simpsonc510

jas64, I always enjoy live jazz. I may try to find your bar suggestion. Thanks for that tip.

Sounds like Sentosa is not worth trying to get there. Maybe another time?

lin, I'll check your restaurant recs. Thanks!

simpsonc510

Just looked at UA saver availability (I always keep on checking) for my travel date. Did I jump the gun by going to HKG? Maybe... I see a number of options from ORD-BKK now available at 70k miles in first class. Oh well... my whirlwind trip is now booked (except for the return trip to ORD) and I'm really excited about all the cities I'm going to visit on this trip, instead of the usual flying into BKK to stay put!

hawaiiantraveler

You are 1k. No charge fees for changes right?

Aloha!

simpsonc510

HT... what are you doing up at this hour???

I want to keep the res as is. I'm looking forward to biz class on Thai, HKG to BKK. No plans to re-do anything at this point.

But this just PROVES that last-minute saver awards DO pop up as available. I am just hoping that the same thing happens around July 17-18 for my trip back home! I may not know when I'm coming home until July 15th! Travel is an adventure!

simpsonc510

lin, the Malay Heritage Center is closed until sometime in 2012. They must be remodeling. Next time...

jas, forgot that you had mentioned AS Grande. I have no interest in staying in that location, as it is too far from my friends around Sukhumvit soi 8/11 area. Also, the BTS is quite a hike from the Grande. I've been past that place several times because one of my local friends used to rent a house at the end of that soi.

hawaiiantraveler

Watching the news and getting ready for work......something about birds and worms....need lots of worms so I can retire and check for the saver awards.....need more worms.

Aloha!

simpsonc510

haha.... thanks for the laugh. ht

simpsonc510

Just checked UA. IF I were flying BKK-ORD next week, instead of the other way around, there is saver award availability 6 out of 7 days next week! I'm pretty confident I'll get the return I want, but in a couple of weeks from now.

kmkrnn

Carol.. we used the Hippo hop on and hop off buses..It really got us around,and included a boat ride on the river. You pick it up just down the street from the IC at the Suntec center...about 4-5 blocks walk. We opted out of going to Sentosa as we didn't have enough time... next visit.

simpsonc510

Thanks for the tip on the hop on hop off buses, Bob. I enjoy that sort of thing. I get the impression that fodorites think I should forget going to Sentosa this time.

mcbg1

Oh yes, Carol. Definitely do the hippo bus/boat. The ride is very enjoyable. Robertson and Clarke Quays are worth checking out. Especially in the evening.

simpsonc510

Are the Quays where I could find a nice boatride? And would you suggest an evening or daytime boat tour?

mrwunrfl

Have you called UA for a reservation for the return? Better yet, have tried Continental (by phone or online)?

mrwunrfl

On the 17th, Continental has one-way awards available for BKK-ORD. The options are biz class on Thai BKK-LAX and in F on UA for LAX-ORD.

A second option is first class, Lufthansa BKK-FRA and UA for FRA-ORD. This trip is only 1 hour longer than BKK-LAX-ORD.

A third option is Thai first class BKK-FRA and UA F for FRA-ORD. This is only 10 min longer than the LH trip.

Those are all saver awards, 60K in biz, 70K in F.

On the 18th there is a biz class award on TG/UA but it has an 8 hour 25 minute connection at LAX, overnight, departing for ORD at 6AM. You might be able to get a later flight from LAX-ORD if you wanted to spend time in L.A.

simpsonc510

Wow! Thanks for that, Bill. No, I've not called as I am/was waiting to book at the last minute. I have not transferred any miles into my CO acct, so have none to 'play with' on their site. I'll have to go look.

18th is my preferred return...

kmkrnn

The Hipo has the boat ride included in their package. If you are going to get on and off to see things , get the 2 day pass as there is too much to see if you keep getting on and off at the various stops. We did the boat ride in the day , due to timming, but the pass is good for multirides, so I think you could do both, day and night. It would be cooler at dusk. Not sure how late the bus part runs in the evening, but it is not that far back to the IC..taxi or walk.

simpsonc510

Two-day sounds like the way to go. Thanks K.

mrwunrfl

Why wait? You could book one of those tix on the 17th or 18th and then cancel it if what you really want becomes available. Being able to change/cancel award tix with no fee is one of the great advantages of 1K.

It is extremely easy to transfer miles from Mileage Plus to OnePass. Easier than when you linked your accounts.

The online searches on CO or UA don't necessarily find all available options, so it is a good idea to call.

mcbg1

Carol, for the boat ride you need to board at Clarke Quay. The hop-on, hop-off bus stops there. It's very easy. Clarke Quay is about a 15-20 minutes walk from the marina if you prefer to walk there. The views along the river are fantastic. Robertson/Clarke Quays are full of people in the evening. There are tons of restaurants and shops.

simpsonc510

With (email) prodding by mrwunrfl (THANK YOU, BILL) I now 'almost' have my return reservation confirmed! Continental's web site does, indeed, show lots more availability and lots of more interesting routings that UA doesn't show on its site. From now on, I'll look there!! (Until the two airlines merge into one, that is)

To make a long story short, I tried to transfer miles to CO from UA (my accounts are already 'linked') but could NOT get it to work! Aaaarrgghh... a phone call to UA told me that CO's office would be open TOMORROW... closed today... and that I need to talk to CO to iron out the bugs in the linking and transferring 70k miles (saver award amount).

Anyway, then a desperate phone call to the main CO number, and I have the reservation on hold, 70k miles to be transferred TOMORROW hopefully, after a couple of phone calls to both CO and UA.

I'm returning from BKK by way of FRA on LH (first class) and then on to ORD (first class) on UA. Whew! 'round the world...... yippeeeee (in first class)

And mcbg1, thank you for the info about the boat ride. I'm really looking forward to SIN.

Starting to pack and get organized today.

Carol