Update: Boracay reopened on October 26, 2018, but some venues remain closed, tourism numbers have been limited and infrastructure work is ongoing. Details here.
There’s an old saying that birds don’t [defecate] in their own nests. Having recently allowed pigeons to take up residence on my balcony, I know that that’s a crock of ….
Continue reading Boracay: can paradise be regained?
A Quora user asked about tourist traps in Thailand. Here’s how I answered:
Thailand is very tuned in to the importance of tourism, and of it having a good reputation to keep people coming back. But, like everywhere, there are people trying to make a quick buck at tourists’ expense. The main problem is that a lot of tourists don’t realise the true (low) price of things, or they are so overwhelmed by the favourable exchange rate that they may not realise they are paying over the odds. Continue reading How to avoid tourist traps in Thailand
I have just taken a quick return trip between Bangkok and Kuala Lumpur. Within two days of my return, I received emails from both the airline I flew with and the hotel I stayed at asking me to fill in a survey about my experience.
So, in the interests of doing them a favour, and sharing my experience even further via this blog, I did.
Continue reading ‘How was it for you?’ A review of airline and hotel surveys
In the past few years, I’ve been fortunate to do quite a bit of travel at the pointy end of the aircraft. And with that, of course, comes entry to business lounges at various airports.
In this post, I want to focus on Cathay Pacific’s excellent offerings in Hong Kong and Bangkok.
After their hotel stays, many guests receive an online survey asking them to rate the service and facilities.
I have a problem with these surveys — they are often too detailed, too long and too time-consuming; they often demand answers to questions that are irrelevant to the respondent; and they require some of us to think in ways we may not normally think.
The first thing that struck me on arrival at the Courtyard by Marriott hotel, near the busy Siam central shopping district, was the security.
The taxi boot was checked and I had to go through a airport-style scanner before entry to the foyer.
Ibis Styles on Macpherson
Singapore
June 2016
I chose to stay at this hotel for a very simple reason: it was the cheapest room I could find online among my preferred brands.
I was looking for a relaxing stay in a no-hassle place. I’d already chosen Singapore as my destination because of the excellent business-class deal I secured from Oman Air, and the knowledge that I’d be comfortable with my surroundings.
The Styles came in at about S$128 (US$95.50) a night for bed and breakfast. Continue reading Review: Ibis Styles, Singapore
Oman Air A330-300* business class
Abu Dhabi-Muscat-Kuala Lumpur-Singapore-KL-Muscat-Abu Dhabi
June, 2016
Yes, it’s the long way around to get from Abu Dhabi to Singapore and back, but with Oman Air it was a pleasure.
As I discovered when I flew to Bangkok recently, Oman Air has a very good business-class product. Continue reading Review: Oman Air to Singapore
Oman Air B787 business class
Abu Dhabi-Muscat-Bangkok-Bangkok-Muscat-Abu Dhabi
May, 2016
My decision to go to Bangkok with Oman Air was made at the last minute. After my original plans fell through, I was looking to spend two weeks at an affordable destination, but with a high level of comfort.
Oman Air fit the bill, with a business-class fare less than two-thirds the price of the big regional operators, Etihad, Emirates and Qatar. I was expecting that the standards would be a little lower than the other airlines but was delighted to discover that it was very high indeed. Continue reading Review: Oman Air experience
Mercure Siam Hotel, Bangkok
To my mind, this was the best of the three hotels I stayed at during my recent trip to Bangkok. It certainly had the best location for somebody who wants to see it all.
Holiday Inn Express, Sukhumvit Soi 11
Bangkok, Thailand
This was the cheapest per night of the three hotels I stayed in during my recent trip to Bangkok. But that doesn’t necessarily mean it was a bad choice. In fact, the hotel has a lot to recommend itself, not the least being its location at the end of buzzing Soi 11, home to some well-known restaurants and bars, including the famous Cheap Charlie’s.
Novotel Fenix Silom hotel, Bangkok
Stay: May, 2016
A nice welcome and attentive, efficient staff made check-in a joy. My flight arrived very early, and I was at the hotel before 7am. Although they didn’t have a room for me then, I was safely ensconced by 9am – which is an excellent five hours before normal hotel check-in time.
The hotel is located at the far end of Silom, closer to Surasak BTS (sky train) station than to Sala Daeng, which is at the heart of the Silom / Patpong tourist area. Continue reading Review: Novotel Fenix Silom
Before I took my first Costa cruise, I researched the company’s vessels on the usual review sites and discovered that they tended to rank lower than the British and American ships.
Delving a bit deeper, I noticed that the criticism was coming mostly from Britons and Americans whose main complaint seemed to be the “Italianness” of the Costa offering.
Basically, some people didn’t like the fact that ships flying the Italian flag catered largely for Italians. They didn’t like the fact that English was demoted in onboard annoucements and during entertainment programs to a second, third or even fourth language. And they didn’t like the food, especially the authentic pizza (presumably because it wasn’t like the pizza they had delivered back home.)
I’m glad I dismissed this for what it was — let’s call it xenophobia — and decided to give Costa a try. Continue reading Review: Costa Diadema
First up: a disclosure. I have an issue with Munich Airport. It’s a bit boring, so it’s at the end of this review, but I thought I best declare it in case it somehow influenced this review. I don’t think it did.
Those fortunate enough to have the use of premium lounges at airports know that the quality of these places can vary enormously. Continue reading Review: Atlantic Lounge, Munich
As I’ve noted in recent posts, I’ve been spoiled with upgrades recently, with five business-class tickets in a row being converted into first-class seats.
Well, the spell broke and on my last trip, business class really meant business class. But there is no way I’m complaining. Continue reading Review: Etihad business class
For the second in this series, it should be no surprise to those who know me that I chose the capital of Thailand — a city with so much to offer to so many people. Continue reading Must-see cities: Bangkok
Costa Fortuna, Dubai, Muscat Khasab, Abu Dhabi, Dubai, Jan 15-22, 2016
I’ve already written about the full experience in my cruise diary, so here are the headlines, which may be of help to potential future passengers: Continue reading Review: Costa Fortuna
A now-completed blog of my cruise on the Costa Fortuna sailing from and to Port Rashid, Dubai via Muscat, Khasab and Abu Dhabi. New posts at the top.
It took a while for me to get around to my first flight on a Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner, but it was certainly worth the wait.
Sweetening the deal on my Etihad Airways flight from Brisbane to Abu Dhabi was the fact that I was upgraded from business class to first class. (Yes, this has been happening to me quite a bit lately. I try to explain why here.)
