Travel Guide - ThePointsOfLife

Where Are You Hyatt Regency Osaka?

thepointsoflife

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May 7, 2015

This is part of the Trip Report The Visa Run Keeps Running (October 2014) which started and ended in Mongolia with these stops along the way:

Here is the overview for this report: All in Business, All for $200 And $30,000 US AIR Miles

Getting There: Unless you are staying here for a conference, do not stay here. It is not close to central Osaka. If you are here for a conference, then have your work pay the car service.

Where are you Hyatt Regency Osaka? If you’ve been keeping track of this mess of a trip, you have noticed that the only well-thought out part of the itinerary was the initial cost of the ticket which is why the post is named All in business, all for $200 and 30,000 US Air Miles. The disoriented fun continued in Osaka. We arrived late and missed the last bus to the city. The choice was to take the train or pay $115 for a taxi. Frugal, economical, cheap, or all of the above we decided to take the train. The train required three changes, three hours, and thirty times the headache of a basic taxi ride. While I commend myself for being able to navigating the entire metro system of Osaka, the expression ‘penny wise and a pound foolish’ comes to mind. As we got closer to the hotel, it didn’t take much for us to figure out that we would not be exploring Osaka tonight. The hotel was literally on an island and the only way to get off was the aforementioned expensive taxi or to swim for it. Fortunately, we found a place right around the corner that had great sake and sushi, allowing us to eat and drink our poor planning sorrows away. As for the hotel, it was nice but don’t stay here unless it is on purpose. Here are some pictures.

The last train to the Hyatt Regency Osaka

<==Back to Air China Business PVG-KIX – Onto The St. Regis Osaka==>

5PM Chow Hall: Air China Business Class Lounge Shanghai

thepointsoflife

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May 7, 2015

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This is part of the Trip Report The Visa Run Keeps Running (October 2014) which started and ended in Mongolia with these stops along the way:

Here is the overview for this report: All in Business, All for $200 And 30,000 US AIR Miles

In many places around the world 5PM means happy hour. In Air China’s Business Class Lounge Shanghai 5PM is chow time. It is a spectacle worth seeing. First the chefs bring out some nonsense salad that goes untouched by the international crowd of wolves. Then the fried spring rolls are offered as a sacrifice to the starving patrons. These are quickly devoured. An eternity later the clock strikes 5PM and the chefs bring out the pastas, the beef and broccoli, the fried rice, and whatever else they could fix together to fend off the starving frequent fliers. Shamelessly everyone, myself included, goes back for seconds, thirds, and many more rounds, only stopping because our gates are called. The Wi-Fi works terribly and the alcohol selection is mediocre but the fatties do not seem to care so long as we are well fed.

air china business class lounge shanghai — The mood lighting for the hungry folks.

Breathe in, breathe out, there is still food

<==Back to Le Royal Méridien Shanghai – Onto Air China Business Class to Osaka–>

Air China Business PVG-KIX: Different Plane, Same Product

thepointsoflife

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May 7, 2015

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This is part of the Trip Report The Visa Run Keeps Running (October 2014) which started and ended in Mongolia with these stops along the way:

Here is the overview for this report: All in Business, All for $200 And 30,000 US AIR Miles

The trick of my $200, 30,000 US AIR Miles ticket was that all flights must be on Air China metal. I’ve flown Air China many times and for the most part have not been impressed. I was excited that this flight was on an A321 versus the standard 737. Perhaps this would make the flight different. It did not. These pics may look familiar. I apologize for the redundancy but thought it was worth pointing out that a different plane doesn’t mean a different product.

DSC_0321 (Copy) — More champagne please. I’m in Air China business.

<==Back to Air China’s Business Class Lounge Shanghai – Onto Hyatt Regency Osaka==>

Le Royal Méridien Shanghai for Halloween

thepointsoflife

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May 7, 2015

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This is part of the Trip Report The Visa Run Keeps Running (October 2014) which started and ended in Mongolia with these stops along the way:

Here is the overview for this report: All in Business, All for $200 And 30,000 US AIR Miles

Getting There: If you’re arriving in Pudong International Airport, the best way to get to the city center is via the Maglev. At 430 kmh (267mph) a faster and more convenient way of jump starting your trip does not exist. If the Maglev is closed at night then you will have to take a taxi to People’s Square. Check the sign in the taxi line for prices before entering the taxi and pay close attention to the meter. Print the address of the hotel in Mandarin characters and show it to the driver. 南京东路789号, Huangpu, Shanghai, China, 200001. Returning to the airport, take Line 2 to Longyang Lu then get on the Maglev from there. Taking Line 2 from People’s Square to the airport will take forever.

