Hyatt Regency Baku: Too Far from the City Center

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Hyatt Regency Baku: Too Far from the City Center
Hyatt Regency Baku Hotel Review is part of the Reunion Tour Trip Report.
Getting There: Take Bolt from the airport for 12 manat ($7) (see Bolt Azerbaijan: My Preferred Rideshare).
a car on the road
Try your luck with a local taxi.
I need to do a better job of researching hotels before booking. I assume when I see a brand-name like Hyatt it automatically is in a great location. Clearly, I have not learned my lesson from my stay at the Hyatt Osaka (see Where Are You Hyatt Regency Osaka?). Location The Hyatt Baku is not located near the old town or close to the major sites. This is not the hotel for tourists looking to explore Baku by foot.
a sign in front of a tree
Baku, but not Baku
a road with cars and buildings in the background
Far from the center
TPOL’s Tip: Bolt only costs a few manat to get to the old town. Price Perhaps the reason I did not research the location is because of the measly number of points it costs to stay here. The room retails at $166 per night but goes for only 5,000 points.a building with trees and a palm tree in front of it Room As a Globalist, I was upgraded to a junior suite with a lot of furniture. When staying alone, I would rather have a deluxe oversized room than two rooms of which I will only use one.a bed in a hotel rooma room with a bed and a television a tv on a dresser in a room Bathroom The room had an extra toilet in the living room that I did not use and a bathtub in the master that I also did not use. The shower had low water pressure.a bathroom with sinks and bathtub small bottles of liquid on a corner shelf a shower with a shower head and a shelf a bathtub and toilet in a bathroom Suite Coming for business? Plenty of space for those key meetings. a room with a couch and a coffee table a room with couches and a table
a large building with many windows and a parking lot
The view
Lavazza It’s often an adventure to figure out how to turn on the espresso machine. I managed to do so and make espresso. The next time I tried, it was blinking red and my attempts to troubleshoot proved fruitless.a coffee machine and cups on a table Lounge I was staying on the 8th floor. The lounge was conveniently located on the 7th via a dangerous spiral staircase. It was easier to head to the lounge for espresso than wait for an engineer to come to my room. a spiral staircase in a room TPOL’s Tip: From 6-8PM there are also drinks and light snacks.a plate of food on a table Overall The hotel was good enough but I would recommend the Courtyard Baku for those here for leisure.
a wooden box with black text
A novelty souvenir

Madrid Long-Term Rental: Show Up, Start Living at The Blueground

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Madrid Long-Term Rental: Show Up, Start Living at The Blueground
Madrid Long Term Rental is part of The Adios Puerto Rico, Hola España Trip Report.
My plan is to live in various parts around the world for a month at a time (see TPOL in Madrid: Why A Second Residency?). The biggest issue is finding a long-term rental that is not an overpriced Airbnb that delivers big on pictures but low on quality. Looking for places to live, I stumbled across TheBlueGround.com, a website with apartment listings worldwide. I knew I wanted to stay in the upscale neighborhood of Chamberí and searched accordingly. I was able to find a two-bedroom apartment for a little more than $100 a night. TPOL’s Tip: The minimum stay is 31 days. TPOL’s Tip: If you pay by credit card, there is a processing fee. The issue is that the security deposit is also subject to the processing fee but said fee is not returned.
 

