One Stop Closer to Iraq: Priority Pass Vilnius Lounge Review

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One Stop Closer to Iraq: Priority Pass Vilnius Lounge Review

Narbutas Priority Pass Vilnius Lounge Review is part of the Iraq Homecoming Trip Report.

Does anyone care about the Priority Pass Lounge in Vilnius? I include it in the Iraq Homecoming Trip Report because Vilnius International Airport is where I received my much anticipated boarding pass for Baghdad, Iraq. a passport and ticket on a piece of paper For those lounge lovers, here’s a quick review: Food  I was impressed by the fresh quinoa salad. The sandwiches weren’t bad either. a bowl of food with sauce a sandwich in a box Drink  The liquor selection was suspect. Unless top-shelf spirits are offered, my days of hard drinks at the lounge are over. a group of bottles on a tray a refrigerator with bottles of beer and soda Seating I don’t know why blog readers demand photos of the seating. Hope these satisfy your seating fetish.
a desk and chair in an office
The executive chair at the entrance.
a room with a wall and chairs a room with chairs and tables Overall And that’s the lounge in Vilnius. Now, let’s go to Iraq (via Turkey).
a black building with a glass door
What does narbutas mean? Narbutas is a Lithuanian language surname. It originates from the Lithuanian noble family Narbutai. Where else besides this blog will you receive that insider lounge knowledge?

Priority Pass Singapore: Not SQ’s Private Room

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Priority Pass Singapore: Not SQ’s Private Room

Priority Pass Lounge Review Singapore is part of the Reunion Tour Trip Report.

Marhaba Singapore is not the SQ’s Private Room. The Private Room is the best lounge I have visited in terms of service and food selection (see all Lounge Reviews). Incidentally, I failed to write a review for the Private Room when I flew suite class all those years ago (see Singapore Airlines A380 Suite Class, My Turn). I was in the Priority Pass Lounge because I could not fly SQ from SIN– BKK as originally planned (see Vietnam E-Visa Not Processed: Another TPOL Duck Up?). Instead, I was flying Scoot for the first time (see Hard Product: Dreamliner Soft Product: Not). The lounge did not offer lobster thermador, nor did it have a private butler. It did have wine and high-end crackers. That’s all I deserved, given my logistical shortcomings.a wall with a sign on it a room with a bar and chairs a room with chairs and a wall a room with chairs and tables a refrigerator full of cans a group of bottles of alcohol on a table a glass of wine and a cracker on a table Overall Sometimes I spend plenty of time in a lounge, warranting a thorough lounge review. Sometimes I spend a few minutes in a lounge to recalibrate and recharge before the next leg of my adventure. Thus, the quality of the ‘lounge review’ will vary.

Guns & Butter: Singapore Travel Guide

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Guns & Butter: Singapore Travel Guide

Singapore Travel Guide is part of the Reunion Tour 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.
What’s there to do in Singapore? If you asked me this when I went there for the first time in 2010, I would tell you nothing (see Touring the Culinary Scene of Asia). All grown up, I would tell you there’s more to do than nothing, but that doing nothing is not that bad. Getting There Of course, the best way to arrive in Singapore is on Singapore Airlines. This is what makes SQ #1 Food Chicken rice! Have chicken rice while you are in Singapore on the street. a man cooking food on a grill a plate of meat and vegetables on a table with glasses and a pitcher of beer a plate of food on a table It is imperative that you head to Newton’s Circus for the hawker stalls. Besides this iconic dish, Singapore is home to some of the best street food in the world.
a sign with text and images on it


Oyster omelets are the best
Drink If you’re on a budget, buying wine and sitting on a bench in Clark Quay is the economical option. Tiger beer may be cheap at the store, but it will still run up a big tab even at Hooter’s.
a receipt with coins and a few coins on it
Still have a copy of the Hooters receipt
Everyone says to go to the Raffles hotel to have a Singapore Sling, where it was invented. I had one at the club lounge at the Marriott Tang for free. a glass with a drink and a cherry on it Party If you want to party, go to Marina Bay Sands (see Singapore Nightlife Guide: Hip Hip Hop-a You Don’t Stop).
Sentosa Looking to even less, go to Sentosa Beach to get away from the city. I also recommend walking through the botanical gardens. a palm trees and a body of water Stay Marriott Tang Denied entry to Vietnam (see Vietnam E-Visa Not Processed: Another TPOL Duck Up?), and intent on not spending money, I used a cert to stay at the recognizable Marriott Tang (see Marriott Tang Plaza Singapore: Who Needs Hanoi?). It was a great hotel for relaxing and regrouping. a tall building with a red roof Marina Bay Sands This is the aspirational choice for where to stay. a pool with palm trees and buildings at night The Rules Singapore is a country of rules. I wouldn’t advise having your bachelor party here. However, everything and anything you want can still be found (see “You can get anything you want here.”). a street sign in front of a skyscraper Overall Singapore is a functioning island with excellent infrastructure. As a backpacker looking for value, I used to think that was boring. As a resident of Puerto Rico, I wish my island was ten percent as ‘boring.’

