That Time Of The Year!

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That Time Of The Year!
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  • Monthly Archives: July 2017

    • South African Airways Premium Baobab Lounge

      Posted at 2:52 pm by TTOTY, on July 26, 2017

      Author : CHC

      We were early for our flight SQ479 outbound JNB for SIN as our airport transfer insisted we be at the airport 3hours before departure. As we did not have anything planned further in JNB, we agreed to the arrangement. We need not however have worried as both traffic and check in were smooth. OR Tambo is a huge airport with the bulk of international flights in and out of South Africa, but at 1045am, it was fairly quiet.

      The lounge is airside after immigrations towards the A side gates, which suited us fine as we would be departing from gate A16/17. A point to note is in OR Tambo, premium and economy class passengers do not board the plane at the same gate but at adjoining gates.

      The lounge is a shared lounge for all Star Alliance carriers and is located up a flight of stairs (although there is an elevator as well for those with lots of duty free purchases).

      The lounge is located to the right of the stairs and there are a few lounges on that level as well. At least one lounge accepted Priority Pass cards.

      Continue reading →

      Posted in Lounges | 0 Comments | Tagged Baobab Lounge, Johannesburg, South Africa, South Africa Airways
    • Bidvest Domestic Lounge, Cape Town

      Posted at 3:21 pm by TTOTY, on July 20, 2017

      Author : CHC

      There are 3 or 4 lounges located in the domestic terminal of Cape Town. The terminal itself is a shared terminal with international departures but passengers are segregated at security after check in.

      The lounge is located airside on the 4th floor, and hence requires the use of an elevator to access. The route is well signaged but be sure to enter the right lounge as there are a few lounges next to it. The lounge used by Star Alliance premier passengers is next door.

      Continue reading →

      Posted in Lounges | 0 Comments | Tagged Africa, Bidvest Domestic Lounge, Cape Town, Lounge, Priority Pass, South Africa
    • SA8651 Economy Class (CPT-SZK)

      Posted at 3:07 pm by TTOTY, on July 20, 2017

      Author : CHC

      This domestic flight was taken as part of my South African adventure after the completion of my visit to Cape Town and its surroundings. Slated as a 2 hour 30 min flight, I was told (and read) that domestic flights are notorious for cancelled and delayed flights but I was pleasantly surprised by a good traveling experience. 

      Continue reading →

      Posted in Economy Class, Flights | 0 Comments | Tagged Africa, Cape Town, Embraer ER3, Skukuza, South Africa, South Africa Airways
    • Enhanced security screening going into USA from Canada

      Posted at 1:12 pm by TTOTY, on July 20, 2017

      Not long after lifting of electronics ban imposed on some airlines, USA is now introducing enhanced security screening for transborder flights from Canada.  Although I have only taken 2 transborder flights so far (AC791 from YYZ to LAX and AC578 from YYC to LAX), I was given the special SSSS treatment on my second flight.

      Continue reading →

      Posted in Others | 0 Comments | Tagged Canada, Security Screening, SSSS, Transborder, USA
    • That Time Of The Year 2017 – Part 2

      Posted at 4:36 pm by TTOTY, on July 18, 2017

      With the conclusion of TTOTY Part 1, it is time to plan for TTOTY Part 2.  This will be the following route:

      Continue reading →

      Posted in Flights | 0 Comments | Tagged Finnair, Helsinki, Kajaani, KLIA, Kuala Lumpur, Lapland, Malindo, Qatar Airways, Rovaniemi, Vantaa
    • Royal Park Hotel The Haneda

      Posted at 2:31 pm by TTOTY, on July 18, 2017

      This hotel is operated under the same chain as Royal Park Hotel The Shiodome.  The hotel is conveniently connected to Haneda International Airport (but on the extreme end) hence there is no need to wait for a shuttle bus (unlike that in LAX).

