If you’re just tuning in now be sure to read how I ended up with this unique itinerary by checking out The Original Plan: The $77,000 Trip Heard Round the World, the subsequent Change Up: Riga, Latvia? and the Mongolia angle: IGLOO-GER: The Helsinki-Ulaanbaatar Trip Report.
When I fly domestic, I prefer nonstop. When I fly business class, I prefer multiple segments, long layovers, and top notch airlines. Also, when one is going to a destination that is known for its cold and smog like Mongolia, he will not be in a rush to get there. Though there was a more direct route from Istanbul to Ulaanbaatar, I opted for a more inconvenient way.
The next part of this never-ending life report is flying Turkish business from Istanbul to Seoul. In my blogger opinion, a picture is worth 1000 words, so there won’t be a text play-by-play of the entire flight. There are these great photos showing the unique touch of flying Turkish which makes it one of the better airlines I have flown.
Inching my way to MongoliaSomewhere there was a baby crying in business classThe seats are wide and are for sitting or sleeping.Relaxing.The goodie bagThe menuThe champagne isn’t top notch.Spacious cabinI think this is one of the cooler touches I’ve seen.I kept the salt and pepper.The food was [insert fancy adjectives]. It was really good.Lamb on board was great.I love chai.Goodnight
If you’re just tuning in now be sure to read how I ended up with this unique itinerary by checking out The Original Plan: The $77,000 Trip Heard Round the World, the subsequent Change Up: Riga, Latvia? and the Mongolia angle: IGLOO-GER: The Helsinki-Ulaanbaatar Trip Report.
Who hates waiting in an airport? If you do then you’ve never been to the Turkish Airlines Business Class Lounge in Atatürk Airport. Picture Costco meets Chuck E. Cheese with multiple levels. If you’re flying business on Turkish I boldly suggest skipping the Park Hyatt and milking the lounge for as long as you can. You’ll never go hungry, never get bored, and never want to grow up. It’s that fun.
Welcome to the loungeCare for a game of pool?Smile MessiMy dream March Madness living roomSelf-serve winesA full cinemaRefrescosAll those piano lessons…Round 1Fresh kufta!The liquor selection could be better.zaytoonTurkish Coffee bad idea for long-haul flightLooking down to the other floorLots of places to sitTraditional dessert spreadCamel chaiI virtually hate the Heat.Race coursebahklowehFresh madeMore samplesWasn’t lying it’s just like CostcoPretzel standI hate the sound of boarding announcements but it may be useful for this lounge.The clubhousethe teeTiger Woods y’allGolf!Turkish coffee freshly madeTurkish delightOn my way outKobe sucks but the lounge was great.
If you’re just tuning in now be sure to read how I ended up with this unique itinerary by checking out The Original Plan: The $77,000 Trip Heard Round the World, the subsequent Change Up: Riga, Latvia? and the Mongolia angle: IGLOO-GER: The Helsinki-Ulaanbaatar Trip Report.
Getting There: Take the bus to Taksim Square from the airport. From there you can walk. I angrily took a taxi from Taksim because I couldn’t find the hotel.
En route to Mongolia, I managed to get a night in Istanbul on the same itinerary because the rule dictates that anything under 24 hours is not a stopover, but a layover.
Just like my splurge aboard SQ A380 from NRT-LAX, I rationalized that I deserved one more night of pampering. I spent 20,000 Hyatt GoldPassport points as the Park Hyatt is a category 5 hotel. The room was around $350 so it fell a bit short of my 2 cent/point standard. Regardless, there are no Park Hyatts let alone a Hyatt House in Mongolia so I can forgive myself for breaking the points piggy bank.
The Location
The Park Hyatt is situated in an upscale part of town with fine shops and dining nearby. Right across the street is a great but expensive kebab place that I highly recommend. It goes without saying that I am a connoisseur of kebab, as all Arabs claim to be. The hotel is not walking distance to the Bosphorus, home to the best nightlife of Istanbul. As this was my second time in Istanbul, I was more interested in the food not the fun.
Welcome to the Park Hyatt IstanbulThe Service
It’s a Park Hyatt. As usual, the service was impeccable. I was shown to my room and given a detailed tour of all the features. The best was how to change the overhead light color above the tub.
The Room
Usually as a platinum, Hyatt members, are given a lukewarm upgrade which is hit or miss depending on the hotel and the effectiveness of your personality with the front-desk. This was not the case, or I am ignorant if it was the case, at the Park Hyatt Istanbul. The room I received as a platinum not diamond member was stunning.
