Sheraton Fiji: We Appreciate Your Loyalty!

Sheraton Fiji Hotel Review is part of the Bula! Fiji Hub Trip Report.
Getting There There is no Uber in Fiji. You have to negotiate to get to the hotel. $40FJD ($18USD) is what I paid from the airport. On the way back, there is a set price of $52FJD ($23USD).
Introduction a fountain in a streeta large lawn with trees and a building in the background Bula! And welcome to the Sheraton Fiji where they appreciate your loyalty. My flight landed at 5:20AM (see Bula! Fiji Airways Vancouver to Nadi Flight Review), and I arrived at the hotel far too early to check-in. At check-in, I was offered espresso and was told that it may take some time for my room to be ready. Instead of taking a nap at the pool like I did when I arrived too early in Barbados (seeĀ Radisson Barbados: Beach Club Or Resort?), I found a comfy couch and worked on my laptop. After a half hour, the manager of the hotel came to greet me. He apologized that my room was not ready and offered me complimentary breakfast. BreakfastĀ  There are two choices for breakfast. One is a buffet zoo full of children, the other is an adults only, all-you-can-drink mimosa experience. Which would you select? two glasses of yellow liquid on a table As far as the breakfast goes, it was basic but filling. I had it both days I was there. Had I stayed longer, I may have braved the screaming children in exchange for variety. a tray of food on a table a plate of breakfast with sausages and eggs At the conclusion of breakfast, I received this surprise: a plate with a piece of cake on it Time to Check-InĀ  After three hours of too many mimosas, I was told that my room was ready.
a glass of orange liquid next to a bottle of water
Stay hydrated.
RoomĀ  The room was in a private caseta with a view of the ocean. a room with a bed and a television a bed with a fan in a room a bed with white sheets and blue headboard in a room a room with a television and a couch a round table with pillows on it outside with a view of the ocean palm trees on a beach BathroomĀ  a bathroom with a white bathrobe and a mirror a shower with a shower head and soaps a group of black bottles on a tile wall Champagne Anyone?Ā  Ready to unwind, I heard a knock on the door:
a bottle of champagne in a bucket with ice and two wine glasses on a table
Another welcome gift!
two bottles of water on a table
Water was also complimentary.
Champagne PartyĀ  As a lifetime elite, I was invited to an art exhibit in the hotel where I was offered even more champagne. a banner with a bottle of champagne a group of champagne bottles in a container with ice a group of cartoon characters on a white wall art on a table two glasses of wine on a table a glass of wine on a table with food on it
a man standing at a podium with a sign behind him
The keynote speaker.
Resort ItselfĀ  I live in a golf resort in Rio Mar, Puerto Rico. For me, the experience of unwinding at a resort is not my idea of travel, especially when there are so many kids running around. But that isn’t to say that the resort was not beautiful. a pool with palm trees and a building in the backgrounda pool with tables and chairs and palm trees
a pool with palm trees and a building
Adults only pool, next to adults only breakfast.
a pool with a lounge chair and palm trees a pool with a plant in it a grass lawn with palm trees and a body of watera beach with palm trees and a gazebo a group of palm trees on a beach Golf Like the golf course in Rio Mar, the Sheraton’s golf course is in need of hydration and irrigation. I did not inquire how much it would cost to play but given the condition of the course and my previous experience of golfing in Tahiti (seeĀ Golf in Tahiti? Not in This Town), I am glad I passed.
a golf cart with a person in the back
Only golf cart I used was to get to my room.
Overall “We appreciate your loyalty,” is a phrase that is used but not meant. At the Sheraton Fiji it was sincere and I appreciated it.

Luggage Storage: Nadi, Fiji Airport

Luggage Storage Nadi is part of the Bula! Fiji Hub Trip Report. This post is also part of the MelbourneĀ &Ā BangkokĀ Residencies.
Some blog topics are sexy. Some are useful. This one is the latter. Typically, I only travel with a small roller and a backpack. However, since I was embarking on my residency in MelbourneĀ &Ā Bangkok Residencies, I also had one checked bag. The issue with a checked bag is that I was going to be going to Tonga, Samoa, Kiribati, and back to Fiji before heading to Melbourne. There was no way that I was going to bring that extra suitcase to all those countries. Fortunately, Fiji Airport has an affordable bag storage. For $30, I was able to store my bag for nine days. a sign on the side of a building a paper with text on it TPOL’s Tip: The baggage storage is right after customs in the arrival terminal.

