Embassy Suites Anchorage

The Embassy Suites Anchorage is located fairly close to the airport although you will need a shuttle to get to the hotel. Make sure to give them a call when you arrive as the shuttle does not run periodically. The hotel is located a few miles away so it will take some time for the shuttle to arrive at the airport.

As a Category 8 hotel, one night did cost a pricey 50,000 Hilton HHonors points (although you will find most other Anchorage hotels also charging exhorbitant amounts for what they offer as well). Likely the best compromise would be the Sheraton Anchorage which probably offers better value for their points.  Sadly, I had already run out of SPG points so I had 'settle' for this hotel.

Breathtaking Napali Coast Cruise on the Southern Star

For our last night in Kauai, we decided to take Captain Andy's Southern Star cruise up the amazing Napali Coast. The cruise begins from Port Allen near Hanapepe on the southern side of the island so if you're coming from the north end (Princeville or Hanalei) or from the Westin Princeville like me, leave at least one and a half hours to get down to the port area.

Kauai Scenery in Poipu and Kapa'a

After a gorgeous morning in Hanalei, the entertainment for the evening was a Hawaiian luau on Kauai's south shore on the beautiful beach of Poipu. We left Hanalei Bay/Princeville mid-afternoon and drove along Kuhio Hwy & Kaumualii Hwy down to the Poipu beach area. Enroute, we passed through the mesmerizing Tunnel of Trees made of eucalyptus trees planted over 100 years ago.

Waimea Canyon and Koke'e State Park

Located on the western side of the island of Kauai is the incredible 'Grand Canyon of the Pacific' as described by Mark Twain. The drive into the park was rather peaceful with very few cars in sight on the way up on this pleasant May afternoon. The drive from the Westin Princeville was fairly long (about 2 hours) so budget enough time to get there and back if you're living in the north end of the island.

St Regis Princeville & Hanalei Bay

Located on the north shore of Kauai are the towns of Princeville and Hanalei. Together, they provide a breathtaking view, one of the most formidable I've ever seen. The St Regis Princeville, a Starwood Category 7 property just down the road from the Westin Princeville, sits high up overlooking Hanalei Bay.

Cravings Buffet @ The Mirage

Following the excellent buffet at the Bacchanal, we were very disappointed with the buffet at the Mirage. Charging $30 for dinner, we were expecting a fairly decent buffet experience even if we weren't expecting Bacchanal or Wynn quality. The first thing I guess we should've noticed was the unexpectedly short line for the buffet. Previously, at the Bellagio, I had waited one and a half hours to get into that buffet and the Bacchanal had required a total of two and a half hours of waiting to finally get seated at a table.  With Cravings, there was just a few minutes wait.

 

Bacchanal Buffet

Among other things, Vegas is known for its buffets and this year, we were lucky enough to be able to try out the new Bacchanal Buffet that opened 2 months earlier back in September 2012 at Caesar's Palace. Boasting over 500 different food items by master chefs at 9 kitchens, you'll get a chance to sample Mexican, Italian, Chinese, Japanese, American cuisine along with some samplings of Seafood, Pizza, Deli and Dessert.

Overall, I'd rank it the same as the Bellagio buffet although they are somewhat different in focus.

Vdara Hotel Las Vegas

Took a short break from work during Thanksgiving to head to Vegas. Our first hotel stop was the Vdara hotel, a casino-free hotel located in the CityCenter complex near the Aria, the Cosmopolitan and the Bellagio. Tucked away at the back, one can get to the Vdara via the drop off roundabout area shared by the Vdara and Aria, or you can take the short covered walkway between the Vdara and the Bellagio. If you look for signs for the tram in the Bellagio, head in that direction and you'll quickly locate the Vdara.

Trump International Hotel Las Vegas

Hope everyone had a great Thanksgiving weekend! I'd been waiting for this past weekend with great anticipation as we'd be staying at the Vdara Hotel and the Trump International in Las Vegas. More on the Vdara in the next post but whatever you may think about the Donald's hair, the hotel is DEFINITELY pretty swanky. Here's a picture from outside:

Westin St Francis San Francisco

The historic Westin St Francis is one of the more prolific and storied hotels in San Francisco and it was a pleasure for us to be able to stay at this gorgeous Starwood Category 5 property.  Located in the heart of the city right in Union Square, the hotel boasts a majestic historic lobby in the Landmark Building where stands an extraordinary Viennese Magneta grandfather clock.

Hyatt House Belmont/Redwood Shores

The Hyatt House Belmont/Redwood Shores is conveniently located near Highway 101 between San Jose and San Francisco and is situated in the Belmont/Redwood Shores area next to its own small lake.

San Francisco Airport Marriott Waterfront

The San Francisco Airport Marriott Waterfront was a great airport hotel for an overnight stay.  As a Category 5 Marriott, I was redeeming my annual Category 1-5 free night award here and it was certainly well spent.  The prime waterfront location and its proximity to the airport make its location truly ideal especially if you're looking for a place to stay near SFO located between San Francisco and San Jose.

Crowne Plaza Times Square

Located about 3-4 blocks away from Times Square is the classy and modern Crowne Plaza Times Square hotel. The lounge and atrium area are quite spacious and roomy.

Sheraton LaGuardia East

The Sheraton LaGuardia East hotel is located in the bustling Queens Chinatown area and a very close 2 minute walk from the Flushing Main St Metro station. While it is about a 35 minute train ride into downtown Manhattan, it is surrounded by plenty of shops and restaurants in case you need anything.

Triomphe

Triomphe is a bit of a discreet gem hidden in the hustle and bustle of New York City. Located in the theater district near Times Square, this restaurant is a regular haunt of theatergoers and definitely deserves a try if you're looking for a fancy (but pricey) French restaurant to try while in town in NYC. The ceiling fresco and ambient lighting gives off a very warm and cozy atmosphere and it would be the perfect place to celebrate a special occasion with a refined dining experience like this one.

Sachiko's on Clinton

Although I'm already too late to refer anyone to this restaurant (as it's now unfortunately closed down), nevertheless I have to say that the Sachiko Kaiseki set we had here was probably among the best sushi I've ever had.

Jean Georges' Nougatine

Located just next to Central Park is the towering Trump International Hotel & Tower where you can find probably one of the best prix fixe lunches in New York at Jean Georges' Nougatine cafe. As we were situated at a table next to the window, you can see a nice pleasant view of Central Park.

The Gardens and Pools of Hearst Castle

After the Grand Rooms Tour, we ended up back outside of Hearst Castle. Here's another closeup view of the front facade which has quite a Spanish flair.

Hearst Castle

If you take the scenic drive along the California 1 coast highway, you should definitely stop by Hearst Castle, one of the larger attractions near San Simeon. Built for William Randolph Hearst in the early to mid 1900s, Hearst Castle was originally named La Cuesta Encatada (The Enchanted Hill) and features a Spanish Revival exterior as seen from this banner of the towers.

Rodeo Drive

Among the more famous streets of Beverly Hills is Rodeo Drive, where you can find numerous designer label stores and haute couture boutiques. Among them, you can also find a few gems like these anti-aging clinics and plastic surgery offices if you're so inclined.