Best Hotel Chains for Quality, Free WiFi

If one of your top priorities for a hotel is fast and free WiFi, you’re most likely to be satisfied at a Comfort, Quality or Clarion Hotel.

That’s according to the latest report from Hotelwifitest.com, which released a ranking of the top performing hotel chains around the world for online connectivity.

Global results placed Nordic Choice, the parent owner of hotel chains Comfort, Quality and Clarion, in the top spot for offering the best WiFi quality, and for its WiFi policy: 85% of the chain’s hotels offer adequate WiFi, and online connectivity is free for 100% of its hotels.

Rounding out the top five hotel chains for WiFi are Radisson Blu, Renaissance, Mercure, Ibis and ibis styles.

Meanwhile, a regional breakdown of top performing hotels for WiFi reveal different results.

In the US, for example, Marriott takes the top spot. But compared to Nordic Choice, Marriott’s WiFi policy is “not that impressive,” analysts say.

Free hotel WiFi is only available to Marriott’s loyalty members. Hyatt Hotels on the other hand, which ranks third on the list, offers free WiFi access to all hotel guests. Where Marriott outranks its competitor, however, is in the quality of its connectivity.

The Westin placed second for travellers in the US.

In a Hotels.com survey released last year, more than 1,000 travellers around the world listed free WiFi as the most sought-after, in-room amenity.

Here are the top performing brands for hotel WiFi around the world:
1. Nordic Choice
2. Radisson Blu
3. Renaissance
4. Mercure
5. Ibis and ibis styles
6. Scandic Hotels
7. Inter-Continental
8. Econo-Lodge
9. Four Points
10. Marriott Hotels & Resorts

Top five hotel chains in the US:
1. Marriott Hotels & Resorts
2. Westin
3. Hyatt Hotels
4. Sheraton Hotels & Resorts
5. Best Western

Top five hotels chains in Europe:
1. Nordic Choice
2. Radisson Blu
3. Hilton Hotels & Resorts
4. Catalonia
5. Doubletree

Top three hotels chains in Asia:
1. Inter-Continental
2. Oberoi Hotels & Resorts
3. Marriott Hotels & Resorts.

http://www.themalaysianinsider.com/travel/article/best-hotel-chains-for-quality-free-wifi

Weekly Hot Pick for Ko Tao, Thailand

Haadtien Beach Resort – 4 Star

What’s nearby

Ø      Shark Bay – 0.7 km

Ø      Sai Nuan Beach – 1.6 km

Ø      Mae Haad – 2.1 km

Ø      Jax Trek bamboo path – 2.1 km

• Awarded Certificate of Excellence 2014.
• Free ferry terminal shuttle
• Free wi-fi and internet.

Healthy Chinese Food to Warm the Belly by Eliza Chow

This month, the goods and services tax (GST) came into force. If you think that this means cutting down on eating out, think again! The Malaysian Insider hunted down 30 cheap and good food spots around the Klang Valley and will reveal one for each day of the month of April.

Feel like having a healthy and nourishing meal without burning a hole through your pocket? Ah Yip Herbal Soup Restaurant can give you just that.

For a nutritious bowl of noodles, pay just RM15 to have your heart’s desire! Our choice from this restaurant was a steaming hot bowl of potato and chicken noodles. We were delighted at the generous serving of steamed chicken, potatoes, sweet kai lan vegetables and noodles. The broth added a savoury essence to the entire dish, completing the wholesome meal.

Apart from that, a complete set of rice, a dish of meat, vegetables and other side dishes come up to about RM15 to RM17. Ah Yip Herbal Soup also offers healthy herbal soups, congee and even health desserts.

Additionally, one can also enjoy drinks like herbal nourishing tea, chrysanthemum tea, lung nourishing tea and more for a few more ringgit.

As a result of the very traditional and healthy ambience, this restaurant attracts many members of the older generation. But good food will appeal to all ages, and we found that the consistent quality and taste of the food at Ah Yip is sure to go down well with everyone.

The shop has many branches around Malaysia, including one at Starhill Gallery, The Mines, Plaza Low Yat, Publika and Pavilion. – April 21, 2015.

Ah Yip Herbal Soup Restaurant | Add: Lot No. P33A Plaza Ground Floor, Hartamas Shopping Centre, Kuala Lumpur | Tel: 03-62012781 | Opening hours: 11am – 10pm | GPS coordinates: 3.163454, 101.656100 | Non-Halal

http://www.themalaysianinsider.com/food/article/healthy-chinese-food-to-warm-the-belly

Weekly Hot Pick for Paris, France

Mercure Paris Terminus Nord Hotel – 4 Star

What’s nearby

Ø      Basilica of the Sacred Heart of Jesus Church – 1.1 km

Ø      Montmartre Area – 1.2 km

Ø      Moulin Rouge – 1.7 km

Ø      Galeries Lafayette Department Store – 1.8 km

Nearest transport

Ø      Gare du Nord – 0.1 km

* Free wi-fi and newspaper.

A Budget-priced Airport Shuttle for Paris Launching in May 2015

Starting May 15, travelling between Paris and CDG will only cost €2 (RM7.86) for those who reserve ahead of time with the Easybus shuttle service, a serious discount compared to the alternatives, the RER commuter trains and the Roissybus, for example.