Bula! Fiji Airways Vancouver to Nadi Flight Review

Fiji Airways Vancouver to Nadi Flight Review is part of the Bula! Fiji Hub Trip Report. This post is also part of the MelbourneĀ &Ā BangkokĀ Residencies.


I was exhausted after exploring Vancouver (see Guns & Butter: Vancouver, Canada Travel Guide (Organic Edition)). I looked forward to my 11-hour business class flight aboard Fiji Airways to Nadi.Ā 

Bula!

Bula was a word I would hear frequently throughout this trip. It means hello or welcome in Fijian, but the sincerity of the word cannot be translated. This warmness of the flight attendants and the Fijian people is authentic.Ā 

BookingĀ 

Recall the work I put into getting the lie-flat seats from Toronto to Vancouver (seeĀ Booking Miles & Smiles on Air Canada: Takes Calls, Emails, Luck). That was worth the effort (seeĀ Worth It! Lie Flat Toronto to Vancouver on Air Canada). Finding business class for two on Fiji Airways was no small challenge either (see 55K Alaskan to Fiji And My New Melbourne Residence). It too was worth the effort.Ā 

SeatsĀ 

Look at these beautiful seats:Ā 

a seat in a plane a row of white chairs in a room with purple lighting a seat in a plane a television on a tableWelcome Drink

Off to paradise, I had the prerequisite glass of champagne.Ā 

 

Amenities Kit

Here is a wild twist on eyeshades. The rest of the amenity kit was basic.Ā 

a group of objects on a table

Sleep

I was so tired that I fell asleep almost immediately after the welcome drink. I didn’t have the strength to ring the call button for the bedding.Ā 

Dinner

I slept for 8 hours and missed dinner.Ā 

Breakfast

I did wake up for breakfast.Ā 

a plate with food on it a croissant on a plate a plate of food on a table

Fiji Water

This was a necessary photo:Ā 

a bottle of water next to a computer

Overall

When I first started points travel, I used to stay awake during the entire flight, overeat, and overdrink. Having done this for so long, the pressure to do that is now gone. I can now rest knowing that the next business class flight is not far away. On Fiji Airways, given the comfortable seat and friendly service, this was easy to do.Ā 

a white airplane on the tarmac
Bula!

Blogging Automation Fail

Disclaimer: This post is in response to a wellness check from my avid readers who wonder if I have quit the game. I have not!Ā  For two months, I have been trying to set up a way to write more blog posts more efficiently. I have hundreds of posts from too many trips that I have not published. Instead of writing more, I have written nothing. We appreciate your patience as we look to bring you more original, quality, stunning, exhilarating content in the future. For now, all I can say is Go Bills! Go Lions! And leave you with a random photo:
a group of golf clubs
1/4 so far this year…
       

Michigan Wolverines National Champions! I Can Die in Peace

The following is the happiest post in the Wolverines Trip Report.
It’s been a long journey since I went to the Rose Bowl in 1998 to watch Michigan win a national championship. Yesterday, they did it again. My first feeling and it’s safe to assume the feeling of many of my fellow Wolverines is one of relief. The misery of App State, Rich Rod, Brady Hoke, the Aussie punt against MSU, among many, many other decapitating memories is washed away by the elation of hoisting the championship trophy. While detractors might say that I did not personally contribute to the championship, i.e., I did not score any touchdowns yesterday, they are wrong. The Michigan faithful have put in their time attending, watching, complaining, and cheering for this university. I have spent a small fortune running around the country following this team. Accordingly, here is my historical tribute to the 2024 National Champion Michigan Wolverines! The Sugar Bowl New Orleans: Celebrating Brady Hoke sugar bowl new orleans The Best Sports Stadiums: The Big House The Big House Remodeled Citrus Bowl Stadium: Where Even the Band Battles DSC_1314 The Game: A Wolverineā€™s Guide For Surviving Columbus When it appeared Michigan was in control Michigan vs Florida: A Review Of Cowboy Stadium a man in a sports uniform in a stadium Michigan v. Wisconsin: Formerly Camp Randall Stadium Review a football stadium full of people Finally, A Happy Thanksgiving: Hail to the Victors! a man holding a bottle of champagne in front of a television Cheaters! Spartan Stadium Review a stadium full of people As Michigan football goes, so goes my life. All problems feel tremendously worse with a Michigan loss. All problems feel trivial with a Michigan win. Today, I have zero problems and Ohio State ain’t #won.

