Well, I guess it’s review trip ”season,” because I’m heading out on another review trip shortly, to check out some products that I think y’all will enjoy! I just recently took a trip to Iceland, and then tagged on a fun review trip from there. Now I’m heading back out on the road (or in…
Continue reading: BOOKED: Aircalin A330neo, SWISS A350, Thai Airways 787, And More!
Share your questions, experiences, and thoughts below.
Hi Ben. I'm an Ivorian reader. Do you still have any plans to test Air Côte d'Ivoires A339s?
@Ben Swiss Senses/LH Allegris First are now bookable with miles but like AF La Premiere restricted to Miles&More Senators & HON Circle. Also upgrades are possible.
See if you can somehow snag one of those 3 seats for your flight to Boston.
Did not like the Ritz Carlton BKK - area is not fully developed and the hotel continues to have teething problems. Why not the Capella BKK which has won many awards and is highly rated?
Paris: Hotel de Berri would be an interesting choice - its pretty eccentric!
*evil laugh* Muahahahaha, this is the kind of crazy OMAAT silliness we’ve been missing. Can’t wait to hear why you may or may not have extra time in Paris!
This sounds like an enjoyable trip! I’m especially looking forward to hearing about Aircalin, an airline close to my heart - my first two flights as a child were on a Qantas Boeing 747 and an Air Calédonie International Sud Caravelle.
How will you be travelling from MXP to ZRH? Swiss (operated by Helvetic on an E-Jet or airBaltic on an A220) or Ethiopian on an A350-900?
Thinkng of Aircalin, have you considered a review trip into Australia, New Zealand, and the Pacific Islands?
V/F
I love that you got AirCalin. I'd appreciate a Hotel Du Louvre review. Your last couple Paris reviews have been hotels beyond most of our range, which is fine, but it would be nice to balance it with the type of stay a lot of your readers may have using Hyatt points at an accessible property
I wanted to fly the SWISS a350 but it wasn’t feasible to position in BOS from IAH. I predict moderate to severe turbulence at some point on your trip. Bon voyage.
Finally glad to see Aircalin. I just wish you flew it all the way to the South Pacific!
Now Aircalin is out of the way, some other airlines I would love to see would be United's Island Hopper of course, Air Niugini, Solomon Airlines, Royal Brunei (which you haven't done in a long while), Lao Airlines, Cambodia Airways
Finally Thai business class review returns. I would've loved to see their A320 business class too though.
You said that you'll fly Thai again when their new A321neos are in service, so I'll look forward for that.
You might want to stay at the Okura Prestige in Bangkok, which is a very good hotel. Or the Standard, which now belongs to Hyatt, would also be great which is in the Mahanakhon Tower.
I like Le Meridien in Bangkok. Create staff and lounge on top floor. And convenient to take train from airport - just one change of airport train to subway. While not super luxury - rooms look as good or better than your picture of the Ritz room.
Breakfast can be either lounge or restaurant - but restaurant is very large with lots of international food items to choose from in addition to US breakfast items.
And great location as well for a traveler like you.
I came to this website because of the flight reviews and therefore look forward to all of those to come.
As for the click-bait banter …. forget it.
Same I also would appreciate Hotel Du Louvre review. Park Hyatt Paris is reviewed by everyone.
"I have so many of these Amex Platinum $300 hotel credits to burn through..."
That's a good problem to have, Ben.
P2 and I have 4 Amex Platinum between us, so there's 4 nights (every six months), and we each CSRs, so there's 4 more nights (every six months), and Citi Strata Elites, 4 more nights (annually)... Then there are all the co-branded cards (Brilliant, Aspire, Hyatt, IHG, etc.) Feels like one month of the year is basically covered by hotels, whether we need it or not.
You can also just simply ignore posts, comments, ads, etc., that you don't like.
Rosewood Bangkok should also be on the list of Bangkok must visits in my book.
PLEASE stay at the Ritz-Carlton Bangkok in a Club Room (a cert from the Ritz-Carlton Card? It's not like you need all 3). I want you to go first, so I can see how much it hurts.
"Area not developed"? It's across the street from Lumphini park, where you can jog in the morning with locals, or saunter among lagoons with monitor lizards lazily greeting you, or look over the bridge at the turtles. It's in the new ONE Bangkok complex, which includes an Andaz and endless shopping and dining, including a Sushiro! It's right on Wireless Road.
Among my luxe stays, though, my favourite is The Sukhothai, which is SLH, bookable with Hilton points. It's just different, better. Kinda bling-free, old-money luxury. It's also in the GHA Discovery portfolio. They recognized my Hilton Gold a year ago and upgraded us to Executive Room whose bathroom was the largest I've ever experienced in a hotel. The breakfast was epic.
I'm comparing to SO/Bangkok, Athenée, St Regis, each of which I've stayed at, for at least 4 nights. Loved them all but for atmosphere, Sukhothai was the most satisfying.
I mean, I'm pretty sure nobody is telling you to come and post these pointless comments every time when you can just ignore...
You might run into an issue with buying SAF for the XPs on an award ticket with AF-KLM. At least in the past, when flying on an award ticket you could buy SAF but no bonus XP were credited.
