As boarding neared completion, I looked around the Malaysia Airlines A380 first class cabin…seven seats remained open: I was the only passenger onboard. A FA walked by and I asked where the other passengers were. “It’s just you today,”...
A Tale of Two Waldorf-Astoria Hotels
We tried a pair of Waldorf-Astoria Key West properties and the two couldn’t have been more different. One had great grounds but terrible rooms, the other excellent rooms but none of the history. It was the most bizarre tale...
I Challenge You To Identify This Hotel Brand
We stayed at a hotel that was so far off brand that we checked out before our luggage arrived from the bell staff. Without cheating, can you identify this bad hotel room’s brand? If you are considering booking travel or signing...
Review: Malaysia Airlines 737-800 Business Class Jakarta to Kuala Lumpur
The last time I had flown a Malaysia Airlines 737-800, I had experienced the scariest flight of my life. Since then, two 777s from the same airline had gone down: one shot down over Ukraine and the other crashed...
Review: JAL First Class Lounge Tokyo (NRT)
The Japan Airlines First Class Lounge in Tokyo Narita (NRT) is a great business class lounge…but doesn’t cut it as a first class lounge. Even though this review is from 2016, a report from View from the Wing only...
Review: Japan Airlines 777-300ER First Class
Three FAs, one passenger makes for a great ratio in first class. Not only was I blessed to fly Japan Airlines (JAL) in first class, but I had the entire cabin to myself. But I think even if the...
Review: JAL 767-300 Economy Class
This review recounts my journey from Guangzhou to Tokyo Haneda aboard a 767-300 on Japan Airlines. I give JAL high marks for its shorthaul economy class service. This flight occurred in 2016 as part of my larger trip to...
Review: Premium Lounge Guangzhou (CAN)
The Premium Lounge in Guangzhou has great coffee. That’s enough to earn this Priority Pass lounge high marks in my book. You actually have quite a choice now of lounges in Guangzhou (CAN). Six, to be exact. In addition...
A Peek Inside the Chairman Suite – Park Hyatt Beijing
The Park Hyatt Beijing is one of our favorite Hyatt properties for their attention to details, elegant rooms and their extravagant breakfast. During a past stay a few years ago, we were given a tour of the Chairman Suite, the...
Review: China Southern 737 Economy Class Bangkok to Guangzhou
China Southern economy class was very survivable. That’s neither a compliment nor a slight. It was a reasonably priced, reasonably comfortable 2.5 hour flight. I landed in Bangkok after a redeye on Thai Airways. I had no boarding pass...
Review: Thai Airways 747-400 Business Class Tokyo to Bangkok
Not only does Thai Airways have a very uncompetitive business class product aboard its 747-400, it also has one of the oddest seating configurations. My flight from Tokyo Haneda (HND) to Bangkok Suvarnabhumi (BKK) was not one of my...
Review: ANA 777-300ER First Class Chicago to Tokyo
My ANA first class expectations were quite high going in, so I was ecstatic when they were exceeded. The seat and service were exactly as expected, but the meals onboard were not just great, but tremendous. This review is...
Which Hyatt in Germany is Best?
There are seven Hyatt hotels in Germany. Which one is best? The seven properties include: Hyatt Regency Cologne Grand Hyatt Berlin Hyatt Regency Dusseldorf Hyatt Regency Mainz Park Hyatt Hamburg Hyatt Place Frankfurt Hyatt House Dusseldorf For purposes of...
Review: Hyatt Regency Mainz
There is no Hyatt I stay at more than this hotel. Over the years, I have come to consider this hotel a second home and the staff part of my extended German family. It’s not the best Hyatt, but...
Review: Hyatt Regency Dusseldorf (Suite)
In my review of the Hyatt Regency Dusseldorf yesterday, I mentioned I received a suite upgrade on my final evening. A Regency Suite King will be the focus of this review. For a detailed review of the hotel’s amenities...
Review: Hyatt Regency Dusseldorf
Dusseldorf is a perfect city for a long weekend trip. The three days spent in this charming capital of North Rhine-Westphalia were marvelous. They were also comfortable, thanks to the Hyatt Regency Dusseldorf, now one of my favorite Hyatts in...
Review: Hyatt Regency Cologne
The Hyatt Regency in Cologne (Köln) Germany was one of the most disappointing Hyatts I have ever stayed in. Oh, it wasn’t without many redeeming qualities, but the hotel (or my room at least) is in desperate need of...
Review: Renaissance Toledo Downtown Hotel (Marriott)
On a business trip, I had a chance to stay in the very contemporary and dare I say, ‘sassy’ Renaissance Toledo Downtown Hotel. This hotel had everything, except for an upgrade for a (then) gold member. If you are...
Review: Park Hyatt Tokyo (Park King Suite)
During my last stay at the Park Hyatt Tokyo, I received an upgrade to a Park King Suite. This review focuses exclusively on the suite. Yesterday, I provided a full review of the Park Hyatt Tokyo, its service, restaurant,...
Review: Park Hyatt Tokyo
It has been seven years since I last stayed at the Park Hyatt Tokyo and thus I looked forward to refreshing my previous review. I hate to be anticlimactic, but very little has changed. It’s still a great hotel....
