Archive for the ‘Online Travel Videos’ Category
Five-star airports and airplanes? Go to Asia for that!
April 27th, 2010
With the recent opening of Hong Kong airport’s new state-of-the-art SkyPier (above), arriving passengers can now step off their plane, take a four-minute ride on an “automated people mover” to a the eastern side of the airport where they board hovercraft or high speed ferries for 30-90 minute voyages across the South China Sea to destinations such as Guangzhou, Macau and Shenzhen.
Asia’s got us beat when it comes to the world’s best airports.
Hong Kong is one of three “Five-Star” airports in the world according to SkyTrax, a well-respected international organization that ranks both airlines and airports based on surveys of thousands of frequent international business travelers from around the world.
For 2010, the only three airports to get “five star” status are Singapore-Changi, Seoul Incheon and Hong Kong Kong International. (Full report here)
On this side of the Pacific, San Francisco International placed second in North America after Vancouver. SFO’s also the ONLY U.S. airport to place in the top 25 worldwide.
Have you ever flown through one of these “Five Star” airports? What did you think? How do they compare to other international or U.S. airports? Please leave your comments below.
FLIGHT CHECK: On a recent business trip to Asia, I flew via SFO to Seoul’s Incheon Airport on Korean Air and was VERY impressed with both airports. I made a two-minute video about that journey which included coverage of Incheon Airport. (See video below and note that Korean Air business class seats on 777s out of SFO are identical to the ones offered on its 777 nonstop from ATL to Seoul-ICN. They are nearly flat, but not completely flat. However, KAL says that it plans to have fully flat “Prestige Sleepers” on the ATL-ICN route in August.)
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A Big Bargain in the Bustle of Tokyo
April 20th, 2010
In April, your TICKET editor was on a business trip to Asia and checked in at the new Best Western Shinjuku ASTINA Hotel in Tokyo. It’s currently the only Best Western in town and offers a great value to business travelers visiting one of the most expensive cities in the world.
A few unusual touches to see in the video below: Pajamas and buckwheat pillows, smoked trout and miso soup on the breakfast bar and heated toilet seats!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tgONunfdG7U
(Disclosure: I contribute to Best Western’s travel blog at youmustbetrippin.com)
Your TICKET Editor on Good Morning America! (Seriously!)
November 30th, 2009
Good Morning America called. We answered!
Take a look at this short (1.5 minute) video of TICKET editor Chris McGinnis offering up tips and advice for choosing the fastest airport security screening line. The theme of the overall segment was about how to get through lines faster, be it at grocery stores, or on the freeway. We edited out the non-travel elements for you.
Thoughts please!
[ F6P47YY2TKWF Technorati Claim ]
90 Second Hotel Review: Hotel Maya, Long Beach, Calif.
October 13th, 2009
SF-based Joie de Vivre hotels recently invited your TICKET editor Chris McGinnis to Long Beach, CA for the grand opening of the Hotel Maya, located right there on the waterfront between the Queen Mary and downtown. They’ve done a great job! If you find yourself on the southern side of LA or in Orange County, it’s worth a look! Here is my video review. Below you’ll find the voice over script to the video in case you can’t watch it.
Video Review of the Hotel Maya
In typical fashion, designers from the mod San Francisco based Joie de Vivre hotel chain have gone to Long Beach, California…
…where they found the UN-gracefully aging Coast Hotel …
…and transformed it into a Latin lover called the Hotel Maya to the tune of about $20 million dollars
The property is set in a forest of 400 palm trees on the Long Beach waterfront.
Rooms are decorated with unusual touches like river stone headboards…
Bathrooms are brand new… I love that brown granite and burnt orange wallpaper!
Every room’s got a big desk area, flat screen TV, mini bar— and thankfully free and fast wi-fi
There’s a dramatic pool area with Vegas style cabanas good for play, and for work….
Plus an ample gym and meeting space for business travelers.
The airy Fuego Restaurant specializes in three things: seafood, tequila, and a stunning view of the city AND the Queen Mary docked nearby.
All in all this a great redo— like a stodgy old aunt going in for a makeover and coming out a flamenco dancer!
The Hotel Maya is located about 30 mins south of LAX on the border of LA and Orange county.
Rates start at around $140 for garden views. Water views are closer to $200.
Cool, Hip, Quirky New Hotel in Silicon Valley (Video)
August 28th, 2009
I made the following video for my Best Western blog at www.youmustbetrippin.com and it’s sorta gone viral (nearly 1000 views as of Aug 27)
It’s a video report on the opening of the cool new Hotel Avatar in Santa Clara, Calif….in the heart of Silicon Valley. Very clever re-do of the classic motel with all the modern amenities you’d expect, like free and fast wifi, nice pool, gym with elliptical trainers, etc.
Rates start in the very reasonable range of about $130 per night and it’s a nice colorful change compared to a lot of the beige box hotels in the area.
Check out the two min video and see for yourself:
