BTGuy's Business Travels

Got to go back to Hot Springs again for another few days. As is always the case, got to stay at the Embassy Suites in Hot Springs. Even though they were sold out, the manager Kurt Schatzl (called him directly) was able to book me a room at the $119 rate. But as was the case back in September, there was a ground stop and horrendous weather for D/FW and the airport was closed (about the time our flight pulled out of the gate in Austin). So, got on the next flight to Chicago (made that one), and tried to go standby back to Little Rock on the last flight (ORD-LIT), but it was oversold.

So, talked to AA and asked them where I could get into close enough, and settled on Memphis. About 200 miles exactly to Hot Springs, and it is interstate all the way, so that was definitely the way to go. Fort Smith and NW Arkansas take too long to get to Hot Springs. Texarkana may be another good option, but can't go there from Chicago. Once I figured out I was going to Memphis, I called Hilton Reservations, and they gave me a few options, but the Hampton Inn on Perkins Road was the one closest to the airport (read the review here). It took exactly three hours to make the drive from Memphis to Hot Springs, with very little traffic except for about 10 miles East of LR, through the 440 loop. Definitely go to Memphis or Texarkana if you can't make it into Little Rock.

Spent a couple of days at the Hampton Inn and Suites - Speer Boulevard-Denver the first week of April. It was actually a great place to stay in Denver - right off the I-25/Speer exit, so since Speer goes right downtown, it only takes 5 - 10 minutes to get where you need to go. Read the full review here. Close to Coors Field and Invesco Field, but don't walk. Good location nonetheless, and brand new - clean. Denver didn't look as bad as the last time I was here (on vacation). It takes about 30 minutes to get to/from the airport (I-25 to I-70 to Pena) - very easy. Another 15 minutes to get from the rental car drop off to your terminal.

Just got back from a week in Hot Springs and then on to Cincinnati. Stayed at the Hampton Inn - Cincinnati Airport South. Read the review here. It was close to the airport - about 5 minutes away, and right at I-75, so good location. It took about 30 minutes to get downtown leaving at 7:15 in the morning, so traffic is pretty bad. On the way back to the airport from downtown, I took the 471 to 275 route, and though it was a few more miles, traffic was extremely light the entire way, and this was at 5:00. May get to go back there one of these days...

Went to Phoenix over Spring Break - stayed at the Hampton Inn and Suites - Surprise NW of town. Good location - close to where the Rangers/Royals, and Padres play. Got to see two different games at two different locations - the Padres stadium is right across the street from another Hampton Inn (the one in Goodyear). Got to golf a couple of times and ate a lot of Taco Bell - whatever is free...

Early March - got to go back to Hot Springs (stayed at the Embassy Suites thankfully), and am getting more and more disappointed with the restaurant choices there in the old Hot Springs downtown. Tried the new "Casa Caliente" and it was awful. They didn't have a clue what they were doing. Stayed there two days, and then went on up to Chicago for a business meeting. It was cold and snowed a couple of inches that evening. Picked one of the corporate options, which was the Doubletree Oak Brook. It was great - $125 and a really nice hotel. Clean, decent restaurant and newly renovated rooms. Great stay all around - there was also a concierge lounge open in the evening, and full breakfast buffet. Would be great to stay there again.

It's been a while...didn't have to travel anywhere in December or January. February was pretty light too, but did get (have) to go to Minneapolis twice, one of those times included a couple of days in Eau Claire. It was below zero most of the time there, and I think it actually got to -12 in Minneapolis one of the nights.

I stayed at the Hampton Inn Eau Claire (read the review) again, and when in MSP (both trips), had to stay at the Hampton Inn Bloomington (read the review). It's ok - pretty old, but pretty cheap. There is a Denny's and Joe Senser's in the parking lot - better than nothing. The Joe Senser's isn't too bad, they have a good variety, and about 15 big screens showing all different sports. Plus you can walk there and back easily, even when it's -12.

