Holiday Inn Express Hotel & Suites, Henderson, Nevada 441 Astaire Drive, Henderson , Nevada 89014 We stayed at the Holiday Inn Express in Henderson during our last trip to Vegas. Its about 10 miles away from the strip. I have stayed at the strip hotels many times before but this time I had signed up for a few IHG Rewards Club promo bonuses and wanted to get those points at the lowest expense. Since we were renting a car, the distance from the strip was not an issue. Check-in was quick. The front desk clerk recognized my Platinum status and …
Hotel Reviews IHG ReviewsHotel Review: Holiday Inn Express Hotel & Suites, Henderson, Nevada
Hotel Reviews Marriott/SPG ReviewsHotel Review: Courtyard Fort Lauderdale North/Cypress Creek
Courtyard Fort Lauderdale North/Cypress Creek 2440 W. Cypress Creek Road · Fort Lauderdale, Florida 33309 USA This Courtyard is a Category 2 Marriott property located right next to the Fort Lauderdale Executive Airport (FXE) and about 20 minutes away from Fort Lauderdale Airport. The property looked recently renovated with very nice interiors. Check-in was quick and the front desk clerk offered extra bottles of water for Marriott Rewards members. The next day the front desk clerk volunteered information regarding different dining options in the area. The pool area was nice. They had a cabana with wicker furniture. We loved the …
Hotel Reviews Marriott/SPG ReviewsHotel Review: Fairfield Inn & Suites Fort Lauderdale Airport & Cruise Port
Fairfield Inn & Suites Fort Lauderdale Airport & Cruise Port 2081 Griffin Road · Dania Beach, Florida 33312 USA This is a Marriott Category 5 hotel just minutes from the Fort Lauderdale airport. It is located right beside Homewood Suites by Hilton. Among other complimentary amenities, you get breakfast, parking and shuttle to FLL airport (not to Miami airport though). Check-in was quick. The front desk clerk was friendly and inquired about our stay as well as advised best places to go to see the July 4 fireworks. Room size was standard, no microwave or mini-fridge in the room. This …
Hotel Reviews Marriott/SPG ReviewsHotel Review: SpringHill Suites Portland Airport
SpringHill Suites Portland Airport 11922 NE Airport Way · Portland, Oregon 97220 USA The SpringHill Suites Portland Airport is a Category 4 Marriott property located within 5 minutes drive from the airport. This property is located very close to two other Marriott properties: Courtyard Portland Airport and Fairfield Inn & Suites Portland Airport. We arrived at the hotel in the afternoon and check-in process was quick and smooth. The front desk agent explained the amenities (free wi-fi and complimentary breakfast). We told her that our flight leaves late next day and she offered complimentary late checkout at 2 PM. The …
Hotel Reviews Marriott/SPG ReviewsHotel Review: Courtyard Portland Airport
Courtyard Portland Airport 11550 NE Airport Way · Portland, Oregon 97220 USA This Marriott Rewards Category 3 hotel is located only about 5 minutes drive (3 miles) from the Portland International Airport. The property provides complimentary shuttle between the hotel and the airport. We arrived at the hotel in the evening and check-in was speedy. The front desk had only one staff (probably being the weekend and hotel having low occupancy). We were offered complimentary late checkout although we declined because we were leaving early next day for some sight-seeing. The room was fairly standard size and looked newly renovated. …
Airline Reviews Asiana ReviewsAirline Review: Asiana Airlines – Business Class (Fully Flat Quadra Smartium seats) : Incheon – San Francisco
Flight: Asiana Airlines OZ 214 from Incheon to San Francisco Equipment: B772 LR (Boeing 777-200 LR) Class: Business Seat: 4 A, Window/Aisle Seat Specification: Full Lie Flat, 180 degree recline, Seat pitch: 78″. Seat width: 21 ” Two words. Quadra Smartium. Since this trip was my first time ever in international business class it was very easy to get amazed by the ample legroom, meal on actual plates, mostly angle and sometimes lie-flat seats and of course access to business class lounges. But even then, something tells me that it would be a while before I am going to have a business class …
Airline Reviews Asiana ReviewsAirline Review: Asiana Airlines – Business Class (Angled Flat seats) : Los Angeles – Incheon – Los Angeles (OZ 201 and OZ 202)
Flight: Asiana Airlines OZ 201 from LAX to Incheon and Asiana Airlines OZ 202 from Incheon to LAX Aircraft: B748 (Boeing 747-800) Class: Business Seat: 9A (Upper deck, Window) Seat Specification: Angled-Flat, 170 degree recline, Seat pitch: 60″, Seat width: 20″ Note: This review is based on flights that Karen took by herself. While returning together from our Maldives trip, we went separate ways from ICN. She took the OZ 202 to LAX and I took OZ 214 to SFO. Asiana Airlines operates a Boeing 747 in this long haul route. This would be my first time in the upper deck of a …
