Up-front: First Class on Emirates - New York to Dubai.

Welcome aboard Emirates’ First Class offering on the upper deck of the carrier’s A380 aircraft.

In an era where most US (and indeed some other international) carriers have ditched a dedicated international First Class cabin in favor of expanded offerings in Business (to be fair, some of these are quite impressive and nearly mimic a true first class offering), having a proper First class cabin certainly stands out.

In the case of Emirates, these fully enclosed suites, 14 in total, are located on the forward upper deck of the enormous A380 (there are fewer on its 777s), while Business occupies the mid to rear section, with onboard lounge/bar rounding out the the very rear.

First passengers - not unexpectedly - are treated to some of the finest luxuries in the skies. In addition to your personal, fully enclosed, spacious suite, you’re welcomed onboard with Dom Perignon (the 2015 vintage) as a pre-departure beverage, and through your journey, comprehensive dine on demand course options (complete with caviar service), premium alcoholic and nonalcoholic beverages, premium snacks, lounge wear, designer amenity kit and cosmetics; and the kicker, the well appointed onboard shower spa (a personal bucket list item).

Admittedly, these aren’t the largest suites flying today. In fact its own so called ‘game changer’ suite on some refurbished 777s offer more room. Still, it’s more than generous, and the transformed bed quite comfortable. A wholly indulgent way to pass 14 hours.

As one would expect, these come with pretty impressive, eye popping, price tags. Strategic points/miles award redemptions are however possible with some schedule flexibility. At the time of booking: 163,000 Skywards miles + roughly $800 or so in fees (USD).

For customized travel itineraries, please don’t hesitate to get in touch.

Welcome Aboard Qatar Airways Business Class

Its arguably one of the best business class products on the market and perhaps for good reason; a number of its characteristics and offerings mimic more of a First Class product vs your standard business class affair. 

In addition to roomy seats that transform into fully flat beds, some of these suites come fully enclosed with sliding doors. Plus, on select flights, patrons are treated to caviar service, pajamas + slippers, an amuse bouche, and course meals. 

⚠️Fair warning though. Not all seats are created equal. Perhaps sometimes one of the baffling things about the airline - the lack of consistency. For its flagship product, QSuites (fully enclosed suites) you’d want to be on the lookout for this designation when booking your flight. Typically these can be found on the carrier’s A350-1000s and select B777-300ER and A350-900 aircraft. A nearly identical product also exists on their B787-9s. 

Overall top notch service and crew (albeit if some were not quite as enthusiastic as others). Well done. 

For attentive, trusted, and customized travel itineraries, please don’t hesitate to get in touch. 

A Tranquil Oasis in Zanzibar

What a simply delightful oasis in the Paje region of Zanzibar. The staff, in particular the attendants at the front desk, are so courteous and welcoming. Israel, Amani, Kadogo, Abdullah, Edwina, the list goes (sure there are several others I’m missing); the wait/cleaning staff and Chef at the onsite restaurant, were all brilliant.

The property itself is also quite appealing. It’s a beautifully designed space that I found to be quite tranquil and relaxing. In addition, I appreciated the generously sized rooms (more than adequate for 2), dual sinks, indoor/outdoor shower, and the expertly orchestrated turndown service. Shout out to the cleaning staff. Well done. 

As an area of opportunity, I’d encourage the establishment to offer more plant-based choices on the restaurant menu and perhaps, for convenience, include food/beverage menus poolside. Overall, quite well done.

For more on Zanzibar, be on the lookout for our upcoming full-feature. And for bespoke itineraries to Tanzania and other destinations around the world, please do not hesitate to get in touch with us.

Ibiza, Island of Beaty; A brief memo

Sure, Ibiza, one of the islands in the Balearic sea, has long been synonymous with hedonism and debauchery of all manner, and to be sure, it wears this designation well. But, did you know that it’s also a place of immense natural beauty, lush landscapes, stunning beaches, and immaculate sunsets? If you’re looking for an alternative, a place to simply relax and chill, eat delicious food, take in the bountifulness of nature, it’s certainly an excellent option. 

For bespoke itineraries, please do not hesitate to get in touch. We’re at your service. 

Delta Airlines Trip Review: NYC to Fort Myers - A Fine Ride.

Comfort Plus on Delta’s Airbus A220-300

Cabin Class: Comfort Plus (more legroom economy with additional perks)

Route: New York to Fort Myers 

Aircraft: Airbus A220-300 

Recently I had the chance to hop on one of Delta’s numerous daily flights. This one in particular was operated from New York’s LaGuardia Airport, LGA, down to southwest Florida - Fort Myers, RSW. Generally speaking, for domestic travel, I find that Delta oftentimes offers a much better in-flight customer experience in comparison to its peers - at least of the big 3 (American and United forming the trio). As such I was excited to book this flight having not flown the carrier in roughly a year. 

Fortunately with some favorable mileage redemption options, I was able to book the trip using my miles, electing to redeem more miles for the comfier Comfort Plus option (as aforementioned the more legroom choice) in the first few rows of the Economy cabin. I was also particularly excited because on this flight/time, the airline utilizes the newer A220-300 aircraft which in my opinion offers better passenger comfort in comparison to others in its class (the other option being the 737 *non-Max* jet which are operated at other times during the day). 

I kicked off the journey by first visiting the massive (and impressive) Delta Sky Club at LGA, prior to departure. Note that entrance restrictions apply depending on your status level, international class of travel, or type of credit card you own. Being an American Express Platinum cardholder, entry is complimentary. And goodness, what a breath of fresh air. It’s a beautifully designed expansive space with the customer experience at its core. This club is large - in fact prior to the exclusive Delta ONE club opening at JFK several weeks ago, this was the largest in the system. It offers a 600-seat capacity space with of course ample seating, tasty meal (including plant-based) options, an assortment of alcoholic & non-alcoholic beverages, and an attentive staff. It was truly a pleasurable experience as opposed to the overcrowding that tends to happen at JFK, for instance, though w/ the opening of the aforementioned new Delta ONE club, that should be a pressure relief on their other two Sky Clubs there. 

Main area of the club

Proceeding on to the flight, it was equally as pleasant. I found the cabin to be open, airy, and finishes beautiful. The screens on this aircraft also seem to be larger than the standard dimensions on Delta’s other planes (at least in Comfort Plus). The seat was quite comfortable with plenty of legroom and the service was friendly and efficient. Referencing the additional frills I noted earlier, in Comfort Plus passengers are entitled to perks such as early boarding, premium snacks, beer, wine, and spirits. 

Overall a very pleasurable experience. Let us help you book a customized pleasurable experience on an upcoming flight or vacation. We’re happy to help.