Welcome to my subsequent journey report collection, overlaying a current journey to Zimbabwe. In contrast to my different current journeys (Zipping to Tokyo by way of Mongolia, A Downgraded Journey to Oman, and so on.), this wasn’t a pure evaluation journey. As an alternative, the journey had a vacation spot, which was a 4 evening safari in Zimbabwe. Nonetheless, I attempted to make the journey as fascinating as doable by way of airline, lounge, and lodge evaluations.
On this publish I’ll define all of the fundamentals of the journey, after which I’ll publish your entire journey report collection within the coming days and weeks.
Why I took this journey
Some of the memorable journeys that Ford and I ever took was a 2019 safari in South Africa, the place we traveled with my dad for his most up-to-date “huge” birthday, as a shock. We stayed at Singita Boulders Lodge Sabi Sands, and at Singita Lebombo Lodge Kruger Park.
We had such an incredible time, and have been desirous to strive one other Singita property. So when the chance arose, we booked Singita Pamushana Lodge Zimbabwe, the place we stayed for 4 nights throughout this journey.
To be able to decrease time away from house, Ford determined to fly straight there, whereas I took an extended outbound routing, to knock out just a few issues I’ve been attempting to evaluation for a while, and in addition to have an prolonged layover in Amsterdam. We then flew again house collectively.
The airways I flew on this journey
For the primary portion of this journey, I wanted to get from Miami to Amsterdam. So I booked the next ticket in enterprise class for 70,000 Air Canada Aeroplan factors plus $74.41 in taxes and charges:
2/11 LX65 Miami to Zurich departing 7:50PM arriving 10:50AM (+1 day)
2/12 LX736 Zurich to Amsterdam departing 8:45PM arriving 10:25PM
I had an underwhelming expertise in SWISS enterprise class lately, however I had a selected motive for planning this routing. I wished to evaluation SWISS’ first-class, because it had been too lengthy, and I wished to replace my rankings of the world’s greatest first-class airways. Thankfully SWISS sells first-class upgrades at check-in, even on companion award tickets, so I managed to efficiently get a kind of upgrades, although at a steep value.
To get from Amsterdam to Johannesburg, I used to be pleased I had the chance to strive KLM’s new 777 enterprise class, which I’ve been desirous to fly for a while. I booked the next ticket in enterprise class for 65,000 Delta SkyMiles plus $258.57 in taxes and charges:
2/14 KL591 Amsterdam to Johannesburg departing 10:20AM arriving 10:10PM
As a lot as all of us rag on the worth of Delta SkyMiles, the truth is that this system really usually presents respectable worth for companion redemptions when journey doesn’t contact america. Delta SkyMiles was cheaper than Air France-KLM Flying Blue, which is normally a really engaging program.
Then we flew between Johannesburg and Buffalo Vary (the airport in Zimbabwe close to the Singita lodge) on Federal Airways, so I’ll be reviewing that as properly. That was booked by the safari lodge, and the expertise coming into Zimbabwe certain was one thing…
For the return portion of the journey, I had no luck discovering award house on my most well-liked carriers (Air Mauritius or Ethiopian Airways enterprise class), although I did discover a return in Emirates first-class, flying again your entire approach on the A380. I booked the next ticket in first-class for 187,500 Emirates Skywards miles plus $1,261.26 (ouch, Emirates redemptions are costly!):
2/19 EK764 Johannesburg to Dubai departing 6:50PM arriving 5:05AM (+1 day)
2/20 EK211 Dubai to Houston departing 9:45AM arriving 4:20PM
Whereas I’ve in fact reviewed Emirates’ A380 first-class earlier than, what made this distinctive was that the Dubai to Houston flight was operated by an Emirates A380 with the refreshed cabins, so I used to be curious to see how totally different this could be, because it was my first time on considered one of these plane.
Then we simply had a positioning flight from Houston again to Miami, which I gained’t be reviewing.
Along with flight evaluations, I additionally checked out a number of lounges. You may count on evaluations of the next airport lounges:
- The SWISS First Lounge Zurich Terminal E (ZRH)
- The SWISS First Lounge Zurich Terminal A (ZRH)
- The SWISS Senator Lounge Zurich (ZRH)
- The KLM Crown Lounge Amsterdam (AMS)
- The Emirates Lounge Johannesburg (JNB)
I used to be notably excited to take a look at the SWISS First Lounges Zurich, so I can replace my rankings of the world’s greatest first-class lounges.
The resorts I stayed at on this journey
Throughout this journey, I had a two evening stopover in Amsterdam, along with the vacation spot of Zimbabwe.
I deliberate the stopover in Amsterdam for a selected cause — I used to be intrigued by two of Marriott’s properties there, which have some fairly cool aviation geek options. Leisure journey firm Corendon has some resorts in Amsterdam that belong to Marriott’s Tribute Portfolio, and I figured I ought to spend an evening at every.
The primary evening I stayed at the Corendon Amsterdam Schiphol Airport. Why? Properly, for the easy cause that the lodge has a retired 747 parked out entrance. I couldn’t assist however try this place.
The second evening I stayed at the Corendon Amsterdam New-West. This property’s prime lodging is a 737 Cockpit Suite, which needs to be one of many coolest lodge room ideas on this planet, even when the execution is a bit “meh.” I couldn’t assist however e book this, and sleep subsequent to a Boeing 737 fuselage.
Then we spent 4 nights at Singita Pamushana Lodge Zimbabwe, which was merely unimaginable. Zimbabwe isn’t as fashionable for safari as locations like South Africa or Tanzania, however we couldn’t consider how nice this lodge was, and in addition how distinctive the sport viewing was. From limitless rhinoceroses to crocodiles, this felt very totally different than our South Africa safari experiences, regardless of being solely a few hundred miles away.
Backside line
We spent a terrific, lengthy weekend in Zimbabwe. However along with some nice recreation drives, I used to be in a position to take a look at some airline merchandise I’ve been that means to evaluation, from SWISS’ 777 first-class, to KLM’s new 777 enterprise class, to their related lounges.
Keep tuned, and thanks for studying!
