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Hotel Reviews Independent/Non-Major Chain Reviews

Hotel Review – Namutoni Camp, Etosha National Park

Namutoni Camp, Etosha National Park Namutoni Camp is located in the eastern part of the Etosha National park, just 13 km from the Von Lindequist Gate. One thing to remember is distance between Windhoek International Airport and Namutoni Camp is 583km which is about 100km more than the Okaukuejo Camp. We arrived quite late at the camp and it was already dark. By the time we checked in and got our keys, it was pitch dark and there is lack of light inside the perimeter of the camp. We drove in circles for almost 30 minutes to get to our …

Hotel Reviews Independent/Non-Major Chain Reviews

Hotel Review – Okaukuejo Camp, Etosha National Park

Okaukuejo Camp, Etosha National Park RW98+H7W Etosha National Park, Okaukuejo, Namibia Okaukuejo Camp at Etosha National Park is the largest of the 6 camps, and located just 18km from Anderson Gate. To get an idea of how long it takes to arrive at the camp for same day arrivals, its 475km from Windhoek International Airport. We arrived at the airport in late afternoon and that’s why we stayed close to the airport for the night and drove next day to the camp. The camp gates operate at a strict timing and its essential for visitors to be in before the …

Africa Destination Trip Reports

Trip Report: Etosha National Park, Namibia – Day 1 & 2

Day 1: We had arrived in Windhoek the night before and stayed at Hilton Windhoek which is about 40 minutes from the airport. In the morning we started our 415 km drive to Etosha National Park. It took us around 5 hours with breaks. We entered the park through Anderson Gate as we were staying in Okaukuejo Camp for first 2 nights. Right after entering the park we drove towards Okondeka waterhole. After we entered the Okaukuejo Camp where we were staying the first 2 nights, we checked-in at the reception, paid our park fees for the entire stay. We …

Airline Reviews Qatar Airways Reviews

Airline Review: Qatar Airways – Business Class (Airbus 350-900 with flat-bed seats) : Doha – Johannesburg (QR 1363)

Flight:  Qatar Airways QR 1363 from Doha to Johannesburg Duration: 8 hours 10 minutes Equipment: A359(Airbus A350-900) Class: Business Seat: 2E-2F(Middle Aisle seats) Seat Specification: Collins Aerospace Super diamond seats, Seat pitch: 31″, Width: 22″ Qatar Airways flies A350-900 on its Doha – Johannesburg route. Although there are certain Qatar Airways A359s that are equipped with Q-suites, this flight was operated with regular 1-2-1 seat configuration. These seats are comfortable, wide but lack the privacy of Q-suites and the cabin felt very open. Beverage service started just after take-off and I ordered what seemed like a mint-lemonade with warm nuts. The …

Airline Reviews Qatar Airways Reviews

Airline Review: Qatar Airways – Business Class (Boeing 777-300ER) with Qsuites : Seattle – Doha (QR 720)

Flight:  Qatar Airways QR 720 from Seattle to Doha Duration: 12 hours 40 minutes Equipment: B773(Boeing 777-300 ER) Class: Business (Qsuites) Seat: 1E-1F(Middle Aisle rear-facing) Seat Specification: Closed suites (Qsuites) 79″ fully flat bed, Seat width: 21.5″ Of all the business class in 25 airlines we have experienced so far in our travels, Qatar Airways is our favorite so far. This was Karen’s 2nd ever Qsuites experience and my 3rd!! It never gets old I’ll tell you that :). Seattle to Doha is operated on a Boeing 777-300 ER with 42 business class suites arranged in alternate rows of forward …

Africa Destination Trip Reports

June 2024: Namibia and Victoria Falls Trip – Introduction

For our second vacation of 2024, we are going to Africa. We been to this continent thrice before, first time in 2016 for Egypt-Kenya Safari trip, then in 2018 for South Africa trip and finally in 2022 for Seychelles trip. This time we will be visiting the Etosha Park in Namibia for 3 nights and then 3 nights in Victoria Falls, Zimbabwe. I am also planning to go to Chobe National Park, Botswana for a day trip from Victoria Falls. The trip will have following reviews: Airline Review: Qatar Airways Business class from Seattle to Doha Airline Review: Qatar Airways …

Airline Reviews Korean Air Reviews

Airline Review: Korean Air – Business Class (Airbus 380-800 with Lie Flat Seats): Seoul – Los Angeles (KE 17)

Flight:  Korean Air KE 17 from Seoul to Los Angeles Duration: 11 hours Aircraft: A388(Airbus 380-800) Class: Business (Prestige Class) Seat: 12E(Middle row aisle seat) Seat Specification: Flat Bed, Seat pitch: 74 “. Seat width: 21.6 “ Korean Air flies 3 different types of configuration between Seoul and Los Angeles though Airbus 380 seems to be the primary one. I have flown Boeing 747-800 and Boeing 777-300ER on this route both of which feature my favorite Apex Suites. However, on this flight it was sadly the Airbus 380 with the upper deck featuring all business class seats in 2 x …

