I had the chance recently to spend a couple days in a small town called Atina nestled in the mountains of central Italy. A long-time friend who emigrated to the USA from Italy over 40 years ago has encouraged...
Another Fabulous Weekend in Green Lake, WI
Last weekend I made my annual pilgrimage to Green Lake, WI, now a six-year tradition. Every time I go I realize I live in a bubble in LA. While I am in no rush to move to Wisconsin, there...
Review: Spirit Airlines Big Front Seat Los Angeles to Ft. Lauderdale
I took a gamble. The Spirit fare was so cheap it equated to a “first class” seat for an economy class price and the ability to fly nonstop. Unfortunately, it did not pay off. Maybe it was because of...
Review: Aerolineas Argentinas Lounge Buenos Aires (EZE)
This is a huge lounge, but also an underwhelming one. While you’ll have no trouble finding a seat (or dozens of seats), you will be very disappointed if you arrive hungry. You walk in and see a huge seating...
Review: American Express Centurion Lounge Buenos Aires (EZE)
I found the American Express Centurion Lounge to be the best lounge in Buenos Aires’ Ministro Pistarini International Airport. It’s worth a visit. Arriving at 8am, I had the lounge to myself for 30 minutes. Compare that to the crowded...
Review: Star Alliance Lounge Buenos Aires (EZE)
With an extended layover between flights, I had time to go lounge hopping in Buenos Aires. My first stop: the Star Alliance Lounge, now part of the Priority Pass network. Upon landing I followed the signs for “international transit”,...
Review: Aerolineas Argentinas A340 Business Class Cancún to Buenos Aires
I poked fun at Aerolineas Argentinas “Club Condor” Class in an earlier post, but was really looking forward to trying it. With a limited route map and limited award space, catching a longhaul Aerolineas Argentinas flight is not an...
Review: Aeromexico Lounge Cancún (CUN)
My connection turned out so quick that I had plenty of time to relax prior to my Aerolineas Argentinas flight to Buenos Aires. The airline uses Aeromexico’s Salon Premier in Terminal 2. The lounge is small, but access is limited...
Introduction: Los Angeles to Rome via Argentina and Spain on SkyTeam
It’s time for my next trip report, a short one that will detail my trip to Italy last month. Let’s just say I took the scenic route… An ambitious goal to be sure, but it is my desire to...
Review: Saudia 777-300ER First Class Jeddah to Los Angeles
This is part two of SV41, from Riyadh to Los Angeles. In the first installment of this report, I covered the short flight from RUH to JED and the ground stop in Jeddah. This flight covers the 16hr journey...
Review: Saudia 777 First Suite Riyadh to Jeddah
Even though Riyadh to Los Angeles is sold as a direct flight and there is no way to purchase the Riyadh to Jeddah portion alone, I am going to break up the review into two parts. Note that even...
Review: Saudia Business Class Lounge Riyadh (RUH)
Earlier today I reviewed the Saudia First Class Lounge in Riyadh (RUH). During my long layover, I also had time to check out the business class side of the Alfurshan lounge. The lounge is subdivided into the following sections: Surprisingly, the business...
Review: Saudia First Class Lounge Riyadh (RUH)
The first class section of the Saudia Alfurshan Lounge in Riyadh (RUH) proved to be a very comfortable place to spend a 7.5hour layover between flights. To reach the lounge, simply follow the signs for “Alfurshan Lounge”. You will...
Review: Saudia 777-300ER First Class Dubai to Riyadh
The quick two-hour flight from Dubai to Riyadh was merely long enough to whet my appetite for the 19hr Riyadh to Los Angeles longhaul to come on the same aircraft. We checked in a few hours before the flight...
Review: SkyTeam Lounge Dubai (DXB)
We spent about 90 minutes in the SkyTeam lounge in Dubai prior to our Saudia First Class flight to Riyadh. The lounge was comfortable, wi-fi fast, and food decent. It’s also the best Priority Pass Lounge in Dubai (DXB)....
Review: Park Hyatt Dubai (Suite)
The Park Hyatt Dubai has not changed at all since my last visit in 2011. While the hotel is well-maintained with an extremely convenient location near the airport, I will be trying a different Hyatt property next time I...
Review: Somon Air 737 Business Class Dushanbe To Dubai
Somon Air is the sole private airline (versus state-owned Tajik Air) in Tajikistan. We flew from Dushanbe to Dubai aboard a 737-900ER, the crown jewel of the fleet. While I’d rate the flight experience as good overall, Somon Air...
An Exciting Review of Boring Dushanbe Airport + CIP Lounge
This is the review of the lounge we did not have access to, but still managed to visit and discreetly photograph. Let’s talk about Dushanbe Airport. Weird. We arrived at 2:30p, yes probably far too early, for our 5:35p...
Review: Hyatt Regency Dushanbe, Tajikistan (Suite)
Although our stay was brief, it was long enough for me to vouch for this excellent Hyatt property in the heart of Tajikistan’s capital city of Dushanbe. We arrived early in Dushanbe and negotiated a cab from the airport...
Review: Uzbekistan Airways A320 Business Class Tashkent to Dushanbe
Great service and a decent meal characterized a short 189-mile flight from the capital of Uzbekistan to the capital of Tajikistan on Uzbekistan Airways. After leaving the lounge and being “chauffeured” by bus to the aircraft, we boarded via...