Holiday Inn Nice: Niece Enough

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Holiday Inn Nice: Niece Enough
Holiday Inn Nice Hotel Review is part of the Still The Best Trip Report.
South of France is too expensive for TPOL (see Guns & Butter: South of France Travel Guide (Budget Edition)). Luckily, I missed my flight to Nice and only had to come up with the funds points for one night (see Lufthansa LIS-FRA-NCE: Finally Arrived). Still, finding a points hotel was not easy. The Marriott properties were going for extreme rates. I had a Chase stay cert that was expiring and was happy to burn it instead of paying $250. Location The hotel is within walking distance to the beach. It is also within walking distance to the train station to get to Monaco.
a street with palm trees and buildings
Go right out of the hotel to go to the beach.
a beach with umbrellas and chairs
a building with a clock on the top
Go left out of the hotel to go to the train station for Monaco.
Room I spent my day in Cannes. This was the extent of my photography skills when I arrived at the hotel late.  a bed with white sheets and a chair in a room Overall If you’re looking to get the Nice experience, staying on the waterfront is the way to go. If you’re looking to get a taste of a life you cannot afford, the Holiday Inn may be the way to go. a sign on the side of a building

Bolt Azerbaijan: My Preferred Rideshare

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Bolt Azerbaijan: My Preferred Rideshare
Bolt in Azerbaijan is part of the Reunion Tour Trip Report.
When I landed in Baku, Azerbaijan, I was relieved that Bolt was available. Unlike earlier in this trip when I landed in Singapore (see Grab: The Rideshare App in Singapore And Thailand ), I quickly ordered a ride and was on my way to the Hyatt Regency Baku for only 12 manat ($7). Nothing is worse than arriving at an airport and having to deal with overpriced taxis (see “Taxi my friend?” The Worst Places to Hail a Cab). Bolt is the rideshare leader throughout Europe (see Bolt: The Preferred Rideshare App in Estonia) and I am fine with that. TPOL’s Tip: I saw cars with Uber stickers but could not get my Uber app to work. a large flag from a glass wall

Qatar Airways Doha to Baku: Basic Business

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Qatar Airways Doha to Baku: Basic Business
Doha to Baku is part of the Reunion Tour Trip Report.
When given the option, I always pay the points premium for first over business. In my experience first is vastly superior to business (see Cathay A350 HKG-BKK: I Miss First Already  & Cathay Business HKG-SYD: No Orchids Says It All). It may be unfair to compare my first class a380 Qatar Airways flight from BKK to DOH (see Qatar a380 First Bangkok to Baku: Krug Included) to my business class a320 flight from DOH-GYD but that’s what I am hardly paid to do. Lie flat? No. Krug No. Sleep Yes. Overall I was so exhausted after the delay in Bangkok (see Qatar Airways Lounge Review: The Best Is in Bangkok, Not Doha), the Krug festival on the a380, and the lengthy day in the sterile Qatar lounge (see Doha First Class Lounge: Oversized And Underwhelmed),that I could have passed out in economy and not known the difference. a seat in an airplane

Simply The Best: January 2025

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Simply The Best: January 2025
Another year has started. Here are the best posts from month one. Let’s keep in mind that my YouTube channel was supposed to have started by now. I remain at 8 followers, no videos, but I did invest in a new blog (see DJI Flip: Blogging, Vlogging, You, Me & TPOL Will Never Be the Same).
  1. 52 Places I Probably Won’t Visit in 2025
    a man bungee jumping over water
    I told my AI bot to come up with a list of UN countries I haven’t visited. I asked it to rank the cities by ‘danger.’
  2. Qatar a380 First Bangkok to Baku: Krug Included
    a table with food and a tv in the background
    I have flown Qsuites too many times, but I have not flown Qatar First. Since Avios are so easy to come by, there was no way I would fly business just to save a few points.
  3. Qatar Airways Lounge Review: The Best Is in Bangkok, Not Doha
    a glass of alcohol with ice on a blue leather couch
    Our rendezvous turned into a small party among those forced to work overtime and us passengers. The collective group was disappointed when the now boarding flashed on the monitor, forcing us to hustle to the gate.
  4. Doha First Class Lounge: Oversized And Underwhelmed
    a large circular fountain in a building
    Qatar Lounges in Doha are surprisingly disappointing. If you are impressed by them, you have bad taste. Then again, I thought the Cuervo was good.
  5. Talking $H!T: The Cure for Traveler’s Diarrhea
    a box of candy on a white surface
    Most people talk shit. This time it was worth listening to it.
  6. Night Golf Bangkok: First Time for Everything
    a man swinging a golf club
    If I lived in Bangkok, I would play night golf frequently.
  7. Bills vs. Lions: From No Tickets to the Front Row
    a football game with people in the stands
    I should’ve known that neither team would make it.
    Bonus post: Who Agrees? Detroit Style Pizza Is The Best
    a pizza with sauce on a plate
    No Lions, No Bills, but we always have pizza.

