As most of you probably know, my goal this year has been to review as many new airlines in premium cabins as possible, and I've found it to be immensely enjoyable. I've tried even more new products than I was hoping to, so a few weeks back I shared an additional list of 13 more…
Continue reading: Here Are The Details Of My Next 5 “Big” Trips
Share your questions, experiences, and thoughts below.
Remember to start filling your green index matrix (how environmentally concious you are) for your next trips.
Instead of flying KE to Laos and Cambodia, here are a few "better" options
1- Philippine Airlines LAX to MNL then Vietnam Airlines MNL-SGN-PNH
2-UA Island Hopper from HNL-GUM-HKG then Cathay to PNH
3- Gulf Air through BAH-BKK then Thai to PNH
@Lucky - You might try to squeeze in a Gaurda Indonesia First Class NRT-DPS and onward to your final destination or try on the return, however it is feasible?
Looking forward to all those reviews! I really hope Tiffany is also going to add her own thoughts as well, as her posts are also wonderful
How about the new JAL business class in the it Dreamliner? The existing one (that still fly out of San Diego) is the crappie angled lie flat seats, but their new product looks much better.
Really curious to hear about XiamenAir. Had great service when I flew them a few times within China a few years ago - friendly crews on all flights, and during one of the flights (Hangzhou to Tianjin) put everyone on the plane up in a four star hotel to wait during a 3.5 hour delay. Will be interesting to hear what they're like internationally.
Good luck with Xiamen Airlines, I hate to say I told you so , but you will find it has no difference from other "China" airlines.
Sounds Great Lucky! Should be fun to follow along. Any news or updates on your trip to Israel?
Think we can get dueling trip reports from you and Tiffany on the run you guys are taking together?
Pack your gas mask. Serbia, Russia and China have among the highest rates of male smokers in the world. Hopefully you'll get lucky and get the crews who don't smoke in flight.
Luang Prabang, Laos is one of the nicest small towns in all of Asia, hope you have time to visit and a few days to soak it up.
If you're visiting Angkor Wat, I recommend not going with a guide for the day. Yes, you'll get great info, but it can become too much... and usually the guide feels obliged to keep talking the whole time, which can be tiring.
I recommend hiring a tuk tuk for the day as I found that to be a lot of fun. Make sure in advance that the driver will provide cold towels and water!
Looks like you are flying the new Korean first class out of Vancouver to Seoul? Do they use that plane regularly for that route?
I really like @Brad B's suggestion of trying Philippine & Vietnam airlines on the trip to Laos and Cambodia.
Hmmm...I'm wondering (and hoping) if Ben & Ford will be hitting up Amansara and Amantaka.
I second the notion of dueling trip reports between you and Tiffany for any shared portions of the itinerary. You both have interesting, well thought out perspectives.
You should spend a few days in Siem Reap in Cambodia. There is a Park Hyatt there. If you go you should try a 3-4 hour atv/bike tour of the countryside. It was one of the purest cultural experiences I have done in my life. Let's say it will make you appreciate how lucky you are (and frankly everyone who visits this blog.)
Phnom Penh has interesting sites of the dark Khmer Rouge era. The Raffles is a fine hotel in a true French Colonial building.
@Steven, would have to disagree. I thought a guide added a lot to our experience of Angkor. If you want less information I think you can always let the guide know.
In Siem Reap you can get templed out. So get a guide then pick three, say Bayon, Ta Prohm, Angkor Wat. We did that in a day. Some say you need three days minimum but I don't buy that. I recommend a guide - ours happened to tell us about his experiences during the Khmer Rouge.
We also liked having drinks at the FCC (Foreign Correspondents Club) both in Phnom Penh and Siem Reap.
One thing I loved about Cambodia is that the locals really wanted to tell us their stories. Fascinating and heartbreaking.
LX flies the CS100 from CDG to ZRH. Maybe you cold use that on your intra-European flight between TN and LX
MH has some decent fares from Cambodia to Japan or Korea in J. You can try out their new J seats too.
