Trip Reports - PointChaser

A collection of trip reports, travel stories, hotel reviews, dining experiences and event recaps.

Hotel 50 Bowery: A Hyatt gem in the heart of Chinatown

Hotel 50 Bowery, part of Hyatt’s Joie de Vivre collection, is a boutique hotel located in the heart of New York City’s Chinatown. With a great location and thoughtful design, it’s become one of my favorite hotels in New York. I’ve now stayed here on four different occasions, so I want to sum up my…
Step into Stars Hollow: The Gilmore Girls Tour at Warner Bros. Studios

Every year, Warner Bros Studios Hollywood opens up the Gilmore Girls set with an immersive Stars Hollow tour. Dubbed Holidays Made Here, the two-week event features fan activities, set tours, themed foods, and even the occasional cast appearance. It’s a must for any Gilmore Girls fan who wants to relive the magic of Stars Hollow.…
The Verdict on Cronuts: A Dominique Ansel Bakery Review

When cronuts first came out, I remember reading about people standing in line for three hours to get them. While visiting New York around that time, I went on the Dominique Ansel Bakery website and saw an option to pre-order them… six weeks in advance! In 2018 I traveled to New York again and decided…
Why the Navy Federal More Rewards American Express Card is worth a second look

Most of us don’t look outside the established rewards credit card bubble: Chase, Amex, Citi, CapitalOne and Bank of America. But there are lots of great credit cards out there that stay under the radar. Cards that offer generous rewards and no annual fee. The Navy Federal More Rewards American Express® Card is one such…
Review: Etihad Business Class Lounge and Spa in Abu Dhabi

The Etihad Business Class Lounge in Abu Dhabi offers impressive amenities, including a spa, showers, and great food. If you’re transiting Abu Dhabi International Airport (AUH), the lounge is a great place to relax and refresh in between flights. I had heard that the food quality at this lounge had deteriorated. Some travelers even described…
EarPlanes: The best earplugs for flying while congested

If you’ve ever stepped on a plane with a cold, you can understand the discomfort I’m about to describe. Imagine your eustachian tube constricting to the point where your eardrums feel ready to burst. Imagine being in this excruciating pain for the entire duration of takeoff and landing, with few options for relief. That’s exactly…
Minute Suites DFW: A convenient place to nap in between flights

Have you heard of Minute Suites DFW before? I hadn’t either, until recently. On Mother’s Day, my mom and I flew to Cancun on a whim for a 3-night stay at the Nizuc Resort & Spa. We took a redeye and ended up at Dallas Fort Worth International Airport (DFW) at 5:30 AM for a…
Luxury meets historic charm: Why Hagia Sofia Mansions Istanbul is my top hotel recommendation

I’ve traveled to Istanbul nearly a dozen times over the past decade, so I often get asked about the best hotel in the city. For the past four years, my answer has been unequivocally, the Hagia Sofia Mansions. Not only is the Hagia Sofia Mansions my favorite hotel in Istanbul, but it might be my…
Beats Solo 3 review: The perfect noise isolating headphones for travel

As part of a recent Apple promotion, I got a free pair of Beats Solo 3 wireless headphones with the purchase of a MacBook Pro. You may remember a few months back, I wrote about the Bose Quiet Comfort 35 headphones. Specifically about how noise-canceling headphones cause ear pain. These have long been a favorite…
Waldorf Astoria Maldives Overwater Villa: Stunning luxury in paradise

Overwater villas are an iconic part of the Maldives and the Waldorf Astoria’s don’t disappoint. While I stayed in a beach villa during my stay at the Waldorf Astoria Maldives, I did get a chance to tour an overwater villa. The Waldorf Astoria Maldives overwater villas located at opposite ends of the island and are…

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