Metropolitan Sports Club Madrid: Stay Fit Then Tapas

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Metropolitan Sports Club Madrid: Stay Fit Then Tapas
Metropolitan Sports Club Madrid is part of The Adios Puerto Rico, Hola España Trip Report. Read TPOL in Madrid: Why A Second Residency?
Disclaimer: If you buy something using my links, I might receive compensation. 
I have narrated how I’ve eaten and drunk my way through Madrid (see Best Tapas Madrid: No Budget Cuts Here as an example). I have also written about how I may have taken it too far (see Espresso? Beer? Both?: My Madrid Morning Routine). To combat this indulgence, I needed a workout plan that I could take not only on this residency but also on any trip throughout the world. Note: This is a big development compared to my prior stance of never working out on the road (see No More Mobile Gym No Matter What). For this trip, I loaded up a suitcase with too many gadgets. a suitcase with a bag full of items Upon arriving in Madrid, my goal was to find an outdoor park. Unfortunately for me, February is too chilly for outdoor workouts. Fortunately, my splendid apartment (see Say No to Airbnb, Show Up Start Living at The Blue Ground) was located right around the corner from an upscale gym, Metropolitan Sports Club Abascal.
a sign on a wall
Take a left from the gym
a street with cars and buildings
Onto Calle José Abascal
a street with cars parked on it
Then your first left back home to Calle De Fernandez De La Hoz
I ended up joining for the month that I was there. Instead of going back to Geico weights, I brought my own toys including the Inertia Wave and all things Auster. a man holding a rope in a gym a group of objects on a green surface a black bag and weights on a green surface a gym with a green carpet and a green floor with a large screen a gym with a lot of straps and a bag Hans and Franz weren’t particularly impressed with my setup, but I used their preoccupation with my routine as motivation.
What’s great about this gym is that they have many of the tools I use at home e.g., battle ropes, Suples Bulgarian bag.a gym with a green carpet and a large screen a gym with a rope and weights a gym equipment on the floor Results Combined with running outdoors (see Sunday Fun/Run Day: Spring in Madrid), I was able to stay healthy abroad while continuing to indulge in tapas.
TPOL’s Tip: The gym address is Calle José Abascal 46 28003 Madrid.    

