Orlando, Florida: Fairfield Inn Orlando Airport, MCO, public transportation

 February 2022, weekday/weekend, 1-night

Arrival and check-in

We arrived at MCO in the evening, and called for the shuttle bus to the hotel. The airport was extremely chaotic, and we waited about 30 minutes for the shuttle. We observed other passengers waiting longer than us for shuttles from other hotels, so our experience was apparently not unusual. Our son arrived about an hour after us and had the same experience when he arrived. Check-in was quick, although as a gold member, I did not receive an upgraded room or even the guestroom floor location I had requested.

Above: actual photo taken of our guestroom 310 with tiny single chair only
Two photos below: from Marriott website of guestrooms with two queen beds

Two queen beds, guestroom 310

This is a basic guestroom with two queen beds. We did not have a sofa in our room, as pictured on the Marriott website. We paid for three adults when making this reservation, and only received amenities in the guestroom for two: 2 washcloths, 2 coffees, etc. You would think that an elite guest paying for three adults would at least receive the bare minimum, if not also, a larger room with sofa.

Guestroom 310 at Fairfield Inn Orland Airport
View from tiny chair next to beds

Birch Run, Michigan: Best Western Plus of Birch Run/Frankenmuth

January 2022, weekday, 1-night 

I do not typically stay in Best Western hotels, and after this stay, I am even more convinced to avoid them. Last year, I traveled to a remote city for work. My lodging choices were either Best Western in the area, or I would need to add about two hours drive time to each day, if I wanted to stay in a Hampton Inn or SpringHill Suites (I also checked all the local hotels, including Bed & Breakfasts, Airbnb, etc.). I decided to see if I could get a status match at Best Western, and then I chose that hotel. With the status match and promotions Best Western had last year, I ended up with $75 in lodging credits to use before the end of March 2022. We had a few days with no plans after Christmas, so I looked at all the Best Western hotels in Michigan, to try and see which one looked best. Unfortunately, this hotel turned out to be a poor choice.

Diamond perks and check-in

The front desk agent asked if I wanted a ground floor room, or the top floor. I told her top floor. I had written top floor in my reservation requests, and I assume she had not read that. She said there is no elevator, and we said that was okay. She said something about depositing my 500 points, although she did not actually recognize my status, and she did not offer bottled water. The front desk area smelled musty damp, and I hoped our guestroom would not smell like the check-in area. 

Whirlpool suite 5 in Best Western in Birch Run, Michigan 

King whirlpool suite 5 in Best Western Plus

This guestroom is across the outside drive from the lobby and check-in desk. The employee had said she was putting us in the "tower building," which did not sound like a bad thing. The guestroom was awful, and I would never stay in this hotel again. It was after dark when we arrived, and the room lighting was extremely dim, so everything was not evident when we first arrived. The photo above was taken with every working light in the room turned on. The bed sheets looked clean, the room did not have an odor like the lobby, and it had been snowing a lot, so we settled in to make the best of it.

The bed comfort was okay; however, every pillow on the bed belonged in the trash. I have never slept with such lumpy old pillows in any hotel room--ever. The cover on the bed was thin, and not warm enough for cold winter nights.

Bathroom in whirlpool suite 5 in Best Western in Birch Run, Michigan 

The bathroom was spacious. The toilet is located behind the door on the left. It took a long time for the shower water to get hot, and there were hairs in the shower stall (not observed until the next day). Soap, shampoo, and conditioner were provided.

Whirlpool suite 5 in Best Western in Birch Run, Michigan 

The fireplace did not work well. It made an extreme amount of noise, and it did not give off any heat. The ratty looking chairs in front of the fireplace were okay comfort wise. It was extremely dark where the chairs are located, as well as above the tub.

Desk chair in whirlpool suite 5 in Best Western in Birch Run, Michigan 

Grand Rapids, Michigan: Downtown Dining, Breweries, Happy Hour

December 2021 4-days

Bloody Mary special at Slows Bar-B-Q downtown Grand Rapids, Michigan

We visited Grand Rapids Downtown Market a couple of times this week. The market is less than half a mile from Canopy by Hilton, where we stayed for two nights. Local foods for sale included things like bakery items, seasonings, cheeses, meats, beverages, and more. The market opens at 11 AM, and was fairly busy both days we visited. Although all of the food looked amazing, we did not make any purchases in the market. We had Bloody Mary specials ($6 each!) at Slows Bar-B-Q in the market during one visit. The beverages were made with their own mix, which, unfortunately is not bottled for sale. Slows Bar-B-Q opens at noon.

