Newyorker's Blog

NYC = where the IHG's are- a neighborhood guide.

community@ihg.com — Sat, 13 Mar 2010 18:14:33 GMT

Planning a trip to New York City?. Welcome!

There are about a dozen IHG hotels in Manhattan and countless more in the nearby other four boroughs.

Regardless of where you stay in Manhattan, ;your hotel will be safe and near

-- Excellent public transportation

-- Too many restaurants , from inexpensive to sky high prices.

-- Shopping

- Tourist 'must see's

- -A park or bench to slow down and people watch

You will leave saying;

-- It's a great place to visit, but I couldn't live here or I would live here in a NY minute if I could . .

- Gosh , it is expensive!

- New Yorkers are so friendly. Who knew?

- _ I'll never get used to that Noo Yawk accent.

- I wore out ,in one week, the shoes I've had for 5 years.

- I can't wait to come back and see the stuff I missed

- Next time I will bring half the clothes; twice the money.

The new kid on the block is the IC Times Square, opening in July, 44St and 8th Ave. More tha 600 rooms, gourmet restaurant minutes to Broadway shows.;glass exterior, almost completed, contruction is now on the inside. I report regularly on its progress whenever I pass by. .

Others in midtown: ;

Candlewood Suites, W 39 St, and HIX, W39 St near Javitz Convention Center, Madison Square Garden, Garment District, walkable to most Broadway theatres.

CP Times Square, W49 ST and Broadway - recently renovated, big rooms, a block from Radio City, Rock Center, in the hub of neon Times Square, near Roclk Center

IC Barclay, East 49 St , off Lexington and Park Aves- near UN, Rock Center, St Patricks Cathedral,

Staybridge , West 40 st - near Javitz center, Broadway, Times Square ,

HI West 57 St - near Time Warner Building, Central Park, short walk to Linclon Center

HIX West 46 St. walk to theatre, rock center, DIAMOND district

Downtown

HI Wall street - Water St. opening in summer , and HI Soho Lafayette St. Near ground zero, financial district, Chinatown, Little Italy

Chelsea - great art galleries, interesting neighborhood, north of Greenwich Village

Indigo, W 28 St and HI , W 27 St -

Wherever you stay, whenever you come, I think you will feel the energy of the city and report to neighbrs back home,
" I love New York,"

Why should I Remain Loyal to IHG ? Here is the answer:

community@ihg.com — Sun, 07 Mar 2010 20:11:13 GMT

As a retiree, I travel often and have many choices for hotel stays.

My first choice is always an IHG property. That's easy and most of the time I'm pleased.

But I don't exclusively stay at an IHG. Sometimes, an IHG is not where I want to be or another chain has a remarkablly lower room rate. If I travel on an inclusive tour package, I stay in hotels chosen by the tour company.

So, why do I prefer the IHG chain, above all others.? What does it offer that the others don't?

My PC points never expire. to keep my 60K Hilton HOnors, I recently had lunch at a local Hilton Hotwl restaurant simply to keep my account alive. The hamburger and Coke ($25!!) paid for on a Hilton Amex card will keep my account active. for another year. Otherwise, after 12 months of inactivity, the 60K vanish. Same with the Starwood account., although Starwood allows 18 months before wiping me out of their system. If I don't use it, I lose it. Not so with IHG hotels; points will last for eternity.

Promotions All hotel programs offer promotions, but IHG has more of them, and points build very rapidly

Free weekend nght BOGO voucher with Ambassador memberhsip - For the $100 renewal fee, I receive a BOGO voucher, which always has more value than the renewal fee.

IC AMB Perks- I will never get enough points in other programs to get the perks I receive as an Ambassador.

Are IHG hotels also your first choice?. . Why?

Ice Cream and Travel What they Have in Common

community@ihg.com — Fri, 26 Feb 2010 02:01:59 GMT

I travel for fun, early and often, and sometime think of my trips as icecream - many choices, can be plain or fancy, never bad, sometimes fabulous- .

