Dear Passengers,
Happy holiday season! We made it out of Peru without issue and will resume our usual newsletter with hopefully less turbulence.
This newsletter is going to be about flying on airplanes (I am serious, and don’t call me Shirley), specifically our return trip from Singapore in United Polaris’ business class. We’ll wrap up our Southeast Asia adventures with our top itinerary suggestions so you, too, can see our favorite places during a regular-length vacation.
Also, because we’re here to share the travel info you need to know, Pete is sharing his favorite beers from the region.
Brace yourself and assume crash positions!
Perry’s Travel Diary
SIN > SFO: Our trip back to the USA
I wrote about how we booked our flights using miles and less than $200 – including long-haul business class over the Pacific Ocean – in our very first email.
On our return, we flew:
- SIN – SFO (a direct, 14-hour flight from Singapore to San Francisco, California, USA) in United Polaris Business Class
- SFO – DEN in United Economy
- DEN to our local regional airport in United Economy
Our United Polaris business class experience was very similar to our outbound flight, which I documented extensively on Instagram. (Check out the “First Flights” highlight.) There were two notable differences, though: access to the Singapore Airlines SilverKris Business Class Lounge and, thanks to the length of the flight, the inclusion of the free Polaris pajamas to round out the Polaris experience.
SilverKris Lounge (Singapore Airlines Business Class Lounge)
We previously spent the majority of our 20-hour Singapore layover in the Singapore Airlines SliverKris Gold Lounge. With our business-class return tickets, we were able to access a new, more exclusive lounge: the Singapore Airlines SilverKirs Business Class Lounge.
When we checked in for our flight, the lounge invitation we were given by the United check-in agent was only for the SATS Premier Lounge, an inferior, Priority Pass lounge that we also visited . I’m not sure why a lounge invitation was not automatically extended for the SilverKris Lounge. You may need to have Star Alliance Gold status in addition to your business class ticket to access the SilverKris Lounge.
You can only access this lounge when you are departing from Singapore. We attempted to access it upon our arrival from Bali and were promptly denied.
Singapore Airlines’ Business Class Lounge, true to its business class service, does not disappoint. You’ll find an extensive buffet including dumplings and other dim sum, soups, laksa (a Malaysian spicy noodle dish), and a plated American breakfast. Most beverages were self-serve and included beer, soda, other soft drinks, and coffee machines. The selection was much wider than the Gold Lounge, and we enjoyed a solid breakfast before our flight.
The bathrooms were even photo-worthy.
Our only complaint was that we arrived with too little time to enjoy the lounge (the Crowne Plaza Changi Airport hotel has very comfy beds…) before heading to our gate.
(Side note: In Singapore and Malaysia, you clear security at your gate immediately before boarding rather than clearing security before you access the airport. You must be there at the time printed on your boarding pass. You do clear immigration after check-in and prior to entering the airport’s shops and lounges area.)
Polaris Pajamas
Is the inclusion of free pajamas worthy of its own section in this newsletter?
Maybe. Maybe not. Either way, I was chuffed to finally earn a pair of Polaris-branded pajamas, and I am still wearing them at home. It is a fun souvenir.
Our outbound flight, which was routed via Tokyo, did not receive free pajamas since it was only scheduled for just under 11 hours. Pajamas are only given on flights scheduled to exceed 12 hours. Singapore to San Francisco is a 14-hour flight.
The rest of our in-flight experience was the same. The lie-flat seats made the journey comfortable and helped combat jet lag. The food was decent as expected, with dinner after takeoff, snacks in the kitchen during the flight, and breakfast before landing.
This might be an unpopular opinion, but I preferred the 14-hour flight length over anything shorter. It’s enough time to eat a leisurely dinner, clock a full 8+ hours of sleep, and wake up with enough time for breakfast and a movie before landing. I’d recommend routing your flights to Southeast Asia through Singapore rather than Japan, even if that means you need to add a positioning flight.
Of course, if you’re flying economy, go with the shortest possible flight.
After three months, let’s recap…
The Best Itineraries for 1-2 Weeks in Southeast Asia
After all this travel, the most common question we’ve gotten from our family at home is, “So what was your favorite part?!”
Pete and I both agree on our favorite (enthusiastic agreement at that! It’s a marital miracle), and there are a couple of other options that we highly recommend to anyone considering a regular-length vacation in Southeast Asia.
#1: Angkor Wat and Siem Reap, Cambodia (plus a bit of Thailand)
Hands down, there’s no contest: Angkor Wat and Siem Reap, Cambodia were our favorite parts of the entire trip.
You can’t beat the stunning temples steeped in history, the amazing food at Tevy’s, or the insanely cheap prices. (Our perfectly nice hotel room was just $20/night.)
Budget 5 days for Siem Reap, including 2-3 days exploring Angkor Wat and a rest day (or two) after exploring the ruins. We suggest skipping Phnom Penh, Cambodia, though international flight routings may force you to make a stopover.
With a two-week vacation, Siem Reap is not far from Bangkok – 8-9 hours by bus or just 2 hours by plane. You’ll want to spend 2-3 days in Bangkok and at least 4-5 days in Chiang Mai and Chiang Rai, our overall favorites in Thailand.
#2: Bali
There’s a reason Bali lives up to the hype. We have to recommend it because no matter what kind of vacation you’re looking for, you can find it in Bali.
Climbing mountains and adventuresome hikes? Bali has it.
Beautiful beaches and all-inclusive resorts? Bali has it.
Temples and cultural activities? Bali has it.
