Sheraton Fiji: We Appreciate Your Loyalty!
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 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? 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. At the conclusion of breakfast, I received this surprise: Time to Check-InĀ After three hours of too many mimosas, I was told that my room was ready. RoomĀ The room was in a private caseta with a view of the ocean. BathroomĀ Champagne Anyone?Ā Ready to unwind, I heard a knock on the door: Champagne PartyĀ As a lifetime elite, I was invited to an art exhibit in the hotel where I was offered even more champagne. 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. 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. 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
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. 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
Welcome 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
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
Fiji Water
This was a necessary photo:Ā
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
Blogging Automation Fail
Michigan Wolverines National Champions! I Can Die in Peace
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 The Best Sports Stadiums: The Big House Citrus Bowl Stadium: Where Even the Band Battles The Game: A Wolverineās Guide For Surviving Columbus Michigan vs Florida: A Review Of Cowboy Stadium Michigan v. Wisconsin: Formerly Camp Randall Stadium Review Finally, A Happy Thanksgiving: Hail to the Victors! Cheaters! Spartan Stadium Review 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: TPOL in 2023
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
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.
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.
Food
There was plenty of food, self-serve style.
But I would recommend made to order soup.
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). Coffee Is Mandatory 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? Chinatown Aesthetically, Chinatown looked a little run down. Fortunately, dim sum was quality at Jade’s Dynasty.
Happy Festivus! Airing of Points Grievances 2023
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
- linmoron: let the site die. its shit anyway…
- JMC: What a useless waste of space on Boarding Area.
- Aaron: Bahaha. So YOURE one of those who wear a mask alone while driving. I’m not surprised
- 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
- 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.
- 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.
- 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…
- 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”
- JD: And why would someone go to Madrid to have burgers? Geez…
- 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.
- 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.
- Dom: By attaining Lifetime Titanium with Marriott, I no longer have to worry about Platinums.
- Ghostrider5408: Dom ” I love it!”
- James: What an absolute waste of space on Boarding Area.
- 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…
- 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