Business Platinum Card from American Express
130,000 MR points
Booked: The First International Trip of the New Era
Dubai 2020
- Booked: The First International Trip of the New Era
- Impressions from Dubai 2020
- Review: Emirates 777 Old First Class Paris to Dubai
- Review: The Ritz-Carlton Dubai International Financial Centre
- Review: Waldorf Astoria Dubai International Financial Centre
- Review: Sheraton Dubai Creek
- Review: La Ville Hotel & Suites CITY WALK, Dubai, Autograph Collection
- Review: Etihad Airways 787 Business Class Abu Dhabi to Paris
- Review: Air France A350 Business Class Paris to Toronto
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Business Platinum Card from American Express
- Earn 90,000 MR points upon spending $15,000 in the first three months
- Plus, earn 40,000 MR points upon making a purchase in months 14–17 as a cardholder
- And, earn 1.25x MR points on all purchases
- Also, receive a $200 annual travel credit
- Transfer MR points to Aeroplan and other frequent flyer programs for premium flights
- Unlimited airport lounge access for you and one guest at Priority Pass, Plaza Premium, Centurion, and other lounges
- Credits and rebates for business expenses throughout the year with Amex Offers
- Bonus MR points for referring family and friends
- Qualify for the card as a sole proprietor
- Annual fee: $799
36 Comments
Dubai 2020
- Booked: The First International Trip of the New Era
- Impressions from Dubai 2020
- Review: Emirates 777 Old First Class Paris to Dubai
- Review: The Ritz-Carlton Dubai International Financial Centre
- Review: Waldorf Astoria Dubai International Financial Centre
- Review: Sheraton Dubai Creek
- Review: La Ville Hotel & Suites CITY WALK, Dubai, Autograph Collection
- Review: Etihad Airways 787 Business Class Abu Dhabi to Paris
- Review: Air France A350 Business Class Paris to Toronto
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Hi Ricky, does JFK – DBX route always equip with the new 777 first class suite? From what I found online, there isn’t any route from North America to Dubai having the new 777 first class. Thanks
I appreciate the info in your posts and admire your knowledge.
However, I am surprised that you are travelling for leisure and the un-necessary flights to CDG to boot – in essence non essential travels when the officials are asking all Canadians to hunker down and stay at home and overcome this pandemic. SMH.
As stated in the post, the trip was essential for my business, which sustains my ability to share information and knowledge here on the site.
Was beginning to wonder how long you will be able to hold out before embarking on a international trip. Enjoy! A unique time to travel indeed. Hopefully you luck out with some (over) generous hotel upgrades as well during your journey. Stay healthy.
Official Global Travel Advisories
Avoid non-essential travel outside Canada until further notice
Avoid all cruise ship travel outside Canada until further notice
As foreign governments implement strict travel restrictions and as fewer international transportation options are available, you may have difficulty returning to Canada or may have to remain abroad for an indeterminate period.
Many countries continue to have strict travel restrictions in place, and the availability of options for international transportation remain limited. As a result you may have difficulty returning to Canada. While some countries are partially opening their borders, we continue to advise against non-essential travel outside of Canada. We also continue to advise that you avoid all cruise ship travel outside of Canada until further notice.
The governments of those destinations that have opened their borders to tourists could impose strict travel restrictions suddenly, should they experience an increase in cases of COVID-19. International transportation options could be reduced significantly, making it difficult for you to return to Canada. There are no plans to offer additional repatriation flights. Should you decide to travel despite our advisories, know that you might have to remain abroad longer than you expected.
Thanks for this Grant. I know you’re only looking out for me, rest assured that I’m comfortable with the risks (and am prepared to remain abroad longer than I expected if necessary).
Hey Ricky, I understand you wanted to use your Alaska before expiration, but did you consider the option of redeeming Emirates miles for a round trip? I think it comes to 225K !
Only for saver space, I think. And hey, why redeem 225K for two flights when you can redeem 150K for three? 😉
Your point is valid though: after April 2021, Emirates Skywards will indeed be the best option for booking Emirates First Class.
Hi Ricky, how did you route the itinerary on Alaska? It’s JFK – CDG & DXB is the stopover ?
JFK-DXB-CDG-DXB. No stopovers, only layovers all the way.
Not sure if you’ve visited/stayed in the Marina, but I really like that part of Dubai. Not sure what hotels are in the area, but I’m sure there’s something nice
I think we’ll definitely pop over to the Marina/Palm area for the last few days — the only question is which hotel.
Are you allowed to transit BUD though, especially on different itineraries? I booked the same mistake fare and had a very hard time trying to figure out of I could enter Hungary and immediately leave on another flight that was booked separately.
Last I checked, transit through BUD is allowed, with no mention of same vs. different itineraries. Transiting on different itineraries is still transiting, though, so I suspect it’ll just be a matter of showing the onward itinerary to the gate agent if any questions are asked.
