theReasonableTraveler -

Etihad A350-1000 from JFK to AUH

by michael.hoepp on Jan 6, 2023 category Travel Reviews, Uncategorized

One of my most anticipated flights of 2022 was Etihad’s new A350-1000 from New York JFK to Abu Dhabi AUH. The flight debuted on June 30, 2022 and I had to wait over five months before I could get onboard. I was fortunate to be planning my honeymoon to start in South Africa and what better way to kick things off than 27 hours of travel time to Johannesburg with a six-hour layover in AUH (vs. a quick 14.5 direct flight on United– boring!). Fortunately, my partner appreciates my passion for flying and agreed to come along for the ride. In another post, I’ll detail how I was able to save over $10,000 booking these flights!

The date was officially set for Monday, December 12^th and we were booked on EY 100 departing at 9:40 pm and arriving to Abu Dhabi AUH at 7:40 pm (+1). I had high anxiety all day as the same flight the day before was delayed over 12+ hours and according to the google, our flight was also going to be severely delayed.

To try and calm my nerves, I called the airline to double check and they said the flight was still scheduled for on time. So we packed up our bags and headed to the airport. Sure enough, during our uber ride to JFK, google updated to reflect an on-time departure. Whew!

We arrived to the airport around 6:30 pm and check in and security were very efficient and smooth, with a dedicated check in area for business class passengers.

Etihad had its own lounge at JFK but it closed during COVID (while the airline was going through significant cost cutting measures) and I know of no new plans for it to reopen. Etihad business class passengers are welcome to use the Virgin Atlantic Clubhouse located in Terminal 4 on the second floor, near gates A4 and A5. When we arrived to the lounge it was less than half full and we were able to find a table quickly, but sadly all of the tables along the window were already taken. I’m sorry I don’t have any pictures of the lounge, as I don’t like to photograph people without their consent, but pictures are widely available online.

There was a QR code on the table and you ordered everything electronically. While I’d prefer to speak to a person when dining, the process was efficient enough and most of our food and drinks arrived quickly after submitting the order. The menu seems to be updated throughout the night as they run out of some things, but add new options.

We shared the spinach and feta greek pie, a chicken burger and fries and then of course we had to try the chicken curry (which was added to the menu while we were there). All were warm and very tasty. We started with a glass of champagne to celebrate our honeymoon and then switched to gin and tonics. After about an hour, they announced our boarding and we took a short walk from the lounge to our gate, where passengers were already standing, awaiting to board. They boarded business class passengers first, about an hour before our scheduled departure.

My first reaction of the cabin: stunning. The A350 has 44 business class “pods” arranged in a 1-2-1 configuration. Knowing we would be sitting next to each other on the next flight, I booked us in two window seats in front of each other, in 4A and 5A respectively. At my seat was a good sized pillow, a comfortable blanket, an amenity kit with Acqua de Parma products, a “Traveling Well Together” package that contained a face mask and disinfecting wipes, a menu and noise cancelling head phones. (I had read in advance that the in-flight entertainment (IFE) system had bluetooth pairing so I was excited to use my own earbuds (more on that later).

Once settled in my seat, the flight attendant came by to welcome me on board and offered a choice of water, juice or champagne. Having heard good things about the lime and mint juice I asked for that and a glass of champagne. The purser came by shortly thereafter and we had a nice discussion about our plans for our honeymoon and how excited we were.

Once the plane was loaded and the cabin doors closed there was a prayer video shown on the screen followed by the safety demonstrations. I recall the taxi and takeoff to be fairly uneventful, and we were soon at cruising altitude and ready for the food and drinks!

Service began with a warm scented towel, drinks, and warm nuts.

The Etihad dining menu is extensive and the a la carte options include a selection of starters, mains, cheese and desserts. In addition, they offer “all day” options which can be ordered at any time during the flight. I suppose you could order from both menus at either time, but I was excited to check things out. The food was fresh, tasty and presented beautifully. I love that Etihad brings an electric candle with white linen during service for your tray table.

