Review: Shangri-La Vancouver

Introduction
Planning & Booking
Cathay Pacific 777-300ER First Class New York (JFK) to Vancouver
Fairmont Pacific Rim
Shangri-La Vancouver

The walk from the Fairmont Pacific Rim took about 7 minutes.  We were staying on an Amex FHR thanks to our American Express Platinum Card.  One of the benefits of the FHR program is early check-in (and late check-out).  We arrived at 12:45 and proceeded to the underground lobby.  The associate helping us went over the FHR amenities (complimentary breakfast, $100 on-property credit, room upgrade) and noted that our room would be ready at 1PM.  So we relaxed in the lobby for 15 minutes and she came over exactly at 1PM with our room keys.

Shangri-La Vancouver bed, desk, vanity

Looking out to Vancouver

We headed upstairs and were pleasantly surprised with our room.

Shower and sink

Lots of dark wood in the hallway

While it wasn't a suite, the room was finished beautifully with a pronounced Asian theme.  The best part was the balcony that ran the length of the room.

Add caption

Two hotels and two balconies!  Pretty rare for city hotels.

We didn't get to experience the entire property during our 24 hour stay but what we did experience (that room, lobby bar, room service) we very much enjoyed.  You really can't beat the location or the FHR rate (<$220 USD) given the "value" of all the benefits.  While the Fairmont Pacific Rim blew us away, I would gladly return to the Shangri-La for business or pleasure.

That Pajama Moment

Last week I posted about our Cathay Pacific First Class flight from New York to Vancouver.  There were a few pictures that I somehow missed when posting the trip report that seem worthy of posting here.

There's something about pajamas on an airplane that makes me feel like I'm 5 years old again.  I realize that this is not something most people will experience crammed into an economy seat with total strangers sleeping all over you.  But that's the point of this blog - the experience is totally accessible with a little effort and organization.

While I typically won't wear them on the plane, (they are too warm) I do have a pretty fantastic collection that I get use out of at home.  That said, it is perfectible acceptable to wear them on the plane and most of other passengers (including Emily) seem to go that route.  But for me, just receiving them is a pretty amazing experience.

Of the 10+ pairs of first class pajamas I've received, Cathay's are the best.  Here's the before.

And the after.  Also a great shot of the open cabin with just 6 total seats.

And a bonus shot of the brand new female amenity kit, (male kit is the same - just a darker color and different products) menu, and pre-requisite glass of Krug.

Review: Fairmont Pacific Rim

Introduction
Planning & Booking
Cathay Pacific 777-300ER First Class New York (JFK) to Vancouver
Fairmont Pacific Rim
Shangri-La Vancouver

After a great flight from New York, we arrived at the Fairmont Pacific Rim around 1AM.  Check-in formalities were processed very quickly given the hour and the fact that we were likely the last guests to check in for the "previous night."  Our keys were ready and we were on our way to the elevators and ready for bed.  The Fairmont Pacific Rim was built for the 2010 Winter Olympics and is a gorgeous hotel.  The lobby bar was still packed and had we not been so tired would definitely had come back down for a cocktail.

Thanks to the Chase Fairmont Visa Signature Card both of our room nights were free and we had been upgraded to a giant "junior suite."  I put that in quotations because there was nothing junior about this suite.  Upon entering our 6th floor room, we found the bedroom on the right with a full bathroom.  On the left was a second full bathroom.  Straight ahead was the living room, dining area with a table and 4 chairs, and an amazing balcony with dining table and another 4 chairs.  I'll let the pictures speak for themselves.

Starwood Selling Points at a Discount

Through May 31st, Starwood is selling SPG points at (up to) a 25% discount.  If you haven't read my getting started post on buying points and miles, start here.

While not the best deal in the world, the 20,000+ purchase block brings the total cost down to ~2.6 cents.  Although SPG points are tough to acquire, they do run this promotion a handful of times each year (I have taken advantage of it in the past).

It is pretty easy to get more value out of SPG points than that.  For example, we're headed to The Phoenician in Scottsdale in a couple of weeks.  Our room (booked prior to SPG category change) cost 12,000 SPG points and at the time of booking, was selling for over $500 AI.  That's well over 4 cents a point.

I wouldn't speculatively buy these points but if you are headed on a trip and have enough points for 3 nights and want to go for 5, purchasing enough points to get the 4th for free would also get you the 5th.  Remember - Starwood gives the 5th night free on award redemptions.  So from that perspective, you would get a lot for your money.

Introduction: A Week (Euro) in Amsterdam and Paris

Introduction
Planning & Booking
British Airways 747-400 First Class Denver to London
British Airways Concorde Room London Heathrow
British Airways A320 Club World London to Amsterdam
Waldorf Astoria Amsterdam
Andaz Amsterdam
Thalys Comfort 1 Amsterdam to Paris
Park Hyatt Paris-Vendome
Sheraton Frankfurt Airport Hotel
Singapore Airlines A380 Suites Class Frankfurt to JFK

While I am still working on the trip report for our Long Weekend in Vancouver, I figured I might as well mix it up and post the Introduction to our May trip to Europe.  We're inside a month from departure and starting to piece together the final components to make the trip as awesome as possible.  Over the past 2.5 years, we've taken 6 long-haul trips.  Of those trips, four have been to Asia, one to Europe, and one in the middle (Dubai & Istanbul).  So we have really neglected Europe for no reason other than it is easier to get to from Denver and we'll probably be more likely to go with a kid.  But with the Euro basically crashing (thus the clever trip report series title) against the dollar and the addition of British Airways First Class service direct from Denver we decided a week in Europe would be pretty fun.

