5 year anniversary trip - NZ, OZ, SIN, DPS, TYO on F/J/Y
Apr 30, 2017, 10:26 am
#46
Join Date: Mar 2005
Location: Dallas, TX
Programs: AA Concierge Key, SPG Plat, Hyatt Diam
Posts: 510
Great trip report; fun way for me to spend the weekend and plan my winter trip with the wife for our 15th anniversary. I have done SQ First 4 times, and the 3 times I have Book the Cooked the lobster, it has been awful. I just understand how people like the cheesy rich dish which completely drowns out the lobster taste. My favorite SQ dish is the Laksa 
Aug 1, 2017, 10:46 pm
#49
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Sep 2000
Programs: UA Million Miler (lite). NY Metro area.
Posts: 15,075
injian, thanks for the report.
I was never a fan of Johnny Walker Blue.
We're SIN bound in the fall, so your notes are helpful, I never thought to go to Lau Pa Sat for breakfast. I've only been there at midnight with Flyertalkers for chili crabs.
We're flying coach (holds head in shame) on SIN using LH miles SIN/DPS. Do you recall how long check in lines are?
Thanks.
I was never a fan of Johnny Walker Blue.
We're SIN bound in the fall, so your notes are helpful, I never thought to go to Lau Pa Sat for breakfast. I've only been there at midnight with Flyertalkers for chili crabs.
We're flying coach (holds head in shame) on SIN using LH miles SIN/DPS. Do you recall how long check in lines are?
Thanks.
Aug 2, 2017, 11:17 am
#50
Join Date: Jun 2010
Programs: United 1K, AA Exec P, Lifetime Titanium Elite, Hyatt Globalist, Avis Pres. Club, Hertz Gold
Posts: 94
We were helped immediately as we approached the check-in desk. Since both of us are SPG Gold members, we were given points as a benefit but we could not add either of our SPG accounts to the booking because we booked through a 3rd party. Stupidest thing I ever heard as other hotels on this trip were booked through 3rd parties and the front staff were immediately able to add our membership
Aug 2, 2017, 12:32 pm
#51
Original Poster
Join Date: Jun 2012
Location: Toronto, Canada
Programs: Aeroplan Airmiles AMEX-MR Alaska Airlines
Posts: 692
I've booked through 3rd party sites for other hotels including SPG and have had status/points honored. The Novotels and Shangri La in this TR all honored status and were all booked through 3rd parties.
Aug 2, 2017, 3:27 pm
#52
Join Date: Mar 2004
Location: Baltimore MD
Posts: 3,457
Great great adventure.. I love how you surprise her with F... she will soon become so accustomed to it that it won't be a surprise....
What sort of explanation did Amankila give for their failure to properly pick you up? and was there any service recovery? I loved meeting the chef and our beach bbq there; shame the weather didn't cooperate but looks like the back up plan was great as well...
Congrats on 5! We are encroaching on 11 (with three kids) so I know that time away is very important!
FDW
What sort of explanation did Amankila give for their failure to properly pick you up? and was there any service recovery? I loved meeting the chef and our beach bbq there; shame the weather didn't cooperate but looks like the back up plan was great as well...
Congrats on 5! We are encroaching on 11 (with three kids) so I know that time away is very important!
FDW
Aug 2, 2017, 10:12 pm
#53
Join Date: Jul 2013
Location: Dubai
Posts: 3,301
Please avoid personal insults, challenge the idea — not the person.
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DanielW
Moderator: Trip Reports
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DanielW
Moderator: Trip Reports
Aug 8, 2017, 10:19 am
#55
Join Date: Feb 2011
Programs: A Advantage
Posts: 6
Hi,
How many days was the entire trip, going to Sydney, Tasmania (Hobart), Melbourne, Baroosa Valley, Cairns, Ayers Rock, Christchurch, Queenstown NZ, Rotoura NZ, Napier NZ and finally Auckland NZ and home to NY Feb/Mar 2018 for 36 days? Clothes advice in regard to travelling so many places and luggage? Your trip details are amazing thank you for any information you can supply. Michelle
How many days was the entire trip, going to Sydney, Tasmania (Hobart), Melbourne, Baroosa Valley, Cairns, Ayers Rock, Christchurch, Queenstown NZ, Rotoura NZ, Napier NZ and finally Auckland NZ and home to NY Feb/Mar 2018 for 36 days? Clothes advice in regard to travelling so many places and luggage? Your trip details are amazing thank you for any information you can supply. Michelle
Aug 8, 2017, 12:51 pm
#57
Original Poster
Join Date: Jun 2012
Location: Toronto, Canada
Programs: Aeroplan Airmiles AMEX-MR Alaska Airlines
Posts: 692
Great great adventure.. I love how you surprise her with F... she will soon become so accustomed to it that it won't be a surprise....