Following my four-course dinner, and some delicious wines, I was ready for some rest and excited to test out the lie flat bed. Unfortunately, a nearby passenger was snoring so loudly that I had to wear my noise-cancelling headphones with music to drown it out. I will say, I think for the first time in my life, I was able to get a couple hours of sleep on an airplane. That is to say, the bedding was very comfortable and I was grateful for the rest given the long journey that lay ahead.

I woke up just in time to order the “famous” steak sandwich from the “all day” menu and it was delicious.

Now for the not so great parts of the flight.

Some areas of improvement include the wifi, bluetooth pairing with the (IFE), and electronic ordering.

The online ordered didn’t work during this flight

I had purchased wifi for $26, which should have lasted the entire flight, but it never worked. There were plenty of things to watch on the IFE so I wasn’t bored by any means but they should have made an announcement or offered to reimburse the charge (tbh, I didn’t ask about either…).

While I was able to pair my bluetooth headphones for almost an hour, at some point they cut out and I was never able to restore access even though they were fully charged.

And the IFE system looks like it has the ability for ordering drinks and food directly from your seat, but this was not activated for our flight (but no one said anything).

That being said, the service was outstanding. I always appreciate a cabin crew who proactively stops by to check in if you need anything versus having to ring your call button every time you need a water refill.

Overall, this was an amazing flight and I hope for the opportunity to flew it again sometime soon.

And this was just the start of our trip to stay tuned for more posts from our stays in Johannesburg, our African Safari and our trip to the Seychelles!

Ever Get an “SSSS” on your Boarding Pass? – A Reasonable Success Story

by michael.hoepp on Oct 12, 2022 category Travel Reviews, Uncategorized

Many of you may remember when I posted on my Instagram account this summer when I was traveling back to the US from Oslo, that I had “SSSS” printed on my board pass. This stands for “Secondary Security Screen Selection” and basically means that you have to have all of your belongings hand searched before you are able to board the plane. While I’m all for security and always cooperate fully, my frustration stemmed from the fact that this was now happening every time I was returning to the US from abroad and it was not, in fact, a random occurrence.

So, after the security agent deemed my week’s worth of dirty laundry and laptop computer to be safe, I boarded the plane and was determined to look into this further—to try and get this figured out so it wouldn’t happen again.

This brings me to the world of the DHS Traveler Redress Inquiry Program. I’m certain many of you have a TSA Precheck number (and if you don’t, shame on you!), but you likely don’t have, what’s called a redress number. To obtain the former, you apply online through an application, pay a fee and usually have to attend an in-person interview where they take your fingerprints and ask you a few basic questions. The DHS TRIP is described on its website as, “…a single point of contact for individuals who have inquiries or seek resolution regarding difficulties they experienced during their travel screening at transportation hubs—like airports—or crossing U.S. borders. This includes:
• watch list issues
• screening problems at ports of entry
• situations where travelers believe they have been unfairly or incorrectly delayed, denied boarding or identified for additional screening at our nation’s transportation hubs”

So, as the kids say these days, “Itme”!

On August 1, 2022 I submitted my application and received an email notification that read:

Dear Michael,

Your application has been submitted and is being reviewed by the DHS TRIP Program Office and/or practitioner offices.
At this time, your request for redress has a status of “Application Received & In Process.” In processing your redress request, when we encounter records that need correction or updating, we will make those modifications. The length of the review of a DHS TRIP request varies based on the concerns raised in the application, but most cases take several weeks. If we require further information or documentation, an analyst will reach out to request it. Please do not resend documentation unless requested.
You may continue to visit the DHS TRIP Portal (https://trip.dhs.gov) to obtain a status of your request. At the end of the review process, you will receive a final determination letter.

Sincerely,
DHS TRIP

And that was it. And then I waited. Almost two months in fact until I received a second email that DHS TRIP had completed its review of my case and a letter was available online.