Guns & Butter: Lithuania Travel Guide

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Guns & Butter: Lithuania Travel Guide

Lithuania Travel Guide is part of the Iraq Homecoming 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.
This is a combo Guns tour of Lithuania because I believe that one should and can visit both Vilnius and Kaunas on the same trip. Getting In It’s easy to get from Vilnius to Kaunas and back. The train takes one hour and is very cheap (see Vilnius to Kaunas: An Easy Train).a sign with a number of flights Funiculars A fun-ic experience is taking a funicular up to a view. Admittedly, I did not know that funiculars were real machines. I saw it in Grand Budapest and thought it was an invention of the clever director. My first funicular attempt was in Vilnius. Unfortunately, the funicular to the castle was closed leaving me to put my repaired Achilles to the test with each step I took (see TPOL Is Down).
a stone tower on a hill
The Upper Castle
a gate with a sign on it
By Funicular!
a sign on a wood surface
a stone path with handrails on a hill
Unfriendly Achilles road
a city with red roofs and trees
The view of Vilnius
My second funicular was in Kaunas. The Radisson Kaunas and Wikitravel both said to take it to the top for a great view of the city. I took it to the top but do not know where this great view was. All the lookout points were obstructed.
a building with a gate and trees
Lower entrance
inside a train with benches and a bench
Funicular
inside a wooden train with a bench and a metal bar
Funicular passing on the left
a train tracks in a forest
At the top
a building with a staircase and stairs
At the top
a sign with text on it
Funicular dedication
a white building with a white van parked in front of it
Where’s the view?
a street with a red sign and a car parked on the side
Where’s the view?
a building with a sign on it
Upper entrance
My third funicular was also in Kaunas. I rushed to get there before it closed and was disappointed when Bolt (see The Preferred Rideshare App) dropped me off at the top. I tried to get a ride down but the operator said they were done for the day, forcing me to take the stairs down.a sign with text and pictures on it a bridge over a river with buildings and trees a train going down a path a train on the tracks a train on a track in a grassy area From the funicular, I walked back to the city center. a bridge over a river a body of water with buildings and trees a sign on a sidewalk next to a body of water a street with trees and buildings Food The description of the food in Lithuania referenced Medieval Times and the food of hunters. The thought of drinking wine out of chalices and feasting on wild game appealed to me. I planned my meals to make this happen.
  • Vilnius
The first restaurant in Vilnius was called Lokys or “Bear” in Lithuanian. I ordered the meat combo and a beer, a perfect combination for the wild hunter that I am. The food was perfect.a wooden statue of a bear a plate of food with tomatoes and meat TPOL’s TIP: Lokys is located at Stiklių g. 8, 01131. As a snack, I ate at Būsi trečias. It is the oldest brewery in Vilnius. They served pig ear which went down easily with the local dark.a flag on a pole a plate of meat and peppers TPOL’s TIP: Būsi trečias is located at Totorių g. 18, 01121. For dinner, I ate at Etno Dvaras. The place was packed and I had to wait thirty minutes to be seated. It was worth it because it was like grandma’s comfort food. I had dumplings and meatballs. The price was fair. Two main dishes and two large beers for $24. a plate of food with a gravy boat a plate of food on a table TPOL’s TIP: Etno Dvaras is located at Pilies g. 16, 01123.
  • Kaunas
In Kaunas, I satisfied my primitive instincts for meat by eating at Medžiotojų užeiga, the Hunters’ Inn. a room with a bird cage and deer head decorations a stuffed deer on a wall a squirrel in a cage a plate of sliced sausage a plate of food on a white plate TPOL’s Tip: Never order wine by the glass(es). Either go all in on a solid bottle or skip it entirely (reference Delayed Flight=More Food Guns & Butter: Tallinn, Estonia Travel Guide). TPOL’s Tip: Hunters’ Inn is located at Rotušės a. 10, 44279. Across from the restaurant is a strip of bars. It was a bit early in the day to start and also very cold, making me wonder who would make use of these outdoor seats. a brick courtyard with yellow umbrellas As part of this trip, I am going to the country of Georgia. While exploring Kaunas, I stopped at Mtevani for Georgian shashlik and great beer. two glasses of beer on a table a plate of food with sauce TPOL’s Tip: Mtevani is located at Laisvės al. 56, 44246. Novelty There are one-of-a-kind things to do in both Vilnius and Kaunas.
  • Vilnius 
Devil Museum After the funicular ride, I walked to the Devil’s museum which features devils from all over the world (see Devil’s Museum Kaunas: Every Single One of Us).statues on display in a room
  • Kaunas
Basketball Kaunas is famous for its basketball team. The quarterfinals were happening the day after I left. I had to show my support by buying some fan gear. a building with trees in front of it Walking Like any old town, the best way to explore is to walk (see Astray in Old Town: Great Places to Get Lost ).
  • Vilnius 
a building with columns and a flag on top a building with a stone walkway and a street light a street with buildings and people on it a manhole cover on the ground
  • Kaunus
Head down the walking street Laisves and you will arrive at the most beautiful church. a street with trees and buildings a street with trees and buildings a sign with a picture of a building a white building with blue domes a large white building with blue sky and clouds Stay I stayed at the Hotel Pacai in the heart of old town (see Hotel Pacai Vilnius: No Marriott Devaluation Here). It was a very nice resort with a nice spa to unwind. a street with cars parked on it Kaunas Kaunas was a great, modern town. I stayed at the Radisson (see Radisson Kaunas: Another Great, Overlooked Radisson), one of many great Radissons on this trip (see Radisson Hammamet: Stay Longer and Tsinandali Estate: One of the Best). a room with a television and a couch Getting Out  Vilnius has a larger airport and more flights. Bright and earlier, it was time to hop on board and get to where I was going next.
a building with a bench and a sign in front of it
Any guesses where that is?
a group of people walking on a sidewalk Overall Vilnius was more storybook and Kaunas was more modern. Together, they provided a nice overview of Lithuania.

