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Reporting from Chennai where the week's been one of crazy weather...absolutely unscheduled mid-summer rains brought the mercury down to a very acceptable 24 degrees for a coupple of days, before going back up to the high 30s. Here's a round up of the week that was - a summary of posts on this blog as also other things travel, aviation, points and miles that we found interesting. Hope you had a great week, and here's wishing you the very best in the next one! New series We decided to launch a new series, recapping all active and ongoing promotions . Because memory isn't what it used to be! We hope to remember to publish this series at least monthly. Hotel promotions Did you register for IHG's Accelerate 2016 summer promotion ? What's your offer? Airline promotions Malaysia Airlines seems to have some really great fares from (south) India and Colombo, to Australia . In business class !!! Trip reports The last installment from my trip to Singapore in April - Aftern...

I've been on the road a little bit recently, which included a business trip to Singapore. I visited Singapore last in 2009, and didn't carry home any significant impressions. Not that there were negative experiences, just nothing impressive enough, I guess. This time, however, has been quite different. I suddenly learnt that I liked the city quite a bit! I can feel it in the pictures I put up (check out the trip index below for links to those pictures)! I realised that I've gotten into the habit of putting the proverbial cart before the proverbial horse, so I'll put things in chronological order here, to set things right! So here's the index of posts related to this trip. Mini trip report - Jet Airways business class B738 - MAA-SIN Hotel review: Holiday Inn Singapore Atrium Is this the best hotel amenity ever? All about handy In pictures: Glimpses of Singapore In pictures: Singapore - colonial meets commercial In pictures: Hanging out at Clarke Quay and Boat Quay Ho...

As readers might know, I was in Singapore a few weeks ago, and spent three nights at the Conrad Centennial Singapore . The one thing I haven't written about yet from that trip, is the executive lounge at the Conrad, so here it is. I had a light but late breakfast at the Holiday Inn Singapore Atrium  on the Sunday morning, mainly because of the excesses of the previous night. I'd also been allowed to check out late (2 pm), which I'd requested because the regular check-in time at the Conrad Singapore is 3 pm. I reached the Conrad at around 2.30 pm, and was immediately assigned a room on a high floor, and given access to the executive lounge, thanks to my Hilton HHonors Diamond status obtained through status matching . Sadly, that doesn't guarantee you an upgrade to a suite. At check-in, I was informed that the lounge had an afternoon English tea service, as well as evening cocktails setting with hors d'oeuvres . Those are sort of code for lunch and dinner, even if the...

I'm sitting in a hotel just off the freeway in Kansas City, Missouri and filing this in, while ASan is hoping I'll send out trip reports from this little jaunt of mine. So here's a round up of the week that was - a summary of posts on this blog as also other things travel, aviation, points and miles that we found interesting. Hope you had a great week, and here's wishing you the very best in the next one! Hotel promotions Action hots up as both Hilton and IHG announce sales for up to 30% and 35% off respectively. Here's a look at  Hilton's Big World Sale and  IHG's sale in Asia, Africa and the Middle East . Possibly the last chance for MasterCard holders to get SPG Gold status after just 1 stay in Asia Pacific . Hopefully, you can climb the ladder faster with this! You can get Hilton HHonors Gold status instantly , and keep it till March 2018 with just 4 stays before August 2016. IHG's Accelerate 2016 promotion ended on 30 April 2016, but you can check ...

On my recent visit to Singapore on work, I flew Jet Airways' B737-800 service from Chennai to Singapore and back. On the  way up, the flight was at the ungodly hour of 2.05 am, and so I published only a limited trip report . However, the return flight was at a much more acceptable 10.25 am, and so I thought it deserved a full trip report (at least, more than the one I published on the way up). So here goes. SIN-MAA Flight 9W015 | 4h 10m |1816 miles | Business class | Seat 2F I wrapped my visit to the lounge , whisky shopped and reached the boarding gate at about 9.45 am, to leave sufficient time for the security check (which happens only at the holding area near the boarding gate). I got a glimpse of my ride for the day. Jet Airways B738 And this beauty being pushed-back right behind the Jet Airways aircraft. SQ A380 Boarding was announced almost as soon as I reached the hold area, and I was able to board first, as I was flying business class. Jet Airways B738 - business class se...