It read, in part:

“Dear Michael,
Thank you for submitting your Traveler Inquiry Form and identity documentation to the Department of Homeland Security Traveler Redress Inquiry Program (DHS TRIP). DHS’ mission is to lead the unified national effort to secure the country, including U.S. border and transportation security. We take requests for redress seriously, and we understand the inconveniences that additional inspections may cause. DHS strives to process travelers in the most efficient and professional manner possible without compromising our mission to safeguard the United States, its people and its visitors.
When DHS TRIP receives a redress inquiry, we conduct a thorough review of the matter. We consult and share information with other agencies, when appropriate, to relieve you from the burden of seeking redress on an agency-by-agency basis and to address the issue that you identified in your application. DHS TRIP can neither confirm nor deny any information about you which may be within federal watchlists or reveal any law enforcement sensitive information. We have found that about 2% of the DHS TRIP complainants actually have some connection to the Terrorist Watchlist. Complaints most often arise either because the traveler’s name and personal information is similar to the name and personal information of another person in systems which contain information from Federal, state, local and foreign sources or because the traveler has been delayed in travel for reasons unrelated to such data, such as by random screening.”

And now for the ruling…

“The U.S. Government has completed our review of your case. Your experience was most likely caused by a misidentification against a government record or by random selection. We regret any inconvenience that you may have experienced and, where appropriate, have made updates to our records that may assist in avoiding future incident of misidentification.”

Wahoo!! We won! Well, not exactly but it sure felt like a win to me. Now I have a redress number that I can use when I book airline tickets (along with my TSA Precheck number) to hopefully avoid any unnecessary SSSS tags in the future.

Thank you for following along. I hope this may help some of you in the future. Please leave a comment below if you’ve ever had an SSSS on your boarding pass.

Best Business Class to London?

by michael.hoepp on Oct 12, 2022 category Travel Reviews, Uncategorized

Dear Reader,

I thank you for your patience after a several month hiatus due to my wedding (and all the fun planning that goes along with that!) This reasonable traveler recently took to the skies again and I wanted to share two vastly different experiences on a recent work trip to Europe. Specifically, I flew to London- Gatwick in JetBlue Mint class and returned home from Lithuania (Vilnius to Stockholm then Stockholm to Newark) on SAS Business Pro. Below, I’ll review the Mint experience and in a second post I’ll share how it went with SAS—you may be surprised!

First up was my JetBlue Mint experience from JFK to London Gatwick. JetBlue first announced plans to fly to London in 2019 but due to the COVID pandemic, the inaugural flight was delayed until August 2021. Now JetBlue has regular flights from JFK and Boston into Heathrow and Gatwick.

Our flight #43, was scheduled to depart JFK on September 27, 2022 at 7:32 pm and arrive to Gatwick the following day at 7:55 am. The one downside to the Mint experience, JetBlue does not have a passenger lounge at JFK, or at any airport for that matter (although there are rumors this may change in the future). Fortunately, TSA precheck was almost empty and the gate was fairly quiet with ample seating. With all of the recent stories in the news about how busy travel has become, it felt strangely quiet and calm at JFK. After waiting patiently at the gate area for about an hour, boarding started right on time at 6:47 pm.

JetBlue currently uses a brand new A321LR for this route which has 22 Mint “suites” in a 1-1 configuration and two Mint “studios” in row 1 that have extra space if you wanted a guest to join you for a meal (I guess that’s a thing?). The suite is very spacious with all the bells and whistles you would imagine for business class on a long haul flight. Some of my favorite amenities included a wireless charging station for my phone and a wire rack near the outlet so my cords would be organized. The tv screen was very large and could angle toward you for better viewing.

Shortly after I took my seat, a welcome drink choice of champagne, champagne with elderflower, or water was offered. I thought the elderflower added a nice touch and I was finally able to relax for the long journey ahead. After the doors closed and the safety briefing was introduced, we pushed back from the gate at 7:26 pm and were airborne at 7:45 p.m.

I have to say the amenity kit was very basic and something you might find in economy, but it included the “usual things” and I found the eye mask to be comfortable. JetBlue also provides slippers, if that’s your thing.

