Filthy Monkey

Made it to the end! Great trip report and, but the look of things, a great trip. I have no long haul travel planned until the end of June and this has given me itchy feet!!

JohnSIN

Fantastic Trip Report. If I ever manage to find the patience to write one, it should sure follow yours as a template.

BAMuc

Great report - and very useful since I'm off to PEK, HKG, and SIN myself very shortly

Just a little nerd point: the aircraft vor CDG-LHR was actually an A321, not A320

T8191

Wow ... a fantastic TR, dear aks120. Informative, witty and with great photography too. That's some serious Globe-trotting as well - your "HNL Gold" trip will be like popping to the corner shop for a pint of milk in comparison

BlackBerryAddict

Very nice trip report - and I recognised a fair few places on the way, as we did something similar - combine Vietnam and Siem Reap on one trip but we flew through HK both ways. I had also read my Vietnam visa rules, so we did manage to fit the Angkor Wat trip in the middle of the Vietnam trip, and went to both Saigon and Hanoi, as well as the IC in Danang.

What surprised me a little though is that you were expecting amenity kits on the intra-Asia flights. These are just short regional flights, and airlines don't normally offer amenity kits on these flights.

You were very lucky on the CDH-LHR sector!

deovrat

Ok, I have to say I mightily enjoyed that report, the pictures and your unique way of telling it. Thanks for sharing it.

Andriyko

Excellent report! Thank you for sharing.

stevie

Love your TR's as often I frequent same places and airlines. Thanks.

AmaaiZeg

Enjoyed this trip report so much, I spent a few leisurely hours (intertwined with a few chores) reading your newly discovered previous ones as well.

PS yuk to sundried tomatoes from me too!

Have you used up all your amenities yet? Great for gym bags !

Looking forward to your HNL one!!!

phranktzi

Thank you for sharing! Excellent report.

brewdog11

Great TR with plenty of interesting anecdotes/observations; kept me reading until the end! I especially liked your coverage of some of the more off-the-beaten-path places, like Veitnam (well, far-flung for Americans like me, I guess).

I've always stayed at the IC Grand Stanford Hong Kong and, while very nice itself, I have never received the level of service you described at the main IC. I'm more motivated to stay there in the future, especially having seen that view! If you're looking to switch more to Hilton properties, the Conrad Hong Kong is absolutely fabulous.

Based on the number of ambivalent reports I've heard about QR J and F, it's nice to hear a positive one. I've heard many complaints of crews varying widely in consistency and being cold. Sounds like both your flights were very nice! Although an amenity kit without moisturizer is like a millionaire that has no money... I think I'll make it a priority to burn some AA miles on them.

IIRC, cold towels are on request in QR F and you're supposed to be given the choice.

aks120

Thanks - yup mini detox then on to my next planning adventure - Hawaii!!

You are welcome - my first time on Qatar was really good - I will be back with them if they keep their wonderful sales on!

Thanks ^

Don't be nervous I can certainly give you some tips but I never felt scared once. Being sensible and knowing where you are going and how - with a back up plan makes for a really good trip. I may have spent more on the hotel car etc but to me it was worth it to feel safe and get a great experience. Beijing in particular surprised me at how safe I felt - I loved the city and want to go back.

Very true - this trip report took my a good few days to compile for here, and many hours writing it while I was travelling but I love to share my experiences, especially when travelling alone - no-one to tell my funny stories to except you lot and my family who I have bored to death!

Glad you enjoyed it - end of June must be a record for you! I am now a Gatwick warrior since moving to central/SW London so our Friday night LHR drinks may have to be better planned!

Thanks for your kind words.

Whoops - good spot - I will change that immediately! The original was due to be an A320 and I never changed the report. Thanks

Thanks Uncle T - glad you enjoyed it. HNL will seem like a small jaunt but looking forward to it just the same.

I will read the visa rules more carefully in future - a combination of manic work hours and a slightly relaxed attitude equalled a busy replanning period! I guess for a 3-odd hour sortie I expected something but that was a mistake - I will know better for the future.

Many thanks - glad you enjoyed it!

Thanks

Hopefully get to read one of yours soon!

So glad you managed to catch up on my other reports - they were just as much fun to write. Sun-dried tomatoes should be banned from this world - there is no need for them

^

I have stayed in both ICs in Hong Kong and I did like the Grand Stanford but I love the IC Hong Kong. Despite always booking the lowest room, and not really spending the big bucks in the hotel that I am sure others do, I have always been well treated and welcomed back like a family member - not so in any other hotel I have ever stayed in. It is definitely the one hotel I break my rule for - not staying in the same place twice!

Regards aks120

aks120

Missed your comment earlier - sneaked in the middle of the report! Glad you enjoyed it!

Regards

aks120

Tiffywren

Great TR aks120 I really enjoyed it, thank you.

mikeyfly

What a great TR aks120 thanks for taking so much time and effort. Flowed brilliantly and fantastic pics. I've been to a few of the for places but you've made we want to go back for more