Ryan "Alcatraz" W.'s Profile
Date
Austin, TX 78701
(512) 469-0901
Kung Fu Saloon
Category:
Bars
Neighborhoods: Market District, Downtown
From the life-sized Jenga game on the patio to the video games and what not inside, there is plenty to keep you busy here with friends or on a date.
The bar is located on a side street near west 6th, and parking can be a bit of a challenge on the weekends.
Austin, TX 78759
(512) 338-0300
Five Guys Burgers and Fries
Category:
Burgers
Neighborhoods: Arboretum, Great Hills
Dine-in and enjoy peanuts while you wait. Take it to go and enjoy your burger with a pile of fries on top in the bag.
Good stuff all the way around, other than the calorie count. The lack of drive through window means you have to exercise to get it.
Surfing is a quick drive south towards Kona, and there is plenty to explore North as well. We drove the Hamakua Coast one day, which I would recommend.
The rooms were very nice and well appointed. Room service was very good. For the price, this resort provides a lot of bang for the buck.
1 Previous Review:
-
2/21/2010
The Big Island and Kauai were on the list this December since we had been to Oahu and Maui a number of times. After doing some research and checking the weather report (an advantage to last minute bookings), I decided that the Kona side was more desirable for our stay.
I narrowed our choices down to three: the Four Seasons, the Mauna Kea, and the Fairmont Orchid. Having recently stayed at the Four Seasons in Maui for the second time, we were leaning in that direction. However, a free night and some other amenities led us to the Orchid, which had excellent reviews.
Let me tell you that this is a tremendous resort. When we first arrived, we were greeted by Dave, who appears to be the lead at the bell desk. What a great guy. We got to know him a little bit during the days we were at the hotel, and we even bumped into him on his day off at a local surf spot.
Dave got us checked into our room, which was upgraded to an ocean front suite. On the way there, he oriented us with the gorgeous property, complete with spa, waterfalls throughout, great restaurants, pools, hot tubs, a private beach, shops, and more.
When we got to the room, it was fantastic! Two rooms, two bathrooms, plus a foyer and two balconies with panoramic views from the golf course to the oceanfront. It was much more than we expected. As an extra perk, the waves were huge during our visit and there were lots of surfers. We were off to a great start.
Since we arrived in the morning, we decided to grab a quick lunch on-property before setting out to explore. Our waitress, Tiara, was really sweet. The food was good. I cannot recall the name of the spot.
The rest of the day, we explored the petroglyphs near the hotel, hit the nearby market for snacks and booze, and prepared for one of the best sushi dinners I have ever enjoyed. Norio's! I cannot say enough about the quality and selection of the fish that Chef Norio prepared for us that evening. Sit at the bar. This is a 5-star dining experience!
The rest of the trip was spent exploring the island and relaxing at the beach or in one of the pools. We didn't take advantage of the spa, but it looked amazing. It sits on top of a series of waterfalls. The staff is very friendly and attentive. Never annoying. It was a really nice balance.
The resort has a great location on the sunny side of the island, and is within a short driving distance to shops, restaurants, tour departure locations, Waimea, scenic overlooks, Kona-Kailua (for nightlife) and much more. I would go back in a heartbeat.
Kauai, HI 96722
(808) 826-9644
The St. Regis Princeville Resort
Category:
Hotels
Be sure to eat at the Hanalei Dolphin (a quick trip down the road) as they have the best sushi on the island. Ask for Jeff. He will take good care of you. We found ourselves eating here almost every night, and we returned a few weeks ago for another visit.
During our stay, there was a meteor shower. We spent hours laying in the hammocks by the beach watching one "shooting star" after another. It was incredible. Hard to plan for this one, but the lack of city lights made everything that much more impressive.
The beach is fantastic, and there is a nice stretch where you can take a walk and find yourself completely alone. The Hanalei Bay, which the ocean view rooms look out at, is very picturesque. You will NOT get tired of your view.
Kapalua, HI 96761
(808) 669-6200
The Ritz Carlton Kapalua
Categories:
Hotels,
Restaurants,
Day Spas
Nice property, but the beach leaves a bit to be desired. It is a good place for boarding, but that is about it. Go early as the wind really kicks up in the afternoon. -1 star for this.
The best part of this resort is the close proximity to Sansei, which is the best sushi bar on Maui, hands down!
If you stay in the ocean front suites like we did, you are set back from the ocean quite a distance. Don't expect to hear the waves crashing. -1 star for this, as well as the fact that the Four Seasons ocean front suites are MUCH nicer.
For this price point, I prefer the 4S in Wailea and Travaasa (Hana Hotel) in Hana. Both provided much more memorable and enjoyable experiences.
Dana Point, CA 92629
(949) 234-3200
The St. Regis Monarch Beach
Categories:
Hotels,
Restaurants
The resort itself is lovely, and they have nice programs for kids that include things like releasing the Monarch butterflies once a week or month. However, the St. Regis is not directly on the beach. You have to take a cart across the golf course to gain access. Not the end of the world, but not convenience like the Ritz either. I like to be able to walk to the beach whenever I want without being forced to ask for a ride.
On our stay, we found a few of the staff members to be very rude. If you go to the Ritz, everybody is so happy and friendly. Why are these people so sour? It wasn't just once. We had a disgruntled valet, a rude agent at check-in, a non-existent pool waitress, and although I recognize that the retail stores are not operated by the hotel, the woman working there was as rude as anybody I have ever dealt with. All I was trying to do was spend some money...forgive me for asking the name of the artist I was interested in.
All in all, we just had a rather poor experience. We cut our stay short and moved to the Ritz after the first night. We have never looked back, and have returned to the Ritz repeatedly ever since (including once last month). Save yourself the headache...go where people are happy to see you.
Wailea, HI 96753
(808) 874-8000
Ferraro's Bar e Ristorante
Categories:
Italian,
American (Traditional)
However, the menu really didn't excite me. Nor did the food that we ultimately ordered. It wasn't bad in any way, but it also wasn't very memorable or delicious. I certainly expected more. On Maui, a fantastic meal isn't hard to find. For this reason, Ferraro's didn't hit the mark.
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Austin, TX
Yelping SinceMay 2009
Things I Loveaustin, art, photography, cars, design, technology, toys, nice hotels, planes, boats, motorcycles, sneakers, djs, music, dancing, dining, theatre, movies, europe, girlfriend
Find Me InA hotel
My HometownDallas, TX
My Blog Or Website When I'm Not Yelping...I like to travel and try new experiences.
Why You Should Read My ReviewsI had to read them.
My Second Favorite Website The Last Great Book I ReadThe Giving Tree
My First ConcertMichael Jackson - Thriller Tour!
My Favorite MovieThe Royal Tenenbaums
My Last Meal On EarthTacos and Nachos
Don't Tell Anyone Else But...I am a professional bartender.
Most Recent DiscoveryEl Bordello Alexandria in Venice Beach...look it up.
Current CrushI am only allowed to have one crush.
The drive through is impossibly narrow despite being recently built. Also, this location is rather difficult to get in and out of (not just the corner it is on but the actual building itself). I usually drive through and sit and watch people who cannot figure out how to get in. It is comical, but the place is setup in a odd fashion with the entry door on the opposite side of the parking lot.
The cherry limeade isn't as good as Sonic...sadly.