GSA Per Diem
Lodging = $117.00
M&IE = $71.00
Lodging
Hyatt Regency Dallas
300 Reunion Blvd
Dallas, TX 75207
(214) 651-1234
http://dallasregency.hyatt.com/hyatt/hotels/index.jsp
This is one of my favorite hotels. It has a lovely interior, comfortable beds, and satisfactory dining options on site. I actually ate several meals at two of the Hyatt’s restaurants, Parrinos and Centennial Café. Room service provided a well-rounded menu and was of high quality. This is important because downtown Dallas tends to die after 5:00 pm and I didn’t feel all that safe wandering around after dark.
For internet they have two different bandwidths available for a 24 hour period: Economy and Business. Economy is $9.95 and Business is $12.95 with a faster bandwidth.
Parking is relatively inexpensive for a large metro area like Dallas. I used the valet and had no problems with the service. According to the Hyatt website:
Valet Parking:
Available at hotel entrance. In and out privileges for hotel guests only.
Overnight Valet: : $19.00 plus tax
Daily: 0-3 Hours $10.00, 3-6 Hours $14.00, 6-24 Hours $18.00 plus tax, operated by Ace Parking.
Self parking:
Self parking in the outdoor Radish Lot is conveniently located on the north end of the hotel at the intersection of Hotel Street and Reunion Boulevard West. No in and out privileges. Operated by Ace Parking.
Maximum $10.00 per day (including tax)*
Dining
Pappdeaux Seafood Kitchen
3520 Oak Lawn
Dallas, TX 75219
(214) 521-4700
http://www.pappadeaux.com/location/?id=18
Pappadeaux is a famous restaurant chain in the South. I have been to Pappadeaux in several different cities in Texas and Georgia and the quality has been excellent across the board. I had the Citrus Crusted Tilapia and it was amazing and that is saying something as I don't care much for seafood. The building itself has a lot of character, which always seems to make my experience infinitely more enjoyable. Expect to spend around $37.00 per person.
For alcoholic drinks, they are famous for the “Swamp Thing.”
El Fenix – Downtown
1601 McKinney Ave
Dallas, TX 75202
(214) 747-1121
http://www.elfenix.com/
El Fenix was recommended to me by some members of the Dallas PD. It is everything a Mexican food restaurant should be (according to a Mexican food snob from California): murals on the walls, lots of chips, more food than you can eat, and a family atmosphere.
I would happily go to El Fenix again, especially since I left absolutely stuffed for about $23.00.
Tuesday, May 11, 2010
Monday, May 3, 2010
Las Vegas
GSA Per Diem
Lodging = $109.00
M&IE = $71
Lodging
MGM Grand Hotel and Casino
3799 Las Vegas Boulevard South
Las Vegas, Nevada 89109
877-880-0880
http://www.mgmgrand.com/
The MGM Grand was the best hotel that I have stayed at in Las Vegas. It is one of the few casinos that doesn't reek of cigarette smoke. The MGM also has amazing restaurants so you don't have to leave the hotel every time you need to eat, like some other hotels in Las Vegas (J'accuse Flamingo and the Riviera). It ran about $114.00 a night in June, which was only $10.00 more than the Flamingo.
I stayed in the West Wing portion of the hotel. The West Wing is the "boutique" section of the hotel designed especially for the single traveler (aka loser?). The rooms were pleasant and well proportioned, if a bit small. I loved the shower, as it was large and had excellent water pressure. There were also plenty of electrical outlets around the room for my phone, iPod, computer, etc.
My big complaint was that there wasn't enough counter space for all of my toiletries. As a girl, I need a nice counter to spread out my make-up, hair products, and miscellaneous toiletries. Every morning turned out to be a bit of a juggling act, but I did manage.
The Internet access runs about $14.95 a day, but is very fast. I was able to log onto my VPN and stream my Netflix without any problems.
The Monorail is also attached to the MGM Grand, which made commuting from the Flamingo to the MGM a simple process. The Monorail runs $12.00 for an unlimited day pass.
