Watching the Great American Eclipse with Family in Nebraska

It’s been 530 days since my first brush with totality and finally the day of the Great American Eclipse was here.

See Also: My First Solar Eclipse in Palu, Indonesia

Morning dawned and I eagerly
pulled back the motel drapes to check on the weather. I was worried a bit earlier
as various news agencies predicted a high chance of moderate cloud cover.
Thankfully, there was nary a cloud to be in sight and instead I was greeted by
a bright blue sky.

To say accommodation prices
were not cheap would have been an understatement. In this small rural town,
hotel prices were astronomical, with the average price of a hotel room on the
eve of the eclipse going for over $1000.

Thankfully, through the use of points, I managed to book a room at the Days Inn Scottsdale for a mere 3000
Wyndham points and $67.

The retail cost would have been
$1650 after taxes, which meant I was getting a value of 55 cents per point, a
new personal record!

Since Scottsbluff was already
in the path of totality, this meant we could avoid the traffic snarls engulfing
the interstates, and enjoy some freshly made waffles before heading out.

The plan was to drive up north
on state highway 71 until we could find a place to safely pull over and watch
the eclipse.

Contrary to popular opinion,
Nebraska is not just a state with rolling farmlands filled with corn, with the
western part of Nebraska filled with numerous bluffs made of limestone.

After passing a few promising,
but crowded locations, I spotted a perfect bluff adjacent to the highway, where
a few eclipse spotters were already situated.

After a rather steep climb, we
made it up the small bluff and I knew instantly this would be the perfect place
to watch the eclipse.

Around an hour before totality,
the moon began covering the sun and everyone took out their eclipse glasses to
enjoy the spectacle.

Unfortunately, the solar filter
I bought for my camera seemed to have washed out my pictures, but here are a
couple photos from last year’s solar eclipse.

Around 15 minutes before
totality, the temperature began to rapidly dip, and a sense of eeriness began
to set in. The crickets began to sing and it was noticeably dimmer.

In the distance, the eclipse
shadow raced towards us over twice the speed of sound, and the valley below
began to significantly darken.

All of a sudden, the sky went
completely dark as the moon completed covered the sun and for the first time
you could see the sun’s corona wisping on all sides.

Nearby the covered sun were
Mercury and Venus, both small but unmistakable in an otherwise barren open sky.

The crowd was oohing and
aahing, and quite a few eclipse watchers went a bit crazy during the brief two
minutes of totality.

One thing that surprised me was
the many phases of totality as the shadow raced across. This meant the horizon
was constantly getting lighter or darker, with the sky becoming a chameleon
displaying various shades.

Soon the sky began to get
brighter as the moon slowly pulled away from the sun and the famous diamond
ring effect signaled the end of totality.

Diamond Ring in Palu, Indonesia

The crowd burst into applause
and both my dad and brother looked completely shell shocked on what they just first
experienced.

The skies were clear, the
panoramic view was breathtaking, and being able to watch a total solar eclipse with
my family made it even more special.

Next Stop: Chile in 2019!

How to Book a Cheap Hotel for the 2017 Solar Eclipse using points

Bottom Line: If you’re looking to book a last minute trip to
see the solar eclipse fly either to Kansas City or St Louis. Award space is
pretty slim outside those two major metropolitan areas with the exception of
Nashville. If you’re looking to visit the Yellowstone & Grand Teton area,
that Super 8 award redemption in Dubois is your best bet.

What flying on a $50M Private Jet Gulfstream 500 (G5) from South Beach to Chicago Looks Like

Miami. The city of magic famed for its art culture, white
sandy beaches, and the jet set life style.

I woke up on a bright Sunday morning as the light hit my
slightly sunburned face. It was a beautiful day and from my hotel window I could
see in the distance beach revelers already outside enjoying the day’s
festivities.

However, today was no ordinary day at the beach. Thanks to a
short lived status match promotion, in a few hours I would fly on a private Gulfstream
jet, for absolutely nothing!

How I booked a private jet from Miami for $0

After exploring a bit of downtown Miami, I dropped off my
friend and headed to the Signature Flight Support private jet terminal located
in a nondescript area lined with palm trees at Fort Lauderdale airport.

Flying private has its perks and one of them is being able
to pull directly onto the airport driveway in your rental car.

No Car Rental Lot Here

I was greeted by a lovely Jetsmarter ground
agent who confirmed my flight itinerary. A second Jetsmarter representative
took my bags, and also helped store a package that my friend forgot in the car.

An employee working at the private jet terminal took care of
my car rental and I made my way to the small waiting area.

Altogether, the whole process from arrival to settling into
a comfy lounge chair lasted no more than a couple of minutes, which was a complete
180 from a typical check in at the commercial terminal, even when flying first
class.

