My review of the Hilton Boston Back Bay is an “Express” review because I wasn’t there long enough for much else!  Arrived 6pm Thursday and left at 9am Friday.  Nonetheless, I thought I’d share a few details.  I was in the area for a business meeting just across the river in Cambridge, and this was the closest spot where I could get a decent rate, not to mention, the reviews on Flyertalk weren’t bad, so I went for it.

After a reasonably quick cabride considering it was rush hour, I arrived at the hotel.  While I didn’t need it, I noted that no bell service was available at the moment I arrived.  I proceeded inside and after a short wait, my check in was processed.  My Hilton HHonors Diamond status was not noted other than a comment that my Hilton HHonors number was on file.  He asked if I wanted internet access, and when I replied in the affirmative, I was given a coupon containing an access code.

I was originally assigned a 6th floor room, and when I asked for something a little higher up, I was given a room on the 26th floor, the highest floor.  The friendly desk clerk mentioned that this room was not as large as the room I was originally assigned, but I was fine with that for just one night.  As I was about to walk away, I asked if there was an Executive Lounge.  The attendant said I can give you a coupon for that.  The coupon said something to the effect of I would get a free continental breakfast in the “Diamond Lounge” located within the 40 Dalton Restaurant.  So no typical lounge, and I did not make it down for breakfast the next morning, so I can’t report on how that worked out.

The room itself was basic Hilton, not too small, not too big, and while I was on the 26th floor, I didn’t have much of a view of anything.  Not to matter, I wouldn’t be there for long, and it served its purpose.  I had the basic things I want in every hotel, air conditioning, a bed, a TV, a desk with power outlets, and high speed internet!  All was well.  I took a few pictures.  My apologies for the poor lighting.

Bed and Sitting Area

TV and Desk

Desk

Small Closet

Vanity in Smallish Bathroom

Nothing wrong with the room, but I thought the bath was a little compact as was the closet, but certainly all quite acceptable for a single business traveler.

There was hardly anytime even for dinner, but I did manage to venture just down the street from the hotel to a spot the concierge recommended for casual dining, Summer Shack.  Great looking bar, fresh oysters, and the Jasper’s Pan Roasted Lobster, simply divine!  I circled back to the hotel’s bar, 40 Dalton, for a night cap, and with that, I was off to bed.  Unfortunately, no time to check out the fitness center or much of anything else near the hotel.

My verdict?  Good enough, but not fabulous.  I wouldn’t hesitate to stay again if the location is the right one like it was for this trip.  But the lack of a a full executive lounge, coupled with …well, just “averageness” for lack of a better word keeps me from saying this hotel will be my “go to” spot on my next business trip to Boston.

Delta Air Lines announced today that it has completed installation of new lie-flat seats in the Business Elite cabin of its 777 and 767-400 jets.  I have to admit I like the look of these seats.  But beyond being aesthetically pleasing, the best thing about them from my perspective is aisle access from each seat!  I’ve yet to have the opportunity to fly in one of these seats, but having been trapped on the window in American’s Next Generation Business Class (NGBC) seats, I can tell you there’s no way I’d fly that product over Delta’s new seats if I had a choice.  You can check out Delta’s scoop on its Business Elite flat baed seats here.  Can’t wait to try one sometime!  Work starts on the 767-300 fleet later this summer.

I have to wonder, with Delta going lie-flat and United working its way there, can American be far behind with something new?  Seriously, their seats aren’t as bad as some make them out to be, but they are falling behind even their fellow US competitors, and of course always innovative foreign airlines.  I would think that this coupled with their increasingly close relationship with British Airways would drive them towards product improvement sooner rather than later.

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How one ever feels sorry for a company, especially an airline, I’ll never know.  But this Saturday afternoon, I’m officially sorry for Delta Air Lines and every one of its employees from the CEO on down.  The little maelstrom created by this Huffington Post article boggles the mind.  While the author is certainly entitled to his opinion, the fact that this issue has taken off the way it has leads me to wonder about our collective future as a country.

