You now have a chance at winning 100,000 Qmiles (contest runs until February 13th 2020):

Qatar Airways is praised for its high-quality business class product known as Qsuite. Both the cabin itself, service, food and drinks rate high with frequent flyers. The Doha-based airline has received various awards for this. For example, Qatar Airways has been rated by Skytrax as one of the ten 5 star airlines worldwide, partly due to the Qsuite. However, Qatar does not fly on all long haul routes with this cabin. Here is an overview of the routes on which you can find the Qsuite.

Airbus A350 and Boeing 777

Qatar Airways currently offers the Qsuite on board the Airbus A350 and the Boeing 777. However, not all aircraft of these types are (yet) equipped with this business class product. Word is out that this cabin will be onboard the Boeing 787 Dreamliner. But whether and when this will happen remains unclear for the time being.

Qsuite

Of course, it’s nice that the Qsuite is so well known, but what does it actually look like? This Business Class cabin is best known because it is actually a suite. The airline has designed the Qsuite in such a way that it can almost be called a first class cabin and experience. You can close a separate sliding door so that you are in your own “suite”. After Qatar introduced this Business Class “seat” in 2017, British Airways and Delta with a similar product followed. Of course, the service and food and drinks are also geared to a first class experience. Below an impression of what the Qsuite looks like.

Qatar Airways’ Qsuite routes

As mentioned, not the entire fleet of Qatar Airways is equipped with the Qsuite cabin. As a result, this business class seat is not available in the entire long haul network. On the other routes you would be flying in the “normal” business class seat, which while comfortable, is clearly not a ‘suite’ seat.

The Qsuite can be found on routes from/to Africa, Asia, Europe, the Middle East and North and South America. Below an overview of the routes per continent (incl. flight numbers).

North and South America

Qatar has an excellent network in for North and South America. There are eleven  cities in the U.S. that you can visit or fly through Doha from. They are Chicago (ORD), Houston (IAH), New York (JFK), Washington (IAD), Los Angeles (LAX), Dallas / Forth Worth (DFW), Boston (BOS) and Philadelphia (PHL). Then there is the Montreal (YUL) in Canada. Finally, you can fly from/to São Paulo (GRU) in Brazil and Buenos Aires (EZE) in Argentina in the Qsuite.

Asia

There are far more destinations to Asia than and other regional area—seventeen destinations in total. That is considerably more than the other continents. Australia and New Zealand are also included in this region. Below you will find all the destinations.

You can go to three cities in India. These are Bangalore (BLR), Delhi (DEL) and Mumbai (BOM). If you fly a little further, you will arrive in the Maldives (MLE).

In Thailand and Malaysia, Qatar flies to the capital cities of Bangkok (BKK) and Kuala Lumpur (KUL). You can also go to Singapore (SIN).

Would you rather go to China? Then you can go to Beijing (PEK), Shanghai (PVG) and Hong Kong (HKG) if you want to fly in the Qsuite. The city of Seoul (ICN) is also possible in Korea. Qatar flies to Japan on both Tokyo Narita (NRT) and Haneda (HND).

Then there is Australia too. In the network, you will find the cities of Sydney (SYD), Canberra (CBR) and Adelaide (ADL) as a destination. If you fly a little further, you will arrive in Auckland (AKL), New Zealand.

Europe

In Europe there are ten destinations where Qatar Airways flies with the Qsuite. The most relevant cities are: Paris (CDG), London (LHR), Copenhagen (CPH), Amsterdam (AMS) and Stockholm (ARN). There are also other ‘Qsuite cities, namely Berlin (TXL), Frankfurt (FRA) and Munich (MUC) in Germany. Finally, you can visit Zurich (ZHR) in Switzerland and Milan (MXP) in Italy.

Middle East

Qatar Airways is the national carrier of Qatar. It is therefore not surprising that the airline’s home base is in Doha (Hamad International Airport, DOH). From Doha you fly with the Qsuite to only three cities. Logical, because the distances are relatively short. The three cities are Kuwait (KWI), Muscat (MCT) and Beirut (BEY).

Africa

Qatar Airways flies from Doha (DOH) to Cape Town (CPT) and Johannesburg (JNB). These are flight numbers QR1369 / 1370 and QR1363 / 1364, respectively. From Doha you fly to Cape Town in around ten hours. You can be in Johannesburg with a flight time of around nine hours.