JetBlue has some of the best food offerings on any airline but particularly in the United States, and their Mint experience lives up to that reputation. While I would typically enjoy a longer experience and a few courses during the meal, due to the short flight and the need for passengers to sleep, everything was served on one tray. The only issue with this, was my ice cream was almost melted by the time I got to dessert (I know, poor me!). For dinner, you were offered a choice of four small plates and you could choose up to three. And to sacrifice myself for the blog, I asked to try all four and they happily obliged. I’d say the chicken milanese was my least favorite, but it could be due to the fact that it wasn’t very hot by the time I finished the soup, salad, and pasta—all of which were very tasty. Had this meal been served in courses, the chicken could have been much better.

JetBlue has some of the best food in the sky!

After a delicious meal and a below average viewing of Top Gun Maverick (don’t judge), I tried to get some shut eye, knowing it would be a long working day in London.

Not a huge fan– too much like the original!

The seat slides down into a full flat bed and you are provided a nice blanket and pillow. I’d say the cabin temperate was very comfortable for sleeping; unfortunately for me, I can’t really sleep on planes, so it was a best effort to try and do so.

After what seemed like a very short time, the flight attendants were back in the aisle ready to serve breakfast to anyone who had requested one. One of the nice things about this flight, was for those who wished to maximize their sleep, they offered a “get to snoozing altitude sooner” option for dinner and a “breakfast to go” option for breakfast. The breakfast was excellent and I only asked for two of the three options this time. I also appreciate that JetBlue serves Dunkin’ coffee on all of its flights. They also offered espresso, americano or cappuccino (hot or iced).

We were treated to a nice sunrise over Ireland and landed in London about 50 minutes ahead of schedule due to favorable tail winds. And since the UK has implemented facial recognition scanners on arrival for American citizens, customs was a breeze and took no time at all.

I had bought tickets to ride the Gatwick Express into the city, but unfortunately, just missed the train and had to hop on a Great Northern Railways train to London Victoria (a faster trip vs. waiting for the next Express).

While I have not flown a previous business class to London (not since US Airways many years ago!), I would be hard pressed to find a better business class experience from the US. JetBlue does a great job giving passengers the opportunity to rest on this flight given their “express” meal options and a very comfortable lie-flat seat, pillow and blankets. The service was friendly and efficient I would highly recommend flying JetBlue Mint to to anyone looking for an elevated experience.

(Fun fact: I flew this very same flight in July, but in economy, and one of these days I will get around to reviewing that experience so you can compare.)

PS- I hope to catch up on several reviews from my summer travels, including flights on JetBlue, SAS, and Norse Atlantic airways, and hotel stays in Copenhagen, Stockholm, and stops in Norway. Stay tuned!

The Venture X: What Every Traveler Should Have In Their Wallet

by michael.hoepp on Jun 8, 2022 category Travel Reviews, Uncategorized

Since I have a bit of a lull before my busy summer travel heats up (think London, Copenhagen, Stockholm and Oslo!) and I’ll be able to post a lot more reviews, I thought I would take some time to write a review about my favorite travel credit card: the Capital One Venture X. I highlight below all of the benefits and how I’ve been able to take advantage so far.

Don’t let the $395 annual fee deter you; at least before you read all of the benefits and decide if this card could be right for you and your family. You should be aware that the authorized user has all of the rights and privileges of the primary card user without any additional fee, which is pretty amazing.

First, the card offers a $300 travel credit per year when booking through the Capital One Travel Portal. While not my preferred travel search tool, I will usually begin my search on booking.com and then when I’m ready to confirm, I’ll switch over to the capital one portal. The credit appeared on my account just days after booking the reservation. To make the deal even sweeter, the Venture X gives you 10,000 points annually on your card anniversary (worth $100 towards travel). So, if you do nothing else in the first year (technically, a year plus one day but who’s counting?) but claim the $300 in travel credit and use your 10,000 points, you’ve already made your money back.

Capital One is also currently offering a welcome bonus of 75,000 miles after you spend $4,000 on purchases in the first three month from the account opening (a $750 value towards travel).