I am partial to Le Royal Méridien because it is located next to my old apartment building. It is also located next to Nanjing Walking Street, an overcrowded place that is worth seeing once but should otherwise be avoided. Le Royal Méridien is only a few minutes away from The Bund, The French Concession, West Nanjing Road, and all that is good in life. Because of our visa issue, we were in a hurry to get a Halloween costume, meet up with friends, and begin the festivities. Therefore, as was the case with Hyatt on The Bund, I didn’t have the opportunity to truly enjoy the hotel’s many amenities. I did, however, find my way to the club lounge which offered ample amounts of food and premium drinks. This is the second time I’ve stayed at Le Royal Méridien so I can advise from past experience that the breakfast buffet is worth waking up for or arriving to after a night out on the town. Overall, if you are looking for an excellent location, great value, and what life should be then look no further than Le Royal Méridien Shanghai.

View of People' Park — View of People’ Park

What's a hotel without a robe — What’s a hotel without a robe

DSC_0299 (Copy) — Capital Land Building!

<==Back to Shanghai’s Maglev – Onto Air China’s Business Class Lounge Shanghai==>

Shanghai’s Maglev: No Time to Waste

thepointsoflife

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May 7, 2015

6

This is part of the Trip Report The Visa Run Keeps Running (October 2014) which started and ended in Mongolia with these stops along the way:

Here is the overview for this report: All in Business, All for $200 And 30,000 US AIR Miles

Quick Tip: Per a reader’s comment below: Be sure to show your plane ticket or boarding pass when buying the ticket – cuts the cost from CNY 50 to 40 one-way.

In each of my Hotel Reviews I start off with a Getting There snippet because I am tired of getting ripped off by taxi drivers right when my vacation is about to start. Landing in a new city there is nothing more frustrating than looking up how to get to a hotel and only finding information about the pool and the toilet but no directions on how to actually get there. This is true whether consulting the hotel’s website directly or by reading blog reviews. If you’re arriving in Pudong International Airport, the best way to get to the city center is via the Maglev. At 430 kmh (267mph) a faster and more convenient way of jump starting your trip does not exist. The issue that many travelers face is arriving late in Shanghai and finding the Maglev closed. Not only did your waste you time walking all the way to the Maglev station but now you have to brave the endless taxi line. As of writing this post, the Maglev operates from 7AM to 10:40PM but check here for further updates. The ride from the airport to Longyang Lu which is still in the middle of nowhere is a zippy 8 minutes and costs about $8. Mind you, the $8 ticket does not cover the cost of taking the metro or a taxi the rest of the way. Compare this to a taxi which takes an hour and will run no less than $30 depending on where you are going and the Maglev is still the best option. My two gripes about the Maglev is that it does not run late enough and that it stops in Pudong when it should stop in Puxi, the location of the Bund, People’s Square, the French Concession, and other more lively neighborhoods of Shanghai. Still for speed, novelty, and value, the Maglev literally can’t be beat.

maglev shanghai airport — Returning to Pudong

<==Return to Hong Kong Travel Guide – Move onto Le Royal Méridien Shanghai for Halloween==>

Hyatt Regency Hong Kong Tsim Sha Tsui

thepointsoflife

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May 7, 2015

6

This is part of the Trip Report The Visa Run Keeps Running (October 2014) and So Long Mongolia, Hello SE Asia (December 2014-January 2015)

Getting There: From the airport purchase a one-way ticket for the Airport Express train. Take the Airport Express to Kowloon. Take the elevator to the ground floor and then take the free bus to the Hong Kong Tsim Sha Tsui. This is a free ride into town even if you aren’t staying at these hotels. The whole trip takes about an hour and a half.

The Hyatt Regency Hong Kong Tsim Sha Tsui is a refuge whether it be from a botched visa run or too much time in Mandalay. It is also located in one of the tallest skyscrapers in Kowloon. The Hyatt Regency is a Category 4 hotel so it qualifies for a free night stay using the annual certificate if you have a Chase Hyatt Visa. I used the cash and points option which was a bit expensive at $100 + 7500 points + a 10% service charge. The room rate is around $250 so I’m right at my threshold for 2 cents per point for Hyatt. The value of cash and points diminishes if you are a peasant platinum member like me which gives you basic benefits (2PM checkout, free Wi-Fi) compared to diamond where you are treated like a king (amazing breakfast, suite upgrade). Still whether you have a stopover in Hong Kong or a getaway [from Myanmar] weekend, the price of luxury is worth it. In October 2014, I was upgraded to the deluxe room which had a partial view of the harbor. At the time, I thought the room was a bit small until my next trip to Hong Kong when I was not given an upgrade. The benefits of the Hyatt Regency are as follows:

Excellent location in Kowloon conveniently next to Tsim Sha Tsui MTR Station
- Excellent dim sum right around the corner
- Starbucks next door
- Plenty of bars, restaurants, and shopping
Included wireless phone which includes data and voice
A comfy bed and hot shower, features not to be discounted compared to other hotels in Hong Kong and SE Asia in general

So high up. One of the tallest buildings in Kowloon.

a tall building with many windows — Too tall by day

a tall building with lights on top — Another shot of Hong Kong by night

As you can see, everything at the Hyatt Regency is nice but what if you want to see another side of Hong Kong or what if you think that the points+cash value isn’t as great as other award redemptions? Then read on for the review of the Chungking Mansions, a city within a city.

