December 2, 2024 • 26 mins
In this episode, we’re diving into our recent stay at the Andaz San Diego. If you’ve been eyeing this Hyatt property or planning a trip to San Diego, we’ve got you covered.
We’ll tell you everything about our experience at the Andaz San Diego, from the upgraded suite we got with our Globalist status to the rooftop pool and prime location in the Gaslamp Quarter. While this is a great spot for couples or adults, we’ll share why we wouldn’t bring our kids here and what makes it such a fun destination for a weekend getaway.
We also talk about how we used Hyatt points to book the stay, why we chose this hotel over others, and the perks we took advantage of—like a free $107 breakfast and late checkout. On top of that, we’ll share how we saved points by choosing this property over a more expensive option and even used our Southwest Companion Pass for flights.
One of the highlights of our trip was dinner at Wolf in the Woods, one of San Diego’s best restaurants, where Duane's high school friend is the head chef. We’ll share what we ordered, our favorite dishes, and why this meal alone was worth the trip.
In this episode, we also give updates on our points and miles strategies—like why I’m stuck in Amex pop-up jail and how we’re diving into Hilton points for future trips. If you’re interested in maximizing your travel rewards or want to learn more about staying at the Andaz San Diego, this episode is for you.
We’d love for you to leave a review and email us a screenshot at travelpartyof5@gmail.com to enter our $50 gift card giveaway. Your support means so much, and it helps others find the podcast too.
So, if you’re curious about the Andaz San Diego, need tips for using points and miles, or just love travel stories, tune in! We’re excited to share all the details and hope it inspires your next adventure.
Mark as Played
Transcript
Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Speaker 1 (00:00):
In today's episode we will be sharing all the details
of our recent weekend trip tothe Andaz in San Diego, so if
that hotel or area has been onyour list, this episode is for
you.
Listen in Hi, I'm Raya.
Speaker 2 (00:26):
And I'm Dwayne.
Speaker 1 (00:27):
And we are your hosts of the Travel Party of Five
podcast, where we share how wetravel as a family of five
around the world.
Speaker 2 (00:35):
We will also share how we use points and miles to
travel as affordably as possibleand sometimes even completely
free.
Speaker 1 (00:42):
So if you're wanting to travel more with your family
but you're not sure how, we'dlove for you to listen in.
Speaker 2 (00:47):
So welcome to our podcast, where we hope you learn
a thing or two to get youcloser to your next trip.
Speaker 1 (01:04):
Hi friends, welcome back to Travel Party of Five
podcast.
Speaker 2 (01:07):
Welcome back.
Thanks for tuning in.
Speaker 1 (01:09):
So we are going to be mainly talking about the Andaz
in San Diego today.
We stayed there last weekendfor one night, but before we do
that, a couple of things Iwanted to chat about.
So first of all, we've beendenied for a couple of cards
recently and I thought we couldtalk about that and also talk
about what cards we openedinstead.
Speaker 2 (01:32):
Basically, We've been denied or you've been denied.
Speaker 1 (01:36):
Well, we have been denied, but I am the one doing
all the applying.
So, first of all, we are Idon't know if we talked about
this on a previous episode, butwe've been attempting to dive
into the Hilton card atmosphere,if you will, because there are
(01:58):
a lot of really luxurious Hiltonproperties that we want to stay
at and we think that our annualkind of couples getaway is a
really good use for those pointsat certain Hilton's around the
world.
And so, excuse me, and soDwayne Dwayne and air quotes
(02:22):
applied for the Amex Hiltonaspire card maybe a month ago or
so and was approved, and sowe're currently working on the
minimum spend for that card.
I think we have maybe $1,000left and it's a $6,000 minimum
spend, so we're getting prettyclose.
(02:44):
That card does have a $550annual fee, but it comes with a
free night at any Hilton in theworld each year and you get it
the first year you open the card.
So let's see, we you opened thecard.
Actually it was opened onseptember 22nd, so it's been a
(03:07):
little over two months actually,and we just got the free night.
As a data point, we just got itlike yesterday.
So it did take around maybenine weeks to from card opening.
To get the free night, you don'thave to meet the minimum spend
to get the free night, you justget the free night.
You don't have to meet theminimum spend to get the free
night, you just get the freenight for having the card.
(03:27):
There is also a point, a signupbonus, and I believe the signup
bonus is 175,000 Hilton points,which sounds like a lot but
realistically.
Realistically that's maybethree nights at an average
Hilton or like one and a half ata fancy Hilton.
(03:50):
So it's not a ton for Hilton.
What's the annual fee for thiscard?
It's $550.
So it's the highest annual feeHilton card you can have.
But again, that free night thatyou get every year is super
valuable.
There's also you also get abunch of Hilton um resort
credits like $400 worth um forthe year.
(04:13):
So it's $200 in the first halfof the year and $200 in the
second half.
Speaker 2 (04:22):
Um, and there's a bunch of other um perks too, and
does this card give me acertain Hilton?
Speaker 1 (04:27):
status it does.
It gives you diamond status,which is the highest one.
So, like if we were to go to aHilton, I would book it in your
name because you have the higherstatus than I do, and we would
get free breakfast with I'mgoing to say free breakfast
breakfast loosely, I think it'slike a continental breakfast,
but we would get that with yourstatus.
(04:48):
And we have a whole episodeabout hilton statuses.
Um, if you scroll back, maybesix months.
So if you're curious, um, soduane got that card and the
intention was for me to also getthat card.
Okay, I went to apply a week orso ago.
Speaker 2 (05:08):
For you to get, for me to get the referral bonus
right.
Speaker 1 (05:11):
Yes, I had Dwayne refer me to this card.
However, when I went to apply,I got the dreaded Amex pop-up,
which basically says you canapply for this card but you're
not eligible to earn the bonus,and so at that point you can
choose to like not proceed withyour application, which is what
(05:31):
I did, because I don't want thecard without the bonus.
The weird thing is, I triedlike several different offers.
I tried a public offer insteadof using Dwayne's referral, and
it all gave me the same thing.