There was no TSA security checkpoint, nor are you asked to
remove any liquids. Instead bags are given a separate courtesy K-9 check prior
to boarding.

Surprisingly, there were no lounge amenities save a few vending
machines and enough apples to feed the entire flight. To be fair, I’d imagine
those flying private wouldn’t spend much time on the ground and can afford
bringing their own vices to enjoy on board.

Shortly before boarding, a copilot came by and manually
checked each of our IDs. As our flight was during the July 4^th
weekend, our flight was around half full, with a grand total of eight
passengers.

From the lounge, I could see our private shuttle jet; an upgraded Gulfstream 550 (G5) instead of the typical
Gulfstream 4 that flies this route.

Apparently the owner of this particular jet was the Bank of
Utah, so I knew we were in for a treat.

Needless to say inside I was dancing like Tom cruise in Tropic Thunder (clip contains adult
language):

For those curious, a brand new G5 retails at around $50,000,000.

Yes Mathew McConaughey
a G5 aeroplane.

We then began the boarding process, which consisted of
walking out the sliding doors, walking 100 feet to the aircraft, and walking up
the built in the stairs.

Boarding the steps and
feeling like a VIP

Upon entering the cabin, my mouth dropped as I saw the gorgeous
cabin for the first time, with its beautiful leather stitching, wooden panels,
and plenty of gold trimmings.

My assigned seat was in the front part of cabin, which
consisted of a long couch, along with three pairs of plush light beige leather seats facing each other.

Waiting next to my seat was my personal item, a nice personal
touch by the ground staff, although this was quickly stowed away and I was
unable to retrieve it until after my flight due to pressurization concerns.

The back of the cabin had two rows of similar designed
leather seats facing each other. The seats were a bit tighter, as three seats
were crammed in per row, and were similar your typical domestic first class
seat.

At the back of the plane was a small galley, filled with
different types of cutlery and glasses, along with the most classy crew control
panel I’ve ever seen.

Microwave button
anyone?

A Jetsmarter ground representative checked up on us before
the doors were closed.

The whole boarding experience felt like a scene out of HBO’s
Entourage.

Boarding was complete in a matter of minutes and soon after
we began taxiing down the runway, with the wing livery shining like brand new
penny under the bright Florida sun.

Interestingly enough the safety briefing was kept to a minimum,
and with no reminders to put our portable electronics to airplane mode. In
fact, one of the passengers was face timing his relatives during takeoff!

G5 Safety Card

Takeoff was surprisingly smooth with the Rolls Royce engines
barely making a whimper as we climbed out of Fort Lauderdale airport. 

The long oval shaped windows let in considerably more light
then your standard commercial jet, and as a result I had unobstructed views of
the stunning Florida coastline.

Since we were flying private, we climbed to 45,000 feet,
which is 10% higher than your typical commercial airliner. As a result, there is
considerably less air traffic to deal with and our flight time to Chicago was a
mere 2 hours and 30 minutes.

Once we hit cruising altitude, snacks were served a flight
attendant took our drink orders.  Over
the course of the flight I had a couple glasses of Champagne, which was poured
in beautifully glazed goblets.

As this shuttle flight was half full, there was plenty of
space within the cabin to stretch my legs.

My seat was quite spacious, with plenty of padding. An added
bonus the seats can be rotated up to 90 degrees using a gold handle, so you’re
able to talk to your seat neighbor.

Each pair of seats shares a rather large dining table. Interestingly
enough no small detail goes unnoticed: the table hinge is made of faux gold
brass.

Speaking of faux gold, the cabin interior featured plenty of
it, making Emirates first class seem quite pedestrian. There were golden seat
belt buckles.

Air vents & reading lights

Even an old school CD Audio Controller

If you’re not feeling the sun, you can manually adjust the
window blinds using a window slider, naturally containing gold brass.

But nothing compares to the gaudiness of the private
bathroom located in the back of the plane. As expected, the door handle was golden,
with an antique slip flap vacant sign to display occupancy.

The bathroom was incredibly spacious and stretched the
entire width of the plane, and was bigger than most commercial first class
bathrooms, except those found on the A380.

The lighting system featured incandescent light bulbs
instead of your typical bright white LEDs, resulting in much warmer background.

Instead of your typical plastic hand washers and sink, this bathroom
was equipped with a regular sized golden faucet with both hot and cold water
taps.

Mirrors lined one side of the bathroom wall to create extra
space and depth.

The bathroom also featured quite a few unique call buttons.

A regular sized hand towel lay on top of a golden towel rack
and keeping with the old money theme, the toilet itself was hidden under a
leather seat covering.

Perhaps the only thing made of bare plastic was a regular
power outlet, but of course on top of it was the classiest flush button you’ll
ever see.

