Many people ask how I keep track of all the points that I’ve racked up. Like many, I used to rely on Excel and manually enter the award program, the balance, and the expiration date. Like many, I quickly learned there is a much better way. The website is called AwardWallet.com and I’m sure many of you already use it. AwardWallet let’s you save your username and password for each travel program in one spot and tracks the changes in your points balance. While programs like Delta, United, and SWA do not participate, the other big players ranging from American Airlines to Chase Ultimate Rewards do.
But don’t take my word for it, here are some free upgrades to AwardWallet premium that the people at AwardWallet.com have been so gracious to provide:
Sign up on the website if you do not already have an account and click on ‘Upgrade Using a Coupon’:
1) 10 personal coupons which enable to get AW Plus upgrade for 6 months:
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These coupons are created for users who have already registered with AW and want to extend their AwardWallet Plus membership by another 6 months.
2) 5 OneCard coupons for getting free OneCard:
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What’s in Your [Award] Wallet?: A Free Giveaway
![What’s in Your [Award] Wallet?: A Free Giveaway](https://thepointsoflife.boardingarea.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/08/capture8-768x282.png "What’s in Your [Award] Wallet?: A Free Giveaway")
Kindle Delight
Taken Pho Granted: A Terrible Bowl in Ulaanbaatar
Since this pho was the worst I have ever had, not only did I not finish the bowl, I am not going to bother finishing this post.
Park Hyatt Shanghai: Too High in the Sky
Following my odyssey aboard Emirates Airlines A380 First Class to Dubai, I was relegated to flying Emirates Business to Shanghai so I won’t bore you with pictures of the bathroom that didn’t have a shower. Upon arriving in Shanghai, I made it by the taxi tricksters to the government authorized taxi line and waited for shifu (master worker aka the name used for all taxi drivers) to restore me to luxury by way of the Park Hyatt Shanghai.
For those of you who have never been to Shanghai, some background information is needed. Shanghai is divided into two sections by the Huangpu River: Pudong and Puxi with ‘dong’ meaning east and ‘xi’ meaning west. Pudong has been designated the business district and is where the majority of banks, law firms, and multinational institutions reside. It used to be residential area that has since transitioned into the hub of big business virtually overnight. In 2010, the World Expo was held in Shanghai and to make way for all the international pavilions, the government implemented their rendition of eminent domain and bussed out any remaining residents, buying their land at a bargain rate, to put it mildly.
Pudong is the side of Shanghai with the unarguably the best skyline in the whole wide world. There is a reason, besides aesthetics, that all the pictures are taken from Puxi of Pudong. Simply stated, Pudong is boring and Puxi is party. This takes me back to the taxi and my journey to the Park Hyatt. As I wrote here, taxi drivers in China, out of the kindness of their hearts, not only chauffeur passengers from point A to point B but also play the part of tour guide by showing passengers the entire city by driving around in circles even when unprompted to do so. In no mood to be ripped off after my long journey to China, I took a screenshot of the hotel’s address in Mandarin (a lesson more thoroughly explained in Lesson 4: It Pays to Get Robbed in my book). What makes the Park Hyatt stand out among all other hotels in Shanghai is that it is located on the 90th floor of the World Financial Center- the 7th tallest building in the world! A taxi driver would have to be completely and utterly clueless to not know where this building is.
My taxi driver was that driver. Just like my first time in Shanghai back in 2009, I was being driven around in circles on my way from the airport to my hotel. This time I was pointing out the window at the bat signal that is the illuminated World Financial Center screaming, “It’s the tall building!” in Mandarin. Yet somehow my pleas fell on deaf ears. Twenty minutes later, the driver finally had a moment of clarity, looked up at the night sky, and comprehended that the 7th tallest building in the world was home to the Park Hyatt.
