Category Archives for Trip Reports.
I got to experience the strangest physical layout for a check-in experience I think I’ve come across — check in at one terminal, departure from a different terminal.
Virgin Australia uses the Star Alliance business class lounge, which features an outdoor deck and fire pits. A lovely way to start off a late night long haul departure…
The Concourse Hotel used be the Radisson, is now managed by Hyatt, and is the closest property to LAX airport. It has a super-prompt and convenient shuttle. But man, does it need a refresh in at least the room I was assigned…
Having flown Emirates first class onboard their Airbus A380, I can say it’s truly one of the best first class products in the world. The suite isn’t as spacious as Singapore’s or Etihad’s. But the service is good, the food is good, and despite the bling (there’s a *lot* going on, and a lot of *stuff* they give you) there’s substance to it too.
Most of all, they have the single greatest amenity ever introduced into an aircraft: two giant shower spas, with heated floors. Taking a shower in the sky prior to arrival can’t be beat!
Emirates dedicates an entire level of their Airbus A380 ‘A’ terminal at the Dubai airport for their First Class lounge. It expands across the entire concourse. And there’s just no one there, except for employees. Just how surreal an experience is it to spend time in a lounge that you cannot see the end of off in the horizon?
Now it was really time to head home from my Maldives trip, having had my fill of Sri Lankan food for the day. We checked out of the Hilton and made what was nearly an hour’s drive in traffic to the Colombo airport.
Once there, though, things moved quickly. I had boarding passes from the day before, picked up in Male for both Colombo – Dubai and Dubai – Dallas. And there was pretty much no wait at all for immigration formalities or security to head to the Emirates lounge while waiting to fly Emirates first class to Dubai…
Since I didn’t have much time, and I’m not an expert on either Sri Lankan food or getting around the capital, I decided to hire a guide for a few hours on my day in Colombo.
I found an excellent guide, and since it’s Sri Lanka it was reasonably priced. We began at the floating market, stopped at a street vendor and for some dessert, and at a Sri Lankan vegetarian buffet.
I will never look at eating my fruits and vegetables the same way again, and especially loved the kottu, made of roti, vegetables, egg, meat, and spices…
I had one night to spend in Colombo. It’s a popular stopover to and from the Maldives, since it’s inexpensive and easier to get in and out of than Male, though there the Maldives capital is increasingly accessible.
I actually wanted to spend the night in Colombo, though, and set up the trip this way on purpose. I could have done an outright stopover on my one-way Alaska Airlines-issued Emirates award, but I just booked it as a 23 hour connection. That was enough to grab some food in Sri Lanka.
For the night I chose one of the only Western chain hotels, the Hilton which is very much a business property.
There’s a shared contract lounge at the Male airport, and it no longer offers access via Priority Pass. There’s little special about it, except for comfortable seating. I find the buffet something I’d rarely do anything other than skip (and indeed haven’t touched the food in four visits) and there’s no alcohol (by law). But it’s a lounge…
Some will find the nearby food options a more attractive place to sit, but the lounge does seem to have gotten its wifi act together.
After waiting around for the flight we wound up the only passengers in first class, and beneficiaries of full, extensive service for this very short hop on Emirates…
Departing the Park Hyatt Maldives, you take a boat to the airport and then an hour long domestic flight to get back to the country’s capital of Male. Here’s the boat and domestic Maldivian flight experience.
The Grand Hyatt DFW is a gorgeous hotel, a good property in its own right and not even merely ‘the best at the airport’.
Since my last stay they’ve even started letting Gold Passport Diamond members order complimentary room service breakfast.. seemingly without limit.
Gary Leff is one of the foremost experts in the field of miles, points, and frequent business travel -- a topic he has covered since 2002.
Co-founder of frequent flyer community InsideFlyer.com, emcee of the Freddie Awards, and named one of the "World's Top Travel Experts" by Conde' Nast Traveler (2010-Present) Gary has been a guest on most major news media, profiled in several top print publications, and published broadly on the topic of consumer loyalty. More About Gary »