Easybus is a subsidiary of low-cost airline EasyJet. The mini-van service originated as a form of transport for travellers heading from the Luton, Gatwick and Stansted airports to London. And the service is not solely for the airline's passengers either, as passengers from competing airlines are also able to reserve a seat for the low price of £2.

The low-cost concept has now arrived in France, as skiers hitting the slopes in Chamonix have had access to low-cost shuttles from the Geneva airport since the end of 2014.

But as of May 15, it will be the millions of travellers arriving in Paris who will be able reach the city centre for cheap. Sixteen-person vans will shuttle people between Palais Royal, in the heart of Paris, and the airport. In order to guarantee benefitting from the low fare, all you have to do is reserve online ahead of time at www.easybus.co.uk.

Direct competition for Roissybus

Today, tourists wanting to visit the French capital have many options to get from the airport to the city, all of them with fares much steeper than Easybus. If they opt not to take a taxi, travellers can instead take the RER B, a commuter train that links the airport to the city center. The 30-minute journey well set you back €10 each way.

The Easybus service will more directly compete with Roissybus, where the cost of a one-way ticket to or from the airport is €11. The 75-minute journey into Paris takes place in an air-conditioned bus. Other options to get to and from Paris's main airport include local buses, the 350 from the Gare de l'Est train station and the 351 from Nation, both of which cost €6, payable directly to the bus driver – the cheapest option available to travellers until the inauguration of the Easybus service. 

http://www.themalaysianinsider.com/travel/article/a-budget-priced-airport-shuttle-for-paris-launching-next-month

Wine, Weddings and Hobbits! Wacky Flyer Rewards Revealed by Harriet Baskas

Most travelers feel lucky if they can swap their frequent flyer miles for first-class upgrades or a free flight.

But a recent study found at least 160 airline frequent-flyer programs worldwide offering redemption options that are far more interesting, innovative and, at times, a bit wacky. 

Among other things, the study by research company IdeaWorks and tech company Switchfly found that El Al offers an inflight marriage proposal kit for $60 plus 120 travel points. If you let the airline know you plan to pop the question during the flight, a crew member will deliver a bottle of wine, wine glasses and chocolates when (or if) your proposal is accepted.

Meanwhile "Lord of the Rings" (LOTR) fans in New Zealand can swap frequent flyer points earned on Air New Zealand for Hobbit-themed souvenirs, such as a replica of Gandalf's Magical Silver Scarf made of 100 percent New Zealand wool. The item is woven by the same weavers who used historic looms to create the Fellowship Cloaks and other textiles for the LOTR trilogy.

Elsewhere, Japan Airlines' Mileage Bank members can turn in 2,000 miles to get a key chain made from the same leather used for the seats found in its first-class suites, while EVA Air offers a 90-minute flight simulator experience for 10,000 miles.

For a whopping 15,000 miles, Cathay Pacific has a Made in Hong Kong Tour that takes visitors to a suit tailor, a shoemaker and a wood engraver. The trip includes lunch, and a jaunt to a local market with more than 100 shopping stalls.

The range is what the report describes as "wild, weird and wonderful rewards." While unusual and dizzying, the perks are designed to appeal to a wide range of travelers.

"Some appeal to customers who may have smaller points balances about to expire and are swimming in magazine subscriptions, so they can redeem for a little keepsake or luxury," said Daniel Farrar, Switchfly's CEO.

Other perks "some appeal to the experiential traveler interested in adding to his or her itinerary, as with Avianca's Pizza Tour of Manhattan."

Bookkeeping is another reason airlines offer these strange rewards.

"Accounting rules reward airlines that encourage members to redeem miles or points," said Jay Sorensen of IdeaWorks. Because much of the revenue associated with miles can only be added to an airline's income statement after miles are redeemed, "there is a financial incentive," he said

For 10,000 miles, passengers on All Nippon Airways (ANA) can get a coupon for a stay at the pet hotel at Tokyo's Haneda Airport.

Air France's Flying Blue members can get a purse made out of a recycled life vest for 9,000 miles, or for 45,000, a tour of Paris gardens for two in a vintage Citroën—complete with mini-bottles of Champagne. Separately, on May 9, United Airlines is offering a limited number of private batting practice sessions with Los Angeles Dodgers alumni at Dodgers Stadium for 10,000 miles.

Alaska Airlines has offered special winemaker dinners in Seattle for 12,500 miles per person. Earlier this year, elite members of the airline's frequent flyer program were able to bid points for seats on a special flight taking Seahawks fans to a Super Bowl party in Phoenix.

"We host exclusive events to give our customers an opportunity to use their miles for something special in addition to travel," said Rick Rasmussen, director of Affinity Card programs for Alaska Airlines.

British Airways lets you use points for Eurostar redemptions, United offers cruise redemption options and "Delta has experiences that can be decent and unique," said Brian Kelly of The Points Guy. Still, "the weirder the experience, the less value you'll get from your redemption."

In general, says Kelly, "Airline miles are best used for flights."

http://www.cnbc.com/id/102573367

Weekly Hot Pick for Shanghai, China

Holiday Inn Vista – 4 Star

What’s nearby

Ø      ERA Acrobats – 2.4 km

Ø      Jade Buddha Temple – 1.2 km

Ø      Pub Crawl Shanghai – 1.9 km

Ø      Shanghai Hongqiao Railway Station – 2 km

Ø      Jing’an Temple – 2 km

Ø      Shanghai Super Tours – 2 km

*Awarded Certificate of Excellence 2014.