Welcome back fellow adventurers!
After almost six years away from my hometown, I found myself booking a trip back to Los Angeles.
Not kidding. November 2020 was the last time I was in the City of Angels.
No, I didn’t go home to visit family, or to visit my old haunts or stomping grounds.
This was not a nostalgic visit. I was in L.A. to take care of one simple, yet important piece of business.
I needed a new phone.
That’s right. My first trip home in years, and it’s all about the tech. Priorities, right?
Layover-palooza & Windsor Wins
Here’s where the travel hacker in me came alive: flying direct to L.A. from my current city would have cost me an arm, a leg, and probably my favorite pair of Skechers.
So, I did what any budget-savvy globetrotter would do and rerouted through London for major savings.
Pro tip: check multi-city itineraries and don’t be afraid to zig when everyone else zags. Flying from London saved me $750. Yes, my flights were roundtrip, not multiple one-way tickets – and I still saved!
Don’t worry, I didn’t spend that $750 on L.A.-themed souvenirs for my co-workers. I only spent about $50.
Oh, how I have missed those Dollar Tree Stores. 🤣
Delta Déjà Vu: Heathrow Edition
Now, you all know my golden rule when it comes to booking flights — always book the first flight of the day.
Fewer delays, fewer crowds, and more time on the ground at your travel destination.
I landed at Heathrow at 0730, grabbed my bag, and made a beeline for Windsor.
And thanks to some loyalty points, my night at the Delta Hotels Heathrow Windsor was totally free, which put another $275 back into the travel budget.
Travel tip: Status isn’t just a flex; it’s a full-on travel superpower. If you’re not earning miles and hotel points on every day purchases (including those monthly utility bills), you’re leaving free nights and upgrades on the table.
This was actually my second stay at this hotel, although it’s changed names in the eight years since my last visit.
In the world of airport hotels, Delta Hotels Heathrow is no James Bond. It’s not classy, flashy or sophisticated.
It is functional and gets the job done.
For a one-night layover, I got a comfy bed, a hot shower, and a safe and relaxing environment before jetting to LAX.
A few considerations for future guests: The hotel is located about 15 minutes from Heathrow and 20 minutes from Windsor, so it’s a solid choice for airport layovers or a quick Windsor detour.
Heathrow’s Hotel Hoppa shuttle no longer stops here, so you’ll need to use the local bus or grab a taxi, especially if you have luggage or an early flight.
I chose to take the bus, which took about 30 minutes from the airport.
Hey, it was cheaper than a taxi, and the bus stop was only a 3-minute walk to the hotel.
The room decor? I’m just going to say it reminded me of a place Mr. Peabody would’ve visited using the Wayback Machine.
Despite the decor, the room was comfortable for my quick stay.
Now, what do I do during my layover in Windsor?
Visit Windsor Castle… again? No.
Head to Eton College? No.
Take a canal boat ride? Please, like that is ever gonna happen. 🤣
I didn’t feel the need to to tick attractions off my list this time. I’d explored Windsor during my 2025 Christmas Adventure, so I channeled my inner local and focused on last-minute gift shopping for my L.A. crew.
Best part?
Windsor’s shops are a goldmine for quirky gifts and British treats you just can’t get at home.
For lunch, I gobbled down some tasty duck pancakes at the 1423 China Kitchen before heading back to the hotel.
I enjoyed two cups of fruity teas, and then spent the night repacking my suitcase to ensure the gifts for my “Have Passport, Will Travel – L.A.” Crew made it safely across the pond.
Early Bird, Lounge Worm
Next up was my flight from Heathrow to LAX on American Airlines.
I went into full-on — as fellow “Have Passport, Will Travel” club member Christine says — “treat yo’ self” mode and upgraded to Business Class.
Arriving 3.5 hours early for my international flight, I managed to beat even the American Airlines reps to the counter.
First in line to check my luggage, I felt like an overachiever. The process was simple and straightforward, no drama, no fuss.
Security was the usual routine, but plot twist: my bag wasn’t randomly selected for extra screening.
For the first time in seven years, I made it through without winning the random security check lottery. Small victory!
With time to spare, I headed for the Business Lounges Area.
Thanks to my ticket, I had access to any of the OneWorld Alliance lounges at Heathrow.
I scoped them all out, but went with American’s Admirals Club.
Fewer people than the Qantas lounge, and more peace and quiet before the big flight.
Suite Life at 36,000 Feet
Boarding was smooth. No hiccups, no long waits. Just boarded and got to my seat.
Yet another reason to catch those painfully early morning flights.
At 0530, even the most seasoned traveler hasn’t had enough time to develop a full-blown airport-induced meltdown caused by endless delays, missed connections and entitled passengers who are forever arguing that their overstuffed, 40-pound purse is a personal item.
The only thing stronger than the coffee is the collective hope that maybe, just maybe, today won’t end in a gate-change scavenger hunt or a crying baby symphony.
Morning flights: where the crankiness hasn’t quite peaked, and everyone still clings to the delusion that travel is glamorous.
Now when I arrived at my seat, let me tell you, I went full-on ’kid opening presents at Christmastime’ giddy.
American’s Flagship Business suites are on a whole ’nother level.
We’re talking a fully enclosed suite with a sliding privacy door, a lie-flat bed you can actually stretch out on, and direct aisle access so you’re never playing leapfrog over your neighbor.
My seat felt more like a living room than an airplane: a 17-inch 4K touchscreen, wireless charging, Bluetooth audio, and this wild “Chaise-Longue” setting that had me stretching out like I was on my sofa at home.
And yes, the World Cup-themed amenity kit had me feeling like I’d just lifted a trophy.
Oh, and let’s not forget about the Wi-Fi, which was included at no additional cost.