One of the best perks of the Venture X is a membership in Priority Pass for you, your authorized users and the ability to bring up to two guests into over 1,300 airline lounges around the world. I personally have yet to experience the joys of a priority pass lounge but my partner can attest to its added enjoyment during travel. I look forward to using this more during my summer travels and have already searched for lounges on the priority pass app. Another cool feature to the priority pass is the ability to use it for credit at participating restaurants in the airline terminal. Say, for example, the airport does not have a lounge available, instead you may be given $35 towards food and beverage at a participating restaurant, and an additional $35 for your guest! Capital One is also opening up its own airport lounges across the country and you and two guests will soon have unlimited access to these lounges as well. The Dallas/ Fort Worth Lounge is now open with lounges in Denver and Washington Dulles up next.

Primeclass Lounge at JFK (Photo by Zach Griff)

I have been lucky to take advantage of the card’s complimentary Hertz President’s Circle Status, which allows you to walk up to your rental car in the designated area and drive away. On a recent trip to California, I was able to do this at both SFO and LAX and it saved a ton of time versus waiting in line at the counter.

And lastly, you can earn miles for your normal everyday spending to redeem for future flights and hotels! When booking through Capital One Travel, for every dollar you spend on hotels and rental cars, you earn 10 points; and for every dollar on flights you earn 5 points. For everyday purchases you earn 2 points. For those of us with an upcoming wedding, this comes in very handy!

The card lists these additional benefits that I have yet to take advantage of (as detailed on the capital one website):

Up to $100 credit for Global Entry or TSA Precheck

Miles Redemption: Use your Venture X miles to easily cover travel expenses, including flights, hotels, rental cars and more—plus transfer miles to your choice of 15+ travel loyalty programs.

Cell phone protection: Protect your cell phone every time you pay your bill with your Venture X card. If it’s stolen or damaged, you’ll get reimbursed up to $800.

No foreign transaction fees

Trip delay/ interruption/ cancellation/ and lost baggage coverage

Every individual or family needs to decide which credit card could be right for them but I hope I’ve given you something to think about and something that could be helpful to you now or in the future. If interested you can always sign up for the Venture X at my referral link which gives me some bonus miles but I am not paid by Capital One to promote their card.

Happy Traveling!

The Nutmeg Inn: So Inn-to-it!

by michael.hoepp on May 25, 2022 category Travel Reviews, Uncategorized

Over the weekend, my partner and I were heading over to Lake Winnipesauke to enjoy the 90 degree temperature from the water, when we were suddenly in a situation where our housing fell through and we needed a place to stay. I know the area fairly well as I have family who live there, so I sought out a place that was comfortable, cheap and conveniently located.

My preferred travel site is booking.com, as I think it has good search features and easy sort functions. You should note when commencing a search the default view is “Our Top Picks”, which I’m inclined to think means the property is somehow paying a kickback to influence the order in which the results are returned. Instead, I always click the “Best reviewed & lowest price option”.

There are not a ton of options in Laconia/ Meredith area, but I was pleased to come across the “Nutmeg Inn” which still had availability on Saturday night for decent rates around $165 +tax. So, that was settled!

Bed and…

After a beautiful afternoon on the boat, we arrived to the Inn at 6:00 pm, where we were greeted by Kevin, one of the Inn Keepers and later introduced to Karen, his wife and co-owner. They were both incredibly gracious and thorough in showing us around the property and giving us a bit of a history lesson. The Inn dates back to 1763 so there was lots to explain! I was pleased that they still had coffee out for guests as well as Nutmeg muffins should you fancy a late afternoon snack.

We were staying in the Rosemary room which had a king bed and overlooked the grounds and pool. My partner nailed the décor when he said, “my grandmother would love to stay here!”. But I have to admit, the room was very spacious and incredibly clean. We were grateful for the air conditioning on such an early hot summer day.

We quickly took Kevin up on his offer for cold beers from the downstairs fridge and sat out on the rocking chairs watching the sun go down. Unfortunately, the pool is only open Memorial Day through Labor Day, so we missed it by a week. But when open, it looks to be a great spot to relax and cool off.

After a fabulous dinner at O Steaks and Seafood in Laconia, we headed back to the Inn for a well-deserved night’s rest.

