Why did I like Oman Air?

Unlike many western airlines (Air France, United) that have a 2-3-2 configuration in business class (so one of the passengers has a middle seat even if they paid thousands of dollars for the ticket), Oman Air flies the A330 with a configuration of 1-2-1. That means every passenger has an uninterrupted access to the aisle, and the business class cabin is much quieter because there are fewer people.

The food is excellent, with a choice of Middle Eastern mezze and other offerings depending on the route flown: on the way to Bangkok, Thai food was served, while on the way to Paris it was French food.  A nice touch was offering Turkish coffee and fresh dates prior to departure.

Seats lie flat, but are 77.5 inches (196.8 cm) long and 22 inches (55.8 cm) wide, so even a tall people can enjoy their sleep.

Flight attendants are multinational and on my flight were Thai, Omani, Filipino and Burmese attendants.

Connection in Muscat is fast and efficient, and the airline lounges in Muscat, Bangkok and Paris CDG are quiet and well stocked with food, drinks (alcoholic and non-alcoholic), sweets and fresh fruit.

Oman Air lands in Paris CDG 2A which is a small terminal, so getting to and from the departure gate is quick with no queues in immigration (unlike the complicated Air France terminal at CDG which takes forever to navigate).

Why stop over in Oman?

Oman is an interesting place for a stopover, and flying on Oman Air on any class entitles you to a one free night in Muscat. Muscat airport undergoing though a significant upgrade. By 2014 one will enjoy a modern terminal that competes with Qatar and Dubai in amenities.

Most importantly, as Oman Air is not as established as other Gulf Airlines, so it runs very competitive promotions that make the premium one has to pay for business over economy worth it.

Oman Air: the ultimate in business class? is a post by Arnon Kohavi on Mapplr - Hotel reviews, travel guides, shopping guides.

In the previous post, we warned you about the foul air in China’s cities where levels of air pollution are so high that breathing is extremely hazardous to your health. People who have respiratory illnesses and chronic asthma are advised not to spend a lot of time in Beijing.

What I did not know is that the air quality in many cities in India is even worse. In fact, India now has the worst air quality on the planet (see NYT article: India overtakes China, now has world’s most polluted air). I found out just how bad the pollution was in India after coming down with a painful sore throat, a hacking cough and what seemed to be a bad cold when I visited the cities of Kochi, Madurai and Chennai this week. What really surprised me was that my ailments were just as severe in the beach community of Mahabalipuram, where, staying at a beach resort, the air smelled of smoke day and night and I could hardly sleep because I kept coughing and wheezing.

How did I know it was not just a cold and a sore throat? Well, these symptoms went away when I spent a few days in the hill towns of Munnar and Periyar, where few people live and there is little traffic, and where mercifully, the residents were not burning mountains of trash. But once I got back to the lowlands where most people live, the sore throat and cough came back.

You think the air quality is bad only in megacities like Mumbai and Delhi, but really the air is terrible even in the small towns and villages because people burn stuff (trash, palm fronds, wood, etc.) day and night. And because India is so densely populated, it’s not just one or two piles of rubbish burning, it’s hundreds of them.

According to the NY Times article:

It is not just India’s big cities which are grappling with air pollution, said Anumita Roychowdhury, executive director of India’s Centre for Science and Environment, a non-profit organization which was not involved in the study. Air pollution also is worsening in smaller cities, she said. The main culprit, Ms. Roychowdhury said, is the growing number of vehicles in India. While the country still has far fewer vehicles per capita than developed nations, India’s cars are more polluting, Ms. Roychowdhury said. Other air pollution experts also cite India’s reliance coal and polluting industries like brick-making that are located close to densely-populated areas.

