World of Hyatt Business: Almost Missed $100 Statement Credits Per Year

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World of Hyatt Business: Almost Missed $100 Statement Credits Per Year

Having too many credit cards makes it difficult to keep up with the benefits of each. I have a running list of perks/minimum spends that I review weekly to ensure that I don’t miss anything. Despite this proactive strategy, I still miss things. This time I almost missed that the Chase World of Hyatt Business card comes with a $100 statement credit. Specifically, cardholders earn a $50 statement credit, up to twice per anniversary year (for a total of $100), when you spend $50 or more at any Hyatt property. Last month, I stayed at the Park Hyatt St. Kitts. I charged the ferry to Nevis and the dinner to my room. When I reviewed the charges on my World of Hyatt Business Credit Card, I noticed a $50 credit. a screenshot of a computer In the old days, I was more attentive to such things. Now, I am increasingly sloppy, like Willie. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Z0W6ufDtdS8

Simply The Best: July 2022

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Simply The Best: July 2022

It didn’t take long for me to fall behind on Trip Reports. I have not finished Punxsutawney TPOL from 2021, and I am getting ready to leave before finishing the much anticipated Iraqi Homecoming Report. Nevertheless, here’s the great content from the month of July.

  1. The KGB Hotel in Tallinn: Someone’s Always Watching
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    My visit to the Hotel Viru was the most interesting hotel experience I have had since I stayed in the Hollywood Tower Hotel in Orlando, Florida.
  2. Seafood in Estonia: What a Treat
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    Everything on the menu looked delicious. Rather than choosing one item over another, I ordered everything.
  3. Is TPOL Going to The World Cup?
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    All I have are tickets to a game whose opponents are TBD.
  4. LOT JFK-WAW: It’s How You Finish
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    It wasn’t shower suites. It didn’t start off smoothly. But it ended perfectly.
  5. Devil’s Museum Kaunas: Every Single One of Us
    statues on display in a room
    Am I the spawn of satan? Some blog readers might think so. Some opposing lawyers might say so. My actions would suggest the same.
  6. Pho-usion in Estonia
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    Maybe pho fusion isn’t bad after all.
  7. Back to Phoenix on Frontier
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I’m not looking forward to this.

Radisson Kaunas: Another Great, Overlooked Radisson

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Radisson Kaunas: Another Great, Overlooked Radisson

Radisson Kaunas Hotel Review is part of the Iraq Homecoming Trip Report.

I just wrote about my love of the Radisson brand (see Park Inn Tallinn: Good Enough for Me), but that was due to the global footprint, not the tidiness of the hotels. While I have stayed at few Radissons that were more luxurious (see Radisson Cape Town), most have been basic. Surprisingly the Radisson Kaunas was anything but.
a glass building with a sign
Another overlooked Radisson.
Location The location is perfectly situated to all the sights of quaint Kaunas including Žalgirio arena (see Guns & Butter: Lithuania Travel Guide) and the train station (see Vilnius to Kaunas: An Easy Train).
a basketballs in glass cases on a wall
Commemorative basketballs on display in the lobby
a room with a large window
Said lobby
a group of people walking on a sidewalk
To and from Vilnius is easy.
Welcome Gift A bottle of bubbles is always appreciated.a room with a couch and a coffee table a wine bottle and glasses on a table in a living room Upgrade So is a nice suite. Unlike the Park Inn Radisson Tallinn, the space was efficiently used.a room with a television and a couch a room with a bed and a television radisson kaunas hotel review Shower I can’t get away from these dangerous European showers, but at least the water pressure was strong.a bathroom with a sink and bathtub radisson kaunas hotel review
a bathroom with a bathtub and a picture
Why is this so high off the ground?
radisson kaunas hotel review Overall For points and the unexpected luxury, this was the best Radisson.
Radisson Kaunas Hotel Review is part of the Iraq Homecoming Trip Report.

Devil’s Museum Kaunas: Every Single One of Us

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Devil’s Museum Kaunas: Every Single One of Us

Devil Museum Kaunas is part of the Iraq Homecoming Trip Report.

