If you're a USA supporter, this is a busy year with the world cup qualifiers and Gold Cup. I plan on attending all of the home WCQs, so here it goes for my travel plans and tips:
June 10-12 in Seattle: I've already booked my inbound flight. I arrive late into Seattle around 10PM, but the flight was only 12,500 miles (versus 25K miles). I'm waiting to see what kind of deal AO national has for the hotel, as downtown Seattle is quite pricey, anywhere from $250-$300/night. I've looked endlessly for a 3-star hotel downtown under $130/night; for once I'm not having any luck. I do have my eye on a Best Western though, which is a 10-minute walk from the stadium, since I've earned a free night voucher (should arrive in a few weeks). Thankfully I did have enough points for a rental car. Hertz's price for an intermediate car right now is $127/day, which seems outrageous to me. Some have advocated use of public transportation, but as of now, I'll keep the rental car reservation, as I can always reconsider and cancel later. The problem is that if the AO bar is going to be used (still to be determined, per AO Seattle president), a bus from the stadium/downtown will take 45min per Google maps (no train/subway available). I'm also not sure how late buses run at night. As for my outbound flight, I have to wait on work.
June 17-19 in Salt Lake City: I've already booked my inbound flight. Again, I'm arriving a bit late (around 8:30PM), but the flight was 12,500 miles (have to wait for work regarding outbound flight). I am working on my own room block, as I am impatient and don't want to 100% rely on AO national. I always like to have a contingency plan if possible for hotels. I am awaiting the hotel's response, but it will be for 10 rooms at the Hampton Inn downtown (about 5 blocks from the AO bar), $119/night for either a king bed room or 2 double beds, free parking/breakfast/wifi. We are under no obligation to fill all 10 rooms, no deposit is required, people can pay individually, and we can cancel 24 hours prior to arrival. This room block is being set up via my work travel agency who also can arrange leisure travel. I will notify friends when the room block is ready. I just emailed the hotel Friday night, so I expect I won't know anything until Monday at the earliest. It should be noted there is another convention during these dates called Young Living with ~5K attendees, causing hotel prices to skyrocket. David may drive, so I have not booked a rental car, although I have enough points to do so.
Sep 9-11 in Columbus: I can't believe that a round trip plane ticket on United from Houston to Columbus was over $1,100! Thank GOD for miles (25,000 round trip)! Within 30 minutes of when the USA vs Mexico game was announced during the hex draw, I booked the Holiday Inn downtown. I am currently awaiting a link for them to provide so that others can book as well; I'll have a 10-room block for 1 king or 2 double bed rooms for $109/night. I should note during the hex draw, there were at least three sold-out hotels that I encountered; since then, other hotels, such as the Residence Inn by Marriott, have limited rooms, e.g. only a queen bed room. I've booked a free car rental. I should note for car rentals, even though base price is free (whatever the rate is per day), you still have to pay airport taxes and surcharges (unlike free hotel rooms). In this case, the estimated total cost of taxes is $20.
Oct 11-12 in KC: I am waiting for Friday's Philly to Houston flight to register into my account, and then I'll have enough miles (10K) to buy a plane ticket from MCI to Houston. I should note even when you buy a plane ticket, there is a fee of $2.50 or $5, depending on the flight, but that's definitely not a bad price! I will have to await work for my inbound flight, but it'll be a busy time of year, so most likely I will only be able to fly in on game day. I will wait and see about a rental car, as it's possible I will A) get one for free B) not need one at all if friends are driving or C) get work to pay if the cost of the inbound flight + rental car is cheaper than flying me home. I've booked a free room at the Four Points by Sheraton near the airport, as I prefer to be closer to where I need to be in the mornings. Four Points hotels are really not that great and the lowest on the totem pole of Starwood hotels (Westin, Sheraton, etc), but it's a free room.
That's all I have for now for the WCQs. At this time I have no plans to attend any USMNT friendlies. Stay tuned for Gold Cup plans!
Sunday, March 31, 2013
Saturday, March 30, 2013
It's Been A While
I've totally neglected this blog, and I accept full responsibility. Work keeps me quite busy, as I'm now traveling 5-6 days per week. The life on the road can be tiring at times, but my alternative is to sit at a desk in a cubicle. So, I choose the life on the road. This also means I am racking up miles, car rental points, and hotel rewards. My company will also fly me anywhere on a weekend, as long as it's cheaper than coming home - score!