      The hotel is situated at the departure level but one must walk about 5 to 10 minutes from the subway station.  Given the hotel layout, expect more walking as the hotel has a very long corridor (try getting a room nearer to elevator).  The corridor however is wide enough to accommodate the luggage trolley, hence there is no worry about lugging your luggage.

      Continue reading →

      Posted in Asia, Hotels | 0 Comments | Tagged Edo Food Street, Haneda, Japan, Kobe Beef, Royal Park Hotel
    • Hakone Yoshino Pax Hotel

      Posted at 12:30 pm by TTOTY, on July 17, 2017

      IMG_2191

      This hotel / ryokan was booked as part of my 2D/1N Mount Fuji and Hakone tour.  I had initially wanted to book another ryokan which is only 3 minute walk from Yumoto station but alas, I was too late.  Yoshino is about 10 minute from Yumoto station which is alright if you are traveling light.  Put in 2 -3 luggage coupled with narrow roads and rain, getting there can be a challenge.  Fortunately, there is a regular shuttle to the hotel that cost 100 Yen per person.  However, it only operate 2 trips per hour.  Getting all your luggage onto the crowded bus can be a challenge as well!

      Continue reading →

      Posted in Asia, Hotels | 1 Comment | Tagged Hakone, Hakone-Tozan Railway, Hydrangea express, Japan, Kaiseki, Lake Ashi, Mount Fuji, Ryokan, Yoshino Pax
    • Royal Park Hotel The Shiodome

      Posted at 4:35 pm by TTOTY, on July 16, 2017

      IMG_2096

      Tokyo hotels are famous for their minute sized room (unless you pay good dollar for top rated hotels) and Royal Park Shiodome is of no exception.  I made this booking via Expedia (and shopback) as the Citibank Expedia promotion has ended.  I got the room during the promotion period, hence it cost about SGD $305 per night (excluding cash back, but including tax and breakfast).

      Continue reading →

      Posted in Asia, Hotels | 1 Comment | Tagged Ginza, Haneda, Japan, Narita, Royal Park Hotel, Shimbashi, Shiodome, Tokyo, Tsukiji
    • LAX Crowne Plaza Hotel

      Posted at 3:55 pm by TTOTY, on July 16, 2017

      After the highlight which was Fairmont Chateau Lake Louise, it was time to leave Canada.  Our next stop was Tokyo but unfortunately the flight out of LAX is pretty early at 10am.  Hence, a night’s stay in LAX cannot be avoided.  One thing I dislike about airports in USA is that there are no hotels connected to the airport.  This make transit in USA rather tedious as one has to take another transport from the airport to the hotel.

      Continue reading →

      Posted in Hotels, North America | 1 Comment | Tagged Crowne Plaza, IHG, LAX, Los Angeles, North America, USA
    • Fairmont Chateau Lake Louise

      Posted at 1:14 pm by TTOTY, on July 16, 2017

      IMG_1855

      This is probably the highlight of our 2017 trip.  As the travel period was in peak season, I paid CAD $999 (before tax) per night for my Fairmont Gold room!  If I were to travel a month before, the room is as low as CAD $599 (before tax).  How big difference a month made!  I was deciding if I should go for the Fairmont Gold room, in the end I decided to take the plunge.  What benefits will Fairmont Gold get u with the additional CAD $200?

      • Private check in area in the lounge (and avoid the long queue at the front desk)
      • Club Lounge with all day snacks, breakfast and evening canapes
      • Daily turndown service with Fairmont chocolates
      • Complimentary 1 hour evening kayak rental in Lake Louise (worth CAD $65)
      • Complimentary portable battery rental
      • Complimentary usage of board games available in club lounge

      For those planning to stay here, do book in advance.  Your chances of getting a room via 3rd party booking website (e.g. Expedia) for bonus miles earning may be low.

