April 23, 2009
The banyan tree Ringa is located in a local Tibet village, 20 mins outside of shangri la town in yunnan Province, some hotel villas were even coveted from local Tibet home.
The view is stunning, and will be even better in May. the tempture different is huge during the day. I still didn’t feel warm enough even after I turned all 7 Air conditions on. since the location is more than 3000 meters above sea level, I kept waking up at night due to highland effect.
Here are some photos from hotel
View from yard
bath room
Hot pot dinner
Posted by Troy under 2009Trip |
April 22, 2009
I stayed in Feb, but I am too busy with many thinsg recently, so no time for me to even organize hundreds of photo for past month trip. Anyway, finally got some time to do it.
The hotel and building are owned by Japanese, so everything is very similar to Park Hyatt Toyko. The highest floor you can go in hotel is 93rd, above that, u need to pay and enter from world financial building.
View from room, but weather was very bad in Shanghai
very comfortable bed, but not as good as Park Hyatt Toyko.
Posted by Troy under 2009Trip, Hyatt Gold Passport |
March 2, 2009
I am currently back to States for few days and will have some trip report once I got my camera later this week.
Posted by Troy under 2009Trip |
February 12, 2009
I will travel around southwest and central part of China in March, the trip will start from Shanghai and end in Beijing.
Shanghai-Hangzhou(car)-Lijiang(air)-Chengdu(air)-Jiuzhaigou(air)-Chongqing(air)-Yangzi river(cruise)-Yichang-Beijing(air).
Will stay in Westin Shanghai, Le Meridien Shanghai, Park Hyatt shanghai, Hyatt Regency Hangzhou, Sheraton Jiuzhaigou, Sheraton Chengdu, Banyan Tree Lijiang, Banyan Tree Ringha and River Explor Cruise.
Total time will be 1 month, then take a break in Beijing and plan my second trip in coming April.Can not wait……
Posted by Troy under 2009Trip |
January 30, 2009
Upgrade on UA new Business class from SFO-HKG is extremely hard, Inventory Management people try to hold seats until last minutes. I checked in at LAX 4.5 hours prior to departure and the service director on site told me they only sold 22 seats in Business class and I was #4 on the waitlist, she couldn’t understand why the seat still hadn’t opened up.
After getting into LAX RCC around 4 hours prior to SFO-HKG departure, upgrade finally cleared. My flight from LAX-SFO scheduled for take off on 9:35 and landed in 10:55, which left me 1 hour for the connection, but after I boarded the plane, Capital annonced that there would be a delay due to air traffic control at SFO.
The plane finally landed at SFO GATE 90 on 11:33 am and flight to Hong Kong still scheduled for departure on time at 11:55 am at GATE G102. I run as fast as I can from the furthest gate in Terminal 3 to THE furthest gate in international terminal. Cabin door closed right after I step into the plane. Although, I finally made on board, I was really worried about my checked luggage.
The business seat itself is very good, lie flat bed and it does make a better sleep than 170 degree reclined seat. IFE system is running all the time, so u don’t have to wait until take off to enjor ur entertainment. However, the movie selection is still not great, I have watched most of them already. No comments on food since I am still on diet. Overall, Not bad if u just want to have a very good sleep.
BTW, I was happy to see my checked luggage arrive with me. 
Posted by Troy under 2009Trip, United Airlines |
January 24, 2009
use 30000 BMI miles +105 british pounds for North America-Zone 8 one way business class award, whole process took less than 10 minutes, but they got my wife last name wrong, so had to ring back to correct it. Also, the taxes amount did not match to ITA, so will ring back tomorrow to ask for taxes detail.
In addition, redeemed 37000 km on Hainan Airline RT in F from SZX-PEK. was going to redeem from HKG-PEK, but Hongkong airline has blackout date until Feb 3rd, use SZX instead.
Posted by Troy under 2009Trip |
January 22, 2009
JFK-LAX(stopover)-SFO-HKG-SFO-LAX-JFK, total is $1017, not too bad consider inbound is 5 months later and a stopover in LAX and W class, which can be upgraded with my systemwide certificate.
I was looking for fuel surcharge buster to drop fuel surcharge, but my return is too far away, the buster route has not release any cheap ticket yet, adding buster route only pushed the price higher.
Posted by Troy under 2009Trip, United Airlines |
