Now that I've got two caps under my belt this year for Dynamo away games (Charleston and Dallas, although the latter is arguably really a home game), it's time to start looking ahead at the MLS schedule more closely. Every year when the MLS reschedule is released, I sit and plan. Admittedly, I am focusing more on USMNT this year versus Dynamo mainly because the USMNT don't play much every year, so might as well take advantage this year. I've also pretty much depleted all my free United miles on world cup qualifiers and Gold Cup (spent 97,500 miles), so this means I'll need to penny-pinch like a normal person (for once) when it comes to club games.
May 5th in LA - This will be my next Dynamo game, as I was able to schedule a site visit in Torrance, CA. [Conveniently, I have a site near Home Depot Center!] Thus, my flights and car rental are paid. However, I did have to scrounge for two nights of hotel (since understandably work will not pay for the extra nights I want to stay), so I used points for a free room at the Hampton right next to the stadium. It's the same hotel we used during MLS cup. Hamptons are probably on the lowest on the totem pole of the Hilton chain, but they have free breakfast and wifi. This particular hotel also only costs 12,500 points/night as opposed to the usual 25K, which helps immensely. I'll be hanging out with KH & MF; David will also drive from San Diego as well.
May 26th in KC - I am driving with MF and KH; it's about a 10-12hr drive from Houston. Could I have flown? Yes, but I didn't want to. Had I tried to schedule flights around a site visit I would've technically been working on a Saturday and a holiday, which I didn't want to do. I can ask for compensation time everytime I work weekends, but asking for too much compensation time raises management's eyes, so it's best that I don't. I also think it will be a fun trip this year with people who are easy to travel with. This is key when taking a road trip. If something goes wrong (God forbid), you need to have adaptable companions with pleasant demeanors. To give an idea of how long ago I planned ahead, I reserved a Best Western that provides shuttle service to the power and light district on 12Jan2013 (about $105/night including taxes). I should note there's a difference between "reserving" and "booking" a room in my mind. The former means you pay at check-out, and the latter means you've paid in advance. I typically choose the former, as it's not that much more expensive to do.
Sept 1st in Chicago - On Tuesday, I found a United round trip IAH to ORD flight for $258.30 (travel on Saturday, return on Monday, so no vacation time used), which is a great deal. Some have advocated the use of Spirit Airlines ($220 round trip), but by the time you add the $35 carry-on luggage fee each way and pay for an assigned seat, it's about the same price as United (even if you paid a check-in luggage fee on United). I have flown Spirit once and will never again unless forced. They're quite unorganized; one passenger was moved seats five times (so don't choose a random seat)! I reserved a Best Western near Michigan Mile on 08Jan2013 for $166.57/night (including taxes). I doubt I'll have enough hotel points to even try to get a free room by then, but we'll see. I can always cancel the hotel. Chicago is one of the few cities where I will not book a rental car, as they have an excellent public transportation system that will take you easily to the airport and Toyota Park. I always chuckle because you take the orange line to Toyota Park.
Those are the only Dynamo trips I have set in stone so far. I really wanted to go to Columbus and NY in June, but at this point, I don't know what site visits I can schedule. I am 80% certain I can schedule site visits so that I can attend the Philly and Boston games in September, as well as the DC game in October. That would make a total of 8 regular season caps, which isn't bad. I believe this was my total number of Dynamo away games last year (although I don't really keep count). Hopefully we'll make MLS playoffs; of course I will attend as many of those games as possible.
If you're a Houston Dynamo fan, feel free to contact me if you'd like to meet on the road!
Showing posts with label logistics. Show all posts
Showing posts with label logistics. Show all posts
Thursday, April 4, 2013
Monday, April 1, 2013
USMNT Gold Cup Plans
Many have asked, "Why do Gold Cup? It doesn't count this year." My response: "Why not? I can afford it." Gold Cup is a tricky tournament for the traveler, with four games across the USA, a semi-final (for which we have to qualify), and a final (for which we have to qualify). I'll be traveling with David (American Outlaws San Diego President); having someone to share the bills definitely makes it easier, although I am lucky I can also schedule work in between as well!
