CategoryReviews

Warner Brothers Studio Lot Tour

The Warner Brothers Studio Lot Tour was our Sunday activity in Los Angeles and the best part was going on the active sound stage of the TV series All American! WOW! I still can’t get over how much fun that really was.

It starts out when you are in the parking garage and they tell you to follow the elevator to the Looney Tunes! Bugs Bunny and Tweedy were always my favorites and guess who was waiting for me? After we checked in we were told we could make our way over to the entrance at our own pace even though our tickets were timed when we bought them. They have their own Starbucks and encourage you to bring drinks on the tour itself. First you are led into a room with various pieces of memorabilia that you can read at your own pace. Then they ask you your group size and you are brought into different areas for a short film and to meet your tour guide for the day. You are then led outside to a waiting extended safari type golf cart. This is the part where I was so happy to see how clean they keep the lot and all of the areas we saw. It was very much like being in a Disney Park or inside of a working television show filming. Everything everywhere you looked, it was perfect.

They took us to the first set of buildings and then told us to look at all of the buildings exteriors. None of them have the traditional address numbers or even a company name on the outside. There was only 1 building that had anything on the outside. A very no muss no fuss, Warner Brothers Television. We were driven around on these electric carts and it seems like most of the carts driven around the lot are electric as well. Some areas look like you just walked into that town. Stars Hollow looks just like they left yesterday. I know Gilmore Girls is a very famous show, but I think the most famous show to film on that lot is Friends. You can even take a photo with the original fountain from the opening scenes.

They have an inside area that you can take photos with Friends and Big Bang Theory memorabilia as well as a cafe set up like Central Perk. None of these activities are timed and you can stay there as long as you like, once you are done you are able to move onto the next set up. The only thing that is timed is your actual tour with the guide. When you book your tickets, you have lots of options to choose from. Just in case you were wondering, we did the standard studio tour for $73 each.

Washington DC

This trip was so fun for so many reasons! The Sky Club to start …… then I was able to connect with an old friend who lives in another state and we met for some food and drinks on Friday night. I spent 2 nights there total. I used a free night certificate for the first night and 110,000 points for the second night at the Waldorf Astoria.

This is where I should be so excited about the hotel but this was the worst Waldorf I have ever stayed at and I would never return. I also was in town for a travel hacking meet up and got to see a suite at the Grand Hyatt and the Conrad in DC. Since I have stayed at other WA properties I had a certain level of expectation leading up to the stay. I contacted the concierge just like I have for my other stays to request something for my birthday. I don’t usually complain about my stays but this was so bad that something needs to be said. I tried contacting Hilton customer service but just got the generic “We are sorry.” response. They were so sweet in New Orleans and I ended up with 2 Happy Birthday treats!

If you are familiar with Hilton you know that they have the option for digital keys in the app and you can check in without going to the desk. Well it was showing this option but that was apparently not the case. As the manager said … “we don’t use digital keys here”. Um …. ok so why not? And why does the app ask me if I want to use one? I am getting a little ahead of myself. After I landed I chose to take an Uber from the airport vs taking the train because I thought my room would be ready for me to check in at about 1:30pm. I got to the desk and they said that my room was not ready and that I needed to wait 2 to 3 hours for said room. When I inquired about an upgrade they told me it would cost $600 a night. I declined and watched that room stay empty for my whole visit while they shoved me into a room that was in desperate need of a facelift. Just look at the stains on the carpet … This is what they consider an upgrade for a Diamond member?

While waiting for my room I decided to take a walk with a hotel provided umbrella and I was able to see the White House and even caught a glimpse of the President of the United States leaving in his motorcade. Saturday was a fun day with sightseeing and the points and miles meet up! We met up at a Luna Hall DC, a high end food court with a full bar. Then we made our way to Allegory, a speak easy for a night cap.

This is a glimpse into what a suite at the Grand Hyatt looks like! Sooooooooo much nicer than my carpet stained room at the Waldorf Astoria! I was so jealous of my friends and the amazing treatment they received.

Overall I would recommend the Conrad or the Grand Hyatt vs. the Waldorf Astoria if you are in DC. Some words of wisdom … not all Waldorf’s are the same. But in the end I got 50,000 points back and made some amazing memories with my amazing friends!

 

 

Hyatt – Guest of Honor Booking

Every year for Christmas I like to go somewhere even if it is just a nice little stay-cation! This year I talked to a friend of mine who has Globalist status about a Guest of Honor booking. I had read about these before but never knew the details. I asked him if he would be willing to do it for me for Christmas.

We talked about the details. I needed to give him my full name, Hyatt number, booking dates and room type. Globalist members can make a booking even if they do not have the points in their account to cover the room. Once he called Hyatt to make the booking I got an email and it was added to my Hyatt app.

Upon check in I asked if there was a room upgrade available due to my friends gifted status for the stay. I actually said … “My friend told me to ask if there is an upgrade available.” I was upgraded to a corner suite with a living room and bar area.