Qatar Airways Privilege Club

When you’re flying with Qatar Airways you will earn Qmiles and Qpoints in the Privilege Club loyalty program. With Qpoints you will be able to reach higher membership levels in Privilege Club. With Qmiles you can redeem new flights with Qatar Airways. How many points you earn depends on your ticket class and Privilege Club membership level. The Privilege Club Qcalculator is a great tool to find out how many points and miles you will earn on your trip. If you’re not a member of Privilege Club, you can sign up here ánd have a chance at winning 100,000 Qmiles in the process!

What are your experiences with Qatar Airways? Did you get to fly the Qsuite before? Let us know in the comments!

The post You can fly the Qatar Airways Qsuite on these routes appeared first on InsideFlyer.

Qatar Airways continues to expand its international network and used the opening day of the Kuwait Air Show to announce eight new destinations starting in 2020.

The Kuwait Aviation Show is the perfect platform for us to kick start the New Year and unveil some of our exciting plans for 2020.

– Qatar Airways Group Chief Executive, Mr. Akbar Al Baker

Continued growth in Africa and Asia

Qatar Airways is one of the world’s fastest growing airlines and has won several awards in recent years, including the title of “World’s Best Airline” at the 2019 World Airline Awards. The airline also won the award for best business class and best business class seat.

New destinations:

• Nur-Sultan, Kazakhstan (Two weekly flights starting 30 March 2020)
• Almaty, Kazakhstan (Two weekly flights starting 1 April 2020. Four weekly flights from 25 May)
• Cebu, Philippines (Three weekly flights starting 8 April 2020)
• Accra, Ghana (Daily flights starting 15 April 2020)
• Trabzon, Turkey (Three weekly flights starting 20 May 2020)
• Lyon, France (Five weekly flights starting 23 June 2020)
• Luanda, Angola (Four weekly flights starting 14 October 2020)
• Siem Reap, Cambodia (Five weekly flights starting 16 November 2020)

These new destinations come in addition to the recently announced to expansion to Osaka, Japan, as well as several European destinations. With these expansions, Qatar Airways will operate a total of 177 destinations around the world.

Luanda might not be top of your travel bucket list, but being able to fly with just one-stop to Siem Reap is a great new option. You might also want to keep an eye on the fares from Lyon, as Qatar often has good deals on its new routes.

Significant codeshare expansion with Malaysia Airlines

In addition to the new destinations operated by Qatar Airways, the airline has also announced a significant expansion of the strategic partnership with Malaysia Airlines, first initiated in 2001. Both airlines are members of the Oneworld alliance.

The expanded agreement between the two airlines will allow Malaysia Airlines passengers to book travel to 20 additional gateways in Europe, America, and Africa. In turn, Qatar Airways passengers will benefit from access to four new destinations in South East Asia.

Discover Doha and Qatar Airways Privilege Club

You now have a chance at winning 100,000 Qmiles with InsideFlyer:

When you’re flying with Qatar Airways you can earn Qmiles and Qpoints in the Privilege Club loyalty program. With Qpoints you will be able to reach higher membership levels in Privilege Club, while Qmiles can be redeemed for flights and upgrades. How many points you earn depends on your ticket class and Privilege Club membership level. The Privilege Club Qcalculator is a great tool to find out how many points and miles you will earn on your trip. If you’re not a member of Privilege Club, you can sign up here.

When you’re flying with Qatar Airways you can also do a stopover in Doha at no extra cost. If you have a long layover you can also attend activities like city sightseeing or a desert safari.

Cover photo: Sharon Ang / Pixabay 

The post New Qatar Airways Destinations (Plus Codeshare Expansion With Malaysia Airlines) appeared first on InsideFlyer.

We made this our first stop in Copenhagen. The cost of admission is 130 DKK (~$20 USD) for a weekday. We purchased our tickets on arrival. Thankfully, it was quick and easy. There was no line.

A Tour Through Pictures

The Tivoli Gardens is a huge place, but it’s hard to miss this grand structure (Nimb Hotel). Or that wandering peacock.

Since it’s a real park, you will find people sitting and chilling around.

Or, like this peacock. Just chilling.

The Trivoli is also an amusement park.  If you are a thrill-seeker, there are roller coaster rides.

If you are looking for something a bit more tame, there’s always the classic Merry-Go-Around…

Food Hall

Of course, I had to check out the Food Hall. Since the food hall is accessible from the public street, you are technically exiting the garden. Just make sure you get your hand stamped by one of the attendants; it gives you re-entry access if you are not done with your visit.

There are a number of food shops. There are seating areas inside the food hall, as well as seating areas outside. We sat outside while we waited for our buzzers to go off.  (Mine malfunctioned; it never buzzed!)

