Up to 30% Bonus on Hyatt Gold Passport Points

Hyatt is running a one week sale of Gold Passport Points with a bonus of up to 30% depending on the number of points purchased.

The sale begins today and runs through February 6, 2013.

Provide your Hyatt Gold Passport membership information and select the number of points you would like to purchase.
You may purchase Hyatt Gold Passport points in increments of 1,000 up to 40,000 points per calendar year.

Receive Up to a 30% Point Bonus – One Week Only!
Purchase points from January 31 through February 6, 2013, and receive the following bonus:¹

Purchase 1,000 to 9,000 points and get a 10% bonus

Purchase 10,000 to 29,000 points and get a 20% bonus

Purchase 30,000 to 40,000 points and get a 30% bonus

I do not consider this a great deal, but can be useful in certain circumstances.  I would not purchase these points and hold on to them, but if you do have an upcoming trip and can maximize the value out of the points then I can certainly see where this would be beneficial.

I recently redeemed some of my points for an upcoming trip I have to Europe later in the year.  I redeemed 22,000 Gold Passport Points per night for a stay at the Park Hyatt Vendome in Paris, which was going for $1,112 per night before taxes, and 22,000 Gold Passport Points per night for a stay at the Park Hyatt Zurich, which was going for $836 per night before taxes.

Getting over 5 cents/point before taxes in Paris, and 3.8 cents/point before taxes in Zurich is a fantastic redemption in my opinion.

It is best to assess your situation and travel needs before buying points.  What works for one person may not work for somebody else.

Hilton HHonors 1 Million Point Giveaway

ONE MILLION HHONORS POINTS – SO MUCH TO WIN, NOTHING TO LOSE!
Three months, three lucky winners! Enter for the chance to win below. Want another shot?
Each stay at the new Tropicana Las Vegas - a DoubleTree by Hilton, gives you another chance to win.

 Hilton is currently having a contest in which 1 million Hilton HHonors points will be awarded.  There will be one winner each month for the next three months.

This contest is being held in conjunction with the Tropicana Las Vegas, a Double Tree property.

Each participiating stay at the Tropicana Las Vegas will earn another chance to win.

The contest runs from January 22, 2013 through April 22, 2013.

You must be a Hilton HHonors member in order to be eligible to win, however Hilton HHonors membership is free.

Entry can be found here.

Good luck to all that enter.

Benjamin Steakhouse - New York

Located in the Dylan Hotel, the Benjamin Steakhouse brings together two former Peter Luger employees Benjamin Prelvukaj (ownder) and Arturo McLeod.

The restaurant is situated in one large open room, which is brightly lit compared to many steakhouses.  Dark leather booths surround the outer part of the dining room, while plainly decorated tables adorn the interior.  Given the open atmosphere and brighter lighting, it does not have that "clubby" feel that most steakhouses have.

The waitstaff is full of attitude, as are many of the guests, the kind stereotypical of New Yorkers.  Rather than suggest items, the wait staff almost demands that you order certain items.

Strip steaks and Rib Eye's come on their own, while the Porterhouse steaks are ordered by either 2-4 people.

Lobster Bisque

The Lobster Bisque is silky smooth and punched with the brininess of lobster.  It is rich and does not contain any pieces or chunks of lobster.  Although good, it would be better if there was actually some lobster meat included.

Wedge Salad

The Wedge Salad can be ordered with or without bacon, but who would do that?  The bacon are large pieces of slab bacon, and surprisingly a generous portion is given.  The lettuce is crisp, the tomatoes are juicy but not at the peak of ripeness.  The downfall of this salad however, is that the dressing was so salty it was almost inedible.

Steak for Two

The Porterhouse for two was ordered medium rare, but actually was closer to rare.  The steaks are dry aged for 28 days, so the steaks are tender with just a hint of "funk" that dry aged beef is known for.  The steak comes swimming in a pool of butter, almost to the point of being overkill.  The steak is pretty flavorful but not the best that I have had.

Steak, Creamed Spinach, Benjamin Potatoes

The Creamed Spinach is your standard dish.  There is nothing about it that stands out.  It is well executed but does not contain as much cream as some versions I have had.

The Benjamin Potatoes are more akin to home fries.  Again, decent but nothing that stands out.  There were many burned bits, but unfortunately no real crunchy parts.