Since my last entry, I've attended the following games:
October 27, 2012 - Houston Dynamo vs. Crapids was in Denver for our last regular MLS season game. We lost, but we played our entire reserve team, since we already knew at the time that we were going to the playoffs. It was cold, but not as chilly as you would think. We stayed in a studio apartment right off of 16th Street Mall thanks to a co-worker; his complex keeps an extra apartment for rent ($40 first day, $20 each subsequent night). The highlight of the game was when the Houston Dynamo academy players joined the Texian Army section and immediately started, "Oooooohhhh puuuuttooooo!" We were flabbergasted that the young-ins were using such language, but they had a great time.
November 11, 2012 - Houston Dynamo vs DC United for the Eastern Conference Final in DC. We won, so it was a great game. We stayed with some friends who are Screaming Eagles, but we met through American Outlaws (they're country over club). It was cold, but not bad. RFK sold hot cocoa and funnel cakes; no matter what anyone criticizes about the stadium, selling those two items at the same booth gets an A+ in my book. Because our friends lived in Aldie, VA it was cheaper for us to rent a car through Thifty for $60 versus taking another form of ground transportation to/from the airport (no public transportation available).
December 1, 2012 - Houston Dynamo vs LA Galaxy for MLS Cup in LA. I was with David, so it was a good time. We stayed at the Hampton Inn near the Home Depot Center, since it was a free room. He drove from San Diego, so no rental car was needed. We had our second date at a nearby Italian restaurant, which was pretty good, thanks to Yelp. The night before party was at Naja's on a harbor, which was okay. They only serve beer, had one cider, and that was it. It's also a small place, so we didn't stay long. The game was the next day; we managed to see Amy and Robert from AO Detroit. Although they were wearing LA Galaxy gear, they admitted they were posers (country over club). Houston Dynamo lost, but we still had a good time. I left immediately after the game to come back home to Houston. Since kickoff was at 3:30PM, catching a 7-8PM flight was perfect timing and also a cheap flight on Southwest.
January 29, 2013 - USMNT vs Canada friendly in Houston. As of November or December of last year, I am Vice President of the American Outlaws Houston Chapter. This was our first USA game under new chapter leadership, and we had a blast. A lot of planning was involved, but well worth it. We tied this game, but that's okay, since it didn't really matter. I drummed the whole game, which I enjoyed.
February 23, 2013 - Houston Dynamo vs Charleston Battery for the Carolina Challenge Cup in Charleston, SC. Work sent me to SC this particular weekend, so I decided to swing by Charleston, especially since I had a free rental car and hotel room. Due to flight delays, I barely managed to make it at halftime. Of all away games, the Charleston Battery by far is the most difficult to obtain a ticket. I went back and forth intermittently from December to February to determine where the away supporters section is or where the Dynamo bench would be. So, plan early if you want to go to a game. We lost, but it was good to see the men in orange on the field again. Apparently I was on television as the orange backpack.
March 17, 2013 - Houston Dynamo vs FC Dallas for a regular MLS season game in Dallas. I have to admit, I came back to this post just to edit, since I completely forgot about this game, especially since it's like a home game (Houston supporters are always louder). The powers that be wanted me to be in Dallas this weekend since a former college roommate was getting married. As a result, I was able to get the wedding room rate of $89/night at the Marriott near the Dallas Galleria (including parking) for Texian Army, huzzah! Work paid for my rental car because it was cheaper to fly me from Atlanta to Dallas + rental car vs flying home. We lost, but it was still a fun time. The highlight of the trip was making an In-N-Out run for those who took the bus. I ordered 10 cheeseburgers, and of course In-N-Out was pleased. It should be noted the location in Frisco opens at 10AM, not 10:30AM as the website says.
March 22, 2013 - USMNT vs Costa Rica in Denver for a WCQ. I was with David, and we stayed at the co-worker's apartment again. This time the price was $60 for the first night, and $10 each subsequent night. It's still very cheap for staying right off of 16th Street Mall. Of all games I have attended, this was the coldest game ever! The referees nearly called the game - that's how much snow was accumulating. Words cannot really describe the experience, but it's definitely a game I will never forget!