What sort of explanation did Amankila give for their failure to properly pick you up? and was there any service recovery? I loved meeting the chef and our beach bbq there; shame the weather didn't cooperate but looks like the back up plan was great as well...
Congrats on 5! We are encroaching on 11 (with three kids) so I know that time away is very important!
Thanks FlyingDoctorwu. The Amankila rep showed his sheet and said that I did not request airport transfers. I showed them an email between myself and my TA with proof of airport transfer request. Once they saw this, they recovered pretty quickly with alot of apologizing and assurances that they would take care of it without us having to worry about it. Sure enough, everything was taken care of.
FDW
What sort of explanation did Amankila give for their failure to properly pick you up? and was there any service recovery? I loved meeting the chef and our beach bbq there; shame the weather didn't cooperate but looks like the back up plan was great as well...
Congrats on 5! We are encroaching on 11 (with three kids) so I know that time away is very important!
Thanks FlyingDoctorwu. The Amankila rep showed his sheet and said that I did not request airport transfers. I showed them an email between myself and my TA with proof of airport transfer request. Once they saw this, they recovered pretty quickly with alot of apologizing and assurances that they would take care of it without us having to worry about it. Sure enough, everything was taken care of.
FDW
Hi,
How many days was the entire trip, going to Sydney, Tasmania (Hobart), Melbourne, Baroosa Valley, Cairns, Ayers Rock, Christchurch, Queenstown NZ, Rotoura NZ, Napier NZ and finally Auckland NZ and home to NY Feb/Mar 2018 for 36 days? Clothes advice in regard to travelling so many places and luggage? Your trip details are amazing thank you for any information you can supply. Michelle
How many days was the entire trip, going to Sydney, Tasmania (Hobart), Melbourne, Baroosa Valley, Cairns, Ayers Rock, Christchurch, Queenstown NZ, Rotoura NZ, Napier NZ and finally Auckland NZ and home to NY Feb/Mar 2018 for 36 days? Clothes advice in regard to travelling so many places and luggage? Your trip details are amazing thank you for any information you can supply. Michelle
Thank you Bear4Asian. I have been posting some of the pics from the trip on my Instagram and looking at the Singapore food pics makes me hungry too!
Aug 13, 2017, 3:46 am
#58
Join Date: Mar 2001
Location: SYD
Programs: Too many golds, no plat: OZ*G, AC*G, NZ*G, VA Gold, QF Gold, HH Gold, Bonvoy Gold
Posts: 5,350
Great report! And so much food. Now I'm wondering what to eat for dinner...
In Queenstown, why did you not check in for your AKL-MEL flight as well? It definitely makes the connection to the international terminal a bit less stressful! Or were you on separate tickets? Also, your biz class flight out of AKL means you would have been able to use the lounge at Queenstown, even without *A status. Though you didn't miss all that much
In Queenstown, why did you not check in for your AKL-MEL flight as well? It definitely makes the connection to the international terminal a bit less stressful! Or were you on separate tickets? Also, your biz class flight out of AKL means you would have been able to use the lounge at Queenstown, even without *A status. Though you didn't miss all that much
Aug 13, 2017, 12:56 pm
#59
Join Date: Apr 2014
Location: Aberdeen, Scotland
Programs: BA Bronze, Emirates Silver, Virgin Silver, Marriott Titanium
Posts: 1,401
We were away for 30 night (plus travelling) last year to New Zealand and Australia. We each took 5 days worth of clothes and did a wash every every week, sometimes twice depending on the accommodation especially if we knew there was no facilities at the next destination. Most places do give you free laundry detergent but i took my own (liquitabs) so that I knew what I was washing our clothes in.
Aug 14, 2017, 10:33 am
#60
Original Poster
Join Date: Jun 2012
Location: Toronto, Canada
Programs: Aeroplan Airmiles AMEX-MR Alaska Airlines
Posts: 692
Great report! And so much food. Now I'm wondering what to eat for dinner...
In Queenstown, why did you not check in for your AKL-MEL flight as well? It definitely makes the connection to the international terminal a bit less stressful! Or were you on separate tickets? Also, your biz class flight out of AKL means you would have been able to use the lounge at Queenstown, even without *A status. Though you didn't miss all that much
In Queenstown, why did you not check in for your AKL-MEL flight as well? It definitely makes the connection to the international terminal a bit less stressful! Or were you on separate tickets? Also, your biz class flight out of AKL means you would have been able to use the lounge at Queenstown, even without *A status. Though you didn't miss all that much
Really didnt matter since we only had to kill one hour waiting around.