Doha First Class Lounge: Oversized And Underwhelmed

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Doha First Class Lounge: Oversized And Underwhelmed
Doha First Class Lounge Review is part of the Reunion Tour Trip Report.
The dubious distinction of the dullest first-class lounge in the world goes to Qatar Airways. It is a giant space with no personality. After a long night of partying at the best Qatar lounge (see Qatar a380 First Bangkok to Baku: Krug Included) and an encore celebration on Qatar first (see Qatar a380 First Bangkok to Baku: Krug Included), I had an entire day to kill at the lounge. I typically enjoy a day of doing nothing at the lounge (see Air New Zealand Lounge Auckland: Sit Back & Relax & Amex LAS Centurion Lounge: The Full Day Freeloader Review). This time I wondered what I would do to pass the time. Family Area I tried napping in the area designated for families but was immediately bored. a room with a couch and chairs a couch and chair in a room Photos I walked around to take photos for the blog but could not find anything that caught my eye. I guess some people will be impressed by the giant urinal waterfall.a long hallway with a wall and railing a large room with a wall and a black ceiling a large circular fountain in a buildinga large circular fountain with a pole in the middle Bar Looking for inspiration, I turned to alcohol. The best I could find was Leffe Blond. Compare the selection: from Hennessy VSOP in the Qatar Lounge in Bangkok, to this in first? How does that make sense?a bar with bottles of alcohol on it Business Better? Bored, I reached out to my friend whom I met in the business class lounge in Bangkok. He was enjoying his layover at the Qatar business class lounge by having a cigar in the smoking room in the business class lounge. I decided to join him.
a wood paneled wall with a square outlet
Stored my bags.
In Transit I went from the Al Safwa Lounge to the Al Mourjan Lounge. Why they can’t make it straightforward and call it first and business is stupid. It’s confusing for passengers simply looking to get to their designated lounge.people walking in a large airport In the smoking room, we decided to order two tequilas. Both of us remarked that the tequila was smooth and we wondered what tequila was offered. It was not until I went for a refill that I learned that it was none other than Jose Cuervo!
a group of people sitting in chairs in a room with wood walls
Getting my fix of nicotine.
TPOL’s Trivia: Cuervo is the same tequila served in the first-class lounge. TPOL’s Tip: So much for my belief that I am a tequila aficionado (see Tacos & Tequila: An Afternoon in Tlaquepaque). In my defense, I naively assumed that they would serve premium tequila in their flagship lounges. Business Is As Bland My memories of business-class mediocrity (see Qatar Business Class Lounge: What Chaos) were refreshed by the overcooked salmon ordered a la carte.
a spiral staircase with chandeliers
The winding stairs in the business class lounge.
a plate of food on a table With my friend leaving to catch his flight, I returned to Al Safwa to see if this fancier name meant fancier food. Sushi The sushi was not bad. The rose helped.a plate of sushi and a glass of wine Mezze This was the worst mezze I have ever had. The hummus was an insult to three thousand years of crushing chickpeas.a table with food on it Champagne Like the Bangkok lounge, I spent the time drinking champagne and talking to another stranger. That’s what an international lounge is all about.a glass of champagne on a table Shower Drinking nonstop, I needed a shower before saying goodbye.a shower with a shower head and a shower head Overall Qatar Lounges in Doha are surprisingly disappointing. If you are impressed by them, you have bad taste. Then again, I thought the Cuervo was good.
a bowl of carrots and lettuce
And here’s a picture of carrots, labeled as such.

DJI Flip: Blogging, Vlogging, You, Me & TPOL Will Never Be the Same

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DJI Flip: Blogging, Vlogging, You, Me & TPOL Will Never Be the Same
Disclaimer: If you buy a drone, I may get paid. 
I wrote this in February, 2021: Disclaimer: This blog is about to kick some serious ass.  I asked this question last year: What’s a Travel Blog Without Travel? Without an answer, I focused on catching up on old Trip Reports (How are you enjoying the Quest Around the Globe Trip Report circa 2016?) and bitching about the incompetence of the only President to be impeached twice (see Lost & Found Year(s): Covid Trip Report). While finally putting finger to keyboard and captions to pictures have been productive and a great way to relive trips that I forgot to remember and while I enjoyed the comments of the ignorant folks who thought Covid was fake (see Social Distance Yourself from Misinformation), I needed fresher content. I needed something new that matched TPOL’s mantra – Living Doesn’t Have to Suck. Travel, though enjoyable, does not define TPOL. Indeed, you won’t hear me pondering the following: Travel Used to Be My Identity. How Do I Move Forward? But what can I do given that I am hiding in my basement (see NYC Twice: A Recap of My 2020 Travels) too scared to come out and see my shadow (see Punxsutawney TPOL)? The answer is obvious. Perfect my golf game, buy a mobile fitness studio, and broadcast it all from my beautiful home in Rio Mar, Puerto Rico. There was only one problem. Who would film the reality of how badly I play at golf and how imperfect my gym form is? The answer is Skydio 2, a drone that needs no pilot. And now, after months of waiting, it is on its way to me (via New York). In the groundhog year of 2021, I am ready to defy my old thinking (see TPOL’s Way Out of Poverty Is Not Vlogging) and emerge as the most famous vlogger, golfer, and bodybuilder of all time. Are you ready?
a green sports car parked on a road
In the words of 2pac, “Picture me Dronin’.”
2025 In 2021 2025, I am ready to defy my old thinking (see TPOL’s Way Out of Poverty Is Not Vlogging) and emerge as the most famous vlogger, golfer, and bodybuilder of all time. This time I will do it using the DJI Flip. This time I have hired a professional film producer (see Creeper Cam Is Back: Alexander Bachuwa Launches the Vlog & DJI Store Barcelona: A Great Upgrade for an Unpublished Vlog). Here are pictures of my wingman.  a drone with a fan on a table a drone with four wheels a drone with a camera and a remote controla hand holding a drone TPOL’s Tip: You can find the vlog for Alexander Bachuwa’s, aka the #masterofwon, here. Maybe it will have content soon.

