The Silver Anniversary Continues: Tokyo/Hong Kong/Macau
Jul 13, 2018, 10:56 am
#1
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Join Date: Aug 2009
Location: Long Island, NY
Programs: AA EXP (2 Million Miler)
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The Silver Anniversary Continues: Tokyo/Hong Kong/Macau
Following up on our surprise weekend in Paris earlier this year (trip report here), the wife and I continued our 25th anniversary celebration with a trip to Tokyo and Hong Kong (the trip also included Macau as I had to attend a conference on the tail end of the trip).
We just got back -- details and photos coming soon, but here's the itinerary:
JFK-BOS-NRT (AA/JAL)
- 3 Nights Aman Tokyo
- 3 Nights Ritz Carlton Tokyo
HND-HKG (CX)
- 1 Night Ritz Carlton Hong Kong
- 3 Nights Venetian Macau
HKG-JFK (CX)
We just got back -- details and photos coming soon, but here's the itinerary:
JFK-BOS-NRT (AA/JAL)
- 3 Nights Aman Tokyo
- 3 Nights Ritz Carlton Tokyo
HND-HKG (CX)
- 1 Night Ritz Carlton Hong Kong
- 3 Nights Venetian Macau
HKG-JFK (CX)
Jul 13, 2018, 12:02 pm
#2
Original Poster
Join Date: Aug 2009
Location: Long Island, NY
Programs: AA EXP (2 Million Miler)
Posts: 151
I used AA miles to book our trip -- 60k miles for Business Class on JAL ain't too shabby -- although I was only able to get a flight from NY through Boston.
Our trip began on Sunday morning, checking into the Flagship lounge at JFK. We flew First Class on our quick 45min flight to Boston. We had a pretty long layover in Logan before our flight on JAL to Narita, so we headed to the British Airways lounge, which was nice.
We then headed to our flight: BOS-NRT on JAL 787-9 -- first time on the Dreamliner.
There's no First Class on this configuration -- lots of Business Class -- Sky Suites. Interesting layout... 2/2/2 across and it did feel a bit crowded and on top of each other.
I'd rate the Sky Suites as "ok" -- but seemed somewhat cramped compared to J on CX for example (more on that later). Likewise comparing things like amenities or service.
We got settled and then headed out to the runway for our 14 flight to Narita. Next stop, Tokyo!....
Our trip began on Sunday morning, checking into the Flagship lounge at JFK. We flew First Class on our quick 45min flight to Boston. We had a pretty long layover in Logan before our flight on JAL to Narita, so we headed to the British Airways lounge, which was nice.
We then headed to our flight: BOS-NRT on JAL 787-9 -- first time on the Dreamliner.
There's no First Class on this configuration -- lots of Business Class -- Sky Suites. Interesting layout... 2/2/2 across and it did feel a bit crowded and on top of each other.
I'd rate the Sky Suites as "ok" -- but seemed somewhat cramped compared to J on CX for example (more on that later). Likewise comparing things like amenities or service.
We got settled and then headed out to the runway for our 14 flight to Narita. Next stop, Tokyo!....
Last edited by mordy2000; Jul 13, 2018 at 12:08 pm
Jul 15, 2018, 9:46 am
#3
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Join Date: Aug 2009
Location: Long Island, NY
Programs: AA EXP (2 Million Miler)
Posts: 151
We arrived in Narita, zipped through immigration, and then hopped on the Narita Express. We were staying mostly in Tokyo during our time in Japan, so a JR Rail Pass wasn't necessary. We purchased a one-way Narita Express ticket at the counter (we were going to be departing Japan via Haneda).
The Aman concierge told us to email them once we had purchased our Narita Express ticket -- I snapped a photo of my ticket and emailed it to them while we were waiting for the train to arrive (Aman offers free pickup from Tokyo station).