My Favorite travel 'flavors":

To Totally veg out, complete relaxation - a cruise ship , or a beach. which can be as local as Long Beach, Long Island or the south of France. Sometimes , I just need to see the ocean that meets the horizen.

Learning - all trips are learning experiences, but some are more educational than others. My fave is the Oxford Experience, a summer adult ed program, where I lived on campus, had a tutor and classmates, that were of all ages, all nationalities.

Cities,- museums, history, grand restaurants, shopping, walking, people watching.,. In US, IC Willard, DC, and in Europe, the IC Berlin, IC Amstel,

Tours_- Traveling solo, and not willing to drive in foreign countries, I take packaged tours to places I can't easily travel around in by myself. Favorite tour company: Martin Randall Travel, small groups, brainiac tour guides, usually have PhD related to the destination.

Natural Wonders - National l Parks in the southwestern US. Favorite are Bryce, Zion , Canyonlands. in Utah and the Grand Canyon in Az. which is more than just a hole in the ground. Very special!.

Spa - Big time . mega $$ names are Canyon Ranch and Golden Door, but these days almost any hotel can be classified as a spa, when there is a good fitness center , and massage therapist. IC Montelucia is a lovely resort/spa , when in Arizona.

An what is the common problem with ice cream and travel?. Too easy to put on the pounds with both

Cuba

community@ihg.com — Thu, 18 Feb 2010 18:09:30 GMT

I remember the Revolution, 51 years ago, when Batista was overthrown and Castro took over. As an American visiting for one week, i have no clue as to the real politics of the country. I grew up with freedom of the press and capitalism Most Cubans have only known Communism. Regardless, the mojitos are great and the Cubans, warm friendly and very likeable.

News of the outside world is limited, and available only through the govt. People are generally poor, with meat and egg rationing, though rice , oil and sugar are given out monthly. Housing is not good enough, though medical care is free. Cars are 1950's vintage. and the company line is " Old American Cars are manual and fixable, better than new ones with electronic gizmos that don't work". . When asked , why too many houses have not been painted in 50 years. The answer is that "when there is a choice, between the govt supplying paint or medical care, it is best to put the money into medical care." .

I stayed at the Melia Cohibe, built as a joint venture with the governnent., In ten years from now, the government will own the hotel outright, with the Melia chain having the right to manage it. \ The hotel is not being properly maintained as there is no reason for Melia to put money into it .

Weather was unusually too cool to swim or hang out at a pool, which was fine, becasue I like going to old Havana, the art galleries , the musueum , ouring the country side and attending the ballet. Yes, even went to the Tropicana, an overpriced tourista nightclub.

If Cuba: is an appealing place to vist and if you go now there are no Mac'donalds, KFC or Starbucks. Billboards advertise only Comunism, glory of the revolution or Fidel.

+Americans can only go through another country or with a 'mission group that gets you there from Miami, on a chartered plane. . You need a visa regardless as to how you get there.

+Credit cards NOT accepted ANYWHERE. Bring enough cash.

+Luxe hotel is the Park Central, but there are many small nice hotels in and around old Havana and the downtown. El Nacional no longer reputed to be good., though it['s very beautiful. The Melia Cohibe, caters to groups, is on the fringe of the city: and you need a cab for everthing

+ Shopping - Go tto the San Jose market where you can pick up original art and other stuff at minimal prices.

Americans can ony bring home original art, books or musical tapes/ instruments . No one was stopped at US Customs, but but you never know.

In some ways, going to Cuba for me, was like taking a college course of Cuban history, but instead of seeing slides, I saw the real thing. And it it was great fun.

Off to Havana...Adios, muchachos

community@ihg.com — Mon, 08 Feb 2010 04:46:22 GMT

No blog, no comments, no discussions this week, as I will be in Cuba and was advised not to bring a laptop.

Cuba is off limits to Americans, as we have no relationship with this Communist country, 90 miles from the US border. US citizens, with a visa, can get there from another country or can get there via a charter flight from Miami, on a "mission". . And so I found a mission.!