Hampton Doha Old Town: Perfect for the World Cup

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Hampton Doha Old Town: Perfect for the World Cup

Hampton Doha Old Town is part of the Coupe du Monde Trip Report.

Getting There: the hotel is accessible by metro, but Uber is cheap and direct (see Qatar 2022: Tremendous World Cup Logistics).
When I think Hampton, I think Hampton Inn. When I think Hampton Inn, I think of an airport bi-level motel with sketchy guests. I don’t know if it is because the hotel has rebranded itself to Hampton by Hilton or because this is a Hampton in Doha, but the Hampton Doha Old Town was much different than I expected. The going rate during the World Cup was $565 which was a bargain compared to the Sheraton Grand for $3000 where I stayed my last night (see Sheraton Doha: Charming Gaudy Gold). I came away impressed with my great redemption of 50k points/night stay here (see Hilton World Cup Booked! Your Results Will Vary).
a sign on a sidewalk
Same sign, different Hampton
Early Check In I arrived at noon in Doha and was at the hotel by 1PM. I was still battling food poisoning/flu and hoped I could sneak in a nap before the US game at 6PM (see Flight Review MIA-DOH: Qsuites to the World Cup!). The front desk immediately said that check-in was at 3PM when I handed her my passport. Under the weather, I had no choice but to assert that I am Hilton Gold and would like her to check to see if anything was available. She huffed a little and obliged. A few moments later, I was given a key to my room. TPOL’s Tip: if you visit Doha, realize that many workers have only been there for a few months if that. Spotty service is to be expected. Room This was not the Hampton Inn that I imagined. There was no need to take out my black light in search of DNA. a bed in a room with pink walls and pictures on the wall a tv on a stand a room with a couch and chair a bed with pillows and a pink wall Shower Given my condition, I enjoyed the hot shower. a bathroom with a mirror and sink a shower with a hand shower and a hand shower a group of soap dispensers on a tile wall Location The hotel is located in the old town next to the National Museum. It is around the corner from a delicious kebab place and one stop from the fake old town of Souq Waqif (see Guns & Butter: Doha Travel Guide). a building with a glass front Breakfast Breakfast is included, but with my reverse, hectic sleep schedule, I did not try it (see The Beautiful Game, A Beautiful Time: World Cup Recap!). Espresso Avoid the 20 dinar double espresso ($5.50) at the front desk and go to the espresso shop next to the kebab place. Overall Given that it was the World Cup and that I did not want to stay in a Fyre Fest Container (see Housing World Cup Qatar: Adventurous or Fyre Fest?), I can’t think of a better place for location, value, and convenience than the Hampton Old Town.