The ride was comfortable and there was WiFi on board. When we arrived at Tokyo Station, an Aman representative was waiting for us literally just outside our door from the train. She welcomed us to Tokyo and led us to the street level where our driver was waiting in a comfy BMW. In truth, Aman Tokyo is a 10min walk from Tokyo station. The ride was really quick, but it was crazy hot and humid and it was our first time in Tokyo so we weren't familiar with the streets yet (even figuring out how to get out of the massive Tokyo station itself would have been a challenge). Sitting in the back of a BMW with cold water, mint-scented cold towels, and a nice conversation with the driver was quite welcome after our flight and train ride.
We arrived at Aman Tokyo in a few short minutes and were welcomed with the usual Aman hospitality.
We were escorted up to the lobby on the 33rd floor where we were served a refreshing welcome beverage and went over some check-in details.
Then we were escorted up to our room. We were upgraded to a corner suite. The room was MAGNIFICENT. I'll post some photos here, but honestly, there is simply no way to capture it all with a camera. We also arrived at golden hour -- the light spilling across the suite was sublime.
With a corner suite, we had sweeping views of the Tokyo skyline. We even were able to see Mt. Fuji in the distance.
The Aman staff also provided us with a lovely welcome gift to help us celebrate our 25th anniversary -- a bottle of wine and a place of sweets -- accompanied by a touching note.
This was our second stay at an Aman property (we've previously been at Amanpuri in Phuket). Staying at an Aman is an experience in exclusivity. You feel like you're the only and most important guest at the hotel (this was a huge contrast to our stay later in the week at the Ritz Carlton -- more on that later). The gym and the pool were also magnificent. For a "business" hotel in middle of a big city like Tokyo, it was definitely a retreat. We took the rest of the evening easy. The next day we'd begin touring the city, so we got some R+R.
The Aman concierge told us to email them once we had purchased our Narita Express ticket -- I snapped a photo of my ticket and emailed it to them while we were waiting for the train to arrive (Aman offers free pickup from Tokyo station).
The ride was comfortable and there was WiFi on board. When we arrived at Tokyo Station, an Aman representative was waiting for us literally just outside our door from the train. She welcomed us to Tokyo and led us to the street level where our driver was waiting in a comfy BMW. In truth, Aman Tokyo is a 10min walk from Tokyo station. The ride was really quick, but it was crazy hot and humid and it was our first time in Tokyo so we weren't familiar with the streets yet (even figuring out how to get out of the massive Tokyo station itself would have been a challenge). Sitting in the back of a BMW with cold water, mint-scented cold towels, and a nice conversation with the driver was quite welcome after our flight and train ride.
We arrived at Aman Tokyo in a few short minutes and were welcomed with the usual Aman hospitality.
We were escorted up to the lobby on the 33rd floor where we were served a refreshing welcome beverage and went over some check-in details.
Then we were escorted up to our room. We were upgraded to a corner suite. The room was MAGNIFICENT. I'll post some photos here, but honestly, there is simply no way to capture it all with a camera. We also arrived at golden hour -- the light spilling across the suite was sublime.
With a corner suite, we had sweeping views of the Tokyo skyline. We even were able to see Mt. Fuji in the distance.
The Aman staff also provided us with a lovely welcome gift to help us celebrate our 25th anniversary -- a bottle of wine and a place of sweets -- accompanied by a touching note.
This was our second stay at an Aman property (we've previously been at Amanpuri in Phuket). Staying at an Aman is an experience in exclusivity. You feel like you're the only and most important guest at the hotel (this was a huge contrast to our stay later in the week at the Ritz Carlton -- more on that later). The gym and the pool were also magnificent. For a "business" hotel in middle of a big city like Tokyo, it was definitely a retreat. We took the rest of the evening easy. The next day we'd begin touring the city, so we got some R+R.
