The chair guards the closet. Crammed corner at Sheraton Tribeca NYC.

The Room(s): If 288 square feet seems large to you, then you’ve likely stayed in a New York hotel or two. That’s what you get with a typical king bed room at Sheraton Tribeca New York. For the size it’s furnished just about right, save for a little cramping around the lounge chair and wardrobe. The smaller furnishings (32″ TV instead of a more standard 40-something, smaller chairs, desk, etc) might help with the floor space. I didn’t find it too difficult to move around but if you’re Texas sized, you might want to spring for a suite.

At the time of this review (Jan 2012), the room maintains a modern feel and despite the small size is pretty comfortable.  The sweet sleeper bed easily fits 2 and is indeed sweet and the decor fits Sheraton’s newly refreshed image.

Service: We spent a lot of time inside the hotel on this visit simply because there was expected hurricane-like weather. The staff was gracious and for the most part very friendly. There were some issues waiting for food service at the bar, but would be unfair to grade them here as conditions were truly out of the ordinary.

Perks:  This was a very basic room with no extras. There’s a club-level option if you don’t mind paying extra for staying on this special floor.

Location: Tribeca and Chinatown meet right around here. Very close to SoHo shopping too.

Overall: Little rooms in the Big Apple are the norm so this is slightly above average. The fresh decor and hotel amenities give this one a little extra boost.

Rating: 3 Hops (out of 5)

The Deal-How I got it: Cash and Points options aren’t typically available at peak times for this hotel, but I was able to use the option for this visit. This isn’t normally an inexpensive option but competes with other hotels in the area. Check for sale rates (support modhop) at Orbitz .

Lounge with a view! From the deck of Premier Lounge at DPS.

Notes: After a week or two of total relaxation at Bali’s finest resorts, it’s not easy to just jam yourself into an economy seat for a forever-long transoceanic flight. The dull chaos of Bali’s main airport doesn’t help much either, so I grabbed my Priority Pass airport lounge card and slid into most recommended one here; the Premier Lounge run by JAS Airport Services. Inside I found a variety of seating from deep & comfortable loungers and sofas to firmer chairs surrounding small tables. There’s a little wear and tear here, but nothing that takes away from the lounge’s relative comfort or ambiance. Hop outside to the deck for a few extra minutes of Bali sunshine amidst speckles of Balinese statues and jet noise.

I suspect the reason that this lounge is widely considered the best at Ngurah Rai is the food. There are some limited entree selections, small salad bar, finger sandwiches, soups and a pretty hearty snack selection. The soft drink selection is lacking for those that want something other than Coke or Sprite, but You’ll find plenty of juices, teas and coffee drinks.

Wi-Fi: Yes/Complimentary. Connected workstations are also available.

Service: Easy, friendly check-in

Convenience to gate: Convenient low numbered gates, allow extra time as your gate number gets closer to double digits.

How I got in/Strategies: Priority Pass. If you’re not particularly loyal to a specific airline or don’t travel enough to justify the cost of a full lounge membership, I highly recommend joining. Premier Lounge also accepts premium class passengers flying several carriers including (but not limited to) China Airlines, Qantas and Cathay Pacific.

Rating: 4 hops (of 5)

Economy seats that recline...but not by reclining.

The Seat: Three cheers for legroom. That’s one cheer for each inch of legroom you get aboard this ANA 777-300ER when compared to what most US carriers offer on this route between New York  and Tokyo. Granted, some of that knee real-estate is lost while reclined in these new “slide forward” style seats, but they also prevent the person in front of you from reclining into your personal space. Lumbar support is surprisingly adequate here, but I noticed that the seat bottom was a little thin. You may want an extra pillow to sit on.

Where this seat really wins is it’s added function and entertainment options. It’s not quite the selection I found aboard the Cathay Pacific 777-300 but the personal video system is loaded with a good number of Hollywood and Japanese movies, a small selection of TV programming, music and gaming options. There are USB and video ports right in front of you for charging your small electronics and theoretically watch your own videos (via an iPhone, Android or other video device) on the relatively large 10.5″ seatback screen. You also have standard power ports for powering a laptop or anything that requires a little more juice.

Service: From start to finish this was a pleasant experience in how we were treated by everyone from the gate crew to the second shift flight attendants. I’m sure that if they had actually cooked the food themselves, we would have eaten much better.

Food: Slightly above edible…Slightly. Most everything came out squishy and lived up to the bad reputation of airline food. No good surprises here.

Notes:

Summary: When it comes to reviewing economy seats, I’d like to spend more time on ones that are considered “premium” or provide some sort of advantage (exit rows, bulkheads, extra legroom seats). While this one is clearly part of the normal ANA economy cabin, it deserves attention for it’s features vs. the competition. On this hop between New York and Tokyo (en route to Hong Kong), my friends at Cranky Concierge gave me a couple of options. First was a United 747. No thank you. (While United has plans to upgrade their coach experience aboard this aircraft, I’ll gladly pay a smidge more for ANYTHING else.) With  ANA, a Star Alliance partner I was able to earn United Mileage Plus miles and not have to endure 14 hours of thumb twiddling, sky mall shopping and god forbid..reading. (I’m kidding kids…Reading is fun.)