For Seim Reap I second the suggestion for a guide and picking 3 temples. I'm headed back at the end of October staying at the Le Meridian using SPG points of course. (Bangkok Air from BKK as it's only 50 minutes) Try to catch the Apsara dancers in the evening. Quite beautiful as well. P.S. Bring Dollars....
Been to Laos twice and have flown Lao Airlines, their flights were perfectly acceptable
Siam Reap Cambodia ? ... be interested in Hotel side of things as they're aint much on offer ..think you'll be shocked with the amount of unpaved roads still..
Aeroflot would be of minor interest...many moons ago I flew an Ilyushin dme to Len, complete with softig matrons dispensing tea from samovars.
One nice thing back then was a window in the Lu...only now being revived in some aircraft...
Wow! That is a lot of travel in six weeks, even for you. How about Delta to NRT, then Vientam's 787 to SGN, then Vietnam A321 for the 45 min hop to Cambodia? Should be able to get for 80,000 SkyMiles if you can get an agent to price over the phone. Doesn't seem to want to do online due to overnight layover in NRT.
Ben, I've been living in Cambodia (Phnom Penh) for the past 8 years. Let me know if you need any tips, re hotel, restaurants or places to visit. In addition to what suggested by others above, there are a few nice islands off the coast of Sihanoukville (and Kep). Internal travel might be time consuming, unless you want to fly Cambodia Angkor Air, or Bassaka Air between Siem Reap and Phnom Penh or, why not, Bayon Airlines!
You don't mention exactly when Ford's birthday is but if there is a way for you to be in Luang Prabang (Laos) for the weekend of October 15-17th then it is not something you would regret adjusting your trip for. It would be a memorable experience in this already delightful town.........
http://villa-maly.com/top-10-things-to-do-during-light-festival-in-luang-prabang/
I'd go YVR - ICN on Korean Air, ICN - HKG on Air India 787 business class, HKG - PNH on Dragonair, PNH - BKK - LPQ on Bangkok Airways, LPQ - VTE - SIN on Lao Airlines and SIN - SFO on Singapore A350
We lived in Vientiane for three years some time ago and while we enjoyed living there, we really, really enjoyed visiting Luang Prabang. We spent 15 years living in SE Asia and its probably our favorite destination- you have to add it to your itinerary.
Love love love Cambodia. I was there a few months ago. Make sure its Siem Reap you visit...hundreds of temples surround Angkor Wat, makes for an unforgettable day or two. I recommend 3 days there, so you can also enjoy the downtown Siem Reap area.
Phnom Penh is ok, but its just another city.
Cambodia is all about the people/food and of course, ancient temples that will blow you away!
Honestly, Siem Reap is not to be missed...you both will never forget it! The feel of the air is pure MAGIC!! No other way to describe it really. I did not want to leave.
Also, check out the non-chain hotels luxury hotels, there are many. Not sure what fellow poster, Nev is talking about....tons of hotels (mostly boutique) but there are plenty of 5 star resorts, all very interesting. Of course if you want the Hyatt it's there, and a Le Meridien.
Hey Lucky! I am a quiet reader from Switzerland. In case you have spare time while in ZRH I'd be more then happy to show you around! Let me know.
Laser Scans Unveil a Network of Ancient Cities in Cambodia : http://www.nytimes.com/2016/09/20/science/angkor-wat-cambodia-archeaology.html
Highly recommend Luang Prabang - it was my favorite place in Laos. There was nothing interesting about Vientiane. In Cambodia, I second the recommendation for going to a boutique hotel Le Pavillion d'Orient is exceptional
I do have to add that Phnom Penh captured my heart. If you want to be depressed you can go to Tuol Sleng (prison, was a high school - watch the Killing Fields) but otherwise just wander around and talk to people. We stayed in a nice budget hotel a block from the river, and the workers chatted us up while we were eating at the sidewalk cafe there. That was Christmas Day. The FCC was a nice place to take it all in as well.