      Continue reading →

      Posted in Hotels, North America | 1 Comment | Tagged Banff National Park, Canada, Club Floor, Fairmont, Fairmont Gold, Lake Louise, North America
    ← Older posts
    • Posts

      • Flying once again!
      • VTL Experience Part 3 – Homecoming (SQ23 Business Class Review)
      • VTL Experience Part 2 – New York City Ground Experience
      • VTL experience Part 1 – a short getaway to NYC (SQ 26 First Class Review)
      • Intercontinental Hotel Bugis Singapore
      • SQ380 Business Class a.k.a Dine@A380 – Flight of Hope (or desperation)
      • Together, we shall prevail!
      • Review – Life in quarantine facility
      • What I fear, is the fear itself.
      • TTOTY 2020 – not a great start
      • Korean Air Business Class Second Act – The Apex Suite
      • Korean Air Business Class in pictures – KE 644 (SIN-ICN) and KE 765 (ICN-CTS)
      • Looking back at 2019
      • Air China Economy Class
      • Bank of China Elite Miles Card – my crappy experience
      • SQ 32 Business Class (SIN-SFO) in pictures
      • SQ 979 Business Class (BKK-SIN)
      • Renaissance Hotel Bangkok
      • T/G Lounge (DPS)
      • Thai Royal Silk Lounge Singapore
      • TG 404 Business Class and TG 409 Economy Class (SIN-BKK-SIN) – an ‘upgraded’ experience
      • Park Royal Kuala Lumpur – more GHA hotel review
      • Capitol Kempinski Singapore and GHA Discovery Black
      • Holiday Inn Resort Batu Ferringhi, Penang
      • TR 426 (SIN-PEN) and AK 1729 (PEN-SIN) review – tale of 2 budget airlines
      • SQ 611 Business Class (ICN-SIN) in pictures
      • NH 7 Business Class (SFO-NRT) in pictures
      • Sony WH-1000XM3 – The must have traveling companion!
      • Panama San Blas Islands & Panama San Blas Tour – Paradise in the Caribbean
      • Panama – my experience
      • Austin ATX Pass and Houston Segway Tour
      • SQ 637 Suites (NRT-SIN)
      • Intercontinental New York Barclay – an old gem in the Big Apple
      • Crowne Plaza JFK, New York
      • Changi Jewel Lounge
      • Delta One & Korean Air Business Class
      • UA 2 & UA 1 Economy Class (SIN-SFO-SIN) in pictures
      • The Westin Playa Bonita
      • Silverkris Lounge makeover …. finally!
      • Gamboa Rainforest Resort – an old gem badly in need of makeover
      • Waldorf Astoria Panama City
      • Hilton Americas-Houston
      • Lufthansa Senator Lounge (FRA) Revisited
      • Virgin Clubhouse JFK – sanctuary in a busy airport
      • Copa Club Tocumen Airport and The Lounge Panama by Global Lounge Network
      • Landry’s Seafood IAH Terminal C and non-lounge use of Priority Pass Card
      • United Club and KLM Crown Lounge Houston (IAH)
      • SQ 25 Suites (JFK-FRA-SIN) – my favourite cabin once again
      • CM 804 Business Class (PTY-JFK) – Good alternative connecting into Latin and South America for Star Alliance
      • CA 885 First Class (IAH-PTY) – First Air China experience
      • UA 1045 First Class (IAH-AUS)
      • SQ 52 Business Class (SIN-MAN-IAH) – my long and arduous journey into the Lone Star State
      • That Time of The Year 2019!
      • Gardens Hotel & Residences Kuala Lumpur
      • First Class or Business Class redemption? A simple breakdown on Krisflyer
      • Long Haul Economy Class or Short Haul First Class?
      • SQ 218 Suites (MEL-SIN) and Silverkris Lounge Melbourne in Pictures
      • SQ 217 Suites (SIN-MEL) in pictures