…Breakfast

Now knowing that the “bed” part of the equation was very comfortable, I was excited for the breakfast. Coffee is available as early as 7:00 am which I appreciate as an early riser. They even have adorable Nutmeg Inn mugs, which run on the smaller side so a refill might be necessary. Once fully caffeinated we went downstairs for breakfast and it was the first time we actually saw other guests. Breakfast is available between 8:00 – 9:30 am and the menu (changes daily) consisted of fresh fruit, homemade granola and yogurt and a Mexican frittata. And of course the homemade sourdough bread! Breakfast was excellent and Kevin and Karen were back as gracious servers and chefs.

We had a busy day back on the water so we checked out around 9:30 am and we were off!

In summary, I would say the Nutmeg Inn is as adorable as it is charming and I would be excited to stay here again. For those of you who may be traveling to the area for a wedding in September (probably all of you reading this!), be sure to check out the different room options (some rooms have multiple beds for families and they have a Sugar Shack that has a kitchen and second floor). Kevin and Karen, who have only owned the Inn for a year, are gracious hosts and make the experience all the more enjoyable.

The Water is Really THAT Blue: Turks and Caicos

by michael.hoepp on May 13, 2022 category Travel Reviews, Uncategorized

I recently traveled to Turks and Caicos for a friend’s destination wedding and it was a blast! It was my first time visiting the islands but I feel like recently it has become more popular given it’s close proximity to those of us on the east coast, no time zone change (more on this later) and several easy direct flight options.

In the post we’ll talk about the flight experience (roundtrip direct JetBlue from JFK to PLS), my two-night stay at the Wymara Resort, and my general experience traveling since the federal mask mandate was lifted on April 18^th.

Getting there…

There are several direct flight options from the New York area to Providenciales but I was able to find a preferred morning time slot that would get me into Turks before noon (and to the beach to catch some rays!). I was originally scheduled to fly from Newark to PLS because this flight was only $98 and the JFK flight was over $500. Fortunately though, I received an email from JetBlue that the Newark flight was cancelled and I was automatically moved to the JFK flight for no change in fare!

As I previously reported, entry requirements for visitors into Turks and Caicos were significantly reduced on May 1^st and now all you need to prove was your COVID vaccination. At the boarding gate, the JetBlue gate agent made an announcement that you would need a printed boarding pass and to have your vaccine card checked before boarding. I had my physical card on me just in case, but I was pleased when they accepted proof from my digital vaccine card in my iphone “wallet”.

Once onboard, the flight could not have been more pleasant. I paid $74 to upgrade to an emergency exit row seat which is considered an “even more space” seat that also give you priority boarding in Group A. I was welcomed onboard by a flight attendant named Heather who couldn’t have been nicer. She smiled and welcomed every single passenger who walked by and had fun with children and promised to bring them an extra snack in flight. I think people were generally pleased to be heading to a warmer, beach climate, but Heather added to the positive vibe and I was very impressed. She was clearly going above and beyond in her duties.

JetBlue does a great job with service on board, offering free nonalcoholic drinks and snacks. I am a big fan of the popcorners and always ask for a second bag. I also like the fact they serve Dunkin Donuts coffee. Beer, wine, and snack boxes were offered for a fee. I was fortunate to be sitting next to Aimee, whom I met as we boarded, and as a Mosaic customer (JetBlue’s elite frequent flyer program), is entitled to free drinks for herself and her travel party. Aimee was so nice to include me in her group and we all enjoyed a margarita to celebrate Cinco de Mayo!

Happy Cinco de Mayo courtesy of Mosaic seat mate Aimee.

The reminder of the flight was less eventful. I kept myself busy watching The White Lotus which I obviously enjoyed as a travel and hotel fan. My friend told me I reminded him of the Murray Bartlett character which we can get into another time…

Upon Arrival at PLS…

Shortly after 11:15am we touched down at PLS and parked just outside the terminal. PLS does not have jetbridges so everyone deplanes from a set of stairs (or ramps). The front door and rear door open so people can file out rather quickly. I did not check any luggage so I was quick to line up at customs and had a brief 2-3 minute wait before I was cleared through.

