Introduction: One Stroopwafel At A Time

TBH Lucky, I'd actually wait for a more detailed trip report than read a trip report that isn't more than a few pics jammed into the last of your Air then thrown together. That said, I don't know what you have on your Air - I'd spring clean that before dumping it.

Looking forward to it - hoping to see Amsterdam for a week for next year's Pride, using 5 nights at Pulitzer.

You should get an external hard drive lol. Looking forward to this report. I, obviously, love Europe too 😉

"As I explained on Tuesday, I’ve been having a bit of a technology meltdown thanks to my MacBook Air running out of hard drive space."

Apple's cost for extra more storage is insane and only available at purchase.

Luckily there are plenty of other options...

128GB Flush Fitting Half Size SD Cards... http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00MTHLURE
256GB Conventional Full Size SD Cards... http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00IF4O3JC
2TB Polished Aluminum External Hard Drives... http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00M1VICO2

I'm sure i'm not alone in likely finding this the most relevant post of the trip report. As anyone who's planned their own award travel knows, it is the whole balancing of points, cash, and availability that's the hard part. I'm fascinated by your use of Aeroplan miles to fly LH despite the YQ, why not UA J out of Dulles?

I stayed at the Hotel Pulitzer back in 2009 and absolutely loved it! Loved the history of it. Great location. Excellent staff. I'd stay again in a heartbeat.

I use PNY StorEDGE 128GB Flash Memory in my MBAir. slots in the side... takes up the SD Card space but does not protrude much. The 64gb can often be found for $40 USD

Following your link to booking on Alaska brought up this question. Changes within 60 days of a flight have a $125 fee. Right now, Cathay isn't opening up FC until the week or two before departure. So if we follow your advice to book Cathay in J, then at the last minute they open up two FC seats on that same flight, do we have to pay $250 to upgrade the two of us?

@ Alvin -- It is the "full" trip report in terms of all the installments being as detailed as they usually are. I'm just not writing as many installments, necessarily.

@ Stannis -- At the end of the day Lufthansa first class is a fantastic product and I'm happy to pay a bit extra for it. Well worth the premium, in my opinion.

@ Robert Hanson -- If you book through Alaska then yes.

@Lucky - I hope you had a fresh stroopwaffel in one of the street markets when you were there. If you think the store bought ones are good - wait 'til you try one hot off the waffle press!

A bit off topic but looks like his excellency has approved the A380's:

http://www.arabianbusiness.com/airbus-said-get-a380-nod-from-qatar-airways-564532.html

Yay, finally a KLM review! Been waiting for that since I started reading this blog, about 2.5 years ago. Hotel Des Indes is a pretty nice hotel in a nice area, I must say. Stayed there once for New Year's Eve, at 32 euros per person per night. Now that's tough to beat!