Hotel Review by : Gan Yung Chyan
/ KUCINTA SETIA
Distributed to Everyone
Bonnie Guest House, known officially on Booking.com and Agoda.com as Bonnie Villa, is a one-year hotel near Phnom Penh International Airport close to Pochentong Market. Drive past Attwood Business Center along Russia Boulevard until one reaches the traffic junction between Dara Airport Hotel and a shopping centre, turn right. Travel about one hundred metres until a market is reached. Turn left and drive past the University of Cambodia and South East Asia TV Station until you see the Bonnie Guest House road sign and enter right.
Rated three-star by the Ministry of Tourism Cambodia, I will rate the three-storied budget hotel four-star. This is because travellers can request the sales executive Molika to arrange customised breakfast and land trips in Phnom Penh by hotel car or tuk tuk. Bargains in room rate are permitted with the lowest rate at 18 US Dollars. My breakfast is unexpectedly a double portion of a single traveller's breakfast at other Southeast Asian budget hotels.
The owners Soebonna and Ranie who named the hotel Bonnie Guest House or Bonnie Villa after the alphabets in their names can arrange Cambodian spa massages performed by blind Cambodian staff if guests wished to experience Cambodian massage. They are hospitable enough to provide guests with free packs of fried soybeans, a breakfast staple of Cambodians, as a gift of goodwill.
Bonnie Guest House sells coach tickets for land travels from Phnom Penh to Sihanoukville, Kep, Can Tho, Ho Chi Minh City and many more Indochinese destinations in Cambodia and Vietnam. It has now a kitchen to prepare breakfast at a cost of 5 US Dollars and it is planning to open its rooftop bar in the months ahead.
Soebonna reported many Singaporeans have stayed in the hotel and guests with Booking.com bookings hail from other countries as far as Russia, China, Germany, Hungary, France, the UK and the US.
I recommend everyone who reads this review to consider staying in Bonnie Villa while vacationing in Phnom Penh.
The snapshots in this review show the aspects of the hotel and its bed room for a couple.
Report by : Gan Yung Chyan
/ KUCINTA SETIA
Distributed to All Press & Travel Professionals
Cambodia Bayon Airlines which relocated its Head Office from CEIB Building opposite the Attwood Business Centre near Phnom Penh airport to #174ABCD Mao Tse Toung Boulevard on 3 August 2015 plans to launch scheduled flights to Singapore by end of this year or early 2016 after its first Airbus A320 aircraft is received.
Besides Singapore, Cambodia Bayon Airlines also plans to launch international flights from Phnom Penh to Vientiane, Bangkok, Kuala Lumpur, Yangon, Nanning, Hong Kong, Guangzhou, Shanghai, Incheon and Osaka using A320 aircraft.
International customers can purchase Cambodia Bayon Airlines tickets for travel to Phnom Penh, Siem Reap, Sihanouk and Ho Chi Minh City currently via Abacus computer reservation system.
On-line tickets purchased through its web-site at www.bayonairlines.com can only be paid using UnionPay and VISA credit cards. If payment failed, an online reservation email will be forwarded to the customer requesting for ticket payment at its sales offices within 48 hours.
Cambodia Bayon Airlines is the subsidiary of Bayon Holding Limited, co-owned by Joy Air and Aviation Industrial Corporation of China (AVIC), and has a fleet of MA-60 aircraft.
Report by : Gan Yung Chyan
/ KUCINTA SETIA
Distributed to All Press & Travel Professionals
Jetstar Asia Airways has postponed Singapore's first low-cost flight to the Sumatran city of Palembang, the birthplace of Malacca Sultanate founder Parameswara and Sang Nila Utama who founded the Kingdom of Singapura known as Temasek and the ancient Indonesian capital city of the Kingdom of Sriwijaya, from 29 October 2015 to 3 December 2015 due to the haze. Besides, it is resurrecting Singapore's low-cost flight links to Pekanbaru on 5 November 2015 and to Danang on 27 November 2015.