East West Brewing Company in Eastown Grand Rapids, Michigan
Vegetable Pakoras and beers (below) from East West Brewing Company

We visited Elk Brewing Company (opens 2PM) and East West Brewing Company (opens 3PM) in eastown. This is an easy 4-mile walk roundtrip from Canopy by Hilton, if you do not mind walking. If you prefer public transportation, The Rapid has a couple of stops close to both breweries. Elk Brewing Company is listed in the HopPassport. This brewery honored the half price discount on tier 1 and 2 beers. East West is in The Reel Craft Pass, and they honored the discount on any draft beer. Their food is delicious, although we thought the beers were a bit odd.

Both foods from New Holland Brewing - The Knickerbocker

Grand Rapids, Michigan: Canopy by Hilton Downtown

December 2021, 2-nights between Christmas and New Years

This was another new Hilton hotel for us; our first stay at Canopy by Hilton. Although we had some miss-communication about our perks, overall, this was a fabulous stay. 

Check-in, diamond and AmEx perks

Hilton says they are now allowing diamond members to see available upgrades three days prior to stays; however, my reservation did not show any upgraded rooms to choose from when I looked at the app to check-in the day before our arrival. I called the hotel to ask about checking in beforehand, as I did not want to lose any possible upgrade opportunities. After a brief hold, I was told we had been upgraded to a suite. The agent said our suite would be ready any time after 12:30 PM. 

Umbrella from gift shop in Canopy by Hilton Grand Rapids.

I made this reservation through American Express travel, in order to take advantage of a promo they were offering with a pre-paid rate booked through them. The promo included an on-property credit, which the front desk agent did not mention when we arrived at the hotel. Instead, she told us about all the great places to eat nearby. After I told her we had planned to eat in the hotel, since we had a food and beverage credit, she then briefly mentioned this. When I asked about my diamond breakfast perk, she said I would not receive that in addition to the AmEx credit. The on-property credit we received in the end was generous, so we did not really need the breakfast perk, also. During the stay, however, I was confused about what I was supposed to receive. Three different front desk agents told me three different credit amounts. When I checked out, the manager clearly explained the credit. He then gifted me a Canopy umbrella, since I still had funds left. Nice, I thought! He added that as a diamond member, I would have received a room upgrade, without having to book through AmEx, and also my breakfast credits. We are already thinking about visiting this hotel again on our next overnight stay downtown Grand Rapids.

View from desk in suite 832 Canopy by Hilton Downtown Grand Rapids.

Suite 832

This is an wonderful top floor corner suite! The view is amazing. Unfortunately, we did not get a sunrise or sunset from our room, as the dreary weather did not cooperate. 

View from living room toward bedroom in suite 832 Canopy by Hilton Downtown Grand Rapids.

This suite has a large entry, two bathrooms, a kitchen area, living room, hallway, and bedroom. The main bathroom is huge.

Second bathroom from entry hall in suite 832 Canopy by Hilton Downtown Grand Rapids.

There is a connecting room door to suite 830 in the entry hall across from the second bathroom. This is on the wall to the left, just outside the photo above. I could hear guests in that room through the door, when we were in the entry or second bathroom; however, this was not bothersome, as we could not hear anything when in the living room or bedroom.

Kitchen area in suite 832 Canopy by Hilton Downtown Grand Rapids.

I thought the kitchen area was perfect! It included a Nespresso machine with supplies, stainless steel ice bucket, glasses, ceramic coffee mugs, fresh water decanter, sink, and fridge drawer. There were hooks to hang our coats on the wall across from the kitchen counter.

Nespresso machine and glass water bottle in suite 832 Canopy by Hilton Downtown
Grand Rapids. Ceramic mugs and glasses were in the cupboards above the counter.

Ann Arbor and Ypsilanti, Michigan: Marriott at Eagle Crest, Hiking, Dining & Breweries

December 2021, Weekend-weekdays between Christmas and New Years

Sunset from guestroom 834 in Marriott Ypsilanti Eagle Crest

Ann Arbor Marriott Ypsilanti at Eagle Crest king concierge guestroom 834

We had a great stay at this hotel in 2014, so we chose it again for this trip. Unfortunately, this stay was not as impressive as last time. As a gold member, I did not initially receive any extra perks or an upgrade, even though the hotel was not very full, and the app had said I was eligible for an upgrade, when I checked in. I received a notification the afternoon before our arrival saying that guestroom 518 was ready for us. I then sent a message to the hotel to ask about a concierge room upgrade (I had already checked online, and knew there were rooms available). I received a reply telling me there were plenty of rooms available, and that I would receive a new key shortly. The next mobile key I received was for guestroom 834 on the concierge floor.

