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Hotel Reviews Independent/Non-Major Chain

Hotel Review – Le Duc De Praslin, Praslin, Seychelles

Le Duc De Praslin MPPR+CW5, Cap Samy, Seychelles Le Duc De Praslin is located right next to the gorgeous Cote d’Or beach, about 6 miles from the inter-island boat ferry terminal on Praslin Island. It has 2 different properties, one older and one newer. We stayed at the older property (with bungalows) for 3 nights. Check-in was fairly quick. Additionally we met with the actual owner of the property who introduced himself to us. We also saw the owner couple of times during the stay so you know that you are staying at a property where the owner is not …

Africa Destination Trip Reports

Trip Report – Mahe, Seychelles

Day 1:  We arrived at Mahe International Airport from Addis Ababa around 2 PM. After picking up our rental car, we drove 15km south along the coast to Doubletree by Hilton Seychelles – Allamanda Resort and Spa. We stayed here for 2 nights before visiting Praslin Island. After checking in at the hotel and freshening up, we hit the beach. It was early evening by now and we did not get in the water although it was quite warm!! The hotel is a beachfront property with private beach access. We walked along the beach to nearby rocks which had a …

Hilton HHonors Hotel Reviews Reviews

Hotel Review: DoubleTree by Hilton Seychelles – Allamanda Resort and Spa

DoubleTree by Hilton Seychelles – Allamanda Resort and Spa South Coast Road Anse Forbans Mahé, Seychelles DoubleTree Hilton Seychelles is located about 15km from Seychelles International Airport in Takamaka area (5km south of Anse Royale Beach). The hotel is located right on the beach with private beachfront. We redeemed 70,000 Hilton Honors/night on a 2 night award stay. Check-in was smooth and easy and the front desk agent recognized my wife’s Diamond status. Right after checking in, we freshened up and hit the beach (as it was getting late in evening). After spending an hour at the beach and rocks …

Airline Reviews Ethiopian Airlines Reviews

Airline Review: Ethiopian Airlines – Business Class (Boeing 737-800 with Recliner Seats) : Addis Ababa – Mahe (ET 879)

Flight:  Ethiopian Airlines ET 879 from Addis Ababa to Mahe Duration: 3 hours 55 minutes Equipment: B738(Boeing 737-800) Class: Business Seat: 2C(Aisle) Seat Specification: Recliner Seats, Seat pitch: 48″, Seat width: 20 ” MilesPointsTravel Disclaimer: This review is solely the work of Karen. I personally did not fly this segment.  Ethiopian Airlines alternates between the older 737-800 Boeing and the newer 737 MAX 8 aircrafts. On this trip, it was the former with 4 rows of recliner seats in 2 x 2 configuration in business class. The aircraft interior looked worn out and in need of a refresh. I am not …

Airline Reviews Ethiopian Airlines Reviews

Airline Review: Ethiopian Airlines – Business Class (Boeing 787-8 with Angled Flat Seats) : Chicago – Addis Ababa (ET 575)

Flight:  Ethiopian Airlines ET 575 from Chicago to Addis Ababa Duration: 13 hours 30 minutes Equipment: B788(Boeing 787-800) Class: Business Seat: 2D (Middle row) Seat Specification: Angled Flat Seats, Seat pitch: 68″, Seat width: 21 ” MilesPointsTravel Disclaimer: This review is solely the work of Karen. I personally did not fly this segment.  Ethiopian Airlines alternates between Boeing 787-800 and 787-900 between Chicago and Addis Ababa. This outbound segment was operated using the former and featured 4 rows of angled-flat seats in 2-2-2 seating configuration. The cabin felt too open and lacked any sort of privacy. Meal service began soon after …

Africa Destination Trip Reports

May’ 22: Seychelles Trip – Introduction

After about a year from our last international trip (2021 Greece Trip), we went on a quick 7 day vacation to Seychelles. I had been planning on visiting this beautiful island on the Indian Ocean for a while and finally was able to make it happen this year. Seychelles does not require any visas for US passport holders. All visitors however are required to obtain a Travel Authorization before departure. We applied for the travel authorization online about 5 days before the trip and were approved within 2 hours. They require to upload all flight tickets, hotel bookings, passport cover …

Airline Reviews Qatar Airways Reviews

Airline Review: Qatar Airways – Business Class (Airbus 350-1000 Qsuites with Lie Flat Seats) : Doha – Los Angeles (QR 741)

