl of pho tai.

Fat Summer Rolls

Deep Ellum is the land of spray paint and rebellion. The same is true of the summer rolls that came out as fat as egg rolls. The shrimp was not cut in half and the carrots were more, “what’s up doc” than cut thinly liked Cobb salad. The flavor was spot on as was the peanut sauce. Consistent with the rebel cause was the hot dog paper plate on which they were served.

Pho

I’ve been around the world and have had good summer rolls only to be disappointed by the main event (see Pho Saigon NYC: Only for the Spring Rolls). This place would not be a repetition of those experiences. That doesn’t mean it was perfect. Here’s what I found:

Spoon

Much like the summer roll plate, the plastic spoon was a nice touch.

Beef

Thinly cut and in adequate supply. Very nice.

Noodles

Nice and not bland. I would have like more.

Jalapeños

Fresh and crisp. Just the right spice.

Broth

This is what it’s all about. If the broth don’t fit, pho ain’t worth it. The broth was pretty good. My only complaint was a higher consistency of oil.

Music

To top it off, it was smooth hits from the quiet storm.

Overall

As you know, if the bowl is done, TPOL had his fun. Without Cochran rhymes, I will recommend Pho Bowl, especially when happy hour turns into hungry hour.

TPOL’s TIP: Pho Bowl is located at 2807 Commerce St, Dallas, TX 75226

Simply The Best: April 2019

thepointsoflife

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May 1, 2019

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I didn’t win the Freddie Award for kickass blogger because that isn’t an actual award category. That doesn’t mean I didn’t have a spectacular April. Here are the top posts for April 2019:

Guns & Butter: Tasmania Travel Guide
Have you ever been to Tasmania or “Tassie” as it is called by locals? Here’s what you should do and not do while you are there.
Detained in Israel? Check The Back of Your Passport
If you’ve gone to Israel, take note of this advice.
The Etiquette of Things: Getting Off An Airplane
Today’s entry focuses on getting off of an airplane. It is meant for times when we inexplicably choose to fly Peasant Class.
Centurion Lounge’s Buzzkill Entry Policy
This experience validates why I don’t regret skipping airport lounges and why I cancelled my Amex Platinum. #prioritypassforlife
Dancing Diplomacy: Why You Should Go to Nightclubs Abroad
Dancing diplomacy – it’s better than being lonely on this planet.
Where to Party Old San Juan: Best, Worst, Oldest, Grossest
For my fellow Michigan grads, it reminds me of Rick’s American Cafe, only with expensive drinks. Those who have been to Rick’s will recognize these disgusting toilets, which is why this bar receives the distinction of grossest.
Free Travel at Its Finest: Freddie Awards + New Orleans
The award for sexiest booking to the Freddies may not go to me, but the one for most frugal probably should.

Centurion Lounge’s Buzzkill Entry Policy

thepointsoflife

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April 30, 2019

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

I used to love arriving in Vegas or LGA and going to the Centurion Lounge (see Amex LAS Centurion Lounge: The Full Day Freeloader Review and see Amex Centurion Lounge LGA: Welcome Back to NYC). I tried to do this in Dallas and was denied entry. The agent stated that there is no access on arrival and if there is a same day connection, access is only for two hours before departure. For flights out of DFW, access is restricted to three hours before departure. The policy isn’t even three hours before boarding which means that lounge access is closer to two hours. This policy is understandably meant to curtail crowds (see Amex Centurion Lounge SEA: Crowded as Duck!) and probably cut down on all day moochers like myself. Still, for an annual fee of $550, members should be able to go in whenever they want or for as long as they want. This experience validates why don’t regret skipping airport lounges and why I cancelled my Amex Platinum. #prioritypassforlife

What happens if your flight is delayed? Do they kick you out? What a buzzkill.

Fast Bloody: The Other Priority Pass Lounge in Puerto Rico

thepointsoflife

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April 29, 2019

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Priority Pass Lounge Review Puerto Rico is part of Freddie Awards to New Orleans Binge Weekend Trip Report which covers:

I found it! The Priority Pass apps says to go left out of security, through the duty free, and the lounge will be on the right. I went through the TSA PreCheck line and ended up at the Avianca Lounge, the other Priority Pass option at SJU. I wandered beyond that lounge and ended up at the C gates. The Lounge Puerto Rico is at the A gates so either 1.) The lounge doesn’t exist. 2.) I was in the wrong place.

Although my flight was boarding soon and I am scared of being late (see Boarding Announcement Paranoia), I was committed to finding this damn lounge once and for all.

Right before I arrived at gate A5, I finally found it. Had I come through the normal security line, the directions would’ve made sense.

Like Santa with M&M’s: it does exist. With no time to waste, I took some standard photos and got into bar tending mode. Sure it would’ve been easier to skip the drink, but what sort of super hero blogger would that make me? It may not have been my best work (as a blogger or mixologist), but it got the job done. Not to mention that it’s still better than the build your own bloody at Delta MSP.