Simply The Best: December 2023

December may be the laziest month in my blogging career. In an effort to increase blogging efficiency, I ended up doing nothing. Here are the posts from December: Happy Festivus! Airing of Points Grievances 2023

a man in boxing gloves and a man in boxing gloves
Dear shit talkers, let’s have The Feats of Strength in the ring!
Guns & Butter: Vancouver, Canada Travel Guide (Organic Edition)
a city with boats in the water
In terms of big Canadien cities, I prefer Toronto or Montreal over Vancouver. While the scenery in Vancouver is beautiful, I am not paying a premium for this organic tranquility. I suggest you spend your time outside where the experience is free.
SkyTeam Lounge Vancouver: Ready to Go
a bowl of soup and dumplings on a tray
Let the journey begin!

SkyTeam Lounge Vancouver: Ready to Go

SkyTeam Lounge Review Vancouver is part of the Bula! Fiji Hub Trip Report. This post is also part of the Melbourne & Bangkok Residencies.


a sign with a welcome sign

I have done spent so much on this trip already. It was time to reset at the lounge in anticipation for the real part of the trip, starting with one night in Fiji. Flying Fiji Airways business (see 55K Alaskan to Fiji And My New Melbourne Residence), I was given access to the SkyTeam Lounge Vancouver. 

Bar

After a day of exploring Vancouver (see Guns & Butter: Vancouver, Canada (Organic Edition)), I had no interest in drinking, only eating. 

a group of people standing at a bar
a display of objects on a wall

Food 

There was plenty of food, self-serve style. 

a bowl of food on a stove
a food in a container

But I would recommend made to order soup. 

a bowl of soup and dumplings on a tray

Overall

Let the journey begin! 

Guns & Butter: Vancouver, Canada Travel Guide (Organic Edition)

Vancouver Travel Guide is part of the Bula! Fiji Hub Trip Report.