Rating: 3 hops (of 5).

Strategy: There’s no strategy in booking a typical economy seat, but it pays to carefully compare the alternatives. I used Cranky Concierge to help find the right flight(s). Their help and my own diligent research combined to settle on ANA for it’s added legroom and entertainment options.

How I got it: Used Cranky Concierge‘s service for international itineraries. As much as I like to dig up my own deals, Cranky takes a lot of the extra legwork out of of planning a complex overseas itinerary.

Smog filled view from club level at Hyatt Regency Tsim Sha Tsui in Hong Kong.

The Room(s): By no means spacious, this twin room makes up for size-less-ness with comfort and exclusive club level benefits. The beds (or bed in a club king) are plenty comfortable to both lovers of both the firm and the fluffy. Amenities are typical of a 4 star hotel and include a large screen TV with a/v inputs for your video games and slideshows, in-room single cup neospresso coffee maker, luxurious bathrobes and plenty of comfort items to at least help you imagine a 5th star.

Service: Dedicated club-level service operates at a very high level of professionalism without losing sincerity.

Perks:  The lounge at club level is a great perk. Coffee all day, complimentary high-quality breakfast and evening cocktails all add to the allure of this premium floor.

Location: Just into Kowloon at the Tsim Sha Tsui metro stop. Near plenty of shopping and local flavor.

Overall: Service, comfortable beds and club level benefits compensated for the small size of the room.

Rating: 4 Hops (out of 5)

The Deal-How I got it: Was able to secure using Hyatt Gold Passport points. Miles were “earned” by signing up for a partner credit card. You can also check for hotel sales at Orbitz.com.

A few additional food options if seaweed, rice and redbean are your thing.

Notes:  I love design. Thats why upon walking into the Korean Airlines KAL Business Class lounge at Tokyo Narita, I assumed that I’d just love it here. It’s a clean, bright lounge with a heavy dose of mod-luxury aesthetic. Expectations suddenly high, I checked in and began the bunny-hill slow series of disappointments. First, a majority of the seating is (at best) a little less than comfortable. The only exception is the small section of deeper, better cushioned chairs near the windows in the main area. Also, each personal area leaves little room to spread out and stow your carry-on luggage. Food is a disappointment here too. Tiny white bread finger sandwiches failed to do little more than absorb the abundance of caffeine from all the coffee I consumed on the flight in. There are a few other choices that put this on par with a US carrier domestic lounge, but the limited menu puts this KAL lounge at a disadvantage when compared with others nearby.

Wi-Fi: Yes/Complimentary with code obtained at front desk.

Service: Staff was friendly and made sure to point out that the lounge closes earlier than most (16:30). Our flight was to depart awhile after, so it was a nice courtesy to let us know before investing in the visit. Food attendant was very friendly too, but didn’t quite understand my request for decaffeinated coffee.

Convenience to gate: Convenient to Korean Air gates.

How I got in/Strategies: Priority Pass. If you’re not particularly loyal to a specific airline or don’t travel enough to use airport club rooms, I highly recommend joining.

Rating: 2 hops (of 5)

Pre-flight bubbly aboard United PS flight in First.

The Seat: I’m normally a little whiny about “lie flat” seats that don’t actually “lie flat”. But for a 5-ish hour transcon flight this one is just fine. In fact, I prefer this seat and class of service above any currently offered between New York and LA or San Francisco. United offers Premium Service (“PS”) on specially configured Boeing 757-200s in a 3 class service (First, Business and Economy Plus) between these markets only. Despite not reaching a full 180 degree recline, the seat gets pretty close. If you’re just trying to catch a few winks before pitching your awesome cats in space themed sci-fi script in LA, this should work without gravity pulling you into the bulkhead wall while you’re passed out. There’s elbow room enough for even the widest, most muscular gorilla juicehead and legroom for 1 stretched out LeBron James. I’m also a big fan of where the power port is too. It’s easy to plug in the laptop or phone charger right between the seats above the armrests and under the reading light…not hidden deep beneath the seats amongst the dusty life vests and the scent of a million soda spills.

Service: Our flight attendant was phenomenally appropriate for a product called “Premium Service”. The entire first cabin holds only 12 seats so attention is easy to come by if you need constant coffee refills or are on an in-flight booze bender.

Notes: It probably doesn’t matter much, but the C/D bulkhead seats lack the extra cutout in the bulkhead wall (as the A/B seats have).

Summary: With legacy airlines (and Virgin America) working to win over bi-coasters willing to pony up for little luxury, I think United is a big winner here. While PS Business class competes with the top offering of it’s competitors, PS First is the only game in town(s) for a relative top-level flight experience. Sure, it wouldn’t compete nearly as well overseas, but shines as a domestic choice.

Rating: 4.5 hops (of 5).

Strategy: You may find that booking a PS transcon flight using miles of a partner airline can save you a few miles. At the time we booked we found the best mile redemption deal using US Airways Dividend Miles at 50K miles round trip in First. US Airways award chart doesn’t differentiate between domestic first and business class so both classes are offered at the same level. While miles might be better applied toward bigger overseas itineraries, this isn’t the worst domestic mileage deal out there.

