Author Topic: Around the world (Read 34292 times)

moish · « **on:** January 06, 2010, 08:46:20 AM »

Thanks to inspiration i got from momo, i finally ticketed my around the world trip for March! some questions though, i will be in shanghai for shabbos so does anyone know if there are any starwoods or hyatts in the vicinity of shuls/chabad? what about beijing?

Dan · « **Reply #1 on:** January 06, 2010, 09:52:02 AM »

I know "eliteflyer" spent a while in Shanghai and would be a great resource for questions on that city...although he's currently at the Grand Hyatt Kauai so may not be able to help out for a little bit!

momo · « **Reply #2 on:** January 06, 2010, 11:54:49 AM »

Nice!!!

Where else are you going? I think the st regis in Beijing is near the chabad

SuperFlyer · « **Reply #3 on:** January 06, 2010, 12:13:18 PM »

Yes, Moish, which cities are you visiting?

moish · « **Reply #4 on:** January 06, 2010, 02:10:52 PM »

the oneworld res is roughly tlv-del-pvg-pek-nrt-lax-yyz-jfk-tlv with some stopovers in between the open jaw is pvg-pek as i will be doing a different flight pvg-xiy-pek.

can anyone confirm that the st regis beijing is indeed near the chabad? (im spending a shabbos there too)

shanghai anyone?

p.s. if anyone knows me in real life plz keep the del thing to yourselves. thanks. (especially from my parents)

SuperFlyer · « **Reply #5 on:** January 06, 2010, 02:30:06 PM »

whats the official version? Meron tsfas, tveria, amuka?

Smirk · « **Reply #6 on:** January 06, 2010, 02:48:49 PM »

Quote from: moish on January 06, 2010, 02:10:52 PM

the oneworld res is roughly tlv-del-pvg-pek-nrt-lax-yyz-jfk-tlv with some stopovers in between the open jaw is pvg-pek as i will be doing a different flight pvg-xiy-pek.

can anyone confirm that the st regis beijing is indeed near the chabad? (im spending a shabbos there too)

shanghai anyone?

p.s. if anyone knows me in real life plz keep the del thing to yourselves. thanks. (especially from my parents)

Did you do that open jaw so you can keep it under 20k miles?

Anyone know the cancellation policy when using aa miles for a oneworld rtw?

moish · « **Reply #7 on:** January 06, 2010, 02:58:50 PM »

Quote from: AS on January 06, 2010, 02:48:49 PM

Did you do that open jaw so you can keep it under 20k miles?

Anyone know the cancellation policy when using aa miles for a oneworld rtw?

oneworld doesnt go to xian. and unfortunately i had a total of about 20,500 so i had to pay the higher bracket

momo · « **Reply #8 on:** January 06, 2010, 03:47:47 PM »

Anyone know the cancellation policy when using aa miles for a oneworld rtw?

I think that they let you change the dates for free, if you want to cancel there is no charge but they will charge you a fee i believe it is 150 to redeposit the miles into your account

Smirk · « **Reply #9 on:** January 06, 2010, 04:22:12 PM »

Is the best way to transfer spg for a oneworld flight though AA (bearing in mind it get's you closer to million mark)

SuperFlyer · « **Reply #10 on:** January 06, 2010, 06:37:38 PM »

Quote from: momo on January 06, 2010, 03:47:47 PM

Anyone know the cancellation policy when using aa miles for a oneworld rtw?

I think that they let you change the dates for free, if you want to cancel there is no charge but they will charge you a fee i believe it is 150 to redeposit the miles into your account

i think thats exactly it.

moish · « **Reply #11 on:** January 08, 2010, 09:18:40 AM »

i would love some feedback regarding my itinerary. im currently scheduled to do the following: thursday depart, arrive friday in hong kong, immediately connect to shanghai. stay in shanghai half of friday, shabbos, sunday, and monday night depart to xian, wednesday morning depart to beijing, be in beijing half of wed., thurs, friday, shabbos, sunday, monday depart to tokyo. does this make sense? i would like to know whether the following is more suitable: stay in hong kong for shabbos, sunday morning depart to shanghai, tuesday night depart to xian, wednesday night take a flight (at 8:40pm) to beijing etc. A. would this be a better way to budget my time? B. is staying in hong kong for shabbos superior to shanghai? C. do i have enough time in shanghai? D. Is there enough time in xian to be able to make a 8:40 flight? (as i would be leaving the same day i would go to the terracotta warriors) E. is there enought time on beijing? (thurs, fri, shabbos, sun)
any input would be appreciated

damaxer91 · « **Reply #12 on:** January 09, 2010, 04:14:10 PM »

