The Resort Traveler, Author at TravelUpdate

Review: The US Grant San Diego, a Luxury Collection Hotel

Posted by The Resort Traveler | Jul 17, 2018 | Hotel Reviews, Hotels, Luxury Hotels, Marriott International, Reviews and Reports, Sheraton/Starwood, Uncategorized | 2

I recently enjoyed a weekend getaway in San Diego at the US Grant, a Luxury Collection Hotel. I had a SPG Category 5 certificate to use and I’ve always wanted to try out the US Grant, so this was the perfect opportunity. The only downtown San Diego hotel I’ve stayed at previously was the Manchester Grand Hyatt, which I enjoyed very much, so I was excited to compare the two! MY OVERALL SCORE: 4.5 5: Excellent, Highly Recommend 4: Very Good, Solid Choice to Consider 3: Ok, Check Other Options Before Booking 2: Below Par, Try to Avoid 1: Terrible,...

CAREFUL! Earning Points Through Marriott Tweets Doesn’t Extend Expiration

Posted by The Resort Traveler | May 30, 2018 | Hotels, Marriott Hotels, Marriott International, Rants, Uncategorized | 2

Earn Points With a Tweet! But they DON’T extend expiration. Marriott Rewards started their #RewardsPoints program earlier this summer where you can earn up to 45,000 Marriott Rewards Points a year for interacting with Marriott on Twitter, Instagram and Facebook. One great part was the 1,000 points weekly during the NFL seasons by answering a question with a tweet! So of course, I had my whole family do it! What I just found out though was somehow all my dad’s points expired even though he had all these points from tweeting! Since my dad’s last Marriott stay was 4...

Priority Pass Review: The Club at SEA Lounge

Posted by The Resort Traveler | May 25, 2018 | Airlines, Airport Lounges, Lounge Reviews, Reviews and Reports | 2

Background: After having already checked out the New Alaska Lounge at Concourse C, I decided to try out The Club at SEA Lounge before my flight home. I have Priority Pass Select from my Hilton AMEX Aspire Card, so I get access to this lounge and get to bring 2 guests. This lounge is all the way at Concourse A, so I had a nice exercise coming in after security. To make things better, my departing gate was in Concourse D, the complete opposite side of the airport. Thankfully, it was only a 10-15 minute extra walk. The Club at...

Rental Car Review: Silvercar Seattle Audi A4

Posted by The Resort Traveler | May 24, 2018 | Rental Cars, Reviews and Reports, Uncategorized, Weekend Trips | 0

Background: My dad has always wanted to try Silvercar and I saw that they had a $50 off your first rental offer and a decent weekend rate of $59 a day so we booked a Silvercar to try it out! For those of you who are not familiar with Silvercar, it is a rental car company that only rents out silver Audi A4’s and Audi Q5’s. They also aim to make rental cars hassle free with free toll tracking, wifi, and fair refueling prices. Currently, their fleet only consists of 2017 and 2018 models! Pickup at Seattle A Bit...

Boeing Everett Factory Tour Review

Posted by The Resort Traveler | May 23, 2018 | #AvGeek, Airlines, Uncategorized, Weekend Trips | 0

Background: Even though I’ve been to Seattle like 5 times, it never dawned on me that I should visit the Boeing Factory! So I made sure to do it on this trip! The Future of Flight Aviation Center & Boeing Factory Tour is located in Mukilteo, Washington which is about 25 miles north of Seattle. Reservations: I made reservations about 3 weeks in advance. Tours start from 9am to 3pm every 30 minutes. It’s $25 for adults and $15 for youth 15 and under. My friend came to join me on the tour and he reserved tickets 3 days prior...

Hilton Bellevue Executive Level Review

Posted by The Resort Traveler | May 22, 2018 | Hilton HHonors, Hotel Reviews, Hotels, Weekend Trips | 0

Background: I needed a place to stay in the Seattle area to attend the Freddie Awards, and I’ve always liked the Bellevue area. A good weekend rate at the Hilton Bellevue + my Diamond status with Hilton, and I was sold! I really like having Diamond as you automatically get Executive Lounge Access! I have Diamond Status due to my Hilton AMEX Aspire Card. MY OVERALL SCORE: 4 5: Excellent, Highly Recommend 4: Very Good, Solid Choice to Consider 3: Ok, Check Other Options Before Booking 2: Below Par, Try to Avoid 1: Terrible, Run Far Away Quick Summary:...

I’m Sad That The Four Seasons Vancouver Is Closing!

Posted by The Resort Traveler | May 21, 2018 | Hotels, Perspectives, Rants, Uncategorized | 2

Four Seasons Vancouver Closing: A couple weeks ago it was announced that the Four Seasons Vancouver will be closing in 2020. I was really bummed because the Four Seasons Vancouver is one of my favorite properties. The property’s landlord is the Cadillac Fairview Corporation, and the Four Seasons manages the hotel under an agreement with them. Cadillac Fairview sued the Four Seasons citing that they have “equipped the hotel below the standard of a typical first-class luxury hotel”. Additionally, Cadillac Fairview noted that the guest rooms were furnished and equipped with “low quality products and furnishings”. The hotel has...

Priority Pass Review: The New Alaska Lounge at SEA

Posted by The Resort Traveler | May 18, 2018 | Airlines, Airport Lounges, Alaska Airlines, Lounge Reviews | 6

Background: After landing, I was happy to get off the plane and see a nice Alaska Lounge right in front of my face! I felt like I could use a soda and snack, so I headed up to the Alaska Lounge at Concourse C. There was no “Full House” sign for Priority Pass Members, so I was really happy. I have Priority Pass Select from my Hilton AMEX Aspire Card, so I get access to this lounge and get to bring 2 guests. This was at 2:30 P.M. on a Thursday in case you are wondering. And when I left at...

American A321 Transcontinental Business Class is Great (JFK-LAX)

Posted by The Resort Traveler | May 17, 2018 | Airlines, Airport Lounges, American Airlines, Flight Reviews, Reviews and Reports | 0

I really enjoyed flying AA Business Class on the A321 Transcons for my Spring Break Trip to New York! The configuration of the A321 is unique, with only 102 passengers and a 3 cabin set up. First Class has 10 seats in a 1-1 configuration, Business Class has 20 seats in a 2-2 configuration and the Main Cabin is split with 36 seats for Main Cabin Extra and 36 Main Cabin Seats in a 3-3 configuration. This heavy premium cabin setup is nice and it makes the airplane feel “Boutique”. Boarding this plane goes by really fast! FLIGHT DETAILS:...

Priority Pass Restaurant Review: Bobby Van’s Grill at JFK

Posted by The Resort Traveler | May 16, 2018 | Airport Lounges, Airports, Lounge Reviews, Restaurants, Reviews and Reports | 0

Background: A cool thing about having a Priority Pass Select membership is that at some airports instead of getting lounge access, you get to eat at a restaurant! I have Priority Pass Select from my Hilton AMEX Aspire Card, so I get access to Bobby Van’s Grill at JFK! At JFK Terminal 8, you can get access to Bobby Van’s Grill. How it works is that you can get $28 off per person! You’re allowed to bring one guest, so that becomes $56 off the bill! The Restaurant: I told the waiter I had Priority Pass, and practically every other person...