Author Topic: Around the world using aa miles tlv-bkk-hkg-pek-nrt-hnl-lax-jfk (Read 20169 times)

moish · « **Reply #40 on:** January 11, 2010, 06:52:45 AM »

are any hotels near kehilat zion "shabbos friendly"?

chuchem · « **Reply #41 on:** January 11, 2010, 07:48:37 AM »

Well

I am looking into sideseeing and also getting to see the real china. Maybe a boat market, a ride out of the city to the coountryside and some shopping (my wife is coming for a reason ;-) )

I figured the best itn. my be like this (i am starting in europe)
zrh-Shanghai swiss in first sunday arr. 7 am next day
shangahi-Peking tuesday evening
Peking-Honk Kong Friday morning
Honk Kong-Istanbul Sunday night in first (heard its amazing)
Istanbul Monday tour with continuation at night
I basically have from sunday and have to be back on monday evening. My parents will not take the kids longer
I have 2 almost full days in Shanghai, 3 nights/2 days in peking. Friday till Sunday night late in Hong Kong. Depending on mood maybe sleep in macau moze shabbes. Whats your opinions on this trip?

damaxer91 · « **Reply #42 on:** January 11, 2010, 12:43:16 PM »

Quote from: chuchem on January 11, 2010, 07:48:37 AM

Well

I am looking into sideseeing and also getting to see the real china. Maybe a boat market, a ride out of the city to the coountryside and some shopping (my wife is coming for a reason ;-) )

I figured the best itn. my be like this (i am starting in europe)
zrh-Shanghai swiss in first sunday arr. 7 am next day
shangahi-Peking tuesday evening
Peking-Honk Kong Friday morning
Honk Kong-Istanbul Sunday night in first (heard its amazing)
Istanbul Monday tour with continuation at night
I basically have from Sunday and have to be back on monday evening. My parents will not take the kids longer
I have 2 almost full days in Shanghai, 3 nights/2 days in peking. Friday till Sunday night late in Hong Kong. Depending on mood maybe sleep in macau moze shabbes. Whats your opinions on this trip?

I like it! Only thing that you are lacking is enough time in Beijing. I would try and take a morning flight from PVG-PEK to try and get another half day there.

Funny enough I did some very similar flight to you about 3 weeks ago. Flew IST-HKG in F (see my trip report here http://www.dansdeals.com/forums/index.php?topic=1525.0) and was extremely impressed. Flew back via ZRH on Swiss and enjoyed as well. Only issue that i had with Swiss was the attitude of one of the stewards and the less than stellar kosher meals they provided. They were the "premium" Bangkok Airways kosher meals. Awful at best.

damaxer91 · « **Reply #43 on:** January 11, 2010, 12:46:01 PM »

Quote from: moish on January 11, 2010, 06:52:45 AM

are any hotels near kehilat zion "shabbos friendly"?

From experience, the Shangri-La, Intercontinental Grand, and Sheraton were all very Shabbos friendly. As soon as I arrived back Friday Night they offered to walk me up the stairs and open my door. The doorman on the Shangri-La even wishes you a "Shabbat Shalom" when you come back from Shul

moish · « **Reply #44 on:** January 11, 2010, 01:02:13 PM »

any experience with the hyatt? im kinda leaning towards staying there

damaxer91 · « **Reply #45 on:** January 11, 2010, 01:08:46 PM »

Quote from: moish on January 11, 2010, 01:02:13 PM

any experience with the hyatt? im kinda leaning towards staying there

No, it just opened up 6 weeks ago. Only thing that I noticed is that the lobby is not on ground level.

chuchem · « **Reply #46 on:** January 11, 2010, 05:09:25 PM »

Quote from: damaxer91 on January 11, 2010, 12:43:16 PM

I like it! Only thing that you are lacking is enough time in Beijing. I would try and take a morning flight from PVG-PEK to try and get another half day there.

Funny enough I did some very similar flight to you about 3 weeks ago. Flew IST-HKG in F (see my trip report here http://www.dansdeals.com/forums/index.php?topic=1525.0) and was extremely impressed. Flew back via ZRH on Swiss and enjoyed as well. Only issue that i had with Swiss was the attitude of one of the stewards and the less than stellar kosher meals they provided. They were the "premium" Bangkok Airways kosher meals. Awful at best.

What is there to do in Beijing? From the tripreport I read most of the time was spend in the silk market? I know of the wall, summerplace, the square, silk market?!

chuchem · « **Reply #47 on:** January 11, 2010, 05:09:54 PM »

Oh and by the way thanks for all your guys help

damaxer91 · « **Reply #48 on:** January 11, 2010, 05:11:42 PM »

Quote from: chuchem on January 11, 2010, 05:09:25 PM

What is there to do in Beijing? From the tripreport I read most of the time was spend in the silk market? I know of the wall, summerplace, the square, silk market?!