And so, that brings us to the end of March. Stay tuned for other travel plans this year!
Since my last entry, I've attended the following games:
October 27, 2012 - Houston Dynamo vs. Crapids was in Denver for our last regular MLS season game. We lost, but we played our entire reserve team, since we already knew at the time that we were going to the playoffs. It was cold, but not as chilly as you would think. We stayed in a studio apartment right off of 16th Street Mall thanks to a co-worker; his complex keeps an extra apartment for rent ($40 first day, $20 each subsequent night). The highlight of the game was when the Houston Dynamo academy players joined the Texian Army section and immediately started, "Oooooohhhh puuuuttooooo!" We were flabbergasted that the young-ins were using such language, but they had a great time.
November 11, 2012 - Houston Dynamo vs DC United for the Eastern Conference Final in DC. We won, so it was a great game. We stayed with some friends who are Screaming Eagles, but we met through American Outlaws (they're country over club). It was cold, but not bad. RFK sold hot cocoa and funnel cakes; no matter what anyone criticizes about the stadium, selling those two items at the same booth gets an A+ in my book. Because our friends lived in Aldie, VA it was cheaper for us to rent a car through Thifty for $60 versus taking another form of ground transportation to/from the airport (no public transportation available).
December 1, 2012 - Houston Dynamo vs LA Galaxy for MLS Cup in LA. I was with David, so it was a good time. We stayed at the Hampton Inn near the Home Depot Center, since it was a free room. He drove from San Diego, so no rental car was needed. We had our second date at a nearby Italian restaurant, which was pretty good, thanks to Yelp. The night before party was at Naja's on a harbor, which was okay. They only serve beer, had one cider, and that was it. It's also a small place, so we didn't stay long. The game was the next day; we managed to see Amy and Robert from AO Detroit. Although they were wearing LA Galaxy gear, they admitted they were posers (country over club). Houston Dynamo lost, but we still had a good time. I left immediately after the game to come back home to Houston. Since kickoff was at 3:30PM, catching a 7-8PM flight was perfect timing and also a cheap flight on Southwest.
January 29, 2013 - USMNT vs Canada friendly in Houston. As of November or December of last year, I am Vice President of the American Outlaws Houston Chapter. This was our first USA game under new chapter leadership, and we had a blast. A lot of planning was involved, but well worth it. We tied this game, but that's okay, since it didn't really matter. I drummed the whole game, which I enjoyed.
February 23, 2013 - Houston Dynamo vs Charleston Battery for the Carolina Challenge Cup in Charleston, SC. Work sent me to SC this particular weekend, so I decided to swing by Charleston, especially since I had a free rental car and hotel room. Due to flight delays, I barely managed to make it at halftime. Of all away games, the Charleston Battery by far is the most difficult to obtain a ticket. I went back and forth intermittently from December to February to determine where the away supporters section is or where the Dynamo bench would be. So, plan early if you want to go to a game. We lost, but it was good to see the men in orange on the field again. Apparently I was on television as the orange backpack.
March 17, 2013 - Houston Dynamo vs FC Dallas for a regular MLS season game in Dallas. I have to admit, I came back to this post just to edit, since I completely forgot about this game, especially since it's like a home game (Houston supporters are always louder). The powers that be wanted me to be in Dallas this weekend since a former college roommate was getting married. As a result, I was able to get the wedding room rate of $89/night at the Marriott near the Dallas Galleria (including parking) for Texian Army, huzzah! Work paid for my rental car because it was cheaper to fly me from Atlanta to Dallas + rental car vs flying home. We lost, but it was still a fun time. The highlight of the trip was making an In-N-Out run for those who took the bus. I ordered 10 cheeseburgers, and of course In-N-Out was pleased. It should be noted the location in Frisco opens at 10AM, not 10:30AM as the website says.
March 22, 2013 - USMNT vs Costa Rica in Denver for a WCQ. I was with David, and we stayed at the co-worker's apartment again. This time the price was $60 for the first night, and $10 each subsequent night. It's still very cheap for staying right off of 16th Street Mall. Of all games I have attended, this was the coldest game ever! The referees nearly called the game - that's how much snow was accumulating. Words cannot really describe the experience, but it's definitely a game I will never forget!
And so, that brings us to the end of March. Stay tuned for other travel plans this year!
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