The food was a-OK.  There are a couple of restaurants within the garden as well.

There are performances at the Pantomime Theatre during scheduled times as well. I saw a brief stretch of a performance. I can’t say that I enjoyed it, though.

Carnival Games

I ended up throwing some time and money at a carnival game, the roll-a-ball-horse-racing game.  Since I tend to do reasonably well with this game, I refrained from playing when only kids were playing.  It’s a game of luck, but somehow, I’d still feel like I have an unfair advantage. I don’t want to dash their hopes!

When other adults were in on the game, all bets were off.  I got to be a total kid for a while. When I won, I was pumping my fists up in the air! (Yep, totally).

It was nice to get my mind off some things at the time. I redeemed for small souvenirs, including a set of plush toys that I adored (they reminded me of someone). They were cheap and silly, but equally cute and meaningful in a lot of ways. I knew what I wanted to do with them.

In Summary

While you can find carnival games at any amusement parks, it was actually the highlight of my visit at Tivoli Gardens. That is, aside from the peacock sighting.  Tivoli isn’t what I would considered a repeat destination, but it was nice way to spend a morning or early afternoon.

Have you visited the Tivoli Gardens?  Is it worth a visit when visiting Copenhagen?  

The post The Tivoli Gardens: A Nice Way to Spend a Morning appeared first on InsideFlyer.

I was planning a trip to Lake Powell and Antelope Canyon. Since I was making the trek from LA, it made sense to stop by Las Vegas too. I have Caesars Diamond Status from my status match from Wyndham Diamond so I was happy to find a comp for the Rio Las Vegas. I also found a $37 all in rate for a renovated room at Harrahs. Decisions, decisions… All resort fees are waived with Caesars Diamond, so a free room really is free!

I ended up choosing the Rio (oops!) because hey, free room! I don’t regret giving it a try, but next time I’ll fork over $37 to try another hotel. The off strip location wasn’t a problem for me as I had a car, but if you’re flying in to Vegas, the location of the Rio might not be too desirable.

Arrival:

We parked at the Masquerade Tower parking garage, as our room was located in the Masquerade Tower. The casino was essentially empty during the afternoon on Tuesday.

There’s a separate check in room for Platinum, Diamond and Seven Star members. It was nice and emptier than the main lobby. There’s also a lot of “self-check in” kiosks in the Main lobby without a wait.

The front desk attendant Daniel was nice and helpful. He found us two rooms with 2 Queen Beds each that were adjoining. My dad also has Diamond, so we booked two rooms for our group of four. Apparently though, he gave us super outdated rooms…

The Rio Las Vegas Room:

We had two rooms in the Masquerade Tower, and oh my the online photos on the website looked a lot better. The Rio opened in 1990. Minus the flat screen TV, I honestly don’t think they’ve renovated the rooms since then.

All the rooms at the Rio are marketed as “suites” and they are very roomy at 550 square feet. Maybe they forgot about the second R: RENOVATE.

The bathroom area has a large vanity area with a sink, then the bathroom has a sink, toilet and tub/shower combo.

The living room had a very old sofa, and a small desk was provided. A mini fridge was provided in the room as well.

The cleanliness was the large issue. The hairdryer was stained, and half the towels were nasty. My bed had a pretty large stain on the top cover.

Also, the towels and bed linens were ridiculously old! They all had fuzz balls and were falling apart. Thank goodness it was only one night!

One funny feature of the room was the see through window from the shower to the bedroom? Odd…

In terms of noise, our floor was a literally a ghost town so it was quiet room to room. Not sure how loud it would be with a full house. But, we could hear the train horn from outside. And we were 14 floors up! All that aside, I surprisingly got decent sleep.

Fitness Center:

On my long walk from the Masquerade Tower to the Penn and Teller Theater, I passed by a fitness center! It exists! But I didn’t have time to use it.

Penn and Teller:

With Caesars Diamond, we got free show tickets (two per person) at many of the shows at Caesars properties. Our first choice was Wow, the water show/Cirque Du Soleil knockoff, but it was sold out for our dates. We ended up taking Penn and Teller, and got really good seats! It was perfect, as the show is hosted at the Rio. That was definitely the highlight of the stay! The magic tricks were great, although I did feel the beginning of the show was a bit slow, which is kinda annoying when the show is only 90 minutes long.

I checked Ticketmaster, and our seats were $85 worth each! I enjoyed the show, but definitely don’t think it’s worth that much. In my opinion, it’s worth closer to $40s. I hear if you want to see it they often have coupons on Groupon and such.

