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Singapore Weekend By The Numbers: Was it Worth It?
A weekend in Singapore? From Chicago? That’s utterly crazy, right? Most people would think so, but not me. I love and adventure and I love to spend miles and points on truly unique experiences. If you haven’t read about my Singapore Weekend yet, you can do so by starting here.
Here are the critical numbers on the trip:
- Time Spent in Transit/Flying: 44 Hours
- Time Spent in Singapore: 68 Hours
- Flight Segments: Five
- Number of Airlines Flown: Three
- Total Miles Flown: 20,300
- Michelin Starred Restaurant Meals: Two
- Airlines Miles Redeemed: 160,000 (United Mileage Plus)
So, was it worth it? Absolutely. I loved the journey to and from Singapore and I had a blast while exploring the City for the first time and can’t wait to return.
What do you think? Am I nuts for spending 160,000 United Miles for a long weekend on the other side of the planet? What crazy trips have you taken?
Hotel Bristol: A Luxury Collection Property
After flying all day from Singapore, I found myself in Vienna at 18h30. I had booked myself a room on points at the Hotel Bristol right across from the Opera House. This is the only hotel I’ve stayed in while visiting Vienna. I love it. I even used Suite Night upgrades which cleared a week in advance. These upgrades moved me to an Opera Suite. I’ve been fortunate enough to ONLY stay in the beautiful Opera Suites at the Hotel Bristol.
I arrived straight away from the airport at 19h00, timing on transfers were perfect. Upon check in, the man working reception attempted to down grade me to a normal room because “you are just one person here for one night, you dont need this much space, it is too hot.” He was accurate, it was very hot in Vienna (33C), but I didn’t follow, nor like his logic. After a bit of discussion, he allowed me to stay in my original room.
Opera Suite
This time, my suite was on the third floor, with the same stunning view of the Wienner Staatsoper (Vienna Opera House).
The summer view from my Opera Suite at the Bristol Hotel Vienna
The room was quite warm and being in the room for less than 5 minutes a knock came at the door. It was hotel maintenance. He came to check on the air conditioning. Evidently these large suites don’t cool down as efficiently. He was here to make sure certain doors and windows were closed to ensure the bedroom area was as chilled as possible.
Ah…so that’s what the guy at reception was trying to say…
Main seating area – a Formal Affair
Seating and chandelier in the main room
Coffee Service for a Coffee City
The romantic fireplace in the Opera Suite
I didn’t spend much time in the room, since I had a flight home before 10h00 the next morning. Plus, I wanted to explore Vienna in the summer.
I slept well, albeit not very long. The hotel is really wonderful. The rooms are so perfectly appointed and the service is always on point. Plus, the views cant be beat!
The Main Bedroom – Luxurious
The perfectly appointed bedroom in the Opera Suite
Twin Vanities in the Master Bath
The large soaking tub
The separate shower was a bit small, but still quite luxurious.
Le Chemin Bath Products
Small Guest Bath in the Opera Suite
Small Guest Bath in the Opera Suite
A second bathroom is a lovely luxury in a hotel.
Have you had the opportunity to stay at the Hotel Bristol? How are the standard rooms? What is your favorite hotel in Vienna?
Austrian Airlines Business Class BKK-VIE
My flight home from my 68 Hours in Singapore was a bit of a round about experience. Leaving Singapore to Bangkok, I continued on to Vienna. I’ve flown Austrian Airlines in Business Class a few times before and was looking forward to trying it again. I left the Thai Airways Business Class Lounge about 50 minutes before scheduled departure. The boarding area was utterly packed with passengers.
People were getting a bit restless, as announcements were made about early boarding. People would line up, then another announcement saying we weren’t boarding. This happened two times before we actually boarded. There were many people traveling with children too. These false starts really got the children confused and frustrated.
Very Crowded Boarding Area in Bangkok
On Board
I boarded early, as I usually like to do. A single seat wasn’t available, I had to sit in the middle area in the two-seat section. I could have moved to a single seat, but it would have cost me an additional €500. It wasn’t worth it to me.
Business Class Seating on Austrian Airlines
Our seats already had pillows, blankets and the amenity kits waiting for us. After I got settled, the flight attendant came up with menus. She introduced herself to me and I attempted to speak German, as I usually do when flying Austrian. My college level German gets me far enough on a flight, but it’s just utilitarian, not conversational. I started off my journey with some sparkling wine and some still water.
Business Class Legroom on Austrian Airlines
Pre-departure beverage with seat controls
The flight was pretty full, but I was fortunate enough to NOT have a seat mate. I’m so happy I didn’t pay extra for a single seat. Even if I did have a seat mate, it wouldn’t have been the end of the world. The seats are large and while not very private, Austrian Airlines Business Class is still pretty great.
The flight time to Vienna from Bangkok is 11 hours and 30 minutes. One of my main disappointments when I fly Austrian Airlines is that the flight from Chicago to Vienna just isn’t long enough. I want a little more time to rest, relax and enjoy the Business Class product. This flight gives me a bit more time and I was going to love it.
