You're stuck at Houston International Airport ... what do you do?

2010, 4 - Consulting Lifestyle, U.S. No Responses »
Jul 022010

When delayed on any flight, my mind goes a certain checklist, almost like a program. If I could write the logic for the program, it would look something like this …

  • IF Airport = Internation then execute search routine for airport lounges
  • IF Airport lounge > 1, then evaluate facilities for food, free alcohol, free WI-FI and newspapers
    • Choose lounge with the most of that stuff
    • ELSE If Airport Lounge = 1, then settle for crap
    • ELSE If Airport Lounge = 0 aka STL (St. Louis International) … then grumble and ask airline desk clerk for food voucher

At IAH, last night … I missed my flight to San Jose, Costa Rica because a thunderstorm caused us to circle for 2 hours like idiots, hence missing my connection. After running around to try and catch my flight, I realized that it was a lost cause and headed to Continental customer service.

So after explaining my situation to the counter clerk, she put my on standby for the 9.20am flight and confirmed me on the 11.20 flight, then handed me a phone number for the discount hotel service. My response was utter amazement, as she didn’t even offer a hotel voucher – she explained that weather was not the airline’s fault and hence the hotel was not their problem – the last part of the conversation went like this …

<Rishi> Seriously, this is the rationale?
<Counter clerk (CC)> Yes sir, there is nothing I can do.
<Rishi> Can you offer me a dinner coupon, discounted dinner or a fricking tic-tac?
<CC> Sorry sir. The discount hotel tonight is the Econolodge.
<Rishi> Why didn’t you just offer me a cattle barn or the boat you floated on from Cuba?
<CC> Excuse me, I’m not Cuban, I’m Dominican
<Rishi> I’m sorry … let me rephrase … Why didn’t you just offer me a cattle barn or the boat you floated on from the DR?
<CC> I didn’t come on a boat …
<Rishi> Raft, boat, cherry picking truck, plastic sheet… anyway never mind … you probably don’t know the translation of that … I’ll go to the Sheraton.

That being said, if you are stuck at IAH, you could worse than booking at the Sheraton North Houston, they have a rate for stranded travellers at $77 a night … the Econolodge was $61 a night … the Sheraton is worth the extra $16 a night, with a concierge lounge, free Wi-Fi, drinks, pool and 24 hr gym.

I got back to the airport early to catch a standby flight and here are some of the things you can do while you’re here …

  • Go have a margarita and some wings at Chili’s (tucked away in a corner of Terminal B)
  • Ride the underground train between terminals B, A, C and the Marriott.
  • Ride the above ground terminalink.
  • Eat at Harlon’s BBQ in Terminal C.
  • Check out some of the international duty free shops in Terminal D.
  • Drink a martini in all 4 president clubs TWICE! repeat for longer layovers…
  • Go see the weird ugly George Bush “flowing coat” statue.

As for the lounges, the Continental President’s Club lounge is a very nice lounge. In fact, it was rated the #1 lounge for the past 4 years in the US.

They also had a theatre style TV room to watch the Netherlands vs Brazil game in English, which was a quite welcome addition.

Posted by Rishi at 7:30 am Tagged with: , , ,

The Spirit of St. Louis ...

2010, 4 - Consulting Lifestyle, U.S. No Responses »
Jun 262010

After spending the weekend in St. Louis, I have to say that my opinion has changed. I no longer think that St. Louis is an “armpit of the US”. Could I live in St. Louis? Not in this lifetime, however as a place to see for a weekend or two weekends, it is definitely somewhere worth visiting. 

St. Louis is not a big city but a car is absolutely essential as the Metrolink, while somewhat convenient, doesn’t offer the access to all the attractions. Additionally, if no one ever mentioned this … summers in St. Louis are absolutely brutal. This was past weekend downtown was stiflingly hot … the combination of high humidity off the river, the concrete jungle that is St. Louis and unsheltered sunshine make for an unbearable combination. Lesson = rent a car with a good A/C system.

