How I Rate

I really appreciate hospitality and making my stay memorable. For whatever reason I am traveling to this spot, I hope that when the day is over, I have a nice room to come back to and perhaps breakfast in the morning before starting the next day’s adventure. I prioritize hospitality and service, value for points or cash or coupons, and location as top three most important qualifiers. I then value room size and feel (bottom line must be clean). I then value food (if included), amenities, and any extra noteworthy features that impact my stay.

Hotels Visited

Hotel Keppler | Paris, France | Aug 22 - Aug 25, 2026 | ⭐⭐⭐⭐ (4 / 5)

Service

Very friendly, welcoming, and helpful staff throughout our entire stay. They handled luggage seamlessly and helped us navigate our bookings smoothly. The only minor friction point was European room occupancy policies: because we were traveling with an infant, we were required to pay an unavoidable €40/night upgrade fee to move into a room category that officially accommodated a baby cot, even though we didn't strictly need one.

Room

The interior design and finishes are beautiful, clean, and classic boutique Paris. That said, typical of central Paris, the rooms are quite small. My parents' room next door was especially tight—the bedroom felt almost the exact same square footage as the bathroom. If you are traveling with lots of luggage or need substantial open floor space, you will definitely feel the compact layout.

Food & Beverage

The hotel features a chic, cozy bar in the lobby winter garden that is great for an evening drink. We did not do the full seated breakfast on-site, opting instead to take advantage of the local bakeries and markets right around the corner.

Location

Quiet and tucked away in the 16th arrondissement, while keeping you an easy 10-minute walk from the Arc de Triomphe and about a 20 to 25-minute stroll to the Eiffel Tower. Having a local grocery store and a neighborhood children’s playground right down the street made daily logistics with a toddler remarkably easy.

Price / Value

Booked using 93,750 Citi ThankYou Points transferred to 375,000 IPrefer points right before the program devaluation, plus one cash night and the €40/night cot upgrade fee. Compared to standard cash rates of $350 to $450+ a night for 4-star boutique rooms in this neighborhood, the redemption delivered solid value.

Amenities / Special Notes

The basement wellness club is a hidden gem: it features a heated indoor plunge pool, hot tub, sauna, and a fitness room. Because it’s an intimate property, the wellness area was never busy and felt like our own private spa retreat in the middle of Paris.

Brandon’s Rec

A charming, quiet 4-star boutique hotel with great walkability to top sights without the chaotic crowds right outside your window. While the rooms run small and infant occupancy fees apply, the private pool and unbeatable neighborhood convenience make it a great points play in Paris.

Grand Hotel Victoria Concept & Spa | Menaggio, Lake Como, Italy | Aug 20 - Aug 22, 2026 | ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ (5 / 5)

Service

Some of the most insane, attentive hospitality I have ever experienced at any hotel. The entire staff knew our name from the second we checked in without even introducing ourselves. They personally escorted us everywhere across the property—even walking us directly to the restroom. On a rainy afternoon, an employee stepped right in and collapsed my wet umbrella for me before I could even touch it.

Room

Immaculate design blending historic villa architecture with sleek modern Italian luxury. Our room had a stunning balcony view overlooking the inner courtyard and pool. On arrival, we were welcomed with a chilled bottle of prosecco, fresh fruit, and local artisan sweets. The bathroom was pristine, spacious, and stocked with tailored luxury toiletries.

Food & Beverage

The property features two fantastic on-site dining options: Ristorante Lago and SHIORI 1827. We ate at SHIORI 1827, their fine-dining Asian fusion concept, and the sushi was phenomenal. As Hilton Diamond members, we received complimentary continental breakfast for two each morning at Lago, which had great pastries, cheeses, and authentic espresso, though an expanded hot selection would be a welcome addition.

Location

Situated right on the lake in Menaggio, which feels much more relaxed, authentic, and charming compared to the crowded tourist hubs across the water. It has easy access to the public ferry docks for day trips to Bellagio and Varenna.

Price / Value

Booked for 170k Hilton Honors points plus one Free Night Certificate (FNC) from the Hilton Aspire card. With cash rates sitting around $1,200 to $1,300 a night, getting a 2 Michelin Key resort for virtually $0 cash was an exceptional points redemption.