Here we go again with Tim's BA alter ego crying about crap.
What isn't a clickbait to you?
What do you even want.
Ben praising BA or Delta based on SkyTrax rating 24/7?
Just start your own blog at this point, instead of disturbing the majority of readers who are satisfied and grateful for Ben's contents.
For your Paris stay, why not review a hotel part of The Leading Hotels of the World, whose Sterling Status you now hold as a Platinum Card member, instead of staying with the usual suspects? Since it's a recent added benefit, you can see how that stacks up to Marriott and Hilton status benefits.
I really am terribly distraught to be upsetting the OMAAT trolls …. on second thoughts …. perhaps I am telling fibs, just like a cheap Japanese watch ….
One thing I’m not telling fibs about is that your trolling activities must be putting a huge strain on your brain cell Mason. It must have been very taxing for you having to copy and paste all 8 lines of gobbledygook which you have posted …. 🙂
Absolutely NS, both Mason and 1990 could “Ignore “ the comments of others and yet they persist in upsetting you …. poor dear.
I would love to see Hotel du Louvre since it's always so overshadowed by the PH. The new LXR would admittedly be quite timely though.
I really don't think the Four Seasons is the best hotel in Montreal. Lots wrong with it. Lobby too small and crowded. Not particular good breakfast. Rooms small, with massive bathrooms. Gym is spectacular though. It's almost exhibit A in FS's over expansion.
Not a patch on the Ritz Carlton around the corner.
Now that is so typical NS, too lazy to address your comments appropriately, then, even forgetting your own advice. Dear, dear, whatever is this website to suffer next? …. 🙂
You people are so funny ….
Just look at the time my comment was published. Who's the one failing to address the target appropriately?
I'm eyeing Bangkok too.
Skip the Ritz, wait for Andaz.
Kimpton is solid but nothing spectacular.
I'd recommend the Standard Bangkok, now that it's bookable on points. Not sure if they fix earnings part yet.
Rebuilt Dusit is worth checking out, just not a common points property.
For the non points proper visit, Six Sense might be open by the time you do the trip.
"whether we need it or not."
That's the sign that you should start canceling some cards.
For Paris hotels, I'd love to see a review of the Prince de Galles since it's highly touted by the Bonvoy community as one of the best properties in Paris. But it's sooo expensive, even on points! I'm intrigued, but would like to know if it's worth it. Also the Lutecia (Amex FHR), now that it's a Mandarin Oriental. Not going back to the Park Hyatt until they get rid of those creepy sculptures!
Bad mood?
Did BA lose your bags in Denver?
Or you just realize SkyTrax is just a sham.
You haven't flown Biman Bangladesh. You posted about them a long time back and they have already inducted new generation aircrafts like 787-9s. Maybe to London from Dhaka?
For Bangkok, if you are looking at RC One Bangkok, what do you think about Andaz One Bangkok? It is right next door and about to open soon.
For Paris hotels, I'd like to hear your opinion on the Hyatt Paris Madeleine and compare that to the Park Hyatt Paris which there are countless reviews out there of.
Also I am always up for more reviews of Thai considering they have like a multitude of J products out there...
Unable to position from IAH to BOS? I could understand overseas but that’s served multiple times a day. Do tell the rest of the attempt for us!
I realized that may have come across as sarcastic but it is an honest question.
The selfish person in me would want you to stay at the Hotel Plaza Athenee in Paris, since it's one of the few Palace Hotels that lacks a review here, but that's probably out of your budget and better off saved for a trip with Ford and the family, so probably pick a place that's easier on the budget and is in need of a review.
"In full disclosure, Fard won a boogie-woogie competition at work and I magically got another free night at a Four Seasons. Obviously, the 5 stars are totally unbiased".
We both know they're getting five stars. And we all know you're getting it for free.
For Bangkok, I’d suggest checking out a more local brand, rather than an outpost of a global (US) brand. Take a look at the Anantara Siam Bangkok?
Awesome itinerary!!! Re hotels:
- I stayed in Park Hyatt Paris few weeks ago and had "Guest of Honor" status from a friend. I think the hotel is "OK", impeccable service, but the rest of the property is underwhelming for the price point.
- For BKK, I think you should try the St Regis. It's our go-to hotel there, still the only 5 star hotel connected to the SkyTrain I think...
Look forward to your trip review!!!
The SAX Paris seems under-reviewed, so that would be a good one. Or consider the Kimpton?
In Bangkok, I suggest trying out the newly rebuilt Dusit Thani instead, it opened around the same time as the Ritz but is the much better regarded hotel by locals
Sindhorn Kempinski - the best of the 'new' hotels around Lumpini. Can't really use points there is the only downside but effortlessly better than its neighbors
The Ritz is very nice but lacks character.
The Sindhorn Village complex (right next to the Kimpton and Kempinski) on Langsuan Rd is an amazing collection of some of the best new restaurants in the city. This time of year it'll be done up like a Christmas Market (with vendor stalls along the street). The whole area is banging - great new Indian restaurant up where Gagan used be. Fancy wine bar (with expensive but super collection of old world bottles). Great cocktails, etc.
Ritz does a good afternoon tea fwiw