      • Food in Kansai
      • Wa Yamamura – a must try in Nara!
      • Holiday Inn Osaka Namba – strategically located budget hotel
      • Mikasa Ryokan Nara – a sanctuary for relaxation
      • SQ 618 (SIN-KIX) Business Class – a fairly simple sleeper flight
      • SQ619 Suites (KIX-SIN) – A Great Way To Fly!
      • OD807 Business Class (KUL-SIN) in pictures
      • The end of an era
      • IHG Ambassador Programme
      • Upcoming Krisflyer devaluation
      • Grand Millennium Hotel Hongqiao Shanghai
      • Happy New Year 2019!
      • MH609 (KUL-SIN) Business Class & MAS Golden Lounge in pictures
      • 2018 – looking back
      • SQ 830 (SIN-PVG) and SQ 833 (SIN-PVG) Economy Class
      • MI 988 and MI 985 Business Class (SIN-WUH-SIN)
      • SQ21 Business Class (EWR-SIN) – post inaugural flight back to Singapore
      • Special feature – SQ22 Inaugural (SIN-EWR) Premium Economy
      • SIN-EWR Inaugural
      • Air China First Class Lounge Shanghai
      • SQ618 Business Class (SIN-KIX) – Pictorial review of the Dreamliner
      • SQ828 First Class (SIN-PVG)
      • Holiday Inn Express Mongkok, Hong Kong
      • Holiday Inn Munich City Centre – conveniently located within Munich City
      • Imlauer Pitter Hotel Salzburg – Cosy Boutique Hotel just a stone throw away from the Mirabel
      • Heritage Hotel Hallstatt – a hotel in the UNESCO World Heritage town
      • MI 986 and MI985 Economy Class (SIN-WUH-SIN) – my furthest flight on a 737
      • SQ22/21, here we come!
      • Cathay Pacific Business Class Lounge, Changi Airport Terminal 4
      • CX712 Business Class (HKG-SIN) and The Deck Business Class Lounge
      • CX711 Business Class (SIN-BKK-HKG) – First Cathay Pacific experience
      • Holiday Inn Bangkok
      • Oman Air Business Class Lounge Bangkok
      • Adlers Hotel Innsbruck – A gem in the Tirolian capital
      • Radisson Blu Plaza Helsinki
      • Rovaniemi Scandic Hotel
      • London Intercontinental Park Lane Hotel – a luxury that is in need of some uplifting
      • SQ974 and SQ973 Economy (SIN-BKK-SIN) – The Dreamliner makes a debut
      • BA926 (LHR-MUC) Club Europe – a good way to use your Avios
      • Arctic Snow Hotel and Igloo Hotel Rovaniemi
      • SQ327 Business Class (MUC-SIN) – My first A350-900 XWB ride
      • AY412 Economy Class (KAJ-HEL)
      • AY533 Economy Class (HEL-RVN)
      • SQ 308 Suites (SIN-LHR) – a rather underwhelming Suites experience
      • Krisflyer Spontaneous Escapes – March Edition
      • Helsinki Finnair Business Class Lounge
      • Al Mourjan Business Class Lounge Doha
      • Plaza Premium First Lounge KLIA (Part 2)
      • Qatar Airways A330-300 Business Class
      • QR849 Business Class (KUL-DOH)
      • Intercontinental Landmark 72 Hanoi (Club Intercontinental)
      • SQ 176 and SQ 175 Business Class Review (SIN-HAN-SIN)
      • KrisFlyer Spontaneous Escapes Promotion
      • Hotel Jen Puteri Harbor, Johor
      • KLIA Plaza Premium First Lounge
      • OD 807 Business Class (KUL-SIN) and KLIA Premier Access Lounge
      • SATS Premier Lounge Changi Terminal 2 and MH614 Business Class (SIN-KUL)
      • Berjaya Time Square Hotel Kuala Lumpur
      • QR 852 Business Class (DOH-KUL)
      • Qatar Airways Al Mourjan Lounge Doha
      • QR40 First Class (CDG-DOH)
      • Qatar Airways Premium Lounge Paris
      • South African Airways Premium Baobab Lounge