Flamingo Las Vegas
3555 Las Vegas Blvd South
Las Vegas, NV 89109
http://www.flamingolasvegas.com/casinos/flamingo-las-vegas/hotel-casino/property-home.shtml
My company has a contract with the Flamingo hotel so I have to stay there. The Flamingo doesn’t seem so bad initially. It definitely lacks the charm of the Bellagio or one of the newer hotels, but I was hoping it would have some the old Vegas charm. It does not. I have been told, however, not to insult the Flamingo – “That’s Bugsy Siegal’s place.”
Here is the deal with the Flamingo, if you don’t wear your glasses or look too closely at anything, than it isn’t awful. The second you start looking at the walls or the carpets or the furnishings you become sadly grossed out and start wearing sandals in the shower. The price varies, but I got my rooms for $77.00 a night. They do charge for internet, $13.99 a day, but it allowed me to stream my Netflix without any problems.
If you do stay at the Flamingo, ask for a “Go” room and do not settle for anything less. Go rooms have been remodeled and compared to the non-Go rooms, the Go is a presidential suite in comparison. I do like that there is a TV in the bathroom mirror so I could watch the “Today” show while showering. The bed wasn’t bad and I like having a flat screen TV in my room. The hallways do have a tendency to smell like diapers after a few days, so beware.
Whatever you do, do not eat at the Flamingo. Every meal I had made me sick for hours afterwards. I hear that Margaritaville isn’t bad there, but I wasn’t willing to risk it.
The Riviera
2901 Las Vegas Blvd South
Las Vegas, NV 89109
(800) 634-3420
http://www.rivierahotel.com/
The first, and only time, I have ever had bed bugs. Enough said.
Dining
Postrio Las Vegas
3377 Las Vegas Blvd South (The Venetian)
Las Vegas, NV 89109
(702) 796-1110
http://www.wolfgangpuck.com/restaurants/fine-dining/3821
Postrio is a Wolfgang Puck restaurant. I ate several years ago at Postrio in San Francisco (which is now closed – I thought the food was good but according to chowhound.com it was “80’s”) and I though I would give Vegas a try. I didn’t find the menu as diverse as the San Francisco one, but I did enjoy the food. Any place that serves gnocchi is fine by me. A salad and entrée set me back $41.00. To be honest, I don’t feel all that compelled to return during my next Vegas trip.
Mario Betali has a restaurant right next to Postrio. If you don’t like the menu at either place, take five steps and you will have another option.
The Buffet
3600 Las Vegas Blvd South (The Bellagio)
Las Vegas, NV 89109
(888) 987-6667
http://www.bellagio.com/restaurants/the-buffet.aspx
I tried The Buffet at the Bellagio because I had been told it was excellent. I have to say that I was a bit disappointed. Everything was okay it just didn’t seem to be better than any other buffet. I guess I had higher expectations from the Bellagio. Word on the street is that the Wynn stole the Bellagio’s chef away and now the Wynn has the best buffet.
Make sure you arrive early. I arrived at about 5:00 pm (keep in mind I live on the east coast) and I had to wait in line for over 20 minutes. By the time I left, the line was 4 times longer than when I arrived. Expect to spend about $32.00 per person.
Mesa Grill
3570 Las Vegas Blvd (Caesar’s Palace)
Las Vegas, NV 89109
(877) 346-4642
http://www.mesagrill.com/lasvegas/
I spent days deciding if I would eat at Mesa Grill as it is a bit pricy and there were so many items on the menu I wanted to try (I ended up spending $53.00). I enjoyed my experience at the Mesa Gill a lot. The creamy wild mushroom grits appetizer is fantastic. I also ordered the cornmeal crusted chile relleno and it was very flavorful but a bit too spicy for me. The hardest part of the Mesa Grill was trying to figure out what to eat, as most menu items had some ingredient that interested me.
Le Creperie
3655 Las Vegas Blvd South (The Paris)
Las Vegas, NV 89109
(702) 946-7000
http://www.parislasvegas.com/casinos/paris-las-vegas/restaurants-dining/la-creperie-detail.html
I love crepes, especially the sweet and savory crepes at Crepes-a-Go-Go in the San Francisco Bay Area. Le Creperie was fine, but they didn’t have the selection I was hoping for and it was $10.00 for a sweet or savory crepe. So you order both, but you just can’t eat both. It was a nice change of pace from the heavier and more expensive food I had been eating all week.