Euro to USD 5 year chart

We wanted to start the trip somewhere relatively close to London so we could get in at a decent hour. I've yet to visit Amsterdam and Emily hasn't been for many years.  We both love walking around cities and Amsterdam is a VERY walkable city.  Add in the mix of water (boat trips yay!) and history and it was an easy choice.  We'll start our week with a few nights in Amsterdam at the Waldorf-Astoria and then Andaz which are only a few blocks away from each other.

Originally we were going to fly over to Vienna from Amsterdam but decided that 3 cities in 7 days was just too much.  So we're going to take the train from Amsterdam to Paris which is only a 3.5 hour  ride.  Given the Euro, tickets were really quite reasonable.  Only $85 each for Comfort One (Thalys' equivalent of first class).  It will certainly be a different experience and should enable us to maximize our time on the ground in both cities.

Routing courtesy of the Great Circle Mapper - almost 11,000 miles

We'll then spend four nights at the Park Hyatt Paris-Vendome which is something we rarely do.  From everything I have read and heard from people, this is a very special property and one that we want to enjoy for as long as possible.  Paid rates were north of $1,000 USD so I was very glad to be able to get all four nights with a combination of points and free nights from the Chase Hyatt Visa.  We plan to enjoy Spring in Paris and do a day trip out to Reims for some Champagne tours and tasting.

Singapore Suites beverage service

We'll then take a quick hop on Lufthansa (in Economy!) to Frankfurt where we'll spend the night at the Sheraton at the airport.  Our flight the next morning departs at 8AM to New York.  We'll be taking Singapore Airlines' fifth freedom service from Frankfurt to JFK in Singapore Suites!!  This is a hard redemption to get especially for two seats so we were both excited to be able to fly across the pond in real style.

I'll try to post the Planning & Booking segment prior to departure.  Follow along on Instagram, Facebook, and the blog as we spend a week in Europe in May!

Review: Cathay Pacific First Class 777-300ER New York to Vancouver

Introduction
Planning & Booking
Cathay Pacific 777-300ER First Class New York (JFK) to Vancouver
Fairmont Pacific Rim
Shangri-La Vancouver

Due to weather in Chicago, my flight to New York was delayed about 2.5 hours.  I had built in plenty of time so it wasn't a big deal.  I landed in Terminal 8 and took the AirTrain over to Terminal 7 for our flight to Vancouver.  Emily had flown in to La Guardia about an hour earlier and was waiting for me as I entered the terminal.

Our timing was actually perfect as the Cathay desk was just opening up for check-in to Vancouver as we arrived.  Check-in formalities were processed in a couple of minutes and we were handed lounge invitations and shown to fast track security.  Ten minutes later we were in the British Airways First Class Galleries Lounge.  The lounge was nothing special (we actually preferred the lighter, larger business class section) but was perfectly acceptable for a shower, fast wifi, and some decent food and drink. 

Around 9PM we made our way down to gate 6.  It is a pretty cool feeling to be at JFK around this time.  It is transatlantic "rush hour" and there are over half a dozen flights leaving within an hour to cross the pond.

JFK rush hour

Earn 3x AA Miles with Citi Executive AAdvantage Card

Update:  Looks like the email is targeted as several readers have reported not receiving the offer.  Perhaps you will receive tomorrow.

Last year, I was able to take advantage of not one but three 100,000 mile offers from the Citi Executive AAdvantage Card.  Those bonuses enabled us to fly First Class on Cathay Pacific back from Hong Kong and to Hong Kong with my brother in June.  I'm finding a ton of value in AA miles so will continue to rack them up whenever possible.

While two of the three cards are cancelled, I have kept one card for Admirals club access.  Yesterday, I received an email from Citi offering 3x AA miles during Q2 in a handful of categories:

• Restaurants
• Gas Stations
• Department Stores
• Grocery Stores

I certainly won't put any restaurant spend on this card (I'd rather earn 5x Ultimate Rewards points) but will for sure put gas and grocery spend on the card for 3x AA miles...which I value at around $.02.  That's a 6% rebate on everyday purchases - not bad!  

You could also use this bonus to triple dip with a shopping portal at department stores.  For example, Macy's is offering 6x miles through the American Airlines Advantage Shopping Mall.  In addition, they are offering a tiered bonus for spend through the mall which would earn you another 2x miles on $125 in spend.  

Add it all up and you're looking at 11x when shopping through the mall and leveraging your Citi Executive card.  It took about seven seconds to register - just click the link in the email if you received.  The bonus is limited to 2,500 bonus miles ($1,250 in spend) so should be pretty easy to max out during the quarter.