      • Bidvest Domestic Lounge, Cape Town
      • SA8651 Economy Class (CPT-SZK)
      • Enhanced security screening going into USA from Canada
      • That Time Of The Year 2017 – Part 2
      • Royal Park Hotel The Haneda
      • Hakone Yoshino Pax Hotel
      • Royal Park Hotel The Shiodome
      • LAX Crowne Plaza Hotel
      • Fairmont Chateau Lake Louise
      • Banff Aspen Lodge
      • SQ478 Business Class (SIN-JNB-CPT)
      • St. Regis Hotel Vancouver
      • Delta Hotels by Marriott Montreal
      • SQ631 Business Class (HND-SIN) and ANA Business Lounge Haneda International Airport
      • SQ11 Business Class (LAX-NRT) and Star Alliance Lounge LAX
      • AC578 Economy Class (YYC-LAX) and Calgary Aspire Lounge
      • TS8788 Economy Class (YVR-YYC)
      • AC307 Domestic Business Class and Maple Leaf Lounge – a case of downgraded bird
      • DL 4106 Domestic First Class – A very forgettable experience!
      • SQ26 Suites (SIN-FRA-JFK) Round 2, with my first ever in-flight medical call
      • That Time Of The Year 2017 Part 1
      • Let’s talk about Avios
      • My take on the upcoming devaluation of Krisflyer Miles
      • The day we all dread …..
      • A Tale of 3 Lounges
      • Seoul Courtyard Marriott Time Square Club Room
      • MH616/66/67/607 Business Class (SIN-KUL-ICN-KUL-SIN)
      • Special! 7D 5N Parlo Tour (Malaysia) Hokkaido
      • Grand Millennium Kuala Lumpur
      • New Chitose Air Terminal Hotel
      • MH619 Business Class (KUL-SIN)
      • D7 551 Economy Class (CTS-KUL)
      • NH63 Economy Class (HND – CTS) – and Ninja Wifi review
      • SQ636 First Class (SIN-HND)
      • More upcoming review
      • SQ67 Business Classs (GRU – BCN – SIN)
      • Sumaq VIP Lounge, Lima
      • Premier Lounge Ngurah Rai Airport
      • ANA Suites Lounge Narita Airport
      • Changi Airport Terminal 1 Dnata Lounge
      • Upcoming review for October 2016…
      • JW Marriott Cusco
      • KL836 Business Class (DPS-SIN)
      • KL835 Business Class (SIN-DPS)
      • Next up? Bali
      • My short Malaysia getaway
      • MH628 & MH 605 Malaysia Airlines Economy (Via JAL Redemption)
      • Award redemption using Krisflyer Miles
      • Credit Cards that offer renewal miles
      • Citibank Prestige Card
      • SQ856 Business Class (SIN-HKG)
      • MH73 & MH609 Business Class (HKG-KUL-SIN)
      • SQ866 Suites (SIN – HKG)
      • The Haven by Jetquay Lounge
      • Penang Rasa Sayang Shangri La Resort and Spa
      • San Francisco Hyatt Regency
      • Los Angeles Residence Inn L.A. Live
      • Missisauga ALT Hotel
      • Niagara Sheraton On The Falls
      • Toronto Intercontinental Club Room
      • Boston Intercontinental Club Room
      • New York Residence Inn Times Square
      • Part 6(B) – SQ 15 First Class (ICN – SIN)
      • Part 6(A) – SQ 15 First Class (SFO – ICN)
      • Part 5 – Amtrak Coast Starlight, Sleeper Cabin (LAX – SFO)
      • Part 4 – AC 791 Transcontinental Business Class (YYZ-LAX)
      • Part 3 – AC 7627 Domestic Business Class (BOS-YYZ)
      • Part 2 – DL 4004 Domestic First Class (JFK-BOS)
      • Part 1(B) – SQ 26 Suites (FRA-JFK)
      • Part 1(A) – SQ 26 Suites (SIN-FRA)
      • That Time Of The Year – 2015!
      • Round The World Trip
      • SQ807 Business Class (PEK-SIN)
      • SQ802 Suites (SIN-PEK)
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