TPOL Opens M-F at 9:07AM EST

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TPOL Opens M-F at 9:07AM EST

Many have said they don’t see my posts on Boarding Area’s homepage. I’m still on there, but that homepage moves quickly and I may get pushed to the bottom faster than expected. For those that access the site from BA, I’ll let you in on a secret: I post M-F at 9:07AM EST. Previously it was at 10:07AM EST, but no daylight savings time in Puerto Rico forced me to make this permanent change (see No Daylight Savings in Puerto Rico! Literally, When Will the US Catch Up?). If I post again, it will be three hours after that. If I am really ambitious, it will be three hours after that. At the minimum, I want to post once a day M-F. Saturday and Sunday are for golf. If you don’t see me on there and it’s 9:07AM EST, send money or help. I’m either traveling and shirking my duties and need more money to keep the binge going (see Hangover = Blogger Malpractice?), or I’ve been kidnapped by an angry Flyertalk member (see Flyertalk Readers Don’t Get My Humor). You can also subscribe to my email newsletter which is sent once a day in the evening if I post something new that day (use your mouse to hit this link). And of course you can follow me on Twitter @thepointsoflife, or Instagram, and now, TikTok. The Vlog is a different animal that will have its own post time and life cycle (see Coming to LinkedIn, TPOL’s Vlog!). Thank you for your continued support, TPOL Option #3 if I’m MIA: I’m in Doha for the World Cup and am trying to find the metro.

a man standing next to a large football ball
Metro? This way!

Hyatt Regency Malta: Back to Beautiful

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Hyatt Regency Malta: Back to Beautiful

Hyatt Regency Malta Hotel Review is part of the Punxsutawney TPOL Trip Report.

Getting There: Take an Uber through the pristine roads of this beautiful island.
If there were any remaining doubts about whether I should buy a villa in Sicily, they were erased when I arrived at the Hyatt Regency Malta (see Did TPOL Buy a 1 Euro Italian Villa?). Back in luxury, I was quickly reminded that I prefer the finer things in life. Here’s the review: Location  The hotel is in St. Julian’s, the party district of Malta. While the nightlife scene is a bit amateur, think Cyprus (see Guns & Butter: Ayia Napa, Cyprus Travel Guide), after my time in Castiglione, Sicily, I was happy to see the typical debauchery.a stairs leading up to a building Beach  The tradeoff of staying in the entertainment district is a lack of a proper beach.a group of people on a beach a beach with chairs and umbrellas and buildings in the background a body of water with buildings and a beach Hotel Itself  Although this is a Hyatt Regency, it felt more upscale.a sign on a wall a building with a stone wall and a stone wall a balcony with a glass wall and a buildinga room with chairs and a table Room  After endeavoring to earn Globalist (see Hyatt Centric Milan: Cert Worthy?), I was expecting a bit more from the room. a room with a bed and a table a room with a bed and a television Bathrooma bathroom with a sink and a mirror a bathroom with a round mirror and sink
a group of bottles on a shelf
This is one of my favorite hotel soaps.
Breakfast I enjoy it when the hotel has an a la carte breakfast option.a plate of food on a table a plate of food with a white plate and a white plate with a white plate with food on it Rooftop Pool After exploring Malta all day, it was nice to return and lounge at the pool (see Guns & Butter: Malta Travel Guide).a city with trees and buildings a pool with a city in the background a pool with a view of a city Overall The problem with staying at a nice hotel in a new destination is that I am rarely at the hotel. I would like to return to the Hyatt Regency Malta and do nothing more than lounge.

Singapore Nightlife Guide: Hip Hip Hop-a You Don’t Stop

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Singapore Nightlife Guide: Hip Hip Hop-a You Don’t Stop

Singapore Nightlife Guide is part of the Reunion Tour Trip Report.