Quick note here: I was anxious about the wait at customs and so ahead of time, I checked what other flights may be arriving at PLS around the same time as me. Fortunately, my flight was one of the first international flights to arrive in the morning and if on time, I should have no problem getting through customs. This turned out to be true and saved me $75 by not having to buy a Fast Track pass through customs. Fast Track is described as “a VIP concierge service, where an agent will greet you upon entrance at the Providenciales International Airport (PLS) and guide you through expedited immigration and customs processing lanes, and assist with luggage, allowing you to reduce wait times when arriving in the Turks and Caicos.” My good wedding friend, however, was coming in later in the afternoon from FLL and was grateful for the Fast Track as the lines were much longer.

Immigration and Customs at PLS on arrival.

So, I’m now through Customs and Immigration and step outside to get that first wave of fresh salty beach air! I had reached out to the hotel ahead of time to ask about transportation options and they suggested a shared taxi. Sure enough, just outside the doors was the taxi stand where they asked my final destination and showed me where to line up. After a few short minutes of waiting a 15-passenger minivan pulled up and seated us from the front to back according to where our hotel was located on the island. I was lucky in that the Wymara must have been the first stop and I got to ride shotgun! Our driver was very welcoming and nice and made sure to point out the “landmarks” along the journey.

Time Change… But Not Really…

The Turks and Caicos Islands are in the Eastern Time Zone. Full stop. But for some reason your phone may change when you land causing all sorts of confusion. I had to take my phone off its automatic setting and change it back to EDT for the remainder of the trip. I guess you could keep it an hour later and it would bring you back to those days of “Camp Time” when you were growing up. But, I digress…

The Wymara Resort

In full disclosure, I did not choose to stay at the Wymara, rather it was the host location for the wedding and so I was happy to stay with my friends and celebrate.

When you arrive to the Wymara, you immediately feel like you are staying at a five star resort. The reception desk is outside with open air views to the luxury pool and even further down you can see the beach. I was greeted with a warm smile, a welcome fruit drink, and a hot towel. As I was checking in early, my room was not yet ready so they asked for my cell phone and said they would text me. I was offered a changing room and to store my luggage, which I happily accepted so I could get to the beach as fast as possible.

While I never received a text, my roommate arrived around 2:00 pm and was told our room was ready. Our original reservation was for an Ocean View Studio King, so I was delighted when we were “upgraded” to an Oceanfront Grand Studio with two queen beds.

Dining

Dining at the resort is certainly convenient, and they have multiple options. Zest is the beachfront restaurant that also provides cabana and lounge chair service throughout the day and night. I had lunch here the first day with some of my wedding guest friends and while the food was fine, I wouldn’t rave about $28 fish tacos. The menu was varied and had lots of fresh seafood options and can be viewed here in full.

There is a full bar just across the walkway that has additional high-top seating and a comfortable sofa area with a gas firepit that was turned on in the evenings.

Inigo is the main restaurant in the hotel, open for breakfast and dinner. The breakfast is technically provided for all hotel guests but I can’t help but mention there is a $90 resort fee per day (labeled as a service charge) that is tacked on to every stay that more than covers what you would spend at breakfast. I will say, however, that I was impressed with the breakfast offerings and thoroughly enjoyed my omelets cooked to order each morning. The staff were very attentive and friendly made for a delightful experience. I’d be remiss if I did not mention the fact that the coffee service was available for us early risers around 6:00 am. There are espresso machines in each room which are great, but in the morning I like to slowly sip a cup of freshly brewed coffee and I was able to do so down at the beach before most people woke up.

We had a “light” dinner on our first night here that consisted of a round of espresso martinis (because hey, you’re on vacation!), bbq octopus, chicken dumplings, and salmon that we shared. Everything was very delicious and if I was staying longer on the island, I wouldn’t hesitate to return to Indigo.

Our last meal service before the wedding was poolside. There are small flags attached to each lounge chair and to place an order, you just raise the flag and someone will come over and take your order. I had the pumpkin salad with chicken (and of course a side of sweet potato fries) and they were very tasty, albeit expensive for what I am used to stateside.

