Hotel & flight reviews, award alerts, and stories from the road
10/10 
Golden Dumpling
An early flight from Zanzibar, a bumpy drive through the Tanzanian bush, and more wildlife than we ever imagined seeing in a single day: lions at lunch and hippos at tea!
9.7/10 Golden Dumpling
A clean, practical base beside Kanazawa Station, with a surprisingly generous complimentary bar.
8.8/10 After nearly two weeks of bouncing around Japan and South Korea, my wife and I flew home in Air Premia’s Wide Premium… and it might be the best…
10/10 Golden Dumpling
From freshly baked bread in a traditional Berber home to breathtaking mountain scenery and an exceptional tour guide, this excursion outside…
Two islands, one spontaneous award booking, and plenty of scenery.
Points deals
ActiveHotel
Park Hyatt Tokyo Standard room
Tokyo
Jan 11-13, Jan 17-19, Jan 24-26 and Feb 22-24, 2027 (2 nights each)
35,000 points a night
Last verified Oct 26, 2026 at 8:29 PMPosted October 26, 2026
ActiveFlight Expires Apr 29 · 184 days left
American Airlines, United Airlines Economy
7,500 points+ From $26.60 Seats: 2 to 9 per flight
Last verified Oct 24, 2026 at 9:25 PMPosted October 24, 2026
ActiveFlight Expires Apr 22 · 177 days left
Turkish Airlines Business
Boeing 787-9, 777-300ER or Airbus A350-900 · 1-2-1 (787-9) or 2-3-2 (777) layout · Lie-flat seats; on the 787-9 every seat has aisle access
65,000 miles+ Not confirmed (check at booking) Seats: 2 to 4 per flight
Last verified Oct 24, 2026 at 9:40 PMPosted October 24, 2026
★ The Golden Dumpling Hall of Fame ★
The Golden Dumpling is the highest honor on this blog, reserved for stays, flights, and experiences that get everything right.
A Day in the African Bush: Our Safari from Zanzibar to Nyerere National Park10/10 · Nyerere National Park, TanzaniaHyatt House Kanazawa9.7/10 · Kanazawa, JapanAtlas Mountains Tour: Breathtaking Views, Berber Hospitality & the Sticker Man10/10 · Ourika Valley, Morocco
Park Hyatt Jakarta9.5/10 · Jakarta, Indonesia
Waldorf Astoria Seychelles Platte Island9.9/10 · Platte Island, SeychellesTap a pin to read the post.
Nyerere National Park, TanzaniaA Day in the African Bush: Our Safari from Zanzibar to Nyerere National Park · 10/10
Kanazawa, JapanHyatt House Kanazawa · 9.7/10
Seoul, South KoreaAir Premia Boeing 787-9 Wide Premium Review · 8.8/10
2 posts in Morocco
Ourika ValleyAtlas Mountains Tour: Breathtaking Views, Berber Hospitality & the Sticker Man · 10/10
MarrakechPark Hyatt Marrakech · 9.2/10
2 posts in New Zealand
New Zealand9 Days in New Zealand: A Spontaneous Road Trip Across Both Islands
AucklandPark Hyatt Auckland · 8.7/10
Nicosia, CyprusGeorgian Airways: Well, That Was Interesting...
Jakarta, IndonesiaPark Hyatt Jakarta · 9.5/10
Dallas, Texas, United StatesAmerican Airlines 787-9 Business Class Flagship Suite Review · 8.7/10
Addis Ababa, EthiopiaEthiopian Airlines: An Exhausting Flight Home
Platte Island, SeychellesWaldorf Astoria Seychelles Platte Island · 9.9/10
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