December 30, 2008
Here is my miles summary as of Dec 30st,2008
Airline:
United-1K: 300K
American Airline-Executive Platinum: 270K(still owe me 40K from Year end online mall)
Delta/Northwest-Gold(will drop to General Member next year) 745K(still owe me 255K)
US Airways-General Member: 90K
British Midland Airways-Gold: 150K
British Airways-20K
Czech Airline-General Member 40K
and more 200K in various airlines in China
Next Year Goal:
United-Plan to drop to Premier Executive
American Airline- plan to keep Exe Plat
Delta/Nowthwest-plan to get to Platinum
BMI-plan to keep Gold
All other programs will be remind as General member
Hotel:
Starwood-Platinum: 150K
Priority Club-Platinum: 500K
Hyatt-Platinum: 20K
Hilton-Gold: 350K
Choice Hotels-60K
Next Year Goal:
Starwood-Keep Platinum
Priority Club-Keep Platinum
Hyatt-Plan to get Diamond back
Hilton-Plan to keep Gold and working toward Diamond
All other programs will remain as General Member
Others:
80K Thankyou Network Points
$3400 AA Credit
2 SPG free weekend nights at any Cat 1-5 hotels
1 SPG free weekend at selected Asia Hotels
1 SPG free night at any Le Meridien
7 Unused Marriott nights at any Cat 1-5 properties
4 Hyatt free nights
Posted by Troy under 2008 Trip, Uncategorized |
November 24, 2008
I redeemed 60K miles for my mom and grandma in Business from PEK to DPS(Bali) next months, total taxes are $145 per person including $25 partner fees and $20 ticketing fees. Not too bad for a C-class award. Also redeemed 28K Hyatt points for 4 nights at Hyatt Regency Bali Club room.
did a last minutes first class redemption for my wife travel this weekend to Ontario,CA. Outbound on US airways and return on United. Total cost 45K UA miles + $10 taxes
Posted by Troy under 2008 Trip |
November 21, 2008
With current Financial Crisis, many countries currency drop significantly.
South Korea dropped from 1USD:900 Korean Won 3 years ago to 1:1450
Indonesia: dropped from 1:8000 to 1:12000
South Africa: dropped from 1: 6 to 1:10
and many more such as NZ, Iceland, it’s time to go somewhere.
Posted by Troy under 2008 Trip |
November 19, 2008
The hotel is located on Yalong Bay Hotel zone in Sanya and it’s the newest and last one open at Yalong Bay area.
Hallway
Room about 60 Sqm
View from room
Another one
Swimming Pool
Overall, the hotel is nice and good for couples, not good for group of friends because the swimming pool has no volleyball or basketball like Hilton or Sheraton. The price is RMB1800 all in for a deluxe Ocean view room from local travel agent, and 2100+15% on Ritz Carlton website. Since there is no points program at Ritz Carlton hotel, local travel agent will be a good option.
Posted by Troy under 2008 Trip |
October 21, 2008
I came to Yalong Bay in 1994 for the first time and there was no hotel on the beach. The first 5 star hotel, Gloaria Resorts Sanya opened on the beach in 1995(if I remember correctly) and then next year, Horizon Resort Sanya opened at next door in 1996. At that time, there was no international brand hotel in entire Hainan Providance, Sheraton Sanya is the first international brand opened on the beach and the hotel has become one of the most succussful hotels in China right now.
Marriott, Hilton and another Chinese Brand Hotels Mangrove Resort joined the group and got a piece of cake. Intercontinental Group and Accor Hotels Group also wants to share the cake, but too bad, there is no more beach left, so Crowne Plaza Sanya and Pullman by Accor Hotels has to open on the opposite of those hotels.
Who got the last piece of cake on the beach? I thought it was Hilton, but today, on my 13th visit to these Area since 1994, I found Ritz-Carlton opened on beach side and I will check it out few days later.
Chinese Brand on beach side: Gloria, Horizon, Mangrove tree resort, no points Program except Gloria(own program)
Chinese Brand on Non Beach side: Villa5, a very nice Southeast Asia Villa style hotel with fairly priced rooms , each one has own swimming pool, but the downside is no beach. If you are tired of beach, you can try this hotel.
Traditional Upscale Brand on beach Side: sheraton,marriott and Hilton. The price at these three hotels almost identical, so brand preference is playing the role now. Sheraton is a very nice one, the hotel is well run by an Italian General Manager and rated as one of the top hotel in China for many years. Service is excellent 3 years ago, and I feel it’s getting even better now. Marriott next door is not my preference at all, as some of you may know, I don’t like marriott chain because its consistance on room design, this marriott is the same. If you have chance to compare travellers’ photo(not those room photo taken by professionals) on Marriott Sanya and Marriott Aruba, you will know what I am talking about. Hilton is a newer hotel compared to other two, but I have not stay there yet, will stay there later and report back. From what I heard, this hotel is the No. 1 on beach side before Ritz-Carlton Open.