Airline Reviews Korean Air Reviews

Airline Review: Korean Air – Business Class (Boeing 777-300 with Lie Flat Seats): Bangkok – Seoul (KE 652)

Flight:  Korean Air KE 652 from Bangkok to Seoul Duration: 5 hours 22 minutes Equipment: B773(Boeing 777-300) Class: Business Seat: 12H(Aisle) Seat Specification: Seat pitch: 74″, Seat width: 21″, Bed length: 6′ Korean Air flies multiple versions of Boeing 777-300 in its routes and the business class seating can range from 2-2-2 full-flat Apex Suites to 2-2-2 Angled-flat seats. I have flown both versions before and was glad to experience the Apex Suites again. Apex Suites are my favorite type of business class seats right behind Qatar Qsuites (and now the Starlux Suites). Even though these seats don’t have doors, they …

Airline Reviews Reviews Starlux

Airline Review: Starlux Airlines – Business Class (Airbus 350-900 with Suites) : San Francisco – Taipei (JX 11)

Flight:  Starlux Airlines JX 11 from San Francisco to Taipei Duration: 13 hours 30 minutes Aircraft: A359(Airbus 350-900) Class: Business Seat: 2K(Window) Seat Specification: True Flat Bed, Suites. Seat width: 19.6″, Bed length: 6’7″ Starlux is the 3rd Taiwan based carrier that flies to the USA (although it only flies to Los Angeles, San Francisco and Seattle as of now). Starlux flies A350-900 for its USA routes and they feature 26 Collins Aerospace designed suites in 1 x 2 x 1 format. There is no separate first class but the 4 seats in first row are much larger with higher …

Airline Reviews LATAM Reviews

Airline Review: LATAM – Business Class (Boeing 787-8 with Lie Flat Seats) : Santiago – Los Angeles(LA 602)

Flight:  LATAM LA 602 from Santiago to Los Angeles Duration:  10 hours  45 minutes Equipment: B788 (Boeing 787-8) Class: Business Seat: 4D-4H(Aisle) Seat Specification: Lie Flat, Seat pitch: 75″, Seat width: 23″ LATAM flies Boeing 787-8 between Santiago and Los Angeles which unfortunately lacks the new business class product (with 1-2-1 configuration) and instead has the old 2-2-2 seat configuration in Business Class. Since we were flying together, I selected the middle rows and both of us had direct access to aisle. The cabin feels very open and the 2 rows in the forward cabin and 2 rows in rear cabin …

Destination Trip Reports South America

Trip Report – Buenos Aires, Argentina

MilesPointsTravel Disclaimer:  This review is very light on photos. My phone was snatched from my hand in Santiago, Chile at the end of the trip and since I did not backup my photos to cloud, I lost majority of the photos taken during this trip. Only photos that my wife took with her phone made it to the trip report.  Day 1: We were staying at the Buenos Aires Marriott Hotel which was only a 2 minute walk from one of the iconic Buenos Aires landmark, the Obelisk. We decided to walk from our hotel to Mercado Central, a great …

Destination Trip Reports South America

Trip Report – El Calafate, Argentina – Visiting Perito Moreno Glacier

Day 1: We spent 2 days in Argentinian Patagonia in the town of El Calafate. We took the 3 hours 20 minutes flight from Buenos Aires to El Calafate Airport and arrived early in the morning. After picking up our rental car from the airport, we checked in at our hotel Mirador del Lago and were soon on our way to the main attraction of this trip, the Perito Moreno Glacier. The drive from El Calafate town to Perito Moreno takes about 1.5 hours and some portion of the trip is quite scenic where you can see the beautiful blue …

Destination Trip Reports South America

Trip Report – Iguazu Falls, Argentina

Day 1: We walked from our hotel (Panoramic Grand) to Puerto Iguazu bus station and took Rio Uruguay bus to the entrance of the Argentina side of Iguazu Falls. Again the fares are cash only, no credit cards accepted at the bus station. After paying for the entrance tickets (credit cards accepted here), we entered the park. If you are visiting 2 consecutive days, you should save the ticket stubs as the 2nd day is 50% off. There are 3 main hiking routes on the Argentina side of the falls – the Lower circuit, the Upper circuit, the Green trail. …

