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I stayed at the J. W. Marriott Ihilani in the winter of 2004. What a grrrrrrrrrrreat hotel! Amazing lagoons and good location! It's about twenty minutes from the crowds and tourist traps of...
I stayed at the J. W. Marriott Ihilani in the winter of 2004. What a grrrrrrrrrrreat hotel! Amazing lagoons and good location! It's about twenty minutes from the crowds and tourist traps of Honolulu and Waikiki, so if you like quiet like me, then this is the one! I don't mind giving away my little travel secrets to Hawaii, since I've pretty much done it all.
The best time to book a trip to Oahu is right after New Years. I'd say...give it a few days after New Years because a lot of New Years guests need a couple days to get all sobered up and such... Why is this the best time to go? Because all the holiday travelers hafta get back to the real world after the holidays! Sooo...many hotels are nowhere near their ideal capacity. This also ups your chances of getting a nice upgrade to an ocean view room. No need to book ocean view, really.
Oh yes, this is also the NFL Holiday Bowl's hotel of choice, so this is another great reason why booking AFTER the Season is good. All the hustle and bustle from the NFL crowd has wound down.
Why I like this hotel over others on Oahu are for these reasons: 1. It's far enough from Honolulu so you don't feel the congestion and chinsy touristy things, but close enough for an enjoyable drive into town in that rented convertible. 2. Great beds, great laid back hotel that isn't TOO big and pretentious like the Mandarin Oriental or the Halekulani. 3. The resort has a great golf course. 4. Paradise Cove Luau is a 2 minute drive away. 5. The town of Kapolei is ten minutes away and has all the conveniences of the stores you may find at home.
Happy travels. :)
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Hello again! For the Gas Lamp, have you tried Dick's Last Resort? It can be quite a fun crowd if you've got a great sense of humor.
People throw things around in fun and the waiters and...
Hello again! For the Gas Lamp, have you tried Dick's Last Resort? It can be quite a fun crowd if you've got a great sense of humor.
People throw things around in fun and the waiters and waitresses are quite the characters...
Caution: Must have good sense of humor for this place!
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Okay, Sophia... I get eye rolls for this alllll the time, but you said Mission Valley and you said happy hour...
Hooters is my answer. They really do have great wings! I especially like the...
Okay, Sophia... I get eye rolls for this alllll the time, but you said Mission Valley and you said happy hour...
Hooters is my answer. They really do have great wings! I especially like the breaded ones, buffalo sauce on the side.
I hear Trophy's is good too, but I don't dig it. Hmmm... How about the Pelican Bar and Grill? I THINK that's in Mission Valley...
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I've been with San Diego County Credit Union Since 2001 when I got my first and only job out of high school. Overall, I'm satisfied with them. They're always a good fall back for when I'm not...
I've been with San Diego County Credit Union Since 2001 when I got my first and only job out of high school. Overall, I'm satisfied with them. They're always a good fall back for when I'm not interested in standing in long lines to do some banking.
In 2003 I used them to finance my car. The interest rate was okay for that time, I suppose. I don't know if it was the most competative, but it was good enough for me. I must say, however, if you're trying to make a financing deal between SDCCU and an independent dealer/agent, be ready to have a cell phone handy for lots of back and forth calling to get the deal straightened out. Even when all parties were sitting at the table for final paperwork signing and handing over of checks, there were some issues that I could have done without.
As far as functioning as a bank, they are better than those large banks. A lot more personable and less red tape than Wells Fargo for sure. I think I'll forever have a grudge with that establishment...
I like going to SDCCU when I know it'll be busy at WAMU, my other bank. I can do all my banking without a line at the locations I go to. Of course I'm not telling which. Why would I create more lines for myself to have to stand and wait? :)
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As a frequent concert goer, I dread having to go to the SD Sports Arena when my favourite bands come to town. Doesn't matter how great the musician or band, this venue makes them all sound like...
As a frequent concert goer, I dread having to go to the SD Sports Arena when my favourite bands come to town. Doesn't matter how great the musician or band, this venue makes them all sound like sh*t.
My first experience with the arena was at the tender age of five. Mickey On Ice was coming to town, so my much older sister took me. Fond memory!
All fondness went downhill from there... I've been avoiding the arena since my teens, knowing its reputation. But when U2 calls, I will follow! (Ha! Get it? I will follow...) Anyway... I sucked it up and got tickets for one of my top 3 favourite bands. They put on a grrrrrrrrrrrrreat show, but man did the acoustics suuuuuuuuuuck!
Previous to U2, I had seen Duran Duran and Sarah McLachlan and Butterfly Boucher at the arena. Alllllll great acts, but yeah....sound sucked. The last time I went to the Sports Arena, it was bought by iPayOne. As if the sports arena couldn't get worse.... The new management installed these fugly green lights around the arena and hired some new incompetents to work security. Same old rusty old 1970s era seats though. It was Depeche Mode that I saw this time around. Another top 3. Great show put on by Dave Gahan and the boys!
In conclusion, San Diego Sports Arena, iPayOne Center...Whatever you want to call it... It sucks, period. Bands I love, please book your shows at Cox Arena if you must stay indoors. Otherwise, book Coors! Its the best in SD!
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Hoehn Audi
Category:
Automobile Dealer Services
5215 Car Country Dr
Carlsbad, California 92008
(760) 438-9490
Let's make this perfectly clear, I didn't even BUY my A4 at Hoehn Audi. I bought my baby second hand from an agent. Best route to go, I feel. No instant depreciation when you roll your car out of...