July 9th Portland: I have scheduled a couple of site visits in Washington already, so I am fortunate in that work will pay for my inbound and outbound flights, as well as the rental car (cheaper to fly me to Portland and pay for rental car versus coming home). I still need to book a hotel, although I have my eye on a Doubletree hotel downtown. Once I get about 900 more Hilton points, I'll be able to book. [Trying to get those last few points is always the hardest!] There's currently a Living Social deal available today only - $99/night is not a bad rate, and the hotel's less than 2 miles from the stadium. You could always take a cab and party downtown; I'm sure it'd be cheaper than parking at the stadium.
July 13th Salt Lake City: It's funny how I've never been to Salt Lake City in my life, but within a month's time span, I will visit twice. I am not sure what SLC did to get two USMNT games, but they were sure lucky (not that I am jealous or anything LOL). A rental car was booked using points, my inbound flight's paid for by work, and my outbound flight was paid using miles. I've booked a Homewood Suites downtown; for some hotels, Hilton lets you book a partial rate and points, so our rate is $40/night. For those who are unfamiliar with Homewood Suites, they're pretty decent. You get free breakfast, free light dinner and alcohol Monday through Thursdays (pending state law), a fully equipped kitchen, big fridge, dishwasher, and most importantly for us - coin laundry. Since we'll be on the road for 16 days (according to Worldmate - wonderful travel app!), easily accessible laundry is a must. Homewood Suites tend to be reasonably priced. Had I paid, the cheapest rate available is $84/night - not bad at all! This hotel also puts us about 5 blocks from the AO bar.
July 16th Hartford: From Salt Lake we go to Hartford. Thankfully I had miles to use or else the United airfare would have cost around $500! We made the decision to stay in Salt Lake City longer and leave for Hartford on July 15th (instead of flying into Hartford on the 14th) mainly because the hotel was cheaper in Salt Lake. Ten minutes walking distance from the AO bar, the Hartford Homewood Suites downtown is about $300 (thank goodness for points)!
At this point in the trip, the question is, what do you do? The next game, the quarterfinal, is in Baltimore on July 21st, almost a week later. It seems silly while on the east coast, to go home to Houston or for my San Diego companion, all the way back to the west coast. So what did I do? Schedule a site visit in Boston. Boston is less than a two hour drive from Hartford. This means work will pay for the rental car in Hartford, hotel/meals/ground transportation in Boston, and my flight from Boston to DC. :-)
July 21st DC - From Boston to DC, it's pretty cheap to travel. A one-way, 1.5 hour flight on US airways is $81 between the two cities. You can take the train, but the train is only $10 cheaper and an eight hour journey. In addition, the rental car (paid by work) has been booked for pickup at DCA; rarely do train stations have rental car companies on site. The Baltimore stadium is about 45 minutes away from DC. One may ask why I decided to fly into DCA instead of BWI, and the simple answer is that we are staying with a friend. Thankfully she has agreed to put up with us for a weekend, as I'm out of hotel points at this stage. She'll also have a washer/dryer in her apartment, which is definitely a plus. We'll arrive on a Friday and leave on the Monday after game day; I look forward to exploring DC. It's actually one of my favorite cities with lots of cheap, free things to do (thanks to my tax dollars!). I used miles to book my flight to Houston, my home.
For David, things are a bit trickier living on the west coast. He'll book his flight after the quarterfinal in Baltimore. If the USA wins, he'll book a flight to Houston so he can stay with me for free. If the USA loses, he'll book a flight home to San Diego. While this may seem like we are cursing the USA or have little faith, keep in mind, we were at the Olympics' semi-final and final in KC last year when the USA did not qualify.
Should the USA qualify for the semi-final on July 24th, it's an easy drive to Dallas from Houston (about 4-5 hours). At this time, I have not decided if I myself will drive and stay overnight at a friend's place. I am also working on a charter bus trip for the AO Houston chapter, so this is another option as well.