Am I the spawn of satan? Some blog readers might think so. Some opposing lawyers might say so. My actions would suggest the same: I’ve danced with the devil in Acapulco (see Where to Party? New Year’s Eve). I graduated law school from Arizona State (see TPOL in the Desert). I’ve swum in the Devil’s Pool in Zambia (see The Devil’s Pool Zambia: Loungin Atop Victoria Falls). And finally, I went to the Devil’s Museum in Kaunas. a window with a painting on it The Lithuanian devil folklore was captivating. a white paper with black text statues on display in a rooma sign on a walla group of carved wooden statues a white paper with black text a group of wooden statues There was also an exhibit showcasing devils from all over the world. a display case with different objects on display a statue of a man and woman Even the bathrooms were devil inspired: a white cartoon on a wood surface a white paper cut out of a woman on a wooden surface Naturally, I had to take the devil home with me (see Iraq Homecoming: Souvenir Price Index).
a table with a view of a golf course and a city
The devil’s ominous clouds hanging over PR.

Devil inside The devil inside Every single one of us The devil inside

TPOL’s Tip: The Devil’s Museum is located at V. Putvinskio g. 64, Kaunas 44211, Lithuania

Vilnius to Kaunas: An Easy Train

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Vilnius to Kaunas: An Easy Train

Vilnius Kaunas Train Review is part of the Iraq Homecoming Trip Report.

I have been trying to battle my train anxiety by being more prepared (see “Tickets, Please, Tickets”: Train Anxiety). Going from Vilnius to Kaunas, I proactively booked online to avoid having to use a mysterious machine at the train station, going to the station to discover the train is sold out, or having to wait in an endless line to buy a ticket from a live human. This time, I arrived early and readily found the platform. I was nervous because the display read ‘Kauna’ and not ‘Kaunas.’ I Googled to double-check that these were not two distinct places.a sign with a number of flights a sign on a wall with stairs a man sitting on a platform next to a sign train tracks next to a platform a train station with a building and train tracks Apart from a quick photo, I boarded as soon as the train arrived. a train at a train station I was seated in car 1 seat 1 and was reassured when the monitor in the train said Kaunas with an “s.” Moments later, the moment I always dread arrived – “Ticket please.”a group of people inside a train I had my tickets ready. He scanned them. It went through and then he said, “You actually booked a first-class ticket, that’s upstairs.” Stunned, I asked if it was nicer upstairs. He said yes. Even when I think I do it right, I still do not.
a train with seats and a table
Upstairs
The express train to Kaunas is only an hour-long, giving me plenty of time to write this review but fortunately not enough time to take a nap, preventing me from failing to get off at the correct stop.
a train on a platform
Arrived.
Vilnius Kaunas Train Review is part of the Iraq Homecoming Trip Report.

Hotel Pacai Vilnius: No Marriott Devaluation Here

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Hotel Pacai Vilnius: No Marriott Devaluation Here

Hotel Pacai Review Vilnius is part of the Iraq Homecoming Trip Report.

Do you know what Marriott benefits you receive when you stay at the Hotel Pacai Vilnius, a member of the Design Hotels? None. There was no free breakfast and there was no option to use a suite upgrade. Having said that, there was welcome champagne, even at 1:21am in the morning (see airBaltic: When It Finally Takes Off). two glasses of champagne on a table a room with a fireplace and couches Room I was ‘upgraded,’ leaving me to wonder what a standard room looked like in comparison. I had no complaints about the room itself. It had the amenities required for a restful stay: a comfortable bed, strong Wi-Fi, and a Nespresso machine.a bed with a headboard and a lamp a room with a bed and a desk a bed with white sheets and a lamp a bed with white sheets and a black headboarda black computer and two white cups on a wooden surface Still vs. Sparkling  I get very annoyed when I check into European hotels, and they have one bottle of still and one bottle of sparkling. Either have two of each or have still. Who’s waking up in the middle of the night craving sparkling? And who is drinking sparkling at room temperature? How am I supposed to hydrate myself and fill up the Nespresso? two bottles of water on a table
a group of bottles and a glass of water on a table
The only sparkling should be the bubbles.
Balcony It was May when I stayed here and even then it was cold. The balcony is a nice area to relax, but I can’t imagine it being of much use most of the year.a chair and table on a patio Bathroom This was another loathsome euro shower tub. It did have the infinity function but I was barely able to fit underneath it.a bathroom counter with a towel and toiletries a bathroom with a sink and mirror a bathroom with a bathtub and a toilet A Note on Light Switches  As a never-ending remodeler, I appreciate the small touches like the tile work in the bathroom and this light switch.
a black box with a handle
Where else would you find such a granular review?
Hotel Itself The original structure was built in 1677. It is a beautiful building that reminded me of one of my favorite hotels, the Park Hyatt Buenos Aires.
a street with cars parked on it
Hotel Pacai blending into the Old Town
Location I stayed here because it is located in the heart of old town. The Park Inn in Tallinn was a ten-minute walk to old town which is advantageous for those looking to avoid tourist traps (see Old Town? Tourist Trap Or Timeless) but inconvenient for those short on time looking to explore.
a building with a walkway and trees
Entrance from the street
a courtyard with tables and chairs and trees
Courtyard
a glass entrance to a building
Entrance from the street
Spa Included in the stay was access to the sauna and Turkish dry hammam. I could only withstand the 80C sauna for a few minutes. The hammam was just right for a mid-day nap.
a shower with a shower head and a shower head
Golden shower
a wooden sauna with lights
Sauna
a sink in a room
Turkish dry hammam
a tiled floor with a light on the wall
Place ot nap
Price I stayed for two nights at a nice price of 25k points per night. With Marriott’s never-ending devaluation, this was a steal in points and a good value considering the room goes for $235/night. Overall At Hotel Pacai, despite having status, I did not have any perks. Yet, somehow, I survived.