Craftsteak
3799 Las Vegas Blvd South (The MGM Grand)
Las Vegas, NV 89109
http://www.mgmgrand.com/restaurants/craftsteak-steak-house.aspx
Craftsteak is owned by Tom Colicchio of Top Chef fame and I have been wanting to try his food since I walked passed his restaurant, Craft, in Chelsea, NYC. The sweet smell of steak filled the air and I knew I wanted to be a part of it. The food was amazing. The homemade rolls had a sprinkle of sea salt on them – who knew that would make such a big difference in flavor? The warm frisee salad that initially sold me with all the blue cheese was also full of bacon. I had to force myself to stop eating the potato gratin so I could save room for my steak. My NY Strip was perfectly done and didn’t need any steak sauce to make it flavorful. It was one of the best meals I have ever had. It was also one of the most expensive. I made it out of there for just under $100.00. Worth it.
Mon Ami Gabi
3655 Las Vegas Blvd South (The Paris)
Las Vegas, NV 89109
(702) 944-4224
http://www.parislasvegas.com/casinos/paris-las-vegas/restaurants-dining/mon-ami-gabi-detail.html
Friends recommended Mon Ami Gabi at the Paris for breakfast. They have a very good eggs benedict and the French toast also looked delicious. I spent $24.00 for breakfast, which is about what I was spending on room service at the Flamingo but the quality was infinitely better.
Entertainment.
http://www.travelzoo.com//
Since it is always changing so much in Las Vegas I can’t keep up here.
I would recommend using TravelZoo.com as a way to get discounts on shows. They typically offer 30-60% discounts on certain shows.
Lodging = $109.00
M&IE = $71
Lodging
MGM Grand Hotel and Casino
3799 Las Vegas Boulevard South
Las Vegas, Nevada 89109
877-880-0880
http://www.mgmgrand.com/
The MGM Grand was the best hotel that I have stayed at in Las Vegas. It is one of the few casinos that doesn't reek of cigarette smoke. The MGM also has amazing restaurants so you don't have to leave the hotel every time you need to eat, like some other hotels in Las Vegas (J'accuse Flamingo and the Riviera). It ran about $114.00 a night in June, which was only $10.00 more than the Flamingo.
I stayed in the West Wing portion of the hotel. The West Wing is the "boutique" section of the hotel designed especially for the single traveler (aka loser?). The rooms were pleasant and well proportioned, if a bit small. I loved the shower, as it was large and had excellent water pressure. There were also plenty of electrical outlets around the room for my phone, iPod, computer, etc.
My big complaint was that there wasn't enough counter space for all of my toiletries. As a girl, I need a nice counter to spread out my make-up, hair products, and miscellaneous toiletries. Every morning turned out to be a bit of a juggling act, but I did manage.
The Internet access runs about $14.95 a day, but is very fast. I was able to log onto my VPN and stream my Netflix without any problems.
The Monorail is also attached to the MGM Grand, which made commuting from the Flamingo to the MGM a simple process. The Monorail runs $12.00 for an unlimited day pass.
Flamingo Las Vegas
3555 Las Vegas Blvd South
Las Vegas, NV 89109
http://www.flamingolasvegas.com/casinos/flamingo-las-vegas/hotel-casino/property-home.shtml
My company has a contract with the Flamingo hotel so I have to stay there. The Flamingo doesn’t seem so bad initially. It definitely lacks the charm of the Bellagio or one of the newer hotels, but I was hoping it would have some the old Vegas charm. It does not. I have been told, however, not to insult the Flamingo – “That’s Bugsy Siegal’s place.”
Here is the deal with the Flamingo, if you don’t wear your glasses or look too closely at anything, than it isn’t awful. The second you start looking at the walls or the carpets or the furnishings you become sadly grossed out and start wearing sandals in the shower. The price varies, but I got my rooms for $77.00 a night. They do charge for internet, $13.99 a day, but it allowed me to stream my Netflix without any problems.
