Jeffsetter Travel

Travel Consultants and Travel Tips

Posts by Jeffsetter

Hyatt Gold Passport Devaluation 2013: The Losers and a Winner?

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Last night Hyatt announced that they would be devaluing their award chart by increasing the number of points needed for certain awards and adding a new level of redemption (Level 7) which increases the number of points needed for an award night at 6 Park Hyatt Hotels by 8,000 points (36% increase). In addition, Hyatt is changing their valuable suite upgrades to be 6,000 points … [Read more...] about Hyatt Gold Passport Devaluation 2013: The Losers and a Winner?

Add First Class on Thai Airways for 5k More United Miles and $52? Yes Please!

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Last night I was one of many to take advantage of the Lufthansa first class award availability from Toronto (YYZ) to Munich (MUC). This morning I woke up and learned that I could add a flight to Asia on my itinerary in first class for only 5,000 extra United Miles. Gary mentioned that this would be a good opportunity to fly Thai Airways in first class because of their … [Read more...] about Add First Class on Thai Airways for 5k More United Miles and $52? Yes Please!

Does Electronic Devices Below 10,000 Feet Mean the End of Books?

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I have always loved books, especially hardcover books. They seem so official, distinguished, intelligent and permanent. They serve as a tangible memory of our knowledge gained and are a resource that can be generously shared with others when done. For avid readers, respect can be earned on a bookshelf without even meeting the owner of the book collection. … [Read more...] about Does Electronic Devices Below 10,000 Feet Mean the End of Books?

[Random Review Month] The Westminster Hotel in Livingston, New Jersey

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This post is part of Random Hotel Review Month. Today we review the Conrad Istanbul Hotel from my April 2013 visit. Other Random Hotel Reviews: Westminster Hotel. For years one of my major clients was located within 5 minutes of the Westminster Hotel in Livingston, NJ. Because of the close proximity to our client offices and frequency of our trips, I have probably stayed at … [Read more...] about [Random Review Month] The Westminster Hotel in Livingston, New Jersey

Welcome to Random Hotel Review Month!

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When traveling for business or on vacation, I often take photos of the hotels I visit with every intention of posting a review on the hotel in the future. Then I get busy with other matters and the review sits untouched and photos are ignored. The result is a backlog of hotel reviews that I have been meaning to write, many of which no longer follow any sort of chronology, … [Read more...] about Welcome to Random Hotel Review Month!

[Friday Photo] The Harem at Dolmabahce Palace in Istanbul

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Perhaps the most pleasant surprise while walking through Istanbul was seeing Dolmabahce Palace, an extravagant living space located on the banks of the Bosphorus river. Along with landmarks like Blue Mosque and Hagia Sofia, Dolmabahce palace is a must see attraction in Istanbul. While you are allowed to take photos outside of the palace, you are not supposed to be able to … [Read more...] about [Friday Photo] The Harem at Dolmabahce Palace in Istanbul

The Airline Safety Video to End All Safety Videos

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I have to admit when I saw this Virgin America flight safety video come through my email, Twitter and RSS feeds, my first reaction was “not another safety video!” It’s not that I don’t enjoy airline safety videos with a humorous twist, I just figured that most of the innovation had already been done in this area. When I finally clicked through to watch the Virgin America … [Read more...] about The Airline Safety Video to End All Safety Videos

Conrad Indianapolis Hotel Review

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A few weeks ago I wrote briefly about my trip to Indianapolis in a post titled "Impressed with Indianapolis." In that post, I promised that more would follow, including a review of the Conrad Indianapolis hotel, where I stayed for the night. Here is that review. One of the benefits to arriving at your hotel after 11 PM is that at that point most of the room assignments are … [Read more...] about Conrad Indianapolis Hotel Review