On 3 December 2015, Jetstar Asia flight 3K235 departs from Singapore for Palembang at 1.25 pm, arrives in Palembang at 1.30 pm before leaving Palembang at 2.10 pm and touching down in Singapore at 4.15 pm under flight 3K236. Flights between Singapore and Palembang are operated thrice a week, on Thursdays, Saturdays and Tuesdays.
Rich historical and cultural tourist destinations of interest in Palembang include Ampera Bridge, Musi River, Sriwijaya Kingdom Archaeological Park, Bukit Seguntang Archaeological Park, People's Struggle Monument, Sultan Mahmud Badaruddin II Museum and Punti Kayu Tourism Forest.
On 5 November 2015, Jetstar Asia flight 3K231 departs from Singapore for Pekanbaru at 9.25 am, arrives in Pekanbaru one hour later at 9.25 am local time before leaving Pekanbaru at 10.05 am and touching down in Singapore at 12.05 pm under flight 3K232. Jetstar's flights between Singapore and Pekanbaru are on Thursdays, Sundays and Tuesdays.
Previously, low-cost flights to Pekanbaru were operated by Tiger Airways, AirAsia Indonesia and Mandala Tigerair.
On 27 November 2015, Jetstar Asia flight 3K541 takes off for the gateway to Hue and Hoi An, Danang, at 6.05 pm and arrives in Danang at 7.35 pm. It leaves Danang at 8.15 pm and returns to Singapore at 11.45 pm under flight 3K542. Flights are on Fridays, Sundays and Tuesdays.
Previously, low-cost flights to Danang were operated by Tiger Airways.
Jetstar Asia Airways' new routes to Palembang, Pekanbaru and Danang are operated by its Airbus A320 aircraft.
Report by : Gan Yung Chyan
/ KUCINTA SETIA
Distributed to All Press & Travel Professionals
According to its official web-site, Dragonair flies twice a week from Hong Kong to Hiroshima on Sundays and Thursdays with effect from 16 August 2015 using its Airbus A321 aircraft.
On 16 August, Dragonair flight KA350 departs from Hong Kong at 12.10 pm and arrives in Hiroshima at 4.45 pm. Three hours later, flight KA351 leaves Hiroshima for Hong Kong and touches down in Hong Kong at 10 pm.
Hiroshima is the fourth Japanese destination of Dragonair after Okinawa Naha, Fukuoka and Tokyo Haneda.
Located in the southwest of Honshu, Japan's largest island, Hiroshima offers visitors an intriguing blend of leisure, heritage, history and gastronomy including the poignant Hiroshima Peace Memorial Museum, the beauty of nearby Miyajima Island known as Japan's Island of the Gods with one of Japan's finest scenery spots and the city's famed version of Japanese dish okonomiyaki.
Report by : Gan Yung Chyan
/ KUCINTA SETIA
Distributed to All Press & Travel Professionals
On 3 August 2015, Scoot started to sell its B787 Dreamliner fares for departures from Singapore to Hangzhou in an effort to compete with Jetstar Asia Airways.
Scoot's first flight to Hangzhou takes place on 25 October 2015 when flight TZ108 departs from Singapore at 5.10 pm, arrives in Hangzhou at 9.45 pm before leaving 2 hours later at 11 pm and touches down in Singapore at 3.55 am on 26 October 2015.
Scoot's Hangzhou return flights are on Sundays, Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays. Scoot is selling one-way fare starting from 58 Singapore Dollars and return fares from 218 Singapore Dollars including taxes and surcharges.
Travel must complete by 21 March 2016.
Before 3 August 2015, Scoot was selling lower fares to celebrate Singapore's 50 years of independence from 50 cents on selected routes. For instance, the lowest return fare to Incheon was approximately 284 Singapore Dollars.
