Courtyard by Marriott King Kamehameha’s Kona Beach Hotel 75-5660 Palani Rd, Kailua-Kona, HI 96740 Courtyard by Marriott King Kamehameha’s Kona Beach Hotel is a beachfront hotel property located about 8 miles from Kona International Airport. The hotel is at a prime location with lots of great dining options nearby. We had booked 2 stays (1 night each) at this hotel at the beginning as well as the end of the trip. The points required for a redemption stay varies by time of the year and we paid 42,000 Marriott Rewards points for 1 night redemption stay. The bed and linens …
Hotel Reviews Marriott/SPG ReviewsHotel Review – Courtyard by Marriott King Kamehameha’s Kona Beach Hotel
Trip SummaryJanuary 23: Hawaii Big Island Trip – Introduction
We had been planning on going to the Big Island in Hawaii for a while. Back in 2018, we had a trip to the Big Island already booked but due to increasing volcanic activity we changed our trip and ended up in Oahu instead. When Hawaiian Airlines had a good airfare sale, I jumped on another chance to visit this island during the January long weekend (Martin Luther King Jr. Holiday). We ended up having a great time on the island along with once in a lifetime opportunity to view active volcanic activity from a distance. Hotel Review: Courtyard by …
Airline Reviews Korean Air ReviewsAirline Review: Korean Air – Business Class (Boeing 747-8 with Lie Flat Seats): Seoul – Los Angeles (KE 17)
Flight: Korean Air KE 17 from Seoul to Los Angeles Duration: 10 hours 45 minutes Equipment: B748(Boeing 747-800) Class: Business Seat: 19A(Upper Deck Window) Seat Specification: Seat pitch: 75″, Seat width: 20.1″ I had already tried Korean Air Business class on A-380 and Boeing 777-300. When my A-380 aircraft between Seoul and Los Angeles was swapped with a Boeing 747-800, I was extremely happy as this is my favorite aircraft. The upper deck is not too large and only has premium cabin making for a better experience. Korean Air features 747-800 business class with 6 rows of 2 x 2 (except …
Airline Reviews Korean Air ReviewsAirline Review: Korean Air – Business Class (Boeing 777-300 with Angle-Flat Seats): Bangkok – Seoul (KE 652)
Flight: Korean Air KE 652 from Bangkok to Seoul Duration: 5 hours 20 minutes Equipment: B773(Boeing 777-300) Class: Business Seat: 9A(Window) Seat Specification: Lie Flat Seat (not true lie flat) Seat pitch: 74″, Seat width: 20.6″ Korean Air operates various aircraft types (with different configurations) between Bangkok and Seoul including Airbus 330, Airbus 380, Boeing 777-300. I ended up on a Boeing 777-300 with 2 x 3 x 2 seating in Business Class. For a short haul flight such as this one, it wasn’t too bad. However, had I gotten this seat on a TPAC flight, I would not be thrilled …
Asia Destination Trip ReportsDecember 2022: 3 Night in Hilton Maldives Amingiri Resort
Day 1: Me and my parents arrived in Male International Airport in the morning from Kochi, India. Karen’s flight from London was delayed by 3 hours so I made the decision to send my parents to the resort so they did not have to wait with me at the airport. Hilton Amingiri representative at the airport assured me that my parents would not have to wait at the hotel to get a room even though both rooms were booked under my wife’s name and mine. After Karen arrived at the airport, we took the same speedboat to the resort. After …
Hilton Hotel Reviews ReviewsHotel Review – Hilton Maldives Amingiri Resort & Spa
Hilton Amingiri Resort & Spa Malé 08540, Maldives Hilton Amingiri Resort is located on a small island in the Indian Ocean, about 20 minutes speed-boat ride from Male International Airport. It is a very new resort having opened only in 2022. One of the biggest selling points of this resort is that the overwater villas book as a Standard Award making for an exceptional redemption option for Hilton Free Night certificates. The other big selling point is that all villas (including the overwater bungalows) come with its own private pool!! The points required for a free night fluctuates by season. …
Airline Reviews Korean Air ReviewsAirline Review: Korean Air – Business Class (Boeing 777-300 with Lie Flat Seats): Seoul – Las Vegas (KE 5)
Flight: Korean Air KE 5 from Seoul to Las Vegas Duration: 10 hours 30 minutes Equipment: B773(Boeing 777-300) Class: Business Seat: 15A(Window) Seat Specification: Seat pitch: 74″, Seat width: 20.6″ MilesPointsTravel Disclaimer: This review is solely the work of Karen. I personally did not fly this segment. I was supposed to fly ICN – LAS segment on a Boeing 777-300 with 2 x 2 x 2 seats with the Apex Suite but there was a last minute equipment swap and ended up on a 2 x 3 x 2 configuration. This configuration is my least favorite as the seats have wedges …
Airline Reviews Korean Air ReviewsAirline Review: Korean Air – Business Class (Boeing 777-300 with Angled Flat Seats): Bangkok – Seoul (KE 660)