The final is in Chicago on July 28th. I am currently awaiting work, but most likely I will be able to schedule a visit on July 29th (which means work would pay for hotel, flights, etc). I would fly early into Chicago on game day mainly because there is a Houston Dynamo game on July 27th. Ironically, the Dynamo play Chicago Fire in Houston on the 27th. Too bad the game isn't in Chicago or else we could've had a potential double-header (reminiscent of Chicago 2009 when there was a Dynamo game on a Friday night & USMNT WCQ game on a Saturday night). Often, I am asked if I am club over country or country over club, and the answer is that I am equally both. I am a season ticket holder for Houston Dynamo, and I attended all USA domestic home games last year except one (Brazil friendly in DC). My actions speak for themselves.
In a nutshell, those are my gold cup plans. I look forward to seeing you at the games!
July 9th Portland: I have scheduled a couple of site visits in Washington already, so I am fortunate in that work will pay for my inbound and outbound flights, as well as the rental car (cheaper to fly me to Portland and pay for rental car versus coming home). I still need to book a hotel, although I have my eye on a Doubletree hotel downtown. Once I get about 900 more Hilton points, I'll be able to book. [Trying to get those last few points is always the hardest!] There's currently a Living Social deal available today only - $99/night is not a bad rate, and the hotel's less than 2 miles from the stadium. You could always take a cab and party downtown; I'm sure it'd be cheaper than parking at the stadium.
July 13th Salt Lake City: It's funny how I've never been to Salt Lake City in my life, but within a month's time span, I will visit twice. I am not sure what SLC did to get two USMNT games, but they were sure lucky (not that I am jealous or anything LOL). A rental car was booked using points, my inbound flight's paid for by work, and my outbound flight was paid using miles. I've booked a Homewood Suites downtown; for some hotels, Hilton lets you book a partial rate and points, so our rate is $40/night. For those who are unfamiliar with Homewood Suites, they're pretty decent. You get free breakfast, free light dinner and alcohol Monday through Thursdays (pending state law), a fully equipped kitchen, big fridge, dishwasher, and most importantly for us - coin laundry. Since we'll be on the road for 16 days (according to Worldmate - wonderful travel app!), easily accessible laundry is a must. Homewood Suites tend to be reasonably priced. Had I paid, the cheapest rate available is $84/night - not bad at all! This hotel also puts us about 5 blocks from the AO bar.
July 16th Hartford: From Salt Lake we go to Hartford. Thankfully I had miles to use or else the United airfare would have cost around $500! We made the decision to stay in Salt Lake City longer and leave for Hartford on July 15th (instead of flying into Hartford on the 14th) mainly because the hotel was cheaper in Salt Lake. Ten minutes walking distance from the AO bar, the Hartford Homewood Suites downtown is about $300 (thank goodness for points)!
At this point in the trip, the question is, what do you do? The next game, the quarterfinal, is in Baltimore on July 21st, almost a week later. It seems silly while on the east coast, to go home to Houston or for my San Diego companion, all the way back to the west coast. So what did I do? Schedule a site visit in Boston. Boston is less than a two hour drive from Hartford. This means work will pay for the rental car in Hartford, hotel/meals/ground transportation in Boston, and my flight from Boston to DC. :-)
July 21st DC - From Boston to DC, it's pretty cheap to travel. A one-way, 1.5 hour flight on US airways is $81 between the two cities. You can take the train, but the train is only $10 cheaper and an eight hour journey. In addition, the rental car (paid by work) has been booked for pickup at DCA; rarely do train stations have rental car companies on site. The Baltimore stadium is about 45 minutes away from DC. One may ask why I decided to fly into DCA instead of BWI, and the simple answer is that we are staying with a friend. Thankfully she has agreed to put up with us for a weekend, as I'm out of hotel points at this stage. She'll also have a washer/dryer in her apartment, which is definitely a plus. We'll arrive on a Friday and leave on the Monday after game day; I look forward to exploring DC. It's actually one of my favorite cities with lots of cheap, free things to do (thanks to my tax dollars!). I used miles to book my flight to Houston, my home.
