The Intercontinental San Francisco (Howard Street) and trying out the new BART trains Polishing Silver It's time to head to downtown San Francisco and experience a new Intercontinental Hotel for me - the Intercontinental San Francisco (as opposed to the one on the Nob Hill). How does it stack up? And yes, I included a transit adventure segment in this. Enjoy the BART! … [Read more...]

Late night at San Francisco International Airport and a crashpad for the night - The Crowne Plaza Burlingame Polishing Silver It's been a long day of travel... and I need to put my head and body in the horizontal position. Given I need just a comfortable bed, can The Crowne Plaza Burlingame fill the bill... or does it need a lot more love?  … [Read more...]

American Airlines AA2663 Philadelphia International Airport to San Franciso International Airport (US Domestic First) Polishing Silver If there's a flight that gives me echoes of US Airways (and not in a positive way), here we go. So much promise, with budget cuts and mistakes attached to make this flight... worthy of documentation. That's about the one positive here.  … [Read more...]

Return to Philadelphia Airport and the American Airlines Admirals Club (B/C) Polishing Silver Enough of Rocky and other things. It's time to get back to the business of travel and enjoy my first encounter with the TSA on this trip. Oh, goody. At least there's a lounge at the end of this rainbow. As well as a delayed inbound service. … [Read more...]

Into Philadelipa and Climbing Rocky's Steps Polishing Silver We all know the music. We all know the film. But let's go beyond Rocky and walk through the Streets of Philadelphia, as I make the most of an eight-hour layover. Because, being stuck in an airport lounge for eight hours and beyond is no one's idea of fun (unless it's a really exceptional lounge and you can't get … [Read more...]

American Airlines AA723 Dublin Airport to Philadelphia International Airport (Flagship Business Class) Polishing Silver It's time to go into the first of the business class flights of this trip, with American Airlines providing the lift over the Atlantic. How does Concept D seat stack up, given the seats that are out there today? … [Read more...]

Another Early Morning at Dublin Airport featuring US Immigration Preclearance and the 51st and Green Lounge Polishing Silver It's time to get the business class part of the trip underway, with the premium experience on the ground at Dublin Airport - along with a smattering of US Immigration Pre-Clearance too. How does it stack up? … [Read more...]

Welcome to Dublin Airport and The Premier Inn, Swords Polishing Silver Time for the first night stop on this trip, so that I can meet the service to the USA with ease in the morning. And it's time to save a few pennies as well... by heading to the wilds of Swords for my discount hotel of the night.  … [Read more...]

Ryanair FR669 - Birmingham Airport to Dublin Airport Polishing Silver It's time to get my backside in the air with the first part of this adventure. Every adventure has to start somewhere... even with a simple Ryanair flight across the Irish Sea. But will they sell me scratchcards?  … [Read more...]