Concierge guestroom 834 in Ann Arbor Marriott Ypsilanti at Eagle Crest

The bed was comfortable with the usual good quality Marriott linens. Along with the king size bed and nightstands, this guestroom contained a large flatscreen TV, work desk and chair, small table, and one soft chair. A small fridge, ice bucket, and coffeemaker were located under the TV. There were no cups in the guestroom; none for coffee nor with the ice bucket. We had to make two trips downstairs to get these items. I like the small reading lights in many Marriott hotels on the bed headboards; however, neither of the lights above the bed in this guestroom worked. I tried all the switches in the guestroom to make sure the lights were not also connected to something else. 

[Non] connecting room door in guestroom 834
in Ann Arbor Marriott Ypsilanti at Eagle Crest

I had requested a corner quiet room away from the elevator; guestroom 834 is located next to the concierge lounge and across from the elevator. We could hear the elevator ding every time it stopped on our floor. There is a large gap at the bottom of the guestroom door. This guestroom overlooks the parking lot, and has a closed off connecting room door to the lounge. I felt like we had been given one of the worst guestrooms on the concierge floor. 

A few additional disappointments with this room: The heater in the guestroom did not work when we arrived, and we waited over 20 minutes for someone to come and fix it (the batteries were dead, so the control panel was not working). When I inquired about a robe, I was told the hotel no longer has them. The caulk around the bathtub was peeling, and the seal was so poor, that there was a puddle of water on the floor in the corner next to the tub after every shower, even though we had the shower curtain in the tub properly. Apparently, housekeeping is only offered when requested, because no one came to our guestroom during stayover. We requested fresh washcloths and coffee supplies via the app after realizing this when we returned to our room that evening. 

Concierge lounge in Ann Arbor Marriott Ypsilanti at Eagle Crest

The concierge lounge is a spacious and comfortable room. I was able to print a document from the computer and printer when it opened on Monday. It was not open when we arrived on Sunday evening. It was open with only snacks and beverages starting Monday morning. Items included coffee, tea, bagels, yogurt, instant oatmeal, granola bars, chips, nuts, package cookies, and cold beverages. I called the front desk on Monday evening to inquire about food in the lounge, because in addition to snacks, the website says concierge rooms also include: "Complimentary food - Hot buffet breakfast - hors d'oeuvres - dessert - Cocktails, for a fee." The agent I spoke with said they have not been offering anything except the grab-and-go items since COVID. When I made our reservation, concierge rooms were available for $20 more per night. At the time of this post, just a few days after our stay, concierge rooms are no longer available to reserve. Possibly, I was not the only to inquire about lounge offerings. 

Closed pool and whirlpool tub in Ann Arbor Marriott Ypsilanti at Eagle Crest

The pool area was closed for renovations during our stay, which I had not noticed when we made our reservation. This information was not on the Marriott app; I saw the note on the website a few day before our stay. This was another disappointment, as the pool area is spacious, and we had enjoyed the spa tub during our last stay.

Ann Arbor Marriott Ypsilanti at Eagle Crest from North Bay Park island trail

North Bay Park trail below 

Carnival Valor Ports of Call on Western Caribbean 4-day and 5-day cruises: Cozumel and Progresso

November - December 2021

Carnival Valor from Puerto Maya pier in Cozumel.

We did not go on any excursions at either of these ports, although we did get off the ship in both locations. You can find additional information about Cozumel in my previous posts by clicking on the label at the bottom of this post.

COVID guidelines for disembarking in Mexico: unvaccinated guests are only allowed to disembark on a Carnival "bubble tour." Vaccinated guests may disembark on their own. Masks are required for all when inside and outside. Social distancing is also recommended.

Cozumel: 8:15 AM - 3:30 PM 

Carnival Valor was scheduled to dock at the Puerto Maya cruise terminal the same length of time for both cruises. The first week, we did not leave Cozumel until 4:30 PM. We watched many people returning to the ship during the last hour. At least one person had a roller bag, as if we were possibly waiting for a delayed crew member. It is also possible that a Carnival excursion returned late, since there were quite a few passengers returning in small groups together. When we passed our room steward in the hall that evening, she made brief mention of our stay being extended until 4:30. She did not explain this, and we did not ask her about it. If there was an announcement about our stay being extended, we missed it.

Puerto Maya pier in Cozumel with only one other ship in port.
Top: view from cabin 7220. Bottom: view from serenity spa tubs.

There were only two ships (counting Carnival Valor) in Cozumel when were there on our 4-day cruise on a Saturday. 