For David, things are a bit trickier living on the west coast. He'll book his flight after the quarterfinal in Baltimore. If the USA wins, he'll book a flight to Houston so he can stay with me for free. If the USA loses, he'll book a flight home to San Diego. While this may seem like we are cursing the USA or have little faith, keep in mind, we were at the Olympics' semi-final and final in KC last year when the USA did not qualify.
Should the USA qualify for the semi-final on July 24th, it's an easy drive to Dallas from Houston (about 4-5 hours). At this time, I have not decided if I myself will drive and stay overnight at a friend's place. I am also working on a charter bus trip for the AO Houston chapter, so this is another option as well.
The final is in Chicago on July 28th. I am currently awaiting work, but most likely I will be able to schedule a visit on July 29th (which means work would pay for hotel, flights, etc). I would fly early into Chicago on game day mainly because there is a Houston Dynamo game on July 27th. Ironically, the Dynamo play Chicago Fire in Houston on the 27th. Too bad the game isn't in Chicago or else we could've had a potential double-header (reminiscent of Chicago 2009 when there was a Dynamo game on a Friday night & USMNT WCQ game on a Saturday night). Often, I am asked if I am club over country or country over club, and the answer is that I am equally both. I am a season ticket holder for Houston Dynamo, and I attended all USA domestic home games last year except one (Brazil friendly in DC). My actions speak for themselves.
In a nutshell, those are my gold cup plans. I look forward to seeing you at the games!
Sunday, March 31, 2013
USMNT WCQ Plans
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!
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!
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!
Sunday, October 14, 2012
KC Plans - USMNT vs Guatemala
Since I am now on the road 3-5 days per week, it's really hard to keep track of my leisure trips now! To give an idea of how much I travel now, I probably visit 15-20 airports per month. I'm on a 15-city rotation schedule. Each city has to be visited every 8-12 weeks, so I am really racking up the miles and points!
For those who don't know, you can always reserve rooms (no credit card charged) and then cancel the day of (time is set by the hotel-read their cancellation policies) or the day before. This is originally what I had reserved for Kansas City this week:
For those who don't know, you can always reserve rooms (no credit card charged) and then cancel the day of (time is set by the hotel-read their cancellation policies) or the day before. This is originally what I had reserved for Kansas City this week:
- Best Western Kansas City Inn (free shuttle to/from Power & Light District): 2 nights, 1 King Bed ($90/night)
- Best Western Kansas City Inn: 1 night, 1 King Bed ($90/night)
- Best Western Kansas City Inn: 2 nights, 2 Double Beds ($90/night)
- AO hotel (near stadium): 2 nights, 2 Double Beds ($114/night)
Instead, as of the 1st of this month (been too busy to book earlier!), I decided book the following:
- 1st night: Hotel across the street from the AO bar (20 minutes from the stadium), so no driving/extra parking needed (35,000 points). The hotel is sold out, but the rooms when I last checked, retailed $300/night.
- 2nd night: Hotel near the airport (20 minutes from the stadium), so that on Wednesday, I just need to wake up and go to work (12,500 points). Remaining rooms are available for $150/night, and there is a free shuttle to/from the airport.
I have one free day of rental car at $42/day. Unfortunately a week-long trip in August for some reason didn't count towards rental car points and were converted into miles instead, sigh. Otherwise, I'd have enough points for the base price to be completely free.
My flight going to Kansas City is free because I am using rewards miles. My outbound flight is being paid for by work, since I am headed to audit a site the next day. Most likely this will be a recurring pattern for my trips.
I am traveling with AS for this trip, as he is willing to pay hotel taxes and parking at the hotel the first night. We are splitting the remaining car rental fees and gas. I don't mind if people share a room with me, but I do ask they pay whatever is remaining (taxes, surcharges, etc), since I am covering 100% of the base price. Even if we were splitting the room, there is no way taxes would equal half of the hotel room. Furthermore, this eliminates any potential resentment I may have for moochers. If someone pays the taxes, at least I will feel there is some sort of contribution.
