4th July Getaway: Introduction

• Introduction
• Getting to EWR
• Newark to Singapore
• Singapore to Koh Samui
• KC Beach Club Koh Samui
• Conrad Koh Samui
• Koh Samui to Penang
• Penang to Macau (via Hong Kong)
• Conrad Macau
• Macau to Taipei
• Taipei to Austin

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It was a crazy last couple of weeks with 15 hour days at work while we try to get a product out the door. Thankfully the product did get shipped and I was able to enjoy a much deserved one plus week vacation during the 4th of July hoildays. We needed to go somewhere!

One of the main motivation of the trip was to get on the currently the longest flight that was served by Singapore Airlines on their New York to Singapore route by their Airbus A345 aircraft. This was the aircraft that I first flew when I started flying for work, albeit in economy class, and what got me hooked on this hobby. Singapore Airlines decided recently that they were going to stop flying this all business class  ~18 hour flight in November since I assume it wasn't making money and I wanted a last hoorah before they ended the flight.

SQ Business Class

The vacation itself would be in Koh Samui. Since I had an expiring Hilton free night voucher compliments of the Citi Hilton Honors Reserve card, we used it at the Conrad Koh Samui. It was a great value since one night here would have costs close to $1000! For the rest of the stay in Koh Samui, we opted for the KC Beach Club since it seem fun to be in a "party hotel" and it was right smack in the action in Chaweng.

After a quick stop back at home in Penang to check on things, we made a detour in Macau on the way back to Austin since we heard great things on how the Conrad Macau treats Hilton Honors Diamond members. To make the stop even more enticing, I found a good fare from Penang to Hong Kong via Kuala Lumpur on Malaysia Airlines with the brand new A380 flying us on  the Kuala Lumpur to Hong Kong sector.

Our Suite at the Conrad Macau

The highlight of the final segment on the trip would be flying Eva Air. Eva Air just joined Star Alliance and we were excited to try out their business class cabin - yummy Asian food that comes with Dom Perignon! 

Hope you guys enjoy the trip report!