So what this is called Amexpop-up jail, and essentially
what it means is AmericanExpress has decided you are not
(05:52):
a like profitable customer forthem.
Speaker 2 (05:55):
And let me just add Amex pop-up jails nothing like
real jail, oh my God.
Speaker 1 (06:03):
Well, you would know, I have no idea.
But so like there's a lot oftheories as to how to get out of
pop-up jail and the main theoryis to spend on your existing
Amex cards.
But the weird thing is I am inpop-up jail for Amex personal
(06:23):
cards, except I don't have anypersonal cards with American
Express.
So I don't know how to get outof it because I don't have any
personal cards that I can spendon.
And I also don't know why Iwould be in Amex pop-up jail
because I don't think I've everhad an American Express personal
(06:43):
card.
I have an Amex business goldand an Amex business platinum
and I those are both business.
And then, after I got the pop upfor like three different
personal Amex cards, I appliedfor the Hilton business card,
which is also an Amex, and I gotapproved, which led me to my
conclusion that I am only inpop-up jail for the personal
(07:06):
cards.
But again, I don't know why orhow to get out of it because I
don't have a personal card I canspend on.
So I think we just have to waittime, time maybe.
Um, so that's a littlefrustrating though, because that
kind of really ruined my myplan A for our couples trip next
year, which was to each have afree night to be able to use
(07:29):
Plus Points.
Go ahead.
Speaker 2 (07:31):
I was going to say and thank you for tuning in to
the Ondas episode.
Hopefully this was helpful toyou.
Speaker 1 (07:39):
I don't think you need to be that close to the
microphone because look at theaudio.
Wow, we're going to talk aboutthe Ondials, but we have a few
things.
This is our card update segment.
Remember Card updates, becauseI think this is helpful for
people to think like, or to hearhow we're thinking about the
strategy, so that you know theycan also think through their
(08:01):
strategy for whatever theirtravel goals are.
We have all of our trips bookedfor next year, except for our
couples trip, and so that iswhat I'm thinking about right
now.
Speaker 2 (08:09):
Anyways, I personally would love to go to the Ritz in
the Cayman.
Speaker 1 (08:14):
Islands oh, that's not on our list, it's not on our
travel plans.
The Ritz we haven't talkedabout that.
That's a Marriott.
Speaker 2 (08:20):
Oh, I thought that was a Hilton.
No, oh, never mind, we're notgoing there.
Oh, I thought that was Hilton.
No, oh, never mind.
Speaker 1 (08:28):
We're not going there , okay.
So Dwayne also got denied for acard, and his was a Chase Inc
business card.
The reason for denial, I think,was basically too many cards
opened, which is correct.
We've opened quite a few inks,and so we could have called and
asked them to reconsider, but Ijust decided it made more sense
(08:50):
to just let it, let theapplication expire, and I will
probably try for one more chaseink before the year is over.
That will put us both at one orat both at seven cards for the
year, which I think is plenty.
So we'll see if I can getapproved.
I just dropped down to 424,literally today, today's
(09:13):
December 1st, that we'rerecording this.
This will air tomorrow,december 2nd, and as of today I
am 424.
So I'm probably going to giveit a week or two and then apply
for one more chasing to wrap outthe year.
However, if you do get deniedfor a chase card, you can do
what's called a recon call,where you can call chase and
(09:36):
basically ask them to reconsideryour application.
Sometimes they'll ask you somequestions.
If it's a business card,they're going to ask you about
your business.
If it's a personal card,they're just likely going to ask
you about maybe somequestionable things that they've
seen on your credit report, andthen you'll either be approved
or denied.
After the fact, we did thatonce for a Southwest card for
(09:56):
Duane and it was pretty easyright.
Speaker 2 (09:59):
Super easy.
Speaker 1 (10:00):
Yeah, so anyways, that is our card updates.
So once we finish out theminimum spend on Dwayne's Aspire
card, we're going to be workingon the minimum spend for my
Hilton business card, which alsohas an elevated offer and will
earn me 175,000 points, which isgood.
That elevated offer, I believe,goes through January 8th.
(10:22):
So if you are thinking ofgetting into the Hilton
atmosphere, I would recommendapplying for one of those cards
now, because I believe they'reall elevated until January 8.
The bummer is that thatbusiness card doesn't come with
a free night anymore, and itused to, so, oh well, okay.
(10:43):
Second item, before we get intothe on DAWs is we are doing
another $50 gift card giveawayraffle, and the way to enter is
super easy.
You can simply go to eitheriTunes or Spotify or wherever
you listen, leave us a reviewand then email us a screenshot
(11:03):
of that review to enter.
Our email is travel party offive at gmailcom.
It is the number five.
So t r a v e l p a r t y o fthe number five at gmailcom, and
we will decide a winner inthree weeks, right before
Christmas, and we will send youa gift card of your choice.
(11:25):
Last time the winner, I thinkit was like a Fandango type gift
card that they wanted, and sothat's what we did.
We greatly, greatly appreciateall of you who listen, and the
more reviews our podcast has,the more listeners and more
often we pop up up in searchresults.
(11:46):
So the reviews are super, superimportant and we really, really
appreciate yes, we appreciatethat for sure.
Speaker 2 (11:52):
So shout out to who was it that one last time?
Jeff you maybe?
Yes?
Speaker 1 (11:57):
yeah, yeah, he was really, really nice, his like.
He sent some really helpfulemails too, which was great.
Um, so, yeah, leave us a review, email us a screenshot and
you'll be entered to win.
It's super easy and, if I hadto guess, your chances are
probably pretty good.
Speaker 2 (12:12):
So, um, okay, let's talk about the on dolls make
sure you let them know they youonly send out legal gift cards,
not illegal ones dwayne's makingfun of me, because last time I
said I will buy you a gift cardto wherever you want, as long as
it's legal.
Speaker 1 (12:28):
That still remains true.
Speaker 2 (12:30):
Yes.
Speaker 1 (12:31):
Okay, Okay, let's talk about the Ondas.
So we were originally.
Do you want to talk about whatour original plan was for this
quick weekend trip?
Speaker 2 (12:41):
We were going to stay at the Ondas in Scottsdale,
arizona.
