A staycation and travel addict who tries to toe the balance between living the atas life and maintaining some resemblance of financial sanity.
Hainan Dad Trip 2026
This was an easy choice for Dad as it was the one city in China which he has never been to, and due to my limited days, we figured 4D3N is a decent amount of time to check out this new city.
According to Wikivoyage, “Haikou (海口 Hǎikǒu) is the capital and largest city of Hainan Province in southern China and is at the north end of the Hainan Island. Haikou is a tropical coastal city that, as one of the least developed provincial capitals, has a somewhat laid-back atmosphere”. Very different from the Sanya vibe we are not beach people.
BUT to get there from Singapore was a different thing.
Continue reading “[Trip Planning] Hainan Dad Trip 2026”
This was the most impromptu staycation ever, booked just one day prior. YOLO, correct?
Continue reading “[Hotel Review] Varel Singapore, A Tribute Portfolio Hotel”
It was between Ritz Carlton Tianjin and Ritz Carlton Suzhou for the 2026 family trip and after taking into consideration the logistics of getting there, Tianjin won. And not that its was any bad choice – I mean look at this breathtaking official picture!
Continue reading “[Hotel Review] Ritz Carlton Tianjin”
This was the default choice for a long awaited trip back to this city after many many years ago as I needed to clock more nights + need a Club Lounge to chill in.
Continue reading “[Hotel Review] Westin Brisbane”
This was a deliberate staycay to try out what is currently the most expensive Marriott Bonvoy property in Singapore, with cash price hovering around $700+ and above. UGH. So I found a decent redemption weekend rate for Bonvoy points 92,000 for the night and decided to bite the bullet for an experience in this all-Suite property!
Continue reading “[Hotel Review] The Laurus, a Luxury Collection Resort”
This was another a hotel in Osaka which I’ve always been curious about since its opening in July 2024, especially because they do not offer lounge access to even Titaniums (ie only for Ambassadors). But that aside, I thought this was an opportunity to get a timely comparison to ultralux Waldorf Astoria where I was coming off a 3N stay.
Continue reading “[Hotel Review] The Osaka Station Hotel, Autograph Collection”
This hotel has been on my bucket list ever since it opened in April 2025 and the plan was to make use of my Hilton Certificates as the cash rates were a little mad. And lo and behold, my opportunity actually came through due to a major shuffle in life events. Yay. This is also my first Waldorf Astoria experience woohoo!
Continue reading “[Hotel Review] Waldorf Astoria Osaka”
This stay was just in time as the first RC to make use of my Club Upgrade certificate and it was indeed a free upgrade as compared to prices I would otherwise have to pay without it. Time to check off this one while waiting for the Sydney one to be completed. YAY.
Continue reading “[Hotel Review] Ritz Carlton Melbourne”
This flight happened only because the only SQ Saver redemption I was able to find not far from Auckland was Melbourne – and that I was able to cover the cost of my ticket with my Air New Zealand credits from my cancelled ticket one year ago.
Continue reading “[Flight Review] Air New Zealand NZ127 Auckland to Melbourne (Business Premier)”