The Resort Traveler, Author at TravelUpdate

Boutique Hotel Review: The Roger New York

Posted by The Resort Traveler | Apr 19, 2018 | Boutique Hotels, Destinations, Hotel Reviews, Hotels, Reviews and Reports | 2

BACKGROUND: For my spring break trip I booked The Roger New York and I was really excited to try out a boutique hotel! I’ve never really stayed at a boutique hotel and New York has a ton of them! The outside of the hotel is old looking and kind of iffy, but the lobby is really nice and looks very hip. Exterior Lobby Lobby Front Desk MY OVERALL SCORE: 3 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...

American A321 Transcon Business Class Review LAX-JFK

Posted by The Resort Traveler | Apr 18, 2018 | Airlines, American Airlines, Flight Reviews, Reviews and Reports | 2

I had the great pleasure of flying on one of American Airlines’ A321 Transcons for my Spring Break Trip to New York! I’ve always thought the plane configuration was super intriguing, 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 evenly with 36 seats for Main Cabin Extra and 36 Normal Main Cabin Seats in a 3-3 configuration. I love this heavy premium cabin setup, and it makes the airplane feel “Boutique”. Overall, I...

The American Airlines Flagship Lounge at LAX is Amazing!

Posted by The Resort Traveler | Apr 16, 2018 | Airlines, Airport Lounges, American Airlines, Lounge Reviews | 4

American Airlines has been upping their game with premium lounge offerings. They currently have 4 Flagship Lounges at Chicago (ORD), New York (JFK), Miami (MIA) and Los Angeles (LAX). I had the treat of visiting this lounge on my flight last month from LAX to JFK. Who Gets Access to the Flagship Lounge at LAX Access to the Flagship Lounge at LAX is granted to: Passengers traveling on qualifying oneworld longhaul international first and business class flights Passengers traveling in first class and business class on American’s premium transcontinental routes (LAX-JFK) (That’s me!) American Executive Platinum, Platinum Pro, and Platinum...

Din Tai Fung Opens at Westfield Century City in LA

Posted by The Resort Traveler | Apr 3, 2018 | Food and Drink, Lifestyle, Restaurants, Uncategorized | 0

I am a big fan of Din Tai Fung for their cleanliness, consistency and quality of food. So, today I was pleasantly surprised to see that the Westfield Century City location is now open, near Beverly Hills and UCLA which is very convenient for me. Din Tai Fung is a Taiwanese restaurant specializing in xiaolongbao (steamed dumplings). Din Tai Fung Century City Making the xiaolongbao A restaurant representative said they opened just last week! I already ate Shake Shack before passing Din Tai Fung so my friends and I just came to Din Tai Fung for some dessert! We...

Resort? More Like Roadside Motel: The Sheraton La Jolla Review

Posted by The Resort Traveler | Mar 4, 2018 | Hotel Reviews, Sheraton/Starwood, SPG, Starwood Preferred Guest | 4

BACKGROUND: I booked the Sheraton La Jolla for a one-night getaway and I honestly wasn’t expecting too much. I’ve always had a negative look towards Sheraton’s and this would be my first true Sheraton hotel stay (Minus Planet Hollywood in Las Vegas when it used to be a Sheraton branded hotel). Sometimes it’s good to trust your gut, and yeah looking back I shouldn’t have stayed here. 🙂 SHERATON LA JOLLA SHORT REVIEW WITH SCORES (OUT OF 5, 5 BEING THE BEST) MY OVERALL SCORE: 2 5: Excellent, Highly Recommend 4: Very Good, Solid Choice to Consider 3: Ok,...

Why I got the Hilton AMEX Aspire Card!

Posted by The Resort Traveler | Feb 20, 2018 | Credit Cards, Hilton HHonors, Miles and Points | 0

You got the Hilton Honors AMEX Aspire Card?! You betcha! Even with that $450 Annual Fee? Yup! First off you get 100,000 Hilton Honors points after you spend $4,000 in purchases on the Card within your first 3 months of Card Membership. That’s worth at least a conservative $500! But the main reasons I got this card: One weekend night reward with your new Hilton Honors American Express Aspire: The fine print says “You will receive the reward email within 8-14 weeks after opening your Card Account”. And every year after renewal you get another one! And these awards...

Hotel Review: Mandarin Oriental Las Vegas

Posted by The Resort Traveler | Jan 23, 2018 | Hotel Reviews, Hotels, Reviews and Reports | 6

Background: I have wanted to stay at the Mandarin Oriental Las Vegas for the longest time. After stumbling on a good rate on Cyber Monday, I finally booked a stay here! It is considered to be one of the best hotels in Las Vegas. I was very excited for my stay but you know when you get too excited and it ends up not living up to expectations? Well sadly that happened. Long story short, my experience at the Mandarin Oriental Las Vegas left much to be desired and I feel this hotel is highly overrated. Mandarin Oriental Las...

Review: United Basic Economy Boeing 737 DEN-LAX

Posted by The Resort Traveler | Jan 22, 2018 | Airlines, Flight Reviews, United Airlines | 2

Background: A couple of months ago I wrote about how I booked a flight to Denver on United Basic Economy. I was really worried about getting a bad seat, but I was happy when I actually got one the best remaining the seats on the plane! My assignment was 14C (Aisle) and my friends got 14E and 14F. I was so happy we got great seats! I just switched my seat with the person in 14D (Aisle), and then all my friends could sit together in the same side of the row. Of course, I love my window seats,...

Review: Doubletree Denver Stapleton North

Posted by The Resort Traveler | Jan 19, 2018 | Hilton HHonors, Hotel Reviews, Hotels, Weekend Trips | 0

Background: I booked the Doubletree Denver Stapleton North as it had a rate of just $90 a night when all the other 3.5/4 star hotels in Denver were upwards of $130. I did notice there were many negative reviews, due to the fact that the new Colorado A- line commuter rail train passes right outside the hotel and they are facing issues with it being a “quiet zone”. Currently, the train has to sound its horn as it crosses the intersection with the hotel, but the hotel is currently working on making it a quiet zone so that the...

Review: United Club at LAX

Posted by The Resort Traveler | Jan 15, 2018 | Airlines, Airport Lounges, Lounge Reviews, United Airlines | 0

I had some United One Day Passes so my friends and I headed to the United Club at LAX before our Spirit Airlines Flight to Denver. The United Club at LAX is one of the largest United Club’s at 20,000 square feet. It only opened a year ago and it is really modern and stylish. Our Spirit flight was departing at Terminal 5, so we had to allow 15/20 minutes to get to Terminal 5 from 7, as the lounge is located at Terminal 7, adjacent to gate 71A. Entrance Seating You enter, check in at one of the three desks...