Let's make this perfectly clear, I didn't even BUY my A4 at Hoehn Audi. I bought my baby second hand from an agent. Best route to go, I feel. No instant depreciation when you roll your car out of the dealership parking lot. I have, however, done all my service work with these guys in my three and a half years of blissful Audi A4 ownership.
Hoehn Audi is the best dealership I've ever been to. Great, courteous staff, cool waiting room and always a courtesy car for me when I've wanted one.
Now since I've never bought a car from these people, I can't say much about the financing or buying experience with them. All I know is that everytime I want to test drive the latest, there's always a knowledgable no bullsh*t salesman happy to oblige my request. It was Alan, a former salesman, who got me to fall in love with the A4 back when I was looking in 2002. And even now, Andre, the hippest Audi brotha' I've ever had the pleasure of knowing helps me a great deal.
I'm just all around satisfied with the Hoehn Audi fam. Great bunch of people. I've come in there with something that is OBVIOUSLY a wear and tear item that shouldn't be covered under warranty and they've fixed it for free.
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I think Phil's BBQ has some good menu items. Good grilled chicken, ribs, pulled pork sandwiches are okay... Great seating area in the back is its major plus. What I'd like to clear up for the...
I think Phil's BBQ has some good menu items. Good grilled chicken, ribs, pulled pork sandwiches are okay... Great seating area in the back is its major plus. What I'd like to clear up for the good people of San Diego is this: Phil's BBQ is NOT BBQ. Barbecue, my friends, is low and slow smokin' with tenderness and lovin'.
What Phil's does is lightly smoke their ribs in some back room until its an ugly grey colour, then take it out front to be grilled and slathered with an obscenely hot and sweet glow in the dark red bbq sauce. To those of us who have experienced good low and slow BBQ in Bandera, Texas, Carolina mustard based Q or Memphis' best rib, I think you all know what I'm talking about. To those of you who don't know, then yes, try Phil's... then take a drive up the Five (I-5) to Encinitas when you've got time and try Big Jim's Old South Bar-B-Q. It's the closest thing we've got to good Q in San Diego.
Tip: Sometimes Restaurant.com has gift certificate 60% off restaurant coupon codes where you end up spending $4 for a $20 gift certificate. Big Jim's is one of the restaurants listing certificates on that website. It's a good deal!
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If you're into light eating, moderation and all that calorie points counting mumbo jumbo, DO NOT GO TO CLAIM JUMPER! They have consistently good food, good service and good atmosphere.
The...
If you're into light eating, moderation and all that calorie points counting mumbo jumbo, DO NOT GO TO CLAIM JUMPER! They have consistently good food, good service and good atmosphere.
The great thing about Claim Jumper is the variety of choices. If you want good home style entrées like chicken fried steak, meatloaf or yummy braised beef short ribs, this is the place. If you want a nice variety of pastas, including THE BEST plate of jambalaya I've ever had in a restaurant in San Diego, then this is the place. If you want an oversized plate piled high with beef ribs, pork loin baby backs and rotisserie (or what I like to call 'rotary') chicken, then this IS the place. Forget those other "BBQ" rib joints. Phil's BBQ? Sucks. Chili's famous babyback ribs? Paaahlease!
Claim Jumper also has grrrrrrrrrreat desserts that are displayed in the front when you walk into any of their restaurants. My favourite is the raspberry swirl cheesecake with white chocolate morsels.
Why do I like this location, specifically? Because after pigging out at Claimies my tre hip friends and I go clubbin' across the parking lot....at Costco.
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When you want the best of SoCal and Baja style Mexican food, look no further than the taco shops of Pacific Taco in Escondido, CA and San Marcos, CA. No one beats their carne asada burritos.
I...
When you want the best of SoCal and Baja style Mexican food, look no further than the taco shops of Pacific Taco in Escondido, CA and San Marcos, CA. No one beats their carne asada burritos.
I gotta warn you all... This ain't no five star restaurant, folks. They're still standing because of their great food and not because of their decor or entertainment. No frills here.
If you're in a hurry and want to be in and out of these places, I suggest calling them up for take out. They can be really busy during the lunch and dinner time. I'm more familiar with the Escondido location...not sure if the San Marcos location off of Nordahl has the same crowd.
Along with their carne asada burritos, I can say with great confidence that they have wonderful beer battered fish tacos as well.
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To answer Rich T.'s question... None of those places are great for Sunday Brunch. You want the best? You want something memorable? Something inspirational? Go to the Hotel Del Coronado's Crown...
To answer Rich T.'s question... None of those places are great for Sunday Brunch. You want the best? You want something memorable? Something inspirational? Go to the Hotel Del Coronado's Crown Room Sunday Brunch!
I must say, it is pricey. I believe it's just over $50 for adults and $10 for children. As much as I love children, please...when doing the Del for the first time, leave the kids at home if they can't be of age to appreciate this...for our sake, for your sake, and for their sake.
The Hotel Del Coronado is just such a great place for brunch. The Crown Room is especially wonderful. I like to stand in the middle of the room and just look up. This isn't just any 'ol sunday brunch restaurant. The Crown Room is a historical monument. I dream about having a part of my own wedding festivities there on an autumn evening, with the faint sound of waves crashing along the Coronado shoreline.
*Snaps out of it and shakes head* Okay! Now back to the brunch! Here's the Sunday Brunch Menu and the Crown Room website. http://www.hoteldel.com/uploads/crownroommenu_final_3_222.22_222.06_222.pdf
http://www.hoteldel.com/dining/crown.asp
Its greatness speaks for itself...
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