Jul 15, 2018, 1:36 pm
#4
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Join Date: Aug 2009
Location: Long Island, NY
Programs: AA EXP (2 Million Miler)
Posts: 151
Considering it was our first time visiting Tokyo and that we wanted to make the most of our short time there, I decided to hire a private tour guide for 3 days. After doing some online research, I went with TripleLights and used a guide named Masako. She met us at our hotel in the morning and we spent our first full day in Tokyo visiting the Imperial Palace grounds/gardens (literally down the street from Aman Tokyo), and going to Asakusa, Ueno Park, Tokyo National Museum, and spending some time in Akihabara. We used the Metro to get around -- was nice initially to have our guide show us the ropes... We got Suica cards and within a day got comfortable with the JR/Metro system.
We got back to the hotel to once again enjoy a fantastic view of the Tokyo skyline
We eat kosher, and there aren't many options for dinner in Tokyo. In fact, there's really just one option: Chana's Place -- which is a restaurant in the Chabad house. When we travel, people often talk about how wonderful the food is in various parts around the world. We like to say the Chabad schnitzel is pretty much the same no matter where you go
Don't get me wrong -- the food was great. The restaurant seats maybe 8 people, which I understand is consistent throughout Tokyo
Chana's Place was about a 20-25min Taxi ride from the Aman.
We got back to the hotel to once again enjoy a fantastic view of the Tokyo skyline
We eat kosher, and there aren't many options for dinner in Tokyo. In fact, there's really just one option: Chana's Place -- which is a restaurant in the Chabad house. When we travel, people often talk about how wonderful the food is in various parts around the world. We like to say the Chabad schnitzel is pretty much the same no matter where you go
Don't get me wrong -- the food was great. The restaurant seats maybe 8 people, which I understand is consistent throughout Tokyo
Chana's Place was about a 20-25min Taxi ride from the Aman.
Jul 15, 2018, 2:17 pm
#5
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Join Date: Aug 2009
Location: Long Island, NY
Programs: AA EXP (2 Million Miler)
Posts: 151
The next morning, our tour guide met us at the hotel again and we headed off to Tokyo Station -- our plan was to spend the day in Kamakura. As to be expected in early July, it was hot and VERY humid. It was nice to get out of the city and to experience a more traditional side of Japan (especially since we weren't going to make it to Kyoto on this trip).
Jul 17, 2018, 7:55 pm
#7
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Join Date: Aug 2009
Location: Long Island, NY
Programs: AA EXP (2 Million Miler)
Posts: 151
We were ready for our 3rd day of touring Tokyo. We hired our guide for 3 days, so this would be our last day with her. It was also, sadly, our last day at AMAN Tokyo. The location of AMAN is great because it's central to the city and easy to make just about any connection via the Subway or Tokyo station. However, it's pretty far from the Chabad house in Tokyo (Jewish Temple) and we wanted to be within walking distance of that for the weekend. So we'd be spending the next 3 nights in the Roppongi area, at the Ritz Carlton Tokyo. We arranged with the AMAN concierge to have our luggage transferred to the RC, which would allow us to check out of the AMAN in the morning, tour the city, then head straight to the RC.
We checked out of the AMAN and just have to reiterate how wonderful our stay was. The property is stunning and the staff was absolutely fantastic. We put our stay at the same level as the Four Seasons George V in Paris.
Our guide met us in the lobby and we hopped on the train and spent the day walking the streets of Harajuku, Shibuya, Ginza.
After visiting the big UNIQLO store in Ginza (yes, our daughter sent requests), we headed to Roppongi Hills. At the top is the magnificent Mori Art Museum -- and a large airy observation deck with nice 360 views of the city.
We then headed out for a short walk towards Tokyo Midtown, which is where the Ritz Carlton is. Along the way, we were excited to see a familiar East Coast USA brand...
Upon arriving at the RC, we bid farewell to our guide and thanked her for a wonderful 3 days. Then we headed up to the RC lobby to get checked in.
Our first impression of the RC was that it was definitely an American hotel. The decor was the usual RC style -- lots of flowers and art. But in stark contrast with the AMAN, the RC was loud and noisy. Maybe a better description was, it was busy. Nothing wrong with that -- just different, especially having come from the serenity of the AMAN. We approached the front desk and proceeded to check in. I'm assuming we had a rookie behind the counter because after a few minutes, a manager came out and greeted us and whisked us up to the Club Lounge for check in there. Much quieter than in the main lobby, and it was nice to relax and have a beverage after walking the hot/humid city all day.