Qatar a380 First Bangkok to Baku: Krug Included

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Qatar a380 First Bangkok to Baku: Krug Included
Qatar a380 First: Bangkok to Baku is part of the Reunion Tour Trip Report.
It is rare though not unheard of that someone shows up absolutely hammered for an 8AM flight. I had an excuse because my flight from Bangkok to Doha was delayed without notifying any of the passengers. While I was lucky enough to have a great lounge experience, I do not know how the economy class passengers spent their entire evening at the airport (see Qatar Airways Lounge Review: The Best Is in Bangkok, Not Doha). First vs. Business I have flown Qsuites too many times, but I have not flown Qatar First. Since Avios are so easy to come by, there was no way I would fly business just to save a few points.
a stairs leading up to a building
Ahoy down below!
Welcome Drink Gregarious, I spoke to another passenger headed to Doha. He was one drink ahead of me in the Krug marathon. Not to be outdone, the flight attendant brought me my own.a glass of champagne on a table Don’t Forget Your Friends The rapport with the flight attendants was great from the start. They were in cheery moods and indulged in our rambunctious behavior. To that point, I asked if they could send a glass of Krug to my drinking buddy from the Qatar Lounge seated in business. I asked them to include the message that I missed him. They thought it was hilarious and obliged. It was well received.a woman wearing a mask and gloves holding two bottles of champagne a person pouring a wine glass a person pouring a drink into a glass a person pouring a glass of champagne a person pouring a champagne into a glass Krug Again The photo of Krug being poured with an airplane window in the background is pure art. I never get tired of capturing the moment.
a hand holding a bottle of champagne a bottle and glass of champagne on a table No Suite The a380 didn’t have a suite like its lauded business-class brother. Since the cabin was empty, the flight attendant prepared one seat for sleeping and the other for drinking.
a plane with seats and windows a seat in a plane a seat in a plane a seat in a plane a person's legs in a chair with a television a bed in a plane Caviar Like Krug, is there anything better than caviar on a plane?a table with food and a tv in the background a plate of food on a table Omelette I had a light omelette and prepared myself for sleep.a basket of bread and rolls on a table a plate of food on a table Pajamas The only thing missing from these clever pajamas was the Urban Turban.a man taking a selfie in a mirror a man taking a selfie Bathroom An a380 without a shower? It’s nice but where am I supposed to bathe (see Emirates Shower Class JFK-DXB: One More Time)?a sink and a bench in a room a seat with pink lights a flower in a pot
a man lying on a couch smiling
Best I could do.
Bar Like Emirates, there is a bar. Like the first time I flew Emirates, I was too preoccupied with first to bother going back (see Sheikh Dubai’s Chariot: First Class on Emirates Airlines A380). Overall Regarding the hard product, Qatar’s first needs to be upgraded. In terms of soft, this was a perfect flight and stupendous use of points.
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