Priority Pass Riga: Bonus Lounge Review Thanks to airBaltic

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Priority Pass Riga: Bonus Lounge Review Thanks to airBaltic

Priority Pass Riga Review is part of the Iraq Homecoming Trip Report.

Damn airBaltic‘s cancellation (see airBaltic: When It Finally Takes Off). It’s bad enough that I have to arrive late into the night to Vilnius, but now I have to go to another Priority Pass Lounge and write another ‘review.’ If you read my Tallinn Priority Pass Lounge Review, you will recall that I am no longer over-consuming at lounges (see Priority Pass Tallinn: Sorry No Food Pics). Despite this new health policy, I still feel obligated to include a ‘lounge review’ so that this trip report is complete. What can I say about the Riga Lounge? First, I sat in front of the flight monitor, paranoid as usual that I would miss my flight despite its delay (see Boarding Announcement Paranoia). Second, I had a grapefruit. Third, I recognize that over-drinking in a lounge is as bad as overeating. I skipped the skull head full of libations as well as the locally made Rigan liqueurs. I only had one glass of vino blanco while staring intently at the aforementioned flight monitor. Other than that, there’s nothing special to report. Here are the photos: a wooden box with red text a group of beer taps on a counter Priority Pass Riga Review Priority Pass Riga Review Priority Pass Riga Review
Priority Pass Riga Review is part of the Iraq Homecoming Trip Report.

airBaltic: When It Finally Takes Off

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airBaltic: When It Finally Takes Off
Air Baltic Flight Review is part of the Iraq Homecoming Trip Report.
When I booked airBaltic, I had low expectations since, as any avid Monopoly player knows, Baltic Avenue is the cheapest property to buy. TPOL’s Tip: Always snatch up Baltic Avenue and Mediterranean, not because they are ideal properties, but because they provide reliable income as those looking to avoid Boardwalk and Park Place inevitably land here. Before even arriving at the airport, I had an issue with airBaltic. They canceled my direct flight from Tallinn to Vilnius. I received an email saying, “Sorry, we had to cancel.” A half-hour later, I received another email saying that I had been re-booked on a flight from Tallinn to Riga and then to Vilnius. Instead of arriving at 8:50PM, I would now arrive at midnight. That was inconvenient as my Guns & Butter Travel Philosophy does not factor in delays. Now I would only have one night to explore Vilnius.
an airplane with seats and windows an airplane wing on a runwayThe flight from Tallinn to Riga was without incident. The A220, advertised as one of the greenest planes in the sky, was on time and was brand new. The flight from Riga to Vilnius was farther and we did not arrive until closer to 1AM. Like my flight to Warsaw from JFK (Lot Airlines: Terrible Transit in Warsaw ), there was no jet bridge. Passengers had to climb the stairs. While this afforded me the opportunity to take my favorite airplane photo, I wondered how I would have made it up the stairs had my Achilles been as it was only a few weeks ago (see TPOL Is Down). an airplane on the runway
Overall
airBaltic flies new planes. Whether the flight takes off on time or if at all is another question. Whether I have any recourse against airBaltic, I do not know as I have not reviewed the Passengers Rights Documentation.
Enjoy the Air Baltic Flight Review post? Keep reading the Iraq Homecoming Trip Report.