The view from the RC Club Lounge is fantastic.
The staff in the club lounge was fantastic. Before even officially checking in, they presented us with a lovely plate.
After completing our checkin (and another round of beverages), we were escorted to our room with yet another lovely surprise from the staff -- some sweets, some chilled saki, and a note.
From our room, we had a lovely view of the stadium being built for the 2020 olympics.
The club concierge at the RC was really amazing. They were incredibly helpful with anything we asked for. The next day, they arranged for us to take a private Shodo (Japanese Calligraphy) class in Yanaka, which was a wonderful experience. We spent the rest of our time relaxing and walking around.
On Saturday night, we got the full Japanese experience with a mild earthquake.
All in all, our Tokyo experience was wonderful. We look forward to returning one day.
This was the first part of our trip -- the real vacation part. The second half of our trip would take us to Macau for a company conference I had to attend. We'd get there via Hong Kong. More soon.
We checked out of the AMAN and just have to reiterate how wonderful our stay was. The property is stunning and the staff was absolutely fantastic. We put our stay at the same level as the Four Seasons George V in Paris.
Our guide met us in the lobby and we hopped on the train and spent the day walking the streets of Harajuku, Shibuya, Ginza.
After visiting the big UNIQLO store in Ginza (yes, our daughter sent requests), we headed to Roppongi Hills. At the top is the magnificent Mori Art Museum -- and a large airy observation deck with nice 360 views of the city.
We then headed out for a short walk towards Tokyo Midtown, which is where the Ritz Carlton is. Along the way, we were excited to see a familiar East Coast USA brand...
Upon arriving at the RC, we bid farewell to our guide and thanked her for a wonderful 3 days. Then we headed up to the RC lobby to get checked in.
Our first impression of the RC was that it was definitely an American hotel. The decor was the usual RC style -- lots of flowers and art. But in stark contrast with the AMAN, the RC was loud and noisy. Maybe a better description was, it was busy. Nothing wrong with that -- just different, especially having come from the serenity of the AMAN. We approached the front desk and proceeded to check in. I'm assuming we had a rookie behind the counter because after a few minutes, a manager came out and greeted us and whisked us up to the Club Lounge for check in there. Much quieter than in the main lobby, and it was nice to relax and have a beverage after walking the hot/humid city all day.
The view from the RC Club Lounge is fantastic.
The staff in the club lounge was fantastic. Before even officially checking in, they presented us with a lovely plate.
After completing our checkin (and another round of beverages), we were escorted to our room with yet another lovely surprise from the staff -- some sweets, some chilled saki, and a note.
From our room, we had a lovely view of the stadium being built for the 2020 olympics.
The club concierge at the RC was really amazing. They were incredibly helpful with anything we asked for. The next day, they arranged for us to take a private Shodo (Japanese Calligraphy) class in Yanaka, which was a wonderful experience. We spent the rest of our time relaxing and walking around.
On Saturday night, we got the full Japanese experience with a mild earthquake.
All in all, our Tokyo experience was wonderful. We look forward to returning one day.
This was the first part of our trip -- the real vacation part. The second half of our trip would take us to Macau for a company conference I had to attend. We'd get there via Hong Kong. More soon.
Jul 18, 2018, 8:20 am
#8
Original Poster
Join Date: Aug 2009
Location: Long Island, NY
Programs: AA EXP (2 Million Miler)
Posts: 151
It was time to bid farewell to Tokyo. We had a lovely time. We had breakfast in the Club Lounge and the concierge arranged for a Taxi to take us to HND for our flight to Hong Kong. The concierge checked us out as we were eating, which we discovered shortly after was a diversion -- the entire Club staff came over to send us off and thank us for choosing to stay at the RC. They presented us with yet another lovely plate, which was a lovely send off.