The Verdict:

The ridiculously outdated rooms really makes the Rio Las Vegas Comp Room not worth it! There are far too many hotels in Las Vegas to choose from. I probably won’t be staying here in the future.

Have you stayed at the Rio Las Vegas? Comment your thoughts below!

Happy travels,

Ty

Have any questions? Comment below or email me at takeofftotravel@gmail.com. You can also view all my other posts here! Thanks for stopping by!

The post The Rio Las Vegas Has Outdated Rooms appeared first on InsideFlyer.

What Heineken says to expect on the tour:

“The Heineken Experience is a self guided interactive journey through the world of Heineken(R). You can discover the history of the company, the 4 natural ingredients of our beer, the brewing process, a tasting room and the Heineken(R) brand. At the end of the tour you can enjoy 2 Heinekens(R) or learn how to draught the perfect Heineken(R).”

Admissions

The admission fee is €18 per adult. You can save a few dollars by purchasing your tickets online.

We decided to visit at the last minute so we didn’t purchase advance tickets. The wait was about 10-15 minutes. The lines were orderly, and the staff did a light inspection of bags. At the beginning of the self-guided tour, you are given green wristband. It features two peel-able buttons that could be redeemed for two beers at the end of the tour.

Where It Began

The bottling process

During the tour we saw a close up look at the bottling process. The bottles hustled through the bottling machine right before our eyes. If you’re so inclined, you can buy a personalized Heineken beer bottle as a souvenir.

The “Brew You” Experience

We waited in line for this highly anticipated experience. Frankly, I’d much rather not re-live it. In particular, there was one part where we had to sit through the Heineken “experience” (places where people would drink the Heineken beer).  The club music / bouncy beats was loud and the flashy visual display was cheesy and dizzying.

Maybe it fits some people’s definition of fun, but I couldn’t wait to bounce myself out of there.  It’s kind of funny now, but at the time, it was almost enough to trigger a massive headache.

Fortunately, as a reward for putting you through that traumatic experience, you are offered a glass of Heineken at the end. And that’s in addition to the two glasses you get by redeeming the buttons on your wristband!

In Summary

In terms of actual experience, I prefer the Scotch Whiskey Experience over the Heineken Experience, even though I like the taste of beers over scotch.  Personally, this attraction isn’t really for me.  If I am short on time, I wouldn’t pick this attraction over others, especially given that there are so many cultural things to do in Amsterdam.

If you enjoy beers and have an afternoon to kill, this might be be a good experience to have with friends.  Alternatively, you could just go to a bar, grab some real food and pair it with a Heineken.

Have you visited the Heineken Experience in Amsterdam?  What’s been your experience?

The post A Peek into the Heineken Experience in Amsterdam appeared first on InsideFlyer.

Very different from ‘crime against tourists’ (also a major problem), crime tourism refers to organized gangs that enter countries on tourist visas with the sole intention to commit crime or make a quick buck. Sights and sounds don’t mean much to these individuals, home break-ins and shoplifting however are prime intent. These tourists do not reside in countries for more than a few weeks, they seek to inflict maximum damage on locals before returning to their home countries.

Not only is crime tourism an organized crime, they revel in their knowledge of local criminal law. They undertake levels of crime that are not violent so they avoid prosecution to the fullest. It’s a game of ‘optimum opportunity cost’.

Which Countries are dealing with increased Crime Tourism?

Although crime tourism exists to a certain level in most countries, recent news cycles suggest that Canada, US, Australia have been dealing with an increased level or crime tourism as an organized crime. Canada for example is grappling with Chilean gangs that operate across several cities. A quick excerpt from the report highlights the global presence of the issue;

“Over the weekend, we got a notification that there were at least three people arrested,” he said. “And there were two detained yesterday in a different city. It’s just a growing problem.”

When police in Australia broke up a Chilean gang in December, they thanked Canadian police for tipping them off.

Three suspects who’d fled Ontario and returned to Chile turned up in Sydney, Australia.

The tip from Halton Regional Police led to eight arrests and the recovery of more than $1 million worth of stolen goods.

Take Away

Am glad that local authorities in different countries are co-ordinating their response to these unwanted tourists. The term ‘Crime Tourism’ definitely caught my attention, and I was keen to learn more. Seems like a classic case of law being slow in adapting to new forms of crime and criminals.

The post ‘Crime Tourism’ and Why It’s a Growing Problem appeared first on InsideFlyer.