Meal Service
Austrian Airline’s crew includes an on board chef. Before take off, the chef meets with every Business Class Passenger, explaining the menu and taking orders. It is a nice additional service, although not really necessary. It’s this aspect that I like the most I think.
After departure, drinks are served and the food service begins. I like the antipasti trolley that wheels through the cabin. You select the exact appetizers you want to try. I selected all options, of course!
Antipasti selection, including marinated prawns, herbed chicken breast, feta cheese, Thai beef salad, maki and crab cakes.
The meal service continued for the next 90 minutes. It was efficient and friendly. Austrian does a good job of ensuring that your wine glasses are never dry too.
Red lentil soup with olive ciabatta croutons.
Stir Fried Beef, ginger oyster sauce, egg fried rice.
Dessert of Chocolate Cake
With the meal over, the we had about eight hours until we landed in Vienna. I spent the rest of the flight watching movies, TV shows and napping. I really didn’t want to get much sleep as we’d be landing in Vienna at 19h00 and I sure didn’t want to be up all night.
Other than a little bit of excitement midway through the flight, our time in air was quiet and uneventful. We landed 20 minutes early, but were requested to remain seated while a passenger was taken off the plane by paramedics. More on that story in another post.
Wrap Up
Flying in Business Class on Austrian Airlines is still exciting and fun for me. It isn’t the world’s most avant garde product, but the service is smooth and efficient. The wine and food is good and the seats are really comfortable in both seated and bed positions.
Have you flown Austrian Airlines from Asia? What is your favorite Business Class product out of Bangkok?
NOSHtrekker Private Dining Singapore
Finding a unique dining experience ranks among the top things we focus on when traveling. This doesn’t have to mean a Michelin Starred restaurant or one ranked on the World’s Top 50 List. Our requirements are more broad than that. We want a good meal, with an equally engaging experience. Now that could be a tasting menu, a cooking class, or local casual food eaten on a squat stool. In Singapore we found a private dining experience that was like nothing we’d had before. NOSHtrekker brings a truly unique experience to discerning travelers.
With only 68 Hours in Singapore, I knew I wanted to make the most of it. The idea of a Michelin Rated Restaurant just wasn’t exciting me. I decided to step out of my normal routine and after a bit of Googling, I found articles written about a newer service in Singapore. This group offered private dining experiences, food tours and cooking classes that focus on Singapore’s rich cultural heritage.
The Selection
With more than a dozen unique options to choose from, you’ll have a hard time picking one. I quickly decided that I wanted a full dinner and a relaxing space the day I arrived in Singapore. A few emails and a Paypal payment later we were all set.
We’d be joining the Masala Mistress for dinner. We wouldn’t be helping shop for or make dinner, we’d just be eating. Just be eating. Looking back on our time with Dhershini, it’s hard to say we “just ate” with a straight face. Let’s start at the beginning.
The Experience
We arrived at her home at 19h30. Yes, we dined in her home. It was about a 20 minute walk from the closest MRT station and upon our arrival, she greeted us like long time friends. She welcomed us into her home, offered us some refreshing juice and escorted us to a lovely sitting area on her patio. She had help in her kitchen, so the meal prep would continue uninterrupted while we chatted.
I can’t properly say how warm and welcoming Dhershini was. She made us feel at home, in hers. We initially talked travel – she was enthralled with the idea of my flying 45 hours to spend just 68 in Singapore. She had lived much of her life in Singapore and was honest about that time. While the discussion was mostly positive, she did talk about immigration struggles, political change in the City/State and the region and even discussions on climate change.
Her husband had recently passed away and that was still really impacting her. When she spoke of him – he was an avid traveler too – you could see how she both lit up and was hurting. This wasn’t a restaurant meal. This was a meal with a friend.
NOSHtrekker requires a minimum of two guests (which we had) but you can have many more depending on what you select as your experience. Since there were only two of us, Dhershini was joined by another NOSHtrekker – Heather (I believe). The four of us enjoyed drinks (both alcoholic and non), and talked throughout the whole experience.
The Meal
The meal was a traditional Indian from Kerala. Served family style, we had vegetarian dishes, mutton and chicken. The four of us sat at the family’s dining table while Dhershini’s assistant finished the meal. She even continued to make more dishes as we ate. Some things were just too good to stop eating!
We were encouraged to take photos and share our experience on social media. I will say, it did feel odd to take pictures of this lovely woman’s home and blast it on social. As you can see, my pictures are very limited and they sure don’t do the whole experience justice. When taking photos, sometimes you have to step away – step out of the experience to get the right shot. I didn’t want to do that. I was having too much fun.
Dinner is served with the Masala Mistress
Dhershini and Heather (?) seemed like they were our old friends. These experiences are billed as about 2-2.5 hours long. We stayed there for just under four. There was never any feeling that we had overstayed our welcome – or that there would be a surcharge for the extra time. We were just talking – telling travel tales, talking about food, life and the future. At this point, I had been up for days, traveling half way around the planet and I was getting sleepy. We needed to excuse ourselves.