Arriving Friday at midnight, I was graciously welcomed by the front desk after taking the Willy Wonka elevator to the top floor. As a Hyatt Gold Passport Platinum member, my room was upgraded and the view from the room when the fog finally cleared was spectacular. Right outside my window was the 16th tallest building in the world, the Jin Mao Tower, and what will be the 2nd tallest building in the world, the Shanghai tower. Their powerful presence had me both awe struck and feeling insignificant simultaneously. Upon entering my room, I took the standard photos for the blog and hastily made my way back to the magical elevator to catch yet another taxi to the famous Bar Rouge and then the infamous Mint. When I finally did return to the sanctuary of the Park Hyatt at 7am, I managed to negotiate a spot at the breakfast buffet, a privilege reserved for those holding Diamond status- a demarcation that I will once again strive to achieve.
I stayed at the Park Hyatt for 2 nights, using Mikey’s 2 free night awards (He was only there for one night) courtesy of the Chase Hyatt card and have nothing but great things to say about my stay. I have to add that the automatic toilet that lifted its cover when it sensed a user approaching was a nice touch.
I must confess that the luxury of the hotel is in every way Park Hyatt but the location unlike Park Hyatts in Sydney, Melbourne, and Istanbul to name a few is not ideal. As I said, Pudong is the business boring district and having to deal with the inconsistent taxi fares after the metro stops running (whether or not you are able to speak Mandarin) is an inconvenience that trumps the high sky vantage of the Park Hyatt. While I still give this resort a top rating, it nevertheless falls a tad short of the Waldorf Astoria Shanghai– the iconic resort located on the happening side of Puxi.
Zai jian!
Sheikh Dubai’s Chariot: First Class on Emirates Airlines A380
Drink
“What would you like for your pre departure drink?”
As has become the custom, I always have a glass of an airline’s finest bubbly. It does not matter the time or my state of mind (admittedly it was aching after a night out in NYC) but I have to play the part of first class and sip on, what becomes, a bottomless mimosa. Aboard Emirates, it’s not just orange juice and brut but freshly squeezed and Dom.
The Digs
I remember my first business class flight from Detroit to Frankfurt aboard a Lufthansa A330 in 2012. The seats reclined back and I sat there in disbelief. Fast forward dozens of business class flights later, angle flat has become taboo. Not only is lie flat the way to fly but a personal cocoon is imperative for any overseas journey. Aboard Emirates, the cabin crew takes time like an upscale hotel to share all the features of my new home.
Smells Like Teen Spirit
The sound of kids playing in the summer: Growing up, that was the sound of basketball. Pick up games in the neighbor’s driveway, behind Mikey’s house, and in the park were played till we couldn’t see the basket anymore or that spoiled kid took his ball and went home.
It is undisputed that the international game of sport is soccer with the game being played from beaches to concrete parking lots. When I moved to Mongolia, I expected the same but perhaps not as rampant because the summer is short, limiting the opportunity to play outdoor sports. Curiously, I thought given their stature, the environment, and proximity to the former Soviet Union that Mongolia would be a hockey town. It is not.
I Need a Shower: The Top 7 Spots to Lather Up
5. Liberia, Costa Rica
Moving along to more formal luxury is my #5 shower experience at the Andaz Peninsula Papagayo in Liberia, Costa Rica. The resort is built overlooking the marina and the rooms seem to exist naturally with the environment. The shower opens out to the balcony making you truly feel one with nature.
4. Seychelles
The Hilton Seychelles Northolme is one of my favorite resorts not only because it is in the most beautiful place in the world- Mahe,Seychelles but also provides the best service for its guests. The hotel upgraded my room from garden view to ocean view at no cost and provided a shower with a view of the blue ocean.
3. Doha, Qatar
Admittedly, Doha isn’t the most exciting city in the world but it does have a W Hotel, a guaranteed party no matter where in the world you go. As an SPG Platinum member, the front desk upgraded me to the Wow Suite and the shower was what I wish to have in my home one day, should I choose to ever stay put. The rainfall shower was the size of an extra large pizza!