I will be gone for 8 days, and will tell all when I get back. . Am staying overnight at the Crowne Plaza, @Miami airport., and as Ron, Amanda and I always suggest, I phoned the hotel for the name of the Reservation Manager and then emailed her, confirming my reservation and requests.

This CP automatically provides a full breakfast voucher for Platinum PC members, but I have to leave pre-dawn with the group for the airport, and the kitchen will not be open. Instead, they will prepare a box breakfast for me, fulfilling my requests for protein ( hb egg, cheese) and carbs,( fruit, English muffin) . And the front desk person on duty might get me a cup of coffee., If you don't ask, you don't get.

Hasta la vista.

A New York Quiz- , Dumbo,SoHa, TriBeCa- What/where are they?

community@ihg.com — Fri, 05 Feb 2010 14:14:53 GMT

These are Manhattan neighborhoods, except for one, which is in Brooklyn.

What do the names stand for? Where are they?: Answers below:

1. SoHo

2. Dumbo

3. SoHa

4. Tribeca

5. NoHo

6. LES

7. UES

8. UWS

9 CPS

Answers

1.South Of **uston - lower Manhattan ,

2 Down U the Manhattan Bridge Overpass in Brooklyn, an up and coming artsy, retail, commercial, neighborhood.

3. South Harlem- upper Manhattan, below Harlem, near the northern side of Central Park

4 Tr iangle below Canal - lower Manhattan

5.North of **uston- lower Manhattan

6-9 are commonly written as abbreviations, but the full name is always spoken. You would not say LES, but would say Lower East Side.

LES - Lower East Side,

UES - Upper East Side

UWS - Upper West Side

CPS, and CPW, Central Park South and Central Park West

Houston Street is pronounced " How' sten in NY. The city in Texas is prounounced Hew' ston.

If you got them all right, you are awarded a Big Apple.

More Points More Often, More Reward Nights

community@ihg.com — Thu, 28 Jan 2010 16:20:13 GMT

As I retired solo traveler, I no longer have an employee or a significant other to pick up travel tabs. so it is especially important for me to maximize hotel and airplane frequent stay/ flyer points.

Here are six ways, in no particular order, that I build Priority Club Points:

1 Priority Club Connect, com Flyertalk.com, Priorityclubinsider.com- I have learned more and picked up several thousands of points, by reading and registering for bonuses listed on these three sites. I f you are a PCC newbie, check current and older posts for promotion codes. . And we all share when when learn ing of new ones.

2.PC Visa Credit Card - When staying at IHG properties, and paying on the card, I get bonus points. Amounts. change, according to hotel and season, but it never less than 3 pts per $ and Visa often has promotions for using the card. at IHG hotels. Charging other things, gives one point per $1..If you are not currently a card holder, Visa is giving many thousands of points for new card holders

3. Purchases on line with PC Partners Many vendors that I use.anyway, are partnered with PC, giving 2 to 7 points per $ spent. My regulars are drugstore.com, hanes.com, office depot .com, foot savers, Gaaim.com Many provide free shippping. and sometimes there are additional bonus promos.

4. Staying at IHG properties as a strong first choice. Sometimes they are not where I want to go or another chain has an offer to good to pass up, By building points with one chain, I get better deals ( Platinum status, for example ) more quicklly..

5.Priorityclub.rewards.network.com - By registering credit card(s) here and eating at any of the thousands of restaurants on their list, I get 8 points per dollar of total bill. There are often promos, that double the points. In my neighborhood, there are many restaurants on the program. And when traveling I sometimes check to see what's where on the restaurant list. You do not need a PC credit card for this program; any cc is fine. is fine., but it is only available in the US

6. Renewing my Ambassador status - A no brainer. For , $100 renewal fee, I get 5,000 PC points, a voucher for a free weekend night, when paying for the first night. and bonus points for charging IC's on the PC cc. And that's in addition ot the upgrades and other perks I get all year at IC's and sometimes from CP's, and Hi's.

Am I missing any big time bonus points programs? I'm spending all my points on a 3 night splurge in Paris and have to start building alll over again.