Flight:  Qatar Airways QR 741 from Doha to Los Angeles Duration: 16 hours 15 minutes Equipment: A35K (Airbus 350-1000) Class: Business Seat: 5A (Qsuites with Window seat) Seat Specification: True Flat Bed, Seat pitch: 103″, Seat width: 21.5 “, Closed Suite My all time favorite business class product so far are the Qatar Airways Qsuites. I have experienced them once previously on a Boeing 773 from Doha to JFK in 2018 at the end of our South Africa Trip. This time I was flying Doha to Los Angeles on the latest Qatar Airways A350-1000 Qsuites. There are 46 closed suites on …

Airline Reviews Qatar Airways Reviews

Airline Review: Qatar Airways – Business Class (Airbus 320 with Lie Flat Seats) : Mumbai – Doha (QR 559)

Flight:  Qatar Airways QR 559 from Mumbai to Doha Duration: 3 hours 30 minutes Equipment: A320 (Airbus 320) Class: Business Seat: 1D(Aisle seat) Seat Specification: True Flat Bed, Seat pitch: 45″, Seat width: 21 ” Qatar Airways alternates between an Airbus A320 and Boeing B787 between Mumbai and Doha currently. When I called Qatar Airways to select seats, I had selected middle row of 1 x 2 x 1 configuration on a B787 so I was quite dejected to see A320 at the gate when boarding. Qatar Airways A320 business class only has 3 rows of 2 x 2 business class …

Airline Reviews Emirates Reviews

Airline Review: Emirates – Business Class (Boeing 777-300 with Angled Flat Seats) : Dubai – New Delhi (EK 516)

Flight:  Emirates EK 516 from Dubai to New Delhi Duration: 3 hours 15 minutes Equipment: B77W (Boeing 777-300 ER) Class: Business Seat: 9K(window seat) Seat Specification: Angled Flat seats, Seat pitch: 60″, Seat width: 20.5 ” On Dubai – New Delhi route, Emirates currently operates a Boeing 77W with the dreaded and very outdated 2 x 3 x 2 configuration. I know that they even operate this awful configuration on some long haul routes like DXB – SEA and DXB – SFO. In fact, outside of A380 aircrafts, Emirates business class is not competitive at all and lagging far behind the …

Airline Reviews Emirates Reviews

Airline Review: Emirates – Business Class (Airbus 380-800 with Lie Flat Seats) : Los Angeles – Dubai (EK 216)

Flight:  Emirates EK 216 from Los Angeles to Dubai Duration: 15 hours 30 minutes Equipment: A388 (Airbus 380-800) Class: Business Seat: 23A (Bulkhead window seat in rear cabin) Seat Specification: True Flat Bed, Seat pitch: 48 “, Seat width: 18.5 ” Emirates business class on an Airbus 380 is located entirely on the upper deck behind the First class. The business class section is split into a much smaller rear cabin with only 4 rows of 1 x 2 x 1 configuration with the rest of the rows in a much bigger forward cabin with a total of 76 seats. The …

Hilton HHonors Hotel Reviews Reviews

Hotel Review: Hampton Inn Miami Beach – Mid Beach

Hampton Inn Miami Beach – Mid Beach 4000 Collins Ave, Miami Beach, FL 33140 We used up our 2 free night certificates at the Hilton Bentley and decided to stay at the Hampton Inn Miami Beach – Mid Beach for the remaining 2 nights. The cash rate was pretty reasonable for a memorial day weekend. The hotel is on the other side of Collins Avenue so does not have its own beach access. However, it’s only a 5 minute walk to the beach.  During check-in we were upgraded to a partial ocean view (see picture down below). Thumbs up: Excellent …

Hilton HHonors Hotel Reviews Reviews

Hotel Review: Hilton Bentley Miami/South Beach

Hilton Bentley Miami/South Beach 101 Ocean Drive, Miami Beach, Florida, 33139, USA Hilton Bentley Miami Beach is located in South Beach neighborhood about 11 miles from Miami International Airport. It is a short 5 minute walk from South Pointe Park Pier from where you can see the cruise ships departing Miami. We arrived on an early morning flight and the front desk agent notified us that the room wasn’t ready but we could leave our luggage in storage and explore the property and avail pool and beach amenities. We got our room about 3 hours later which was understandable because …

Airline Reviews Lufthansa Reviews

Airline Review: Lufthansa – Business Class (Airbus 350-900 with Lie Flat Seats) : Munich – Los Angeles (LH 452)

Flight:  Lufthansa LH 452 from Munich to Los Angeles Duration: 11 hours 30 minutes Equipment: A359 (Airbus 350-900) Class: Business Seat: 1 D & 1G (Middle row bulkhead seats with direct aisle access) Seat Specification: True Flat Bed, Seat pitch: 64 “, Seat width: 20 ” Lufthansa Business class on Airbus 350-900 consists of 8 rows of 2 x 2 x 2 seats with 6 rows in main Business cabin and 2 rows in rear cabin. Lufthansa Business product definitely lags behind the times with its 2x2x2 configuration while the rest of the industry moves towards business class having all seats …

