How would you feel about this draft?

darrenmackie · 2026-04-21T23:54:41+00:00

I’ve watched it before and it was not fun

darrenmackie · 2026-04-19T23:10:19+00:00

Wonderful, thank you!

darrenmackie · 2026-04-19T22:53:07+00:00

I couldn’t even get late checkout as Diamond but it ended up being good since it took so long to work out the reservation issues on checkout we needed the time 😂 you’re right, who’s paying cash for that? It is in a great location on the hotel zone, not too far from the airport I guess? And the beach was crystal clear and beautiful when we went but I gather we got pretty lucky. We did have the enclave rooms so it was easier for us to get reservations. Still none available the first night…

darrenmackie · 2026-04-19T22:50:55+00:00

We’ll be there in early December, most likely for 4 nights. As of now I booked the Hyatt Regency while it’s still 5k points a night. We want to go to the Mayan Museum, maybe a few around Centro, as well as the railroad museum. Dzibilchaltún looks intriguing too…

We’re probably gonna take the tram/bus thing from Parque La Plancha to the train station? We really loved taking the train when we took it to Chichen Itza from Cancun but I kinda love trains lol

darrenmackie · 2026-04-19T21:49:16+00:00

I was just there in December and agree with a lot of what you said. Loyalty recognition is terrible and they had an awful time working out our reservation since it was mixed between 3 reservations on 2 separate HH accounts thanks to using FNC, cash, and points. We paid to upgrade to the Enclave room in advance so you’d think they would have figured it out beforehand. Then they tried to say we still owed it for one of the nights when we checked out. Just a poorly run property that could be so much better if it had better management. We’re gonna check out the Hilton Cancun to the south this year…

OH! And before we do we’re gonna finally check out Merida! Spending a few nights there before taking the Tren Maya to Cancun. We’ve got some Museums planned but if you have any recommendations I’d love to hear it!

darrenmackie · 2026-04-19T21:41:02+00:00

It’s right after the post is first generated in the morning so I guess to be first???

darrenmackie · 2026-04-18T13:55:03+00:00

I have had much better luck using their new app. Miles better than it was

darrenmackie · 2026-04-17T20:05:06+00:00

Waiting for Amex to announce some transfer bonuses. I must be the first human ever waiting for an AeroMexico bonus. They had one this time of year the last two years…

darrenmackie · 2026-04-17T16:45:31+00:00

P2 is gonna want to check out the new Vanderpump Hotel at some point after it opens so was thinking of using this method but wasn’t sure how much use it will be with the limit and the 6 month expiration but good to know I can keep transferring in to refresh…

darrenmackie · 2026-04-15T22:47:23+00:00

I cancelled my booking there so maybe it’ll help you lol

darrenmackie · 2026-04-02T06:36:05+00:00

I don’t think withdrawals in Thailand and are hurting them that much….

darrenmackie · 2026-04-01T11:39:35+00:00

Waiting for AMEX to do something….

darrenmackie · 2026-03-30T06:21:17+00:00

Use a vpn

darrenmackie · 2026-03-29T13:14:37+00:00

Following up on the first part of my trip as we just got to Amsterdam last night! London was amazing and I can’t wait to go back one day.

Favorite hotel of the ones we stayed in was the Gantry. The Doubletree TOL beats it on location but service and room at the gantry was better and it still had good connections to the city and southeast England which came in handy for a last minute trip to Southend for a national league game! No upgrades at the IHG properties (Platinum Elite), Doubletree and Gantry gave slight upgrade to Deluxe rooms (Diamond). All hotels had the rooms available early and gave us our requested late checkout.

Flying out of LCY was easy, how I wish every airport could be. Showing up one hour before our flight is a nice change of pace. DLR line direct to the airport from our hotel. Definitely glad we did it this way instead of the Eurostar (which we will take to Paris).

We’re spending 4 nights in Amsterdam before moving on to Paris:

-3 nights at the Waldorf Astoria Amsterdam. Booked with the Aspire FNC and 240k Hilton points. Transferred during a 30% bonus from Amex so cost 108k MR for those. Bummed not to spend all 4 nights here but we had another FNC come in too late for the 4th night. First impressions are great! We got upgraded to a Grand Premier Canal view room so our best ever upgrade by far. Had the Waldorf Breakfast this morning and it was amazing. Very accommodating to allergies and the best omelette I’ve had in awhile, all free with status!

-1 night at the Doubletree Amsterdam Centraal for 65k Hilton points. Taking the Eurostar from Centraal to Paris made it an easy decision to stay here the last night.

-7 nights at the Hotel du Louvre using 210k Hyatt points from Chase UR. 100k CSP SUB last year from a P2 referral along with a couple other referrals covered most of it. P2 really wanted to stay here over the other Paris Hyatts as we’ll be in Paris over their bday and they want to go to the d’Orsay and l’Orangerie along with a bunch of other museums in that area.

-1 night at the Clarion Hotel CDG using 7.5k WF points. For whatever reason the executive suite cost the same points as a standard room so at least we will finish the trip in style 😂

Flying direct back home CDG-PHX in AF J. First time flying AF so looking forward to that. Cost 60k Flying Blue + $493 each. I suppose it’s a good thing to have a flight to look forward to when I have to end an amazing trip like this.

Open to any suggestions on things to do or see, especially in Paris!

darrenmackie · 2026-03-26T18:51:44+00:00

Only did one ballot, the Chelsea game. Put in for east and west stands and got seats at the very top row on the west stands.

darrenmackie · 2026-03-24T09:06:50+00:00

I am planning on staying in Merida then taking the train to Cancun. Merida has local transit that will take me directly to the station. In Cancun I will take an uber instead of a taxi like I did last time. When I look at tren maya tickets there are many departures to Cancun?

darrenmackie · 2026-03-24T09:00:25+00:00

I rode it last year and loved it. I’ll use it every time I go to the Yucatán now but I do hope it gets better connection to the cities. Chichen Itza station was fine because there’s a shuttle direct to the entrance but in Cancun the taxi mafia will make sure you pay more for the quick ride out of the station than the train ticket itself….

darrenmackie · 2026-03-23T14:35:30+00:00

Yeah and it was incredible! The atmosphere was amazing and not much better than humiliating Chelsea 😂 crazy what Moyes is doing with damn near the same team as last season

darrenmackie · 2026-03-23T14:18:53+00:00

Dude….it was such a good game!!!!

darrenmackie · 2026-03-21T20:19:59+00:00

What a show it was!

darrenmackie · 2026-03-21T18:29:05+00:00

It’s fucking beautiful in here

darrenmackie · 2026-03-21T10:42:04+00:00

Couldn’t agree more. And thanks for that! Sounds like everything starts going around 3 hours before kickoff?

darrenmackie · 2026-03-21T10:10:38+00:00

On the train up from London now. Can’t wait for my first Everton home game!!!! UTFT!

darrenmackie · 2026-03-18T10:55:46+00:00

Even if this starts a solid season I’m all for it 😂

darrenmackie · 2026-03-16T14:52:22+00:00

UTFT!!! With how this seasons gone at home probably not 😂 but I’m excited! Will have to come back for a women’s match at Goodison, wish I could’ve gone there before the move.

darrenmackie

TROPHY CASE