KH is already in Kansas City and is complaining of the wind. Apparently I need to pack the whole nine yards - ski mask, gloves, beanie, etc. The temperature looks like it will be in the 40s at night! From Kansas City, I go to Miami where it will be 80 degrees, so packing will be tricky. Let's go USA!
Monday, June 4, 2012
Kansas City USMNT Flights
It's funny how ESP somewhat works. After a heavy discussion yesterday during Mexico/Brazil game about the FIFA and CONCACAF schedules, I decided this morning around 9AM CDT I'd go ahead and put a vacation request for Oct. 15-17, 2012.
Little did I know US Soccer would release the final US city this year for a world cup qualifier this afternoon - Kansas City.
Kudos to Kansas City. I like the Power and Light District, the BBQ is definitely better than North Carolina (gag), and let's face it - it's a soccer-dedicated stadium.
But, I have to admit, I am kind of getting tired of going there. Between the MLS Eastern Conference final last year and the Olympic qualifiers this year (when the USA failed to show up - let's not say more), I've now been to KC twice in the last year. October 2012 will be the third time in nearly a year I'll be there.
Nevertheless, I am looking to book a flight next week. My allowance is 1 trip booked per credit card statement. Is there something going on in KC (besides the USMNT game) that I should know about?
Little did I know US Soccer would release the final US city this year for a world cup qualifier this afternoon - Kansas City.
Kudos to Kansas City. I like the Power and Light District, the BBQ is definitely better than North Carolina (gag), and let's face it - it's a soccer-dedicated stadium.
But, I have to admit, I am kind of getting tired of going there. Between the MLS Eastern Conference final last year and the Olympic qualifiers this year (when the USA failed to show up - let's not say more), I've now been to KC twice in the last year. October 2012 will be the third time in nearly a year I'll be there.
Nevertheless, I am looking to book a flight next week. My allowance is 1 trip booked per credit card statement. Is there something going on in KC (besides the USMNT game) that I should know about?
- United: $867 nonstop <insert HUGE gasp>
- Southwest: $314.70, 1 stop each way
- American Airlines: $312.70, 1 stop each way
- Airtran: $321.70, 1 stop each way (5-6 hours)
- Delta (don't ever leave the airport): ~$900, 1 stop each way (uh, no)
- Frontier: nearly $400, actually operated by Republic Airlines (?!?!), 1 stop each way (~5 hours)
- Travelocity hotel/flight package: $584.30 through American Airlines (1 stop each way) with hotel near Power and Light District. Orbitz also has a comparable package.
- Air Canada does not conduct USA domestic flights.
Sunday, June 3, 2012
Jacksonville USMNT Trip Logistics
Planning a trip is always fun and lately it's been somewhat of an addiction. Jacksonville was a unique situation in that I had 4 friends drive to FL from TX (15 hours to get there and 12 hours to come back), so I didn't need to rent a car. As the date approached, WorldMate (excellent app!) kept reminding me to rent a car, and I had to ignore the reminder after doing a double-check every time.
I had booked the trip in February, shortly after US Soccer made the announcement of the USA vs Scotland friendly on May 26, 2012. I have learned it's best to book as quickly as possible before airlines figure out there's a game scheduled and raise their prices. The cheapest option was a hotel and airfare package through United Vacations for about $600. While this may seem extravagant, the trip was booked during Memorial Weekend for three nights of hotel. Within two months of the date, airfare began to soar, costing as much as $450 alone without the hotel.
I should note that even though I had booked the trip in February, United does give a 100% refund if you cancel about a month in advance. After that, the percentage is prorated, e.g. 80% refund if canceling within 3 weeks of departure. Of course, if you wait until the week of departure, there is no refund.
I don't always do these kind of packages (because you do have to pay all of the money up front), but if I can afford it, I will do it. I have learned never sign up for a hotel/airfare/car rental package, as I always have cheaper options for a car rental (whether it be a coupon or free double upgrade). Car rental coupons can only be applied if you book directly with the company; you cannot apply car rental coupons when booking through a third party (in this case, United Vacations). Since I've made this mistake before, often the third party will allow you to cancel the car rental portion of the package with no penalty.