Amenities / Special Notes

The ERRE Spa is a showstopper: the expansive hydrotherapy circuit—including the aromatic Mediterranean bath, steam rooms, and relaxation lounges—is 100% complimentary for all hotel guests. I booked an 80-minute massage for $210, which was completely unhurried and world-class. They also have their own private boat dock and a massive, modern fitness facility.

Brandon’s Rec

A 2 Michelin Key stay that justifies every ounce of hype. The personalized hospitality, breathtaking spa, and peaceful Menaggio setting make this an elite bucket-list stay on Lake Como. Just skip the rental car due to the tight lakeside roads, and take full advantage of the free spa circuit.

Hyatt Regency Lisbon | Lisbon, Portugal | Aug 13 - Aug 18, 2026 | ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ (5 / 5)

Service

The staff were warm, welcoming, and very kind, but the overall pace of service was definitely on the slower, more relaxed side typical of Lisbon. It felt unhurried across the board. The main hiccup was requesting a baby cot—we had to ask three separate times, including an in-person follow-up at the front desk, before it was finally delivered to our room after the third call.

Room

The room was spacious and laid out more like a high-end luxury apartment than a standard hotel room. It had a massive balcony overlooking the street and local train line with a partial view of the 25 de Abril Bridge. What truly set it apart for family travel was the full kitchen, dishwasher, and the in-unit washer/dryer combo—having laundry and food prep in the room mid-trip with a toddler made the stay effortless.

Food & Beverage

The food was fantastic throughout the entire stay. The lobby restaurant and cafe, VISEVERSA, made exceptional coffee and had a great breakfast spread. We ordered room service multiple times and every meal was delivered warm and well prepared. Drinks up at ICON Bar & Rooftop with bridge and river views were a highlight.

Location

Located along the waterfront in Belém, giving you great pedestrian access to stroll along the Tagus River toward Pink Street and nearby districts. It is slightly outside the central downtown core of Baixa/Chiado, but rideshares and public transit were quick and affordable.

Price / Value

We booked 3 rooms using 273k Chase points transferred to World of Hyatt: 2 suites at 24k points/night (4 nights each) and 1 standard room at 21k points/night (5 nights), totaling $0 out-of-pocket cash. With cash rates easily pushing $7,000+ for that footprint, it was an unbelievable redemption for a Category 6 property.

Amenities / Special Notes

The gym here is easily one of the best hotel gyms I have ever seen—better than many commercial and box gyms back home, with ample space, high-end equipment, and no crowds. The property also features the Serenity Spa, a quiet courtyard, and convenient lobby cafe grabs.

Brandon’s Rec

An easy 5 out of 5 recommendation for anyone visiting Lisbon, especially families. The combination of an in-unit washer/dryer, full kitchen, world-class gym, and rooftop views makes it the most practical points hotel you can book in the city.

Fairmont Olympic Seattle (FHR) | Seattle, WA | Jun 12 - Jun 13, 2026 | ⭐⭐⭐⭐ (4 / 5)

Service
Service in person was great, however service started before arrival. I normally call the hotel day of to see if the room is ready (I sometimes fear this would impact upgrades, but I see they upgrade beforehand and still let you check in early). The phone line was an AI robot it seems, and failed to connect on the first three tries. The next call I was in the holding room for their service team for nearly 20 minutes.

Room
We were upgrade to their suite on arrival. The room was clean, although did not have much character. The decor was dull in my opinion, single sink, and a small tub / shower. The room was spacious enough for four with the pull-out couch, but maybe my expectations were too high for the ‘luxury’ feel that I failed to get from this stay.

Food & Beverage
We ordered room service, got a chicken burger and chicken salad. My wife said the salad was really good, and my burger was okay. It did arrive quickly though!

Location
Cool location, nice valet experience in busy Seattle as we could pull up to the hotel in its own cul-de-sac. It was walkable to Pike Place and the Waterfront.

Price / Value
I booked at a rate of $415 / night, a little over the limit for my FHR credit, but this was a special occasion so I wanted a nicer room. I feel this was fairly priced for the overall experience.

Amenities / Special Notes
The restaurant (The George) and the speakeasy made the lobby incredible and the stay more memorable. This hotel had a unique, classy feel that I had been looking for in my recent stays. The gym was okay, it lacked space and such, but the locker room was nice and the pool / hot tub looked great for families.

Brandon’s Rec
This is at the top of the list for my hotels in Seattle. The staff were friendly, the room was clean, and the lobby was mesmerizing. The speakeasy was a nice escape, and the brunch at The George was wonderful.