At the back of the bathroom are numerous compartments that
containing supplies for the on flight catering, and a “crew only” compartment where
our luggage was being stored.

This is truly is what a perfect throne room in the sky would
look like and the interior finishes are simply on a different level then those
found in commercial aircraft.

Over the course of the two and half hour flight, I got to
know my seat neighbors, both who happened to be mileage enthusiasts, and I was
even able to try the jet couch.

The couch was quite comfy to lie down on, although I’d be
hesitant sharing one with another passenger on a full flight.

Occasionally we would hit slight turbulence and seat belt
sign turned on, although nary a voice came up on the intercom asking us to sit
down. I suspect those flying in private aren’t used to taking commands in the
air.

Typically the door from the cockpit and the passenger
section was closed, although on the later end of the flight I was able to take
a quick sneak peak of the cockpit.

For those concerned about the safety when flying private
needn’t worry as our flight had both a pilot and a co-pilot, similar your
typical commercial jet.

Time flew by and before long the edges of Chicago began to
creep up on the horizon. As we began our descent into Midway we were treated to
stunning flyby of the Chicago skyline.

We taxied to a relatively discrete location on the corner of
Midway.

Similar to our boarding process in Fort Lauderdale, we
deplaned via the jet staircase, and of course took a bunch of G5 selfies.

Our luggage was waiting in the arrival lounge and I bid farewell
to the most luxurious aviation flight I’ll probably experience.

I then grabbed an Uber back to the commercial terminal at
Midway, before taking a flight back home on Southwest.

Welcome back to the real world.

How I Flew on a Private G5 Jet for Free

A few weeks back, JetSmarter, a startup that bills itself as
an Uber of private jet charters, briefly offered a status match for frequent
fliers with over 1,000,000 miles or hold top tier elite status.

If you have 1M frequent flyer miles or CC points, or hold elite status with a major airline, we have a gift for you: https://t.co/k5W89tNcM2

— JetSmarter (@JetSmarter) June 3, 2017

Those who qualified would receive complimentary Simple Membership for three months,
which allowed you to book two seats on any empty leg flight (Jet Deals) or a
seat on a certain regularly scheduled private charters (Jet Shuttles).

Luckily I had enough miles and quickly submitted my status
match request.

Initially I was quite skeptical on whether JetSmarter would
go through with the promotion. After all, a free membership for three months
that offered complimentary access on empty private jet flights, along with
select shuttle flights seemed way too good to be true.

Lo and behold, a couple days later I received a missed call
from JetSmarter, along with an email pending approval, with instructions to
make an appointment.

After sending a quick email reply  I was notified via JetSmarter’s app that I was
approved for a complimentary JetSmarter simple trial membership!

It’s important to
note that I tried to “hide” myself as much as possible using a personal email
account and my legal name. I definitely didn’t want JetSmarter to influence my review in any way.

For all intents and
purposes, I was one of the lucky few frequent fliers who hit the status match
gold mine.

Reports soon surfaced that quite a few status match requests
were denied due to significant demand, so I must have gotten in under the nick
of time.

Initially I tried booking a Jet Deals flight on Father’s day
weekend from Aspen to San Francisco.

Ultimately, a last minute flight diversion due to weather
resulted in no flight, but we were able to have beautiful road trip through the
Rocky Mountains.

Undeterred, I decided to try my luck at a Jet Shuttle flight
instead. Unlike the Jet Deals program, Jet Shuttles are guaranteed to fly. As a
result, there were significant restrictions for Jet Smarter simple members,
whom can only book a single seat on Jet Shuttle flights less than three hours
for free.

Most of the free shuttle flights were short flights under an
hour on propeller aircraft between cities like Los Angeles and Las Vegas.

Nothing wrong with propeller planes, but if I was going to
fly private it would be on a proper private jet.

After scanning all the different free Jet Shuttle flights, I
ultimately settled on a flight from Fort Lauderdale to Chicago, one of handful
sub three hour Jet Shuttle flights using a Gulfstream 450 jet, or G4 for short.

The flight booking itself was quite simple, and after a few
taps, I was booked on the Jet Shuttle flight for the July 4^th
weekend for $0!

I was pleasantly surprised on how simple the process was,
and it almost felt like I was booking an Uber, except in this case I was booking
a spot on a G4.

Finally, my childhood dream of flying private, and in a
Gulfstream no less was about to come true.

See Also: My free flight on a $50M Gulfstream V Jet

Complete Guide to Hyatt’s New Loyalty Program (World of Hyatt)

Update: The sign up bonus of the Hyatt Credit Card will
change from 2 free nights, to 40,000 Hyatt Points on June 29.

