December 31, 2010
I was not in Hong Kong for sightseeing. I was actually there to visit my sister in law, who just had another baby in Hong Kong. I mentioned that I spent most time of my day outside of Grand Hyatt, because we had another Serviced Apartment-Shama right across Time Square. The location of this apartment is excellent, right in the center of everything, the only problem was, the taxi lane was extremely long.
Since I frequently travel back to States, where price is a lot cheaper than Hong Kong, so no shopping. Also baby is too little to go to theme park. so what’s left? Food! Hong Kong has so many great restaurant, my first recommendation is Lei Garden. they have many locations throughout Hong Kong and China, one is in the Time Square Food court. I had one lunch and one dinner there, it’s one of the best Cantonese style cruise I ever had. I also ate at Chinese restaurant inside the Hyatt Hotel because we could not get table anywhere else without advance reservation, the food was good too, but not comparable to Lei Garden. My third night dinner in Hong Kong was at Hana Sakazuki Japanese restaurant. Also excellent, but the price was significantly higher than local Chinese Cuisine.
Hong Kong is a great city with too many people, lane is everywhere, taxi(40 mins), elevator to restaurant(15mins). If I had a choice, I won’t want to go there around X’mas, New Year and Chinese New years, when many people from mainland visit Hong Kong. Also, make advance reservation if you want to eat those nice restaurants on weekend.
Causeway bay at 10:00 am
Time Square
Posted by Troy under 2010 Trip, Baby and Me |
December 30, 2010
I picked Grand Hyatt for 2 simple reasons, one I need 2 more nights to keep diamond, second this is the only hotel I can have a confirmed Suite(without paying suite rate) in Hong Kong Island. After I made the booking, the standard suite was sold out, so I had to keep checking for Standard Harbor view Suite to open up, few days before our arrival, the suite showed. I immediately contacted Hyatt to use my Suite upgrade certificate. After I got confirmation, no more suite for sale. Consider the suite is so popular, I had feeling that we will be upgraded again.
We took private car from Shenzhen to Hongkong(no need to get out during border crossing) and arrived hotel around 12:30 noon, waited for another 30 mins before they directed to our room-Diplomat Suite, located on 34th floor. All Suites located from 31-36th floor, and requires Elevator change on 30th floor.
I did not eat anything from Lounge for the next 3 days, but the view from the lounge are beautiful.
Few suggestions though, if you are going Hong Kong for a shopping trip, this may not be the property because it’s 10 mins walking distance to Subway station and traffic can be very bad in Hong Kong. The standard room is small, more like Grand Hyatt Beijing. Other than that, I think this is great hotel with good service.
Posted by Troy under 2010 Trip, Baby and Me, Hyatt Gold Passport |
December 26, 2010
After long time back and forth discussion with my wife, she finally decided to take the trip with our baby to Hong Kong, Macau and Hainan Island.
We spent our first night at Shenzhen Sheraton hotel to meet with our relatives for border crossing the next day. Arrived hotel around 9:30pm, the room was upgraded to Studio Suite. I requested an infant crib before we arrive, the crib was ready when we got there. However, I was quite disappointed about the crib, it’s so deep and very hard to put baby in and out. Eventually, we let baby sleep with us on the same bed for the night.
The Lounge closed too early on the weekend, 8:00pm. well, it’s just for one night, so not big deal.
Does the crib look like a cage to you?
Posted by Troy under 2010 Trip, Baby and Me, Starwood Hotels |
August 10, 2010
Finally, I booked 3 business class from LAX-PEK using AA miles on Japan airline, but this time is diff, baby is going to travel with us, so I need to find the best infant fare for her.
Before that, I need to say something about using AA miles on JL flight to China. If you call AA and tell them you want to go from US to China on Japan Airline, you probably never gonna find anything in business class, don’t ask me why, I don’t know, there must be something wrong with either airlines’ system. What you need to do is to find a agent who is willing to search for you segment by segment, seats will show up then put together. Trust me, there are some agents don’t want to search segment by segment, so ask them before even start it, hang up and call again if they say NO. JL award availability can be found using British airways website.
Now, let me talk about infant ticket, there are actually three ways to buy a infant ticket with adult miles ticket,
1 from ticketing airline
After you redeemed your ticket, you can ask them to price an infant ticket, in my case, AA priced out for me $425 including all taxes, that’s actually 10% of the lowest business fare on my travel day, actually, JL only selling C class ticket on that day, so 10% of C class.
2 from operating airline
Also, I did call JL to check too, as I mentioned above, C and J only on that day, so same thing here, 10% of C, but for some reason, the price is slightly higher than AA price, about $20 or $30, so I went ahead with AA.However, I did asked them how JL price the infant ticket, they told me, they use 10% of the LOWEST business fare, which means, if I class is availability on the day I fly, the infant ticket would be only $300+
3 breakdown to diff operating airline if more than one airline involved or no published fare.
Although, it doesn’t apply in this case, but I have another ticket involves three diff airlines and 4 continents, there is no way for ticketing carrier or any single operating carrier to price entire trip for infant, in this case, I have to contact each operating carrier to price infant ticket.
There is really no set rule for infant fare with adult ticket using miles, some charges 10% of lowest available fare, some charges 10% of full fare, some charges 25% of lowest available fare. The best example of 25% is Cathay, I was trying to use CX for our trip back, but the infant ticket priced out more than $900 for I class, adult business I class is 4000+ one way. I asked them why, they checked fare rule and told me it’s 25%. So always check with diff carriers to find lowest price.
Posted by Troy under American Airlines, Award redemption, Baby and Me |
May 15, 2010
she looks a lot like me!
Posted by Troy under Baby and Me |
May 13, 2010
Despite I have done lots of preparation work, there are still more things need to be done!
stay tuned, as I have found a way to using DL miles to Europe in business during this summer on pretty much any date!
Posted by Troy under Baby and Me |
May 7, 2010
My daughter was born today, May 7th 7:58pm!! weight 7 lbs and 1 oz!!!!!! A new life begins!
For the past few months, I have learned from many people on how to play Big 3 drug stores and have accumulated 1 year supply diapers/wipes/other baby and household product at nearly free price or even with profit! Thanks for their help!! I saved lots of money!!!!
Posted by Troy under Baby and Me |
May 7, 2010
In Hospital now, Preparing!
Posted by Troy under Baby and Me |
