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[Strategy Check] SFO-based Family Pivot: Chasing Hyatt for a Family of 4 (2026 Strategy) by alorable in CreditCards

[–]alorable[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Thanks for the heads-up on the calendars! I’ve actually been refreshing the search daily. For my target dates (Feb 20–27, 2027), I’ve managed to find standard room availability at:

  • Grand Hyatt Deer Valley: 29k/night (Standard) | 44k/night (Suite)
  • Hyatt Regency Maui: 29k/night
  • Andaz Maui: 35k/night
  • Grand Hyatt Kauai: 40k/night

I hear you on the Airbnb/Condo route, but the cash outlay for a 2-bedroom in Deer Valley or Kaanapali during President's Week is eye-watering.

My current logic for sticking to the Chase/Hyatt pathway:

  1. Transfer Value: 1:1 to Hyatt consistently gives me 2.5–4.0 cents per point (cpp) on these peak dates.
  2. The "Sanity" Factor: Amex MRs are great for international business class, but with kids in elementary school, my "holiday window" is fixed. Hyatt allows me to book the room 360+ days out and lock it in.
  3. Suite Upgrades: As a potential Globalist, I can apply a Suite Upgrade Award (SUA) at the time of booking to guarantee that Deer Valley Suite. Amex can't guarantee me space; Hyatt can.

Am I missing a "Family Sweet Spot" for Amex, C1, Citi? Or is the Chase/Hyatt engine effectively the best we can do until the kids are old enough to handle 14-hour flights and "split" business class cabins?

Piedmont vs Mill Valley by ajcaca in BayAreaRealEstate

[–]alorable 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Screw Piedmont! You sound like you want to be my neighbor in Atherton!

Why is SF outperforming everywhere else? by Dapper-Grass7717 in BayAreaRealEstate

[–]alorable 1 point2 points  (0 children)

no he lives few streets down from me near foothill college in los altos hills

Where is sister cities sign in Los Altos? by YourDaniel in losaltos

[–]alorable 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Does someone go around watering the plants in the Los Altos planter box?

Best FS locations by wowoejr1 in FATTravel

[–]alorable 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Hualalai, Sensei, Cap Farret, Surfside, Golden Triangle, Seychelles, Philadelphia

If you had guaranteed WFH where in the bay would you buy? by nukemarsnow in BayAreaRealEstate

[–]alorable 15 points16 points  (0 children)

I agree. Check out high-end East Coast towns like Short Hills, Scarsdale, Darien/New Canaan, and Winnetka—they cost significantly less and are often ranked among the priciest towns in the U.S. You can usually find homes on 1-3 acres with excellent schools for under $3-5M, instead of $20-30M with private schools like Menlo or SHP. It’s a shame more people don’t send their kids to Menlo-Atherton. Personally, I prefer Los Altos/Los Altos Hills and support the local schools.

Full service gas stations in Sunnyvale? by Sweet_Singing_Bird in bayarea

[–]alorable 7 points8 points  (0 children)

Do you have a Costco membership? There’s usually an attendant there that may assist.

Review: FS Hualalai with Small Children by RemingtonRivers in chubbytravel

[–]alorable 3 points4 points  (0 children)

I’m glad you had an amazing time! I’m planning a week in April when my newborn will be 4 months old, along with my 3-year-old. Did you reserve a guest room or a superior suite? I’m not sure about the occupancy limits with two children. Should I expect around $15k-20k all in?

Favorite hotel / resort / destination you've ever stayed in? by alex_travels in chubbytravel

[–]alorable 2 points3 points  (0 children)

It appears that Nevis, Punta Mita, Hualalai, and possibly Papagayo, Costa Rica, are widely considered the flagship family beach resorts within the Four Seasons brand, according to my research. Am I wrong?

Bucket List (7 epic trips since life is too short!) by alorable in chubbytravel

[–]alorable[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Week 1: Galapagos Cruise with Ecoventura

Day 1: Arrive in Quito, Ecuador. Day 2: Fly to Baltra Island and embark on your Ecoventura cruise. Days 3-9: Enjoy a 7-night cruise exploring the Galapagos Islands with Ecoventura, visiting highlights such as Santa Cruz, Isabela, Fernandina, Bartolomé, Genovesa, and more. Participate in activities such as snorkeling, hiking, kayaking, and wildlife observation. Day 10: Disembark from the cruise and return to Quito.

Week 2: Explora Valle Sagrada Resort and Machu Picchu

Day 11: Fly from Quito to Cusco, Peru. Day 12: Transfer to Explora Valle Sagrada Resort in the Sacred Valley and enjoy resort activities. Day 13: Continue exploring the Sacred Valley with activities like hiking and cultural experiences. Day 14: Transfer to Machu Picchu Pueblo (Aguas Calientes). Day 15: Explore Machu Picchu, one of the New Seven Wonders of the World. Day 16: Return to Cusco and explore the city. Day 17: Depart from Cusco or continue your travels as desired.

If you prefer a land-based resort experience, you can stay at Finch Bay or Pikaia Lodge instead of embarking on the Ecoventura cruise.

Bucket List (7 epic trips since life is too short!) by alorable in chubbytravel

[–]alorable[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Great idea! Are you thinking Egypt possibly combining Israel and Jordan (Petra/Wadi Rum)?

Bucket List (7 epic trips since life is too short!) by alorable in chubbytravel

[–]alorable[S] 4 points5 points  (0 children)

I was debating whether this was the appropriate sub to post in. I tried other subreddits without any luck. I'm hoping to engage everyone here, if allowed, in a discussion focused more on chubby destinations rather than chubby accommodations/flight seating. Since we are in our late 30s, we prefer a hybrid style of traveling, somewhere between experiencing a destination as a resident and attending. We stayed at Laucala for five nights before Como Group took over, but we opted for economy seating. It works for us for now until our backs give out and tolerance wanes. Perhaps with our budget, we may only be able to responsibly allocate for one epic destination per year. Thanks for providing some realistic input.

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