This change is quite significant as the current bonus gives
you two free nights at ANY Hyatt, including Hyatt’s truly aspirational
properties such as the Park Hyatt Tokyo and Park Hyatt Maldives that retail up
to $1000 a night.

If you’re planning on staying at any of the top high end
Hyatt hotels, I’d highly recommend applying for the Hyatt Credit Card before the
current sign up bonus goes away. 

View Hotel Reward Card Offers Here

Among the major global hotel chains, perhaps none is more
intriguing from a points perspective than Hyatt. With a room count that’s a
fraction of the major chains such as Hilton or Marriott, Hyatt in the past has
set itself apart with an extremely generous loyalty program.

I was lucky enough to receive top tier Hyatt Diamond (now
Globalist) status thanks to a brief status match program. Ever since my first
stay, I’ve been hooked, and consistently look to book my stays at Hyatt
whenever I can.

Bund View Suite at
Park Hyatt Shanghai- Courtesy of Globalist Status

With the Starwood Preferred Guest program set to transition
to Marriott Rewards within the next two years, Hyatt is poised to become the most valuable hotel points program.

Hyatt Elite Status Levels

Under the new World of Hyatt program, Hyatt has three elite
tiers: Globalist, Explorist, and Discoverist.

If you’re reading this article, you’re probably a Discoverist
(through the Hyatt Credit Card) or hold no status with Hyatt.

The good news is among the major hotel chains; Hyatt is
positioned on the mid to high end. Service levels are almost always quite high,
if not exceptional, and rooms are both clean and spacious, even at the lower
tier brands such as Hyatt House & Hyatt Place.

Hyatt House Santa
Clara

For those with the Chase Hyatt Credit card, complimentary Discoverist
status gives you a guaranteed late checkout until 2pm, access to expedited
check in lines, and a free bottle of water. Granted these are not the most stellar
benefits, but the late checkout benefit can be quite useful.

Award Redemptions – Great
Value

Hotels are separated into categories from 1 to 7. The number
of points required for a night will depend on which category a Hyatt hotel is
classified as. You can find the master list of hotels here.

When choosing where to use your credit card points, one
major factor is the CPP or Cents per Point. In other words, how much money you’re
saving for each point you using.

Hyatt has by far one of the best award charts, especially
for higher end properties. It’s quite easy to get at least 2 cents per point
value if not significantly higher during peak demand.   

For example, if you’re heading to the Maldives, both the Park
Hyatt Maldives & Conrad Maldives can run at over $1000 a night. However, the
Park Hyatt Maldives would cost a mere 25,000 Hyatt points a night.

In contrast, the Conrad Maldives would cost at least 90,000
points per night, making a Hyatt point far more valuable than a Hilton point.

Park Hyatt Maldives –
25,000 Points per night

Booking your awards are quite straightforward, simply check
the World of Hyatt Points & Awards box and award availability will be
instantly shown.

As a rule, Hyatt does require hotels to offer award space
whenever the base level room is available to book. This means you’ll rarely see
any “blackout dates” and award availability at even the high end properties is almost
always available.

Points & Cash

One of best ways to maximize your redemption is through
Hyatt’s Points & Cash option, where you’ll pay only half of the required
points along with a cash surcharge.

For example, instead of spending 25,000 points at the Park
Hyatt Vienna, you can instead redeem 12,500 points + $150 a night, in effect
buying 12,500 points for $150 or 1.2 cents per point.

Park Hyatt Vienna

I generally value Hyatt Points to be worth at least 1.8
cents per point, and thus use the points & cash option on nearly every
booking, except for Category 1 & 7 hotels, where the value is not so high.

Points and Cash awards are also relatively straight forward
to book, as any available points and cash awards will be shown alongside regular
reward nights. However, unlike pure award bookings, P&C availability is not
mandatory and is down to the discretion of each property.

Nevertheless, I typically find P&C availability at most
properties I stay at, minus a few peak dates.

How to Earn Hyatt
Points

The sole credit card partner for Hyatt is Chase, which has
the Chase Hyatt credit card with a current sign up bonus of two free nights at
any Hyatt worldwide. Changes to 40,000 points on June 29th.

If you’re with a significant other, you can combine your free
nights to have potentially four nights at some of the most luxurious hotels in
the world.

Park Hyatt Tokyo

The card also comes with Hyatt Discoverist status, which
grants you a 2 PM check out along with complimentary internet.

In addition, each year you’ll receive an annual free night
at any Category 1-4 Hyatt hotel, which can typically cost upwards of $300 a
night.

Hyatt on the Bund –
Category 4

The annual free night alone is well worth the $95 annual
fee, and among the few credit cards I consistently put in the keep column.

To earn Hyatt points, the quickest way would be through one
of the many Chase cards that earn ultimate reward points.