We were going to stay at theOndas in Scottsdale Arizona, but
we decided to.
Well, you decided to book anight in the Ondas, san Diego,
which I think is a better idea.
We did this because yourecently hit globalist status,
(13:06):
which we'll talk about in thenext episode.
Yeah, yeah.
So we went to San Diego.
We flew one Saturday morningaround 11 ish, got there around
11 ish, lifted to the hotelwhich is in downtown San Diego.
Was it in the gas lab?
(13:28):
Yes, sir, yeah.
So, yeah, a very happening partof downtown San Diego.
I love San Diego.
I don't know if I've said thatbefore.
Speaker 1 (13:39):
Yeah, we really wanted to try out the globalist
status and we were originallygoing to stay at the Ondas in
Scottsdale, like Dwayne said.
However, the stay there waslike 25,000 points a night or
something, and this one was only17,000 points a night.
Yeah, so we saved 8,000 points.
Actually, what we did was weused those 8,000 points towards
(14:05):
the flight, because I use pointsto book our flight on Southwest
.
We dusted off our companionpass for one last hoorah before
it expires at the end of theyear, and so Dwayne flew as my
companion on Southwest.
It's such a short flight 45minutes, I mean.
Speaker 2 (14:18):
Yeah, once you're up in there, you're, you're landing
.
Speaker 1 (14:22):
They didn't even do drink service on one of the
flights, because, yeah theydidn't do anything yeah, so um
the hotel, let's talk about thehotel itself yeah, hotel, like I
said, downtown san diego.
Speaker 2 (14:35):
Um walked in.
It was cool.
They had some cool paintings onthe wall.
Lobby was pretty small.
I feel like all downtownboutique hotels like that are
fairly.
Speaker 1 (14:49):
Well, the Ondas is also like it's like a pretty
kitschy brand, so it's like morelike artsy, modern type art and
stuff.
Yeah, so Lobby is pretty cool.
This was the first Ondas we'vestayed at, actually, so I did
check that off of my brandexplorer hyatt thing yeah, so we
(15:10):
get there, we check in he um hedid upgrade us, yeah, he
indicated that we were globalistyeah and thanked us for that,
then upgraded us to a king bedsuite I think it was called yeah
um which they didn't have anysuites um overlooking the city.
Speaker 2 (15:32):
So we got a suite that just overlooked the what?
Speaker 1 (15:38):
it basically overlooked other rooms, like you
couldn't even call it acourtyard, and at first I was
kind of like, oh, that kind ofstinks.
But then I realized, like theyeven give you earplugs in the
room because there there's alittle note that says the gas
lamp never sleeps, and so myunderstanding is it's fairly
loud.
But because we had an interiorroom that didn't face the street
(16:01):
, we didn't hear any noise atall and I didn't even have to
use the earplugs, and I I'm areally light sleeper, like I
would have used the earplugs ifit had been loud.
So it was kind of bummer thatthere was no view, but we got a
good night's sleep.
So yeah part of the other reasonthat I wanted to go to San
Diego was Dwayane's really goodfriend from high school in Japan
(16:26):
is now the head chef at one ofthe best restaurants in San
Diego.
Like was voted best restaurant,I think 2023 and 2024.
Speaker 2 (16:35):
Yeah, and it's only been open since 2021.
Speaker 1 (16:38):
It's only been open like I think two or three years,
yeah, and so we ate there overthe summer with the kids and
it's like a fine diningrestaurant.
I we've talked about it beforeon an episode.
Um, I would say like it's notgreat to bring your kids, but we
did just for that one time, um,and I really wanted to go back
there, so that was kind of theother reason for the trip to San
(17:02):
Diego versus staying here inScottsdale.
So we didn't eat at the hotelother than breakfast the next
day.
But we did get free breakfastat the hotel with globalist
status, the breakfast for thetwo of us.
Let me just I took a picture ofthe receipt.
It was $107 and that was twomeals and some coffees,
(17:28):
basically two coffees, that's itlike specialty coffees, like a
cappuccino.
It was that much yes, and I meanthat included the tip.
Speaker 2 (17:34):
But yes, 107 dollars oh yeah, and which they take
care of.
Speaker 1 (17:38):
The tip for you as well yes, they comp the whole
breakfast, including includingtip, which is great.
Speaker 2 (17:43):
So now that I think about it, we should just tip
super fat next time.
Speaker 1 (17:50):
I think it was included.
It was included.
They included it like 18%.
Yeah, so the other couplethings to note about the hotel
and then we can maybe talk aboutthe restaurant we went to a
little bit.
The hotel has a rooftop pool,which is really nice and like a
whole rooftop bar area.
Speaker 2 (18:09):
It's nice, but the pool is very small.
There was no hot tub or jacuzzi.
Yeah.
Speaker 1 (18:15):
And not a ton of seating around the pool either.
I was going to say there'sprobably.
Speaker 2 (18:19):
Well, they had.
There's what, two cabanas thatI'm sure you can rent, which
came with like four seats, butthen, other than that, there was
maybe 15 to 20 more I wouldn'tbring my kids here and, in short
, I would not bring my kids tothis hotel.
Speaker 1 (18:33):
This is a an adult hotel, in my opinion.
Um, they have a really smallfitness center.
Uh, the rooftop is really nice.
We were there both forbreakfast and at night.
Speaker 2 (18:44):
Great views of the city.
Speaker 1 (18:45):
Yes, very nice views of the city.
It wasn't crowded.
We were there the weekendbefore Thanksgiving so that
could have played into it, butit was not crowded at all.
I think when we were eatingbreakfast there was maybe three
other tables.
Speaker 2 (18:59):
Yeah.
Speaker 1 (18:59):
And same thing.
We went up to the bar to have adrink after we finished dinner
and there was also only maybefive other people up there.
Speaker 2 (19:08):
I mean, mind you, it was what 8.30 maybe.
Speaker 1 (19:12):
Yeah, it wasn't very late it wasn't very late so.
Yeah, so that's the Ondas.
I think again we would staythere if it were just us again.
I did appreciate that we didn'treally need a car.