How I got it: Used US Airways Dividend Miles via phone (Partner redemption cannot be done online.)

Hotel Name: Sheraton Vancouver Airport

Location: Vancouver, BC
Book it! (Support modhop!): Orbitz.com

Room for a couple more sinks...or skee ball.

The Room(s):  “Junior” suite? Why not just call it “Not Quite, Cowboy.”? I guess I shouldn’t complain having reserved a plain ol’ hotel room before graciously accepting this slight upgrade. Name aside, this semi-premium room at the Sheraton Vancouver Airport Hotel comes with a few extras. In addition to some bonus square footage, you’ve got a separate seating area with a full sofa and a large bathroom. That’s about it. The “Sweet Sleeper” bed is great for those who love a softer mattress like I do.  Much of everything else here is the same you’d find in a typical room.

Service: Smiles and room upgrade = happy me. Front desk and room service were both efficient and friendly on this visit.

Perks:  If extra space counts as an added value to you then this room is ideal. Social spaces in the hotel lobby are a nice touch if you’re traveling in a group. The internet workstations also serve as 24-7 anti-social Facebook-checking devices if you need to get out of the room and away from the annoying, chatty roommate your company shacked you up with.

Location: About a 10 minute drive from Vancouver International, The Sheraton Vancouver Airport is a quick fix for an easy stay the night after or before a flight.

Overall: This updated Sheraton is a nice spot for a good nights rest, particularly if you love a softer bed. The practicality of the Junior suite is questionable for families because all are outfitted with just one king bed and a non-pullout sofa, but provide plenty of space for an optional roll-away…or two. The big, open lobby is a little impersonal but I’m a big fan of the internet equipt workstations and coffee (Starbucks!) option. It’s a good nights stay on your way into or out of Vancouver.

Rating: 3.5 Hops (out of 5)

The Deal-How I got it: Upgrades are nice but not the norm so if the Junior Suite strikes your fancy, it might be best to reserve it using either Starwood Preferred Guest points or cash at SPG.com check for hotel sales at Orbitz.com.

Plane watchers dream-view from The United Club at CLE.

Notes: There’s usually some anxiety involved in my choosing an airport lounge, but at Cleveland Hopkins it’s simple: Either check into the United Club or just grab a latte and find an unused gate. I opted for lounge living. Inside, the deep leather seating is comfortable and arranged to accommodate social groups or individual travelers. I’ve always been amused by the theater-style TV room found in many of these former Continental Presidents Clubs, filled with scotch-sipping businessmen watching cable news.

This late afternoon visit left me a little hungry. It’ll likely do the same for you unless you’ve got a higher tolerance for processed cheese and yogurt covered raisins. Drinks are plentiful and free. There’s a staffed bar with hall of fame rock theme and grown up beverages, juices and soda while coffee & tea are self-serve.

Wi-Fi: Yes/Complimentary.

Service: Bar staff was friendly and making small talk with patrons. Check in was rushed but smiley.

Convenience to gate: Depends. Convenient to most C gates but a little bit of a walk to those on other concourses. Allow a few extra minutes.

How I got in/Strategies: Priority Pass. If you’re not particularly loyal to a specific airline or don’t travel enough to use airport club rooms, I highly recommend joining. Per-visit passes are also available for this and tons of other lounges at GoSimply.

Rating: 3 hops (of 5)

Just minor leg-angling required on the window in this aisle.

The Seat: I’m not sure where in the scheme of things I started to like leather seating. Luckily for me this aircraft sports Delta’s unnaturally shiny blue leather seats complete with pillowy headrest, personal fold-up video entertainment system and in this row, plenty of legroom for a mid-sized guy like me to stretch way out. While the  aisle seat is the king of legroom here, beware toe-smashing beverage carts and lavatory congregators. While neither posed much of a problem on this flight, it’s not unlikely that you could be hurt or annoyed at any given time. The window seat seems like a good option here despite the exit door slide compartment imposing upon some of that extra legroom. You’ve got the wall for leaning, a window to stare out of and fewer people doing the bathroom dance directly in front of you while you’re trying to watch 30 Rock.

Service: Friendly enough flight attendants, but unmemorable. I had to rely on my notes for this one and even then all I seem to have noted was “prompt beverage service”. From that, all I gather is that I was probably half in the bag not long after take-off.

Notes: Seats 30A & B are similar seats on the opposite window side of the 2-3-2 configured aircraft.

Summary: With Delta collecting cash for their Economy Comfort seats a little further toward the front of this plane, it’s nice to see they left  a few plain-ol’ exit row seats alone. Sure, there’s no extra recline, but the added legroom is a nice option for a few lower-level and non-elites to battle for.

Rating: 3.5 hops (of 5).

Strategy: These seats are available for Delta SkyMiles Medallion members in advance and released for everyone else at check-in. The best bet for non-elites is to arrive early and ask the gate agent if you weren’t able to choose them online or at the kiosk.

How I got it: Purchased outright at Delta.com.