The current sign up offer for the Chase Hyatt Card can be found below:

View Hotel Reward Cards

Chase Ultimate Reward points can be converted to Hyatt Gold
Passport points at a 1:1 ratio. So if you transfer 5,000 Chase points, you’ll
receive 5,000 Hyatt points. Transfers are usually instantaneous.

Chase Ultimate Reward points can be earned through the
following cards:

The Chase Sapphire Preferred Card is one of my favorite
cards to use for daily expenses. The Sapphire card earns two points per dollar
spent on travel and dining expenses. In addition, its sign up bonus is usually
significant enough to stay at least 1-2 nights at any top tier Hyatt property.

If you’re a road warrior, the Chase Sapphire Reserve is also
an alternative option, as it gives 3x points for travel spending and annual
$300 travel credit. The card does come with a $450 annual fee.

You may find the current offer for the both cards below:

 View Travel Reward Card Offers Here

If you’re a small business owner, you can also earn Chase UR
points through the Chase Ink Preferred card, which earns 5 points per dollar
spent at office supply stores and utilities, in addition to one point being
awarded for each dollar spent.

The sign up bonus is typically the highest for all three
cards that earn UR points, enough for 3 nights at any Category 7 Hyatt hotel,
or 20 nights at any Hyatt Category 1 Hotel.

You may find the current offer for the Ink Plus below

 View Business Card Offers Here

Suite Upgrades

By far my favorite benefit staying at a Hyatt is its four
annual suite upgrades for Globalist members that can apply to any stay using
cash or points & cash, pending award availability.

As this overall guide is for novice travelers, we’ll avoid
diving into elite suite upgrades and instead focus on suite upgrades using
points.

Hyatt is also unique in offering non-elites the opportunity
to upgrade their paid reservations using points. The cost to upgrade a paid
rate to a suite is 6000 Hyatt points per night. This can represent a fantastic
value as this applies to any paid rate booked directly with Hyatt.

For example, a base room at the Grand Hyatt Kuala Lumpur
costs around $160 a night. Instead you can upgrade into a gorgeous 1000 square
foot Grand Suite that would retail over $600 a night for only 6000 Hyatt
points.

To upgrade your reservation, simply call the Hyatt support
line. It’s highly recommended that you call ahead to check for suite award
availability before you book your reservation, as during peak times there may
be no suite award space available.

Alternatively, if you don’t want to spend cash, you can book
suite rooms directly using points. The number of points required depends on
which hotel category a Hyatt property is classified as.

However, I find booking suites purely via points is
generally a poor value, and only for those who are points rich.

Drawbacks

The main drawback of the Hyatt program is the limited
footprint. Outside the US, the international selection of Hyatt hotels is somewhat
meager; with many major cities having just one Hyatt or none altogether. With
such a small footprint, it’s no surprise why Hyatt’s loyalty program has to be
a step up higher compared to its competitors.

However, if you’re not chasing status this represents a
great program to use your Chase UR points if you’re looking for free accommodation.

Review: Park Hyatt Tokyo – Club on the Park & Breakfast

My dad and I woke up a little exhausted from the night
before and headed to Girandole restaurant for breakfast. We were warmly greeted by a server and shown to our seats.

Globalist members are given a menu and an option of eating at the buffet
plus an omelet, or a “healthy” option without access to the buffet.

I found the buffet to be of high quality, but for a Park
Hyatt the selection was a tad light.

Alternatively, Globalists can have breakfast delivered to
their room free of charge. The service at the Girandole was top notch, and I especially loved
the classy dress wear of the restaurant wait staff.

Tip: If you arrive early enough, you might be able to score
one of the few tables with a gorgeous view of Tokyo.

Since I was a Globalist, we were guaranteed a late checkout
time until 4 PM and decided to make the most of my stay.

One place I was really keen on checking out was the Club
Spa, located on the 47^th floor. Access is severely limited, with
hotel guests having to shell out an extra 4000 yen per person. However, since I
was a Globalist, this charge was waived. This is no ordinary spa, in fact a short
scene in Lost In Translation was shot
here.

Be aware that Japanese spas are fully nude, so if you’re not
comfortable with this unique aspect of Japanese culture, you may want to give
the spa a skip.

Spa guests are required to take a shower before entering, with
each sower opulently lined with dark green marble.

Upon entering the main spa area, you’re greeted with a large
Jacuzzi / hot pool, with an elegant fountainhead shooting water in all four
directions. Surrounding the pool are sauna rooms each set at a different
temperature.

Photo via Hyatt.com

Each sauna has a dial outside that shows the current
temperature inside. If you’re new to the Sauna experience, I’d recommend
sticking to the lowest one, as I could barely last a few minutes.

If you’re feeling brave, you can dip into the cold plunge
pool afterwards, or you can use the buckets provided to cool yourself off.