Priority Pass Tallinn: Sorry No Food Pics

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Priority Pass Tallinn: Sorry No Food Pics

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

I used to be the Fat Guy in the Lounge (see Are You the Fat Guy in the Lounge? and Fat Guy in the Lounge: Tahiti Edition). Walking into a lounge, I would automatically pick up a plate, even when I was not hungry because 1.) It was free. 2.) Blog readers like to see what food is served. Those days are over because there is nothing worse than traveling while fat. Since I refuse to work out while on my world tours (see A Holiday of Healthy, Tipsy, & on Budget? Basically Impossible), the only thing I can control is my consumption. And the easiest place to start is the lounge. I have always felt awkward taking photos of food in the lounge and would feel even more strange if I was not eating. Accordingly, there are no photos of food in this post.
a coffee shop with a counter and chairs
What snacks do they offer?
a beverage cooler in a room
For me, it was Coke Zero.
a bar with a group of glasses and bottles
But no more alcohol for me.
Seating Another obsession from readers is the seats in the lounge. I don’t understand why these need to be documented. Unless there’s a place to sleep, why do I have to document this? Won’t you see it when you arrive? It’s not like there won’t be chairs. Anyhow, here they are: chairs. a room with chairs and a tvPatio I do feel it is worth mentioning when there is a patio, though I am not sure how much it is used in cold Estonia.
a group of potted plants on a wood deck
Judging by the lack of chairs, not that much.
a plane on the runway
Ryan is here.
Overall Sorry travel nerds but my days of pigging out in the lounge on the regular are a thing of the past. If you thought my lounge reviews were inadequate before, what do you think now?

Guns & Butter: Tallinn, Estonia Travel Guide

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Guns & Butter: Tallinn, Estonia Travel Guide

