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Sunday, September 24, 2017

RITZ CARLTON DOVE MOUTAIN - MARANA, ARIZONA

RITZ CARLTON DOVE MOUNTAIN
15000 NORTH SECRET SPRINGS DRIVE
MARANA, AZ  85658
520-572-3000
www.ritzcarlton.com/en/hotels/arizona/dove-mountain
www.tripadvisor.com/Hotel_Review-g31274-d1526971-Reviews-The_Ritz_Carlton_Dove_Mountain-Marana_Arizona.html
www.facebook.com/ritzcarltondovemountain/

The Ritz Carlton Dove Mountain is far from a Five Star Resort.  While the hotel is nice, my experience here was terrible.  It started at check in where we were greeted with smiles and everything was good.  Then the front desk clerk told us that we were in the Casitas units away from the main hotel and past the pool.  She instructed us to walk through the lobby and turn left.  We had luggage and backpacks so we did as we were told.  Walked down a few steps with our luggage and turned left.  Looked around and could not figure out where to go.  One employee said to go back up and walk to the left so we did and it was a dead end.  We then were told to walk down through the lobby again and through the glass doors.  We walked there and found around twenty steps that led to a path.  There was no way we were going to lug our bags down those stairs so we went back up and another employee asked where are rooms were.  We told him the numbers and he immediately said that we should be driven to our rooms in a golf cart.  We carried our bags back to the front desk and he led us to the golf carts.  Our rooms were a good walk from the lobby in 95 degree heat past the pool.  We arrived at our Casitas units that were nestled against the rugged hillside.  I got out and the driver pointed to my room which was on the second floor.  I lugged my bags up the stairs thinking what a joke and why didn't they offer to bring the bags up to the room.   No big deal I shrugged this off.  Next up was a shower before going to a dinner reception.   Problem was there was no hot water.  I ran the water for over 30 minutes just to make sure it would not get warm.  Then I checked the sinks and the temperature was the same.. Cold.  Thought it just my have been a peak demand so did not report this.  Got back to room after the reception and wanted to turn on the tv but there was no remote control.  Looked everywhere in the room for ten minutes before calling the front desk to request a remote.  The remote arrived and the person bringing it tried turning on the tv.  It turned on but there was no reception.  He said they have had this problem in my building and left.  No tv for three days.
The thing never had reception.  Reported this to front desk and the gal asked me if the tv in the bathroom was working.  I told her the tv in the bathroom had been removed and there is just big opening in the wall.  Next day wake up to take shower and again the water was cold.  I called front desk and they said someone would take a look.  Nothing happened!  Not even a call back or offer to move me to another room.  Third day again no hot water.  No hot water for three days in a Ritz Carlton and not one person including an assistant manager that I spoke to on the phone gave a shit.  They said and did nothing!  When I checked out of the hotel I requested to speak with the Manager of the hotel.  They said that he was not available and that I should come back again later in the day.  I did and they gave me the Front Desk Manager who I politely and calmly asked if we could sit down and talk.  We went into the lobby and I expressed my feelings about the no hot water, no tv and the check in experience along with the fact that there was no room service menu or hotel info in the room.  He apologized and that was about it.  Amazing.    Cannot imagine my feelings about this hotel after considering the cost to stay here.  Hot water should be basic.

RITZ CARLTON DOVE MOUNTAIN, ARIZONA
LOBBY
LOBBY WALKWAY
MAIN LOBBY SEATING AREA
LOBBY PATIO WITH VIEW.  MY ROOM WAS LEFT ON HILL
WALK PAST THE POOL AREA TO THE CASITAS ROOMS
CASITAS ARE TWO STORY WITH FOUR UNITS PER BUILDING
BEDROOM
LARGE AND COMFORTABLE
LARGE BATHROOM
NICE SOAKING TUB
RECEPTION AT THE GOLF COURSE RESTAURANT 
ENJOYED A DELICIOUS BUFFET
RECEPTION
GRILLED LAMB CHOPS WERE DELICIOUS
SHRIMP WRAPS

THE GOLF CLUB AT DOVE MOUNTAIN - MARANA, ARIZONA

THE GOLF CLUB AT DOVE MOUNTAIN
6501 W. BOULDER BRIDGE PASS
MARANA, AZ  85658
520-572-3500

The Golf Club at Dove Mountain designed by Jack Nicklaus is tough.  Lost a lot of balls in the desert here and also ended up in almost a bunker on every hole.  Challenging for guys like me who cannot hit the ball straight with consistency.  Nice course where the PGA played the WGC-Accenture Match Play Championship from 2009-2014.  Good enough for the best pros then good enough for me!
Click link below for previous post on The Golf Club at Dove Mountain;

















IN N' OUT BURGER - PHOENIX, ARIZONA

IN N' OUT BURGER
SOMEWHERE IN PHOENIX, ARIZONA

Punched In n' Out Burger into Google Maps while in Phoenix and in minutes I was feasting on the best burger on the planet.  This is my second In n' Out Burger in a month which is incredible considering we do not have In n' Out in Hawaii.  Always my first stop when visiting the mainland.