The whole place had an old money Italian / Mediterranean
feel to it and I found the spa experience to be a unique glimpse into the
Japanese culture, although I’d probably avoid making this a regular occurrence.

After finishing your spa experience, there’s a dressing room
lined with vanity mirrors, each filled with different amenities, and a small
lounging area up front, with a table lined with pretty much every Japanese
newspaper published.

If you’re not a Globalist member, you can still access the gym
& swimming pool located on the 47^th floor, which is free for all
hotel guests.

The pool hasn’t been changed significantly since its opening
over 20 years ago, but still is a work of art, with a perfect triangle
reflecting back at the pool during the daytime.

Just like in the film, you’re required to wear a head cap,
which is provided, along with a pair of googles.

The pool is your standard mini lap pool, with underwater
speakers, although no music was played while I was at the pool.

The gym consists of a two sections located on opposite sides
of the pool. The first is laid out like your standard gym, with a decent
selection of free weights, machines, and treadmills.

On the opposite side of the pool is a yoga studio with a few
cardio machines, and where Bill Murray famously lost control of his elliptical
trainer.

You could almost pretend you’re floating in the sky, were it
not for the window washers outside.

If you had to make a list of the world’s most beautiful
gyms, this has to be near the very top. The views are simply drop dead gorgeous
and I ended up spending nearly 2 hours soaking in the view, while burning a few
calories.

Soon it was time to check out and my Dad and I took a taxi
to Shinjuku station before heading off to the airport.

Overall, the Park Hyatt Tokyo ranks among the best hotels
I’ve ever stayed. It’s not often you can live out what you watch on film, but the
hotel vastly exceeded my high expectations.

For those who are Lost in Translation buffs, don’t hesitate
and splurge for a night at this Tokyo icon, or if you’re American apply for the
Chase Hyatt Card and receive two free nights at this or any other Hyatt hotel
worldwide. Alternatively, the sign up bonus for the Chase Sapphire Ink Preferred card is good enough for three free nights at the Park Hyatt Tokyo.

Learn more about the Hyatt Loyalty Program and how to maximize your points for Free Nights

Lost In Translation: Staying at the $1000 Park Hyatt Tokyo & New York Bar

Note: I’ve included a
few photos from my previous stay at the Park Hyatt Tokyo, along with a few
movie stills for illustrative purposes

Sitting on top of Shinjuku Park Tower, the Park Hyatt Tokyo
was the first western luxury hotel to open in Japan in 1994.  Since then numerous celebrities have called
the Park Hyatt home.

Director Sofia Coppola loved the hotel so much that she made it a
centerpiece in her award winning film Lost
in Translation.

Rooms at the Park Hyatt Tokyo don’t run cheap, with rates
during the peak Cherry Blossom season starting at a staggering $1000 a night.

120,000 Yen a night
after taxes

Instead I used 30,000 Hyatt Points to book a one night stay
for my dad and me at this iconic hotel, with no additional cash payment required. 

Upon arriving at Shinjuku station, we took a quick five
minute taxi ride to the entrance of the hotel, where a check in assistant was
waiting for us.

After taking our luggage and confirming our reservation, we
were personally escorted up to the check in area located on the 41^st
floor.

On the way up, we passed through the lower lobby and up the
elevator which subtly adjusts the brightness depending on which direction your
heading. Naturally, the lighting increases as you go higher.

Upon arriving on the 41^st floor, we walked past
the Girandole restaurant and also the hotel’s library before arriving at the
check in desk.

Park Hyatt Library

After a brief stop at the check in desk, we were handed off
to another associate who personally took us to our room.

Instead of mere plastic keycards, guests are given physical Tiffany
metal keys.

As a Globalist member, our room was upgraded to a deluxe view
room, which was greatly appreciated given the peak demand.

The bedroom was extremely spacious for Japanese standards
with the two twin beds closer to full size. A pair of lounging chairs
compliments the room, along with a separate work desk.

On my previous stay, I
used a DSU and was upgraded to the Park Suite, you can find a short review here.

Park Suite

Unlike the Park Suite, the room doesn’t have unsightly bars
lining the window and blocking your view. The views are breathtaking, with the sea
of buildings looking like small pieces of legos.

The bedroom itself could almost pass for Charlotte’s room,
with an almost identical interior design.

The twin beds were quite large (near full size), and my dad was able to see
the beautiful skyline from his bed and literally fall asleep among the city
lights.

A sliding door separates the bedroom from the bathroom,
which keeps the same elegant checker patterned marbled floor found in the Park
Suite.

The bathroom has a gorgeous sunken tub, and when you’re
feeling lazy in your tub, has a small TV for your viewing pleasure.