Somehow, I’m 36,000 feet up, flying over the U.S.A., streaming memes and pretending to answer emails like some kind of sky-high tech mogul.
Heck, I was one champagne glass of orange juice away from starting a Teams meeting just to say “what’s up” to my supervisor.
Now I know why it’s called ‘Business Class.’ 🤣
But let’s talk about the real winner: the food.
For my starter, I’m handed a chilled plate of salmon tartare, each silky bite melting on my tongue with just the right pop of citrus.
Next to it, asparagus so perfectly crisp it practically snapped, and a Caesar salad where every leaf is coated in creamy, garlicky dressing and crowned with parmesan confetti.
Then the main event lands. A steak that was cooked to my liking.
I’d pre-ordered my meal – a nice little benefit for business class passengers. The steak was so tender I didn’t need my knife to cut it.
The Dauphinoise potatoes? Layer upon layer of golden, buttery, melt-in-your-mouth perfection. Every forkful felt like a warm hug.
And for dessert, a chocolate mousse that was pure, sinful luxury.
Dense and airy at the same time, rich enough to make me close my eyes and savor every spoonful.
Oh yea, I got seconds, it was just as heavenly.
This was five-star dining at 36,000 feet, and for a few glorious minutes, I forgot I was on an airplane.
Customs? I Hardly Knew ‘Em!
Touchdown in L.A., and here comes my favorite part of international travel: Border Patrol, Immigration and Customs.
Thank goodness I have Global Entry.
If you’re an adventurer like me and you don’t have this gloriously magical program yet, do yourself a favor and sign up yesterday.
I had my phone out, the Global Entry app fired up, and I was ready to fly through immigration like an A-list celeb with somewhere better to be.
Seriously, it took me longer to walk to the immigration area than it did to actually clear it.
One quick selfie in the app, a scan from the kiosk, and a guard who greeted me with a “Welcome home, Candy,” and a salute.
Forty-five seconds flat. I barely had time to feel smug before I was officially back in the U.S.A.
Pro tip for anyone using Global Entry: download the app before you land. It saves you time, and you’ll feel like you just unlocked a secret airport cheat code.
Honestly, Global Entry is as close as I’ll ever get to being a VIP at customs. Now, if only there was a program to make the baggage claim just as speedy.
Speaking of baggage claim? Two hours waiting for my suitcase to make its grand appearance.
Classic international hub drama.
Rental Rumble: Alamo Edition
Time for the Rental Rumble.
First, I had to track down the LAX bus stop for the rental car shuttles, which is basically LAX’s version of a scavenger hunt, complete with a rainbow of colored signs leading you in circles.
Since I hadn’t been home since the new LAX Consolidated Rental Car Center opened (in March 2026), I did a little research. I knew to look for the purple signs designating the rental car shuttle stop.
Getting on the bus wasn’t bad at all, especially compared to the chaos that is the rest of LAX.
The shuttle dropped me at the shiny new LAX Consolidated Rental Car Center, which actually felt organized and modern, a true L.A. unicorn.
Because I’d pre-paid, I got to skip the long lines of tired travelers and head straight to the pickup area.
I chose a Chevrolet Trax Compact SUV from the three different models. It was sparkling clean and surprisingly comfy, and had less mileage than the other choices.
Before driving off, I did the whole rental car inspection ritual: snapping photos, capturing time-stamped videos, and making sure the small dent in the windshield was officially noted.
Yes, always document everything with your rental vehicles before leaving the lot. Future you will thank you, especially now that companies are using AI to do damage assessments and billing customers thousands for even the smallest imperfection.
Once my ID was confirmed and payment processed, I was out of there and on the road, but not before setting up my GPS and making sure my water and my tunes were ready to navigate the dreaded L.A. traffic.
Coastin’ & Toastin’ Down the 405
Here’s the truth about driving in L.A. — avoiding it is impossible.
Traveling the world has spoiled me when it comes to public transportation.
That fact hit me the moment I merged onto the 405 Freeway, one of the busiest and most congested freeways in the United States.
It doesn’t matter what time you hit that freeway; you’ll quickly discover the reason it’s called the 4-0-5 Freeway — because traffic only goes four or five miles an hour!
I merged onto the 405, feeling optimistic, but within minutes I was bumper-to-bumper with every other hopeful driver in Southern California.
This was my true welcome home present.
My advice for the uninitiated: pack your patience, your best playlist, and plenty of snacks.
Waze is your copilot, but be prepared for it to reroute you through neighborhoods you didn’t even know existed.
Despite the years away, I remembered to keep a water bottle handy and my phone charged because in L.A. traffic, you never know when you’ll need to call the “Have Passport, Will Travel” club members and tell them you’re on the 405.
Don’t worry, you’ll arrive at the meeting point at the exact moment they’ve finished laughing at you for taking the 405.
Eventually, the gridlock gave way to the open highway. I rolled down the windows, cranked up the tunes, and let that California breeze remind me why I put up with the traffic in the first place.
By the time I finally reached the Riviera Beach and Shores Resort in Capistrano Beach, I had been reinitiated in the L.A. Driving Club.
Welcome back to L.A., where even a traffic jam can be one of the funniest part of the adventure.
To Be Continued… L.A. Style
That’s a wrap on this leg of the grand return journey!
From international airport antics and dodging World Cup crowds to surviving the 405 and finally getting a whiff of that salty California air, I’ve made it back to the City of Angels, mostly intact, slightly jet-lagged, and ready for whatever comes next.
But don’t go anywhere. The adventure continues in the next chapter, where I’ll spill all about my digs at the Riviera Beach and Shores Resort, my first true L.A. meal in years (spoiler: it’s delicious), and the epic phone-shopping quest that started this whole trip in the first place.
Trust me, you don’t want to miss it!
Until next time…
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