Tallinn Estonia 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.
There are places in the world made for partying. Tallinn is one of them. But there’s more to do than that.
a manhole cover on a cobblestone road
Get your mind out of the gutter. See the sites.
Walk Around The best activity in Tallinn is walking around the old town. I have said this about many towns in Europe because it is true (see Astray in Old Town: Great Places to Get Lost). The adventure that awaits is anyone’s guess. The result is always the same: pure joy. a stone towers with red roofs a stone alleyway with buildings and graffiti a building with flags on the side of it a street with people walking on the street Weather Tallinn in May is still chilly. It drops down to the low 40s at night. Drink accordingly.
a statue of a dog on a sidewalk
Or buy a fur coat.
Bars Tallinn does not fall short when it comes to bars. Rule #1, as always, is to avoid bars in the city square (see Don’t Pay $30 for Tacos). Prices are higher and tourists abound. a brick square with a tower in the middle a group of people outside a restaurant Hell Hunt We started our adventure at Hell Hunt. The first beer was my standard favorite, Leffe. The second was a crisp house lager. a building with signs on the side of it a glass of beer on a table a room with pipes and lights TPOl’s Tip: The address is Pikk 39, 10133 Tallinn, Estonia. Dinner I was looking for Estonian food. I walked by a seafood restaurant, glanced at the menu, then carried on. I double-backed when I glanced in the window at a patron’s plate. What followed was a culinary experience of caviar and shellfish. Coupled with champagne, it brought me back to the high life of Cathay (see Seafood in Estonia: What a Treat). a bottle of wine in a bucket with two glasses of wine a plate of seafood on a table a plate of food on a table TPOL’s Tip: Nautilius is located at Pikk 36, 10123 Tallinn, Estonia. Pikk No tourist traps on Pikk street. a brown sign with white text Cannabis I went to a coffee shop for late-night espresso only to find that it was a cannabis shop. I was surprised to learn that marijuana is legal in Tallin. It’s legal to smoke in public. I stuck with Lavazza. a counter with a display case and a sign a glass of coffee on a plate on a table TPOL’s Tip: If you’re going to smoke, save your receipt from the CBD store in case the police ask where you obtained your sticky icky. Karaoke TPOL is an overnight celebrity in Tallinn. After this perfect rendition of Paradise City, I had to leave the bar and ward off the paparazzi. a sign with a couple of images of a man and woman
a group of men sitting in a restaurant
Where’s TPOL’s photo?
a television and a man on a wall
Here I am! Note: They love singing old folk songs. Learn those if you want to make friends.
TPOL’s TIP: Satumaa Karaoke is located at Viru tänav 4, 10140 Tallinn, Estonia Bar Hopping After that it was onto bar after bar. a tall glass of beer on a table TPOL’s TIP: Drink Bar & Grill is located at Väike-Karja 8, 10140 Tallinn, Estonia. Most bars were the same but one stood out: Sigmund Freud. Here, the mixologist made a lovely gin-based drink with my favorite liqueur, St. Germain’s. But that was not the highlight. The highlight was the pickle shots. a sign on a building a menu on a table a bar with many bottles and glasses a group of glasses on a table Clubs If you want to stay out past your normal bedtime, Tallinn has many options. Venus is the one in the guides, but Hollywood had the longest line that night.
a group of people standing around a fountain in front of a building
Probably too old for this shit.
Sushi 24 I tried to have some late-night sushi, but the demand was too high. The wait for takeaway was 40 minutes. a sign on a sidewalk
a building with a flag on it
Walked home instead.
Day 2 The best part about visiting Tallinn in the spring are the long days. This makes waking up at 4PM acceptable.
a street with people walking on it
7:30PM
Pho @ Tartar On Day 1, I walked by a restaurant and observed happy people drinking wine and carrying on. The sign said kook and bar. I later figured out that kook meant kitchen and not crazy. Having said that, it was madness that an upscale restaurant that was not solely Vietnamese could deliver on pho (see Pho-usion in Estonia). a bowl of soup and a bowl of food View from Above Walk past the gates of old town, past the tourist trap square, and then head up the road until you come upon a small fountain with a deer. Now, look up. That’s where you want to be. How do you get there? Go left and take the cobbled street past the parliament and go right.
a stone wall with a building on the side
Parliament
You will first see a church, make a right. Alexander Nevsky Cathedral, Tallinn with a domed roof Walk past the Mexican consulate on your left. a sign on a wall The first right takes you to the observatory for some stunning views of Tallinn. a city with red roofs and trees a rooftops of a city TPOL’s Tip: Be on the lookout for solo travelers Vista Pimpin. The line, “Do you want a picture? Isn’t this view beautiful?”, is a weak pickup line. Hell Hunt I couldn’t get enough of Hell and went back for a Hoegaarden.
a black board with white text and bottles of alcohol on the wall
Many Estonian craft beers are available.
Dinner Caution: The sun may not go down, but the hours pass and restaurants close. I did not make it to another Silver Spoon as I would have liked. I ended up at a nice Portuguese restaurant. The atmosphere in the bunker was better than the food. The wine was just right. a group of people sitting at a bar a bowl of green olives and a glass of wine
two men holding wine glasses
In Tallinn, you may even run into a fellow UMich grad.
TPOL’s Tip: Tasca Portuguesa is located at Olevimägi 3, 10123 Tallinn, Estonia Restaurants Recs I received the following restaurant recommendations from the Silver Spoon creator, but did not have the time to go to them:
  • Rado: Vene 7, 10123 Tallinn, Estonia
  • Lee (Local Food): Uus 31, 10111 Tallinn, Estonia
  • Guru (Indian): Aia 10a, 10111 Tallinn, Estonia
  • Noa (Local Food. Requires a taxi. Great view of the city from across the sea): Ranna tee 3, 12111 Tallinn, Estonia
Freud’s Wanting to understand more about my oral fixation, I returned back to Freud’s for more pickle shots and mixed drinks.
a drink with a paper clip on it
I left my UMich date for Tinder.
Club Right across the street was a nightclub where the hours flew by. No pictures were taken. Shawarma Under the influence, I made a stop at the shawarma shop. It’s delicious minus the heartburn. No photos were taken. Day 3 KGB I know what you are thinking. TPOL didn’t do anything of cultural significance in Tallinn. I would disagree citing that drinking is the best way to make friends anywhere in the world (see Ganbei! The Guide to Making Friends). For the sober among us, I have an experience that you will enjoy. I went for a tour of the hotel which was used by the KGB to spy on persons of interest (see The KGB Hotel in Tallinn: Someone’s Always Watching) a large building with windows
a white door with a logo on it
Translation: “nevermind, nothing.” As in nothing to see here.
a room with a desk and a table with a mannequin in uniform
a wooden desk with a metal tag on it
The desk says property of KGB. Worst kept secret.
Delayed Flight = More Food Since Air Baltic canceled my flight to Vilnius (see airBaltic: Great Flight When It Finally Takes Off), I found myself with unexpectedly more time in Tallinn. Unprepared, I went for Italian food at Restoran Controvento. I spent too much on lunch by ordering a bottle of wine, 2 dishes, coffee, and dessert. a pizza with pepperoni and basil a plate of spaghetti with sauce TPOL’s Tip: I don’t have the solution for staying healthy on holiday and not breaking the bank (see A Holiday of Healthy, Tipsy, & on Budget? Basically Impossible). But coffee in a restaurant? Always a no. Dessert? Definitely not. It all adds up in money or calories or both. TPOL’s TIP: Restoran Controvento is located at Vene 12, 10140 Tallinn, Estonia Overall Two nights in Tallinn were plenty.
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