Destination Trip Reports Europe

September 2026: Algarve, Portugal Trip Report

Day 1: After a very early arrival at Faro International Airport, we picked up our rental car and drove 45 minutes to our hotel (Algarve Marriott Salgados Golf Resort & Spa) near Albufeira. It was too early to check-in so after dropping off our luggage we drove 10 minutes to Praia de Sao Rafael beach. Later in the evening we drove to Albufeira town for dinner. Both the Charcuterie & Bacalhau à Brás were excellent!! Day 2: We drove 40 minutes from our hotel to nearby town of Lagos to Ponta da Piedade hiking trail. After spending a few hours …

Hotel Reviews Hyatt Reviews

Hotel Review: Hyatt Place Amsterdam Airport

Hyatt Place Amsterdam Airport Rijnlanderweg 800, 2132 NN Hoofddorp, Netherlands Hyatt Place Amsterdam Airport is located just 6km away from Amsterdam Schiphol Airport. The hotel provides free shuttle from the airport to hotel but the shuttle back to airport is 8.5€/person. We had a very early departure out of Schiphol which was outside shuttle working hours so booked an Uber in the morning. I booked cash rates for 1 night layover in Amsterdam (on our way to Algarve) using Expedia for 80€/night. Thumbs up: Close to Schiphol Airport and best for very late arrivals or early departures Complimentary shuttle from …

Destination Trip Reports Europe

September 2026: Copenhagen Trip Report

Day 1: We were staying at Admiral Hotel Copenhagen located just 3 minutes walking distance from the #1 popular tourist spot in Copenhagen, the Nyhavn. Colorful houses on both sides of the canal reminded me of Amsterdam. It was early in the day and there were very few people around Nyhavn at that time. We walked towards Amalienborg palace, the official winter residence of the Danish royal family. Just a 3 minute walk from the palace is the Frederik’s Church (aka Marmorkirken or the Marble church). While walking back towards Amalienborg Palace, we saw the Alexander Nevsky Church from a …

Choice Hotels/Radisson Hotel Reviews Reviews

Hotel Review – Admiral Hotel, Copenhagen

Admiral Hotel Copenhagen Toldbodgade 24, 28, 1253 København, Denmark Admiral Hotel Copenhagen is located within short walking distance (less than 5 minutes) from the most popular tourist destination in Copenhagen, the Nyvahn. We took the airport metro M2 from Copenhagen Airport to Kongens Nytorv metro stop and walked 8 minutes from there. We stayed 2 nights at the hotel using Choice Rewards points (20k points/night). Thumbs up: Location, location, location!! The hotel is located just 4 minutes walk from Nyvahn. It is on the water and a lot of the canal tours operate from right behind the hotel. Our room …

Airline Reviews Reviews Virgin Atlantic

Airline Review: Virgin Atlantic – Business Class (Boeing 787-9) : Bangalore – London Heathrow (VS 317)

Flight:  Virgin Atlantic VS317 from Bangalore to London Heathrow Duration: 10 hours 45 minutes Aircraft: B789 (Boeing 787-900) Class: Business Seat: 1A-2A (window) Seat Specification: True Flat Bed. Seat width: 22″, Bed length: 73″ This was our 2nd time flying Virgin Atlantic Business Class (they call it “Upper Class” :)). Previously we flew the new A350 from Los Angeles to London in 2025. That one featured the standard 1-2-1. But this aircraft was our first ever herringbone configuration of 1-1-1. When these seats came out they were cutting edge but over the years most airlines have reconfigured or retired these. …

Accor Hotel Reviews Reviews

Hotel Review: ibis Saigon Airport Hotel

ibis Saigon Airport Hotel 2 Hong Ha Street, Ward 2, Tân Bình District, Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam ibis Saigon Airport Hotel is located just 5 minutes drive from Saigon International Airport (Tan Son Nhat International Airport). After arriving at Saigon, our original plan was to do a day tour during our short transit stay here before our onward flight to India. However, it was so hot and humid (and also being tired from long flight from US), we opted to just stay and relax at a hotel for a few hours before our flight. After checking the rates, I …

Airline Reviews Reviews Vietnam Airlines

Airline Review: Vietnam Airlines – Business Class (Airbus 350-900) : San Francisco – Saigon (VN 99)

Flight:  Vietnam Airlines VN99 from San Francisco to Saigon Duration: 15 hours 30 minutes Aircraft: A359 (Airbus 350-900) Class: Business Seat: 2D-2G (Center Aisle) Seat Specification: True Flat Bed. Seat width: 20.2″, Bed length: 75″ This was our first time flying on Vietnam Airlines. It was a A350-900 aircraft with a single business cabin of 8 rows in 1-2-1 reverse herringbone configuration. Before we even sat down, the flight attendant came up and volunteered to put on seat cover for us. Me and Karen both ordered the Saigon Sunlight (Whiskey, 7up with lemonade),  Vietnam Airlines signature drink. It was refreshing. …

