Staying at an all-inclusive resort seems simple. You show up then relax, eat, and drink until your heart’s content, right? As I found out, not exactly. The resorts offer a wide variety of restaurants, bars, pools, and other activities. After getting an amazing deal on airfare to Cancun, I chose to stay at the Hyatt...
Hotel Review: Crowne Plaza Redondo Beach

As I mentioned in my Rant Against IHG, I recently had a 2 night stay at the Crowne Plaza, in Redondo Beach, CA. I was there for a friend’s wedding and was with several of my friends under different reservations. The Crown Plaza Redondo Beach isn’t a large hotel with just 342 rooms including 7...
Rant: Changing IHG Hotel Reservation
It seems like IHG (Intercontinental Hotels) has been making blog headlines lately. They’ve had a number of not so minor IT issues and recently changed the terms of a possibly lucrative promotion midway through the promotion period. I can somewhat understand IT issues, but changing promotion terms in the middle is simply inexcusable. However,...
Review: Lakehouse Hotel and Resort
The Lakehouse Hotel and Resort is a charming hotel on the shore of Lake San Marcos, near Carlsbad, CA. It is on the small side with only 142 rooms, which includes suites and lake-side cottages. I recently had the pleasure of staying there for 2 nights last month to attend a wedding. The wedding was...
Niagara-on-the-Lake and Prince of Wales Hotel

Planning Flights to Toronto, ON LAX-DFW on a 767-300, or not DFW-YYZ on new AmericanAir A319 Prince of Wales Hotel Niagara Falls YYZ and American Air 737-800 Located on the shore of the Niagara River and Lake Ontario, you’ll find Niagara-on-the-Lake – a small town that is full of charm and history. It is about...
Stargazing at Hyatt Regency Maui

One of the lesser known activities at the Hyatt Regency Maui (at Kaanapali Beach/Lahaina) is stargazing – or what Hyatt calls the “Tour of the Stars”. The first night staying at the Hyatt, I was absolutely amazed by the number of stars that are visible even with the ambient light walking around the property. ...