(Ok, not any other chain, Radisson wouldn’t count!)

Best Western is awarding lifetime Diamond status to everyone who stays 60 nights in 2006.

(Via The Global Traveller.)

HP is offering a $5 Starbucks card for customizing your profile with them. You don’t even have to sign up for spam.

Starbucks card offers rarely come, but it’s about 15 seconds of work…

After some stops, starts, and glitches over the weekend it looks the like Le Meridien properties have gone live on the Starwood website and most are now listed as award redemption options as well.

The integration is official, and Starwood elite members should now expect to have their status benefits honored across participating properties in the chain.

(Notably absent are the Parker Meridien properties in New York and Palm Springs, which didn’t participate in the old Moments program either — as well as about ten other properties.)

Orbitz is offering $50 Off hotel bookings of 3 or more nights. Discount code is 831750. It’s valid for stays through April 30th but the booking must be made by March 22.

This presumably applies only to OrbitzSaver prepaid hotel deals.

Meanwhile, Travelocity is offering $10 off “Good Buy” hotels with code HTL10. This can be used even on a single night stay, but can only be used once per Travelocity account (except for Travelocity VIPs who can use it an unlimited number of times).

Flyertalk member CalItalian reported these discounts and noted, regarding the $50 Orbitz coupon,

Best deals I found were weeknights in Reno or Laughlin, NV. 3*, 3 night stay with coupon for $25 to $28 plus tax.

Northwest is again explicitly targeting Asia-Pacific frequent flyers with offers of an elite status match.

Details are rather scarce on the website, certainly they’ll match up to Gold (mid-tier) but I wonder whether they’ll go to Platinum since they’re looking for any possible incremental revenue while in bankruptcy. Presumably matched status will last through the end of the year. No information is provided on what documentation is required of your existing status levels.

In all likelihood this will operate in a similar manner as when they offered it in 2005, detailed discussion of which can be found at Flyertalk.com.

Alex Tabarrok notes his favorite items for travel: an inexpensive noise-cancelling headset, a Paul Frederick non-iron dress shirt, and his Kodak DX7590 digital camera.

Allow me to suggest a wireless pocket router. Too many hotels have wired high-speed internet. I don’t always want to sit at the desk to work (especially frustrating at resort properties with balconies overlooking the ocean!). Or sometimes my wife travels with me and we’d both like to be online.

This is the one I’ve been using, about $40 + shipping after $10 rebate.

Second, power converters. Magellan’s has a nice website that’ll figure out for you just want converters and adapters you need, wherever in the world you’re traveling (I was shocked to find them accurate for Rwanda!).

And don’t forget that clicking on the link to Magellan’s at ebates.com will earn you a 7% cash rebate on whatever you purchase.

(Most online shopping earns cash or miles, of course, for which Andrew Cram’s chart is an invaluable reference.)

And truly indispendable for long trips? Ambien.

Comments are open for your favorite travel items…

Via Free Frequent Flyer Miles (actually, I got the email myself several days ago and then promptly forgot), you can get 4000 United bonus miles for signing up for Netflix. (Registration required.)

It’s 2000 miles after your first month (minimum cost $9.95) and 2000 more miles for paying with a United Visa (which you can get free the first year and 20,000 bonus miles).

Check out the quick Northwest Worldperks 101 and take the quiz (you really can’t fail) and earn 100 miles plus you’ll be registered to earn 2,000 miles when flying within 90 days.

At the end of the quiz you have the option to move on to Worldperks 102 for another 100 miles plus you’ll be registered for 1,000 miles when making 2 qualifying purchases within 60 days.

The 200 miles for the quizzes post instantly.

InFlightHQ stays at the Westin ex-LAX and doesn’t come away thinking it’s bloody awful. I hope he didn’t pay more than $55 for it (a frequently available Priceline rate, though when Pricelining 4* at the LA airport one hopes for the Sheraton). This hotel is likely the very worst Westin.

Ok, maybe InFlightHQ wasn’t actually happy with his room…

my room smelled like french fries, kalamari, and onion rings.

Personally, at LAX I’d even prefer the Four Points.

Looks like the 50% bonus on Diners Club transfers to British Airways is back, valid between May 1 and August 31, 2006. There’s no information online yet but it’s mentioned in the program insert that comes with March bills.

Not as good as the old days where the bonus was 100% during the summer, but better than a hole in the head and a welcome relief considering recent cutbacks in the Diners Club Club Rewards program.

I’ll be taking advantage of this one, topping off my BA account for some transatlantic premium class flying… especially since the alternate uses for Diners Club points have dwindled with the departure of United, USAirways, America West, Northwest, and Continental from the program.

Update: Details are available on the British Airways website though not yet on the Diners Club site.

Since they can’t make running trains profitable, Amtrak is planning to build a hotel out of part of the Baltimore train station.

The station is a terrible location for a hotel and the project has been unable to attract private financing or even a *brand* (like Sheraton, Marriott, etc) in the past.

The best the piece can find an analyst to say about the project is that the hotel might get business if all the other hotels in Baltimore are full…

… Though I suppose they could get business from Amtrak stranding passengers. Heh.