TPOL’s Guns & Butter Travel Guide is the best way to see as much as you can in as little time as possible. Here’s how it works: A trip is composed of two factors: Labor And Lazy. The opportunity cost (what is given up) for relaxing and being Lazy is gained by being adventurous in the form of Labor and vice versa. The guide includes inefficient activities i.e., tourist traps that should be avoided and aspirational activities that are worth doing but may be impossible to see given the constraints of time and resources.
“I hate organic cities, never take me to Portland.” Those were my parting words on my way back to YVR airport. Hate is far from the right word to describe how I feel about Vancouver. The city itself is quite pleasant. The price gouging disguised as local, farm-to-table is where I was turned off. TPOL’s Disclaimer: I had one day in Vancouver (see Close Call? Connection Flight before Fiji Cancelled), so this is an abbreviated Guns Guide. However, according to my Uber driver, I saw as much as humanly possible in the short time I was there. Train from the Airport I took the train from the airport to the Waterfront (see Uber Or Train from Vancouver Airport? Depends on How Many People). a large sign in a parking lot Coffee Is Mandatory a black cup with a brown liquid in it Before embarking on a day of adventure, I needed a double shot. Where you choose to have that is up to you. Gastown Steam Clock No trip to Vancouver would be complete without seeing the Gastown Steam Clock go off. TPOL’s Trivia: Did you know that the Gastown Steam Clock was named after “Gassy” Jack Deighton? a clock tower on a brick sidewalk a alley with graffiti on the side of it Chinatown Aesthetically, Chinatown looked a little run down. a street with a bridge over it a street sign on a red pole a brick and stone surface with text on it Fortunately, dim sum was quality at Jade’s Dynasty. a plate of food with a spoon a plate of food on a table a bowl of dim sum dumplings in a steamer  
a table with many plates of food
$47 for too much food, $ well spent.
TPOL’s Tip: Jade’s Dynasty is located at 137 E Pender St, Vancouver, BC V6A 1T6, Canada. Walking At dim sum, I met a Vancouver ‘local’, a Mexican expat. He recommended that I spend the day walking around the city. And so we did. a body of water with buildings in the background a group of birds on rocks in the water a body of water with buildings in the background False Creek  The highlight of my time in Vancouver was False Creek, “a short narrow inlet in the heart of Vancouver, separating the Downtown and West End neighborhoods from the rest of the city.”
a road with cars on it
Granville Street Bridge
It’s worth the trek up and over the bridge for these colors: a city with boats in the water a city with boats and buildings a city with boats and buildings Granville Island The Mexican also suggested that I go to Granville Island for Vancouver’s famous donuts. It’s under the aforementioned bridge.  a sign over a bridge Lee’s Donuts After an hour of walking, the moment of truth came as we arrived at Lee’s Donuts. Would it be worth the hype and effort? a sign on a gatea tray of glazed donuts a store with a sign and a couple of people standing in front of it a donut on a napkin It was not. Like Domino’s pizza, I’ll run on Dunkin’ before walking to Lee’s again. TPOL’s TIP: 1689 Johnston St, Vancouver, BC V6H 3R9, Canada a street with a bridge over it Lee’s is located within the Public Market, a variety of lively, local shops. Browsing, I wondered who would pay these prices for basic groceries. The restaurants were equally as expensive. This unassuming place was more of a tourist trap than a local way to spend an afternoon. Burrard Bridge Disappointed by the overpriced Public Market, I sought to find the natural beauty of Vancouver. Instead of jumping into an Uber, I walked to Burrard Bridge, the parallel Bridge to Granville, for more views. a body of water with boats and buildings in the background a body of water with boats and buildings a plaque with gold text on it Stanley Park Running out of time, I Ubered to Stanley Park for more nature. a city skyline with trees and water a city skyline with boats in the water a body of water with trees and buildings in the background On a cold, windy day, I visited the Girl in the Westuit. a sign on a stone ledge a person sitting on a rock in the water Although some believe it was a replica of Copenhagen’s The Little Mermaid (see Guns & Butter: Copenhagen Travel Guide), the creator has said: I didn’t believe we should have a copy of the mermaid. She is rightfully a symbol of Copenhagen… I proposed to have a life-size scuba diver seated there. At that time scuba diving was getting quite popular here in Vancouver and, just as important, I didn’t know of any similar sculpture anywhere in the world. It was a new idea… There was tremendous opposition and great controversy. I still don’t know why.” I’m not sure I buy that. Here’s The Little Mermaid in Copenhagen: a statue of a mermaid on a rock by a body of water with The Little Mermaid in the background Water creatures aside, Stanley Park is worth the visit. a dragon head sculpture on a white wall next to a body of water a body of water with mountains in the background Olympic Village The final stop was the Olympic Village. There’s not much to see here as the area has turned into a residential neighborhood. a man standing in front of a street sign Overall In terms of big Canadien cities, I prefer Toronto or Montreal over Vancouver. While the scenery in Vancouver is beautiful, I am not paying a premium for this organic tranquility. I suggest you spend your time outside where the experience is free.

Happy Festivus! Airing of Points Grievances 2023

2

The Festivus tradition continues in 2023. New year, same negative people saying negative things. God bless them, nonetheless. Did Lars make the cut? In the Festivus 2022 post, he said he would try, “I’m going to try and talk some quality trash in your direction via the comments in 2023 in hopes of making next year’s rendition of Festivus! It won’t be easy as I can see there’s going to be some quality competition!” Let’s find out: Cheaters! Spartan Stadium Review