Quote from: moish on January 08, 2010, 09:18:40 AM

i would love some feedback regarding my itinerary. im currently scheduled to do the following: thursday depart, arrive friday in hong kong, immediately connect to shanghai. stay in shanghai half of friday, shabbos, sunday, and monday night depart to xian, wednesday morning depart to beijing, be in beijing half of wed., thurs, friday, shabbos, sunday, monday depart to tokyo. does this make sense? i would like to know whether the following is more suitable: stay in hong kong for shabbos, sunday morning depart to shanghai, tuesday night depart to xian, wednesday night take a flight (at 8:40pm) to beijing etc. A. would this be a better way to budget my time? B. is staying in hong kong for shabbos superior to shanghai? C. do i have enough time in shanghai? D. Is there enough time in xian to be able to make a 8:40 flight? (as i would be leaving the same day i would go to the terracotta warriors) E. is there enought time on beijing? (thurs, fri, shabbos, sun)
any input would be appreciated

Shabbos in Hong Kong (Kowloon) at Kehillat Zion can't be beat for convenience as there are 10 different 4-5 star hotels within a block of either and the food is world-class yet free. Have you thought about spending more time in Hong Kong and possibly visiting Macau as well?

In my opinion, Beijing has more to see than Shanghai & Tokyo combined. I've 5 days in Beijing twice in the last 3 years and still haven't managed to see all of the sights. The Great Wall, Summer Palace, Forbidden City, Silk Market are just the start...

As per Shanghai, there is an excellent tour of the former Jewish Ghetto and related Jewish sights which I found to be fascinating. Other than that, it is quite similar to Hong Kong in that most of what you'll see are Skyscrapers and tourist traps. If indoor skiing interests you they have that as well. I have never been to Xian but I hear that its very interesting. Most tourists stay there for 8-24 hour as there is not much else to see/do.

SuperFlyer · « **Reply #13 on:** January 09, 2010, 06:12:38 PM »

I would stay in HKG for shabbos, although free food is nice, I would it very cheap (to express myself politely) not to leave some kind of donation when leaving.

You could see on friday the few thing there are to see, and even take a motse shabbes flight onwards.

If flying First or Business on the long routes, I'd take night flights to leave more time to visit places, and save on hotels.

Tokyo has very little to offer.

moish · « **Reply #14 on:** January 09, 2010, 07:06:49 PM »

can i make a 9:10p flight motza"sh from hong kong if shabbos ends 7:20?

moish · « **Reply #15 on:** January 09, 2010, 08:54:20 PM »

which starwood or hyatts are close to shuls/shabbos meals?

damaxer91 · « **Reply #16 on:** January 10, 2010, 02:07:10 PM »

Quote from: moish on January 09, 2010, 08:54:20 PM

which starwood or hyatts are close to shuls/shabbos meals?

The Sheraton Hotel & Towers and Grand Hyatt Shim Tsa Tsui are both within short walking distance of the Chabad and Kehillat Zion as are both Intercontinentals, the Kowloon Shangri-La and Holiday Inn

moish · « **Reply #17 on:** January 10, 2010, 03:22:55 PM »

Quote from: damaxer91 on January 10, 2010, 02:07:10 PM

The Sheraton Hotel & Towers and Grand Hyatt Shim Tsa Tsui are both within short walking distance of the Chabad and Kehillat Zion as are both Intercontinentals, the Kowloon Shangri-La and Holiday Inn

would you then recommend the kz side over ohel leah?

damaxer91 · « **Reply #18 on:** January 10, 2010, 03:58:07 PM »

Quote from: moish on January 10, 2010, 03:22:55 PM

would you then recommend the kz side over ohel leah?

Definitely! The only hotel within walking distance is the Bishop Leui, which is decent at best and overpriced. Plus, the food at KZ is better than any hotel in Yerushalayim. I've spent more Shabbosim in Hong Kong than Brooklyn in my lifetime. Trust me on this one!

moish · « **Reply #19 on:** January 10, 2010, 04:31:51 PM »

can i make a motzai shabbos flight at 9:10pm if shekia is around 6:30? i think you could check bags at the kowloon station until 90 mins before flight. it should be ok with a liitle hustle if i stay by the new hyatt, right? (if i dont hold of r' tam)