Hôtel Martinez: A Quick Review /  by Aanarav Sareen

As an avid Hyatt loyalist, I always seek out their properties wherever I travel. So, when I arrived in the South of France, it was no surprise that I found myself at a Hyatt hotel in an enviable location – directly across from the dazzling beaches of Cannes.

Thanks to my elite Globalist status, I was delighted to discover that I had been upgraded to a massive suite. The room had a spacious outdoor terrace with breathtaking views and a large bedroom for ultimate comfort.

One of the highlights for me was having full control over the air-conditioning – a blessing for someone like myself who easily overheats. With no restrictions, I could cool the room to my heart's content.

To our pleasant surprise, the hotel was also hosting a lavish July 4th celebration on their penthouse rooftop. While not specifically for the American holiday, the event coincided with a dazzling fireworks competition that takes place every few weeks during the summer season.

However, our only negative experience at this property was with reserving beach loungers. It proved to be a frustrating and overpriced endeavor, with cabanas costing nearly $1000 per day. Despite this setback, we couldn't resist indulging in the splurge and would do so gladly, even if it did leave a sting in our wallets.

La Compagnie: A Quick Review /  by Aanarav Sareen

On a recent trip to the South of France, my wife and I decided we wanted to fly comfortably without paying a crazy amount of money for a last-minute flight, especially in the peak of summer.

I had heard of La Compagnie on and off, an all-business-class airline that advertised some incredibly attractive fairs from Newark to Nice. We ended up paying $2400 from Newark to Nice, and we were excited to experience an all-business transatlantic airline.

Once we got to the airport, we were pleasantly surprised that the check-in encounters were almost empty, and we could get our boarding passes quickly. After clearing security, we were also then escorted over to the airline lounge. One of the unique features of this particular lounge is that food is not available buffet style – instead, you can order off the menu. After experiencing the meal service on the flights, I highly suggest you take advantage of this offering.

Once we boarded the flight, we were very impressed with how big the aircraft seemed, even though it was a single-aisle, narrow-body aircraft. The other feature we loved on board was that the entire flight had free Wi-Fi – which even full-service airlines don't offer.

After takeoff, we had a few menu options on the screen, which were very limited. Unfortunately, the food was not up to par. The flight itself was effortless and pleasant overall. We landed in Paris for a quick crew swap and then took off to Nice.

The flight was on time, the cabin crew was accommodating, and because of the aircraft's seat density, everyone was on and off very quickly.

The only negative comment about this experience is the fact that on the way back from Nice to Newark, there was no meal service for nearly 4-5 hours.

Overall, I would not hesitate to retake this particular airline, especially as we continue to explore Europe and try to travel there as much as possible in a premium cabin.

Alaska: The Midnight Sun in Denali /  by Aanarav Sareen

For as long as I can remember, my heart has been set on Alaska to experience the midnight sun. This year, our stars aligned and granted us the chance to witness this on summer solstice. The anticipation had been building all day as we indulged in backcountry ATV rides and white water rafting. But nothing could have prepared us for the incredible evening that awaited us.

As the sky began to turn shades of pink and orange, we eagerly set out to explore the town of Talkeetna under the never-ending light of the midnight sun. Our initial plan was to find the perfect spot for photos, but our curiosity led us down winding roads and we ended up at 49th State Brewing.

With a beer in hand, we anxiously watched the clock tick closer to midnight, we were relieved to see that it was a clear sky - a rare occurrence in Alaska. And then it happened - at exactly midnight, the sun still shone brightly in the sky, casting an orange and pink glow over everything in sight. We piled into our rental van with heads swiveling in every direction, trying to take in every moment of this extraordinary experience.