The issue at hand is that Delta Air Lines is a member of the Sky Team Alliance along with a plethora of other airlines, and the Alliance has voted to admit Saudi Arabian Airlines as a member.  Delta and every other airline is required to comply with certain laws for each country it serves or connects passengers to.  In other words, Delta does not, and will not be flying to Saudi Arabia, but if they happen to carry a passenger that connects to a Saudi Arabian Airlines flight headed to Saudi Arabia, they have to comply with certain laws regarding travel to Saudi Arabia.  One of those is the need to obtain a Visa for travel if you’re stopping in Saudi Arabia (none required if you’re connecting through).

The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia requires a Visa, and to get one, you are asked what your religion is.  Also, if your Passport happens to have an Israeli stamp on it, you may be denied a Visa.  As bad as that is (and make no mistake, I think it’s bad), it’s the policy of the Saudi government, not Delta Air Lines.  Furthermore, it is a requirement that must be met for air travel on any airline or alliance.  Flying American Airlines from the USA to London, and connecting on a BA flight to Saudi Arabia?  Same deal.  Are we now going to boycott BA because they fly to Saudi Arabia?  Lufthansa?  Air France?  American for partnering with BA?  I could go on.

I suppose given the hyper-sensitive, hyper-polarized, hyper-idiocy that envelops our country today, Delta might have better anticipated the reaction to Saudi Arabian Airlines becoming a member of Sky Team.  Though after reading some of the hysterical lunacy contained in the comments section of Delta’s blog on this topic, I’m not sure anyone could plan for this.  To be clear, I do not condone the policies of the Saudi government, and the only thing I hate is hate itself.  That said, the reaction by some to this business transaction makes me wonder if some people don’t need to take a look at themselves before they lecture the rest of us on righteousness.

I think I’ll go book a flight on Delta now.

Let me start with a simple truth. The W Atlanta – Buckhead pretty much rocked my 3-night early summer stay. In the interest of full disclosure, they obviously read my blog that I would be staying. Maybe they read the part about how I almost spent these 3 nights at a (gasp) Marriott property. How do I know? No, I didn’t get upgraded to some rocking’ suite, my room was pretty basic W. Each night of my stay, I returned from dinner to a nice note and an amenity of some sort. Nothing crazy, but certainly appreciated. A couple of drink coupons that still haven’t remembered to use, a couple of beers that I did use, and on the last night, 2 bottles of water and a cool little compass so I’d “find my way back.” An insightful choice, because I will be back. In short, I love the place.

Getting There

I’m a believer in public transportation, so MARTA rail was my chariot of choice for getting to the hotel. The Buckhead MARTA station is just a short walk away from the hotel. Cabs to Buckhead from downtown are in the mid $30 dollar range and a little more than that from the airport. MARTA is what it is, but it’s really not a bad option to get to the hotel from the airport or to and from downtown for work, though the trip is noticeably longer that my relatively short usual commute from the Midtown area.

Check In

I arrived at the hotel around 6:00pm and was actually the third of 3 guests making the trek from the MARTA station. Two gentlemen were working the front desk and there was a little line, but I would estimate I waited no more than 5 minutes for my turn to check in. I was ably assisted by Ross who welcomed me to the hotel, thanked me for my Starwood Platinum status, and checked me into a W “Fabulous” room, an upgrade from my “Wonderful” room. Ross mentioned that no suites were available. We SPG Platinums must be a demanding sort. Soon enough, I was on my way to my 10th floor room.

The Room

If you’re more accustomed to the typical W darker (to me at least) decor, the W Buckhead will be a change. The room just seemed brighter to me, complete with flowers on the furniture! A little much for a guy, perhaps, but no worries in reality. The decor is just a little different than most W’s I’ve stayed in. My Fabulous room was equipped with a comfy King bed, reasonably well-lit work area, a table for whatever (whenever?), and a great LCD television. The closet wasn’t big enough to live in, but plenty big for a business traveler. A laptop safe was hidden behind the door that also contained the minibar fridge. The most unique thing about the room was the bathroom setup. Not quite sure what the right word is, but think European. The whole thing was certainly very functionally designed. I took a few pictures.