It's maybe 10 minutes from theairport and then where we wanted
to go, the restaurant which isin Mission Hills, was another 10
(19:33):
minute lift, so you didn't needa car.
If we had had a car we couldhave parked for free, because
that's another globalist perk onawards days.
But we didn't want to botherrenting a car and we definitely
didn't need one.
We were able to walk around thegas lamp.
We had lunch at some littleCuban restaurant which was
(19:54):
decent.
I think it was called Havana1920 or something like that.
Speaker 2 (19:58):
Yeah.
Speaker 1 (19:59):
And we stumbled across a little like farmer's
market street fair type thing,yeah, that we wandered through
and so lots of energy in the gaslamp and while sitting on the
patio of this restaurant, I sawoh yeah, my tattoos tattoo
artist's wife walking down thestreet.
Speaker 2 (20:19):
Mind you, she's a tattoo artist wasn't maui, but
now is located on the big island, hawaii.
So yeah, I mean, if you'velistened to the podcast before,
I tend to run into random peoplethat I know and this trip
there's no exception yeah,happened again we were just
sitting there and he's like ohwait, that's so-and-so's wife,
(20:40):
hold on.
Speaker 1 (20:41):
And I was like oh, here we go again.
Happens every time, so strange.
Speaker 2 (20:46):
So anyways, um oh well, mind you, let me, or let
me just talk about the roomagain.
So if we were to go back withthe kids, the room was plenty of
big.
Oh, the suite, yeah, plenty bigto for us for all five of us to
stay.
Speaker 1 (21:00):
Yes, there was a pullout, so it was a king bed
you know, yeah, separated bywhat?
a half wall it was a half wall,yeah and then there's two tvs,
cows that pulled out into a bedoh, you know, the other thing we
did is we got late checkout.
So we flew in around 11 or 12is when our flight landed on
Saturday and our flight didn'tleave until maybe three or four
(21:23):
on Sunday, and so we requested alate checkout and we got a
checkout until two, which isanother globalist perk.
I think you can get until fourif they have availability.
We only needed until two and webasically had breakfast at the
hotel, went for a little walkaround, stopped at a bakery and
then went back to the hotel andwatched football for a couple
(21:45):
hours before we went to theairport.
So the late checkout came inreally handy so that we didn't
have to feel rushed, and thatwas great.
Speaker 2 (21:55):
And we checked in early.
I don't know if that is aglobalist thing?
Speaker 1 (21:59):
It's not.
Speaker 2 (21:59):
It's just availability.
Speaker 1 (22:01):
Yeah, so all in all, great stay.
Would stay there again if itwere just us.
I'm excited for the next yearand the suite upgrades that we
will use, because I think it'sreally going to give us more
room when we do travel with thekids.
So, yep, I would definitelyconsider the andaz if you are
(22:22):
heading to san diego yes, primelocation yep, um, let's talk
about the restaurant wolf in thewoods wolf in the woods.
Speaker 2 (22:33):
Such a great restaurant.
It it is fine dining, but it'slike what is it?
Speaker 1 (22:38):
tapas it's tapas, so it's a bunch of small yes, so
they basically recommend thatyou get a few, and then you can
always order more, and that'swhat we have done both times.
My favorite thing on the menuis the appetizer.
It's the smoked French troutroe, like this dip of a
(23:00):
mascarpone cheese, red onion,shaved boiled egg and capers
that you mix all together andthen it comes with these little
toasts and you put some of thatmixture on the toast and then
you top it with the smokedFrench trout roe and then they
have little pickles that you canalso eat it with, and that with
a ice cold glass of white wine,like a Sancerre or something
(23:24):
like that or a Sauv Blanc, isjust so good.
Speaker 2 (23:29):
I'm looking at mine, what was my favorite?
It's the seared prime beeftataki.
Yeah, that's what it was.
It's just seared meat whereit's raw in the middle, served
chilled and, like this, sauceand onions.
Speaker 1 (23:47):
The sauce was like a sesame soy saucy type.
So good Shout out to.
Speaker 2 (23:53):
Chef.
Speaker 1 (23:53):
Yeah.
Speaker 2 (23:54):
Doing big things out there.
Speaker 1 (23:56):
They also had this.
Everything was just so good.
They had this really gooddessert that was like panna
cotta yes, it was a panna cottathat had like like cherry
sweetened cherries and I mean ittasted like a thanksgiving
dessert.
I'm looking up the menu so Ican tell you vanilla bean, panna
(24:17):
cotta, sugar to dark cherry,orange zest, bizcochito cookie
crumble and pistachio dust.
It was 10 out of 10.
Highly recommend.
Also the sweet corn soup.
You should get 10 out of 10.
What else did we like?
Oh, last time you, our kids,had the burgers when they went
last time 10 out of 10.
(24:38):
They really liked those.
Our oldest asked for a secondone time.
10 out of 10.
They really liked those.
Our oldest asked for a secondone.
You liked the carne adobada,which is the braised pork
shoulder in a red hatch chilisauce.
Speaker 2 (24:48):
Yeah, and if you do decide to check out wolf in the
woods, make sure you make areservation at least a week out,
because we tried to make areservation and they were full,
so I had to reach out to to myfriend and see both times we've
had to do that because we didn'tprepare us in there yeah, so if
you don't have the hookup, sowe appreciate that oh, yes,
(25:10):
greatly.
Speaker 1 (25:11):
If you don't have the hookup you need to make, I
would say two weeks in advanceis probably safe.
So they have heater, they havea patio and they have heaters.
It's not a huge restaurant.
The other thing that's so cuteis it's like in the middle of a
neighborhood, like there's justhouses all around and then
there's this little restaurant.
Speaker 2 (25:27):
Beautiful houses, yeah, fancy neighborhood.
Speaker 1 (25:32):
And I mean, if I'm being honest, like eating at
this restaurant was part of thereason that I wanted to go back
to San Diego instead of stayingdoing a staycation here.
So I've been thinking aboutthat French trout row for six
months.
So, anyways, highly recommendWolf in the Woods.