We all know Las Vegas as a city of glitz and glam. The Cosmopolitan of Las Vegas epitomizes that vision. Between the lux buffet and the stunning view of the Bellagio Fountains this hotel is a Las Vegas dream. I recently stayed at the Cosmopolitan of Las Vegas and used Amex’s Fine Hotels and Resorts program in order to book this hotel. I’ll write in more detail about my experience while using Amex’s FHR benefit in subsequent posts.

Location

The Cosmopolitan Las Vegas is located in the centre of the Las Vegas Strip, right next to Bellagio. After having stayed at Bellagio previously, I thought I should try out something else this time around. The Cosmopolitan was offering decent rates via the Fine Hotels and Resorts Program.

Booking the Hotel

I used my American Express Platinum Card to leverage Amex’s Fine Hotels and Resorts program to book this one night stay for 3 adults and booked a City View Room with two Queen beds. As part of the Fine Hotels and Resorts programs, we were eligible for the following benefits:

• Room upgrade upon arrival (subject to availability)
• Daily breakfast for two people
• Guaranteed 4 PM late check-out
• Noon check-in (subject to availability)
• Complimentary Wi-Fi
• $100 Spa Credit

Since the hotel is a part of Marriott’s Autograph Collection, I added my Marriott Bonvoy number to the reservation.

Check-In

The check-in experience was a bit chaotic. It was oddly busy for a mid-week stay. There were multiple lines leading to different check-in desks that were open. To the left of the check-in desks was the Autograph Lounge, which was supposedly for Marriott Bonvoy elites, since the hotel is a part of the Marriott Autograph Collection.

I walked into the Autograph Lounge and was told that I couldn’t check in. The rep told me that the lounge was only for Platinum elites and above. I was surprised because I read that it was for Gold elites and higher.

I went back and asked the check-in rep manning the ‘invited guest’ desk. She confirmed that Gold elites were indeed eligible to check-in at the Autograph lounge. The rep apologized and then proceeded to complete my check-in at the invited guest desk. She recognized my Marriott elite status and the fact that I’d booked it through Amex Fine Hotels and Resorts. We got confirmed late check-out and got upgraded to a fantastic room with a view of the Las Vegas strip and the Bellagio fountains!

Room

I initially booked a City Room with two queen beds. We were upgraded to a Terrace View Room with Fountain View, thanks to the benefits from the Amex Fine Hotels and Resorts program! You can view all the room types here.

Dining

The hotel contains a myriad of restaurants and bars, catering a variety of tastes and cuisines. Since this was just a one night stay, I was able to try out the complimentary breakfast option.

The buffet covered a wide array of cuisines. It featured the conventional continental breakfast that’s par for the course at most hotels. There was a live egg station, in addition to a selection to breads, fruits, milk based beverages and juices. In addition to the continental breakfast, there was an entire section of asian food, right from soups and rice to a wide variety of meats. I was pretty impressed by the variety on offer!

The Pundit’s Mantra

Having stayed at multiple different hotels in Vegas previously (including the Bellagio), I was mightily impressed by the overall experience at The Cosmopolitan. The view of the fountain and the strip was breathtaking, the food was sumptuous and the service was great. The only let down was the quality of in-room wi-fi. It was slow and spotty.

Have you stayed at the Cosmopolitan before? What was your experience like? Let us know in the comments section.

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The post The Cosmopolitan of Las Vegas Is Visually Stunning appeared first on InsideFlyer.

Lisbon is the capital of Portugal and is quite possibly one of Europe’s smallest and most charming capital cities. The city itself predates London, Rome, and many other European cities by centuries and is the westernmost capital on the European continent. Lisbon was once considered one of Europe’s best kept secrets, often overlooked in favor of cites like Prague, Madrid, London, and many more. However with the explosion of social media, people have begun to realize that San Francisco has a prettier, charming, and affordable European cousin. There’s no denying the striking similarities between the two cities with their hilly cityscapes (both are built on 7 hills), narrow streets, colorful tramways, and of course golden bridges. I’ve had Lisbon near the top of my bucket list for so long and my expectations were so high. I have to say that the city was far exceeded any expectations I had going in. It is quite simply one of Europe’s most photogenic cities in every respect.

A quick note before we get started: I captured all the images below on my Sony A7RIII, so if you like my work, please do think about following me and my adventures on Instagram or on my YouTube Channel.