Entry to Room 1001

Shower/Toilet With Privacy Doors Closed

The Shower

Viewing the Bed from the Entryway

The Table and Chairs with the Flowers

Work Area – See How Bright it Is!

Closet

My Welcome Note – Yes, It Flies!

Around the Hotel

When staying in Buckhead, you won’t suffer from boredom unless you like it that way. There are some great restaurants very near the hotel, not to mention in the hotel! Lenox Mall is next door if you’re looking to do a little shopping. There are 3 great steakhouses within an easy walk. The easiest of all, Morton’s is literally right out the door. Ruth’s Chris is nearby as is Prime, which I unfortunately, did not have the opportunity to try. I’ll rectify that during my next visit, and hopefully venture out a little further from the hotel. I just didn’t have time this visit. Another Atlanta favorite of mine, Dantanna’s is located steps from the hotel as well. You don’t have to leave the hotel for great food though. Jean-Georges Market is located in the hotel. Give it a try. It’s worth a visit.

During this stay, I managed to meander up to the rooftop Whiskey Blue to hang out with all the pretty people. If you’re looking for a pretty hot spot for a cocktail, head to the rooftop of the W Buckhead and imbibe. I got my black t-shirt and jeans look on 2 nights in a row even! Cigars are available (to smoke outside). Just sayin’.

There’s a good fitness center with an appropriate amount of equipment and of course, the pool, affectionately called WET.

The Bottom Line

I loved the hotel. The last time I stayed here, the hotel had just opened, and wasn’t even complete yet. I’m glad I tried it again. Buckhead is a little far from my downtown worksite, but sometimes, that’s a good thing. Having the mall, and several excellent restaurants within a short walk offers an interesting array of diversions. The W Atlanta – Buckhead gets the MJonTravel seal of approval!

(@MJonTravel apologies for the corny post title)

I synced my iPhone this morning and found that Delta had an update waiting for me on the iTunes store.  This update moves their iPhone app forward by miles.  You now have the ability to view the upgrade and standby list and change your seat assignment using the app, BIG steps forward in functionality.  I’d test the upgrade list function tonight and report back, but my upgrade cleared at the window!  :)  I did check in using the app and my electronic boarding pass worked just fine.

Stay tuned, I’ll test the new features of the latest version of the app on a future Delta flight and report on my experience.  I’ve always thought Delta’s iPhone app was nicely done, and they didn’t bite off more than they could chew out of the gate with it.  Each update has brought sensible functionality that worked, and I use the app every time I fly Delta.  I wonder if the latest update fixes the issue of the app reminding me to check in for flights that I’ve long since canceled?  We’ll know soon.

Hello from the Hilton Boston Back Bay.  I’ll be checking out shortly after a 1-night stay, and heading over to Cambridge for meetings with very smart people.  Let’s hope some of it rubs off on me.  :)  Flew up to BOS from ATL yesterday afternoon on Delta.  I’ll be completing my review of the W Atlanta Buckhead over the weekend along with a review of the Hilton Boston Back Bay.  Fingers crossed for an on-time flight home to DCA tonight.

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I’m told Verizon Fios is coming to DC, but it’s nowhere near my neighborhood yet.  If it was, I’d jump all over this.  Verizon and AAdvantage have teamed up to offer 10,000 miles to new customers for Verizon’s “Triple Play” package.  Register here, and then visit Verizon.

Hat tip to The Points Guy.

Yes, I’ve managed to meander “upstairs” at the W Atlanta – Buckhead.  I’ve been trying to figure out why the lobby  Living Room has such a different vibe than the Midtown location, and now I know.  The “vibe” is on the roof in Buckhead.  It’s Tuesday at 8:30pm, so I wouldn’t call the place “jumping” by any means, but the music is familiar as is the crowd.  Buckhead is a little far from my project worksite, but I’ve really enjoyed the hotel so far.  It’s very close to Marta, and I just donated a little cash to the local economy at Lenox Mall.  I like it here…..a lot.