Behind the bathroom is a separate wardrobe area. If you’re feeling like recreating some of that Lost In Translation magic you can dong
your own pair of green robes featured in the movie and create your own Bill
Murray poster!

After taking a quick shower, my dad and I headed to the peak
bar, located at the main lobby, where Globalists have free flow drinks and
snacks from 5-8 PM.

The Park Hyatt Tokyo does things differently, and this was
no ordinary cocktail hour. While the complimentary Hors d’oeuvre appetizers
were not that filling, the hotel has two bartenders on call to make any
cocktail that you desire.

Having traveled hopped throughout Japan for the past 10
days, it was finally time to “let loose” and properly celebrate Dad’s 60th birthday. Over the next couple hours, my dad
and I fully utilized the free flowing alcohol, ordering various cocktails such
as Martinis, Mojitos, and even a Mint Julep.

Tip: Be sure to come real early if you want to grab the
handful of seats at the bar that offer you a spectacular view of the Tokyo
skyline, otherwise you’ll have to make do one of the numerous plush seating
options throughout the lobby.

Overall, this was by far the best cocktail hour at any Hyatt
I’ve ever been to and at 4000 Yen for the general public (plus service charge
& tax) one of the better free flowing deals in notoriously expensive Tokyo.

Afterwards, we headed upstairs to the world famous
New York Bar located on top of the Park Hyatt.

For those who’ve watched Lost
In Translation this one of the focal shooting areas of the film and we were
really excited to finally able to see the bar in real life. 

New York Bar – Lost in
Translation

On a previous visit I actually took a quick look at the New
York Grill during the daytime, and can say without a doubt if you’re looking to
have a meal with a view that this is one of the best places in Tokyo,
especially during the twilight hours.

The restaurant is modern, but simple, with minimal
distractions and letting the view speak for itself.

I did like the two huge paintings by Valerio Adami flanking
each wall on the grille, which contrasted well with the layout.

Upon arriving at the 52^nd floor, we were greeted
with a rather long line despite the 3000 yen cover charge for non-hotel guests.
The hostess apologized profusely and asked for our room details, and promised
to give us a call when a table freed up. Around 10 minutes later, a window
table had opened up and we headed back upstairs.

To say the wait was worth it would be an understatement.
It’s not often you can experience a movie scene in real life, but the
atmosphere at the New York Bar was even better than what was portrayed on film.

Just like the movie, a live jazz band was the focal point of
the bar, with tables crammed to maximize space. In the background, flashing red
lights on top of the many skyscrapers In Shinjuku glowed like fireflies in the
distance.

We were seated on a gorgeous table with unobstructed views
of the Shinjuku skyline, right next to the couch where Charlotte first toasted
Bob. My dad wasted no time in grabbing a picture.

We started off with a round of L.I.T cocktails, which were
apparently inspired by the color of Charlotte’s panties. This was followed by a
glass of Suntory whiskey. Unknown to me, that single glass cost a whopping
3000+ Yen, so make sure you take a close look at the price list!

Since we were at the New York Bar & Grill, naturally we
had to try the New York Steak, which was extremely juicy and tender, although
price conscious travelers might be shocked at the price tag.

For those on a budget, truffle fries are a good option to
fill your stomach without breaking the bank.

Service was excellent, and yes the waiters & bartenders
have the exact same uniforms as shown on screen. As expected, the Jazz was
wonderful and the atmosphere exactly how I imagined it would be, with muddled
voices occasionally interrupted by clapping after the completion of a song.

At the back of the bar is the infamous long bar table where
Charlotte and Bob first talk.

As the night wound down, and the jazz music lingered in the
air, one can’t help recreate a little movie magic. Found in Japan.

Up Next: Park Hyatt Pool, Spa, and Gym (L.I.T. Film Locations)

Learn more about the Hyatt Loyalty Program and how to maximize your points for Free Nights

Potential Free Private Jet Membership Trial

Update: JetSmarter has actually honored the promotion, and I received an email confirming my enrollment! Unfortunately, the offer is now also dead.

I’m going to file this under the the good to be true but JetSmarter, a company that bills itself as the “Uber of Private Jets”, is offering a a three month simple membership for those who hold top tier elite status or with 1,000,000 miles. 

Simple members get free access to a limited selection of Jet Shuttle flights under three hours and two seats on empty leg flights.

This probably is useful to just handful of people, but I’ve never seen such a generous status match offered. You’re getting essentially free flights on a private jet!

These are the Top 5 Best Hotel Credit Cards of 2017

Hotel cards have always been slightly overlooked in the world of miles, and while it’s true you typically won’t be able to fly in first class using your hotel card points, they do provide incredible value for those looking to save on accommodation.

Hotel card bonuses come in two forms: points or nights. 