If you're looking for finedining in San Diego, definitely
(25:52):
check it out.
Don't forget to leave a review.
Send us a screenshot to ouremail
travelpartyoffiveatgmailcom.
We will enter you in the raffleto win the $50 gift card.
We appreciate you so much.
Anything else?
Speaker 2 (26:06):
No, we appreciate you and good luck with the raffle.
Speaker 1 (26:09):
Yep Hope you all had a great Thanksgiving and we will
catch you next week.
Speaker 2 (26:12):
Bye, have a good one.
In today's episode we will be sharing all the details
of our recent weekend trip tothe Andaz in San Diego, so if
that hotel or area has been onyour list, this episode is for
you.
Listen in Hi, I'm Raya.
Speaker 2 (00:26):
And I'm Dwayne.
Speaker 1 (00:27):
And we are your hosts of the Travel Party of Five
podcast, where we share how wetravel as a family of five
around the world.
Speaker 2 (00:35):
We will also share how we use points and miles to
travel as affordably as possibleand sometimes even completely
free.
Speaker 1 (00:42):
So if you're wanting to travel more with your family
but you're not sure how, we'dlove for you to listen in.
Speaker 2 (00:47):
So welcome to our podcast, where we hope you learn
a thing or two to get youcloser to your next trip.
Speaker 1 (01:04):
Hi friends, welcome back to Travel Party of Five
podcast.
Speaker 2 (01:07):
Welcome back.
Thanks for tuning in.
Speaker 1 (01:09):
So we are going to be mainly talking about the Andaz
in San Diego today.
We stayed there last weekendfor one night, but before we do
that, a couple of things Iwanted to chat about.
So first of all, we've beendenied for a couple of cards
recently and I thought we couldtalk about that and also talk
about what cards we openedinstead.
Speaker 2 (01:32):
Basically, We've been denied or you've been denied.
Speaker 1 (01:36):
Well, we have been denied, but I am the one doing
all the applying.
So, first of all, we are Idon't know if we talked about
this on a previous episode, butwe've been attempting to dive
into the Hilton card atmosphere,if you will, because there are
(01:58):
a lot of really luxurious Hiltonproperties that we want to stay
at and we think that our annualkind of couples getaway is a
really good use for those pointsat certain Hilton's around the
world.
And so, excuse me, and soDwayne Dwayne and air quotes
(02:22):
applied for the Amex Hiltonaspire card maybe a month ago or
so and was approved, and sowe're currently working on the
minimum spend for that card.
I think we have maybe $1,000left and it's a $6,000 minimum
spend, so we're getting prettyclose.
(02:44):
That card does have a $550annual fee, but it comes with a
free night at any Hilton in theworld each year and you get it
the first year you open the card.
So let's see, we you opened thecard.
Actually it was opened onseptember 22nd, so it's been a
(03:07):
little over two months actually,and we just got the free night.
As a data point, we just got itlike yesterday.
So it did take around maybenine weeks to from card opening.
To get the free night, you don'thave to meet the minimum spend
to get the free night, you justget the free night.
You don't have to meet theminimum spend to get the free
night, you just get the freenight for having the card.
(03:27):
There is also a point, a signupbonus, and I believe the signup
bonus is 175,000 Hilton points,which sounds like a lot but
realistically.
Realistically that's maybethree nights at an average
Hilton or like one and a half ata fancy Hilton.
(03:50):
So it's not a ton for Hilton.
What's the annual fee for thiscard?
It's $550.
So it's the highest annual feeHilton card you can have.
But again, that free night thatyou get every year is super
valuable.
There's also you also get abunch of Hilton um resort
credits like $400 worth um forthe year.
(04:13):
So it's $200 in the first halfof the year and $200 in the
second half.
Speaker 2 (04:22):
Um, and there's a bunch of other um perks too, and
does this card give me acertain Hilton?
Speaker 1 (04:27):
status it does.
It gives you diamond status,which is the highest one.
So, like if we were to go to aHilton, I would book it in your
name because you have the higherstatus than I do, and we would
get free breakfast with I'mgoing to say free breakfast
breakfast loosely, I think it'slike a continental breakfast,
but we would get that with yourstatus.
(04:48):
And we have a whole episodeabout hilton statuses.
Um, if you scroll back, maybesix months.
So if you're curious, um, soduane got that card and the
intention was for me to also getthat card.
Okay, I went to apply a week orso ago.
Speaker 2 (05:08):
For you to get, for me to get the referral bonus
right.
Speaker 1 (05:11):
Yes, I had Dwayne refer me to this card.
However, when I went to apply,I got the dreaded Amex pop-up,
which basically says you canapply for this card but you're
not eligible to earn the bonus,and so at that point you can
choose to like not proceed withyour application, which is what
(05:31):
I did, because I don't want thecard without the bonus.
The weird thing is, I triedlike several different offers.
I tried a public offer insteadof using Dwayne's referral, and
it all gave me the same thing.
So what this is called Amexpop-up jail, and essentially
what it means is AmericanExpress has decided you are not
(05:52):
a like profitable customer forthem.
Speaker 2 (05:55):
And let me just add Amex pop-up jails nothing like
real jail, oh my God.
Speaker 1 (06:03):
Well, you would know, I have no idea.
But so like there's a lot oftheories as to how to get out of
pop-up jail and the main theoryis to spend on your existing
Amex cards.
But the weird thing is I am inpop-up jail for Amex personal
(06:23):
cards, except I don't have anypersonal cards with American
Express.
So I don't know how to get outof it because I don't have any
personal cards that I can spendon.
And I also don't know why Iwould be in Amex pop-up jail
because I don't think I've everhad an American Express personal
(06:43):
card.
I have an Amex business goldand an Amex business platinum
and I those are both business.
And then, after I got the pop upfor like three different
personal Amex cards, I appliedfor the Hilton business card,
which is also an Amex, and I gotapproved, which led me to my
conclusion that I am only inpop-up jail for the personal
(07:06):
cards.
But again, I don't know why orhow to get out of it because I
don't have a personal card I canspend on.
So I think we just have to waittime, time maybe.