Destination Trip Reports South America

Trip Report – Iguazu Falls, Brazil

We were staying at Panoramic Grand Hotel in Puerto Iguazu, Argentina. There are multiple options to visit Iguazu Falls on the Brazil side from Puerto Iguazu. One can take a cab (or a private transfer service) directly to the Iguazu Falls entrance or take a bus from Puerto Iguazu bus station. The hotel was about 10 minutes walk to the Puerto Iguazu Bus station. After arriving at the bus station we purchased a round trip ticket on Rio Uruguay Bus to Iguazu Falls, Brazil. The fares are cash only, no credit cards accepted at the bus station. The bus requires …

Aeromexico Airline Reviews Reviews

Airline Review: Aeromexico – Business Class (Boeing 787-9 with Lie Flat Seats) : Mexico City – Buenos Aires(AM 30)

Flight:  Aeromexico AM 30 from Mexico City to Buenos Aires Duration:  8 hours 45 minutes Equipment: B789(Boeing 787-9) Class: Business Seat: 1D-1F (Aisle) Seat Specification: Lie Flat, Seat pitch: 60″, Seat width: 20″ MilesPointsTravel Disclaimer:  This review uses a few stock photos along with photos taken by other bloggers. My phone was snatched from my hand in Santiago, Chile at the end of the trip and since I did not backup my photos to cloud, I lost majority of the photos taken during this trip. Only photos that my wife took with her phone made it to the review. Any photos …

Destination Trip Reports South America

March 2024: Argentina & Chile Trip – Introduction

This was our first trip in South America continent. We have covered all continents (except Antarctica and South America) and had plans to make it to Argentina in March 2020 and we know what happened there!!   The trip will have following reviews: Airline Review: Aeromexico Business Class from Mexico City to Buenos Aires Trip Report: Iguazu Falls, Brazil Trip Report: Iguazu Falls, Argentina Trip Report: El Calafate, Argentina for Perito Moreno Glacier Trip Report: 2 days in Buenos Aires, Argentina Airline Review: LATAM business class from Santiago to Los Angeles Total Cost: Airfare: $132  for 2 round-trip coach tickets …

Airline Reviews Reviews United

Airline Review: United Airlines – Business Class (Boeing 787-9 with Lie Flat Seats and Open Suites) : London – Denver (UA 26)

Flight:  United Airlines UA 26 from London Heathrow to Denver Duration: 9 hours 5 minutes Equipment: B789(Boeing 787-9) Class: Business Seat: 9A(Window) Seat Specification: Open Suites, Bed length: 6’6″, Seat width: 20″ This was my first time flying United Business Class on a Boeing 787. I have flown this carrier’s business class on a Boeing 747-400 Upper deck (my first business class ever!!), Boeing 747-400 Lower deck (with 2 x 4 x 2 seat layout!!), Boeing 767-300 and Boeing 777-300. United Polaris Business class are one of my top 5 Business class seats I have experienced of all the airlines I …

Airline Reviews Reviews Thai

Airline Review: Thai Airways – Business Class (Boeing 777-300ER with Lie Flat Seats) : Bangkok – London (TG 910)

Flight: Thai Airways TG 910 from Bangkok to London Heathrow Duration: 13 hours 15 minutes Equipment: B77Y(Boeing 777-300ER) Class: Business Seat: 11A(Window seat with arm-rest facing aisle) Seat Specification: Lie Flat Seats, Seat pitch: 87″, Seat width: 20 ” Thai Airways is known for having a wide variety of aircraft types and configurations on its fleet and sometimes you are not sure what type of seat layout you are going to get. I have flown Thai Airways 777-300ER long-haul once before and short haul several times. This particular flight was the best Thai Airways experience ever (mainly because of amazing catering!!). …

Asia Destination Trip Reports

Trip Report – Neil Island, Andaman & Nicobar Islands

Day 1: We stayed just 1 day at the Neil Island (now renamed Shaheed Dweep). This island is much less tourist oriented compared to Havelock Island. After arriving late morning on a ferry ride from Havelock, we were driven by our transfer service to the resort (Seashell Samssara Neil Island). We only had the afternoon for sightseeing on the island and our first stop was Bharatpur Beach. It was low tide time and you could walk on knee deep water for close to 1/2 mile from the shore. Next stop was Laxmanpur Beach #2 that has the popular attraction, “Natural …

Asia Destination Trip Reports

Trip Report – Havelock Island, Andaman & Nicobar Islands

Day 1: We started early in the morning from Port Blair to travel to Havelock Island on Makruzz Ferry. The journey takes about 1.5 hours and the ocean was not choppy so went by pretty quickly. I had already arranged private transport so the driver was waiting for us at the Havelock Ferry terminal and drove us to our resort (Tilar Siro Andamans, CGH Earth) where we were staying for 2 nights. We arrived around 10 AM and spent a couple of hours walking along the resort’s private beach. In the afternoon we had our driver take us to Radhanagar …