Best Airlines for Long-haul Economy Class Flights

In what comes as perhaps no surprise, airlines from the Middle East have been named the best carriers for long-haul economy class flights.

Carriers out of the Middle East are known for setting the standards in luxury travel. But according to experts at travel site Skift, they don’t forsake their economy class passengers either.

After looking at factors such as seat width, pitch, in-flight entertainment, menus, design and technology, analysts named Etihad and Qatar the best airlines for long-haul economy class flights, with 61 points.

The pair topped Emirates, ANA (All Nippon Airways) and Turkish Airways, which were bumped to second place by a razor-thin margin of a single point, scoring a mark of 60.

When it comes to North American carriers, American Airlines was the top performer, scoring 50 points, while Air Canada was the poorest performer, at 39 points.

Here are the top scoring carriers according to Skift:

Etihad and Qatar, 61 points
Emirates, All Nippon Airways, Turkish Airways, 60
Japan Airlines, 58
Avianca, Air China, 57
Saudi Airlines, 56. 

http://www.themalaysianinsider.com/travel/article/best-airlines-for-long-haul-economy-class-flights

Weekly Hot Pick for Bangkok, Thailand

Grand Millennium Hotel Sukhumvit Bangkok – 4.5 Star

What’s nearby

Ø     Sukhumvit MRT Train Station (62m)

Ø     Suwannaphumi Airport Railway Link (1.5km)

Ø     Soi Cowboy (200m)

Ø     Terminal 21 Shopping Mall (250m)

Ø     Asok BTS Station (350m)

*Awarded Certificate of Excellence 2014.

* Currently offers the ‘Book now, Pay at hotel’ option to travelers travelling in mid March.

Weekly Hot Pick for Limassol, Cyprus

 Kapetanios Odyssia – 3 Star

 What’s nearby

·                                 Limassol District Archaeological Museum 0.6 km / 0.4 mi

·                                 Zoo Garden Limassol 0.7 km / 0.5 mi

·                                 Limassol Municipal Gardens 0.8 km / 0.5 mi

·                                 Heroes Square 1.6 km / 1 mi

·                                 Cyprus University of Technology 1.8 km / 1.1 mi

·                                 Dasoudi Beach 2.1 km / 1.3 mi

·                                 Limassol Castle 2.4 km / 1.5 mi

·                                 Agios Athanasios Town Hall 2.7 km / 1.7 mi

·                                 Limassol Municipal Park 2.9 km / 1.8 mi

·                                 Frederick University 4.4 km / 2.7 mi

·                                 Amathus Beach 6.4 km / 4 mi

·                                 Amathus Ruins 8.1 km / 5 mi

·                                 Ladies Mile Beach 8.7 km / 5.4 mi

·                                 Fasouri Watermania Waterpark 9 km / 5.6 mi

·                                 Panagia Chrysopolitissa Church 9.3 km / 5.8 mi

     The preferred airport for Kapetanios Odyssia is Larnaca (LCA Larnaca Intl.) 

     56 km / 34.8 mi.

• Awarded Certificate of Excellence 2014.
• Free breakfast and wi-fi.

Weekly Hot Pick for Sapporo, Japan

Hotel Keihan Sapporo – 3 Star

What’s nearby

·                                 Sapporo JR Tower 0.4 km / 0.3 mi

·                                 Former Hokkaido Government Office Building 0.5 km / 0.3 mi

·                                 Hokkaido University Botanic Garden 0.6 km / 0.3 mi

·                                 Hokkaido University Museum 0.6 km / 0.4 mi

·                                 JR Sapporo Hospital 0.9 km / 0.5 mi

·                                 Clock Tower 0.9 km / 0.5 mi

·                                 Odori Park 0.9 km / 0.6 mi

·                                 Hokkaido University 1.1 km / 0.7 mi

·                                 Sapporo TV Tower 1.2 km / 0.7 mi

·                                 Nijo Market 1.5 km / 0.9 mi

·                                 Ramen Yokocho 1.6 km / 1 mi

·                                 Hokkaido Museum of Modern Art 1.6 km / 1 mi

·                                 Sapporo Beer Museum 1.8 km / 1.1 mi

·                                 Sapporo Racecourse 1.9 km / 1.2 mi

·                                 Sapporo Concert Hall 2.7 km / 1.7 mi

     The nearest airports are:

·                                 Sapporo (OKD Okadama) 5.6 km / 3.5 mi

·                                 Sapporo (CTS New Chitose) 41.5 km / 25.8 mi

     The preferred airport for Hotel Keihan Sapporo is Sapporo (CTS New Chitose).

• Awarded Certificate of Excellence 2014.
• Conveniently situated near the Sapporo JR train station.

Top Euro Destinations

Lonely Planet’s picks of top European destinations 2014.

EDITORS of travel guide Lonely Planet are predicting that Greece will be the top travel destination in Europe this year, as the country shows strong signs of bouncing back from a turbulent few years marked by political instability and anti-austerity protests.