Here are 5 reasons why you might want to plan a Lisbon vacation for your next trip:

1.) Lisbon is affordable

• A coffee and a croissant cost less than 2 Euros. One of my favorite cafes in the city is SAGA, which is located around the Alfama district. If you were to have these freshly baked goods anywhere else in the world, it would cost you an arm. Prices are generally half what you would find in other major European cities.

• An Uber Ride to Sintra (which is over 20 miles away) is ~$30 (with tip). Here is a screenshot of my Uber ride to Sintra from my Airbnb in Alfama. More on Sintra later….

• Airbnbs are plentiful and 2 Bedroom Apartments average below $200 per night.

• The hotel market has plenty of options for points aficionados.  FYI: I split my stay between an Airbnb in Alfama and the Sheraton Lisboa (review coming soon).
• Public transportation including taxis, metros, and trams are abundant and extremely cheap. Going from one end of the city to the other costs no more than 10 Euros even in a cab.
• Lunch/Dinner for 4 at a high end restaurant costs no more than $100

2.) Lisbon is romantic

Every single street in Lisbon looks like it is straight out of a mid-century movie scene or novel. The old world charm just oozes here more so than any other European capital I’ve seen. The positioning of the city on 7 hills, just makes all the monuments and landmark structures stand out even more. Lisbon was also left undamaged by both the World Wars so that certainly helped out a bit in preserving the city’s architecture.

There are over 30 viewpoints (termed miraduaros) of the city which are all open to the public (>95% of which are free). The views from these vantage points are jaw dropping. Here are 3 of my favorite Miradouros:

Miradouro das Portas do Sol – the perfect spot for a Lisbon sunrise

Miradouro da Senhora do Monte (Lady of the Hill)  – there is not an angle of the city you can’t see from this vantage point.

Miradouro da Graça – my go to place for sunsets, views of the castle, and the entire Alfama district (Lisbon’s Old Town)

3.) Lisbon is quiet

Lisbon is only the 9th most visited city in Southern Europe with 3M visitors annually. For comparison sake Amsterdam sees 6M visitors and Prague sees 8M visitors annually. As such, the number of visitors is well below the likes of similarly sized cities. Walking through the city, you will certainly notice fewer throngs of visitors taking selfies. And regardless of certain view points being crowded, there are so many that you can always find one for yourself. This was Lisbon during the middle of the day during my recent visit.

4.) Lisbon is compact

Lisbon is a very compact city. The airport is just 20 minutes from the city center and most of the city’s attractions are situated within the Alfama district, a 5 block, scenic quarter of the city. Given that, you do need to wear the proper walking shoes in Lisbon though because the city’s old town is full of steep inclines. How else do you expect to get so many different panoramic views? Let me just say ladies that you were warned….

5.) Lisbon is accessible

This is a frequent flyer blog, so I have to mention that TAP Portugal makes award seats to the city readily available and even cheap at times. TAP Portugal also has some extremely cheap business class fares out of Scandinavia, London, and Dublin at times with a stopover in Lisbon. This makes Lisbon easy to get to and a comfortable way to enter and leave Europe. I actually have a TAP Portugal flight out of Oslo coming up in a couple of weeks so I will report back on the experience, if my plans don’t change.

If Portugal is your final destination, TAP Portugal flies to Lisbon from Toronto, Boston, Chicago, New York (Newark and JFK), San Francisco, and Washington DC. And award availability is pretty darn good if you can’t trouble yourself to get creative to achieve those cheap business fares. Now I’m showing award space using United.com, but you want to book these award flights using Aeroplan (55k one way) or Lifemiles (63k one way).

Honorable Mention: Lisbon is extremely vegetarian friendly, especially when compared to other cities on the Iberian Peninsula. Even the McDonald’s has an excellent veggie burger

Bottom Line:

As you can see there are many reasons to visit Lisbon, so you can’t count on this European city to continue to fly under the radar much longer (not that it is anymore). More people are discovering Portugal as the topmost affordable, yet charming, European destination. So I think you better get going before the market gets too hot. We all know what happened in Iceland, though I doubt Portugal will fizzle out like Iceland did earlier this year.

TRIP REPORT INDEX

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Lisbon – No Longer Europe’s Best Kept Secret

The post Why You Should Plan A Lisbon Vacation Right Now appeared first on InsideFlyer.

Flights that have a stop en route are not included here. This means Paris to Tahiti via Los Angeles, which would technically come out tops at 15,715 kilometres (9,765 miles), is not on this list.

Longest Domestic Flights

This list comprises of the longest non-stop flights, plus the airlines that are currently serving the route. Distances in miles are included for readers in the United States, Liberia and Myanmar, the only countries still using this ancient form of measurement.

