A W Deal in Puerto Rico

I like Puerto Rico.  It's close to Atlanta (relatively), requires no passport, the food is always amazing, and the party never seems to end.  I've stayed at the Ritz-Carlton, which usually runs attractive deals but is showing its age.  The Intercontinental also regularly has decent deals, but is show its age even more. 

Within the last couple of years W has built a property on Vieques Island in Pureto Rico.  Though, occasionally obvious that they are rebuilt from older hotels, my stays at the W have always been enjoyable.  The Vieques property, I believe, was built from scratch. 

While I've never stayed here, it is going to be my choice for my next jump down to Puerto Rico.  Through the end of the year, they are running some really attractive offers, various resort credits, a 4th night free, or an airfare voucher.  Your own circumstances will determine which special is best for you.

El Burro Pollo

Sometimes you find the best things in surprising places.  Like the best burrito ever, in a basement.  This one is for the few fellow Atlantans who haven't heard and anyone who is spending a weekend in Atlanta.  On Saturday's, from noon to three (ONLY), you can down the best burrito in Atlanta in the basement of Pura Vida. 

I'm not sure I can describe its splendor with words.  You'll just have to try it for yourself and prove me right.  The "restaurant" is called El Burro Pollo.  It's in the Poncey-Highland neighborhood, on North Highland between Ponce de Leon and Freedom.  Definitely my lunch plan tomorrow.

Credit Card: Airline Reward or Hotel Reward?

If you're a habitual traveller, it definitely makes sense to use a credit card that offers travel rewards (if you use a credit card at all).  The rewards, if used effectively, can easily be worth substantially more than a 1% cash back offer.  The two major genre in this field are airline rewards and hotel rewards.  I personally run an overwhelming majority of purchases through my American Express Platinum Delta Sky Miles Card.  It has good benefits if you're a repeat Delta passenger. 

Today, in the mail I received an offer for the American Express Starwood Preferred Guest Card.  It came with a decent introductory offer of 30,000 points and a waived first year annual fee.  This, of course, just scratches the top layer of the surface.  Almost every airline and hotel chain offers a credit card with rewards.

I personally go the route of the airline card because I almost exclusively fly Delta or another SkyTeam airline (product of living in Atlanta).  And, I like the flexibility of being able to stay at a wide variety of hotels.  That being said, most major hotel chains have some attractive brands these days, such as the St. Regis for Starwood.

Of course, when you're travelling overseas, I go with a card that doesn't charge a foreign transaction fee (my Delta card does).  See post on the Amex Platinum Card.  There are other considerations too.  Most cards offered tiered rewards, so it is better to maximize your transaction on a single card to capture those bonus benefits.  Then there are unbranded cards that allow you to use your rewards across airlines and hotels, such as the CapitalOne Venture Rewards Card ($59 annual fee, waived first year) and the Amex Platinum.  And of course, if you're getting a new card, make sure you capture a great introductory offer.

Decisions, decisions...

World Mate Travel App

Most of my travel is not of the form described here but rather business trips to Newark, NJ or Tampa, FL with overnight stays at the Embassy Suites or Doubletree.  Paying the mortgage as the saying goes.  My Outlook calendar runneth over with flight information, hotel and rental car confirmations. 

I would like to believe that I am fairly organized.  I cannot remember the last time I missed a flight or arrived in a city without a rental car reservation.  But that is no reason to shun a useful tool.  The WorldMate Travel App is available on most devices.  If you grant it permission it will mine information from your e-mail account, pulling travel information from the confirmations sent by airlines, hotels, and rental car companies.  It organizes this information and overlays it with things like weather information, maps and directions, currency conversion, flight delays, a world clock and more. 

The app integrates well with Outlook.  If I had one complaint it would be that it doesn't always understand the e-mails that arrive from my company's travel agency.  Otherwise it is a great app with some really useful features.  I would recommend it to any frequent traveller. 

Deal to be Had At the Fairmont Empress (Victoria, BC)

I do not maintain a formal set of criterion for evaluating a hotel.  I'm sure that's one of many characteristics that will ensure this remains an amateur pursuit.  Anecdotally, however, one of the things that always strikes me is if I leave the hotel with a desire to purchase the things that fill my room, be they robes or pillows, bathroom amenities or the art from the wall.  I've never left a great hotel without wanting to take some piece (or all) of it with me.  Though, I've only stayed at two Fairmont properties in my life, both of them left me wanting to buy a slice of the experience on the way out.

As it the weather labors to make Atlanta uninhabitable, I went searching for great hotel deals in more pleasant climates.  I found a perfect example at The Empress, Fairmont's hotel in Victoria, British Columbia.  The rates start at $199 CAD nightly and include breakfast (in the restaurant or your room).  They do not specify an expiration, but note that the deal is subject to availability. 

I've never been to Victoria but have heard only positive things from those who have.  The local tourism website paints a compelling picture as well.  In search of refuge from the dual despots of heat and humidity, I may just be looking for a weekend to run to Victoria.

A Beast in Portland

If you'd asked me a year ago what I thought the food scene was like in Portland, Oregon, I imagine granola and organics would have been top of mind.  Portland is a great place this time of year.  All of the stereotypes of the northwest's weather fall away, leaving behind mid-70s temperatures and beautiful blue skies.  It is easy to see why people would suffer the winters.  The food scene, however, surprised me verily.  Beast being a perfect example. 

It's this great little place in NE (Portland is split into quadrants).  The food is amazing, and the atmosphere fantastic.  The best analogy I could provide would be a dinner party with good friends.  The menu is occasionally adventurous, so if taking a food-conservative dinner guest or two be prepared for double portions of some goodies.  The menu is fixed and paired with wines.  There are two seatings a night Wednesdays through Saturdays.  Definitely make reservations and don't be late.  Beast does command a price premium, but the value is there in my mind. 

Tipping My Hat to Delta Today

With more than 140,000 MQMs amassed flying Delta Air Lines so far this year, I have had ample opportunities to find things to complain about.  In fact, my most recent flight that is earning Delta this hat tip left Atlanta 2 hours late.

Otherwise the flight started rather uneventfully, simple taxi and takeoff.  One of my fellow passengers (total stranger with a horrible laugh), however, wasn't contented with the calm.  He was drinking with a speed that suggested he was racing someone none of the rest of us could see.  Eventually, the situation reached the inevitable apex where the flight attendant had to stop serving him.  At this point, the man with the awful laugh delivered an Academy Award deserving performance of the preponderance of drunk stereotypes.  The flight attendant, on the other hand, maintained a perfect poise while working to calm down the tanked man for the better part of half an hour.  She diffused a situation with a lot of downside potential and avoided any further complications on a flight that had already suffered too many.  It sounds simple enough, but I have a lot of respect for grace under fire.  For that, I tip my hat to Delta today.