Red Carpet Service- Good Service Matters

community@ihg.com — Mon, 18 Jan 2010 02:02:44 GMT

. Hotel service is usually decent, but occasionally it is memorable. And often it is the little things that count.

Going the extra mile really works. Listen up, General Managers.

Here are samples of little things that meant a lot to me.

HI- Salina, Kansas - I was part of a bus tour of Presidential Libraries, enroute from the Truman Library to the Eisenhower Library and Museum. It was too hot, too long a ride and participants were tired and cranky. Finally, we arrived. in Salina at the Holiday INN At the entry and extending into the lobby , was a red carpet, unrolled just for us. The hotel staff was there, smiling, , shaking our hands, and graciously welcoming us. We felt like movie stars., and were no longer tired nor cranky. It was an innovative gesture of the management, and the 40 bus trippers talked about the wonderful Holiday Inn chain for the rest of the trip.

IC Willard, DC - A few days prior to check in, I phoned guest services to reconfirm my rez and requests. When I checked in, the front desk clerk, noted something on my rez, and made a phone call. Minutes later the guest service person I had previously spoken with on the phone appeared, graciously welcoming me to the Willard. Such a simple, nice gesture.

CP Springfield MA - We were a group of guests attending a wedding in Springfield. Everyone else got a standard room. , but when I checked in, the clerk noted my Plat Amb status and said, something about doing something special. I was given a junior suite and offered breakfast vouchers. I think they also sent up fruit or cookies.. The clerk said we like to treat our VIP guests extra special.. I liked that a lot, especially when my friends noted my breakfast voucher. the next morning .

Note all the above were simple , cost virtually nothing in time or money, but provided priceless good will for the individual hotel. and the chain. Are you still listening, GMs?

Destination Weddings: A faded fad

community@ihg.com — Thu, 07 Jan 2010 17:35:07 GMT

Destination weddings were a smart, over the top way to celebrate upscale nuptials. That is, until the stock market came crashing down and a global recession affected everyone's job, bank account or stock portfolio.

Good thing, too, not the recession, but the demise of the Destination Wedding.

A Destination wedding is just what it sounds like.. Far from home, it is performed atop a mountain, on a beach, or a 5 star resort., perhaps in the next country or continent., It usually lasts for four days (Thursday to Sunday) with planned events for the guests. Guests pay for their own transportation and accomodations and the guest list remains the same as though the service and reception were around the corner. . I had heard about one in Venice, another in Santorini.

I was thrilled to be invited to my first destination wedding in Jamaica. I received a Save the Date pre invitation, 6 months in advance. giving heads-up information about planes, the resort , and tentative agenda of planned events. I considered staying a few extra days just for the fun of it. Perhaps I would even rent one of the hotel villas and invite my children/grandchildren for fun in the sun, 'though they were not wedding guests..

I shuddered to think how much the four days would cost,plus wedding gift, shower gift, and perhaps a smart new bathing suit or tropical outfit or two, dropped the idea of a villa for my family, and reserved , just for me, the least costly room at the hotel.

When I booked air and hotel via Amex travel (cheaper than the recommended agency for the wedding), I was stunned to learn this resort needed up front payment with a limited cancellation policy. . I took out travel insurance, just in case.

, Sadly, almost at the 11th hour, the engagement was broken. It was a painful , probably embarrassing time for the bride and the families. I got my dollars back , thanks to the insurance., but never received another destination wedding invitation.

Have you ever gone to a Destination Wedding.? What was it like? Tell all.

The Female Solo Traveler; Go Girl, Go

community@ihg.com — Tue, 22 Dec 2009 23:13:39 GMT

Wouldn't it be wonderful to travel with an endearing husband or charming boyfriend.? I have neither.

Friends, say they want to travel, but hardly do so. Or they cruise and cruise and cruise.

I travel solo as the choices are to go or to stay home.

Here is what I' ve learned so far.