Hotel Reviews Independent/Non-Major Chain Reviews

Hotel Review: Hotel Fanis, Naxos, Greece

Hotel Fanis, Naxos Agia Anna Beach, Naxos Island, Cyclades, Greece For our 2 night stay in Naxos, we chose Hotel Fanis by Agia Anna Beach. The hotel is right across from the beach. We arrived at the Naxos port from Santorini in the afternoon. The hotel provides complimentary pickup and drop-off service from the airport and Naxos port. The hotel manager (Katerina) and her husband were at the port to pick us up in their van. We got Room #1 which faces the Agia Anna Beach. When we opened the doors to the patio, you could hear the waves from …

Destination Trip Reports Europe

Trip Report – Naxos, Greece

Day 1: We arrived at Santorini Athinios port (new port) for our SeaJets ferry to Naxos. The ferry ride takes about 3 hours from Santorini to Naxos (depending on which ferry boat you choose). We arrived at Naxos port early afternoon. We were staying at Fanis Hotel close to Agia Anna Beach. The hotel provided complimentary shuttle service to hotel. After freshening up we walked to Lefto’s Souvlaki Kebab House at Agios Prokopios Beach for lunch After lunch, we went to Agia Anna Beach right across from Fanis hotel. The water was still very cold so we shifted to the …

Destination Trip Reports Europe

Trip Report: Santorini, Greece

Day 1: We arrived at Santorini (Thira) International Airport early afternoon. After picking up our rental car we drove to our hotel (Avant Garde Suites) in Akrotiri. After freshening up we decided to have lunch near Kamari Beach. Greece had just reopened post-covid and many places in Santorini were still closed (or work being done for reopening). We were lucky to find Soul By Splash restaurant open, right on Kamari Beach. It was amazing having wonderful food while hearing waves a few feet away. After lunch, we walked along Kamari Beach but the very cold water along with rough pebbles …

Hotel Reviews Independent/Non-Major Chain Reviews

Hotel Review: Avant Garde Suites, Santorini

Avant Garde Suites, Santorini Akrotiri [Caldera], Thira 847 00, Greece Avant Garde Suites is located in the quiet town of Akrotiri on south-west part of Santorini. Most tourists who want the caldera view in Santorini usually go for towns like Oia and Fira. We found this hotel on Booking.com and after visiting the hotel’s website we fell in love with it. The hotel is located about 11 km from Santorini Airport which didn’t take long as we were renting a car for our stay in Santorini. We were the very first and only guests during our stay since reopening of …

Hotel Reviews Marriott/SPG Reviews

Hotel Review: New Hotel, Athens

New Hotel, Athens 16 Filellinon Street, Syntagma, Athens 10557 Greece New Hotel, Athens (a member of Design Hotels™) is located in the heart of Athens within 5 minute walking distance from Syntagma Square.  The hotel has convenient access to the Athens International airport (Eleftherios Venizelos) via Bus (X95) or Athens Metro Line 3 from Syntagma Square. This hotel is a part of the Marriott program and costs 35,000 points/night for an award night stay. We stayed here for 2 nights at the beginning of our Greece trip and 1 night at the end. The best feature of the hotel is …

Destination Trip Reports Europe

Trip Report: Athens, Greece

Day 1: We arrived at Athens International Airport (Eleftherios Venizelos) in the afternoon on our flight from London. After a rapid covid-19 swab test at the airport, we were on our way. Athens Metro Line 3 serves the airport and we took the metro  to Syntagma Square (9 Euro/person). Our hotel (New Hotel, Athens) was only 5 minutes walk from Syntagma metro stop. After freshening up, we decided to pick up our combo Acropolis tickets ($30 Euro for 8 sites over 5 days) from Gymnasium of Lykeion. We walked from our hotel to the National Garden. We walked through the …

Airline Reviews British Airways Reviews

Airline Review: British Airways – Business Class (Boeing 787-800 with Lie Flat Seats) : London – Athens (BA 626)

Flight:  British Airways BA 626 from London Heathrow to Athens Duration: 3 hours 50 minutes Equipment: B788 (Boeing 787-800) Class: Business Seat: 1 D & 1E (1D is forward facing & 1E is rear facing both with direct aisle access) Seat Specification: True Flat Bed, Seat pitch: 75 “. Seat width: 20” Normally British Airways Boeing 787-800 aircrafts service long haul destinations.  But due to Covid and full reopening not happening at the time, we lucked out and got it on our short flight from London to Athens. British Airways Boeing 787 has 2 business class cabins, with 3  and 2 …