Trip Reports - Trip from several weeks ago: Westin Palo Alto, also SEA-ANC

It was an enjoyable experience being down in the Bay Area for a a couple of days, mainly on business. The 18-day-old Westin Palo Alto was my hotel, and I must admit that even this jaded traveller was impressed. It is clearly a business hotel, as evidenced by the very small pool and restaurant areas. However, it has other nice features like a great retro-styled bar, gift shop (with a few useful goodies), superb business center (allowing me to post to HT once) and a large fitness room, plus plenty of phones and restrooms. The marble and fresh flower clad lobby is divided into two levels, with the concierge, bar, and desks below, and the "cafe" and offices upstairs. There are very few meeting rooms, so most of the annoying conventioneers will stay next-door at the Sheraton.

The staff were all very accomidating, and the accomidations were great! My standard room was on the fifth floor, meaning a long ride on an exceedingly slow elevator. However, the rooms were still very nice, with a great pull out desk, Westin's famous "Heavenly Bed," a large closet with robes and iron, an honor bar, safe, coffeemaker, plush recliner and stylish ottoman, and a huge marble bathroom with both shower and soaking tub. There was a small balcony, but it was useless. The maid service was excellent, and a newspaper was included every morning.

The hotel room was $240 a night (cheaper on weekends) and I thought it was quite reasonable for the quality of room. Its so nice being in a hotel without that musty smell! I was sorry to leave each morning and drive my Taurus rent-a-car out from the security of their underground parking on to busy El Camino Real.

The Bay Area has a plethora of good restaruants. For sheer convenience sake, I just stuck to the Westin and Sheraton restaurants, and "Cook Book"---an American restaurant run by a Korean couple. And guess what..."Cook Book's" food was exceptional--the best of them all. Plus, I got to browse around the "Town and Country" shopping center afterwards, and buy something in the Pendelton store (OK, I caved and got something for my hubby too!). I also had a few spare minutes before catching the plane, and stopped in the Canter Center for the Arts @Stanford University. Severely damaged in the Loma Prieta quake of 89, it was recently reopened. It boasts one of the largest collections of Rodin sculptures in the world, as well as rotating exhibts, and Stanford memorabilia.

As far as the flights, both were good. I caught Alaska flight 330 down, which pushed back on-time to the second at 7:22 and after a 95 minute flight, arrived in San Jose at 9:10 AM. Y class food was a choice of pastry and a full-sized ripe banana.

I returned on flight 339, an MD-80. I boarded through the tailcone stairs, and we pushed back two minutes early at 1:00. We were in the air for 100 minutes, and coach received a nice chicken papaya salad with chips and a peppermint candy.

Part 2 (to ANC): My ride to the airport didn't materialize, and with my nice reliable Camry in the shop for a failed central locking system, I was forced to take a cab. This cab had two empty beer cans tossed on the floor in the rear, and lets just say I was glad when the ride was over. I rushed through check-in and got on flight 131 to Anchorage leaving at 9:05 AM (bet you can't guess which airline). I had seat 3F, with a large man sitting next to me. On the MD-80, is not exactly the prime spot...I'd hate to get stuffed here on a ANC-LAX red-eye. Anyway, we departed on-time and the wait for takeoff was 15 minutes...average for Seattle at this time. First Class was full, as seems to be very common, but coach had a few vacant seats.

I was not really sure what to expect at this time of morning, but I was pleased to see that it was still a breakfast flight. After linens were layed out and drinks served, a fresh fruit plate, and a choice of a croissant or pumpernickel bagel was offered. Next followed a choice of hot entree. For the entree, I had banana walnut pancakes, which came with a delicately flavored omlette. Anyway, my glass was kept full, and the flight progressed quickly. I don't remember the coach breakfast options, but it looked pretty substantial. Due to the lack of in-flight entertainment, I mostly read magazines for the rest of the flight, which lasted 2:59 today. My baggage arrived quickly, and I scurried out of the lackluster ANC airport.

My hotel was not really very nice...a Best Western in NOT the best part of town. Anchorage is a nice city, but some of those industrial areas are awfully plain. The hotel shuttle driver was rather reckless, and he came with in an inch or rear ending a police car. I could have booked the hotel myself, but naturally, they preferred to stick me in something miles away from the Anchorage Convention center, rather than at the "Preferred" hotel I had intended to stay at. Oh well...at least I got a very fine prime rib dinner there (at the Crow's Nest). The winelist was also superb...especially considering this 'aint exactly grape country.

My return flight was also good, and the hotel shuttle driver saw fit to use more caution, as I kept my evil eye on him. I boarded flight 98, at 9:00 Am, and we pushed back three minutes early at 9:27. Lunch was offered today...first nuts and drinks, and then a spinach salad with mushrooms and bell peppers and a warmed roll. For entrees, there was a individual sized greek pizza or a hot sandwich. I had the sandwich, which ended up being a tuna melt on rye, served with coleslaw and fruit. Before landing, the F/As came through with a basket with some cookies and chocolate mints...a nice touch. Our flight lasted just over three hours.

Oh, and yes...I did get a ride home, and the taxi driver spoke English!!

OK...that's my feeble attempt at a trip report. Maybe someday I'll actually go somewhere interesting!