It’s time to choose your adventure:

For The Visa Run Keeps Running (October 2014) you can:

<==Return to Shanghai Travel Guide – Move onto Guns & Butter: Hong Kong Travel Guide==>

For So Long Mongolia, Hello SE Asia (Dec 2014-Jan 2015) you can:

<==Return to Bargaining Abroad, I Lost the Battle – Move onto Chungking Mansions==>

Hyatt on the Bund Shanghai

thepointsoflife

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May 7, 2015

0

This is part of the Trip Report The Visa Run Keeps Running (October 2014) which started and ended in Mongolia with these stops along the way:

Here is the overview for this report: All in Business, All for $200 And 30,000 US AIR Miles

Getting There: If you are arriving at Pudong airport, the fastest/most convenient way to get to the Bund is to take the Maglev then a friendly taxi from there. Be sure to print out the name of your hotel in Mandarin characters and show it to the driver.

Following the visa mess up, I had to change my plans from two nights at Hyatt on the Bund to basically one long evening. Hyatt on the Bund is a Category 4 hotel which makes it eligible for a free night’s stay if you are a Chase Hyatt card holder. I used cash and points which was 7500 GoldPassport + $100 + 15% service charge, a great deal considering for Halloween weekend the rooms were going for $330 a night. Hyatt on the Bund as the name makes apparent is in a great location: the Bund. The Bund faces Pudong Skyline which in my opinion is the best in the world.

The room overlooked the Huangpu River and Pudong. Besides the next morning, I did not get to enjoy it too much. Given the beauty and location of the hotel, it is quite a shame I was only here for a few hours making this review less than extraordinary. Nevertheless, I did take some great pictures and will certainly return both to my former home, Shanghai, and Hyatt on the Bund.

3 nights would've been nice to explore — 2 nights would’ve been nice to explore

<–Back to China’s 72-hour Visa-Free Transit Rule – Onto Guns & Butter: Shanghai Travel Guide–>

The Final Leg! Air China from Korea to Mongolia

thepointsoflife

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May 6, 2015

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This is the conclusion of the Trip Report Welcome to the Cold where I went from NYC to:

If you’re just tuning in now be sure to read how I ended up with this unique itinerary by checking out The Original Plan: The $77,000 Trip Heard Round the World, the subsequent Change Up: Riga, Latvia? and the Mongolia angle: IGLOO-GER: The Helsinki-Ulaanbaatar Trip Report.

It’s almost over folks. It’s funny writing after the fact about my move to Mongolia. The quality of life began to drastically diminished as I went from the Park Hyatt Istanbul to Air China’s Business Class service from Korea to Mongolia. Suddenly everything was more dated, more worn out, and less fun. Though I was initially excited for my move to Mongolia, I had no idea what Mongolia had in store for me.

air china business class to ulaanbaatar — What became the all too familiar Air China business class seats

Landing in the land of endless blue skies

<==Back to Korean Airlines Business Class Lounge

Korean Airlines Business Class Lounge Incheon

thepointsoflife

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May 6, 2015

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This is part of the Trip Report Welcome to the Cold where I went from NYC to:

If you’re just tuning in now be sure to read how I ended up with this unique itinerary by checking out The Original Plan: The $77,000 Trip Heard Round the World, the subsequent Change Up: Riga, Latvia? and the Mongolia angle: IGLOO-GER: The Helsinki-Ulaanbaatar Trip Report.

I’m getting closer to Mongolia but I thought I’d ease into Asia with a stop in Incheon. While it didn’t have the bells and whistles of the Turkish Airlines Business Class Lounge, it did have hot showers, something I would be without frequently in Mongolia.

<==Back to Turkish Business Class – Onto Mongolia!==>

Turkish Airlines Business Class: IST-ICN

thepointsoflife

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May 6, 2015

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Turkish Airlines Business Class: IST-ICN

This is part of the Trip Report Welcome to the Cold where I went from NYC to:

If you’re just tuning in now be sure to read how I ended up with this unique itinerary by checking out The Original Plan: The $77,000 Trip Heard Round the World, the subsequent Change Up: Riga, Latvia? and the Mongolia angle: IGLOO-GER: The Helsinki-Ulaanbaatar Trip Report.

When I fly domestic, I prefer nonstop. When I fly business class, I prefer multiple segments, long layovers, and top notch airlines. Also, when one is going to a destination that is known for its cold and smog like Mongolia, he will not be in a rush to get there. Though there was a more direct route from Istanbul to Ulaanbaatar, I opted for a more inconvenient way. The next part of this never-ending life report is flying Turkish business from Istanbul to Seoul. In my blogger opinion, a picture is worth 1000 words, so there won’t be a text play-by-play of the entire flight. There are these great photos showing the unique touch of flying Turkish which makes it one of the better airlines I have flown.