  • Bob Jones: Uhhh Michigan stole signals from both the offense and defense… nice try insulting them and making yourself look ridiculous though. What kind of education did you get?
  • SS: Insults alienate readers, just sayin’. . I have good friends from both schools and cheer for both …. each have up years and down years … Rivalry can be good natured fun but when privilege generates arrogance, karma remembers. Hashtag The Gift Six
TPOL Is Down, The Website, Not the Achilles
  • linmoron: let the site die. its shit anyway…
TPOL’s Back!
  • JMC: What a useless waste of space on Boarding Area.
Don’t Come to Puerto Rico (To Party)
  • Aaron: Bahaha. So YOURE one of those who wear a mask alone while driving. I’m not surprised
Not My Fault: Tenerife Airport, North Or South?
  • Aaron: PRIOR TO BOOKING, YOU WERE TOLD by your friends. But you still oops. Your faults. Secondly, you didn’t mention you were searching via third party website (hence QSuite) instead of direct booking with IB. It’s still POOR PLANNING. YOUR FAULTS. STOP WHINING
Remember When? Scam Covid Test #3: Leaving Malta
  • derek:I strongly disagree with the article. The author says Covid testing was a money grab. That remains to be seen because I don’t think the companies providing testing lobbied the government to require testing. On the other hand, I see an angry author who was a potential cause of the problem. See ” I had been all over Europe living life as intended : mask-free. I even went to bars with no social distancing (see Guns & Butter: Copenhagen Travel Guide)! Who knows how many strains of Covid I had been exposed to and if I was infected”. That author was at risk to bringing more Covid into the US and other countries. Early in the pandemic, there were more cases than countries could handle so adding more cases from travelers was the last thing needed. A nice thing that could have been done was for there to be easy rebooking of tickets if you did test positive.
Puerto Rico to Jamaica: Oh No, Not Spirit! Wait, Why Am I Connecting through Panama?
  • Babblespeak: Yeah, I “now” how far Puerto Rico is from Jamaica. I also “now” it’s really condescending for a travel blogger to assume I don’t because he/she doesn’t. But, you got my click, so mission accomplished.
March Madness: If UConn Wins Steven Comes, Otherwise It’s a Free Uber
  • Mid-Major: What kind of soulless human says “Hell yeah! Another Final Four with Duke and Kansas!”??? And who gives a flying eff that ratings may be low? Are you a mediocre travel blogger, or a CBS ad executive? You being mad that FAU and SDSU have crashed the Final Four is a massive tell that you threw tantrums when it was time to share toys during kindergarten play time.
  • Mid-Major: Enjoy rooting for UConn to win its fifth title. I’ll be over here rooting for one of the other three win their first, and wondering which mid-major schools sent you rejection letters to make you hate them all so much…
Citi’s Pointless 2k Limit Thank You, No Thank You Card
  • Aaron: Oh poor you! How dare Citi not giving you $200,000 CL? Does Citi not know who & what you are? You should file a complaint with CFPB and you should sue CitiBank and or any bank that dares to give you “undesirable” CL due to your “status”
Junk Burger Madrid: Way Better Than Shake Shack
  • JD: And why would someone go to Madrid to have burgers? Geez…
Iraq Visa on Arrival: Take a Seat, Hand Over Some Cash, Then Exit
  • TJ: You wouldn’t be so snarky if you knew how foreigners are treated at the US border. Many immigration officers at the airport thrive on making people miserable. And the travelers already have visas.
One Stop Closer to Iraq: Priority Pass Vilnius Lounge Review
  • Jo: If you can described sandwiches on you pic as not bad then I suspect you don’t know much about food. And not to try Devynerior 999 on offer is plain stupid. But then I do find the tone of your blog arrogant. And arrogance goes hand in hand with ignorance. Don’t bother to reply, not likely to visit your idiotic blog again.
I’m Marriott Lifetime Platinum Elite!
  • Dom: By attaining Lifetime Titanium with Marriott, I no longer have to worry about Platinums.
    • Ghostrider5408: Dom ” I love it!”
Michigan Loses on NYE: Suing ESPN for Emotional Distress
  • James: What an absolute waste of space on Boarding Area.
Medellin: Wrong Airport, Bad Uber Location, What’s Next?
  • Ron Mexico: Wrong airport … Drugged in Medellin … No visa and denied boarding to Doha. I’ve never met points god Randy Peterson, but I can’t imagine he woke up one day thinking “Ya know what Boarding Area is missing? An absolute bumbling fool, blogging about his (unfunny) comedy of errors while simultaneously offering zero value to avid travelers!” Congrats on whatever deal you struck with the devil to secure this public forum for your misadventures. May the affiliate revenue continue to flow like wine in 2023…
Epic Failure: Denied Boarding for the World Cup
  • ken: a tip: stop being so cheap . If you bought the credit on skype and called them right after hilton booking, things would have been different
a man in boxing gloves and a man in boxing gloves
Dear shit talkers, let’s have The Feats of Strength in the ring!
Here are the previous Festivus posts. You’ll notice that the same people have stayed with me through the years, especially the ‘nasty woman’ linmoron. Maybe I should be thankful for their support.