We came back to Canada in March and now that winter has started to rear it’s head, we have also made the decision to travel again. We are planning to spend the winter in Thailand on a 60+30 TR tourist visa. Hopefully by March other places in SEA will be open as well, otherwise we’ll head back. We feel pretty good about travelling from Canada through Taipei (no stop, just transiting) to BKK as both Thailand and Taiwan are doing extremely well with Covid. The thought of sitting on a beach on a Thai island without the usual hordes is extremely appealing right now. This isn’t for everyone as you have to spend 15 days in quarantine upon arrival and show you’ve had a balance of at least 500,000 THB in your various financial accounts over the last 6 months. I believe the Canadian Embassy allows you to include investment accounts for this requirement. We should have our visas this week and then we can apply for our Certificates of Entry. Fingers crossed…
Good luck, Paul! You’re right, a Thai island does sound pretty perfect right about now. I’ll take the Palm in Dubai though…
I’m sure Dubai will be awesome. Forgot to thank you for your excellent review of the YVR airport hotels. If we do manage to get visas, we need to get Covid test results within 72 hours of our departure. So the plan is to fly into YVR on a Sunday, get tested immediately, then stay somewhere for 3 nights while we wait for the results (which take 48-72 hours) and fly out to TPE early on Thursday. Your article made the YVR Marriott an easy choice.
2 weeks in Dubai? A little too long?
I’d say the same about 8 months in Canada. 😉
If your not tied to Bonvoy, check out the Jumeirah Beach Hotel. It’s beautiful, amazing breakfast, private beach, a gym overlooking the Burj al Arab. It includes access to the sister propety next door the Madinat Jumeirah with its gondolas and canals. Wild Wadi Water park is also adjacent. You can book a high tea for lunch at the Burj al Arab while you’re there.
Sounds fantastic! I traveled internationally in September, to Turkey. Had an amazing time and couldn’t have timed it better. I flew LX J on the A340 on the outbound and it was absolutely an experience to remember, especially with only two of us in the main cabin.
Good for you Ricky! I’d travel if I could :(. Anyways Our family loved Dubai in the summer of 2019. We loved the Sheraton Creek- Jocelyn Torino is/was the VIP and Club Services Manager- she is very very good we just dealt with her. We found their lounge very good, make sure to try their afternoon tea.They had a great breakfast buffet as well. They also have a shuttle to Mall or to the beach that you can request. We also stayed at the Westin Mina which was awesome and we got upgraded to the 2 bedroom suite. You should try Atlantis I see they have specials on right now, my kids loved that place, especially the aquarium! Well at least the weather will be nice. It was 49-52C when we were there in August. A bit too hot!
I’ll make sure to see if I can connect with Jocelyn. I think the lounge is closed now but they’re offering afternoon tea and happy hour in the restaurant, so that should do us well. Great tip about the shuttles!
Not sure I would call it a post-Covid world when many countries are currently setting peak case records.
You can’t fly through Switzerland. Even for transit, Canadians are not allowed
I triple checked this and it appears that yes, we can transit through ZRH. There was a loophole that they closed for entering switzerland via transit from a non-high risk country. Think back in the summer USA-Canada-Switzerland
Yes, you’re exactly right. Transit is allowed through Zurich as long as you don’t try and leave the airport
Where do you see this?
1- Grosvenor House a Luxury collection Cat 6.
2- Havtoor Grand an Autograph Collection Cat 6.
3- Ajman Saray a Luxury Collection Cat 5 on the beach 30 min north of Dubai.
4- Ritz Carlton Ras al Khaimah Cat 7. A desert resort each room is a huge tented villa. About 90 minutes north of Dubai.
5- Waldorf Astoria Ras al khaimah on the beach available for a reasonable price/ points.
Thanks for the recommendations Bernard! Grosvenor House was another one that was on my list, seems like the rooms are getting a bit dated but the lounge makes the hotel what it is. Might be worth a review as a Bonvoy option.
There’s also Le Méridien Mina Seyahi Beach Resort – Cat 5. and if you’re looking to party, definitely check out their Barasti beach bar.
The suggestion to party during a pandemic, smh.
With the right precautions, abolsutely.
Nice Ricky – sounds like an awesome trip (again)!
Hopefully, COVID won’t ruin your plans.
I’ve noticed that Etihad has removed all A380’s from flying till further notice.
In addition – Etihad has announced today that they will be flying to Tel Aviv, Israel (following their recent peace agreement).
So I will be looking to use that route to try both Abu Dhabi, Israel and any European country.
Are you allowed to transfer in CDG these days?
I’m just wondering if flight transfers are allowed these days at European airports due to COVID19.
Yes, transit only: https://ca.ambafrance.org/COVID-19-Restrictions-on-entering-Metropolitan-France-and-its-territorial
“If you are transiting for less than 24 hours in an international zone;”