(Hat tip to Hotel Chatter.)

I’ve gotten a few emails asking me why I haven’t commented on Northwest’s plan to charge a $15 premium for their ‘best’ coach seats.

While there’s the risk of holding back some elite seating and generating some marginal revenue, I more or less see it as a non-event because outside of the exit rows Northwest really doesn’t offer any decent seats in coach worth paying extra for.

And the few times that there are actual seats somewhat (barely) better than others in coach, they aren’t necessarily the ones that Northwest will be charging more money for. As always, consult Seat Guru for your choice of seat and by all means don’t pay Northwest extra for their pitiful coach product. (At least United’s forward rows in coach offer additional legroom…)

Meanwhile, United announced that it will spend up to $165 million to upgrade its international business and first class seats. While I applaud the move as a consumer, this isn’t where I would put the dough. United’s business class seat isn’t currently lie-flat, it was state-of-the-industry about 7 years ago and in my view actually holds up quite well. It’s perfectly comfortable. United’s first suite was also at the top of the pack when it was introduced. It hasn’t weathered as well, mostly because you now have to check to see if you seat is properly functioning when you first board. But I’d be happy with United just replacing broken seats and maintaining them properly. Oh, sure, moving to something like ANA offers in their NewStyle First would be nice. But it’s a perfectly good seat as-is. Where United falls down in the premium cabin is service, catering, and video-on-demand. Upgrade those with that $165 million and I believe they’d get more bang for the buck.

Admittedly I’m speaking mostly out of ignorance here because I don’t yet know what the new United seats will be like, but I do know that no matter what the seats I won’t crave a United First experience like I do Singapore, Cathay, or ANA (and I’ve heard good things about Emirates) as long as union seniority determines who works the front cabin and as long as the meals are unimpressive.

Voting for the Freddie Awards closes tomorrow, March 15. So this is your last shot to cast your ballot for the best programs, awards, and bonuses of the year.

I posted my own take on who deserves accolades back on February 1, in case you need any ideas about how to cast your own vote . . .

Brad DeLong discovers that hotel names can be confusing even within the same brand.

The Crystal Gateway Marriott is not the Crystal City Marriott. The Crystal City Marriott is not the Crystal Gateway Marriott.

In the same neighborhood it’s also important to know that the Sheraton National is not the closest Sheraton to National Airport.

Until recently there was a hotel called Sheraton Pentagon South — which was not the closest Sheraton to the Pentagon. (That honor belongs to the Sheraton National.)

So if you’re looking for a Starwood property near National Airport you book the Sheraton Crystal City and if you want one near the Pentago you book the Sheraton National.

And if you want a Sheraton in the Nation’s Capital you can’t, because there is no Sheraton in the District of Columbia (except for the “Four Points by Sheraton” .. which is not a Sheraton).

The Upgrade Travel Blog reminds us that some US domestic carriers, most notably United, still allow you get get a voucher when a fare you’ve already purchased goes down.

American used to do it domestically but no longer does, unfortunately. The piece reports that USAirways offers this feature.

What I hadn’t realized (I admit, somewhat embarassingly) is that United will let you go through the process online — a huge benefit for people like me who hate the telephone.

I like to get the most out of every dollar, as regular readers of this blog can imagine. But this is going too far, even for me. But then I also can’t remember the last time I was willing to eat at Pizza Hut.

I make no claims to the veracity of this story, by the way. Hat tip to I Will Teach You to Be Rich.

Last night I had dinner at Zengo in Washington, DC, part of the small Modern Mexican chain. The restaurant came highly recommended by Tyler Cowen.

Things did not start out promising. I pulled up at 7pm for our 7:15pm reservation. The valet parking attendants were standing around. They weren’t moving the cars that were already there, and they ignored us (and several more cars that pulled in behind us). Traffic in an already busy area backed up.

After waiting 15 minutes, I called into the restaurant. I explained that I was outside waiting for parking and that a problem was developing. I was told “the valets are a different company so there’s nothing I can do, but I’ll tell the manager.” The manager came out and the valets took my car. By this time the police had arrived but fortunately didn’t ticket anyone.

(On the way out the valet service was equally bad, with new arrivals at the restaurant getting out of their vehicles, looked around in bewilderment, and finding camaraderie in the restaurant’s incompetence. Two cars even gave up and left while the valet attendants wandered around without moving any cars.)

Yet somehow the restaurant redeemed itself. This is not a fine dining establishment with an emphasis on service. Our two water bottles — one sparkling, the other still — sat on the table and our waitress never refilled glasses even once (which was okay, we did it ourselves). This is a neat, trendy atmosphere with loud music and loud conversation. But the food is interesting, high-quality, and an excellent value.

