UMTravels

Even with an early flight – before the shuttle starts (cab ride), wow, the line at the front desk! What you see at the left below is the line for members of Hyatt’s hotel points plan; which I’m a member. Even if you never planning on staying at that brand (and most of the majors […]

Goodbye Busan, you will be missed (Seoul, less so). LOVE being 500 yards from the train station. And soon we are on board: These cars are actually newer than the high-speed cars we came down to Busan on – and this is an Express that takes the old route without all the tunnels, and clocks […]

Our departure from Seoul to Busan is heralded by snow… A little snack in the hotel coffee shop to get us going… And off we go in a cab to the main train station… We are taking the high-speed train to Busan. Our route is in the dark blue: In the station I fire up […]

We took the train to the main station, then cabbed to our hotel – The Ramada by Wyndham Seoul Dongdaemun. Clean and warm, but a little short on things like outlets and reading lights near the bed. Sadly, the front desk staff, while friendly, is clueless about what restaurants are open within a couple of […]

For the first time in YEARS, I’m travelling to Korea on a PAID ticket, not miles. Granted, I did use a Delta Global Upgrade certificate to upgrade my Premium Economy (think recliner style seats like First Class in the US market) $845 ticket to a Delta One Suite ticket worth about $2500 (though when I […]

First trip to Vic this year – other than COVID, a winter tradition I’ve done for 20 years at least. The last 17 years, Nicola has been at the front desk! Because January is the month with both Washington State-based ferries are in for dry dock, it means that we go over the Canadian border […]

Final leg (unless you count the flight home) of the epic Panama Canal Adventure…and you can tell you are off the Texas coast when you start seeing oil rigs… And then the chaos of getting off the boat… At least it is downtown, unlike our hotel… Not that it was swimming weather! Look at the […]

Last port stop of the trip, Cartagena, Columbia! Parked right next to the Norwegian Bliss, named after my friend Kevin (Bliss). Michael was up and off early for his tour, MB and I were just planning on hitting the terminal which has shops, restaurants, and apparently, a zoo. It was hot, hot, hot, so I […]

Here is the historical map of the Panama Canal: This is what greeted us the morning of our Panama Canal transit… And the TV screen projecting the bridge cam! And off we go! Goodbye Panama – next stop, COLUMBIA! [198.8] For more blog posts, click here.

Another couple of sea days, another port. Welcome to Costa Rica! The trolley we didn’t wait for… My view of the open air market – MB did more shopping. Our boat at the pier: And my score from the bodega… Back on board, back to the food. And just random pictures…. And breakfast is served: […]

Second port of call – Hualtulco, Mexico! Every time I walk by one of the interactive displays, they display Happy Birthday Uncle Markie. Just FYI, it isn’t my birthday, but we have a birthday celebration coming up for a former cruise partner of mine. And this was waiting for me one turndown… As usual, tons […]

Well, this is the port that I didn’t want, but in a cruel twist of fate, it’s a good port for Marybeth, who’s luggage didn’t make it to San Francisco. Delta is overing replacement clothes for the trip, and even though Princess wasn’t at fault, they offered her a $250 credit at the Tommy Bahama […]

Forward: This is the trip we were planning: Reality: The trip we got: San Francisco Puerto Vallarta (barf) Hualtulco Puntarenas Cartagena Galveston Two interesting ports swapped for a crappy one (Puerto Vallarta). Recourse: NONE, not even a comped bottle of wine. But we started with a short flight to San Francisco… Which always starts in […]

This was supposed to be just a random mileage run so I can have 75K Alaska status for next year. 75K is important to me because it allows me to book premium seats (extra leg room, free booze) at time of booking regardless of ticket price (with exception of Basic which are the seats back […]

Back on the road again! Off to Toronto to catch the train to Vancouver. The United Club isn’t as fancy as Delta or Alaska, but free food and booze is free food and booze. And the view from the gate… Views like this is why I call Seattle, home. On Air Canada today, in the […]

But is wasn’t, not even close (to be close you have to be within a half hour drive, not 45 minutes). Got an email from the manager of the Palm Springs WorldMark at 3:43pm the DAY BEFORE we were to check in (we had already checked in for our flights). I spent my ground time […]

Managed to squeeze in one more California trip while Alaska is offering a 50% EQM boost which will push me over the 75K mark for Alaska, meaning I can keep buying cheap seats, and plant myself into Premium with the extra legroom and free booze at no additional cost. Yahoo. Breakfast in the lounge: Then […]

After my mileage run to Kona – several people inquired why I didn’t just stay longer. Not really the point of a “mileage run” but I did take it to heart and booked a longer holiday to both Waikiki and San Diego. Sadly, an early departure for San Diego, then a layover, then onto Honolulu. […]

Don’t get the wrong idea – I didn’t have a near-death event. My friends bought a place in Upstate New York (Finger Lakes) that they have named “Forever”. While structurally fine and with amazing woodwork inside, forever is how long it will that them to make it theirs in spirit and functionality. Prebreakfast in the […]

This is just a quick post to layout my feelings about various airlines since I’ve had the chance to fly some that I don’t regularly fly. Thoughts on domestic airlines (that I fly) in order of my preference, but there is a HUGE gap between number one and number two: Alaska Airlines: If you are […]