Whether you value points or nights more depends specifically on your travel preferences. If you’re aiming for high end hotels such as the Park Hyatt Tokyo, you’ll want to gravitate on cards awarding free nights, while on the flip side for the more budget conscious traveler, point sign up bonuses can represent great value.

A post shared by Sam Huang (@intotheplane) on Apr 23, 2016 at 6:45am PDT

The following are currently my top five hotel credit cards with a slight caveat: since this site is geared towards extravagant award redemptions, my advice does tilt a bit slightly in favor of hotels that award free nights rather than points.

Chase IHG Card

While the card’s 60,000 sign up bonus is nothing to scoff at, the real value lies in its annual free night certificate which can be used at any IHG property. These include the high end Intercontinental hotels, which can typically go for over $500 a night!

60,000 IHG points typically are good enough for 1-2 IHG hotels, although every 3 months IHG releases a PointsBreak promotion where a select list of hotels cost only 5000 IHG points per night.

I stayed at the Intercontinental Phnom Penh for 5000 points last October

 The 10% award redemption rebate and complimentary Platinum status both add real value and help makes this card a no brainer.

Free night at the Intercontinental Amstel ($500+ a night)

View Hotel Card Offers Here

Chase Hyatt Visa Card

Although card benefits have been slightly devalued, the sign up bonus of two free nights at any Hyatt worldwide still has significant value. Each year you’ll also receive a “free” night at any Category 1-4 Hyatt hotel, which can typically cost upwards of $300 a night.

Hyatt on the Bund, a category 4 hotel

Additional benefits include Hyatt Discoverist status, which does provide a 2 PM check out time, but otherwise is quite insignificant.

I used my free Chase nights at the Park Hyatt Maldives ($1000+ a night)

View Hotel Card Offers Here

Hilton Honors Surpass Card from American Express

Until May 31, cardholders receive 100,000 Honors points after completing minimum spend and receive an additional free weekend night valid at any Hilton worldwide (with a few select exceptions) after your first account anniversary. 

Although Hilton has devalued its program, there are still some great mileage redemptions to be had, especially for lower tiered Hilton category hotels.

Category 1 hotels cost only 5000 points a night, while Category 2 hotels will set you back 10,000 points a night.

Stay 20 nights at the Hilton Alexandria Corniche in Egypt with your sign up bonus

 The card also does come with Hilton Gold status, which provides conditional lounge access and complimentary breakfast.

You could combine your free nights from the Citi Hilton Honors card and potentially end up with at least four free nights at any Hilton property worldwide.

View Hotel Card Offers Here

Citi Hilton Honors Reserve Card

The Citi Honors Reserve Card offers two free weekend nights at any Hilton property worldwide (with a few select exceptions). In addition you’ll receive an annual free weekend night after spending $10,000 each year, making this card a must have for big spenders. The card also provides Hilton Gold status, which provides conditional lounge access and complimentary breakfast. 

Stay at the Conrad Bora Bora using your two free weekend night ($800+ a night)

View Hotel Card Offers Here

Chase Marriott Card

You’ll earn a sign up bonus of 80,000 points along with an additional 7,500 points for adding an additional user. The card offers Marriott Silver status, which is not very valuable by itself but does qualify for a late check out.

The best uses of the Marriott points are for flights & night vacation package, which do require applying for a couple additional cards.

Marriott Sukhumvit Soi 57, a Category 5 Marriott Property

Similar to the IHG card, the Chase Marriott Card gives cardholders a free annual night certificate, valid for any category 1-5 Marriott property. 

View Hotel Card Offers Here

Honorable Mention:

American Express Starwood Personal & Business Card

The Starwood Preferred Guest Card from American Express earns valuable Starpoints, which is considered among most mileage enthusiasts as the most valuable award currency. The card does not offer any status, although the Starwood cards do have a few tangible soft benefits.

However, the current sign up bonus is currently not at an all-time high, so I’d suggest holding off from applying unless you have an urgent need for Starpoints.

Fly Lufthansa First Class for only 40,000 Starpoints

Do note that Starpoints convert to Marriott points at a ratio of 3:1, so if you need a couple extra Marriott points for a flights & nights package, this could be a good card to apply for.

View Hotel Card Offers Here

Trip Report: Hyatt Regency Amsterdam – Regency Executive Suite & Club

After my previous issues at the newly opened Hyatt Regency,
upon re-checking in I met with the front office manager and presented a list of
issues I had with my previous stay. She did apologize and manually upgraded my
room to an executive suite, which I believe is just a Regency Suite with a tad
bit extra amount of space.

I suspect this has something to do with gaming suite
availability, but time will tell if that is the case. The room itself is as expected quite spacious, with sliding
doors separating the bedroom and the living area.