If you do stay at the Flamingo, ask for a “Go” room and do not settle for anything less. Go rooms have been remodeled and compared to the non-Go rooms, the Go is a presidential suite in comparison. I do like that there is a TV in the bathroom mirror so I could watch the “Today” show while showering. The bed wasn’t bad and I like having a flat screen TV in my room. The hallways do have a tendency to smell like diapers after a few days, so beware.
Whatever you do, do not eat at the Flamingo. Every meal I had made me sick for hours afterwards. I hear that Margaritaville isn’t bad there, but I wasn’t willing to risk it.
The Riviera
2901 Las Vegas Blvd South
Las Vegas, NV 89109
(800) 634-3420
http://www.rivierahotel.com/
The first, and only time, I have ever had bed bugs. Enough said.
Dining
Postrio Las Vegas
3377 Las Vegas Blvd South (The Venetian)
Las Vegas, NV 89109
(702) 796-1110
http://www.wolfgangpuck.com/restaurants/fine-dining/3821
Postrio is a Wolfgang Puck restaurant. I ate several years ago at Postrio in San Francisco (which is now closed – I thought the food was good but according to chowhound.com it was “80’s”) and I though I would give Vegas a try. I didn’t find the menu as diverse as the San Francisco one, but I did enjoy the food. Any place that serves gnocchi is fine by me. A salad and entrée set me back $41.00. To be honest, I don’t feel all that compelled to return during my next Vegas trip.
Mario Betali has a restaurant right next to Postrio. If you don’t like the menu at either place, take five steps and you will have another option.
The Buffet
3600 Las Vegas Blvd South (The Bellagio)
Las Vegas, NV 89109
(888) 987-6667
http://www.bellagio.com/restaurants/the-buffet.aspx
I tried The Buffet at the Bellagio because I had been told it was excellent. I have to say that I was a bit disappointed. Everything was okay it just didn’t seem to be better than any other buffet. I guess I had higher expectations from the Bellagio. Word on the street is that the Wynn stole the Bellagio’s chef away and now the Wynn has the best buffet.
Make sure you arrive early. I arrived at about 5:00 pm (keep in mind I live on the east coast) and I had to wait in line for over 20 minutes. By the time I left, the line was 4 times longer than when I arrived. Expect to spend about $32.00 per person.
Mesa Grill
3570 Las Vegas Blvd (Caesar’s Palace)
Las Vegas, NV 89109
(877) 346-4642
http://www.mesagrill.com/lasvegas/
I spent days deciding if I would eat at Mesa Grill as it is a bit pricy and there were so many items on the menu I wanted to try (I ended up spending $53.00). I enjoyed my experience at the Mesa Gill a lot. The creamy wild mushroom grits appetizer is fantastic. I also ordered the cornmeal crusted chile relleno and it was very flavorful but a bit too spicy for me. The hardest part of the Mesa Grill was trying to figure out what to eat, as most menu items had some ingredient that interested me.
Le Creperie
3655 Las Vegas Blvd South (The Paris)
Las Vegas, NV 89109
(702) 946-7000
http://www.parislasvegas.com/casinos/paris-las-vegas/restaurants-dining/la-creperie-detail.html
I love crepes, especially the sweet and savory crepes at Crepes-a-Go-Go in the San Francisco Bay Area. Le Creperie was fine, but they didn’t have the selection I was hoping for and it was $10.00 for a sweet or savory crepe. So you order both, but you just can’t eat both. It was a nice change of pace from the heavier and more expensive food I had been eating all week.
Craftsteak
3799 Las Vegas Blvd South (The MGM Grand)
Las Vegas, NV 89109
http://www.mgmgrand.com/restaurants/craftsteak-steak-house.aspx
Craftsteak is owned by Tom Colicchio of Top Chef fame and I have been wanting to try his food since I walked passed his restaurant, Craft, in Chelsea, NYC. The sweet smell of steak filled the air and I knew I wanted to be a part of it. The food was amazing. The homemade rolls had a sprinkle of sea salt on them – who knew that would make such a big difference in flavor? The warm frisee salad that initially sold me with all the blue cheese was also full of bacon. I had to force myself to stop eating the potato gratin so I could save room for my steak. My NY Strip was perfectly done and didn’t need any steak sauce to make it flavorful. It was one of the best meals I have ever had. It was also one of the most expensive. I made it out of there for just under $100.00. Worth it.