Destinations in the Best in Europe Top 10 list are chosen for being either “under-the-radar”, generating buzz, or for being perennial favourites with reasons to visit in 2014.

Last year, Greece received a record 20 million visitors, and officials are predicting that 2014 will be another bumper year for tourists – welcome news for residents who are still struggling to find work amid the sluggigh economy.

Now that the country has stabilized, Greece has returned as top of mind for visitors looking for a sun-soaked holiday.

Here are Lonely Planet’s picks of top European destinations 2014:

1. Greece

2. Ljubljana, Slovenia

3. Southwest England, Britain

4. Italy

5. Viking Denmark

6. Seville, Spain

7. Outer Hebrides, Scotland

8. Plzen, Czech Republic

9. Stavanger, Norway

10. Toulouse, France

For comparison, here’s a look at Europeanbestdestinations.org ‘s (www.europeanbestdestinations.org/top/europe-best-destinations-2014 ) list of top 10 cities in Europe for 2014, as decided by online voters.

1. Porto, Portugal

2. Zagreb, Croatia

3. Vienna, Austria

4. Nicosia, Cyprus

5. Budapest, Hungary

6. Madeira, Portugal

7. Milan, Italy

8. Madrid, Spain

9. Berlin, Germany

10. Rome, Italy

http://www.thestar.com.my/Travel/Europe/2014/08/04/Top-Euro-destinations/

Weekly Hot Pick for Krabi, Thailand

  THE SMALL RESORT – 3 Star

  What’s nearby

·                                 Nopparat Thara Beach 0.7 km / 0.4 mi

·                                 Ao Phra Nang Beach 1 km / 0.6 mi

·                                 Ao Nang Krabi Boxing Stadium 1 km / 0.6 mi

·                                 Ao Phai Plong 2.1 km / 1.3 mi

·                                 West Railay Beach 3.7 km / 2.3 mi

·                                 Phra Nang Beach 4.3 km / 2.6 mi

·                                 East Railay Beach 4.3 km / 2.7 mi

·                                 Phra Nang Cave 4.5 km / 2.8 mi

·                                 Princess Lagoon 4.7 km / 2.9 mi

·                                 Shell Fossil Beach 7.5 km / 4.6 mi

·                                 Tup Island 8.7 km / 5.4 mi

·                                 Miracle Beach 9 km / 5.6 mi

·                                 Tubkaek Beach 9.7 km / 6 mi

·                                 Krabi Pier 10 km / 6.2 mi

·                                 Wat Kaew Korawaram 11.1 km / 6.9 mi

     The preferred airport for The Small Krabi is Krabi (KBV Krabi Intl.) 19.4 km /          12.1 mi.

    * Awarded Certificate of Excellence 2013

Singapore Airport to Get Indoor Rainforest, World’s Tallest Indoor Waterfall

An indoor living forest of trees, plants, ferns and shrubs that spans five levels. The world’s tallest indoor waterfall. Walking trails and gardens. These are among some of the features planned for the Jewel Changi Airport, a steel and glass biodome structure that will grace the Singapore skyline and raise the bar in luxury airports.

Last week, crews broke ground on the Jewel Changi Airport outside Terminal 1, a project that will turn what used to be an open-air parking lot into a sprawling, 134,000 sq m retail, travel and leisure complex spanning 10 floors – five underground floors and five levels above ground.The addition would widen the gap between the Changi Airport and its international rivals, already held at arm’s length by the Singapore facility's variety of innovative features and amenities. Think movie theatre, butterfly and orchid gardens, four-storey indoor slide and gaming entertainment deck.

Changi Airport owns bragging rights to having been named world’s best airport nine times at the World Travel Awards and two years running at the Skytrax World Airport Awards.

The specs for the Jewel, meanwhile, are impressive and ambitious.The “lifestyle” complex is not only meant to turn the airport into a Singaporean destination in and of itself, but it’s also meant to help increase the airport’s passenger handling capacity to 24 million passengers a year.The Forest Valley and Gateway Gardens, for instance, will house an indoor collection of plants and trees across 22,000 square metres, with landscaping features that will include waterfalls and walking trails.

The centrepiece of the airport, meanwhile, will be the Rain Vortex, a 40-metre tall waterfall that will cascade through the core of the complex. Come nightfall, the water feature will illuminate in a light and sound show. The Rain Vortex is set to become the largest indoor waterfall in the world.Other features will include walking trails, playgrounds, conservatories, dining outlets, and retail options that include high-end luxury brand names and home-grown brands.

In a bid to strengthen the region as a cruise hub, the Jewel Changi Airport will house a lounge for fly-cruise and fly-coach passengers, offering services like ticketing, boarding passes and baggage transfer.The terminal will also feature early check-in services, allowing passengers to check-in and deposit their bags hours before their flight so that they can take advantage of the facilities and amenities.Jewel will also be home to a 130-room Yotel hotel. 

http://www.themalaysianinsider.com/travel/article/singapore-airport-to-get-indoor-rainforest-worlds-tallest-indoor-waterfall