Airline Reviews Reviews Singapore AirlinesAirline Review: Singapore Airlines – Business Class (Angled Flat seats) : Singapore – Incheon (SQ 602)
Flight: Singapore Airlines SQ 602 from Singapore to Incheon Equipment: A333 (Airbus 330-300) Class: Business Seat: 12 H (Window), 12 K (Aisle) Seat Specification: Angle Lie Flat, Seat pitch: 60.0 “. Seat width: 24.5 ” Singapore Airlines runs an A333 in this mid-haul route. There are 30 Angle Lie Flat seats in this cabin with 2 x 2 x 2 configuration. After boarding, we were offered champagne/water/orange juice for pre-departure beverage. We were planning on ordering some Singapore Slings after takeoff so we decided to go with water for now. We were also offered the lunch menu choices. Since this flight originated from Singapore …
Hotel Reviews IHG ReviewsHotel Review: Holiday Inn Resort Kandooma, Maldives
Holiday Inn Resort Kandooma Maldives Holiday Inn Resort, Kandooma Fushi, South Male Atoll, 00000, Maldives We stayed for 3 nights and 4 days at this Holiday Inn resort using our Priority Club points. Following redemption options are available for stay with points Free award night – 25,000 Priority Club points (currently devalued to 35,000 points/night) Cash + Points: 30,000 Priority Club points + $30 USD or 25,000 Priority Club points + $70 USD per night The resort charges $189 USD + taxes /person for shared speedboat round-trip transfers to the resort. Upon arrival at the airport from our overnight stay at the Fuana …
Hotel Reviews Independent ReviewsHotel Review: Fuana Inn, Hulhumale Island, Maldives
Fuana Inn Hulhumale’ Beach Road Plot No.10107, Hulhumale Since we were arriving at Male International Airport (also called Ibrahim Nasir International Airport) close to midnight on our Singapore Airlines flight, we had decided to spend the night at a local hotel and then go to the Holiday Inn Kandooma resort next day. Searching through Tripadvisor and Hotels.com, I came across this small hotel approximately 15 minutes from the airport. For 1 night, I would definitely advise all visitors to stay on the same island as the airport rather than in Male. You would have to take a ferry to the city …
Airline Reviews Reviews Singapore AirlinesAirline Review: Singapore Airlines – Business Class (Angled Flat seats) : Singapore – Male – Singapore (SQ 451 and SQ 452)
Flight: Singapore Airlines SQ 452 from Singapore to Male and Singapore Airlines SQ 451 from Male to Singapore Aircraft: A333 (Airbus 330-300) Class: Business Seat: 12 H (Window), 12 K (Aisle) Seat Specification: Angle Lie Flat, Seat pitch: 60.0 “. Seat width: 24.5 ” Singapore Airlines operates Airbus 330 in this mid haul route between Singapore and Male with flight duration of around 4.5 hours. There are 30 business class seats in 2 x 2 x 2 configuration. To view the cabin layout and seat pictures, here is the flight review for the Singapore Airlines CCU – SIN flight with same Airbus 330 cabin and …
Airline Reviews Reviews Singapore AirlinesAirline Review: Singapore Airlines – Business Class (Angled Flat seats) : Kolkata – Singapore (SQ 517)
Flight: Singapore Airlines SQ 517 from Kolkata to Singapore Aircraft: A333 (Airbus 330-300) Class: Business Seat: 12 H (Window), 12 K (Aisle) Seat Specification: Angle Lie Flat, Seat pitch: 60.0 “. Seat width: 24.5 ” Singapore Airlines operates Airbus 330 in this mid haul route between Kolkata and Singapore with flight duration of around 4 hours. There are 30 business class seats in 2 x 2 x 2 configuration. As soon as we boarded the aircraft we were struck by the nice color scheme in the business class. The light brown leather contrasted well with the walls. The seats were wide and very comfortable. …
Airline Reviews Reviews Thai AirwaysAirline Review: Thai Airways – Business Class (Recliner seats) : Bangkok – Kolkata
Flight: Thai Airways TG 313 from Bangkok to Kolkata Aircraft: A333 (Airbus 330-300) Class: Business Seat: 14 E, Middle Aisle Seat Specification: Recliner, 138 degree recline, Seat pitch: 50 “. Seat width: 20 ” Thai Airways operates an Airbus 300 on this short-haul route between Bangkok and Kolkata. The flight time is only around 2 hours 30 minutes so a recliner seat gets the job done here. Right after boarding, I was offered pre-departure beverage of orange juice/grape juice/water. No champagne? Bummer !! Karen: They offered us champagne for pre-departure beverage. Maybe the wheels came off the wagon on my husband’s flight. Next came …