- Never pay cash for anything. Become a points junkie. and pay on credit cards that gives points or miles. Join every airline and hotel affinity club and provide your email adddress to all. It overloads the in- box, but you will reap benefits with special travel deals/

- Pack extra light. Prince Charming isn't there to help get your luggage on the train or off the carousel. Besides no one cares if you wear the same thing again,..and again.. Same day dry cleaning is available, if you really need it.

Choose a city hotel defensively: one that is centrally located with a well lit entrance, near transportation.and has a doorman. Intercontinentals fit perfectly , Save up Priority Points, look for special deals, weekend rates, etc. I often pay for my room with a combination of points and dollars (charged on PC Visa for extra bonus points). When the hotel is not too expensive, I pay in dollars and not points, saving points for the places like the Amstel, in Amsterdam.

When going out in the evening, find out in advance how to get back to the hotel- Are taxis accessible at the theatre after a perfomance. If not is there a a bus or subway that is safe at night? You don't want to be stranded at the National in LOndon or Lincoln Center in NY, where a taxi is hard to come by and you are unsure of alternative transportation

Talk to locals, ask for suggestions, people love to give advice about their own city.

Don't do anything you would not want your daughter to do - ' Nuff said.

Roll with the punches Things do go wrong; a wildcat strike at the Rome airport, hotel can't find your reservation or a hundred other things. Do what has to be done and get on with the trip.

Losing documents_ You might lose your wallet; it happens. Leave a copy of passport, credit cards with a family member at hoem, They can fax you what you need to expedite resolution. It also helps to keep with you in a separate place an extra copy of these docs and important 'Helpline " cred it card phone numbers.

Packaged tours - Yes, I take them for countryside, but not for cities.. As one example, If I sign up for a package to Tuscany, I go to Rome for serveral days, join the tour, and when it's over fly to Paris, for a couple of days. before heading home.

This list can turn into a book; I'll stop here and remind would be solo travelers to be brave and visit a nearby city for a weekend as a dry run. YOu can do it. Just think how great it will be when you wander about in Brussels ( or anywhere ) see what you want to , eat what and when, and zip up to Bruge for a couple of days just for the fun of it.

Folks who constantly travel for business deserve a medal...and a fat pay check.

community@ihg.com — Tue, 15 Dec 2009 16:00:28 GMT

G- O- D bless all you folks who constantly travel on the job all year. How do you survive flight delays and cancellations and sleeping out more that at home? I hope you get paid royally for your efforts.

I am constantly on the go , but as a leisure traveler, and when I get to where I am going, it is because I want to be there. It is not a job: I dont' have to see clients, do presentations and worry about bottom line or the family at home. When I worked, I did short commutes to Boston, just a few times each year, nothing like what you guys do now, traveling all over the globe all the time

These thoughts occurred to me on a weekend trip to Chicago. I attended a Gala fund for Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation (JDRF)and also to see family so the visit was a happy one.

Nevertheless, my flights were delayed for more than two hours coming and going. Chicago was freezing and .I stayed at two hotels (one night each in comped rooms, but that's another chapter),

What's it like when you are always somewhere else because of your job?

Do you eat too much junk food, or drink too much on business trips. Do you keep in shape at the hotel fitness center? Are you always exhausted from problems on the job, or from driving too far, or hanging out too long at airports? Do your shoulders ache from carrying a too heavy briefcase? How much do you miss your family and how often to you miss your kid's soccer games and school plays?

Do you count the days, years when you won't have to travel as much as you do now?

Or, do you really love business travel and see it as a perk, a blessing that you are not in a 9-5 job. Perhaps you like being away from home .

Or do you continue to do what you do because the bottom line is the bottom line and you are rewarded handsomely?

Or , none of the above.

I wonder...

Canyon Ranch: To spa or not to Spa?:

community@ihg.com — Sun, 22 Nov 2009 04:08:18 GMT

As a birthday gift from me to me, I opted for Canyon Ranch, in Lenox MA, a top of the line, all inclusive. health/ spa resort .It looked gorgeous and interesting on the website (Canyonranch.com) but still, I expected to see a lot of folks going from massage to manicure to Spartan meals.

Wrong! Wrong! Wrong!