Flight: Korean Air KE 660 from Bangkok to Seoul Duration: 5 hours 15 minutes Equipment: B773(Boeing 777-300) Class: Business Seat: 11H(Aisle) Seat Specification: Seat pitch: 74″, Seat width: 20.6″ MilesPointsTravel Disclaimer: This review is solely the work of Karen. I personally did not fly this specific flight. Korean Air operates various aircraft types (with different configurations) between Bangkok and Seoul including Airbus 330, Airbus 380, Boeing 777-300. I ended up on a Boeing 777-300 with 2 x 3 x 2 seating in Business Class. This type of seating is terrible if you are unlucky to be seated in the middle row. …
Accor Hotel Reviews ReviewsHotel Review – Novotel Bangkok Suvarnabhumi Airport
Novotel Bangkok Suvarnabhumi Airport Suvarnabhumi Airport Hotel, 999, Bang Phli District, Samut Prakan 10540, Thailand MilesPointsTravel Disclaimer: This review is solely the work of Karen. I personally did not stay at this hotel at the time of this review. Novotel Bangkok Suvarnabhumi Airport is located just a 5 minute walk from the airport through an air-conditioned, underground walkway. The hotel also provides complimentary 24-hour shuttle between the airport and the hotel. I booked a 1 night stay at the hotel through a 3rd party booking site (rocketmiles) and paid around 175$ after taxes (with breakfast). It is pricey compared to downtown …
Hotel Reviews Marriott/SPG ReviewsHotel Review – Courtyard by Marriott Kochi Airport
Courtyard by Marriott Kochi Airport Vip Road Opposite Kochi International Airport, Kochi, Kerala 683572, India Courtyard by Marriott Kochi Airport is located just across the Kochi International Airport. Although the drive takes less than 3 minutes, to walk from the airport to the hotel would be a challenge due to the busy road between. Good thing is that the hotel provides complimentary shuttle for its guests (call ahead to confirm the booking). We stayed one night at the hotel for 10,000 Marriott points. Check-in was fairly easy and everyone was super friendly and helpful throughout the stay. They insisted on …
Airline Reviews British Airways ReviewsAirline Review: British Airways – Business Class (Boeing 777-300 with Lie Flat Seats): London – Male (BA 61)
Flight: British Airways BA 61 from London to Male Duration: 10 hours 15 minutes Equipment: B773(Boeing 777-300) Class: Business Seat: Middle Aisle Seat Specification: Seat pitch: 72″, Seat width: 20″ MilesPointsTravel Disclaimer: This review is solely the work of Karen. I personally did not fly this segment. British Airways Business Class (Club World) features 7 rows of seats in 2 x 4 x 2 configuration with both forward and rear facing seats. This is quite a dense configuration and mainly the window seats afford a bit of privacy and the rest of them feel very open. British Airways charges for advance …
Airline Reviews British Airways ReviewsAirline Review: British Airways – Business Class (Airbus 380-800 with Lie Flat Seats): San Francisco – London (BA 286)
Flight: British Airways BA 286 from San Francisco to London Duration: 10 hours 20 minutes Equipment: A388(Airbus 380-800) Class: Business Seat: 59D (Middle Section) Seat Specification: Lie Flat Seats, Seat pitch: 72″, Seat width: 20″ MilesPointsTravel Disclaimer: This review is solely the work of Karen. I personally did not fly this segment. British Airways Business Class (Club World) features full-flat seats in 2 x 4 x 2 configuration on lower deck and 2 x 3 x 2 on upper deck. Because this airline charges for advanced seat request even for Business class, I waited till check-in time to select a seat …
Airline Reviews Korean Air ReviewsAirline Review: Korean Air – Business Class (Airbus 380-800 with Lie Flat Seats): Seoul – Bangkok (KE 657)
Flight: Korean Air KE 657 from Seoul to Bangkok Duration: 6 hours Equipment: A388(Airbus 380-800) Class: Business Seat: 10A(Window) Seat Specification: Seat pitch: 74″, Seat width: 21.6″ This flight was originally slated to be operated on a Boeing 777-300 with 2 x 3 x 2 business class seat configuration. An equipment change instead gave me the opportunity to enjoy the A380-800 upper deck with 2 x 2 x 2 business class seating on this flight. I had tried this product pre-pandemic on Seoul-Los Angeles flight early 2020. Though many websites advertise this seat as a lie-flat seat, I think this is …
Airline Reviews Korean Air ReviewsAirline Review: Korean Air – Business Class (Boeing 777-300 with Lie Flat Seats): Los Angeles – Seoul (KE 12)
Flight: Korean Air KE 12 from Los Angeles to Seoul Duration: 13 hours Equipment: B773(Boeing 777-300) Class: Business Seat: 10J(Window) Seat Specification: Seat pitch: 75″, Seat width: 20.6″ Korean Air operates a multitude of aircraft between its Incheon hub and various US destinations ranging from Airbus 380-800 to Boeing 777-300 to Boeing 747. I had tried the A380-800 with 2x3x2 and lie-flat seats (marketed as lie-flat but actually more like angled-flat) on Seoul – Los Angeles route in 2020 just before pandemic took over. This segment was supposed to be on an A380 when it was booked but there was an …