Accor Hotel Reviews Reviews

Hotel Review – Novotel Bangkok Sukhumvit 20

Novotel Bangkok Sukhumvit 20 19/9 Sukhumvit 20 Alley, Khlong Toei, Bangkok 10110, Thailand Novotel Bangkok Sukhumvit 20 is located in the popular touristy area of Bangkok close to Terminal 21 / BTS Asoke station/ MRT Sukhumvit station (only a 12 minute walk). Terminal 21 has a lot of dining options including a giant food court. Also being quite close to both a BTS and MRT station allows for connection to different parts of the city. I stayed just 1 night at the hotel after my onwards flight to HKG was cancelled due to a typhoon and had to rebook a …

Airline Reviews Reviews Starlux

Airline Review: Starlux Airlines – Business Class (Airbus 350-900 with Suites) : Ontario – Taipei (JX 9)

Flight:  Starlux Airlines JX 9 from Ontario to Taipei Duration: 12 hours 45 minutes Aircraft: A359 (Airbus 350-900) Class: Business Seat: 7A(Window) Seat Specification: True Flat Bed, Suites. Seat width: 19.6″, Bed length: 6’7″ This was my 3rd time flying Starlux Airlines Business class on the A350-900. The business class features 7 rows of 1-2-1 reverse herringbone suites with closed doors . The first row is more spacious with higher doors and is marketed as first class even though its in business class cabin. After dinner the flight attendant put a mattress pad on my seat and I went to …

Airline Reviews ANA Reviews

Airline Review: ANA – Business Class (Boeing 787-9 with Lie Flat Seats) : Haneda – Los Angeles (NH 106)

Flight:  ANA NH 106 from Haneda to Los Angeles Duration: 10 hours Equipment: B789(Boeing 787-9) Class: Business Seat: 3A (Aisle) Seat Specification: Flat bed seats with seat width: 20″ Bottomline: Seat: **** Service: *** Food: ***  

Airline Reviews EVA Airways Reviews

Airline Review: EVA Airways – Business Class (Boeing 787-10 with Lie Flat Seats) : Taipei – Narita (BR 196)

Flight:  EVA Air BR 196 from Taipei to Narita Duration: 3 hours 15 mins Equipment: B787X(Boeing 787-10) Class: Business Seat: 2A (Aisle) Seat Specification: Flat bed seats with seat width: 21″, Row pitch: 44″ EVA Airways is among the top 2 airlines whose business class I’ve flown the most (the other being Cathay Pacific). However, this was the first time I flew it on a Boeing 787-10. EVA Airways Business class on Boeing 787-10 consists of 38 seats with 10 rows of staggered 1-2-1 configuration. I love the color scheme of the business class seats !! The seat has lots of …

Hilton Hotel Reviews Reviews

Hotel Review – DoubleTree by Hilton Bangkok Ploenchit

DoubleTree by Hilton Bangkok Ploenchit 12 Sukhumvit 2, Khlong Toei, Bangkok 10110, Thailand DoubleTree by Hilton Bangkok Ploenchit is located in central Bangkok, only 7 minutes walk from nearest BTS station. I stayed 1 night during a transit stay and paid cash rate. Check-in was a breeze and the front desk upgraded me from a standard room to a corner big room. I arrived in the morning and stayed till just after midnight, so could not avail complimentary breakfast. Thumbs up: Well maintained property where a responsive front desk upgraded me to a bigger room Very short walking distance to …

Airline Reviews Reviews Starlux

Airline Review: Starlux Airlines – Business Class (Airbus 350-900 with Suites) : Los Angeles – Taipei (JX 1)

Flight:  Starlux Airlines JX 1 from Los Angeles to Taipei Duration: 14 hours 40 minutes Aircraft: A359 (Airbus 350-900) Class: Business Seat: 2A(Window) Seat Specification: True Flat Bed, Suites. Seat width: 19.6″, Bed length: 6’7″ This is my second time flying Starlux Airlines Business class and it has quickly become my 2nd favorite Business class product after Qatar Qsuites. The Airbus A350 Business class has 6 rows of 1 – 2 – 1 suites and with a total of 26 business class seats. The first row in business class cabin is more spacious with privacy doors and high screen partition …

Airline Reviews Finnair Reviews

Airline Review: Finnair – Business Class (Airbus A350-900 with Lie Flat Seats) : Helsinki – Los Angeles (AY 1)