Most people, including myself, associate China, not India, with air pollution. When we think of Chinese cities, we think of factories. When we think of India, we do not imagine factories even though India has a large manufacturing sector that makes everything from cars to shoes. We picture overcrowded cities clogged with traffic and overwhelmed by the chaos of tuk-tuks, motorcycles, cars, and ancient smoke-belching buses, weaving their way through cows, dogs, and potholes. But we also imagine more rustic scenes of farmers plowing the fields with water buffalo and taking their produce to the markets in carts pulled by oxen. That still exists, yet, it is the sheer number of motor vehicles, the age of those vehicles (especially the smoke belching ones), added to the factories and the burning piles of trash that cause much of the air pollution. As the NY Times article points out, even in small cities, the air quality is terrible. The pollution in Mahabalipuram, a beach town in Tamil Nadu with 12,000 residents, was, to me, just as bad as the pollution in Madurai (pop.: 2 million) and Chennai (formerly known as Madras, pop.: 6 million).

My advice: if you have asthma or have chronic respiratory illnesses, you should consider spending as much time as possible in hill towns like Munnar and Periyar and avoid the cities, even the small ones. Bring an inhaler or other asthma medication.

India’s air pollution worse than China’s is a post by Esme Vos on Mapplr - Hotel reviews, travel guides, shopping guides.

If you thinking of visiting Beijing and you have respiratory problems (like asthma), bring an inhaler or stay indoors. Yesterday, more than 150 flights to Beijing were cancelled because of fog (official explanation), but in addition to the fog was an excessively high level of pollution, so high it was “off the charts”. The US Embassy in Beijing monitors air pollution levels in the city and measures particles that are 2.5 micrometers or less, known as PM2.5. These tiny particles are the most hazardous to humans. Yesterday (January 10), the US Embassy’s pollution meter – where 150 is unhealthy and over 300 is hazardous – went past 500 and simply stopped measuring any further. Most Chinese cities have poor air quality and so if you are going to China, bring the proper medical accoutrements (inhalers, asthma medication, etc.).

Travel health warning: smog in Beijing is way off the charts is a post by Esme Vos on Mapplr - Hotel reviews, travel guides, shopping guides.

That's not snow, it's ashes from the Puyehue volcano

I have just returned from a trip to the beautiful Seven Lakes region of southern Argentina which encompasses the popular ski resort of Bariloche. Unfortunately, Villa La Angostura, one of the loveliest little towns nestled between the lakes and the mountains, is buried under ash. I could barely see the sky, let alone the blue waters of the lake. I saw residents walking around with face masks and it is impossible not to be covered in ash yourself if you stand by the roadside while a car passes by.

Ever since the Puyehue volcano (located on the other side of the Andes in Chile) began erupting a few months ago after nearly half a century of silence, life in the Seven Lakes area has changed dramatically for the worse. Bariloche airport was closed for most of the ski season (July-August) and remains closed even though the city of Bariloche itself does not have as much ash as Villa La Angostura. Some of the border crossing points between Chile and Argentina had been shut down, but as of last week, the main one to Villa La Angostura from Chile was open.

Many businesses in Villa La Angostura have gone under; plants and trees have died. Cattle ranchers have moved hundreds of cows to literally greener pastures. The ash constitutes a health hazard, especially to children and people who have weak respiratory systems.

The northernmost and southernmost parts of the Seven Lakes are still habitable and wonderful to visit. San Martin de los Andes (north) and Llao Llao (south) were lovely to spend time in, however, whenever cars (and especially trucks) drive by, they stir up enormous clouds of ash along the roads, leaving drivers to deal with poor visibility and bystanders covered in fine dust.

Because there were very few tourists, hotels have lowered rates quite dramatically. Even the most luxurious hotels have special rates. Of course, you never know if San Martin de los Andes and Llao Llao will get more ashes heaped upon them. I did see piles of ash cleared away from the roads in both towns but when I was there, the skies were clear (although gazing in the distance towards Villa La Angostura, I could see the ash clouds blowing over from Puyehue).

Everything depends upon the direction of the wind. Villa La Angostura lies immediately east of Puyehue and the usual wind direction is eastward. However, from time to time, the winds can blow in the opposite direction, towards the Chilean side, causing airport delays and closures in Temuco, Osorno and even Puerto Montt (which are all in Chile).

Travel advisory Argentina: Volcanic ash cloud in Villa La Angostura, Bariloche is a post by Esme Vos on Mapplr - Hotel reviews, travel guides, shopping guides.