1. Paris Charles de Gaulle to Reunion (CDG-RUN) 9,349 km (5,809 mi)
2. Paris Orly to Reunion (ORY-RUN) 9,337 km (5,802 mi)
3. Lyon to Reunion (LYS-RUN) 8,962km (5,569 mi)

Reunion Island, a French overseas territory, is located in the Indian Ocean. At 11 hours and 15 minutes from France, these are definitely the longest domestic flights in the world.

Air Austral and Air France operate from Charles de Gaulle. Air France, Corsair and low-cost long haul carrier French Bee operate from Orly Airport while XL Airways France fly from Lyon.

The American Angle

What inspired this post was the new Boston to Honolulu service by Hawaiian Airlines. It turns out that it is only the fourth longest domestic route in the world. It just pips New York Kennedy, which is operated by Hawaiian, Delta and United.

4. Boston to Honolulu (BOS-HNL) 8,200 km (5,095 mi)
5. Honolulu to New York Kennedy (HNL-JFK) 8,019 km (4,983 mi)

At 11 hours and 40 minutes flying westbound, the Boston flight is the longest domestic flight in the USA. Hawaiian have it all to themselves too, the lucky devils!

The Europeans Are At It Again!

KLM take 12 hours and 10 minutes to get from Amsterdam to Bonaire, which is an island near Curaçao and Aruba off the coast of Venezuela. Oh, and it’s Dutch by the way!

6. Amsterdam to Bonaire (AMS-BON) 7,796 km (4,844 mi)
7. Cayenne to Paris Orly (CAY-ORY) 7,083 km (4,401 mi)
8. Fort-de-France to Paris Charles de Gaulle (FDF-CDG) 6,874 km (4,271 mi)
9. Fort-de-France to Paris Orly (FDF-ORY) 6,854 km (4,259 mi)

Cayenne is in French Guiana and direct flights with Air France and Air Caraïbes take 8 hours and 55 minutes. Flights to and from Martinique in the West Indies are next on the list, taking 8 hours and change with XL Airways France to Charles de Gaulle, and similar times to Orly with Air France and Corsair.

The Russians Are Coming!

Rounding out the list are two domestic routes operated by Russia’s Aeroflot, which is one of the oldest airlines in the world. Petropavlovsk-Kamchatsky is located near the Bering Sea.

10. Petropavlovsk-Kamchatsky to Moscow Vnukovo (PKC-VKO) 6,803 km (4,227 mi)
11. Petropavlovsk-Kamchatsky to Moscow Sheremetyevo (PKC-SVO) 6,764 km (4,203 mi)

Timed at 8 hours and 55 minutes, it is the longest domestic route in Russia. Modern Airbus A330 aircraft operate the route, ensuring a comfortable ride.

Overall Thoughts

Eclectic it may be, but there you have it, the longest domestic flights in the world. Geography is one of my strong suits, and despite this even I had to look up a couple of the destinations on the list.

What do you think of the list? Are you planning your next trip already? Or have I gone and forgotten something? Thanks for reading and if you have any comments or questions, please leave them below.

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Featured image via Airline Reporter.
Reunion Island images via Traveller.
Bonaire by V Vergne via Wikimedia Commons.
Petropavlovsk-Kamchatsky by Yuri Smityuk via Russia Beyond.
With thanks to Jeffrey at Weekend Blitz and FlightGlobal’s FlightMaps Analytics.

The post A Break Down of the Longest Domestic Flights in the World appeared first on InsideFlyer.

What is a ryokan?

A ryokan is a traditional Japanese inn. Typical features of a traditional Japanese ryokan include futon beds, low tables, paper walls, sliding doors, straw tatami mats, minimalist decor and communal baths. Ryokan do tend to be more expensive than Western style hotels but you can still find budget-friendly options.  Some ryokan are very authentic and traditional. Others offer modern touches such as TV, wi-fi and even western beds. Ryokan can be found all over Japan but they tend to be more common in onsen towns (towns with natural hot springs).

What to expect when staying in ryokan

Below is a guide to what to expect when staying in a traditional Japanese ryokan. Some ryokan are more modern so your stay might differ somewhat from the traditional Japanese ryokan experience.

Sleeping on a futon on the floor

One of the main features of a traditional ryokan is the futon mattress on the floor in place of a bed.  Every morning the staff places the futons back in the closet. They then put out the futons again while you are eating dinner.  We found the futons very comfortable. The biggest adjustment for us was not having a bed to take a nap during the day.