2. Atlanta Hartsfield-Jackson Airport
I was about to board my Delta business class flight from Atlanta to Buenos Aires when I went to Delta’s new international Sky Club business class lounge. I had been to business class lounges before but had never taken advantage of the shower service. The lounge shower its hot water never ending and pressure unrelenting made the shower in ATL come in at #2.
1. Emirates Airlines A380 First Class
And now for the best shower experience in the world, the incomparable, the undeniable, the incomprehensible shower aboard an Emirates Airlines A380. The pictures speak for themselves:
The shower has to be scheduled with the flight attendant and the hot water only lasts for five minutes but how can any deny the cool factor for showering at 30,000 feet especially with all the amenities given pre and post shower.
Now someone please come fix this damn shower in Ulaanbaatar! Simply the Best: July 2014
Wrapping up the Simply the Best List is July 2014. It goes without saying that my book was published this month and is now on sale. (You can buy it here!) The reviews are starting to come in so let’s see what the world thinks. Luckily, the first one was resoundingly positive and no it was not written by me.
But enough book talk, here’s the list of the best posts that you guys enjoyed in July.
1. I’M COMING HOME (The original parody of Lebron James done minutes after his was released. (see date and time in post) Take that Brian Scalabrine!
2. EPHEDRINE? YOUNG LADY? HAPPY ENDING?
7. THE PRISON OF POSH
House Hunters International: Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia
Today on House Hunters International, a lawyer leaves the desert of the Sonoran for the grind of the Gobi. Join us today for House Hunter’s International as we head to Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia.
Alex: Initially, I liked the Blue Sky building because it reminded me of my days in Dubai and it is really close to work and the Choijin Lama Temple Museum. The price, in the millions of dollars, not Mongolian Tugrik, is a bit out of my budget.
The Agent sensing that Alex’s talk of not wanting amenities was indeed just talk shifted the focus away from the city center to an area south of the city where many of the expats live. While Alex would not be walking distance to work, the complex provides all the amenities of living in Scottsdale and has bluer sky views than the Blue Sky building which becomes barely visible due to smog in the winter.
Option 2: Bella Vista Apartments
Agent: I showed Alex the Bella Vista apartments that have everything from a pool to grocery store located on the premises. I could tell he was impressed. The price was out of his initial budget as most apartments go for a couple of grand a month, but he seemed to be intrigued by living in a place that was so much like home.
Alex: Wow, I really like this apartment complex. It is more like living in a points hotel, like a Park Hyatt. The budget is a little off but there is a gym on site. That may be too hard to pass up. I don’t know how to get to work because there’s no way I’m driving in this traffic. Even taking a taxi seems like it would be an inconvenience given the language barrier.
Moving onto option #3, the Agent does a complete 180 as she shows Alex his final choice. It is located right in the city center, only five minutes to work, right next to a gym and grocery store, and most importantly next to two pubs: Grand Khaan Irish Bar and MB Beer Plus that also is a brewery.
Option 3: Nearby Livin’
Agent: Now I’m going to have warn you, the outside of the building isn’t exactly beautiful. It was built in the 60’s in typical Soviet design. Furthermore, the apartment is located on the 5th floor and there is no elevator. It does include Wi-Fi and satellite TV that has HBO and CNN International for watching dreamy AC360. Also, the rent is only $570 a month.
Alex: Let’s take a look.
Agent: Well here we are.
Alex: Well, the building and the front door sure have character.
Agent: Here’s the bedroom that comes with this interesting rug and a bed that is as hard as the concrete infrastructure of the building itself. The bathroom has a hot shower but in Ulaanbaatar the hot water is sporadically cut off during the summer like rolling blackouts in San Francisco. But, come look, you can see your work from the window.
Alex: If there’s one thing Ulaanbaatar has, it’s common parts. How’s the Wi-Fi?
