Oahu In 48 Hours
If you only have two full days to spend on Oahu, here are some sights you won’t want to miss. On a recent trip to Hawaii I rented a car and had some great adventures. Day 1: Drive to the…
Sheraton Waikiki Review
I was a little skeptical when some friends told me I should stay at the Sheraton Waikiki. I had originally booked the Royal Hawaiian, a Luxury Collection Hotel, but ended up switching to the Sheraton after seeing a great deal….
Royal Hawaiian Hotel Review
The Royal Hawaiian is part of Starwood’s Luxury Collection of hotels and is located on Oahu. It is one of four Starwood properties located on Oahu and all are located in Waikiki Beach. The Royal Hawaiian built in 1927, is…
The Westin Moana Surfrider Hotel Review
The Westin Moana is called the First Lady of Waikiki and opened in March of 1901. It’s a beautiful historic hotel. The hotel has two wings, a historic wing, the rooms that surround the main courtyard, and a tower wing,…
New Year New Travel Resolutions
By VGP Guest Blogger – Rachel As I began to think about my new year’s resolutions… I realized almost all of them happen to be things that could make me healthier and happier while on the road and hopefully save…
Sheraton Kauai Review
The Sheraton Kauai Hotel is located in the Poipu area of Kauai. It’s on the southern side of the island and the location is beautiful. The ocean front property is very big and located on two different sides of Hoonani…
The Hawaiian Islands vs The Thai Islands
I’ve spent ample time in Thailand exploring all the islands and mainland cities, and by ample I mean almost 12 months now. I’ve spent the last month exploring the Hawaiian Islands in addition to spending time on two previous trips….
What Makes A Good Hotel
Inspired by a string of bad hotel stays (I think all my bad stays were saved up for the same two weeks this year!) I decided to come up with a list of what makes a good hotel. Here’s what…
Capital Hilton Hotel Review
By VGP Guest Blogger, Rachel If the rates are reasonable, the Capital Hilton in Washington, DC is one of my favorite places to stay in the DC area primarily for it’s ideal location. It is central to many DC attractions…
The Platinum Benefit Starwood Should Do Away With
I love Starwood, no secret there. Even though I’ve had a few unfortunate experiences in the last two weeks, 99.9% of my stays are great. There’s no way I’m switching loyalty, but, there is one benefit that I think is…
When Hotels Get Things Wrong
I’ve had a very good string of luck this year and only encountered minor, minor issues at hotels that weren’t even worth complaining about. However, this week, I found myself over-complaining because I ran into real issues and challenges with…
Airport Restaurant Openings In 2014: In With The New
By VGP Guest Blogger Rachel Some of you may have read yesterday’s post on restaurant openings in 2013 and you will be happy know that 2014 should bring a considerable number of airport improvements. Below are some I’m particularly excited…
Airport Restaurant Openings in 2013
By VGP Guest Blogger Rachel For those of us that spend a lot of time on the road, as you look back on 2013 you may have memories of many a meal in airport restaurants. Luckily, 2013 was a great…
Where Was I In 2013
December always makes me think about the year past and what’s ahead. It’s hard to believe that I launched First2Board 9 months ago! What an adventure it’s been and I’m looking forward to many more great years ahead. I have…
Do You Complain Too Much
Today, social media sites make it more and more easy to voice your opinions, both good and bad. Unhappy with your meal? Bash the restaurant on Yelp. Unhappy with the flight attendant? Tweet about it. Unhappy with the suite upgrade…
Hawaiian Hospitality Starts At Home
Hawaiian Hospitality doesn’t always start when you step off the plane and onto the luscious grounds of one of the Islands. Everyone has seen the welcoming images of tourists being greeted with traditional leis, but hospitality can start much earlier….