Mon Ami Gabi
3655 Las Vegas Blvd South (The Paris)
Las Vegas, NV 89109
(702) 944-4224
http://www.parislasvegas.com/casinos/paris-las-vegas/restaurants-dining/mon-ami-gabi-detail.html
Friends recommended Mon Ami Gabi at the Paris for breakfast. They have a very good eggs benedict and the French toast also looked delicious. I spent $24.00 for breakfast, which is about what I was spending on room service at the Flamingo but the quality was infinitely better.
Entertainment.
http://www.travelzoo.com//
Since it is always changing so much in Las Vegas I can’t keep up here.
I would recommend using TravelZoo.com as a way to get discounts on shows. They typically offer 30-60% discounts on certain shows.
Garden City, NY (Long Island)
GSA Per Diem
Lodging = $161.00
M&IE = $66.00
Lodging
Hampton Inn Garden City
1 North Avenue
Garden City, NY 11530
(516) 227-2720
http://hamptoninn.hilton.com/en/hp/hotels/index.jhtml?ctyhocn=JHCGCHX
I had a typical Hampton Inn experience for about $159.00 a night. I did like that there was plenty of parking although the flood lights in the parking lot and the blackout curtains in my room were in a struggle to the death every night.
Warning: if you are using your GPS to find the hotel there is an issue with how GPS has been programmed for Garden City. If you plug in 1 North Ave you end up at a school. You have to type in 700 North Ave and that will get you to the hotel. It totally worked, although I never had a problem using my GPS for any other location.
Dining
Waterzooi
850 Franklin Avenue
Garden City, NY 11530
(516) 877-2177
http://www.waterzooi.com//
I found Waterzooi when I was lost in Garden City. I had never been to a Belgian bistro before and thought it sounded interesting. I had a nice baby green salad for starters, although it wasn’t memorable in any way.
My entrée was much more interesting. I had the pork offering – Wastmalle double braised pork belly with brown butter toasted spaetzle, caramelized sauerkraut, and spicy mustard. It was a thoughtful flavor combination, especially the toasted spaetzle, which added a nice crunch to the dish.
I had a Belgian waffle for dessert, although from what I have been told, it wasn’t a traditional Belgian waffle. It was fine, but I had hopes for something more authentic.
I liked Waterzooi for the most part, but I thought it was a bit overpriced as I spent about $68.00 on dinner. Also, the restaurant was so dark that I couldn’t read my book. As someone that eats alone quite often, I like having the option to read my book.
Grand Lux Café
630 Old Country Road
Garden City, NY 11530
(516) 741-0096
http://www.grandluxcafe.com/index.htm
The Grand Lux Café has an air of familiarity to it, as if you have eaten there on numerous occasions, but you just can’t quite remember when. Then you remember, it wasn’t the Grand Lux Café, it was The Cheesecake Factory you visit all the time with your co-workers. It is almost as if someone bought a Cheesecake Factory and just changed the name and made the menu less interesting. It is about the same pricing as the Cheesecake Factory, I made it out of there for around $35.00.
That being said, the portions are huge so don’t expect to power through the entire meal. While I thought most everything was adequate, the dessert was out of this world.
I ordered the New Orleans Beignets with 3 dipping sauces. As a disclaimer, I have never been to New Orleans so I can’t weigh in on their authenticity, but the beignets were fantastic. I was expecting about 3 beignets for a single dessert order, but I was served anywhere from 8 to 12 large beignets. While I was tempted, there was no way I could eat the entire serving so plan on sharing. They were so warm and wonderful – I would gladly eat at Grand Lux Café again just for the beignets
California Pizza Kitchen
1256 Old Country Road
Westbury, NY 11590
(516) 683-3338
http://www.cpk.com/location/costco-plaza-ny
It’s California Pizza Kitchen, so there aren’t any real surprises here. There are several chain restaurants in this area, so if you can’t find something you like, head towards the CPK and you will find something familiar. Try the Pear and Gorgonzola pizza, it is my favorite and you should be able to eat comfortably for around $25.00.