Agent: It’s pretty reliable. Please decide as soon as possible. The availability of all these places even with the economic downturn dries up quite quickly.
Walking around the city, Alex goes to Suhktbaatar Square to look at the impressive statue of Ghenghis Khaan. Running out of time, he has to make a decision on where to live. Will it be option 1, the Blue Sky of Dubai, for the luxury lifestyle? Will it be option 2, the style of Scottsdale, outside the city center? Or, option 3, Flinttown, Mongolia?
Alex: Well, first I have to start by eliminating one option. That seems obvious. Option 1. It’s too early to buy a property and especially in a building that has such terrible reviews. The gym in the complex is smaller than the one in my parents’ house and it costs $100 a month to enroll. There is a nightclub attached to it called Vegas, but nobody goes there.
Option 1 is out.
Alex: Now, it’s between option 2 and option 3. When I started this search I did say that proximity was important so long as I had a comfortable bed, a hot shower, and great Wi-Fi. Option 2 has all the features I’m looking for in an apartment but it is pretty far away. Option 3 does have Wi-Fi but the bed is made out of bricks and intermittent hot water? I mean, I know the summer is coming to an end any day now but that would mean I would have to move again next summer or learn to enjoy cold showers from time to time.
So which one will it be?
Alex: ThePointsOflife has allowed me to travel the world and stay at the best hotels and fly on the best airlines for next to nothing. I’ve been pampered more than I deserve and have grown accustom to a champagne lifestyle. But, I really enjoyed my days in Anytown, USA when I was sleeping in the great outdoors in my upgraded tent. I guess I could get use to the hard bed. And for $570 a month all in and I’m right next to work, I think I’ve made my decision:
Option 3 it is!
We caught up with Alex a week after he has settled into his new apartment. The shower is running hot and the bed has enough padding to trick him into believing he is staying at his former home, the W Hotel Scottsdale.
Alex: I love my apartment. I walk to work, to the gym, and most importantly to the bar, come rain or cold. With all the money I saved on rent, I can go to the nearby pubs as often as I like and buy as much locally crafted beer as my liver desires. For sure, I know I made the right decision. Thanks House Hunters International.
Training Day
The investigators are gonna want to pull a tube of your blood to check for intoxicants, and what are they gonna find, Alex? Do the math. You’ve been smoking PCP all day, haven’t you?
I met Cabbie Alonzo Harris bright and early for what would be an unforgettable training day in the life of a taxi driver. We left the yard and took our first call in the city of Mesa, a family going to see the doctor. From there we cruised the streets of Phoenix and Alonzo told me what not do as a taxi driver.
– Do not carry any cash in your shirt pocket. Thieves sitting behind you will say they have a weapon, or have a weapon and jack you for your money.
– Do not pick up fares from gas stations. Many of the robberies and criminal mischief originate from these locations because there is not a phone number to track the individual.
– Do not drop off unruly customers in unlit places. A taxi driver had an issue with two passengers and finally kicked them out of his cab but did so in a dark street. They ended up taking the driver out of car, beating him so badly he ended up in intensive care, and setting fire to his taxi.
– Do not return lost stuff back to a passenger’s residence. Alonzo personally, out of the kindness of his heart, returned an iPad left in his cab. When he got to the residence, the owner accused him of stealing it and pulled a gun on him. Luckily, he sped away and was not hurt.
From there, the rest of the day was routine: here’s how to use the meter, here’s how Greater Phoenix is divided into parcels, and here’s the emergency button if you are in distress.
A few uneventful hours later, a few dollars later, Alonzo asked me if I still wanted to be a cabbie.
“Damn right,” I nervously responded.
“Good, because you start tomorrow night,” he replied.
Was this really worth the risk just to promote my book Everyone’s Advice Is Wrong . . . Including Mine I wondered. Read the dramatic day-in-the-life conclusion and decide for yourself.