I had been to Singapore twice. The first time as with my parents in 2010 (see Touring the Culinary Scene of Asia) and the second was that year when I was moving to Shanghai as an ‘expat.’ Back then, I could not afford the expensive drinks. Today, I still cannot rationalize the price of those drinks. Nevertheless, with one night in Singapore, and a Saturday night at that, thanks to my Vietnamese visa debacle (see Vietnam E-Visa Not Processed: Another TPOL Duck Up?), I had to make the most of it. Here’s what I did: Stop 1: Cherry The place is located in China Town and advertised old school hip-hop. I was sold until I got out of the Grab taxi (see Grab: The Rideshare App in Singapore And Thailand) and saw children waiting in the line. Perhaps I was too old for this place. Stop 2: Clark Quay I had good memories of Clark Quay. From drinking the most expensive round of Tiger beers with my dad at Hooters to buying a bottle of wine and sitting by the water, Clark Quay was a good time. This time, I was not impressed. It was rammed with people who were happy to finally be free of lockdown. After one drink, I moved on.
a receipt with coins and a few coins on it
Still have a copy of the Hooters receipt
Stop 3: Marina Bay Sands This trip was scheduled for 24 days with stops in economical destinations like Hanoi. Instead, I found myself at Ce La Vie, paying for entrance and $17 a drink. Contrary to what I said above, it was worth it. This is a bar that any nightlife lover should visit. The view is spectacular and the structure is as impressive as it is on TV. The music was also on point. For the first time in a long time, life felt normal. a pool with palm trees and buildings at night a cityscape at night with lights and a body of water
I can only imagine how much fun it would be to drink and swim at the infinity pool on a summer day. Perhaps I will return to Singapore and find out. I must be getting old because I never thought I would say I want to go to Singapore.

Iberia Residency Booked: Adios Puerto Rico, Hola España

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Iberia Residency Booked: Adios Puerto Rico, Hola España

Oh no, another Trip Report is on the way. This one is called Adios Puerto Rico, Hola Espana. For those who don’t read and reread TPOL faithfully like a Seinfeld enthusiast, here’s why this is exciting. Last year, I decided that in addition to my crazy jaunts around the globe, I would also take up residency in a pre-selected, first-world big city for four months out of the year (see Vote for Where TPOL Will Move Next And…). The initial destination was supposed to be Dubai where I could commute to the World Cup. Although I went to Doha (see Coupe du Monde Trip Report), the fly-in/fly-out model was unfeasible due to plane ticket/hotel prices (see Housing World Cup Qatar: Adventurous or Fyre Fest?). The next opportunity for residency was Melbourne in May 2023. I found a 55k business class flight using Alaska points with a stopover in Fiji (see 55K Alaskan to Fiji And My New Melbourne Residence). However, when I checked return availability from Melbourne, I was shocked by the outlandish points prices. I would also like to knock out the surrounding islands near Fiji like New Caledonia and Papua New Guinea to enhance my Country Count which currently stands at 131 (see Where I’ve Been), making this a vintage TPOL trip (see ThePointsOfLife Travel Philosophy) rather than a residency retreat. Finally, I also have been in Puerto Rico too long since the start of the pandemic (see The Lost & Found Year(s): COVID Trip Report) and didn’t want to wait until May to implement the residency ritual. Checking availability in February with a return in March, I found a round-trip ticket in business on Iberia direct from San Juan to Madrid for 34k points each way. That is a stupendous deal, especially since I don’t have to connect in JFK. With no fear of being kicked off the plane for not wearing a mask (see Iberia Business ORD-MAD: Mask Jokes Literally Don’t Fly), I immediately booked. The next step is to find an apartment.

a large arena with a bull in the middle
See you soon, Eduardo Corrochio.
 

Approved! Citi Premier

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Approved! Citi Premier

Say what you want about credit card pushers, but I am fine seeing the constant stream of credit card offers in my Twitter feed. It inspires me to continue to churn, no matter how many times I have been rejected. Whether you purposefully don’t affiliate links to deny them money is up to you. I am not that spiteful. Reading that the 80k Citi Premier offer was going away inspired me to apply again (see Citi Premier Rejection for Being Too Good at Life). While I would make good use of the 80k, I am equally as interested in having the ability to transfer my current balance of Thank You points to transfer partners, something that I cannot do with Citi Rewards+ card. With low expectations, I hit submit and was surprised when I received the following:a screenshot of a credit card I’m back in the game! I will have to call to transfer my abundance of credit from the + card so I can hit the minimum spend.

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