Beyond The Lobby

Luxury travel, revealed

Go beyond
the beautiful
room.

Hotel stays, cruise upgrades, and trips we’ve taken—with the details that help you decide what’s worth it.

Explore our trips Read the journal

Firsthand stays. Honest verdicts. Thoughtful travel.

The ornate arched lobby and chandeliers inside The Breakers Palm Beach
From our camera · Palm BeachBehind the doors of The BreakersOur Flagler Club verdict

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A trip, all in one place.

The stay, the itinerary, and the experiences that made it memorable.

Chicago’s Wrigley Building seen from our river cruise
City escape · 3 days

Chicago

Museums, river views & a Magnificent Mile stay

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The grounds of The Breakers during our Palm Beach stay
Resort escape · 2 nights

Palm Beach

Flagler Club, leisurely dinners & time to unwind

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Beach chairs at Big French Key on our Roatán port day
Caribbean sailing · 7 nights

World America

Aurea, specialty dining & days ashore

Explore the sailing guide

The hotel edit

What’s behind the upgrade?

The room, the service, and the little things you’ll remember after checkout.

Our Flagler Club room at The Breakers Palm Beach

Palm Beach · Flagler Club8 min read

The Breakers Flagler Club: is the upgrade worth it?

Rainy skies, a beautiful room, and the Flagler Club lounge—an honest look at the upgrade that still made the stay feel special.

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The historic indoor pool at InterContinental Chicago

Chicago · Executive Tower7 min read

InterContinental Chicago review: is the Executive Tower worth it?

A firsthand three-night review of the Executive Tower King—including the standout bathroom, historic pool, $100 Amex credit, high-set window, and excellent Magnificent Mile location.

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Life at sea

The ship.
The shore.
The whole experience.

Seven nights aboard MSC World America, from the perks we used to the port days we’d do again.

Read the complete Aurea guide
Our ribeye dinner at Butcher’s Cut aboard MSC World America

Two dinners. A split decision.

Butcher’s Cut or Eataly?

My favorite steakhouse. My wife’s favorite Italian dinner.

Our specialty dining verdict
CozumelBeneath the surface at Río SecretoOcean CayA cabana, and a little breathing room

The journal

Notes worth taking along.

Every review and guide, ready for your next trip.

Showing 6 of 19 stories

The Wrigley Building and downtown Chicago skyline viewed from an architecture cruise on the river

Destination Guides10 min read

Best Chicago attractions ranked: our honest six-stop scorecard

We rated Griffin, Shedd, Field, Skydeck, an architecture cruise, and 360 CHICAGO after visiting all six. Here is what each score means—and which one fits your trip.

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The neoclassical Griffin Museum of Science and Industry beside its reflecting lagoon in Chicago

Destination Guides11 min read

Griffin Museum of Science and Industry review: is it worth a full day?

We arrived at opening, left around 2 p.m., and rated Griffin 9 out of 10. Here is what made it our favorite CityPASS attraction—and why the crowds kept it from a perfect score.

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The columned front entrance of Shedd Aquarium on Chicago's Museum Campus

Destination Guides10 min read

Can you visit Shedd Aquarium and the Field Museum in one day?

Yes—if you want a highlights day. We started at Shedd at 10 a.m., walked to the Field Museum, and finished around 2–3 p.m. without the day feeling rushed.

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Downtown Chicago viewed from Skydeck during a midday CityPASS visit

Destination Guides12 min read

Is Chicago CityPASS worth it? Our honest five-attraction review

We used the standard Chicago CityPASS for Shedd, Skydeck, Field, 360 CHICAGO, and Griffin. Here is what the two-pass total bought us, what we saved, and which attraction won.

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The Wrigley Building and Chicago skyline viewed from an architecture cruise on the river

Destination Guides15 min read

3 days in Chicago: our complete first-time itinerary

A firsthand Chicago plan built around the Magnificent Mile, an architecture cruise, CityPASS museums, deep dish, two observation decks, and the routes worth walking—or riding.

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A fiery orange sunset over Chicago viewed from 360 CHICAGO

Destination Guides8 min read

360 CHICAGO vs. Skydeck: which observation deck is better?

We visited both with Chicago CityPASS—360 CHICAGO at sunset and Skydeck at midday. Here is why the calmer Ledge experience won, 8 out of 10 to 6.

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The people behind the notes

We notice the details
that change a trip.

From a rainy Flagler Club weekend to a very warm Chicago river cruise, we share the experience we actually had—and what we’d change next time.

Meet the travelers

The Lobby List

The useful details—before you book.

Occasional notes with honest upgrade verdicts, trip blueprints, and the small perks that can change an entire stay.

See what is inside the list →