Um, so that's a littlefrustrating though, because that
kind of really ruined my myplan A for our couples trip next
year, which was to each have afree night to be able to use
(07:29):
Plus Points.
Go ahead.
Speaker 2 (07:31):
I was going to say and thank you for tuning in to
the Ondas episode.
Hopefully this was helpful toyou.
Speaker 1 (07:39):
I don't think you need to be that close to the
microphone because look at theaudio.
Wow, we're going to talk aboutthe Ondials, but we have a few
things.
This is our card update segment.
Remember Card updates, becauseI think this is helpful for
people to think like, or to hearhow we're thinking about the
strategy, so that you know theycan also think through their
(08:01):
strategy for whatever theirtravel goals are.
We have all of our trips bookedfor next year, except for our
couples trip, and so that iswhat I'm thinking about right
now.
Speaker 2 (08:09):
Anyways, I personally would love to go to the Ritz in
the Cayman.
Speaker 1 (08:14):
Islands oh, that's not on our list, it's not on our
travel plans.
The Ritz we haven't talkedabout that.
That's a Marriott.
Speaker 2 (08:20):
Oh, I thought that was a Hilton.
No, oh, never mind, we're notgoing there.
Oh, I thought that was Hilton.
No, oh, never mind.
Speaker 1 (08:28):
We're not going there , okay.
So Dwayne also got denied for acard, and his was a Chase Inc
business card.
The reason for denial, I think,was basically too many cards
opened, which is correct.
We've opened quite a few inks,and so we could have called and
asked them to reconsider, but Ijust decided it made more sense
(08:50):
to just let it, let theapplication expire, and I will
probably try for one more chaseink before the year is over.
That will put us both at one orat both at seven cards for the
year, which I think is plenty.
So we'll see if I can getapproved.
I just dropped down to 424,literally today, today's
(09:13):
December 1st, that we'rerecording this.
This will air tomorrow,december 2nd, and as of today I
am 424.
So I'm probably going to giveit a week or two and then apply
for one more chasing to wrap outthe year.
However, if you do get deniedfor a chase card, you can do
what's called a recon call,where you can call chase and
(09:36):
basically ask them to reconsideryour application.
Sometimes they'll ask you somequestions.
If it's a business card,they're going to ask you about
your business.
If it's a personal card,they're just likely going to ask
you about maybe somequestionable things that they've
seen on your credit report, andthen you'll either be approved
or denied.
After the fact, we did thatonce for a Southwest card for
(09:56):
Duane and it was pretty easyright.
Speaker 2 (09:59):
Super easy.
Speaker 1 (10:00):
Yeah, so anyways, that is our card updates.
So once we finish out theminimum spend on Dwayne's Aspire
card, we're going to be workingon the minimum spend for my
Hilton business card, which alsohas an elevated offer and will
earn me 175,000 points, which isgood.
That elevated offer, I believe,goes through January 8th.
(10:22):
So if you are thinking ofgetting into the Hilton
atmosphere, I would recommendapplying for one of those cards
now, because I believe they'reall elevated until January 8.
The bummer is that thatbusiness card doesn't come with
a free night anymore, and itused to, so, oh well, okay.
(10:43):
Second item, before we get intothe on DAWs is we are doing
another $50 gift card giveawayraffle, and the way to enter is
super easy.
You can simply go to eitheriTunes or Spotify or wherever
you listen, leave us a reviewand then email us a screenshot
(11:03):
of that review to enter.
Our email is travel party offive at gmailcom.
It is the number five.
So t r a v e l p a r t y o fthe number five at gmailcom, and
we will decide a winner inthree weeks, right before
Christmas, and we will send youa gift card of your choice.
(11:25):
Last time the winner, I thinkit was like a Fandango type gift
card that they wanted, and sothat's what we did.
We greatly, greatly appreciateall of you who listen, and the
more reviews our podcast has,the more listeners and more
often we pop up up in searchresults.
(11:46):
So the reviews are super, superimportant and we really, really
appreciate yes, we appreciatethat for sure.
Speaker 2 (11:52):
So shout out to who was it that one last time?
Jeff you maybe?
Yes?
Speaker 1 (11:57):
yeah, yeah, he was really, really nice, his like.
He sent some really helpfulemails too, which was great.
Um, so, yeah, leave us a review, email us a screenshot and
you'll be entered to win.
It's super easy and, if I hadto guess, your chances are
probably pretty good.
Speaker 2 (12:12):
So, um, okay, let's talk about the on dolls make
sure you let them know they youonly send out legal gift cards,
not illegal ones dwayne's makingfun of me, because last time I
said I will buy you a gift cardto wherever you want, as long as
it's legal.
Speaker 1 (12:28):
That still remains true.
Speaker 2 (12:30):
Yes.
Speaker 1 (12:31):
Okay, Okay, let's talk about the Ondas.
So we were originally.
Do you want to talk about whatour original plan was for this
quick weekend trip?
Speaker 2 (12:41):
We were going to stay at the Ondas in Scottsdale,
arizona.
We were going to stay at theOndas in Scottsdale Arizona, but
we decided to.
Well, you decided to book anight in the Ondas, san Diego,
which I think is a better idea.
We did this because yourecently hit globalist status,
(13:06):
which we'll talk about in thenext episode.
Yeah, yeah.
So we went to San Diego.
We flew one Saturday morningaround 11 ish, got there around
11 ish, lifted to the hotelwhich is in downtown San Diego.
Was it in the gas lab?
(13:28):
Yes, sir, yeah.
So, yeah, a very happening partof downtown San Diego.
I love San Diego.
I don't know if I've said thatbefore.
Speaker 1 (13:39):
Yeah, we really wanted to try out the globalist
status and we were originallygoing to stay at the Ondas in
Scottsdale, like Dwayne said.
However, the stay there waslike 25,000 points a night or
something, and this one was only17,000 points a night.
Yeah, so we saved 8,000 points.
Actually, what we did was weused those 8,000 points towards
(14:05):
the flight, because I use pointsto book our flight on Southwest
.
We dusted off our companionpass for one last hoorah before
it expires at the end of theyear, and so Dwayne flew as my
companion on Southwest.
