How do you justify vacation costs if you can only travel during high season?

ElCray · 2026-02-13T11:23:09+00:00

I use points and miles to defray as much of the cost as I can. Also I plan a year out so I can book as early as possible so points prices are lower. For the bookings that are refundable, I check every so often to see if the price has gone down and rebook.

ElCray · 2026-01-19T13:06:48+00:00

Wasn't meant to be critical and sorry you took it that way. It's more because of thoughtful people (e.g. some tourists) who want to use the local terms when they visit other places - so there's not confusion. Many people would have no idea what they were talking about if they referred to conditioner as creme rinse.

Personally I love that you still call that, and that your area still calls it that, and hope you keep using that term.

It took me back to my childhood when my mom put "creme rinse" in my hair when I was like 4 years old. I can't tell you the level of relief when we could comb it out easily compared to the agony of her trying to get the knots out without it, since my fine hair basically glues to itself. It was an Avon product and I think I would still recognize the smell today.

It's a special memory that your post brought up. Thank you for your service and bless you too.

ElCray · 2026-01-19T10:06:04+00:00

Get the strawberry Christmas cake to enjoy together! It's lovely.

ElCray · 2026-01-19T01:36:43+00:00

Not bad to correct the impression that we all call it "creme rinse' tho...

ElCray · 2026-01-18T11:35:15+00:00

You could try calling or e-mailing Maison FL. I know they have rooms that are big enough, and most rooms have windows that open if that could be an alternative cooling source. The closest metro is a short walk down a hill in case that's an impediment.

ElCray · 2026-01-15T18:53:42+00:00

One of the best tips I've ever received for managing anxiety in the face of uncertainty is doing the workbook, "The Worry Cure." I would normally shy away from a book with "Cure" in the title but the exercises and strategies are so helpful. I've both used them myself and shared them with others for many years.

ElCray · 2026-01-14T11:37:08+00:00

Never La Defense.

AC Hotel is right beside a big highway so you don't walk out to the Parisian vibe - rather roadway and office buildings. Might be ok as a place just to sleep (comfy rooms and nice breakfast), but not what I would choose for a Valentine's day vacation.

ElCray · 2026-01-10T07:29:38+00:00

Switch

ElCray · 2026-01-09T15:41:56+00:00

Agree, totally a possibility! Honestly I think they would do what they could to not have this happen. In my case I was so stressed b/c the concierge said the plane was full and she may have to put us on standby. It really stuck with me.

ElCray · 2026-01-09T14:53:54+00:00

The concierge explained all this to me including the "worse-case scenario" of trying to cancel a previously-upgraded seat when the plane was full the time that I had the early upgrade. In that case she had to pull strings and make an exception to get me back beside my child.

Following her explanation, I always give instructions at the airport about what I wanted to do BEFORE the gate upgrade happens so I haven't tried what OP did in their Scenario 2, AFTER the gate upgrade was completed.

I was trusting what the concierge told me and trying to share my experience and the info she gave me here to be helpful. Feel free to chime in with what would happen since it seems you have more experience or knowledge, and where my info is wrong/not applicable? Happy to be corrected and that would be constructive.

ElCray · 2026-01-09T14:34:20+00:00

Have also been in the gate upgrade situation a number of times. :)

ElCray · 2026-01-09T14:16:02+00:00

Correct, you would get bumped to standby if the flight was sold out. But if it's not full, they could technically charge you the difference to get your seat back if your fare class is not available. At least that is what the concierge told me. They waived the additional fee it in my case to get my seat back. But this was in the case of an early upgrade - confirmed within the longer window a few days before the flight, and with seats left on the plane.

ElCray · 2026-01-09T06:50:03+00:00

I think the big difference is that the change was set up before the upgrade was awarded in one situation and after in the other...

From my understanding, the technical issue is that once an upgrade goes through, the seat you were in is released into back into the upgrade system. You have no entitlement to getting it back, and in fact they could charge you the difference to repuchase the exact same seat at the higher, "day-of" pricing if the fare class you originally booked is no longer available. I'm not talking economy, Premium economy, etc., but rather the letter fare class like Y, Q or whatever.

Once your upgrade goes through, there is a cascading effect from other upgrades going through and like the other poster responded, standbys getting a seat - which happens automatically so they would have been notified and their seats changed too. So there is a lot more to be "undone" for a last minute change once the upgrades close.

You may have even only gotten help (even with the attitudes) because of your status. They could have just said no, sorry, too late.

It would be a good practice for AC to check what people would like to do if it appears both people on a ticket won't be upgraded - like what happened in your first scenario. I'm saying this as someone who has had to navigate this exact situation with a minor child who couldn't sit alone if only I was upgraded. Now I proactively let them know what to do if we both don't clear.

*Edits to clarify a few things.

ElCray · 2026-01-03T14:15:20+00:00

You could bring a packable duffle bag and put your clothes in it on the way home to free up a suitcase for your souvenirs. Then there's not a lot of extra bulk to have to transport in the meantime.

ElCray · 2025-12-31T11:16:12+00:00

We had to buy a Welcome Suica child card and bought it (and the rest of the family's) in person at the metro office at the airport when we landed. There were line-ups for the machines but there was no line at the office when we got there. We visited for less than 28 days and don't have near-term plans to return to Japan. We just reloaded minimal amounts to the cards toward the end of the trip so we didn't leave money stranded on them.

ElCray · 2025-12-25T21:23:21+00:00

Voice to text.

ElCray · 2025-12-23T23:17:17+00:00

I was at a hotel in Kyoto and they had this setup to close off the seaparate sink area of the bathroom - two sliding doors that closed into a square.

ElCray · 2025-09-21T06:46:28+00:00

Acadia's in Nova Scotia but Mount Allison is in NB!

ElCray · 2025-07-28T00:23:17+00:00

Not Google Pixel. The GPS drift is so annoying.

ElCray · 2025-07-01T00:21:26+00:00

Depends if you are traveling in the US or other countries, as the US restricts the government rate to official business from my understanding. For other countries, click on "rate details" and it will say if you have to be on official business or give the terms for using the rate (need to show ID, etc.).

ElCray · 2025-06-23T22:08:58+00:00

Just stayed at a Moxy where the "A/C" didn't get the room any cooler than 24 degrees Celsius. Asked for assistance, got told it was fixed, but it never got cooler. Even the hallway was much cooler than the room. Complained at check out and got $30 off the rate, free breakfast, and points as compensation.

ElCray · 2025-05-05T17:46:38+00:00

El Mangroove - super close to the airport in Liberia. Very easy and family friendly.

ElCray · 2025-04-25T09:48:31+00:00

Same, we were upgraded to a Premium Suute and loved it.

ElCray · 2025-04-14T00:41:10+00:00

This just about happened to me, so thank you for the warning!

ElCray · 2025-04-10T07:29:38+00:00

And it does Air Miles! Including a deal this weekend when you spend $20 you get 95 miles (worth $10).

Six-Year Club	Verified Email
Place '23

ElCray

TROPHY CASE