Yoga retreats to connect with your inner self? Yep… you get the picture.
You can easily spend 1-2 weeks in Bali. You can also spend one month, two months, three months… all very affordably. We understand why digital nomads relocate here, especially when they’re launching new businesses.
I’d recommend splitting your time evenly between Ubud and Canggu for your first visit. Add Nusa Lembongan if you enjoy scuba diving. But to be honest, if we go back, we’ll base ourselves in Canggu for the duration of our visit, no matter how long.
Honorable Mention #1: Malaysia and Singapore
Pete and I may be in agreement about our top two recommendations, but this list of one- to two-week vacation options would not be complete without a couple of honorable mentions.
First up: Singapore, combined with Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.
You will most likely fly through Singapore, so spend your first 2-3 days there. Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, is a short flight or 5.5-hour bus away.
The cultures of Singapore and Malaysia have significant overlap given their shared Malay and British history. While Singapore’s lodging is expensive, Malaysia offers incredibly low prices and high value – especially if you’re looking at points hotel redemptions in Kuala Lumpur. Even small points balances can get you five nights in a quality hotel.
With a two-week vacation, add on more destinations on the Malaysian peninsula, such as Ipoh, the Cameron Highlands, and Penang.
Honorable Mention #2: Thailand – just Thailand
We liked Northern Thailand – Chiang Mai and Chiang Rai – so much that we included them in our itinerary with our top recommendation, Angkor Wat. Thailand is dripping in culture, but let’s be real – we’re all visiting Thailand for the food, and yes, it’s worth it.
That said, you could easily spend two weeks just exploring Thailand. We recommend just 3 days in Bangkok, the overnight train to Chiang Mai, 5-7 days in Chiang Mai and Chiang Rai, and the remainder of your time (3-4 days) in Phuket or another beachside destination of your choice.
Pete’s Travel Diary
Tales A-Brewin: A Review of Southeast Asia’s Beers
I took it upon myself to sample many different lagers, ales, and in one instance, a tasty stout when traveling Southeast Asia (because journalism, obviously). Some are worth mentioning, some are not. And I didn’t even make a dent in the total selection as there are so many options. This selection is by no means conclusive – it’s merely one person’s opinions of a few of God’s chosen beverages. Here I will review three of the more memorable of these Southeast Asian brews!
#3: Tiger Lager – 5% ABV
I looked back at the photos of different beers I had sampled; many weren’t memorable or only memorable due to the scenery around said brew. Tiger’s bright metallic blue label made it stand out and its mild price increase from other (very affordable) beers made it stand out. Tiger is a pretty widespread beer in Southeast Asia and I would liken it to Stella Artois in the USA.
Is it enjoyable? Certainly. Do I find it better than any other beer in Southeast Asia? No, but I do think there is strong advertising for it and I think its availability makes it a fine option for the person who likes to nestle themselves in with one reliable brand and not have to think about what they are drinking too much.
Much like Stella Artois, there’s more hype than there is actual complexity. I’m surprised they don’t make a specific glass for Tiger beer as a marketing effort. Nevertheless, the flavor is light-bodied and crisp with a bready, cracker-like, flavor.
In discussion with some Austrians I met, they found it their absolute favorite in the region. I think the Austrian seal of approval bumps this beer a little higher up on the ranking as I am naturally going to value input from people who grew up around the heartland of beer.
#2: Beerlao Dark Lager – 6.5% ABV
Beerlao Dark Lager is a tasty brew that we encountered in Chiang Mai, Thailand, at Dash! Restaurant. This amber-colored and roasted malt beer had a nice head and a subtle caramel note.
The beer had a smooth medium body, which is miles more robust than what you would typically encounter in Southeast Asia. It is somewhat sweet to start but becomes a bit blunter to the palate as it approaches room temp (easy to do in Thailand). As one who favors darker beers, I rather enjoyed this amber brew and enjoyed the brief and rare reprieve from what is pretty consistently just bright and light lagers.
#1: Da Lat Whey Stout – 5.5% ABV
There is a chain of pizza restaurants in Vietnam and Cambodia called Pizza 4Ps (pronounced Pizza for Peace). They make their own cheese among other good deeds and by all accounts seem to run a happy and successful business. Most importantly, they make a number of different beers using water and other by-products (whey) from their making of cheese for brewing.
Of their various and unique beers, they make a stout. I love a stout beer, and while darker beers aren’t for everyone, this one is mild, smooth, and chocolatey in a way that anyone could partake in and easily enjoy. You only need to enjoy chocolate to apply.
It is a beer that one can curl up with for the winter which reminded me of home. It may not stack up with other stouts from colder places, but it holds its own well in a region where dark beers are an oddity, and it was by far one of my favorites this trip.
Itinerary
You can click here for more info about how I booked our Southeast Asia flights (including credit card points suggestions), here for more information on the Singapore Airport, and here for more info on Singapore.
Travel Tip of the Week
Make room for a full-sized travel towel
When you’re traveling to budget hotels or campsites, you need your own travel towel. But here’s our tip: splurge for the full-sized towel! Not only does a full-sized towel offer extra comfort (and, to be frank, dryness) after a shower, but it allows it to serve multiple purposes. Our towel has been a beach towel, a picnic blanket, an airplane blanket, and an extra level of protection if we have to sleep on the airport floor.
Our favorite towel is here on Amazon.
If you enjoyed this newsletter, we’d love it if you would share us with your friends.
Have a Happy New Year!
All the best,
Pete and Perry