Trip Reports

Category Archives for Trip Reports.

Review: My First-Ever Hilton Suite Upgrade, at the Colombo Hilton (Sri Lanka)

by Gary Leff on May 17, 2015

May 17 2015

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.

Review: Male Airport Lounge and (Alone In) Emirates First Class, Male – Colombo

by Gary Leff on May 16, 2015

May 16 2015

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…

Review: Boat Transfer and Maldivian Domestic Flight from the Park Hyatt Maldives to Male

by Gary Leff on May 14, 2015

May 14 2015

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.

Review: Grand Hyatt DFW, an Amazing Airport Hotel With Great Diamond Benefits

by Gary Leff on May 10, 2015

May 10 2015

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.

Trip Report: Yesterday’s American Airlines Inaugural Boeing 787 Flights

by Gary Leff on May 8, 2015

May 08 2015

My trip report from the American Airlines 787 inaugural flight yesterday from Dallas to Chicago and back in both economy and first class. I flew to Dallas the night before, took part in some festivities, and then got up early for the revelry and excitement..

Park Hyatt Maldives Menus – Variety and Pricing

by Gary Leff on May 7, 2015

May 07 2015

The Park Hyatt Hadahaa Maldives is remote. The resort is its own island. So you’re going to be eating on property. Here’s what they have to offer you, and how much it costs.

Review: Lounge, Flight and Boat from Male to the Park Hyatt Hadahaa Maldives

by Gary Leff on April 4, 2015

Here I review the Male airport’s domestic lounge and Maldivian’s Male – Kooddoo flight to get to the Park Hyatt Hadahaa Maldives. Previous installments: Introduction, overview, and costs Star Alliance first class and business class lounges, LAX Etihad First Class, Los Angles – Abu Dhabi.. the 3rd Longest Flight in the World! Premier Inn, Abu Dhabi International Airport Etihad’s new business class lounge, Abu Dhabi Etihad Business Class, Abu Dhabi – Male When you get off of your flight to Male, you walk out on the tarmac over to the arrivals building, which is more a shack than anything else. You walk inside and queue for immigration. There’s a premium line on the far left, though it may not be especially fast. On this visit there were two lines working, although one was far faster…

Review: Etihad’s New Business Class (and Temporary First Class) Lounge, Abu Dhabi

by Gary Leff on March 30, 2015

Here I review Etihad’s new business class lounge (with temporary first class section) in Abu Dhabi International Airport’s terminal 3. Previous installments: Introduction, overview, and costs Star Alliance first class and business class lounges, LAX Etihad First Class, Los Angles – Abu Dhabi.. the 3rd Longest Flight in the World! Premier Inn, Abu Dhabi International Airport In the morning, after leaving the Premier Inn across the street from the airport, we found our way to the terminal via the outside rather than underground walkway. It’s a bit quicker, you cross the street instead of winding around the underground passageways. I was pleased to be leaving from the newer terminal 3 today (there’s a departures board outside the hotel lobby). Not only that I’d be having an aircraft with lie flat business class for the four…

Review: the Dorm Room Where You Want to Sleep Between First Class and Paradise

by Gary Leff on March 26, 2015

This post details my airport overnight at the Premier Inn at the Abu Dhabi airport. This is my second time staying there, it just makes sense to me arriving around 8pm and departing on a flight about 12 hours later. Previous installments: Introduction, overview, and costs Star Alliance first class and business class lounges, LAX Etihad First Class, Los Angles – Abu Dhabi.. the 3rd Longest Flight in the World! Upon landing at an apron position, and taking a bus to the terminal, I had my strangest immigration experience yet. And as a result it took about an hour to get from plane to bed. That made me all the more grateful not to be heading into Abu Dhabi, and needing to head back in the morning. I wasn’t going to ‘go out’. I had…

Review: Flying First Class on the Third Longest Flight in the World

by Gary Leff on March 24, 2015

This post details my first class award redemption using American AAdvantage miles to fly Etihad, Los Angeles – Abu Dhabi … the third longest flight in the world. Previous installments: Introduction, overview, and costs Star Alliance first class and business class lounges, LAX After visiting the Star Alliance first class lounge, popping over to their business class lounge and outdoor deck, and returning to the first class lounge, the woman from Etihad who met us at the first class check-in counter came to collect us when it was time for boarding and escort us downstairs to the departures level of the terminal out out to our gate. Once onboard I remembered that concomitant with the introduction of a new first class product onboard Etihad’s Airbus A380 (‘Residence’ and ‘First Apartment’) as well as on the…