It's such a short flight 45minutes, I mean.
Speaker 2 (14:18):
Yeah, once you're up in there, you're, you're landing
.
Speaker 1 (14:22):
They didn't even do drink service on one of the
flights, because, yeah theydidn't do anything yeah, so um
the hotel, let's talk about thehotel itself yeah, hotel, like I
said, downtown san diego.
Speaker 2 (14:35):
Um walked in.
It was cool.
They had some cool paintings onthe wall.
Lobby was pretty small.
I feel like all downtownboutique hotels like that are
fairly.
Speaker 1 (14:49):
Well, the Ondas is also like it's like a pretty
kitschy brand, so it's like morelike artsy, modern type art and
stuff.
Yeah, so Lobby is pretty cool.
This was the first Ondas we'vestayed at, actually, so I did
check that off of my brandexplorer hyatt thing yeah, so we
(15:10):
get there, we check in he um hedid upgrade us, yeah, he
indicated that we were globalistyeah and thanked us for that,
then upgraded us to a king bedsuite I think it was called yeah
um which they didn't have anysuites um overlooking the city.
Speaker 2 (15:32):
So we got a suite that just overlooked the what?
Speaker 1 (15:38):
it basically overlooked other rooms, like you
couldn't even call it acourtyard, and at first I was
kind of like, oh, that kind ofstinks.
But then I realized, like theyeven give you earplugs in the
room because there there's alittle note that says the gas
lamp never sleeps, and so myunderstanding is it's fairly
loud.
But because we had an interiorroom that didn't face the street
(16:01):
, we didn't hear any noise atall and I didn't even have to
use the earplugs, and I I'm areally light sleeper, like I
would have used the earplugs ifit had been loud.
So it was kind of bummer thatthere was no view, but we got a
good night's sleep.
So yeah part of the other reasonthat I wanted to go to San
Diego was Dwayane's really goodfriend from high school in Japan
(16:26):
is now the head chef at one ofthe best restaurants in San
Diego.
Like was voted best restaurant,I think 2023 and 2024.
Speaker 2 (16:35):
Yeah, and it's only been open since 2021.
Speaker 1 (16:38):
It's only been open like I think two or three years,
yeah, and so we ate there overthe summer with the kids and
it's like a fine diningrestaurant.
I we've talked about it beforeon an episode.
Um, I would say like it's notgreat to bring your kids, but we
did just for that one time, um,and I really wanted to go back
there, so that was kind of theother reason for the trip to San
(17:02):
Diego versus staying here inScottsdale.
So we didn't eat at the hotelother than breakfast the next
day.
But we did get free breakfastat the hotel with globalist
status, the breakfast for thetwo of us.
Let me just I took a picture ofthe receipt.
It was $107 and that was twomeals and some coffees,
(17:28):
basically two coffees, that's itlike specialty coffees, like a
cappuccino.
It was that much yes, and I meanthat included the tip.
Speaker 2 (17:34):
But yes, 107 dollars oh yeah, and which they take
care of.
Speaker 1 (17:38):
The tip for you as well yes, they comp the whole
breakfast, including includingtip, which is great.
Speaker 2 (17:43):
So now that I think about it, we should just tip
super fat next time.
Speaker 1 (17:50):
I think it was included.
It was included.
They included it like 18%.
Yeah, so the other couplethings to note about the hotel
and then we can maybe talk aboutthe restaurant we went to a
little bit.
The hotel has a rooftop pool,which is really nice and like a
whole rooftop bar area.
Speaker 2 (18:09):
It's nice, but the pool is very small.
There was no hot tub or jacuzzi.
Yeah.
Speaker 1 (18:15):
And not a ton of seating around the pool either.
I was going to say there'sprobably.
Speaker 2 (18:19):
Well, they had.
There's what, two cabanas thatI'm sure you can rent, which
came with like four seats, butthen, other than that, there was
maybe 15 to 20 more I wouldn'tbring my kids here and, in short
, I would not bring my kids tothis hotel.
Speaker 1 (18:33):
This is a an adult hotel, in my opinion.
Um, they have a really smallfitness center.
Uh, the rooftop is really nice.
We were there both forbreakfast and at night.
Speaker 2 (18:44):
Great views of the city.
Speaker 1 (18:45):
Yes, very nice views of the city.
It wasn't crowded.
We were there the weekendbefore Thanksgiving so that
could have played into it, butit was not crowded at all.
I think when we were eatingbreakfast there was maybe three
other tables.
Speaker 2 (18:59):
Yeah.
Speaker 1 (18:59):
And same thing.
We went up to the bar to have adrink after we finished dinner
and there was also only maybefive other people up there.
Speaker 2 (19:08):
I mean, mind you, it was what 8.30 maybe.
Speaker 1 (19:12):
Yeah, it wasn't very late it wasn't very late so.
Yeah, so that's the Ondas.
I think again we would staythere if it were just us again.
I did appreciate that we didn'treally need a car.
It's maybe 10 minutes from theairport and then where we wanted
to go, the restaurant which isin Mission Hills, was another 10
(19:33):
minute lift, so you didn't needa car.
If we had had a car we couldhave parked for free, because
that's another globalist perk onawards days.
But we didn't want to botherrenting a car and we definitely
didn't need one.
We were able to walk around thegas lamp.
We had lunch at some littleCuban restaurant which was
(19:54):
decent.
I think it was called Havana1920 or something like that.
Speaker 2 (19:58):
Yeah.
Speaker 1 (19:59):
And we stumbled across a little like farmer's
market street fair type thing,yeah, that we wandered through
and so lots of energy in the gaslamp and while sitting on the
patio of this restaurant, I sawoh yeah, my tattoos tattoo
artist's wife walking down thestreet.
Speaker 2 (20:19):
Mind you, she's a tattoo artist wasn't maui, but
now is located on the big island, hawaii.
So yeah, I mean, if you'velistened to the podcast before,
I tend to run into random peoplethat I know and this trip
there's no exception yeah,happened again we were just
sitting there and he's like ohwait, that's so-and-so's wife,
(20:40):
hold on.
