October 6, 2014

The loneliness of the travel writer

It’s long days hopping from hotel lobbies to galleries to a brewery. It’s early mornings and late nights, squeezing out words that may never be read.



from Matador Network » Matador Network http://matadornetwork.com/notebook/travel-writer-just-means-broke-lonely/

My Favorite Hyatt Category 4 Hotel

Possibly my all around favorite hotel brand in the world is Park Hyatt. Yes, ultimately there are more "high end" brands than Park Hyatt. For example, Aman Resorts are in a completely different league.


That being said, for me Park Hyatt strikes the perfect balance between luxury, understatement, and my love of points/hotel status. You can't redeem your hotel points for a stay at Amankila, but you can redeem your Hyatt Gold Passport points for any Park Hyatt in the world.


I've just wrapped up a quick stay at the Park Hyatt Seoul, which for me is the ultimate "brand standard" Park Hyatt. What do I mean by that? It's not the most over-the-top Park Hyatt in the world, but if I were to introduce someone to the Park Hyatt brand I'd bring them to this place. It just exemplifies everything I expect from the Park Hyatt brand, and then some.


You know the best part of the hotel, though? The Park Hyatt Seoul a Category 4 Gold Passport property, meaning you can use your annual free night from the Hyatt Visa here. If redeeming points it's just 15,000 Gold Passport points per night, or through Points + Cash it costs just $100 plus 7,500 Gold Passport points per night.


The post My Favorite Hyatt Category 4 Hotel appeared first on One Mile at a Time.






from One Mile at a Time http://onemileatatime.boardingarea.com/2014/10/06/my-favorite-hyatt-category-4-hotel/

Open pricing and the future of revenue management

While hotel industry revenues continue to rise, commissions paid to third parties are growing twice as fast. Furthermore, companies like Priceline are ...



from Tnooz http://www.tnooz.com/article/revenue-management-future-duetto/#utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=duetto-sc

These hotel bathrooms have style

From sinks to showers, hotel bathrooms are using luxe materials and plenty of space to seamlessly blend form and function.





from CNN.com - Travel http://www.cnn.com/2014/10/06/travel/hotel-bathroom-design/index.html

The most incredible hotel to open this year?

China's string of amazing hotel openings continues with the completion of the Sunrise Kempinski Hotel, Beijing.





from CNN.com - Travel http://www.cnn.com/2014/10/05/travel/beijing-new-kempinski-hotel/index.html

Fed up with Big Data? Blame the socialists

SYSTEMS: Modern computer nerds (especially those from Silicon Valley) can’t take credit for every trend in technology, not least Big Data. In ...



from Tnooz http://www.tnooz.com/article/big-data-socialism/#utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=fed-big-data-blame-socialists

Will increased ebola screenings work?

Another American Ebola patient arrived in the United States on Monday, reminding the nation that the virus killing thousands of people in West Africa, will likely continue crossing U.S. borders.





from CNN.com - Travel http://www.cnn.com/2014/10/06/health/ebola-us/index.html

American Introducing Cadillac Tarmac Transfers… and 7500 Miles for a Test Drive!

There’s a brand new announcement today of an American Airlines Cadillac partnership. It brings tarmac transfers for high value customers making tight connections at certain airports, and a new promotion to earn miles for test drives, with possibly more to come. Make Tight Connections By Driving Across the Tarmac in a Cadillac American launched tarmac […]


The post American Introducing Cadillac Tarmac Transfers… and 7500 Miles for a Test Drive! appeared first on View from the Wing.






from View from the Wing http://viewfromthewing.boardingarea.com/2014/10/06/american-introducing-cadillac-tarmac-transfers-7500-miles-test-drive/

Get proactive about screening for Ebola

With the news that a Liberian citizen has been diagnosed with Ebola on U.S. soil, the Obama administration must finally act to ensure that the disease does not spread further.





from CNN.com - Travel http://www.cnn.com/2014/10/06/opinion/portman-ebola-active-screening-needed/index.html

4 Years of California in 4 Minutes

This incredible 4-minute timelapse video of California was filmed over 4 years. From Santa Cruz to San Francisco, then down to Orange County, Pasadena, and San Diego, I enjoyed the rays in the Golden State all last week during this portion of my latest tour. Thanks, Cali! I’m now on to Toronto… another great place,…



from The Art of Non-Conformity http://chrisguillebeau.com/4-years-of-california-in-4-minutes/

Virgin Atlantic MasterCard Up To 90,000 Mile Sign-Up Bonus Back

Back in August I wrote about the increased sign-up bonus on the Virgin Atlantic MasterCard. While the card has had fairly good bonuses in the past, this was the best I had ever seen, at up to 90,000 miles after qualifying spend. Anyway, a while after I posted the link it seemed to have disappeared, though the offer is back once again.


The Virgin Atlantic MasterCard isn't the most lucrative credit card out there given that I don’t find it to be very rewarding for everyday spend, and I don’t find their Flying Club miles to be all that valuable.


Still, this has the potential to be a good sign-up bonus, especially if you have a lot of the other lucrative cards out there, and if you spend a lot in categories that don't other qualify for bonuses.


The card is marketed as offering up to 90,000 miles, as follows:


The post Virgin Atlantic MasterCard Up To 90,000 Mile Sign-Up Bonus Back appeared first on One Mile at a Time.






from One Mile at a Time http://onemileatatime.boardingarea.com/2014/10/06/vs-90k/

TripAdvisor reveals how users interact with restaurants online

Such is TripAdvisor‘s increasing focus on restaurants that it is now making a big effort to evangelise about the impact of reviews ...



from Tnooz http://www.tnooz.com/article/tripadvisor-impact-restaurant-reviews/#utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=tripadvisor-reveals-users-interact-restaurants-online

What Mexicans say vs. what we mean

We say: “Can I call you back in five minutes?” We mean: “Five minutes is long enough for me to completely forget you ever called me. Better call me again.”



from Matador Network » Matador Network http://matadornetwork.com/abroad/12-things-mexicans-say-vs-really-mean/

Next time, don’t let your hotel block your wireless hotspot





from Elliott http://elliott.org/deal-of-the-day/dont-let-em-block-hotspot-next-marriott-stay/

8 signs this is your first time in Spain

You think noon is at 12pm. We know it is. Technically. But reality is different in Spain: noon (mediodía) means lunch time or anytime between 1:30 and 4pm.



from Matador Network » Matador Network http://matadornetwork.com/trips/8-signs-first-time-spain/