CANNOT BEAT THIS MEAL WHEN VISITING THE MAINLAND
THE PERFECT BURGER IN MY WORLD

HILTON PHOENIX AIRPORT

HILTON PHOENIX AIRPORT
2435 S. 47TH STREET 
PHOENIX, AZ  85034
480-894-1600

Stayed at the Hilton Phoenix Airport because I flew into Phoenix late and had to head to Dove Mountain near Tucson the next morning.  Hotel was decent but way too expensive for just spending a few hours sleeping.  My room was on very end of ground floor near pool.  The door to pool area was noisy and I had people knocking at my door twice during the night around 1:00 am.  




CARNE ASADA NACHOS IN THE LOUNGE WERE DELICIOUS AND A HUGE PORTION




CHICKEN MADEIRA

 CHICKEN MADEIRA
DINNER AT HOME

This Chicken Madeira was incredible.  Cooked up by my lovely bride who put a lot of time into making sure this dish was perfect.  So much flavor in the chicken and sauce.  Loved every single bite and the leftovers the next day were even better.  

CHICKEN MADEIRA

IN N' OUT BURGER - PASADENA, CALIFORNIA

IN N' OUT BURGER
PASADENA, CALIFORNIA

Less than 24 hours in sunny Southern California and I grabbed an Uber from my hotel in search of the closest In n' Out Burger.  Lucky for me it was only a few miles down the road.  When the driver dropped me off I was a bit confused as this In n' Out did not have a restaurant where you could sit down.  It had a drive thru only and take out window.  The drive thru was packed at 11:00 am and the cars backed up into the main street traffic.  Traffic at the take out window was good too with a nice line baking in the warm California sun.  I stood in line wondering if the service could still be as good as a sit down type In n' Out.  When I got to the front the questioned was quickly answered with a big "yes".  Employees were friendly, spoke clearly, smiled and repeated your order.  Within minutes my order was up so I walked around the corner where they had around six tables in the back of the restaurant.  Hamburger heaven to me.  Love the taste of these burgers and the freshness of all the ingredients.  Price in Pasadena was $2.70 for the Cheeseburger which after spending $19 for a burger at the Hard Rock Cafe in Honolulu was a gift.  Best burgers on the planet!

IN N' OUT BURGER

IN N' OUT BURGER IN PASADENA, CA IS A TAKE OUT WINDOW AND DRIVE THRU ONLY 
$6.20 FOR A CHEESEBURGER, FRIES AND DRINK
CHEESEBURGER AND FRIES IN THE WARM CALIFORNIA SUN
MY FAVORITE BURGER ON THE PLANET IS IN N' OUT



Sunday, September 17, 2017

HAWAII VS UCLA FOOTBALL - THE ROSE BOWL

HAWAII VS UCLA 
THE ROSE BOWL, PASADENA, CA

What a day at the Rose Bowl.  Truly a remarkable experience that I will never forget.  Partied like Rock Stars the entire day and somehow ended up with all access field passes that allowed us on the field and into the locker rooms.  

ENJOYED MEETING UCLA HEAD COACH JIM MORA
PREGAME TAILGATE PARTY WITH LARRY BEAL, DAVID LASSNER, PRESIDENT OF UNIVERSITY OF HAWAII, MY NEPHEW ROBBY AND SPORTS WRITER FOR LOS ANGELES LAKERS
RAN INTO OLD FRIEND FROM U.H. THAT I HAVE KNOWN SINCE SHE WAS LIKE 12 YEARS OLD
WE HIJACKED A RIDE TO STADIUM ENTRANCE IN A GOLF CART
THE ROSE BOWL IN PASADENA, CA
THE ROSE BOWL
A BEAUTIFUL SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA AFTERNOON
ENJOYED PART OF THE GAME IN AIR CONDITIONED SUITE WITH FULL BAR
FULL BUFFET IN THE SUITE BUT I WENT FOR A HOT DOG WITH THE WORKS
AND THEN FOR SOME REASON I ENDED UP ON THE PLAYING FIELD



CARL KLAPP, ASSOCIATE ATHLETIC DIRECTOR FOR UNIVERSITY OF HAWAII












HIGHLIGHT OF THE DAY WAS MEETING UCLA QUARTERBACK JOSH ROSEN





 ENDED THE DAY IN THE ROSE BOWL LOCKER ROOM RIGHT BEFORE END OF GAME