Hailed as one of the most anticipated restaurant openings of 2022, I was so excited to find out that Chez Noir Carmel would open not long before. Better yet, I was able to secure a reservation on our first night in Carmel. Unfortunately, my experience with them was a complete letdown. … [Read more...] about Disappointing: Chez Noir Carmel
Trip Reports
Review: Noods Ramen Bar Kaimuki
I've been on a bit of a ramen bender lately, seeking redemption for my disappointing experience at STIX Asia. The latest stop on my ramen adventure is Noods Ramen Bar Kaimuki - someplace I've actually been eyeing for a while now. … [Read more...] about Review: Noods Ramen Bar Kaimuki
Breakfast at Pacific’s Edge (Hyatt Carmel Highlands)
While I don't typically like eating at hotel restaurants, we ended up eating breakfast at Pacific's Edge twice during our three-night stay at the Hyatt Carmel Highlands. While expensive, Iʻd say that the restaurant wasnʻt bad. Mostly. … [Read more...] about Breakfast at Pacific’s Edge (Hyatt Carmel Highlands)
Review: Hyatt Carmel Highlands
After checking out from our positioning hotel - Hotel Citrine -, we started the one-hour half-plus drive to our next hotel, the Hyatt Carmel Highlands, Overlooking Big Sur. After reading several of Matthew Klint's reviews over the years, I was excited to finally check this place out. … [Read more...] about Review: Hyatt Carmel Highlands
Review: Hotel Citrine, Tribute Collection
Given our late arrival into San Jose, there was no way I was going to drive out to Carmel that night. So, for our first night in California, I chose Hotel Citrine, a Marriott Tribute Collection property in Palo Alto. This was my second Tribute Collection stay and my first dual-brand property. … [Read more...] about Review: Hotel Citrine, Tribute Collection
Review: Enterprise SJC Audi A4
I knew we'd be doing a lot of driving in our Living It Up in California trip, so I wanted a good car. After much research, I settled on renting with Enterprise SJC, choosing their Standard Elite class via Costco Travel. I just hoped I wouldn't get the same car I did a couple of months earlier in Seattle. … [Read more...] about Review: Enterprise SJC Audi A4
Alaska Air Flight 830 HNL to SJC
To get to California during our Living It Up in California trip, I chose Alaska Air Flight 830. Sure, my decision to fly Alaska was driven by my need to use expiring credits, but the airport I chose was based more on our last trip to NorCal back in 2018. Was that the right decision? I'm not sure. … [Read more...] about Alaska Air Flight 830 HNL to SJC
Review: An Di Dzo Hawaii
I love a good Pho spot, so I've had An Di Dzo Hawaii on my list for a while now. After all, it's an upscale Pho restaurant in the luxurious Ward Village neighborhood by the old local standby Cuu Long II in Chinatown. … [Read more...] about Review: An Di Dzo Hawaii
Living It Up in California – Introduction
As you may recall from my 2023 Outlook post, I don't really plan on traveling this year and may not travel much at all in the mid-term. But before I made this decision, I had booked a stay in Napa and ended up turning that trip into a last hurrah, living it up in California. … [Read more...] about Living It Up in California – Introduction
Alaska Air 103 Seattle to Honolulu
Our flight home from our Labor Day Weekend PNW Adventure was Alaska Air 103 Seattle to Honolulu. This was probably the most convoluted flight we've ever had with Alaska, though it was nowhere near as bad as what others had been experiencing last year. … [Read more...] about Alaska Air 103 Seattle to Honolulu