The dawn of a new business day. Richard Quest’s finest hour.The mini mini barThe mark of a great hotel.Turkish Delight welcome gift.This is my favorite feature. The water is purified for drinking.Note the separate sink for non-drinking water. Also, hotels that offer toothbrush and toothpaste are ahead of the rest because they recognize the convenience of it.More of my drinking water obsession.For the spa tub.A great shower, excellent soaps, and convenient towels.The large bathroomThis isn’t the hotel for views, at least not this room.The pool from my room.The Breakfast
Oh, I’m a platinum, no free breakfast for me, not even with my negotiation skills. I’ll go for kebab then.
The Amenities
There’s a nice pool on the 2nd floor which I refused to swim in because I knew it was the last time I would see an outdoor pool for a while.
Not MongoliaPool loungeThe poolThe Hotel
The hotel is gorgeous from inside and out. It has an intimate feel that, a recognizable attribute of Park Hyatts.
The lobbyThat’s my dude right here.Lobby by dayThe Kebab
Why write a separate post? If you’re staying at this hotel and are reading this, you will thank me for providing it here.
Took a pic of the menu because I would never recall the name.shwayeh khooboez, shwayehh jajik (bread and yogurt)Mongolia? Really?lahmeh ageen (I don’t know how to translate this.)Kebab!
And with that meal, it was time to move to Mongolia.
If you’re just tuning in now be sure to read how I ended up with this unique itinerary by checking out The Original Plan: The $77,000 Trip Heard Round the World, the subsequent Change Up: Riga, Latvia? and the Mongolia angle: IGLOO-GER: The Helsinki-Ulaanbaatar Trip Report.
I’m not one to write a Flight Review for each time I cross the street. I skipped the airBaltic review from Stockholm to Riga because we survived the sturdy prop plane service. What else is there to say? The same would’ve been true of the business class flight aboard Turkish Airlines from Riga to Istanbul but for one factor: the Star Alliance livery of the plane.
Points nerds and frequent fliers alike get excited about silly things like livery. Since I had only seen but not been on board a plane with non-traditional design (no Hello Kitty yet) I had to take a few pictures to mark the occasion.
Star Alliance livery!With Turkish flair.BoardingNon-alcohol welcome drink…zzzThe menuThe food was great. Is that descriptive enough?The champagne was awful.
Anything on the line (Production Possibilities Frontier for my fellow economists) is an efficient use of your time depending on your tastes and preferences.
Anything inside the line is inefficient as should be avoided.
Anything outside is aspirational but may be impossible to do given the constraints of time and resources.
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.
Stag Party
The typical American bachelor/bachelorette party is in Las Vegas, Nevada. Riga may not be as convenient as Vegas but if you and your friends have been keeping up with TPOL then you can all get there for free. Once in Riga, the savings continue with better prices for food and drink.
Beer & Nightlife
Latvia has great local beer and excellent imports for a fair price. On one occasion the weather was not participating resulting in a downpour of rain and nowhere to go. Stranded, I sampled beer after beer and suggest you do the same.
The nightlife consisted of traveling from pub after pub trying as much beer as possible. To that point, I will say that going to Riga during the weekend made the nightlife a bit tame.
The menuPronounce thisLast callAll inLocalImportBothAll doneOld Town
Like Stockholm, Riga has an Old Town where I spent most of my time. Walk around, look around, and enjoy.
Orthodox Churches & Monuments
Seinfeld kept playing in my head while walking around the city and seeing its beautiful churches and monuments.
I regret not going to the Museum of the Occupation of Latvia but was very intrigued to learn about its history and disdain of Soviet influence.
McDonalds
McDonalds? Are you kidding? Another Big Mac competition?
Eating fast food versus local food is not very worldly. But, this isn’t about quality, it’s about convenience and novelty. It rained both days I was in Riga. After the beer tasting, I needed quick food and fast taxi to take me back to the hotel. Look no further than McExpress. The walk-thru lady is one of the meanest persons in the world but it added to the experience.
The pasta was greatThe pizza was mehThe Express was Mc
Riga, Latvia? Yes, Riga, Latvia.
If you’re just tuning in now be sure to read how I ended up with this unique itinerary by checking out The Original Plan: The $77,000 Trip Heard Round the World, the subsequent Change Up: Riga, Latvia? and the Mongolia angle: IGLOO-GER: The Helsinki-Ulaanbaatar Trip Report.