I did book ground transportation to/from the hotel and the airport. Typically when I need ground transportation, I book through Super Shuttle because they are the only company nationwide with whom I can book online. Although I support local businesses, many independently owned companies require you to complete a form with your flight information, and someone will call/email you later to confirm. I prefer instantaneous booking. [I suppose that's the American in me.]
We stayed at the Best Western Mayport Inn and Suites in Atlantic Beach, FL, about 40 minutes from the airport. The cost of Super Shuttle was $105 round trip. Although this seems like a lot, a one-way cab fare can be as much as $75 if you were to book directly with the cab company. For ground transportation, instead of a shuttle van, a taxi was sent. Super Shuttle will send a taxi if their vans are unable to make the trip, and will reimburse the taxi company the fare. I had to sign a voucher each time so that the cab driver could account for the fare.
The company who brought me back to the airport is Checker Cab. I thought it was neat I received a text message when the taxi was dispatched to the hotel. If you need to be picked up, you can fill out the form online or text the address and zip code to 904-222-8507. I've kept this number in my contacts in case I visit Jacksonville again.
In a nutshell, this was my experience when booking hotel, airfare, and ground transportation in Jacksonville. It may seem easy when I write the logistics in a nice little blog post, but this trip took weeks of research to plan. Nevertheless, the trip was worth it, and we had a blast!
I had booked the trip in February, shortly after US Soccer made the announcement of the USA vs Scotland friendly on May 26, 2012. I have learned it's best to book as quickly as possible before airlines figure out there's a game scheduled and raise their prices. The cheapest option was a hotel and airfare package through United Vacations for about $600. While this may seem extravagant, the trip was booked during Memorial Weekend for three nights of hotel. Within two months of the date, airfare began to soar, costing as much as $450 alone without the hotel.
I should note that even though I had booked the trip in February, United does give a 100% refund if you cancel about a month in advance. After that, the percentage is prorated, e.g. 80% refund if canceling within 3 weeks of departure. Of course, if you wait until the week of departure, there is no refund.
I don't always do these kind of packages (because you do have to pay all of the money up front), but if I can afford it, I will do it. I have learned never sign up for a hotel/airfare/car rental package, as I always have cheaper options for a car rental (whether it be a coupon or free double upgrade). Car rental coupons can only be applied if you book directly with the company; you cannot apply car rental coupons when booking through a third party (in this case, United Vacations). Since I've made this mistake before, often the third party will allow you to cancel the car rental portion of the package with no penalty.
I did book ground transportation to/from the hotel and the airport. Typically when I need ground transportation, I book through Super Shuttle because they are the only company nationwide with whom I can book online. Although I support local businesses, many independently owned companies require you to complete a form with your flight information, and someone will call/email you later to confirm. I prefer instantaneous booking. [I suppose that's the American in me.]
We stayed at the Best Western Mayport Inn and Suites in Atlantic Beach, FL, about 40 minutes from the airport. The cost of Super Shuttle was $105 round trip. Although this seems like a lot, a one-way cab fare can be as much as $75 if you were to book directly with the cab company. For ground transportation, instead of a shuttle van, a taxi was sent. Super Shuttle will send a taxi if their vans are unable to make the trip, and will reimburse the taxi company the fare. I had to sign a voucher each time so that the cab driver could account for the fare.
The company who brought me back to the airport is Checker Cab. I thought it was neat I received a text message when the taxi was dispatched to the hotel. If you need to be picked up, you can fill out the form online or text the address and zip code to 904-222-8507. I've kept this number in my contacts in case I visit Jacksonville again.
In a nutshell, this was my experience when booking hotel, airfare, and ground transportation in Jacksonville. It may seem easy when I write the logistics in a nice little blog post, but this trip took weeks of research to plan. Nevertheless, the trip was worth it, and we had a blast!
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