
Hawaii Calling
From Sea to Sky: Inside the Multi‑Phase Ritz‑Carlton Waikīkī Renovation
When I first reviewed the Ritz‑Carlton Residences, Waikīkī Beach, I struggled with it being on Kūhiō Ave and not beachfront along Kalākaua Ave. Why? The rooms are among the best on O’ahu and include kitchens, which many find a wonderful addition for longer stays. If this property were beachfront in...

No Work All Travel
Hotel Review: Nohga Hotel Tokyo Ueno
Although I know my way around Tokyo’s most-visited neighborhoods better than many other cities, part of the reason is because I try to stay in a different district each time. To wit, last month, I got to know Akihabara (aka Akiba) a bit better, and this month, it was Ueno’s...

2PAXfly
FIRST IMPRESSIONS: The reborn Dusit Thani Hotel, Bangkok
Dusit Thani is a name eternally tied to its history as one of the first five-star hotels in Bangkok. The original hotel opened in 1970. It was Thailand’s tallest building and the first property of Dusit International. The now-outdated hotel was demolished in 2019, and a new hotel using the...

Frequent Miler
Koloa Landing, Kauai (Marriott Autograph Collection): Bottom Line Review
My wife and I have spent a fair amount of time traipsing throughout the Hawaiian Islands over the past 20+ years, as the vast majority of her family lives there. These days, if we’re not camping, we primarily use Wyndham points for Vacasa vacation rentals on most islands, unless we’re...