Getting There: I took a taxi from the airport and a taxi back to the airport. The fares were the same so I’m thinking I didn’t get ripped off. Have the hotel call you a taxi and double check the rate with them. Otherwise there are taxis on the street that like to haggle for bad prices.
Riga, Latvia? is what I said to myself when I made the determination it wasn’t feasible to go to Tel Aviv. I switched my reservation from the Park Plaza Orchid Tel Aviv to the The Radisson Blu Elizabete Hotel, Riga.
Here’s how I got there:
airBaltic prop planeThe Hotel
Unlike the mediocre Radisson Strand Stockholm this hotel was excellent. The outside architecture was unique, making it stand out from the surrounding Soviet Bloc buildings. The front desk promptly told me I was upgraded to the Business Class floor, meaning free Wi-Fi, a larger room, and complimentary breakfast.
Elevator up and the courtyard within the hotel.The Location
The hotel was a ten minute walk to the old town. I’d rather stay within the old town walls but who’s going to argue with 2 free nights and a short stroll?
The Breakfast
The breakfast was top notch. From eggs to fruits, the variety was there and the quality was also.
The Room
A prerequisite for gaining TPOL’s endrosement as a great hotel is an in-room espresso machine with those fun, overpriced pods. American hotels usually have coffee showing how far behind we are in terms of java. The Elizabete did have the machine and complimentary water.
The bed didn’t disappoint in the way that so many Radissons do with bad bedding. Does anyone have an explanation why Radisson uses to little blankets instead of one king size?
A bed and a robeTake note other RadissonsThat’s what I’m talking aboutThe view to old townModern room and bathQualityThe Price
Prior to devaluation, the value of 2 nights for 1 made staying at the Elizabete Riga a great bargain. I’m not sure if I would pay the 87 euros a night if I was to return as I’d probably opt for a local hotel.
Overall
TPOL approves of the Elizabete.
Anything on the line (Production Possibilities Frontier for my fellow economists) is an efficient use of your time depending on your tastes and preferences.
Anything inside the line is inefficient as should be avoided.
Anything outside is aspirational but may be impossible to do given the constraints of time and resources.
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.
You may be looking at this graph and remarking that it is very similar to the Helsinki Travel Guide. You would be correct. On a related point, a wise man once said there is no point in traveling to more than one city in Eastern Europe since you will always find the same thing: a church, a castle, a river, and a bridge. Though funny and true, there is still reason to go explore.
Here’s what to do in Stockholm in order of difficulty: My apologies for the lack of pictures, I was too busy having fun.
Sleep
Unlike Finland, it did get dark(er) affording the weary traveler a chance to get some rest. The challenge of sleep is a result of the great cafes that line the streets and the next obstacle on the list, the nightlife.
Espresso HouseKeep up the good workNightlife
Stockholm has the nightlife and it’s easy to find. If you’re staying at the Radisson Strand on a Sunday night, sleep is not an option since you can hear the music across the water at Soap Bar. If the 3AM shut down is too early for a Sunday outing head on over to a dodgy spot that plays great hip hop called Lab.
Saturday nights the place to be is Stureplan and the after hours spot is Hell’s Kitchen. They aren’t so kind at the door so going with a celebrity is advisable.
I was in the Situation Room with Wolf Blitzer.For $10 a beer, I’ll pass.Nightlife in StureplanLocal Food
Vacationing isn’t only about going to the club. It’s about drinking and eating too. Like Helsinki, the tourist ‘must eat’ food is Swedish meatballs. Don’t worry these aren’t made from reindeer. The local beer is Falcon which wasn’t that impressive. I stuck with Stockholm version of Heineken.
Stureplan and City Center
From the Strand Hotel, Stureplan and the City Center are within walking distance. Playing the 7-11 Game is a good way to see the city and save money on the cost-prohibitive pastime of beer binging.
Walk aroundAnd ExploreStockholmClose to RadissonView from Old TownStockholm bright and earlyOld Town
The best thing to do in Stockholm is get lost in the old town. A few steps from the Strand Hotel, Old Town Stockholm is right there waiting to be explored. There are shops, pubs, and restaurants along with hidden alleys and narrow staircases. No guidebook is necessary as you make your way through Old Town. Each turn brings a welcomed surprise.
Old TownNo Map NeededThe Hot Dog ManThe Ikea Museum
There’s no need to go to the Ikea Museum. Return to your Radisson room and you’ll see living history by way of the room furnishings.
Gothenburg
The NYC to our LA or maybe it’s the other way around. Gothenburg is Stockholm’s rival and worth a visit.