As for what to do in St. Louis … If you’re staying downtown (I really recommend the Hilton Ballpark hotel … we had a phenomenal suite overlooking the ballpark … if only the Cardinals were playing at night), there are only two absolute “must do” things …

  1. Tour of Anheuser-Busch
    From the hotel, the brewery is about a 8$ cab ride, parking is free and the tour is free. All an excellent combination.

    Once you’re at the brewery, you have the option of taking the free tour along with Beer School ($10) … I suggest doing Beer School … for the diploma and the absolutely excellent professional beer opener that you get as a gift.

    Questions about Bud Beer School
    - Did I learn much in Beer School?  Absolutely not.
    - Were there multiple beer tastings? Yes there were.
    - Is it unlimited beer? Probably after the tour …
    - Are the Budweiser Clydesdales touring the property? Yes they are … and those are some well fed, well tendered horses.
    - Do they force Budweiser down your throat? Nope, although drinking a beer as tasteless, generic and insipid as Bud or Bud Light would require some force feeding anyway.
    - Will there be a chick in Beer School who says … ” All I drink is Bud, cause I don’t know better”? More than likely.

    The other thing that immediately strike you, is the size of the brewery. It is absolutely massive. It makes all the breweries I’ve seen in Canada, Trinidad, Germany etc look like playgrounds.

    If you do have to wait around for beer school or the brewery tour, I highly suggest grabbing some of the Jamaican Jerk wings at Sage. The food was excellent – really excellent. Best wings and pulled pork sandwich I’ve had in ages … and yes that is pepper bacon on top of pulled pork.


  2. The Arch and related places to see around the Arch.
    Not much to explain here. The Arch is there .. go see it.

St Louis weekend

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Posted by Rishi at 6:06 am Tagged with: , , , , , ,

3 day weekend itinerary for St. Louis

2010, 4 - Consulting Lifestyle, U.S. 3 Responses »
Jun 242010

Updated (4th August, 2010)

St. Louis is not the world’s most exciting city and if I didn’t actually work here during the week, there would be no reason to visit. That being said, it’s not that St. Louis is devoid of culture, food and activities, it just that I can think of 10 more exciting cities in North America to visit before I would even consider St. Louis as a destination.

However, I’ve managed to put together my version of a very fun food/culture/music filled weekend in the “Lou”. Note here that this itinerary is my personal itinerary.

  • Thursday night:
    • Fly in Thursday night after 8pm, check into your hotel.
    • If you’re staying at the airport for the night, then Harrah’s Casino offers a free shuttle to all hotels within a 10 mile radius of the Casino. All you need to do is have your hotel call them and you’ll get a free bus ride there.
    • Grab a 15% off coupon and your coupon for $5 cash from the bus driver. options … and grab a meal there
    • If you’re downtown, then head out to the riverboats for dinner and some gambling
       
  • Friday :
    •  Breakfast at the hotel, I’m staying at the Hilton Ballpark – Downtown St. Louis (I highly recommend the Lobby Bar for drinks), then grab rental car. Ask for upgraded King room on the ball park side, if the Cardinals are playing that weekend.
    • Entertainment Options – in logical sightseeing order – look at the map above for a reference point. A Hop On/Hop Off  bus is probably the best bet for doing this itinerary, if you want to eat and relax with no driving.   
  1. If you’re staying at the Hilton Ballpark, then your first logical stop should be a tour of Busch Stadium, the first tour starts at 9.30am.
  2. The next logical destination should be to the Arch. It’s the symbol of St. Louis and the gateway to the Midwest. It does get a little cramped in there and the Arch Tour elevator isn’t the most comfortable thing for anyone who is claustrophobic.
  3. Once you’re done with the Arch, then walk over to the Historic Old Courthouse
  4. Then it’s time for lunch on the Arch Riverfront.
  5. Once you’re done with lunch, you have the option of the Cathedral Basilica of St Louis or heading over to the last tour of the Budwiser Brewery Tour, since it’s only open from 10am – 4pm
  6. Once you’re done, then it’s time for a nap and then off for dinner at Blueberry Hill
  7. Finally after dinner, go enjoy some Jazz at the Bistro
  • Saturday :
  • Sunday
    • Still no breakfast at this Hilton but rather Breakfast the Kaffee Haus at Schneithorst’s is said to be the best … with its completely German menu
    • Hopefully, there should be space for Chocolate at Bissinger’s French Confections. They are one of the last handcrafted chocolatiers in the world
    • After that heavy breakfast, head down the “Mother Road” down Route 66 to Ted Drewed Frozen Custard). This landmark custard stand is an icon along the original Route 66 sign and a St. Louis institution. Be sure to try the “concrete,” a milkshake so thick you can turn it upside down without spilling a delicious drop. Ted Drewes has been serving up ice cream treats to Route 66 travelers since the 1920s
    • Then head off the airport with a good taste of St. Louis in your mouth