Airline Reviews Reviews Thai AirwaysAirline Review: Thai Airways – Business Class (Angled Flat seats) : Incheon – Bangkok
Flight: Thai Airways TG 657 from Incheon (Seoul) to Bangkok Aircraft: B772 (Boeing 777-200) Class: Business Seat: 16A (window); 14A (window) Seat Specification: Angled Flat,170 degree recline. Seat pitch: 61.0 “. Seat width: 21.5 ” Thai Airways operates a Boeing 777 for ICN to BKK mid-haul route. There are a total of 30 business class seats with 2 x 2 x 2 configuration. Me and Karen both flew this flight separately about 2 weeks apart. Right after boarding, the cabin crew were offering champagne for pre-departure beverage. I opted for an orange juice since I had a few drinks at the Asiana lounge earlier.Karen: They …
Hotel Reviews Marriott/SPG ReviewsHotel Review: Aloft Bangkok
Aloft Bangkok 35 Sukhumvit Soi 11, Sukhumvit Road,Bangkok 10110, Thailand Aloft Bangkok is a hip, modern, upscale hotel in the heart of Bangkok on Sukhumvit soi 11, right off the street from the BTS Nana station. For those interested staying in this hotel using points, here is what you need to know. Category 1 SPG property SPG Free Nights Redemption: 2000 – 3000 Starpoints/ night (based on dates and availability SPG Cash & Points Redemption: 1200 Starpoints + $25 USD (subject to availability) The hotel is located in a busy Soi 11 street off of Sukhumvit road. It is a 3 …
Airline Reviews Reviews UnitedAirline Review: United Airlines – Business Class (Fully Flat beds) : San Francisco – Incheon
Flight: United Airlines UA 893 from San Francisco to Incheon (Seoul) Equipment: B744 (Boeing 747-400) Class: Business Seat: 15 A (Upper deck, Window, Rear facing seat) Seat Specification: Full Lie Flat, 180 degree recline, Seat pitch: 74.0 “. Seat width: 23.5 ” United operates a 747-400 in SFO – ICN route. The flight leaves in the morning from SFO and arrives at ICN at evening next day (both local times). The flight duration is around 11 hours 30 minutes. This was my first business class experience and I wanted to make the most of it. I had selected seat 15 A which is …
Hotel Reviews Marriott/SPG ReviewsHotel Review: Marriott Courtyard Solana Beach/Del Mar
Marriott Courtyard Solana Beach/Del Mar 717 South Highway 101, Solana Beach, California 92075 USA This is a category 5 hotel located about half a block from the Del Mar North Beach on Highway 101 very close to the famous Del Mar racetrack. The exterior of the hotel looks pretty unimpressive but inside is a different story. The lobby area looks real cool with lots of modern style furnishings. The business center is in main lobby area with 3 computers and a fax/copier. Complimentary coffee/tea with snacks is available in the evenings. The center courtyard features a heated swimming pool, Jacuzzi …
Hotel Reviews Marriott/SPG ReviewsHotel Review: Ventura Beach Marriott
Ventura Beach Marriott 2055 Harbor Blvd., Ventura, California 93001 USA It is a Category-5 property located in the city of Ventura Beach about 200 yards from the San Buenaventura State Beach. The property looks very well maintained. It has a very nice courtyard in the middle with lots of plants and a nice waterfall. It looks like they imported an oasis in there. The courtyard also features a smallish size heated swimming pool (open till 10 pm) and a Jacuzzi. The back lobby looks pretty swanky. The business center is right next to the check-in area with 3 computers. It …
Restaurant Reviews ReviewsRestaurant Review: SkyCity Restaurant, Seattle
One of the Seattle attractions is the restaurant at the top of the Needle called SkyCity restaurant. Since we were here, we were not going to miss the opportunity to try this place out. The check-in for the restaurant is at the entrance where the gift shops are at the ground floor. After a little gift shop browsing it was time to go up the super fast elevator. The Needle is 605 ft tall and it takes about 45 seconds to get from the bottom to the top. Since we were a bit early, we were given a buzzer and …
Hotel Reviews Marriott/SPG ReviewsHotel Review: Courtyard Miami Beach Oceanfront
This category 6 Marriott property is located in Miami Beach on Collins Avenue, with an oceanview. There is a small pool and a jacuzzi at the back. Towels were provided for hotel guests at the pool. It also has a cute little tiki bar at the back of the hotel, just past the pool, that seemed pretty crowded all throughout our stay. There is a wood planked boardwalk that runs between all the hotels and the beach (bring your sandals, don’t want to get splinters). You can gain entry to the beach by walking through these, or along the side …