Even though we asked for an ordinary taxi, the concierge arranged for a comfy black car for our ride to HND at the same price. All in all, the RC staff was really top notch. They made our stay comfortable and really went out of their way to take care of everything for us. We find that especially when traveling abroad, the Club Level service is well worth the price.
Elite status has its privileges. As a One World Emerald, getting checked in, through security, and settled at the CX lounge at HND was a breeze. We noticed that we could technically have gone to the JAL lounge as well -- but decided to head to the CX lounge. We were happy with the choice - the CX lounge was well lit, airy, great views with comfy lounge chairs, and had good coffee. The staff was also very friendly and helpful. Our flight was on time, so we headed to the gate, and boarded our flight to Hong Kong.
During most of our time in Tokyo, Mt Fuji wasn't visible. We had a day or two where it was visible on the horizon, but buried in haze. Our pilot treated us to a spectacular view of Mt. Fuji as we departed Tokyo -- at first it was visible off in the distance, but then we literally turned towards it and it felt like we flew right over the top. The view was magnificent.
A few short hours later, we arrived in Hong Kong.
After departing, we hopped on the Airport Express for the quick ride to Kowloon Station. We took a short 5-minute walk through the Elements Mall and took the elevator up to the sky to check into the Ritz Carlton. We were escorted up to the Club Lounge for check in and were told that our room wasn't ready. So we were waited on hand and foot at the Club Lounge while looking out over the distinct Hong Kong skyline.
We actually ended up hanging out in the Club for over an hour. Not because our room wasn't ready. Someone came over after about 20min and told us our room was ready, but the staff there was so accommodating that we just relaxed, got help with a few itineraries and tickets for later in our trip, etc. Then we left the club and headed to our room.
When we entered the room, we figured out what the delay was in getting the room "ready" for us... by far it was the nicest welcome we had!
The RC in Hong Kong honestly doesn't need much in the form of eye candy. The view speaks for itself -- being 116 stories up in the air. But the hotel is really very well appointed. Love the decor and the ambiance. It's a fantastic property.
We still had plenty of time before dinner, so we headed up to the 188th floor to see the pool (which is very cool) and to work out. They had two spin bikes and the wife and I took the opportunity to take a spin class together. We're Peloton junkies and it was nice to get a great workout in. My only wish is that more and more hotels (other than just Westin) start adding Peloton bikes to their gyms. Then again, working out from 118 stories up with a view across the entire region ain't nothing to complain about
We headed back to the room and then shortly after headed out for dinner.
A word about dinner. As an Orthodox Jew, finding kosher food is often a challenge when traveling. As I mentioned in previous posts here, we had the basics covered while we were in Tokyo, but the great news is that there are some really good options for Kosher food in Hong Kong. We headed out to Mul Hayam restaurant which is on the Kowloon side, right next door to the Shangri La hotel. The food there is awesome and authentic. If you are looking for a great kosher meal in Hong Kong, this is the place.
After dinner, we needed a WALK. So we headed out to Tsim Sha Tsui to enjoy the waterfront and skyline for a bit before heading back to the hotel.
Once again, the RC staff surprised us with a welcome back to our room
It was a lovely day in all -- and although we know my work conference was on the horizon, we were able to keep it real and enjoy the Hong Kong experience.
In the next post, I'll conclude our trip, which included a quick detour to Shenzhen and a few days at the Venetian in Macau.
Even though we asked for an ordinary taxi, the concierge arranged for a comfy black car for our ride to HND at the same price. All in all, the RC staff was really top notch. They made our stay comfortable and really went out of their way to take care of everything for us. We find that especially when traveling abroad, the Club Level service is well worth the price.
Elite status has its privileges. As a One World Emerald, getting checked in, through security, and settled at the CX lounge at HND was a breeze. We noticed that we could technically have gone to the JAL lounge as well -- but decided to head to the CX lounge. We were happy with the choice - the CX lounge was well lit, airy, great views with comfy lounge chairs, and had good coffee. The staff was also very friendly and helpful. Our flight was on time, so we headed to the gate, and boarded our flight to Hong Kong.
