This was just my second time on Swiss long-haul Business Class and I was excited about my flight. I had had two connections that day in the Austrian Business Class before my flight – so I was tired before I even got to Zurich. I was hoping the excitement would keep me awake. Terminal D […]
My Favorite 26 Things to do Colombo, Sri Lanka – Understand Colombo, the capital of Sri Lanka, can’t escape its comparisons with India. It constantly happens and you will do it, too – trust me. Colombo is the better India; everything is a little more organized, more friendly and more clean but it’s also more […]
The American Express Centurion Lounge in Miami is located near Gate D12. Miami Airport is very spread out and it is easy to underestimate distances. We walked through the D Gate security and it was still a solid 20-minute walk; if in doubt, take the Skytrain. The American Express Centurion Lounges are very good at […]
For my first United Basic Economy flight, I chose the San Francisco to Salt Lake City route. United operates the route with Embraer and Bombardier aircraft to connect their Denver and San Francisco hubs (with stops in Aspen). Booking United Basic Economy I booked my tickets via Orbitz, which simply mentioned the cabin item restriction […]
After deplaning from my prior Saudia flight from Kochi, I followed the rather flimsy signs towards transit. An overly sleepy single attendant manned the security checkpoint and mentioned that he expected just four (!) other transit passengers within the hour. Not a busy day then! Riyadh Airport has two terminals that are interconnected behind security with […]
For reasons I don’t fully understand, Saudia files very low fares from several South Indian cities to Addis Abeba (despite minimal competition). Saudia fares usually work one-way for half price and so I booked Kochi (COK) to Addis Abeba (ADD) for under $100 in economy for the 3,000-mile journey connecting via Riyadh (RUH). When booking […]
The Renaissance Bangkok Ratchaprasong is a new addition to the glitzy neighborhood in Bangkok. It’s just a block from busy Siam Square and two BTS Skytrain lines converge right there as well. The InterContinental Bangkok and the Grand Hyatt Erawan are just next door. The Renaissance is a bit set back from the busy (and […]
I selected the Crowne Plaza Bandung for this review for its good location, low rate and reputation for being far above brand standard. The Crowne Plaza is located close to the Bandung downtown area – just two blocks from the Masjid Raya Bandung (the Grand Mosque), the bustling heart of the city on a weekend […]
Cathay Pacific has had a long-standing service to and from South African’s largest city and I was curious to try out the long flight over the Indian Ocean to Hong Kong. The flight does not feature a first class anymore, but is run in a three-cabin configuration (economy, premium economy and business). It now features the new […]
My Favorite 23 Things to do Riga, Latvia – Understand Latvia is one of the three Baltic countries that escaped the Russian Empire a bit by accident. The Baltics are now part of the Schengen Agreement and the Euro, making travel there seamless. Latvia is still the most Russian of the three Baltic countries and easily feels […]
The InterContinental Regency Bahrain is located right in the traditional center of Manama directly opposite the souq and just a block from the World Trade Center. The building is clearly not the newest but is still in great shape. As with most places in Bahrain, the hotel offers free parking right in front of the […]
Things to do Phnom Penh – Understand Phnom Penh is the version of Bangkok your parents might have visited in the southeast Asian capital 30 to 40 years ago. Remember the times when Khao San Road was trendy and cool in Bangkok? Well that’s exactly how Phnom Penh feels. It’s simple tourism that hasn’t been taken […]
My Favorite 9 Things to do Samarkand – Understand Samarkand is one of the richest cities of the ‘Silk Road’. This pre-medieval trading route between Europe and Asia was so profitable for everyone along the way (trade always makes all participants better off despite what politicians make of it) that the rulers were able to build mind-boggling places. […]
The InterContinental Almaty is located in a good spot near the Independence Monument in Almaty. While it is a bit of a distance from the best downtown eateries, it benefits from a huge nearby park and the more upscale eateries that the town offers. The building is clearly quite old, which you will notice more as you near it. […]
The Hyatt Regency Dushanbe is located in the grounds of the excellent City Park, just about one mile from the city center. The building really stands out because of its modern architecture both inside and out. Check-in was super-friendly and in English. The staff reminded me very much of the excellent Hyatt staff in Bishkek, […]
My 19 Favorite Things to do Las Vegas – Understand Las Vegas does not need explaining; it has managed to carve out a ‘come here and burn money like crazy in a few days‘ niche – something other cities never dared to even strive for. Development near the Las Vegas Strip is quick (and will […]
Things to do Douala, Cameroon – Understand Douala, Cameroon isn’t exactly a tourism hot spot – I knew that much. However, this city really does not make it easy for travelers, either. Douala has no real customer service culture and it can easily take 5 different desks to order dinner and the wait is 2 […]
The Protea Hotel Kuramo Waters is located at the very southern end of Lagos; the property is right at the water’s edge. But don’t expect a beach here; there’s high fences everywhere and decrepit houses and roads leading up to the property. The hotel is made up of 8 individual villas, each with a number […]
For my time in Bogota I wanted to try out the Hilton Bogota. Last time I was in town in sampled the coffee shop (which produces surprisingly good espresso) and the hotel is in a good area with lots of food options. Before arrival I had emailed back and forth with the concierge about where […]
Thanks to my ‘special friends’ at the Department of Homeland Security, I had a big SSSS on my boarding pass and I knew that without a TSA approval I would not be able to fly. However, I had arrived for my Qatar Airways flight from San Francisco with American Airlines First Class and I would […]
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