[QUOTE=jamienbaker;22034308]Jamie, we'll be staying at the W in Semiyak in March. I'm trying to decide between a Marvelous Suite and a Marvelous One Bedroom Pool Villa. I can see the benefits of the both. Have you experienced either? We're going to roll the dice and wait until we can get to the airport to decided if we need assistance getting through visa/immigration quickly, and then we'll hire a car from the W to pick us up. I've got most of our excursions determined, but your bike tour sounds fascinating. Any recollection on the provider of that excursion? Best Regards, Matt

[QUOTE=jamienbaker;22034308]By the way, we've been to Vietnam and thought it was amazing. However, it was in the month of March and the weather was hot, but perfect. Gorgeous beaches, lovely people, delicious food, and some very interesting sites and history. We would go back if there wasn't so much of the world left for us to see.

[QUOTE=mjz;22034380]DEFINITELY the suite. I've done the Marvelous Suite and the two bedroom villa. Problem with villas is NO VIEW and the pools are a bit small. For the same price, you can get a full-sized villa elsewhere with an entire staff and kick arse views. Plus, the walk from the villas to the main part of the hotel is on a weird, rocky path. Even with flip-flops you may throw out your ankle. I really think they dropped the ball on the villas. If square footage is your thing, try the SR over in Nusa Dua (but be prepared to spend lots of times in cabs).

Marvelous Suite is on top flow, has great views, better if you are on the right hand of the property (if facing the pool) than the left, as the left looks down on some construction (as of last August). http://www.amywattbaker.com/Amys_Webpage/Bali_2011.html sorry for the all the pix of our kids, tab to the bottom for some restaurant tips.


East Bali Bike Tour did ours, but we were staying in Candi Dasa at the time (about an hour's drive from Seminyak? Not sure).

Good luck Matt! - Sincerely, Jamie

[QUOTE=jamienbaker;22034429]Thanks, Jamie. The Marvelous Suite it is as you solidified some of my sticking points. Happy New Years!

Oh, since this is a CX forum, I'll report back anything of significance after our flight in J from ORD -> HKG -> DPS and then returning from SIN.

[QUOTE=mjz;22034483]Are you taking day or night flight from ORD? I see pm flight doesn't offer F.

[QUOTE=jamienbaker;22034501]CX 887 which is the day flight. If F opens between now and then, we're going to try to upgrade.

[QUOTE=mjz;22035161]Good luck. So you'll be overnighting in HKG. Remember, you can check bags through to DPS. I suggest the W Kowloon.

[QUOTE=jamienbaker;22035713]Yes, we'll check bags all the way through to DPS and we'll also be staying at the W in Kowloon on the way there and the way back. That's a great property and I really like the roof top pool. We're looking forward to returning. I had momentarily thought about trying the Sheraton, but other than the views, it looks pretty boring.

[QUOTE=mjz;22036761]Yeah, only good thing about the Sheraton was its proximity to the ferry. Kids got up at 0400 one morn and we had nothing to do to kill time before heading back to HKG. took taxi to ferry and noticed Sheraton right there.

Stick with the W. Let us know about DPS crowds. Also, are you flying on a 747 day?

[QUOTE=jamienbaker;22037509]Supposedly no more 744 days after January 1st (unless there's a substitution): all 77G.

Might go back to a 772 later in the Spring....still no 744s in the programmed turns.

[QUOTE=Bitterroot;22037730]I still see 744s in August, per Expertflyer (both schedule and seatmap). Can you confirm? Hoping you are correct, given my aversion to flying 744 on this route (due how first class passengers are forced to sit in business). Hoping you are right so that CX can once again figure into my DPS travel plans (I'm currently booked SQ so as to avoid 744 issue).

Hi there. Nice to see you again.

Not home yet. Since DPS we went to SIN, Borneo and right now our last day in KUL. Will be in BKK for the next 5 nights then HKG for 9 nights - the whole trip is designed to burn HHonor pts in light of the devaluation. :)

Being from Asia, cultures in that part of the world are very familiar to us. No need to experience anything which some of such actually are to be avoided in our point of view. Sometimes we feel the westerners going to SE Asia have some subconsciousness that they themselves may not be aware, but that is not unlike going to a zoo... I got some of such feeling one time when talking to a Canadian couple when the wife mentioned about how she wanted to see the tribal women in Thai on their "long necks from the decoration wares..."
Anyway, what Bali attracts to most westerners obviously does not attract us. Different strokes.

Those are big cities other than Chiang Mai.

You should do a trip that would go outside of Tokyo and explore the country of Japan - you would find a lot more to discover. Japan is an amazing country which has both the ultra-modern and ultra-traditional. A very amazing culture as well. 100% better than Bali.

BTW, driving in Japan actually is quite easy with their very advanced GPS system. With a family of 4, driving is actually a better option than taking the Shinkensan. My brother in Hong Kong has had several trips with his 2 kids at the ages of yours at the time, to various parts of Japan, driving. They had some great time - even visiting the volcano at The Ryykyu island (very different from those in Hawaii) Great fun for the kids.

Though the limitation for traveling in school holidays is a tough one for parents. August is no good time to travel anywhere in the world other than going South where August is the winter time so less crowd.

Enjoy your upcoming Annual August trip...

Although great to share our Asia experiences, please keep this thread on topic related to Cathay pacific issues/discussion.

sxc
Cathay Pacific Moderator

Interestingly, I can select 1K via the CX website, on an AA redemption. I wonder if the policy has been revised yet again? I'm NOT continuing on in F, so I'm guessing status has something to do with it. So hit or miss.

Does CX ever release U class (business class award ticket) on this route? I find only KA might release two U tickets on some days.