Travelling the world in luxury for less a week at a time
My China Airlines review will reveal exactly what it’s like to fly economy class from Sydney to Taipei on flight CI52. It’s worth noting that despite the name, China Airlines does not actually originate from mainland China, but rather from the little island of Taiwan. I wasn’t expecting much from my China Airlines economy flight given the tiny amount I paid for my ticket, but I was pleasantly surprised at every turn and you just might be as well …
When we needed to book a Koh Samui to Phuket flight we had zero choice in carriers. Bangkok Airways was the one and only airline flying the short USM – HKT route direct. The flight was short and sweet, but on the pricey side for Asia. I guess you can do that when you own the airport and have a monopoly on the route. Read my full Bangkok Airways review for all the details…
I’m all about travelling in luxury for less and while I love a fancy flight at the pointy end of the plane, more often than not I will opt for a cheapie and spend my hard-earned on luxury experiences on the ground instead. Many Aussies give Jetstar a bad rap, but as it’s one of only a few budget airlines flying from Australia, I find myself booking Jetstar international flights often. The Jetstar flight to Hawaii is one of Jetstar’s longest routes. JQ3 from Sydney to Honolulu (SYD to HNL) is 10(ish) hours each way. The only other airlines that operate direct Sydney to Honolulu flights are Hawaiian Airlines and Qantas, but you can generally expect to pay double the cost of the Jetstar flight to Honolulu. Low Cost Carriers (LCC’s) are a no-brainer for short haul, everyone can put up with a little discomfort for an hour of so, but are the savings worth it for a longer trip? Read on to find out what it’s really like to fly Jetstar to Honolulu …
Airports are not much fun. They are generally the bane of my existence and a means to an end. My time before departure usually consists of outrageous queues, traveller’s tantrums (sometimes mine!), endless waiting and never enough little plastic seats at the gate for all the passengers waiting to board. But we found a better way to while away the hours at Phnom Penh airport when we discovered the Plaza Premium Lounge. Airport lounges were once reserved for the elite passengers at the pointy end of the plane or those frequent flyers lucky enough to have achieved gold status, but times are a changing. The Plaza Premium Lounge Phnom Penh is not just for the chosen few. Anyone who happens to find themselves with a couple of hours to kill at PNH airport can enjoy all the perks of this fabulous Phnom Penh airport lounge. If you prefer comfy seats, yummy food and free flowing drinks to mixing with the masses, read on for all the details …
I’m guarantee I’m not the first traveller to contemplate which airline is the best bet for flights from Siem Reap to Phnom Penh. The Cambodian aviation industry is volatile and airlines come and go quickly so it’s hard to know who to trust. We flew with Bassaka Air and just two weeks after touching down it appears the airline is no longer flying. My flight from Siem Reap to Phnom Penh was one of the most fuss free flying experiences I have ever had so it’s sad to see that Bassaka Air seems to be grounded. Flights to Siem Reap from Phnom Pehn (and vice versa) are short, usually cheap and more comfortable than the bus. Read on for my Bassaka Air review and alternative Siem Reap to Phnom Pehn flights …
Getting to Boracay is a little tricky, but this tiny slice of paradise in the Philippines is absolutely worth the effort. The first step is to decide which airport to fly into; Boracay Caticlan or Kalibo. The Manila Boracay route is frequented by multiple airlines and flights from Manila to Caticlan are typically faster but more expensive than flights to Kalibo. Of course we decided on Caticlan. Once in Caticlan the next step is to navigate from Caticlan airport to Boracay Island. I found that Skyjet Airlines Philippines had the quickest flight time from Manila to Boracay. Add a private speed boat from Caticlan to Boracay Island and you have the fastest way to get from Manila to Boracay. If you want to spend more time relaxing than travelling on your next trip to Boracay read on for all the details …
Getting a flight from Cebu to El Nido used to be impossible. In fact, the only way to traverse between the two cities was to catch a flight to Puerto Princesa and then spend eight rather uncomfortable hours on a bus bumping across dirt roads. When time is of the essence, this is not really feasible and AirSWIFT Airlines capitalised on this previously untapped route by adding the only direct Cebu to El Nido flight to their already popular flight from Manila to El Nido. Making an AirSWIFT booking is simple and all flights from Cebu to El Nido land at the purpose built AirSWIFT El Nido terminal at Lio airport. Read on to find out exactly what it’s like to fly AirSWIFT Philippines …
I realised as I started writing this Vietnam Airlines review that it’s been a while since I have flown a full service airline. In fact, the last time was a fabulous flight in first class on an Emirates A380, so I was as pleased as punch when I got a great deal on Vietnam Airlines economy class tickets from Sydney to Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon). Up until recently the Vietnam Airlines B787 Dreamliner didn’t have much competition on the Sydney to HCMC route (VN772), but just after our trip Jetstar started flying direct from Sydney to Saigon at a much lower price point. So is it worth paying a few extra dollars for Vietnam Airlines 787 economy class? Read all the details of my Vietnam Airlines review to make up your own mind …