During most of our time in Tokyo, Mt Fuji wasn't visible. We had a day or two where it was visible on the horizon, but buried in haze. Our pilot treated us to a spectacular view of Mt. Fuji as we departed Tokyo -- at first it was visible off in the distance, but then we literally turned towards it and it felt like we flew right over the top. The view was magnificent.
A few short hours later, we arrived in Hong Kong.
After departing, we hopped on the Airport Express for the quick ride to Kowloon Station. We took a short 5-minute walk through the Elements Mall and took the elevator up to the sky to check into the Ritz Carlton. We were escorted up to the Club Lounge for check in and were told that our room wasn't ready. So we were waited on hand and foot at the Club Lounge while looking out over the distinct Hong Kong skyline.
We actually ended up hanging out in the Club for over an hour. Not because our room wasn't ready. Someone came over after about 20min and told us our room was ready, but the staff there was so accommodating that we just relaxed, got help with a few itineraries and tickets for later in our trip, etc. Then we left the club and headed to our room.
When we entered the room, we figured out what the delay was in getting the room "ready" for us... by far it was the nicest welcome we had!
The RC in Hong Kong honestly doesn't need much in the form of eye candy. The view speaks for itself -- being 116 stories up in the air. But the hotel is really very well appointed. Love the decor and the ambiance. It's a fantastic property.
We still had plenty of time before dinner, so we headed up to the 188th floor to see the pool (which is very cool) and to work out. They had two spin bikes and the wife and I took the opportunity to take a spin class together. We're Peloton junkies and it was nice to get a great workout in. My only wish is that more and more hotels (other than just Westin) start adding Peloton bikes to their gyms. Then again, working out from 118 stories up with a view across the entire region ain't nothing to complain about
We headed back to the room and then shortly after headed out for dinner.
A word about dinner. As an Orthodox Jew, finding kosher food is often a challenge when traveling. As I mentioned in previous posts here, we had the basics covered while we were in Tokyo, but the great news is that there are some really good options for Kosher food in Hong Kong. We headed out to Mul Hayam restaurant which is on the Kowloon side, right next door to the Shangri La hotel. The food there is awesome and authentic. If you are looking for a great kosher meal in Hong Kong, this is the place.
After dinner, we needed a WALK. So we headed out to Tsim Sha Tsui to enjoy the waterfront and skyline for a bit before heading back to the hotel.
Once again, the RC staff surprised us with a welcome back to our room
It was a lovely day in all -- and although we know my work conference was on the horizon, we were able to keep it real and enjoy the Hong Kong experience.
In the next post, I'll conclude our trip, which included a quick detour to Shenzhen and a few days at the Venetian in Macau.
Jul 18, 2018, 9:52 am
#10
Original Poster
Join Date: Aug 2009
Location: Long Island, NY
Programs: AA EXP (2 Million Miler)
Posts: 151
Jul 18, 2018, 1:56 pm
#12
Original Poster
Join Date: Aug 2009
Location: Long Island, NY
Programs: AA EXP (2 Million Miler)
Posts: 151
The following morning, we checked out of the RC Hong Kong -- we left our luggage at the hotel as we'd be coming back later.
The wife and I enjoy shopping in general, so we decided to check out Shenzhen because fun
We hopped on the MTR and took the train to Lo Wu. Note that to get to Shenzhen, you need to cross the border into China. We happen to have a 10-year Visa for China (which we got a few years back for this trip). The train ride is about an hour, and then it took about 30min to get through immigration. We spent a few hours in Shenzhen and then took the train back to Hong Kong. We grabbed dinner (again at Mul Hayam) and then headed back to the RC to pick up our luggage. From there we took a quick taxi ride to the China Ferry Terminal to catch a ferry to Macau -- about an hour ride.