This was so much like a friend’s dinner party, that Heather offered to drive us back to our hotel in her cute little convertible. We reluctantly took her up on the offer, but made her agree to drop us off at the MTA station on her way home. No need to go out of her way on our account. I wouldn’t even ask a great friend to do that!
Final Thoughts
At the end of it all, our time with Dhershini and Heather was utterly stellar. A completely new experience for us, but one that I wouldn’t hesitate to do again. Dhershini is a cookbook author, former restaurateur and culinary ambassador for the Singapore Tourism Board – could you find a better dinner companion? I think not.
Have you worked with NOSHtrekker before? For a truly amazing private dining experience in Singapore, you really can’t go wrong. Also, I should remind everyone that we did pay for this experience – no part of it was comped (other than the ride partway back to our hotel). This is truly our thoughts on this unique experience. Go give them a try and tell them Tim (that crazy guy from Chicago who spent just 68 hours in Singapore) sent you!
Singapore Airlines Business Class SIN-BKK SQ 972
I was excited about this flight. Probably the most excited flight of the trip. It would be the only flight in this trek where I would be experiencing a new airline. I had flown EVA and Austrian before and of course have heard amazing things about Singapore from so many friends. Singapore SQ 972 is a short, 2.5 hour flight from Changi to Bangkok’s Suvarnabhumi Airport but would give me a taste of the world class service offered by Singapore’s flag carrier.
My ride from Singapore to Bangkok – SQ 972 – Airbus 330-300
The less than glamorous terminal at Changi International Airport
We boarded about 45 minutes before scheduled departure. When I arrived at the boarding area, there were already at least 200 people waiting. Plus probably 20 children running around, Lord of the Flies style. Like my last flight, there were a couple of people already lined up in the Business Class queue, despite near constant announcements to remain seated.
Gate F31 was packed – and this was just half of the room.
Changi is unique in that each gate area has its own separate security screenings – you don’t get screened until you enter your specific gate area. Passports and boarding passes were checked four different times from the point I got to the gate until in was seated in 14F. The Business Class of this A330-300 consists of five rows of six seats in a 2-2-2 configuration. I chose the middle section so I could have direct aisle access and not worry about someone crawling over me.
Gate Specific Security – F31 Changi International Airport
Boarding
Upon boarding, I presented my boarding pass and was escorted to my seat. Daisy, the flight attendant, helped me put my bag in the overhead bin. Then properly welcomed me aboard, telling me of the flight time to Bangkok and letting me know that I wouldn’t have a seat mate. Score!
Before I sat down, I start snapping photos of the empty cabin and one of Daisy’s colleagues came up with a tray of beverages. His tray included orange juice, apple juice, sparkling and still water and champagne. He asks if I’d like a drink, “perhaps some refreshing bubbles?” How did he know? Yes please.
Seat 12F taken from my seat. Not industry leading any more, but still wonderful.
Singapore Airlines SQ 972 Business Class to Bangkok
Seat 14D & 14F on Singapore Airlines A300-300
Seat 14D & 14F on Singapore Airlines A300-300
The Flight
On board we were served the same champagne that was on offer in the KrisFlyer Business Class Lounge, which was a perfectly nice option. After champagne, he quickly returned with a warm, moist towel. I love these refreshing little treats. This flight wasn’t as empty as the EVA flight to Singapore, but it wasn’t full – 23 of the 30 seats were occupied.
This plane is an older model, but does have seats that lie fully flat. There is ample storage and several charging options including a UK/Singapore/US Outlet plus two USB ports.
The multiple charges on the A330-300
Boarding was quite quick as well. The last passengers boarded and we still had about 25 minutes until departure. I perused the in-flight entertainment selection, which was perfectly fine for our short hop to Thailand.
In-Flight Entertainment and In-Flight Selfie Reflection
A short taxi and roll to take off found us airborne right on schedule. Just as we crossed 10,000 feet the flight crew sprung into action. Taking drink orders and distributing another warm moist towel. This morning flight served a selection of western and Chinese breakfast food.
Singapore Airlines Business Class Menu
Champagne and Brunch Menu
You all know by now that I’m not big on breakfast, so I chose the Thai Pineapple Fried Rice option. It was surprisingly great.
Thai Pineapple Fried Rice with Chicken and Prawn
The elaborate tea menu. My favorite is the Vanilla Bourbon Tea.
The Vanilla Bourbon Tea. My absolute favorite flavor. Thank you TWG Tea!
After breakfast, I converted the seat into a bed and rested. I wasn’t ready for sleep, but I wanted to try the seat out. I watched reruns of Big Bang Theory, which always puts me to sleep on a plane.
Before I knew it, Daisy offered me another glass of champagne as the crew began final preparations for landing. A nice surprise.
We landed in Bangkok at 10h48. We deplaned through door 2L and the flight crew held the deplaning economy passengers while Business Class left. This practice is so elitist, but I do love it, don’t you?
Final Thoughts
The flight was very lovely. My biggest complaint was the length. The flight was just too short to really enjoy all the amenities. Two and a half hours isn’t enough.
Have you flown Singapore Airlines Business Class on a short regional route before? What was your favorite part? What is your favorite Asian Airline for short regional trips?