Continue reading »

Posted by Rishi at 12:44 pm Tagged with: , , , , , ,

What else to do in St. Louis ... Go to a Cardinals game!!!

2010, 4 - Consulting Lifestyle, U.S. No Responses »
Jun 162010

Through some luck and a corporate hookup, I was able to organize a night out at Busch Stadium to see the Cardinals play. To clarify, I am not a baseball fan. I think Baseball is one of the most boring sports ever, which is why there are copious amounts of beer being consumed at a Baseball game. No sane person would subject themselves to the Chinese Water Torture that is a Baseball game while sober.

However, if someone invites you to watch a Baseball game and promises unlimited, free booze (Glenlivet 15 included) at the Lobby Bar of the Hilton Ballpark Hotel with free valet parking for you and 6 of your friends. Then walks you over to Luxury Suite 20 at Busch Stadium, then you should definitely take up that offer. If they were showing underwater basket weaving, you should go.

The view from the box, coupled with the amenities make the luxury suite feel like a home away from home … with extra food.

Take me to the ball game

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Posted by Rishi at 2:42 pm Tagged with: , , , ,

More mileage run fun

2010, 4 - Consulting Lifestyle, U.S. No Responses »
Apr 202010

Mileage running is really not a sport for your average traveler. Doing a mileage run without “status” is an even more arduous task, since you have to put up with a host of crappy things in chasing your miles, that your “status” would help you to avoid:

  • Terrible seats or no prior seat selection : Using a site like SeatGuru is amazing because you can figure out which seat has the most legroom and space. If you have “status”, then all the seat are available at your disposal (not the first class seats … obviously). Mileage running without advance seat selection is like going to a restaurant and eating whatever is put in front of you – it could be good, but more often than not, it is going to be terrible.
  • No advance boarding : If you are taking carry-on luggage, you normally have to pack it in the overhead compartments. For example,on a full segment from Santa Ana to Newark, the entire plane was packed and there was no space for carry-on luggage (thankfully I had found space at the front of the plane even though my seat was in the back)
  • Paying for luggage : “Status” usually entails some free luggage. Without it, be prepared to pay at least $25 for your first bag and give up your second child to check in a second bag.

Mileage running also require having some patience for the best deal to come to you, it’s always possible to find the second best deal – or the best PPM on the current market. One tool I used from checking the travel forums is Farecompare (FC). You can either go to the destination maps, plug in your home airport and find the place that’s furthest from you for the cheapest price, or you can use this nifty tool that FC created (plug in your home airport like YYZ for Toronto). This makes it easy to sort the list of fares by PPM; if you don’t find a fare or carrier that suits your needs, just scroll down and find somewhere that sounds appetizing.

This week’s mileage run for me, involves me going through the following cities in a 2 week period … this is technically not a “true” mileage run – but at $0.086 PPM, this qualifies as a decent run.

As for the map of this week’s mileage run – definitely criss-crossing the US.

Posted by Rishi at 8:34 am Tagged with: , , ,
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