Sweden in General :
I would say that I was short-changed by my Sweden experience because I had to get to Mongolia for work and had to cut the trip shorter than anticipated. I will certainly go back and do more but if you’re in a similar circumstance as I was then this guide will be more than adequate for a great time .
I know, I know REDBird is dead. This begs the question that nobody is asking, “Where to go now?” I don’t mean in the sense of do we return to the BLUEbird, do we go back to the gift cards, or maybe we try the U.S. Mint. I’m asking literally where to go now that we have abused the bird by loading 15k on 3 cards over 4 months to top off accounts and hit the min spend on new accounts.
Why is this important? Like the DOW, my points balances are at an all time high not seen since the last time the bubble burst in our hobby (reference Hilton devaluation). This can only mean one thing: a market correction. I have zero inside information but I do have plenty of common sense.
Many of us have tons of AAdvantage miles after churning the Executive Card and applying for that fifth US Airways Card (I was rejected on my 4th).Couple that with the Club Carlson crap and the writing is on the wall. It’s time to Shut Up & Book because it’s only a matter of time when the points world goes into shock from another terrible announcement.
Where will you go with all the free points that a nice little bird delivered to your doorstep? I’m liking Apartment Class LAX-AUH-Middle East/India for 90,000 points + $35 but need to figure out just where in that mix I want to go.
Keep Churning My Friends,
TPOL
Burn those points now or regret it tomorrow.
If you’re in the business of manufactured spending then tomorrow you’ll be filing for unemployment as multiple sources have confirmed that the RedBird has begun its decent into the annuls of MS spend history. We knew it would come to an end eventually but tomorrow? That’s too soon. Oh how the good die young.
Anyhow, let me inject some comedy about this otherwise sorrowful day. A friend of mine shared with me the following conversation regarding his preemptive call with Citi before the final reload.
Isaac: I’m calling to let you know that I will be making a big purchase at Target this evening. It is a legitimate purchase.
Citi Rep: They must be running a promotion tonight, everyone is calling with a Target purchase. I’ve had about 9 so far.
I don’t think anyone is to blame for this deal dying. Even the notorious bloggers who love to model Birdman cards with their significant others didn’t have the time to write 100 posts on the subject. We all hit it hard and we all hit it quit because we knew it was too good to last.
RIP RedBird. You will be missed.
Onto the next one.
We need an embedded reporter for the next MS opportunity.
If you’re just tuning in now be sure to read how I ended up with this unique itinerary by checking out The Original Plan: The $77,000 Trip Heard Round the World, the subsequent Change Up: Riga, Latvia? and the Mongolia angle: IGLOO-GER: The Helsinki-Ulaanbaatar Trip Report.
Getting There: From the port, take the bus to the central station then a taxi to the Strand Hotel. From the airport take the 20-minute Arlanda Express Train to Stockholm Central Station. Hail a taxi or ride the metro to Kungsträdgården Station, a short walk from the hotel.
My delayed review of this hotel comes in wake of the Club Carlon devaluation so I’ll try to focus on the hotel itself not the shredded remnants of what was once a great program. On that positive note, I will say that the Radisson Blu Strand Stockholm is in a great location right on the water, walking distance to the old town, and only a couple of blocks from the nightlife.
If you can find them in the country you intend to visit, Radissons tend to be conveniently situated. As a US Bank card holder I receive ‘Gold Elite Status’ but have rarely received an upgrade as a result. I am more willing to accept that I won’t receive an upgrade on U.S. soil because I live relatively close by and the chances of me returning to that city are a lot higher than returning to one abroad. At the Radisson Stockholm initially tried to put me in a dark room facing the courtyard with no view. The room was cozy if I’m being optimistic which is also known as cramped if I’m being realistic.
Since I only had two nights in Stockholm I told the front desk manager that I would appreciate a room with a view not because I had useless ‘gold’ but because I only had two nights in Stockholm! After some stern negotiating, they finally yielded to my request. When you see the view from my new room, perhaps you won’t fault me for complaining. Indeed, looking at my pictures it seems that I have completely neglected my blogging duty by not taking photos of the room itself.
Facing the Radisson BluM Gustave HThe view I fought forBy nightBy stormBy more stormIt cleared up.And I jumped out
![The food was [insert fancy adjectives]. It was really good.](http://thepointsoflife.boardingarea.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/05/DSC_1533-Copy.jpg)
Just like my splurge aboard 
Stureplan and City Center
From the Strand Hotel, Stureplan and the City Center are within walking distance. Playing 