The Benjamin Steakhouse serves a more than decent steak, but I would not make a special trip to come here.  If in the immediate area, this is a good solid choice.

Hilton HHonors - Thanks Again

Earn additional Hilton HHonors points at various airport locations through dining and parking, as well as local merchants with the Thanks Again program.  You must be a Hilton HHonors member, but membership is free.

You can earn an additional 50,000 Hilton HHonors points, which is good enough for a free hotel night anywhere in the world, up to a category 7 hotel.  Waldorf Astoria properties range from 50,000-80,000 points per night depending on location.

How many points do you need for a free night?

The amount of points required to redeem Standard Room Rewards varies by hotel, room and booking date, and is organized by hotel category. The chart below shows you how many points are required for a free night in each category.

Categories 1–7 include standard rooms at Conrad® Hotels & Resorts, Hilton Hotels & Resorts, DoubleTree by Hilton™, Embassy Suites Hotels™, Hilton Garden Inn™, Hampton Inn™, Homewood Suites by Hilton™, Home2 Suites by Hilton™ and Hilton Grand Vacations™ hotels.

Hotel category	HHonors Points required for 1 free night
1	7,500
2	12,500
3	25,000
4	30,000
5	35,000
6	40,000
7	50,000
Waldorf Astoria™ Hotels & Resorts	50,000–80,000

Unfortunately, trying to find a complete list of participating locations and/or merchants is somewhat difficult using their search tool.

I probably would not go out of my way to use the Thanks Again program, but getting extra points for normal spending habits is always a plus.

ABC Kitchen - New York

With Jean-Georges

Jean-Georges Vongerichten’s ABC Kitchen was named the Best New Restaurant in 2011 by the James Beard Foundation.  Focusing on local organic food that is non-GMO makes the simplicity of the food that much more of a standout.  The wizardry of Jean-Georges is that most dishes have less than five ingredients.  What he does with those ingredients is totally transforming.

Apple Salad

The Shaved Apple Salad is wonderfully refreshing, with a wonderful crunch from the pecans and the sharpness of the blue cheese.  The radicchio adds a nice bitterness.  Simply and lightly dressed, the combination almost makes for an aperitif.

Roasted Beet Salad

The Roasted Beets with Housemade Yogurt ($10) is a lighter version of most beet salads which include pecans and blue cheese.  The beets are wonderfully sweet and tender, almost to the point of being like candy.  The yogurt adds a nice contrasting tang that brightens up the dish.

Arctic Char

The Seared Arctic Char ($28) comes with roasted turnips and carrots.  The char is cooked to a perfect medium rare, and the fattiness of the char is cut through by the earthiness and sweetness of the turnips and carrots.

Wood Roasted Lobster

The Wood Roasted Lobster, Oregano and Chili-Lemon Vinaigrette ($39) is an absolute steal for the price.  By roasting the lobster, it remains juicy and succulent.  The sweetness of the lobster is contrasted by the acidity and spice from the vinaigrette.

Brussels Sprouts

The Brussels Sprouts were a little overdone for my liking.  Although charring them does add a bit of sweetness because of caramelization, having them too well done adds a bitterness because of the burnt edges.  The brussels sprouts were very tender and sweet, with just a hint of that sulfur funk. 

 

Mashed Potatoes

 The Mashed Potatoes with Sea Salt ($6) also comes with a load of fattening and tasty butter.  The potatoes are silky smooth, and light as a cloud.  For any potato lover, this side dish is a must.

Fig and Cheesecake Tart

The Fig and Cheesecake Tart ($11) is subtly sweet and refreshing.  The slight tang of the cheesecake and sorbet, is offset by the slight sweetness of the dessert and tang of the sorbet.

Apple Pie

The Apple Pie ($11) comes adorned with cinnamon ice cream.  The ice cream adds another level of spice to the juicy apples.  The crust is nice and flaky with the richness of butter running throughout. 

Somewhat surprising, service was a little lackadaisical.  For instance, when refilling water glasses the server accidentally spilled a few drops of water into the olive oil used to dip the bread.  He knew that it did not go unnoticed as eye contact was made, however he made no gesture to get a new plate of olive oil.  Servers and other wait staff would be absent for long periods of time.  I noticed this with several other tables as well.

ABC Kitchen marvels at the simplicity of the ingredients.  Jean-Georges knows how to make each ingredient shine without being fussy.  Service could use some improvement based on this visit.

