We’ve now worked our way though a 24-part trip report and I have neglected to share what truly made the trip a great one. It was the company. I have taken so many amazing solo trips around the world, but...
Review: Istanbul to Hamburg in Turkish Airlines A320 Business Class

This is the final flight installment of the Tanzania trip report and it will be brief. The story of Turkish is this: a consistently high-quality experience and a superior airline within Europe. After a hearty breakfast at the Hyatt Regency Ataköy and...
Review: Turkish Airlines Arrivals Lounge Istanbul

Everyone raves about the wonderful Turkish Airlines CIP Lounge in Istanbul, but that is not the only lounge in Istanbul worth visiting. For arriving international business class passengers on Turkish Airlines, an Arrivals Lounge offers a mini-version of the acclaimed...
Turkish Airlines 737 Dar Es Salaam to Istanbul Business Class

Turkish Airlines check-in opens three hours before the flight, which was about 12:30a. If you are connecting from another flight, be sure to read this Transit in Dar Es Salaam post first. Check-in desks on the far left side...
Review: Tanzanite Lounge (DAR)

The Tanzanite Lounge in Dar Es Salaam (DAR) is not much, but it sure beats the gate area. Open to business and first class passengers plus Priority Pass members, the lounge is located one level before international departures. You can...
Transit in Dar Es Salaam (DAR)

A word of warning: it is best to avoid a long layover in Dar Es Salaam if connecting between two airlines. We ended up sitting on a hard bench for several hours waiting for our transit boarding pass. We arrived...
20-Min Flight from Zanzibar to Dar Es Salaam on Fastjet

Since we were connecting same-night back to Istanbul, it made sense to fly instead of take a ferry back. Tickets were $37 each purchased the day before on Fastjet. Fastjet hopes to become the African continent’s “first low-cost, pan-African airline”...
Looted But Not Livid in Zanzibar

On our second night in Zanzibar, we decided to eat where the locals eat. During the meal, a local took advantage of our trust, stealing money from us. After a great dinner at the Park Hyatt Zanzibar the first...
An Amazing Journey Through Stone Town in Zanzibar (Pictures)

I’m not usually one for guided tours, especially arranged by hotels. In Zanzibar, however, we opted for tour of historic Stone Town arranged by the Park Hyatt. It was well worth it. Stone Town is a UNESCO World Heritage...
She Tried to Deny Me Entry Into Zanzibar!

When we left off, my friend Denny and I had reached the port of Zanzibar and were making our way off the ship. Throngs of people emerged from the boat and most were rushing out of the port through a...
An Honest Cab Driver in Dar Es Salaam

We read about so many taxi horror stories. How about a heartwarming one? I tend to be a very forgetful person. No, actually I am a forgetful person. Time after time after time I have left valuables behind, sometimes...
Introduction: A Month in Africa

For those who have immigrated to the United States, you know that the process is not easy, even for those emigrating from a rich western nation. Weighing our options and deciding that Los Angeles would be the best fit...
An Incredible Flight on SAS
If I could describe my SAS flight from Los Angeles to Stockholm in one picture, it would be this– My flight simply could not have been better. To be honest, I had some trepedation stepping onboard. Last time I...
First Thoughts on Pakistan Airlines 777 Business Class
I’m finding it difficult to summarize my experience on Pakistan Airlines today from Manchester to New York in business class. On the one hand, the FAs displayed incredible Pakistani hospitality and the buffet-style main course was really delicious —...
Shockingly Terrible Service on Saudia
Pull up a chair, for you’re about to hear a tale of woe from 38,000 feet between Colombo and Jeddah on Saudia! As Lucky pointed out, this trip has truly shattered expectations. I expected a nice flight on China...
Don’t Tell My Wife What Happened at the Hyatt Regency Casablanca!
Lucky and I dined at Dar Beida last night, the Moroccan restaurant inside the Hyatt Regency Casablanca. It was billed (by the hotel) as the “most authentic Moroccan food in Casablanca” but we figured it was at least the...
My RTW Trip with Lucky Has Begun!
Greetings from 32,000 feet above the Pacific Ocean in China Eastern Business Class! My highly anticipated trip with Lucky has begun. Over the next week we will be flying almost non-stop, with flights on China Eastern, Qatar, Royal Air Maroc,...
Los Angeles to Paris in Air Tahiti Nui Business Class
My brother Andrew recently flew from Los Angeles to Paris on Air Tahiti Nui in “Poerava” business class using 57.5K American Airlines miles. I asked him to write a trip report sharing about his flight. Gosh, I love exotic...
A Condensed Photo Tour of the New Etihad First Class Lounge in Abu Dhabi
With neraly 120 pictures, my recent review of the new Etihad First Class Lounge & Spa in Abu Dhabi may have been overhwhelming for some, so I also want to provide this condensed version of ten photos that capture...
Review: Etihad First Class Lounge & Spa Abu Dhabi
Earlier this week Etihad Airways opened its long-awaited first class lounge in Terminal 3 in Abu Dhabi. Details are still emerging about the lounge but let not your heart be troubled — you can find everything you need below....