Many guests were in very good shape, used to exercise regimes at. home and spent much of the day going from aerobics, to pilates, to yoga Mean age was about 45-50, though there were people of all ages. , During the week, guests were mostly women. On weekends the men showed up.. About 30% were couples.

Everything at Canyon Ranch is luxe, the accomodations, facilites, gracious, exellent staff.The focus is on health and fitness, A medical staff is on site, practicing alternate and conventional medicne.

There is non stop hiking, biking, swimming , fitness classes, meditation, manicures, facials and treatments that I can't pronounce. . Lectures dealt with wellness of mind, body, spirit. Weight loss and stress reduction were components of staying healthy, but not the primary focus. ... The food is wonderful; with calories, fat, and fiber listed next to everything on the menu.

The first few days, I kept on a busy schedule, racing from class to class, from treatment to treatment, but , if finally sunk in about calming down, and I cut back on the jumping, stretching, jogging, pilates and settled into the lounge, curled up by the fireplace reading a best seller or chattinig with other guests,

Good vacation? No it was a great vacation The one problem? Canyon Ranch is not in the IHG family. Just think of the points I could have racked up. on Priority Club.

Living in a major city? Is it for you?

community@ihg.com — Sun, 22 Nov 2009 02:35:32 GMT

I live in the middle of Manhattan. Some folks think city living is awful, with cramped apartments, noise, no garden . I miss my own garden, but otherwise it's a trade off for the joy of city living.

Here is what apartment living in a city is like.

1. An apartment house is not a community ; it's a building. I hardly know anyone and few neigbors socialize with each other.

2. Everbody but the bank delivers... supermarket, , wine, store, pharmacy, dry cleaner, you name it. Phone for what you want and magically it arrives. Most services are within walking distance - up the street, down the street or around the corner.

3 You don't take out the garbage. You toss it down a hole (compactor), in a service room on your floor,. leaving recylables in designated boxes.

4 If you live in a serviced building, there is someone to assist with everything. including changing a light bulb. .

5. City folk walk, walk, walk. It's healthier than driving and more interesting. And In NYC, public transportion, by bus, subway or train, gets one all around the city and suburbs.

6. Good hospitals are often in major cities; important when body parts go wrong.

7. Entertainment: Best theatre, opera, concerts of all kinds, movies everywhere, museums and more museums, lectures and adult ed in every neighborhood, all kinds of sports ( spectator and participation), parks, great shopping.

8. The downside? Cost of housing..

Contessa Vanessa's Not such Royal Heritage.

community@ihg.com — Fri, 13 Nov 2009 22:19:02 GMT

Although no one has asked, it is time to clue you in of the Contessa's lineage. . .

There is not royal heritage. . She was born in Brooklyn. NY, to an ordinary middle class working family and was named Marlene.

Earlier ,in this communty, she used her true name,-- first, maiden and surname,.

and particpated fully telling much of her life and lifestyle.

Then, paranoia set in. . This is an open forum, and who knows what crazies lurk out there. Marlene had clearly identified who she is, what she does, where she lives. She's even in the phone book. And so it was time to be more anonymous,if not more discreet and find a nom du plume.

A plain Jane kind of name is boring . No, it needed more pzaazz. And so Contessa Vanessa was invented.

She replies to either name.

Respectfully,

Contessa Vanessa aka marlene

Intercontinental - Why Aren't You on the Conde Nast best hotels list

community@ihg.com — Sat, 07 Nov 2009 18:03:24 GMT

Annually, Conde Nast polls readers, for the best hotel, resorts and airlines in the world. I did a fast look, and found only one (count 'em just one!) , the Intercontinental, in Buckhead (Atlanta) Georgia. Where is the Carleton, in Cannes the Amstel in Amsterdam or the Paris IC? . I would give high marks to these..

Unless, zi need new glasses, , I didn't see any more IC's, than just Buckhead .

Four Seasons were all over the list.

I think in 2008, there were sesveral ICs.

Where did IC go wrong...or did it?

Do you think the list is accurate?