Andaz Fifth Avenue - New York

Entrance

The Andaz Fifth Avenue is conveniently located near the 5^th Avenue and 42^nd Street intersection, directly across the street from the New York City Public Library.

After a red-eye flight in which I did not get much sleep, I was extremely happy that the hotel let me check-in a little before 9:00 AM, a full 7 hours before the normal check-in time of 4:00 PM.

Upon entering the hotel, the “front desk” area is located to the left.  I was immediately greeted and helped by the front desk agent.  My Hyatt Diamond status was recognized.  I was told that a regular King Room was immediately available, or I could wait for an upgraded room of a Loft or Junior Suite.

With the lack of sleep, I quickly agreed to the regular King room to grab a quick nap before venturing out to the city.

Room 617

I was given a room in the North tower, in which two elevators are needed in order to get to the room.  After getting on the second floor from the regular elevator, the kitchen area is in front of you, in which there was a lot of activity preparing meals for either meetings or a party.  Along the corridor to get to the North elevators are library and meeting rooms.

Elevator

The King room has a narrow entry way with a glass closet to the left with the mini-bar and refrigerator next to that.

Closet

Mini Bar

Refrigerator

On the opposite side of the entry way is the bathroom.  The bathroom is rather large with a glass counter top and double sinks.  The shower is large enough to hold a small party with a seat and foot bath.  There is a rainfall shower head along with a regular shower head.  The great thing is that both can work at the same time.  Water pressure was good, but the water temperature varied wildly when taking a shower.

Shower

Sinks

C. O. Bigelow Amenities

There is no door to the toilet, and one must close all doors to the bathroom for privacy.

Toilet

There is a large desk with an outlet close by.  There is a flat screen TV mounted on the wall. 

Desk & TV

The bed is on a small platform.  Although comfortable, I do like my bed a little bit firmer than this.  The pillows were super soft and did not seem to provide enough support when sleeping.

King Bed

All lights and window shades are controlled by plates near the front door or bed.

Breakfast for Hyatt Diamond members can either be taken in the downstairs restaurants or by room service.  In addition, you can also order up to $75 worth of items that are complimentary.  I woke up too late for breakfast in the restaurant, served until 10:30 AM, but was lucky enough not to have missed the cut-off for room service, which ends at 12:00 PM.

I had to order the Lemon Poppyseed Pancakes which is greatly revered by Gary Leff.  This is not a traditional pancake in that it has more flavor and texture of a cake than pancake.  Although good, I just don’t “get” the fondness for the pancake as does Gary or many other bloggers and foodies.

Lemon Poppyseed Pancake

The Brioche French Toast is also good, but not spectacular.  I like my French Toast super soggy, and 95%+ restaurants will not make it this way even when you request it.  The same rule applies here.  Although brioche is super buttery by nature, the French Toast was a little dry and not to my particular liking.

French Toast

The omelet was well cooked, and the mushrooms and spinach were fresh, while the bacon added enough salt and smokiness.

Omelet

I went way over the $75 cap for breakfast, as breakfast including tax and extra tip was ~$135.

I had a hard time deciding on whether or not to pay for the room or to use points, as the rate ($351) did not really justify the use of points for maximum advantage.  However, with the lack of any promotions by Hyatt recently I decided to use 22,000 Hyatt points.  With the after tax rate ~$406, the extra $60 for breakfast, and the ability to check-in a full 7 hours earlier than normal, I feel that I got a great use of points on this stay.

Hyatt Regency La Jolla at Aventine

The Hyatt Regency La Jolla at Aventine is located right next to UCSD.  Although not located in La Jolla “proper” it is just a short drive to La Jolla Village.

View by Day

View by Night

The hotel is located in a complex with a “restaurant row” including The Melting Pot, Truluck’s, Fleming’s, and Japengo.  There is also a Sporting Club gym in the complex.

As you enter the hotel, the lobby opens up into a big atrium.  The check-in desk is to the left.  Check-in was friendly and efficient.  My Hyatt Diamond status was recognized, along with an explanation of all benefits.

As you enter the room, the bathroom is to the right and is fairly spacious.  There is a shower/tub combo, although the sink does not have a lot of counter space.  The water pressure was pretty low, something that is a little annoying.  The bathroom door also would not stay open, so it did appear somewhat humid after taking a shower.  They are apparently transitioning from the old Portico products to the new Kenet MD bath amenities, as there was a mixture of the two brands.