When we arrived in Macau, a bus whisked us to the Venetian where we stayed for 3 nights / 2 days. I was working the whole time at a company conference and wasn't taking photos -- but we pretty much never wandered much out of the hotel at all. The Venetian in Vegas is pretty great. The Venetian in Macau felt tired and run down. But hey, work is work and I was pretty much in conferences and meetings all day.
We finally checked out of the hotel and boarded the ferry -- this time straight from Macau to Hong Kong International Airport, which is pretty convenient.
There's a check in desk right when you get off the ferry -- so we checked in for our flight on Cathay direct from HKG > JFK in Business. Once we got through security, we headed to the lounge. CX has many lounges throughout HKIA and we checked into the Wing at first -- it was closest. Then we headed over to the First Class lounge at The Pier which was awesome. Such a great lounge!
After a couple of hours relaxing at The Pier, we headed to the gate to board our flight.
I feel like we've done this flight so many times, so for me it's almost run of the mill, and sometimes you don't take a moment to appreciate things that are well done. But CX has Business Class nailed. We've flown in F on this flight a few times too over the years, but J is pretty great in our opinion. As a One World Emerald, I appreciated having the flight manager introduce herself at the outset of the flight and the wife and I were very well taken care of the entire flight. CX J on the 777-200 is really good on both the hardware and software fronts. It was nearly a 15 hour flight but we wouldn't have known it -- even though it was really the end of our vacation, the flight home was very enjoyable.
We arrived in JFK, sprinted through Global Entry, and before you could blink an eye, we were home. New York > Boston > Tokyo > Hong Kong > Shenzhen > Macau > New York -- an amazing vacation!
Props to all that participate in this wonderful community. So much of our plans and trips were due to the advice gleaned from FT. Glad to be a part of it.
The wife and I enjoy shopping in general, so we decided to check out Shenzhen because fun
We hopped on the MTR and took the train to Lo Wu. Note that to get to Shenzhen, you need to cross the border into China. We happen to have a 10-year Visa for China (which we got a few years back for this trip). The train ride is about an hour, and then it took about 30min to get through immigration. We spent a few hours in Shenzhen and then took the train back to Hong Kong. We grabbed dinner (again at Mul Hayam) and then headed back to the RC to pick up our luggage. From there we took a quick taxi ride to the China Ferry Terminal to catch a ferry to Macau -- about an hour ride.
When we arrived in Macau, a bus whisked us to the Venetian where we stayed for 3 nights / 2 days. I was working the whole time at a company conference and wasn't taking photos -- but we pretty much never wandered much out of the hotel at all. The Venetian in Vegas is pretty great. The Venetian in Macau felt tired and run down. But hey, work is work and I was pretty much in conferences and meetings all day.
We finally checked out of the hotel and boarded the ferry -- this time straight from Macau to Hong Kong International Airport, which is pretty convenient.
There's a check in desk right when you get off the ferry -- so we checked in for our flight on Cathay direct from HKG > JFK in Business. Once we got through security, we headed to the lounge. CX has many lounges throughout HKIA and we checked into the Wing at first -- it was closest. Then we headed over to the First Class lounge at The Pier which was awesome. Such a great lounge!
After a couple of hours relaxing at The Pier, we headed to the gate to board our flight.
I feel like we've done this flight so many times, so for me it's almost run of the mill, and sometimes you don't take a moment to appreciate things that are well done. But CX has Business Class nailed. We've flown in F on this flight a few times too over the years, but J is pretty great in our opinion. As a One World Emerald, I appreciated having the flight manager introduce herself at the outset of the flight and the wife and I were very well taken care of the entire flight. CX J on the 777-200 is really good on both the hardware and software fronts. It was nearly a 15 hour flight but we wouldn't have known it -- even though it was really the end of our vacation, the flight home was very enjoyable.
We arrived in JFK, sprinted through Global Entry, and before you could blink an eye, we were home. New York > Boston > Tokyo > Hong Kong > Shenzhen > Macau > New York -- an amazing vacation!
Props to all that participate in this wonderful community. So much of our plans and trips were due to the advice gleaned from FT. Glad to be a part of it.