Flight:  Finnair AY 1 from Helsinki to Los Angeles Duration: 11 hours Equipment: A359 (Airbus A350-900) Class: Business Seat:  2A (Window) Seat Specification: Flat bed seats This was my first ever Finnair flight and I was looking forward to flying it on the A350 with the recently redesigned Business class cabin. Finnair A350 has 30 Airlounge seats with 7 rows of  1 – 2 – 1 configuration and 2 seats in the middle as first row. One thing I should add is that this seat is much more comfortable to sleep on than sit. Even though it looks very wide its not …

Airline Reviews American Reviews

Airline Review: American Airlines – Business Class (Boeing 777-300ER with Lie Flat Seats) : London – Los Angeles (AA 135)

Flight:  American Airlines AA 135 from London Heathrow to Los Angeles Duration: 10 hours 45 mins Equipment: B77w (Boeing 777-300 ER) Class: Business Seat:  3J (Window) Seat Specification: Flat bed seats with seat width: 20″, seat pitch: 72″ MilesPointsTravel Disclaimer: This review is solely the work of Karen. I personally did not fly this segment.  American Airlines on this version of the Boeing 777-300 ER had 13 rows of seats in 1-2-1 configuration with 2 rows in forward cabin and remaining in aft. I have flown AA on Boeing 777-300 ER multiple times before and only difference was the color scheme of …

Destination Trip Reports Europe

August 2025: 24 hours in Helsinki Trip Report

We arrived late into the night at Helsinki Airport from Oslo. After staying the night at Clarion Helsinki Airport, next day we transfered to the city via train from the airport. After dropping off our luggage at our hotel (Hotel Fabian Helsinki), we walked to Senate Square where our Free Helsinki Walking Tour was about to start. The tour is tip based and lasts about 2.5 hours. We walked by the Uspenski Cathedral, a Russian Orthodox church. Next our guide took us to Havis Amanda, a beautiful statue at a busy intersection. Our next stop was Helsinki Central Station. Our …

Destination Trip Reports Europe

August 2025: Oslo Trip Report

Day 1: We traveled from Bergen to Oslo by train which left very early from Bergen and after 7 hours arrived at Oslo just past noon. The scenic beauty on both sides of the tracks was outstanding. We had already done Bergen – Myrdal segment for our “Norway in a Nutshell” tour 2 days ago. But this time the 7 hour journey went by watching streams, lakes, forests on both sides of the train. After arriving in Oslo, we walked across the Oslo central station to our hotel, the Amerikalinjen. After checking in and dropping our luggage, we walked 2 …

Choice Hotels/Radisson Hotel Reviews Reviews

Hotel Review: Hotel Fabian, Helsinki

Hotel Fabian, Helsinki Fabianinkatu 7, 00130 Helsinki, Finland Hotel Fabian is located about 20 minutes walking distance from Helsinki Central station. It is located very close walking to the tourist attractions such as Vanha Kauppahalli (6 minutes) and Senate Square (10 minutes). We stayed 1 night at this hotel using 15,000 Choice Privilege points. The hotel offers complimentary breakfast buffet for all guests. However, I was a little disappointed with the lack of menu options compared to the other Helsinki hotel we had just stayed at in addition to our Norway hotels just before this trip. Thumbs up: Excellent location …

Choice Hotels/Radisson Hotel Reviews Reviews

Hotel Review: Clarion Hotel Helsinki Airport

Clarion Hotel Helsinki Airport Taivastie 3, Vantaa, 1531, FI Clarion Hotel Helsinki Airport is located right next to the airport connected by a pathway with a very short walking distance. This makes it a great and convenient option for late arrival and early departure flights. We arrived very late in Helsinki (past midnight) and this was the best option for us to stay instead of in the city. We stayed here 1 night using 15,000 Choice Privileges points. The hotel has complimentary breakfast for all guests and the restaurant has a very large seating area. Breakfast buffet had a variety …

Choice Hotels/Radisson Hotel Reviews Reviews

Hotel Review: Hotel Amerikalinjen, Oslo

Hotel Amerikalinjen Jernbanetorget 2, 0154 Oslo, Norway This iconic hotel is located just across the Oslo Central Station and opposite of the famous Tiger sculpture in front of the station. This makes the hotel very centrally located for a lot of Oslo attractions such as only short walking distance to Oslo Opera House (8 minutes) and Karl Johans Gate (10 minutes). We stayed 2 nights here using a total of 40,000 Choice Privilege points. Breakfast is complimentary at the hotel for all guests. However, to manage traffic we were given time slots to appear for breakfast and we still found …