Traditional Upscale Brand on non beach side: Crowne Plaza and Pullman by Accor Hotels. Crowne Plaza opened three years ago and I have stayed there once for one night. Much cheaper than Beach side hotel, nice room with Plasma TV, but there is no beach, it’s better to use as a business meeting hotel. Pullman by Accor Hotels just opened this year, the design is Southeast Asia style, and offers both hotel rooms and villa with private pool at moderate price.
Luxury Brand on beach side: Ritz-Carlton. the hotel just opened this year and also choose Southeast Asia style. Hotel has a luxury shopping area in the lobby. I will stay this hotel early next week and report back.
The consutruction of entire hotel zone is finished and I don’t think there will be any new hotel open within this zone in the future. Haitang Bay will be the next develop area in Sanya, 14 hotels will be opened in next few years including Westin, Hilton and other international/dometic names. Also, one of them, Mangrove Resort, will be same standard as Burj Al Arab in Dubai.
Posted by Troy under 2008 Trip |
October 6, 2008
We took Airport Limousine bus from NRT to Park Hyatt Tokyo. The cost is 3000 Yen each, but for extra 100 yen, you can get 1 day metro pass, so make sure to ask NRT bus ticket counter Metro pass combo.
The bus dropped us off at front entrance, there were several hotel employees waiting, then brought us to the hotel lobby, which is located on 41st floor. From 2nd-39th floor are office building with separate entrance, and a Japanese restaurant on 40th floor.
Front Entrance
After exit the elevator, there was a Lobby Lounge, then pass another western restaurant and library, we arrived lobby. There were only three desks like concierge desk in the lobby, so check process completed while sitting there.
Library
Lobby Lounge
Our room is on the 47th floor, the view is overlooking Shinjuku Park.
Hotel has Free shuttle every 20 mins to Shinjuku Station, you can take subway/JR from there or you can walk to lots of great places around that area.
I did not eat in hotel restaurants. With so many great Japanese restaurant downstairs, why bother to eat in the hotel.
The service was great, I left 2 laptop on Airport Limousine bus, but the front desk people found back for me after 2 hours. I think this hotel provided the best value for my Hyatt special promotional free nights certificate.
Posted by Troy under 2008 Trip, Hyatt Gold Passport |
October 6, 2008
I took JFK-NRT on JL 5 about 1 month ago and the flight used new Executive class seats, which is called Shell Flat NEO.
Check in process at JFK was quick, since there is no one at Executive class line. It took us 5 mins then we headed to JAL Lounge. The lounge is not big, and I was busy in the computer room, so I did not take any picture. My wife did bring me some nice snacks and small noodle dish. The lounge is for JAL flights use only in the morning, then after 1:45pm, Lufthansa airline passengers start to use it.
Boarding process is quick with separate Business Class line and cabin is only about 1/4 full. the new JAL business class seats design, monitor size and IFE system, all are similar to Air China new business class.
JAL does not serve Pre-departure drink, I feel so thirsty while flight was waiting on runway due to air traffic control. The IFE system has bird eye’s view function, so you can see ground during takeoff /landing and view of city.
About 1 hour after departure, the lunch service started. I forget to grab a menu from the flight because I thought it will be available online. when I checked few days ago, online only has menu from Narita, not to Narita, here are some pictures.
The second meal on flight is also available any time after lunch service, choices include eel sushi, udon noodle, Soba, Pasta and more.Since I don’t drink alcohol, I did not pay attention on Wine list. I think they had 3 red wines, 2 white wines and lots of other Japanese alcohol.
The movie selections were not so good, at least for me because I have watched more than half of them before.
The seat was not very comfortable, maybe because of that 10 degree angle to 180 or a day time flight, but the food was great and so delicious. I think it’s still a great value for 180k miles for 2 people on their business class.
Posted by Troy under 2008 Trip |
August 28, 2008
I just made an award ticket reservation in Business class to China for 10 days later using my AA miles, coming back in November. Business Class Seats are still pretty easy to find on all Japan Airlines US Gateway from JFK, ORD, SFO and LAX.
YYZ-LGA(stopover), JFK-NRT(stopover)-PEK-NRT-JFK(open jaw)
Total cost 90000 AA miles+157 in taxes and fees, not bad.
Plus, I booked 2 nights at Park Hyatt Tokyo using my Hyatt promotional free night award in my account. Great place to spend my awards and use my 72 hours shore pass for Chinese Passport.
I used Qantas Airways website to search award availability for oneworld partners, but they don’t show JL and CX flight, so I use British Airways website to search now. Although it doesn’t show everying, but it does offer more partners availability than Qantas Website.
I have not found any discrepancies between BA webiste and AA call center yet. After u did ur research and call AA to book, it will be much easier for u and agent.
Another reason I am using AA miles for this trip is ability to change without a fee even AFTER my trip starts as long as I keep the the same routing and carrier.
With UA and US or BD award, you can not change anything once ur trip starts unless you are using UA miles and the remaining is on UA only
With CO, NW and DL miles, you can change anytime you want, but every change requires a fee unless you are top elite of respective programs
Posted by Troy under 2008 Trip, American Airlines, General Frequent Flyer Advice |