Sink

Shower/Tub

Toilet

The bed area has ample walking space, with a dresser and flat screen TV, small desk and two sitting chairs with a small table.  I think it may be better suited if the chairs faced the window, so a view of the city could be had.

Bed

Desk

Sitting Area

For some reason the coffee maker and ice bucket are stored in the closet and not in the main portion of the room, which could go unnoticed by some guests.

 

Coffee Maker & Ice Bucket

The Regency Club is fairly small, but not crowded when I went.

Regency Club

Continental breakfast was served, with no hot options.  The only sources of protein were boiled eggs and smoked salmon.  There was a variety of fresh fruit, cereal, breads, pastries, yogurt and instant oatmeal.  The club attendant is very friendly and helpful.

There was some issues with noise during my stay.  They are apparently doing some renovations and are replacing the carpet on some floors.  There was a repetitive pounding noise that lasted for a few hours.  I called down to the front desk to inquire about the noise, and the front desk agent knew nothing about the noise, but were going to look into the situation.  After 30 more minutes of pounding and no return phone call, I called the front desk back and was told that there was something wrong three floors down from me, but I would get a call to apprise me of the situation.

As the pounding continued and no return phone call was forthcoming, I twittered Hyatt PR to try and find out what was going on since the front desk didn't seem to know anything and was not getting any response from the hotel.

I received a call from the Day Manager who told me that she was going to look into the situation and get back to me.  I got a return call after a few minutes and was told that she didn't know where the noise was coming from but would have the engineering department look into the situation.  It turns out that the hotel hired a third party vendor to install carpet.

At the time of check-out, I spoke with the Day Manager who was very apologetic about the noise, and offered me a discount on the room.  This wasn't necessary, but very generous on her behalf.

The hotel is slowly doing some renovations, and I think will be a good property once complete.

Valet parking is $25, while self-parking is $20.  You may be taking some chances by using the self-park option, as the garage spaces are very tight.  There is some street parking in front of the hotel, as well as in the back in a residential neighborhood.

Hyatt 48 Hour Sale and Bonus - The LA Downtown Hotel

Hyatt is currently running their monthly 48 Hour Sale, in which you can save up to 30%  Unfortunately all hotels do not participate in this promotion, and Hyatt does not list which locations are applicable or how much of a discount will apply.

The recently opened LA Downtown Hotel is offering a great bonus right now through May 31, 2013 in which an extra 2,500 Gold Passport will be given on an eligible stay.  This promotion is also applicable with the 48 Hour Sale, a double win.

Doing a random search for February 9, 2013 through February 10, 2013 a room can be had for as low as $118.30.  This is a phenomenal rate and deal, as rates were close to $200 night and up when the hotel first opened.

If you are looking for a great deal to pick up some extra Gold Passport points and looking for a mattress run to qualify for Platinum or Diamond status, this is worth looking into.

The only downside is valet parking is $35 night.

UnitedMileage Plus Gift Card Exchange

United Airlines launched a program in which you could exchange unused gift cards from a long list of providers in exchange for miles.

With the UnitedMileage Plus Gift Card Exchange a $25 gift card would result in 1,000 miles, $50 gift card in 2,000 miles, and a $100 gift card would yield 3,990 miles.

There was a promotion running during Christmas, and apparently still valid for a 25% bonus on miles received.  The promotion is apparently in conjunction with Plastic Jungle.

Generally, I would not consider this a good use of unwanted gift cards, as it may be a better idea to sell the gift cards and use the cash in order to pay for flights in order to get qualifying miles as well as redeemable miles.

You can get an idea of what your gift card is worth on the open market at Plastic Jungle.

Another plan would be to find retailers on the list that gift cards can be bought at a discounted price such as Plastic Jungle in order to bring your miles per dollar to a higher level.  At the current level of 50 miles per dollar, this is not a bad option if you truly have an unwanted gift card that cannot be sold for near face value.