CitizenM Glasgow

This Financial Times article about Accor (the European hotel chain) upgrading 40,000 hotel rooms around the world to speed up the cleaning of budget hotel rooms and lower the cost of cleaning, is the trend of the future for all hotel chains:

“Global hotel chain Accor wanted to improve the ease and speed of cleaning its budget hotel rooms. A room that is quick to clean means guests have the option to check in earlier. London-based agency Priestmangoode designed all the furniture in the 12.5 sq m rooms so that it could be attached to the walls. That way, cleaners do not have to clean around chair, table and bed legs. The electrics and services are contained in a central pillar, so there are no pipes showing behind the basin, and no cables under the desk or behind the bed. Crucially, there is no bathroom. The toilet is in one cubicle and the shower in another.”

Accor isn’t the only chain that is redesigning its hotels for the modern era. Other hotel chains such as Aloft and CitizenM started out as thoroughly modern hotels for the tech-savvy traveler. They provide self-check in and have designed their rooms and common areas with contemporary furniture, characterized by free Wi-Fi, iPod docking stations and stylish furniture.

Check out:

Aloft Brussels Schuman: stylish high-tech boutique hotel

Aloft’s stylish high tech hotel concept comes to New York City

citizenM hotel in Glasgow: high tech luxury at a budget price

For me, here are the hallmarks of a 21st century hotel:

(1) Free fast Wi-Fi in the rooms and common areas

(2) Ability to print out boarding passes with minimum hassle

(3) iPod or iPhone docking stations

(4) Mist-free bathroom mirrors (sadly this is common only in Japanese hotels)

(5) Bathtubs are optional. I prefer large shower spaces with very strong high pressure showers.

(6) Light: it shocks me how so many hotels provide poor lighting in guest rooms.

(7) Cozy comfortable sitting areas where guests can hang out or meet people.

(8) Quiet rooms: double glazed windows and well-insulated walls are a must.

Redesigning hotel rooms for the 21st century is a post by Esme Vos on Mapplr - Hotel reviews, travel guides, shopping guides.

Salta is not known to be a dangerous area. In recent years, tourism in Salta has even gone upscale and many boutique hotels and posh restaurants have opened to cater to a wealthier class of tourists who love to hike and enjoy the outdoors.

Argentina much more dangerous than Chile; reports of armed robberies abound

Yet one must bear in mind that Argentina remains a dangerous place. Argentina has much more violent crime than Chile. In Mendoza, the wine capital of Argentina, a region known for posh wineries and restaurants, hotels keep their doors locked at all times, even during the day. The rich live in gigantic villas in barrios privados – gated communities with manicured lawns and swimming pools, fenced off from the hostile outside world by thick, high walls and armed guards. The most noticeable feature of Mendoza when you first arrive is how decrepit the public spaces are — the rundown buildings, poorly maintained and badly lighted streets, rotting public infrastructure, broken or non-existent sidewalks — in contrast to the luxurious, high-end design and interiors of expensive restaurants, hotels and wineries.

Commando style robberies in Mendoza targeted at expensive restaurants and luxury winery hotels, have created an image problem for the region. Reports of an armed gang attacking a wedding party at a luxury resort in 2008, robberies of guests at the famous 1884 Restaurant of Francis Mallmann (Argentina’s most well-known chef), and of foreign cyclists in Mendoza have done much to dent Mendoza’s image. There have been no armed gang attacks this year to the best of my knowledge, but then again, I don’t know if these incidents go unreported in the foreign press (note: if you want to know about the latest robberies and attacks, just do a Google search with the terms “robbery attack Mendoza Argentina”). The brazenness of these attacks tells me that the people who belong to these armed gangs are desperate and not afraid of the police.

[In another article I will discuss the security situation in Brazil, which is improving according to some, but is still very dangerous compared to Asian countries I've visited such as Thailand, Malaysia, Laos, Cambodia and Burma.]

On a positive note, hotels in Mendoza have reportedly beefed up security but one should think very carefully about what security precautions one should take when holidaying in a place which has a tiny group of very rich people presiding over an overwhelmingly poorer population, and a weak central government that cannot enforce public order.

I still think Mendoza is worth visiting. I was just there last weekend and greatly enjoyed my stay. I will post my Mendoza recommendations for hotels, restaurants and wineries in the next article.