Overall, the food quality and service were excellent. I admit, I had a bit of “sticker shock” when I looked at the prices but I had to remind myself that I’m at a five-star beach resort.

Amenities

The hotel boasts several additional amenities including a spa, a fitness center, and a yoga studio, including fitness classes on a rotating schedule. I admit I did not partake as I wanted to run along the beach and explore a bit outside of the resort.

While not a typical amenity during normal times, I was impressed that the resort offered complimentary COVID tests for those of us returning to the United States. They were scheduled at the Yoga Studio at 5:00 pm on a first come, first served basis and the results were available for pick up at the front desk at 8:00 pm. I think I learned of my negative results half way through “Shout!” on the dance floor, so I was even more excited.

Pros:

Beautiful location on a gorgeous beach that seemed to be more secluded than some of the other resorts.
Very friendly and attentive service
Complimentary COVID test

Cons:

I don’t like resort fees in general but $90 per day seems excessive to me.
I could have used a few more hooks in the bathroom to hang wet swim suits and towels.

Returning Home…

Sadly, it was time to return home to the United States after a few quick days in the sunshine and celebrating a beautiful wedding! My flight was scheduled to depart PLS at 12:31 pm and as an excited traveler, I like to get to the airport on the early side. And more often than not, it works out in my favor!

I checked out of my room around 9:15 am and the front desk was able to call for a taxi that arrived just a few minutes later (it was actually sitting in the parking lot behind the hotel). The drive to the airport was only about 10 minutes so I arrive to the airport with plenty of time for my flight. Unfortunately, there was a Boston flight scheduled ahead of me and I was not able to check in on my phone. Each passenger has to sign an attestation for entry back in the United States and they had to check this at the airport. For whatever reason this process was going very slow and it took about forty-five minutes for the airline employees to clear about 20 people in front of me. It can get pretty warm at the check in counter and one woman was even about to faint.

Please note: there is no Clear or Pre-Check at PLS so if you think you can just breeze through, you may want to plan for extra time.

Things got much better once I had my boarding pass and was through security and customs… or so I thought at first. There are two levels in the waiting area while all of the gates are located on the first level. The second level has a restaurant and a cool outdoor section for us av geeks where you can watch all of the planes take off and land. There’s even an outdoor bar if you didn’t get enough to drink at the beach and wanted to continue your vacation until the very last minute. I was still about an hour early for my flight and I would say at the time there were maybe 30 people upstairs scattered about. Fast forward to boarding time around 12:30 pm (we were a bit delayed due to a late arriving aircraft), both levels were standing room only and bursting at the seams. I was grateful for my A boarding group because I had purchased another “even more space seat” for the return and I sneaked my way through and was able to escape the madness.

My advice is to get to the airport earlier than you think if you would like a reasonable experience. Otherwise, it will be standing room only and you risk being late for your boarding.

Looking good so far at the depatures terminal.

In conclusion, I thoroughly enjoyed my trip to the Turks and Caicos Islands. I would encourage you to look for deals on airfare and try to avoid the busy winter season when resorts can charge their highest rates. It seems like late Fall and Spring would bean ideal time of year to visit.

I wouldn’t hesitate to stay at the Wymara Resort again, but it could be fun to try a different part of the island. If you’re looking for a place to relax and don’t want to leave the resort for a few days, I would highly recommend it.

Please be sure to leave a comment below on my first post!

Hello world!

by michael.hoepp on Apr 28, 2022 category Uncategorized

This site was created to share my love for travel with anyone around the world who may be interested. As you may know, there are thousands of travel bloggers out there, but this site will try to help those of us who don’t acquire millions of credit card and airline miles at a time and who travel on a reasonable budget. Sure, points are great and have allowed me to upgrade some of my itineraries, but the focus here will be ways in which to help you save a buck or two and enjoy your travels. I tend to avoid major brand hotels and much prefer a small boutique experience, when possible.

This blog will certainly be a work in progress and I hope you’ll reach out to share your feedback.