Summer Palace, Great Wall, and Tianemen Square/Forbidden City are each full day trips. Plus the Silk market is worth going to Beijing alone!

chuchem · « **Reply #49 on:** January 11, 2010, 06:46:58 PM »

Another option would be to cut shanghai and fly with singapur airways to singapur and from there to Beijing. Whats more worth it?

chuchem · « **Reply #50 on:** January 13, 2010, 03:37:22 AM »

Quote from: chuchem on January 11, 2010, 06:46:58 PM

Another option would be to cut shanghai and fly with singapur airways to singapur and from there to Beijing. Whats more worth it?

No advice on that?

damaxer91 · « **Reply #51 on:** January 13, 2010, 08:02:31 AM »

Quote from: chuchem on January 11, 2010, 06:46:58 PM

Another option would be to cut shanghai and fly with singapur airways to singapur and from there to Beijing. Whats more worth it?

Sorry for the delay. If you can get the Singapore option then I'd say to take it. Singapore Airlines is the best airlines, bar none and Singapore is definetly more interesting to me than Shanghai

chuchem · « **Reply #52 on:** January 13, 2010, 08:41:24 AM »

Whats there to do in Singapore? In Shanghai there is some jewish stuff as well. How much time would I need there? The flight from Singapore to Beijing also takes quite long, with the little time is it really worth it?

Dan · « **Reply #53 on:** January 13, 2010, 10:34:30 AM »

I've only been to Japan in the far east so I'm not of much help here, but I know "eliteflyer" spent a couple weeks in Shanghai and is familiar with both chabad houses there. He also got a ton of great custom made clothing in Shanghai for dirt cheap.

I'll see if I can get him to chime in later this week when he's back from Hawaii.

damaxer91 · « **Reply #54 on:** January 13, 2010, 01:55:46 PM »

Quote from: chuchem on January 13, 2010, 08:41:24 AM

Whats there to do in Singapore? In Shanghai there is some jewish stuff as well. How much time would I need there? The flight from Singapore to Beijing also takes quite long, with the little time is it really worth it?

It definitely adds on more flying time, but when I'm on Singapore Airlines I like the added time!

As per Singapore it is a totally different version of everything else you'll see in Asia. A compact city-state filled with glamorous shopping malls, stunning hotels and lots of tourist attractions.

My favorite thing there is the Zoo/Night Safari. The Zoo is unique in that none of the animals are kept behind fences or are in cages. Everything, including the lions, bears, and elephants are only feet away from you, secured by psychological barriers such as moats and electricity.

Under construction and proposed to open sometime in the spring is the Marina Bay project, the largest resort/casino in the world . It will be located on Sentosa Island, only minutes from the center of the city by cable car. Sentosa is a resort island with beaches and water sports and lots more to do. You are best buying a frommers book on Southeast Asia so you can decide on all of this yourself. Hey, some people think that Shanghai is cool and others will tell you Singapore. It's all a matter of ones opinion

damaxer91 · « **Reply #55 on:** January 13, 2010, 01:58:18 PM »

Quote from: Dan on January 13, 2010, 10:34:30 AM

He also got a ton of great custom made clothing in Shanghai for dirt cheap.

In my experience, the cheapest custom made clothing (e.g suits, shirts) is in Shenzehn, though Shanghai & Beijing are pretty close. Ask the local Chabad rabbi in either city for a good tailor. They will know best

Dan · « **Reply #56 on:** January 13, 2010, 02:27:00 PM »

Quote from: damaxer91 on January 13, 2010, 01:58:18 PM

In my experience, the cheapest custom made clothing (e.g suits, shirts) is in Shenzehn, though Shanghai & Beijing are pretty close. Ask the local Chabad rabbi in either city for a good tailor. They will know best

I think the main thing that matters are your negotiating skills more than the place in China.
I believe when they asked him for $60 for a custom shirt he countered with $5 and paid something like $10.
He also got custom made coats, suits, etc.

damaxer91 · « **Reply #57 on:** January 13, 2010, 02:35:57 PM »

Quote from: Dan on January 13, 2010, 02:27:00 PM

I think the main thing that matters are your negotiating skills more than the place in China.
I believe when they asked him for $60 for a custom shirt he countered with $5 and paid something like $10.
He also got custom made coats, suits, etc.

True, shirts can be had in China for as little as $7, but if you want real quality you'll need to fork over upwards of $20 and about $30 in Hong Kong

moish · « **Reply #58 on:** January 13, 2010, 05:09:41 PM »

Quote from: damaxer91 on January 13, 2010, 02:35:57 PM

True, shirts can be had in China for as little as $7, but if you want real quality you'll need to fork over upwards of $20 and about $30 in Hong Kong

can you recommend any specific place either in hk or shanghai (or preferrably beijing)?

chuchem · « **Reply #59 on:** January 14, 2010, 07:59:06 AM »

Rule:
You may not use First class and Business class of certain aircraft which are A380, B777-300ER and A345 (code 380, 77W and 345) of Singapore Airlines (SQ) as flight awards.

So Singapore is unfortunatly out. What a pity, esspecially since they are starting with a380 from March from Zrh.