My advice to anyone visiting Mendoza is to stay in a less posh hotel, for example, a small boutique hotel that is not ostentatious and does not attract very rich people.

French tourists murdered in Salta, Argentina is a post by Esme Vos on Mapplr - Hotel reviews, travel guides, shopping guides.

Belgium to the south of France on the TGV for only 50 EUR is a post by Esme Vos on Mapplr - Hotel reviews, travel guides, shopping guides.

PC Air, a Thai airline beginning operations in April 2011, has announced that it is hiring transsexual flight attendants. According to Gadling, “Thailand has one of the world’s largest transsexual, or “third sex” populations, and its surgeons have achieved a global reputation for providing relatively affordable, easily accessible sex change operations (which pertain to the transgender, not transsexual, population). PC Air doesn’t require sexual reassignment surgery; rather, applicants need to meet criteria that include language and customer service skills.” PC Air is the first airline to actively target the transsexual community. Its motto is — I believe it’s “my way” — (see photo below).

PC Air will start flying between Bangkok and Incheon Airport (South Korea), Narita (Tokyo) and Kansai (Osaka).

New Thai airline PC Air hires transsexual flight attendants is a post by Esme Vos on Mapplr - Hotel reviews, travel guides, shopping guides.

The latest online shopping phenomenon to sweep the world of fashion brands, flash sales, finally comes to the UK luxury travel market with the launch of Travesse, The Luxury Travel Club. I can get you an invitation to Travesse – click here.

Travesse’s rapidly growing member base is enthusiastically snapping up time-limited offers to some of the world’s most beautiful 4- and 5-star hotels, holidays and experiences. Flash sales sites such as Groupon and Rue La La have been popular in the last three years because people have been aggressively looking for bargains in fashion, dining, and entertainment. Travesse has brought the same model to the hospitality market.

The company is working with independent hotels and high end hotel groups such as Rocco Forte Hotel Collection, Corinthia Hotels, Franklyn Hotels and De Savary Luxury properties. Travesse offers its members an unrivalled collection of designer chic to romantic luxury, boutique to baroque at unbeatable prices. Travesse can negotiate discounts as high as 70% and offer them exclusively to members.

Like other high-end flash sale sites, membership is by invitation-only but Travesse offers more than just fantastic discounts: Travesse members receive lots of extras such as meals at Michelin-rated restaurants to complimentary spa treatments and ski passes.

There are two ways to join – be invited by an existing member (click here), or register online and wait for an opening (currently within seven days of applying.) But until Valentine’s Day new members can beat the queue and register straight away.

Make sure you visit the site to discover the latest handpicked deals, which have included:

70% off …
• Boutique-style apartments in Sliema, Malta @ £52 per room, sleeping 3, with transfers

60% + off …
• A luxurious Roman hideaway @ £128 per room.

50% + off …
• An incredible Design Hotel in Prague, Czech Republic @ just £42 per room.
• A romantic break in the Cotswolds @ £79 per room, B&B, and with a £25 voucher for spa treatments at the hotel.
• A glamorous Venetian Palazzo from @ £99 per room, B&B, with a bottle of prosecco and tickets to the casino.

40% + off …
• Gastro/skiing in France @ £232 per room, half board.
• Foodie heaven at a five-star ‘Schloss’ in the Rhine Valley, with its own three-Michelin star restaurant @ £209 per room, HB
• A modern, statement design hotel in Salzburg @ £91 per room, B&B

Travesse launches flash sales for luxury travel is a post by Esme Vos on Mapplr - Hotel reviews, travel guides, shopping guides.

Beginning 12 January 2011, travelers on the Thalys (the French high speed train service from Paris to Brussels and Amsterdam) can reserve a private cabin with four spacious seats, Wi-Fi, and electric outlets. The private cabins are ideal for business meetings on the train, for groups of friends or families. A cabin costs 600 EUR between Paris and Brussels, 444 EUR between Brussels and Amsterdam, and 864 EUR between Amsterdam and Paris.

Thalys high speed train offering private cabins with Wi-Fi is a post by Esme Vos on Mapplr - Hotel reviews, travel guides, shopping guides.