Category: Hotel Reviews

V at the lobby of Hotel Vandivort
Hotel Vandivort Review: Springfield, Missouri's Four Diamond Boutique Hotel
When it comes to my Travel Tuesday hotel review series, I often wonder what travels might be featured in my latest installment. That's when it hit me that: instead of looking to other cities for adventure, I could feature a property found right here in Springfield, Missouri.  Hotel Vandivort is a unique boutique hotel we’d...
view inside of The Nash Hotel in Nashville
Travel Tuesday: The Nash (Formerly The Bobby) Nashville Hotel Review
A funny thing happened to me recently when I was booking a hotel. When Googling a property I had seen listed, I was surprised to find that "The Nash" in Nashville, ironically, didn't rank well (something in Dallas kept coming up). Well, it turns out that this is because The Nash was previously known as...
bed in a room at Hotel Vandivort V2
Travel Tuesday: Booking a Capital One Lifestyle Collection Hotel Stay - My Experience
You may have heard of Amex's Fine Hotels & Resorts program (as well as the similar-but-different Hotel Collection program). You might have also heard of The Edit by Chase. Heck, you might have even caught wind of Bilt's Home Away From Home program. But did you know that Capital One also has a hotel program...
view of Las Vegas from the Cosmopolitan
Travel Tuesday: Cosmopolitan Las Vegas Amex Fine Hotels & Resorts Hotel Review
Continuing what has been a tradition for me the past several years, I started 2026 with a visit to Las Vegas for CES. And, in a repeat of last year, I decided to use one of my nights on the Strip to try out a hotel I've never been to. This time around, I not...
view from Hyatt Regency Portland
Travel Tuesday: Hyatt Regency Portland (at OCC) Hotel Review
Last month, I headed out to my fourth in-person FinCon — this time taking place in Portland, Oregon. Shortly before heading out to the West Coast for the event, I booked my room at the official event hotel: Hyatt Regency Portland. Did this end up being a smart move? Let's take a look at my experience...
entrance to Intercontinental Indianapolis Hotel
Travel Tuesday: Intercontinental Indianapolis Hotel Review
Last week brought me back to Indianapolis as I attended my third Gen Con. After having previously stayed at two other Downtown Indy hotels, for my 2025 stay, I ended up at the Intercontinental. Incidentally, when I saw this list on the site, I was wondering how I hadn't come across it in prior years....
inside a room at 21c Museum Hotel Bentonville
Travel Tuesday: 21c Museum Hotel (Bentonville, Arkansas) Review
Last month, my wife and I decided to take a short but real vacation. So, after a stop in Oklahoma, we set off for a couple of nights in Bentonville, Arkansas — with the main goal of checking out the beautiful Crystal Bridges Museum. When looking for accommodations in the area, one spot in particular...
view from the outside of the River Bend Casio and Hotel
Travel Tuesday: River Bend Casino Hotel Review (Wyandotte, OK)
A few weeks ago, my wife and I set off for what we dubbed an actual vacation. In short, this meant we'd be doing absolutely no work and, for the first time in a very long time, would be headed to a destination that didn't have a Disney theme park! Originally, I thought that we'd...
king bed at Park MGM Las Vegas
Travel Tuesday: Park MGM Las Vegas King Room Hotel Review
Over the past few years, I've written a few times about my stays at Park MGM. While that statement is technically true, I've actually stayed at NoMad — the boutique hotel that occupies the top four floors of the building (and is set for a rebrand soon, by the way). In turn, despite my numerous...
view inside a luxury suite in The Palazzo at The Venetian
Travel Tuesday: The Palazzo at The Venetian Hotel Review (Amex Fine Hotels & Resorts)
It was sometime in October when I realized that I had yet to redeem the annual $200 Amex Fine Hotels & Resorts credit that comes on my American Express Platinum Card. Since this credit is based on a calendar year, I would need to act relatively fast if I wanted to make use of it....
elevators inside Atlanta Marquis Hotel
Travel Tuesday: Atlanta Marriott Marquis Hotel Review
Over the years, I've spent countless hours in Atlanta Hartsfield-Jackson International Airport, but have never really ventured into the city itself (other than driving through it on road trips). So, when it was revealed that FinCon 2024 would be held in Downtown Atlanta, I relished the opportunity to finally explore the area and stay in...
new W Las Vegas structure
Travel Tuesday: Delano at Mandalay Bay to Become W Las Vegas
A Vegas property is changing brands... again. This week, MGM Resorts and Marriott announced that the W Las Vegas would be debuting later this year. The hotel will occupy what is currently the Delano tower at Mandalay Bay. This update comes as MGM and Marriott continue to expand their partnership. First announced in July of...
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Would it Be Wrong to Try This Potential Free Checked Bag Trick?
I don't remember the last time I paid for a checked bag on a plane. Granted. I've paid for carry-ons while flying Allegiant — but, in the cases where I have elected to check a bag in recent years, it's been a free gate check since I occasionally volunteer to part with my bag early...