Our Thanksgiving in India was coming to an end and at around 1am it was time to leave the Grand Hyatt. I went down to the club lounge to check out, and noticed on my bill two breakfast charges (I never ate a restaurant breakfast at the property during my stay). The charges were immediately removed. They asked whether I had taken anything from the minibar, I had not. (There was a minibar slip in the room from the previous guest, who apparently did take something, that slip was never taken so perhaps he was never charged or perhaps he fessed up at checkout.) I asked for a car to the airport, it was complimentary after all, they retrieved our bags from our room and we went downstairs and headed off towards the airport, which…
About Gary Leff
10% Off Emirates When Paying With Amex
Via MileQuest: By using your American Express card, you can save 10% off any First, Business, or Economy Class airfare. You must travel by March 31, 2011. You have to book the tickets directly from the Emirates website and use promo code USAMX10.
Entry Thread for My Reader Giveaway: 44,000 Hyatt Gold Passport Points
Here’s what you need to do: Check out Hyatt’s Facebook page. They are posting itineraries from their hotel property General Managers. Have a look. Then leave a comment to this post with the hotel property whose itinerary interests you most, or the property you’d like to see an itinerary from. Any Hyatt property. Then you’ll be entered to win 44,000 Hyatt points — enough for two nights at any Hyatt in the world, or more nights at less expensive properties. So you might just get to experience one of those itineraries. But only enter once, by noon Eastern on December 25. And I will draw the winner at random after that. Full details can be found in the previous thread. That thread is also where you ask any questions, as this post is strictly for…
What I’m Giving My Readers for Christmas: 44,000 Hyatt Gold Passport Points!
First, before I open the separate official entry thread (not this post), let me describe what’s going on. Regular readers of this blog know that I’m a big fan of the Hyatt Gold Passport program, and really have been since spring of 2009 when they matched Starwood’s unique value proposition on award redmeption (if a standard room is available for purchase, you can redeem for it with points) and also introduced new elite benefits — They were first out of the gate with free internet, which chains generally have matched, though they offer it all elites Guaranteed club level or free breakfast, no catch as catch can. Hilton is known for breakfast to be sure, but I’ve certainly enjoyed the Hyatt breakfast benefit more, such as last weekend’s room service breakfast at the Andaz 5th…
Thanksgiving in Mumbai: Touring Mumbai
Thanksgiving in Mumbai – Touring Mumbai: Before heading to Mumbai I had done a bit of searching online for well-regarded guides. I first found Mumbai Moments, which seemed to receive raves at TripAdvisor. I emailed them and they were available during our stay, but as we discussed what I wanted to do and see it became clear that this wasn’t going to be a good match. I always like to try to understand a place in part through its food, had researched some of the restaurants and things from vendors that I wanted to try, and shared the particulars. Amish, the guide, let me know that he’s a follower of Jainism and won’t take clients to any non-vegetarian restaurant. I respectfully chose to find someone else, since that wasn’t going to match what I wanted…
Thanksgiving in Mumbai: Grand Suite at the Grand Hyatt Mumbai
After clearing customs and immigration in Mumbai we walked outside the terminal to teeming masses of people waiting for passengers. The airport was sure bustling at almost 2 am! The Grand Hyatt Mumbai comes with complimentary airport transfers for club guests, and I had used a confirmed suite upgrade for the property so we were certainly upgraded in advance. (I believe that the benefit is consistently offered to Diamonds regardless, but with the upgrade offered in advance I was certain of the transfers, and had emailed the hotel my arrival information ahead of time.) I didn’t see a Grand Hyatt rep right away, but did see someone holding a Hyatt Regency sign. I asked them, “Grand Hyatt?” and they pointed to the right and a gentleman immediately appeared with his passenger manifest, asked my name,…
We’re Getting (Sort Of, Almost) Famous
Well, alright, we’re not TMZ Famous. But living in the DC area there’s very much a concept known as “Famous for DC” — political types that wouldn’t be recognized anywhere else in the country but are a big deal here. The DC area is also known as “Hollywood for Ugly People.” And in some ways we’re beginning to be part of Hollywood for People Who Will Only Ever Be Featured Online. Without Photos. At least that means I don’t have to worry about being followed by Blog-errazi. But this blog is now being syndicated by Reuters. Boarding Area blogs Road Warriorette, The Gate, and Loyalty Traveler are as well. Congratulations to my fellow bloggers!
2000 Starwood Points for Test Driving an Acura
W Hotels have Acura Rewards certificates, pick one up and take it to an Acura dealer and you can choose between 2000 Starwood Starpoints or a $50 Bliss gift certificate for taking a test drive. The dealer will give you a validation code to enter on the Acura Rewards website to choose your redemption preference. Certificates must be picked up by December 26, and validation codes obtained and entered on the website by January 2. Now, dealers like to make their potential customers happy. You may be able to get the validation code without picking up a certificate. But personally I’d pick up the certificate, that’ll help explain what you’re looking for. Back when Jaguar was giving away 10,000 British Airways miles for a test drive I went down to the Jaguar dealer and was…
American Express Eliminating Foreign Currency Conversion Fees for Platinum and Centurion Cards
Ron Lieber has the scoop and surveys other rewards cards which have eliminated these fees recently, or are about to: Chase has gotten rid of the fees on its co-branded cards with British Airways, Hyatt and Intercontinental Hotels. In its wake, Citigroup’s card unit announced a similar move in my Your Money column this weekend, which is about the overhaul of much of its credit card lineup. Two new Citi cards will not have the fee. And when I asked American Express why it was taking so long, company officials sped up an announcement they had planned for 2011 and made it in my column as well. AmEx will soon get rid of the fees for Platinum and Centurion (aka Black) card cardholders, both on consumer cards and the ones for small business owners. Not…
US Airways Begins to Crack Down on Extreme Award Redemption
The US Airways gravy train has been incredible for the past few years. First, they’ve printed miles like mad, whether through last December’s holiday shopping promo that allowed the purchase of miles at about 7/10ths of a penny apiece through the purchase of stickers (donating those stickers to charity could get your effective cost down half a penny) or perpetually selling miles with a 100% bonus (125% for elite members!). With cheap miles abundant, US Airways was said to be the ‘official consolidator of Star Alliance premium cabin seats’ — you could buy your business and first class travel dirt cheap on flights where awards were available. Second, because they were incredibly flexible and easy on the redemption side. With no ‘Starnet blocking’ (United’s practice of programming their computers to say that award seats aren’t…