Hale and Hearty Soup
207 Glen Cove Road
Carle Place, NY 11514
(516) 535-1000
http://store5.geomerx.com/hahcarleplace/
With fantastic soups that change daily, I have been a big fan of Hale and Hearty for a while. I wasn’t as impressed with the sandwich offerings, but there should be something there for everyone. It is a great lunch location and it cost me about $13.00 for soup, sandwich and a soda.
Lodging = $161.00
M&IE = $66.00
Lodging
Hampton Inn Garden City
1 North Avenue
Garden City, NY 11530
(516) 227-2720
http://hamptoninn.hilton.com/en/hp/hotels/index.jhtml?ctyhocn=JHCGCHX
I had a typical Hampton Inn experience for about $159.00 a night. I did like that there was plenty of parking although the flood lights in the parking lot and the blackout curtains in my room were in a struggle to the death every night.
Warning: if you are using your GPS to find the hotel there is an issue with how GPS has been programmed for Garden City. If you plug in 1 North Ave you end up at a school. You have to type in 700 North Ave and that will get you to the hotel. It totally worked, although I never had a problem using my GPS for any other location.
Dining
Waterzooi
850 Franklin Avenue
Garden City, NY 11530
(516) 877-2177
http://www.waterzooi.com//
I found Waterzooi when I was lost in Garden City. I had never been to a Belgian bistro before and thought it sounded interesting. I had a nice baby green salad for starters, although it wasn’t memorable in any way.
My entrée was much more interesting. I had the pork offering – Wastmalle double braised pork belly with brown butter toasted spaetzle, caramelized sauerkraut, and spicy mustard. It was a thoughtful flavor combination, especially the toasted spaetzle, which added a nice crunch to the dish.
I had a Belgian waffle for dessert, although from what I have been told, it wasn’t a traditional Belgian waffle. It was fine, but I had hopes for something more authentic.
I liked Waterzooi for the most part, but I thought it was a bit overpriced as I spent about $68.00 on dinner. Also, the restaurant was so dark that I couldn’t read my book. As someone that eats alone quite often, I like having the option to read my book.
Grand Lux Café
630 Old Country Road
Garden City, NY 11530
(516) 741-0096
http://www.grandluxcafe.com/index.htm
The Grand Lux Café has an air of familiarity to it, as if you have eaten there on numerous occasions, but you just can’t quite remember when. Then you remember, it wasn’t the Grand Lux Café, it was The Cheesecake Factory you visit all the time with your co-workers. It is almost as if someone bought a Cheesecake Factory and just changed the name and made the menu less interesting. It is about the same pricing as the Cheesecake Factory, I made it out of there for around $35.00.
That being said, the portions are huge so don’t expect to power through the entire meal. While I thought most everything was adequate, the dessert was out of this world.
I ordered the New Orleans Beignets with 3 dipping sauces. As a disclaimer, I have never been to New Orleans so I can’t weigh in on their authenticity, but the beignets were fantastic. I was expecting about 3 beignets for a single dessert order, but I was served anywhere from 8 to 12 large beignets. While I was tempted, there was no way I could eat the entire serving so plan on sharing. They were so warm and wonderful – I would gladly eat at Grand Lux Café again just for the beignets
California Pizza Kitchen
1256 Old Country Road
Westbury, NY 11590
(516) 683-3338
http://www.cpk.com/location/costco-plaza-ny
It’s California Pizza Kitchen, so there aren’t any real surprises here. There are several chain restaurants in this area, so if you can’t find something you like, head towards the CPK and you will find something familiar. Try the Pear and Gorgonzola pizza, it is my favorite and you should be able to eat comfortably for around $25.00.
Hale and Hearty Soup
207 Glen Cove Road
Carle Place, NY 11514
(516) 535-1000
http://store5.geomerx.com/hahcarleplace/
With fantastic soups that change daily, I have been a big fan of Hale and Hearty for a while. I wasn’t as impressed with the sandwich offerings, but there should be something there for everyone. It is a great lunch location and it cost me about $13.00 for soup, sandwich and a soda.
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