StarwoodGuy: April 2016

Sunday, April 24, 2016

A week in Panama on a points run! Day 10 Dallas to Vancouver to Seattle

I was up early for a quick workout at the Element DFW before a quick shower. The hotel offers complimentary breakfast in the lobby from 6:30 am on and I had planned to take the complimentary shuttle bust at 7:00 am after breakfast, but it was fully booked, so I had to take the 6:30 am bus, so if you can, call and book in advance. Arriving at the terminal I went through the D gates PRE check and to the American Express Centurion Lounge. I had breakfast there and worked. My flight was scheduled to leave from D gates but was switched to A so I took the Skylink train over there.

My American Airlines 737-800 flight back to Vancouver was easy, I changed seats in the second row of Business to allow other passengers to sit together, the breakfast was good, and it was the same flight crew that I had on my way down. On arrival in Vancouver, the airport greets you with beautiful First Nations/Native American artwork. I was through the Nexus customs area in under a minute and I went right to the Fairmont Vancouver Airport hotel located right at the exit from Immigration. For $18.00 Canadian or around $15.00 US you get use of the gym, pool, hot tubs and the sauna and shower/change room. I stayed for around 3 hours before taking the Canada Line train for $9.00 Canadian downtown to the Waterfront station, then transferred to the Expo Line and got off right at Vancouver's Pacific Station. I had a quick snack there before clearing customs and Immigration and boarded the Cascades trip back to Seattle. We were a little delayed, arriving at 10:30 pm, so it was a 5 hour train trip in total, but the sunset views from the train were beautiful.

All in all it was an amazing trip, Panama was definitely not what I expected, with plenty to see both modern and historic. The American Airlines experience was overall very good, with great staff and good food. The small aircraft changes were a little annoying but pretty minor, and with the exception of one flight crew, they were some of the best and friendliest attendants I had seen domestically in years. As always the Starwood hotels often exceeded my expectations, with the only issue being the pool closures and no notification of this at two properties, but otherwise some great hotels, beautiful rooms and suites, and top notch staff.

DFW SkyTrain

American Airlines 737-800 Business Service

YVR Immigration Entry

Fairmont YVR Hotel Gym

Fairmont YVR Hotel Lobby

Fairmont YVR Hotel Lobby Bar

Vancouver Pacific Central Station-Movie Filming

Amtrak Cascades Train

Friday, April 22, 2016

A week in Panama on a points run! Day 9 - Panama to Miami and Dallas

I asked for a 4:00 am wake up call so I could get some work done while having coffee in my room which arrived promptly at 4:15 as per my request, before a workout upstairs, followed by breakfast in the Club Lounge and a nice walk along the water walkway before showering and checking out. Le Meridien Panama had some strong points in terms of location and some weaker ones with the gym and pool closure, the outdoor pool terrace was locked so I was unable to even snap a photo, but the service and staff were excellent and unbelievably caring and attentive.

I took an Uber to the airport for the low price of $37.00 and a short thirty minute ride. Upon arrival I had my documents checked at the American counter, to avoid having to do this at the gate, and then made my way to the land-side Tocumen VIP Lounge. It was a basic lounge but they come around and ask if you would like drinks with wine and beer on offer as well as sodas. Juice and some simple food is out on the buffet table.

I lost another pair of baby scissors as I went through the quick Immigration and security check (apparently not allowed here as in Mexico and Asia sometimes) before heading into the terminal with plenty of stores which I looked at quickly before going up to the Copa Lounge. It is one floor up with a nice view over the runway, but when I arrived there was a large line at the entry. Once inside there was no room at any of the seats or tables expect for one at the bar which I quickly grabbed. The service was good with a well stocked bar, but the food was limited. After awhile many Copa flights left and the lounge emptied out.

My 737-800 return American Airlines flight boarded on time, but you have to go through a secondary screening right at the gate slowing everything down. The food was very good but the service was lacking. They failed to take drink orders until an hour into the flight then informed us there would be no refills until all dinners had been served. Everyone was basically finished before they started to do a second service in Business, and they never brought the one I asked for when they came around. Some people hit their call buttons, myself included, something I hate doing since I know the flight attendants loathe it, and a flight attendant from economy happened to come through, saw my button on (3 others as well in Business were still on) and asked what I wanted. I said the drink I asked for with my meal which had never been brought. She said they were very busy. The two attendants in the front were sitting having a meal of their own instead of working, it is only a three and a half hour flight so I was a little surprised by this attitude. At any rate, minor issues but not great compared to the other American flights I had recently had and what I am used to with Delta and Alaska, we never saw the flight attendants again until the end when they came through to pick up before landing.

Once in Miami I made my way quickly through Global Entry before heading back through PRE and to the American Express Centurion Lounge. I had a long layover so I worked for a few hours before boarding my 767-300 flight on to Dallas. Once again the 767 changed within 12 hours of departure from the lie flat bed model to the standard model. I did not want to get stuck at a window seat again with no easy escape so I managed 2B to have an aisle access. Again, I thought this was pretty poor on American's behalf that they swap out these planes when people might be buying tickets based on the better product and getting short changed. So no tv's again and more annoyingly the planned meal service disappeared and was replaced by just cookies or 'refreshment' option since the flight now left after 8:00pm, had I known in advance I would have eaten in the lounge. The flight crew on this service was amazing though, very attentive, I ordered a green tea but they did not have any so the flight attendant took one from her own personal supply, and after they brought me several cups of tea.