Speaker 1 (20:41):
And I was like oh, here we go again.
Happens every time, so strange.
Speaker 2 (20:46):
So anyways, um oh well, mind you, let me, or let
me just talk about the roomagain.
So if we were to go back withthe kids, the room was plenty of
big.
Oh, the suite, yeah, plenty bigto for us for all five of us to
stay.
Speaker 1 (21:00):
Yes, there was a pullout, so it was a king bed
you know, yeah, separated bywhat?
a half wall it was a half wall,yeah and then there's two tvs,
cows that pulled out into a bedoh, you know, the other thing we
did is we got late checkout.
So we flew in around 11 or 12is when our flight landed on
Saturday and our flight didn'tleave until maybe three or four
(21:23):
on Sunday, and so we requested alate checkout and we got a
checkout until two, which isanother globalist perk.
I think you can get until fourif they have availability.
We only needed until two and webasically had breakfast at the
hotel, went for a little walkaround, stopped at a bakery and
then went back to the hotel andwatched football for a couple
(21:45):
hours before we went to theairport.
So the late checkout came inreally handy so that we didn't
have to feel rushed, and thatwas great.
Speaker 2 (21:55):
And we checked in early.
I don't know if that is aglobalist thing?
Speaker 1 (21:59):
It's not.
Speaker 2 (21:59):
It's just availability.
Speaker 1 (22:01):
Yeah, so all in all, great stay.
Would stay there again if itwere just us.
I'm excited for the next yearand the suite upgrades that we
will use, because I think it'sreally going to give us more
room when we do travel with thekids.
So, yep, I would definitelyconsider the andaz if you are
(22:22):
heading to san diego yes, primelocation yep, um, let's talk
about the restaurant wolf in thewoods wolf in the woods.
Speaker 2 (22:33):
Such a great restaurant.
It it is fine dining, but it'slike what is it?
Speaker 1 (22:38):
tapas it's tapas, so it's a bunch of small yes, so
they basically recommend thatyou get a few, and then you can
always order more, and that'swhat we have done both times.
My favorite thing on the menuis the appetizer.
It's the smoked French troutroe, like this dip of a
(23:00):
mascarpone cheese, red onion,shaved boiled egg and capers
that you mix all together andthen it comes with these little
toasts and you put some of thatmixture on the toast and then
you top it with the smokedFrench trout roe and then they
have little pickles that you canalso eat it with, and that with
a ice cold glass of white wine,like a Sancerre or something
(23:24):
like that or a Sauv Blanc, isjust so good.
Speaker 2 (23:29):
I'm looking at mine, what was my favorite?
It's the seared prime beeftataki.
Yeah, that's what it was.
It's just seared meat whereit's raw in the middle, served
chilled and, like this, sauceand onions.
Speaker 1 (23:47):
The sauce was like a sesame soy saucy type.
So good Shout out to.
Speaker 2 (23:53):
Chef.
Speaker 1 (23:53):
Yeah.
Speaker 2 (23:54):
Doing big things out there.
Speaker 1 (23:56):
They also had this.
Everything was just so good.
They had this really gooddessert that was like panna
cotta yes, it was a panna cottathat had like like cherry
sweetened cherries and I mean ittasted like a thanksgiving
dessert.
I'm looking up the menu so Ican tell you vanilla bean, panna
(24:17):
cotta, sugar to dark cherry,orange zest, bizcochito cookie
crumble and pistachio dust.
It was 10 out of 10.
Highly recommend.
Also the sweet corn soup.
You should get 10 out of 10.
What else did we like?
Oh, last time you, our kids,had the burgers when they went
last time 10 out of 10.
(24:38):
They really liked those.
Our oldest asked for a secondone time.
10 out of 10.
They really liked those.
Our oldest asked for a secondone.
You liked the carne adobada,which is the braised pork
shoulder in a red hatch chilisauce.
Speaker 2 (24:48):
Yeah, and if you do decide to check out wolf in the
woods, make sure you make areservation at least a week out,
because we tried to make areservation and they were full,
so I had to reach out to to myfriend and see both times we've
had to do that because we didn'tprepare us in there yeah, so if
you don't have the hookup, sowe appreciate that oh, yes,
(25:10):
greatly.
Speaker 1 (25:11):
If you don't have the hookup you need to make, I
would say two weeks in advanceis probably safe.
So they have heater, they havea patio and they have heaters.
It's not a huge restaurant.
The other thing that's so cuteis it's like in the middle of a
neighborhood, like there's justhouses all around and then
there's this little restaurant.
Speaker 2 (25:27):
Beautiful houses, yeah, fancy neighborhood.
Speaker 1 (25:32):
And I mean, if I'm being honest, like eating at
this restaurant was part of thereason that I wanted to go back
to San Diego instead of stayingdoing a staycation here.
So I've been thinking aboutthat French trout row for six
months.
So, anyways, highly recommendWolf in the Woods.
If you're looking for finedining in San Diego, definitely
(25:52):
check it out.
Don't forget to leave a review.
Send us a screenshot to ouremail
travelpartyoffiveatgmailcom.
We will enter you in the raffleto win the $50 gift card.
We appreciate you so much.
Anything else?
Speaker 2 (26:06):
No, we appreciate you and good luck with the raffle.
Speaker 1 (26:09):
Yep Hope you all had a great Thanksgiving and we will
catch you next week.
Speaker 2 (26:12):
Bye, have a good one.
Popular Podcasts
Dateline NBC
Current and classic episodes, featuring compelling true-crime mysteries, powerful documentaries and in-depth investigations. Follow now to get the latest episodes of Dateline NBC completely free, or subscribe to Dateline Premium for ad-free listening and exclusive bonus content: DatelinePremium.com
24/7 News: The Latest
The latest news in 4 minutes updated every hour, every day.
Therapy Gecko
An unlicensed lizard psychologist travels the universe talking to strangers about absolutely nothing. TO CALL THE GECKO: follow me on https://www.twitch.tv/lyleforever to get a notification for when I am taking calls. I am usually live Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays but lately a lot of other times too. I am a gecko.