Fly AA to Dallas Love Field

I flew RT on AA from Austin (AUS) to Dallas Love Field (DAL) today, and it was great. The outbound flight was 45 minutes late, however the flights were good. Outbound only had 9 passengers, and inbound back to Austin had only 8. The area that American occupies in Love Field is clean, quiet, and uncrowded - gates 30 - 32; away from all the hustle of the SW gates. Also much quieter, less crowded, and less intense than flying into/out of Dallas/Ft. Worth (DFW).

There is one concession stand, one news/snack kiosk, and one bathroom. But plenty of room - all spread out, and away from the crowds and noise. I'm not sure how long AA will keep this open; didn't look like a big money maker, but if going to Dallas only, would really consider flying in and out of Love Field on AA. Rates are the same, and peace of mind is much greater.

Back to Hot Springs MANY times this fall. Probably about 7 or 8 trips from September through November. One time, couldn't stay at the Embassy Suites, so tried the Hampton Inn on Central (click for the full review). It was OK - the location was better than the ES, close to more restaurants, etc., but the hotel didn't have much to offer - NO FITNESS CENTER.

Here is the original review of the Embassy Suites - having stayed there many, many more times, it is definitely a great place to stay. Appreciated the upgrades to the "04" corner rooms, especially the 904 "Presidential" suite. That was nice.

A couple of times, on the way out of town, would stay at the Hampton Inn I-30 in Little Rock [review] due to its proximity to the LR airport. It's at Exit 133 (Geyer Springs Road), and is only 10 minutes from the airport. The neighborhood is not so great, ironic considering it is right by the Arkansas State Police HQ. Location is good, but area maybe to iffy. Plus the rates of $75 per night may be indicitave of the area of the hotel. The hotel itself is not too bad; really just the surrounding area.

I just got back from a business trip to Arkansas. Soooeeeeeee. I was supposed to fly into Little Rock, then drive to Hot Springs, but weather fouled that plan, and my flight got cancelled; no other flights available that day, and I got booked out the next day at 11:20 am! I didn't have much choice, and they said I couldn't get my bags - they were going to Little Rock. So, I asked if they could get me anywhere into Arkansas yet that night, and there were seats on the last flight into Northwest Arkansas Regional Airport (XNA). I took it, we finally left around 10:30 and got in close to midnight. Got to the rental car counter, and no one was there, so waited another 15 - 20 minutes to finally get a car. I called Hilton to see what properties were close to the airport, and they gave me two options:

Embassy Suites, and

Hilton Garden Inn (review)

It turns out the HGI was pretty nice, and it was only $99 per night. They were asking $189 for the ES, which as it turns out was only about 2 - 3 miles away. It is a nice looking hotel (tall and diamond-shaped roof), but the HGI was in a nice area with plenty close by. There was the 24-hour Walgreen's and WalMart just a few blocks away - glad they were there. Also plenty of restaurants, and it is just a block off of I-540 which again made it very convenient.

The drive from Bentonville to Hot Springs took about 3.5 hours - it doesn't look that long, but it is. Traffic was fine - all interstate - for about 2/3 of the way. Then it is highway 7 (2-lane winding) all the way into Hot Springs from there. That's what took so long.

If you ever go back to XNA, stay at the HGI.

Just got back from two-weeks-worth of vacation out west - it was great, but a lot of time on the road. We went to the Grand Canyon, and saw some of the other National Parks (Zion, Bryce, Mesa Verde, Petrified Forest/Painted Desert) along the way.

Of all the places we went, I think Durango was our favorite. Enjoyed the horse riding and white (actually clear) water rafting. Since we drove, it was pretty much one or two nights here and there, so many different hotels. We stayed at:

Hilton Garden Inn - Albuquerque Airport

Doubletree - Durango

Embassy Suites - Flagstaff, AZ

Yavapai Lodge (East) - Grand Canyon South Rim

Hampton Inn - Cedar City, UT

Doubletree - Grand Junction, CO

Hampton Inn and Suites - Downtown Denver

Homewood Suites - Colorado Springs North

Fairfield Inn - Amarillo (*yuck*)

Here are the reviews for each:

Hilton Garden Inn - Albuquerque Airport

Doubletree - Durango