Arriving in Dallas I called the Element DFW shuttle service and they came quickly to pick me up. I was at the hotel in short order and for the first time with SPG I tried my Keyless Entry. It had failed me at the Aloft in Seoul a year earlier, but this time it worked flawlessly. It was very odd just using your phone to enter with no interaction at the front desk, but I had been up so early and I was up again the next day before dawn, so it was a welcome and appreciated feature. I had been upgraded to a one bedroom suite which I looked around at quickly before falling into a deep sleep. I loved the design, the kitchen and just that it was quick and business efficient. If there were more Element properties I would definitely stay at them.

Last walk before leaving Panama

Crazy Panama Public Buses

Le Meridien Panama Spa

Le Meridien Panama Exterior

Panama Causeway Public Work Out Stations

Le Meridien Panama Lobby and Bar

Tocumen Landside Lounge

Copa Airside Lounge

American Airlines 737-800 Lunch/Dinner Service

American Express Centurion Lounge Miami

American Airlines 767-300 First

American Airlines 767-300 First 'Refreshment'

Element DFW One Bedroom Suite Bathroom

Element DFW One Bedroom Suite Kitchen

Element DFW One Bedroom Suite Living Area

Element DFW One Bedroom Suite Welcome Snacks

Element DFW One Bedroom Suite Living Area

Element DFW One Bedroom Suite Storage/Entry

Element DFW Lobby

Element DFW Gym

A week in Panama on a points run! Day 7 and 8 - Le Meridien Panama

I was up early again for a workout before breakfast in the lounge, a goodbye to the wonderful staff up there, and then a quick two hours on the beach and ocean, which were re-opened again with the Tsunami warning lifted. I caught up on some work in my room before checking out at 1:00 pm. The front desk staff is a little slow since there is often only one person there unless a group arrives and they put extra staff on. It was so quiet in general and sometimes I need to remind myself that I was at a beautiful beach resort and to relax and forget work for a bit. I tried to get an Uber but the hotel is out of the way from town so unless there is one in the area it does not show up with 'No Cars Available'. The hotel got me one of their cabs. I discovered that it is apparently common place in Panama for the cabs to actually share, something like the newer Uber Hop service. I actually had that on arrival with the car I booked from the Sheraton at pick up in Panama. This time I had my own car, and I asked for a detour to the canal so I could at least see it a little since I did not have time for a full tour. It is all very impressive and I managed a quick picture from the Bridge of the Americas, but really a tour is likely worth it.

Upon arrival at Le Meridien Panama right on the main Causeway/Boardwalk in Panama I was told that they had a huge Platinum suite for me but not for a few hours or I could take a Gold Suite right away. I opted for the Gold Suite so that I could get out and start sightseeing. The Suite had a large living area with sofa, bar and television, and in the large bedroom a desk and bed with views out over the water and a huge bathroom with rainfall shower and jetted tub as well. It was great, but the relatively new building had some minor wear and tear that was noticeable.

I had thought the hotel was the entire massive tower I was in, but in fact it is only the lower 6 floors. The lobby and bar are dark and have a club feeling, and the gym upstairs had a great roof deck as well as outdoor pool, but the deck and pool were closed for renovations. It was the second time on this trip I had found out only upon check in of the closures, not on the hotel websites and with no mention from SPG or the hotel in advance. That was little disappointing, but again this hotel had made other arrangements with the Intercontinental across the street allowing us to use their pool if needed.

I decided to walk the entire Causeway heading to the old and historic part of Panama City. The walk is very beautiful along the water with exercise facilities integrated into the long park, along with a marina and at the end the fish market. From here it is an easy walk into the old town, with beautiful architecture, restaurants in newly renovated historic buildings, and various churches and government buildings. I stopped in for a drink at the Capitale Bistro Panama with great views back to the towers of downtown Panama before the walk back. The walk takes around an hour each way.

When I got back I showered and had dinner in the Club Lounge. The Lounge is much more basic then the Lounges at the Westin or the Sheraton, just a smaller sized room at the end of the building with only one window looking out at the water. The staff was excellent though, but there was not too much in the way of food, with a few warm options and some cheeses and meats. It was right to bed after that.

The next morning I was up early for a workout in the gym, but really only cardio since there are only low weights and not much in the way of machines. After, I had breakfast in the lounge, worked, and then went for a walk around the city and stopped to buy a phone charger since mine had bit the dust. Pedestrians do not seem to have much of the right of way so watch out when walking. Another funny note were the public buses, each one is different, and they are all elaborately decorated with lights and crazy accessories. As in much of South and Central America honking is a common occurrence, sometimes for no reason, other times because the traffic is so hectic or if they are trying to get the attention of a person to pick them up. I picked up an iced coffee at a Coffee Bean, with that chain being much more prevalent it seemed then Starbucks. Another interesting note was that whenever you order coffee they always wanted to add cinnamon. I am a fan of cinnamon and it was a good addition.

I had debated about heading to the pool across the street but work got in the way of this plan and I spent the next few hours working before going for a run outside along the Causeway back to the fish market. It was so hot and humid and a potential thunderstorm was holding off in the distance, but I made it back to the hotel before the rain hit. The staff saw me coming and looking like a drowned rat and they had a bottle of water ready for me. I had a shower before finishing up work in the Club Lounge, and then I headed out to see the bars and clubs right next to the hotel on Calle Uruguay. Le Meridien is definitely the right place if you are in town for restaurants and nightlife with plenty right here on this street. I stopped in at the neighboring Hilton Hotel to check out the Casino before heading home to bed.