Puerto Maya pier in Cozumel with four other ships in port.
Bottom photo taken from cabin 7220 on Carnival Valor.

On our 5-day cruise, the ship docked on a Wednesday, and there were five ships in port. Even though we docked in a different location each time, our cabin was still on the best viewing side of the ship.

Carnival Valor Cruise: 4 and 5 day Western Caribbean from Port of New Orleans

November - December 2021

You can find additional photos for these cruises in the Carnival Valor Facebook album. I am sharing only a few of them here.

Carnival Valor docked at Port of New Orleans

Pre-cruise

This was our first experience cruising since the pandemic, and the weeks leading up to the cruise were a tad stressful. Even though we are fully vaccinated, we had to have negative COVID tests less than 48 hours before the cruise. This is more difficult if you are flying. Many locations that offer no-charge tests, do not schedule appointments until a couple of days ahead of time, so it is difficult to pre-plan. If we had not booked this cruise a couple of years ago, before the pandemic, I doubt we would be going  on any cruises. If we could have had our tests done even one day earlier (3 days ahead, instead of 2), it would have lessoned the anxiety. Two days is not much time when you do not live near the cruise port, and you cannot make an advance appointment. Many people are paying for in-home tests ($69 for 2), or having the test done at the cruise port for $150 each; however, that is not an expense we had planned on when booking our cruise. The online health assessment that needs to be completed, was available to complete the day before we were allowed to have our COVID test. 😳  

This was also our first back-to-back (B2B) cruise; a 4-day and then a 5-day. Before the pandemic, we had been nearing our 25th cruise, which we wanted to take as a Panama Canal cruise. I am not sure where we are headed with those plans now. 

Arrival and check-in at Port of New Orleans

We checked in online, as usual. I had read many complaints about pre-boarding not being offered for elite guests; however, when we checked in, the process led me to believe that this would be happening. Check-in was available for platinum and diamond guests a couple of days before everyone else. The appointment times on the boarding passes also included zone numbers; ours was A01. Our son had the same check-in time as us, and as a gold member, his boarding pass said zone A04.

Carnival information says not to arrive at the port until your appointment time, because you will be turned away. That was not happening the day we departed. We arrived at 10:00 AM, which is the earliest appointment time scheduled, and the area was already packed! The check-in process was very quick, and then we found seats to wait for boarding. There was a VIP waiting area for guests with suites; however, there was not an area for platinum or diamond guests. Our A01 zone was the second to board, right after guests in suites. We were on the ship before 11:00 AM.

Sunrise from cabin 7220 on Carnival Valor at New Orleans port

Balcony cabin 7220, category 8B

Our cabin keys were in the mailbox in an envelope when the cabin was ready. This was around noon for us (platinum), and 1:30 PM for other passengers. Our luggage was delivered very quickly--right after our room was ready.

Sunset from cabin 7220 on Carnival Valor departing Progresso

This cabin is back just far enough from the front of the ship so that the bridge did not obstruct our view. The cabin is on a great side of the ship for the routes we were on. We were on the dock side at every port except when we were docked in New Orleans. And, in New Orleans we thought the river view was better. You can see more port photos showing the views from this cabin in the Facebook album (link above). 

Sunset from cabin 7220 on Carnival Valor 

This is a basic balcony cabin on Empress deck. It contained a sofa, chair, small table, vanity stool, small flatscreen TV, small fridge, safe, and hairdryer. The safe locked with a strip card, rather than by entering a code. The fridge worked very well. There were two chairs and a small table on the balcony.

Cabin 7220 on Carnival Valor

We had sufficient storage space in the four drawers and three closets for two people for nine days. One of the three closets contained shelves; the other two had hangers. 

Bathroom in cabin 7220 on Carnival Valor.

Amenities in the bathroom included bar soap, shampoo, and shower gel. Our shower drain was sluggish. We did not turn the water on all the way, because the shower would get close to overflowing when on full blast. Our son used our shower once, because there was one day when the water in his cabin was cold (interior cabin 6214).

It was quiet and comfortable in both our cabins. The only problem we encountered (other than the sluggish drain) was from people smoking on their balconies. Most times, it was difficult to tell where this was coming from, which makes it impossible to resolve.

Food & beverages

Guests were expected to check-in on the app for a table when going for breakfast or brunch (I assume this is the same for anytime dining, as well). You have the option to choose as many companions from your group as desired for check-in. There is also an option to check whether you want to be seated alone or with others; however, this did not always work. Sometimes, we were seated with others when we had not chosen that option, and sometimes we were seated alone.

Huevos Rancheros and cheese grits at Sea day brunch