Here is a list of participating retailers that you can exchange your gift cards for miles:

A|X
Abercrombie & Fitch
adidas
athleta
Banana Republic
Barnes & Noble
Bass Pro Shops
Bed Bath & Beyond
Best Buy
Bob Evans
Bon-Ton
Brooks Brothers
Brookstone
Buca di Beppo
Burton
Cabela's
Cache
CB2
Champs Sports
Chico's
Coach
Columbia
Converse
Costco
Crate & Barrel
CVS
Dean & Deluca
Dell
Disney Store
Domino's Pizza
DSW
Dunkin' Donuts
EB Games
Ethan Allen
Express
Finish Line
Foot Locker
Forever 21
Fred Meyer
GameStop
GAP
Gap Brands
Gap Kids
Gap Options
Guitar Center
Hat World
Hollister
Home Depot
J.Crew
Justice
Kmart
Kohl's
Kroger
Lands' End
Legal Sea Foods
LEGO
Lids
Lord & Taylor
Lowe's
Neiman Marcus
New York & Company
Nike
Nordstrom
Office Depot
OfficeMax
Old Navy
Omaha Steaks
Orvis
Overstock.com
Payless
Peet's Coffee & Tea
PETCO
PetSmart
piperlime
Puma
Regal Entertainment
REI
Rite Aid
Rue 21
Saks Fifth Avenue
Sam's Club
Sears
Sephora
Sony Style
Staples
Starbucks
Sunglass Hut
Target
The Body Shop
The Children's Place
The Container Store
The Great Indoors
Ticketmaster
Tiffany & Co.
United Artists
Urban Outfitters
Victoria's Secret
Walmart
Walmart & Sam's Club
West Elm
White House Black Market

The Greenhouse - Dublin

The Greenhouse seems to be the “it” restaurant in Dublin at the moment.  There has been much fanfare with the opening of the restaurant, and its chef, Mikael Viljanen.

Although only opened for several months, many are anticipating a Michelin Star from The Greenhouse.  Unfortunately, The Greenhouse did not get a Michelin start this year, but they are definitely headed in the right direction.

Chef Viljanen is very creative and many of the dishes have a molecular gastronomy spin on them.

The restaurant is extremely small, only 40 seats.  Eating at The Greenhouse is more of an experience, so they won’t rush you out the door trying to turn over tables.

With all of the recent publicity, trying to get a reservation isn’t easy at the last minute.  It is suggested that reservations be made at least one week in advance.

I was fortunate to get a lunch reservation.  I had tried to walk-in the night before, but there were no openings and the kitchen was closing.  We decided to eat at One Pico instead and the General Manager there, Andrew, called The Greenhouse to see if they could squeeze us in the following day.  He was able to get a lunch reservation, and the General Manager, David O’Brien, from The Greenhouse even came over to One Pico to introduce himself and said he was looking forward to us eating there the following day.

We ordered the Chef’s Choice Five Course Tasting Menu.

Bread Basket

The meal started off with an amuse bouche of a maitake mushroom cream puff.  A perfectly light and crunchy cream puff shell encasing, a rich earthy filling of mushrooms.

Amuse Bouche

The first course was foie gras, royale and frozen, green apple and candied nuts.  This dish is a grab bag of flavors, textures and temperatures.  Pairing the earthy and velvety foie gras with the tartness of green apples, and the sweet crunchiness of nuts will keep your taste buds dancing and wanting more.

Foie Gras Royale

The second course was a Jerusalem artichoke veloute with truffle oil.  The soup is silky smooth.  The truffle oil adds some richness and earthiness to the dish.  A very well balanced course.

Jerusalem Artichoke Veloute

The third course was cod, smoked mussels and cauliflower puree with hazelnut oil.  The cod was cooked to perfection.  Still slightly translucent in the middle, the delicate flavor rose right to the top.  The smoked mussels were tender and did not overpower the cod.  The cauliflower puree added some earthiness to the dish.  A great way to start the meal.

The fourth course was venison, pumpkin puree, roasted shallots and bacon.  The venison was a perfect medium rare.  The roasted shallots added some sweetness to the dish.  The pumpkin puree added some earthiness, while the bacon added some saltiness and a textural contrast.

Venison

The meal ended with a dessert of chocolate, carmelized onions, with sorbet and a mousse like dish, and milk solid crisps.  The dish just did not work for me.  The sorbet and mousse was strange to have as a dessert and was rather tart.  Unfortunately, I cannot remember the name of the ingredient and lost my notes, but it is something that is usually associated with savory dishes rather than desserts.  To me it did not pair well with the chocolate.

Dessert

The menu at The Greenhouse is very ambitious and creative, but certainly in the right hands with Chef Viljanen at the helm.

Joshua House

Dawson Street

Dublin 2

Edinburgh EH7 5HN