Here’s what we shared for dinner:

Trio of ceviches

“Bangkok” mahi mahi / green papaya / mint / lime / coconut / achiote

“Azteca” rock shrimp / yuzu / habanero / jicama / lemon oil / aji panca

“Inca” Yellow fin tuna / red onion / cilantro / mandarin oranges / aji Amarillo

Won Ton Tacos

charred ahi tuna / sushi rice / pickled ginger / mango salsa

Steamed Gyoza Dumplings

foie gras / shrimp / pork / chinese celery / won bok / passion fruit mustard

Arepas de Puerco

pulled pork / achiote~hoisin / crema fresca / avocado

Peking Rolls

Duck confit / shiitake / cabbage / show peas / carrots /

three dipping sauces

Churros con Chocolate

Frozen Passion Fruit Souffle

We’d had a big lunch, so this was just the right amount of food, though on a normal evening I might have ordered a couple more items. Total bill, including tax and before tip: $95

Will definitely be back… but may just plan to take the metro.

Freepay, aka Gratis Networks (the free iPod folks), has made a really annoying unilateral change to their terms and conditions.

First, you’ll have only 90 days start to finish to complete their requirements. Second, you now have to place your orders by mail instead of electronically and there are deadlines for doing so. Apparently this was announced March 1 and everyone with existing accounts therefore has until the end of May to finish their existing free electronics offers.

Here’s the note sent out to all accounts:

Important Change to Terms & Conditions




• With a start date of March 1, 2006 – users of FreePay websites have 90 days to complete all offer requirements.
  
• Upon completion of all offer requirements, existing users will need to print a “Redemption Form” that must be filled out in its entirety and mailed with a postmarked date no later than 30 days of completing their offer requirements.

You will find an indication of how many days you have left to complete the requirements on the Status page. When you have completed the requirements you will be able to download the redemption form from the Status page.

Now, these things can be completed in 90 days. And this is still a worthwhile project to undertake. But it’s certainly an annoying change, some of the offers I’ll leave for months at a time and then remember them and complete them.

This change presumably increases Freepay’s profits at the expense of its members by reducing redemptions and leaving more stranded completed referrals.

I’m going to have to quickly return to the (3) offers that I haven’t yet finished:

• Free laptops
  

• 
  Free PS3
  

• 
  $300 SuperCertificate (from giftcertificates.com)

Disappointing, to say the least, but I’m reasonably close to finishing these and 90 days is plenty of time to do so…

Freepay, aka Gratis Networks (the free iPod folks), has made a really annoying unilateral change to their terms and conditions.

First, you’ll have only 90 days start to finish to complete their requirements. Second, you now have to place your orders by mail instead of electronically and there are deadlines for doing so. Apparently this was announced March 1 and everyone with existing accounts therefore has until the end of May to finish their existing free electronics offers.

Here’s the note sent out to all accounts:

Important Change to Terms & Conditions




• With a start date of March 1, 2006 – users of FreePay websites have 90 days to complete all offer requirements.
  
• Upon completion of all offer requirements, existing users will need to print a “Redemption Form” that must be filled out in its entirety and mailed with a postmarked date no later than 30 days of completing their offer requirements.

You will find an indication of how many days you have left to complete the requirements on the Status page. When you have completed the requirements you will be able to download the redemption form from the Status page.

Now, these things can be completed in 90 days. And this is still a worthwhile project to undertake. But it’s certainly an annoying change, some of the offers I’ll leave for months at a time and then remember them and complete them.

This change presumably increases Freepay’s profits at the expense of its members by reducing redemptions and leaving more stranded completed referrals.

I’m going to have to quickly return to the (3) offers that I haven’t yet finished:

• Free laptops
  

• 
  Free PS3
  

• 
  $300 SuperCertificate (from giftcertificates.com)

Disappointing, to say the least, but I’m reasonably close to finishing these and 90 days is plenty of time to do so…

Freepay, aka Gratis Networks (the free iPod folks), has made a really annoying unilateral change to their terms and conditions.

First, you’ll have only 90 days start to finish to complete their requirements. Second, you now have to place your orders by mail instead of electronically and there are deadlines for doing so. Apparently this was announced March 1 and everyone with existing accounts therefore has until the end of May to finish their existing free electronics offers.

Here’s the note sent out to all accounts:

Important Change to Terms & Conditions




• With a start date of March 1, 2006 – users of FreePay websites have 90 days to complete all offer requirements.
  
• Upon completion of all offer requirements, existing users will need to print a “Redemption Form” that must be filled out in its entirety and mailed with a postmarked date no later than 30 days of completing their offer requirements.

You will find an indication of how many days you have left to complete the requirements on the Status page. When you have completed the requirements you will be able to download the redemption form from the Status page.

Now, these things can be completed in 90 days. And this is still a worthwhile project to undertake. But it’s certainly an annoying change, some of the offers I’ll leave for months at a time and then remember them and complete them.

This change presumably increases Freepay’s profits at the expense of its members by reducing redemptions and leaving more stranded completed referrals.

I’m going to have to quickly return to the (3) offers that I haven’t yet finished:

• Free laptops
  

• 
  Free PS3
  

• 
  $300 SuperCertificate (from giftcertificates.com)

Disappointing, to say the least, but I’m reasonably close to finishing these and 90 days is plenty of time to do so…