If sleeping on a futon on the floor is an issue, some modern ryokan have Western style rooms with beds.

Wearing a yukata

While staying at a ryokan you have the option to borrow a yukata and possibly a jacket if it’s cold. Yukatas are traditional Japanese robes usually made of cotton.  The yukata is meant to be worn at the ryokan in your room, while having dinner or when going to take a bath.  Many guests even wear the yukata outside when walking around onsen towns but it is not common to wear it walking around Tokyo or Kyoto.

There is a specific way to wear the yukata – left side on top over the right side before tying the obi (belt). See this website for detailed instructions.

Breakfast and dinner are usually included in the rate

Ryokan usually include breakfast and dinner in their prices. This is one reason why they typically cost more than Western style hotels.

Dinners are usually kaiseki ryori- traditional Japanese multi-course haute cuisine. It’s usually prepared with seasonal, locally sourced ingredients and beautifully presented. Since dinner consists of multiple courses, you can expect it to take you a long time to eat.

You don’t get to choose the dishes or place an order. The menu is planned ahead of time and varies each day. If you don’t like one of the courses, you can probably skip it or only take a few bites. But it is polite to eat most of the food. Since meals take a lot of preparation, if you have dietary restrictions inform the ryokan ahead of time.

Breakfast and dinner are usually served either in your room or in a separate dining room. It’s important to be on time for dinner (the ryokan will either set a time or get your feedback on the time dinner will be served).

Soaking in a onsen

Our room had a private onsen

Ryokan are famous for having shared onsen (Japanese hot spring baths). Onsen are typically communal and gender segregated.  It’s typical to switch the genders throughout the day so that both genders can use each onsen.  You are expected to bathe in the nude and are not allowed to wear bathing suits or anything else while in the water. For those that are modest and want more privacy, some luxury ryokan offer private onsen in addition to the shared onsen.

There are certain rules to follow when using an onsen which we’ll get into a little later. Beware: the water is very hot!

Ryokan Have Limited Check In and Check Out Times

Ryokan typically have more limited check in and check out times. This can make it hard to get early check in or late checkout like you might in a hotel.

Guests are expected to check in mid afternoon (usually between 3 and 6 pm).  After you check into a ryokan, you will typically be served tea and Japanese sweets. Guests are also expected to check out in the morning (usually by 10 am) so that the rooms can be cleaned and prepared for the new guests.

Ryokan rules and etiquette

There is certain etiquette you are expected to follow when staying in a ryokan.  These rules were explained to us by our hostess but in case you forget here are some things to keep in mind.

No shoes inside the ryokan

Just like when entering a Japanese home, guests are asked to remove their shoes prior to entering a ryokan and wear slippers.  You will usually see shoes and slippers at the entrance so it will be self explanatory where to leave your shoes. In addition to slippers, you might also be provided with wooden sandals (geta) for walking around outdoors.

Slipper etiquette

While you are expected to wear slippers rather that shoes inside the ryokan, slippers are not allowed on the tatami mats because they are delicate. Don’t roll your luggage on the tatami mats either.

In addition to slippers for walking around, you will also encounter separate bathroom slippers for use only in the bathroom.

When using the bathroom, you are expected to take off your slippers and step into the bathroom slippers.  Before leaving the bathroom, take the bathroom slippers off and switch back to your regular ones. Make sure not to step on the bathroom floor when switching or walk out in the bathroom slippers as the Japanese consider bathroom floors very unclean.

Onsen rules and etiquette

A big part of the ryokan experience are the communal onsen baths.  When using a Japanese onsen there are certain rules to keep in mind.

Onsen are meant for soaking and not for cleaning yourself.  You are expected to clean yourself in the washing area before entering the onsen and not use soap or shampoo in the onsen. While you will be given a large towel to dry and a small towel, you should make sure towels do not touch the water.  You are not allowed to wear bathing suits, robes, towels or anything else while in the water.

Some public onsen do not allow people with tattoos (tattoos have been historically taboo in Japan as they are associated with criminal gangs). You might be able to get away with covering up your tattoo with a waterproof bandage or hiding it with your small towel before quickly getting in the water. If there is no way to hide your tattoos, some ryokan offer private onsen in addition to shared onsen.

Summary of the ryokan experience

We definitely recommend anyone visiting Japan stay in a traditional Japanese ryokan at least for a night or two. You can enjoy excellent Japanese hospitality as well as exquisite local Japanese food. It’s an incredible cultural experience you won’t regret making time for!

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