Report by : Gan Yung Chyan
/ KUCINTA SETIA
Distributed to All Press & Travel Professionals
Lao Airlines is marketing promotional fares and distributing free pens, mug holders, its latest route maps showing new destinations Busan and Changsha, and Champa Muanglao frequent flier application forms at NATAS Holidays 2015.
Promotional fares are for passenger departures from Singapore to Vientiane on Wednesdays, all-in promotional fare which is 360 Singapore Dollars, and all-in promotional fare of only 260 Singapore Dollars for departures to Vientiane on Fridays.
All-in promotional fare from Singapore to Luang Prabang via Vientiane for departures on Fridays only is 320 Singapore Dollars.
Travel must complete by 30 September 2015.
The new promotion fares for departures in October to December are only available after 2 August 2015.
Lao Airlines has resumed scheduled flights to Busan from Vientiane on 25 July 2015. Flights are on Tuesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays. Flight QV915 departs from Vientiane at 12.15 am, arrives in Busan at 6.50 am before leaving Busan at 7.50 am and returning to Vientiane at 11.05 am under QV916.
Weekly scheduled charter flights to Changsha from Vientiane pending for regulatory approval are due to begin in mid-August 2015. The airline signed with a Chinese travel agency in July 2015 to start regular charter flights in August according to Lao Airlines Facebook.
Report by : Gan Yung Chyan
/ KUCINTA SETIA
Distributed to All Press & Travel Professionals
From 31 July to 31 August 2015, Drukair Royal Bhutan Airlines is marketing its discounted return fare of 770 Singapore Dollars for two passengers to go together to Paro from Singapore to celebrate Singapore's 50th year of independence. This cheapest international return fare to Paro, the gateway to Bhutan is inclusive of taxes and surcharges but excludes entry visa fee of 43 US Dollars to Bhutan.
Drukair has printed its flight schedules for the Singapore public and travel itineraries. Their staff are distributing them at NATAS Holidays 2015 till 2 August and at their Singapore office at Albert Street Complex on weekdays.
Travel to Paro must complete by 15 September 2015.
There will be a special Bhutan tourism introduction by Drukair Royal Bhutan Airlines at Campers' Corner on 51 Waterloo Street on 3 August at 7.30 pm.
Tourism Council of Bhutan is also at NATAS Travel Holidays 2015 to provide travel advice to the public.
Report by : Gan Yung Chyan
/ KUCINTA STIA
Distributed to All Press & Travel Professionals
Air Serbia, a member of the Etihad Airways Partners Group, is marketing its long-haul flight services under Etihad Airways booth at NATAS Holidays 2015 in Singapre from 31 July to 2 August 2015.
With support from code-sharing and entity partner, Etihad Airways, Air Serbia proudly offers long-haul fares from Singapore to Belgrade and beyond via Abu Dhabi, the major hub of Etihad flights. It offers competitive fares to travel in and around Europe with its European hub operation at Belgrade's Nikosla Tesla Airport.
Air Serbia participates in the Bill-Settlement Plan (BSP) in Singapore and offers a commission to the Agency communnity, selling Air Serbia's fare products.
Air Serbia was launched on 26 October 2013 as the national airline of the Republic of Serbia. It however dates back to 1927, when its predecessor Aeroput was established. The Serbian Government holds a stake of 51 per cent in the airline while the remaining equity stake is held by Etihad Airways It serves more than 40 destinations across Europe, the Mediterranean and Middle East from Belgrade.
Air Serbia currently operates a fleet of 10 narrow-bodied (8 Airbus A319 and 2 Airbus A320) and 6 turboprop aircraft (3 ATR 72-200 and 3 ATR 72-500). Long time Singapore resident Dane Kondic is the CEO of the airline.
Air Serbia distributes brochures, Dane's official word of gratefulness to passengers and airline logo agent stickers at NATAS Holidays 2015. Etihad Singapore office can process Air Serbia group bookings
Visit www.airserbia.com for more information about Air Serbia.
Report by : Gan Yung Chyan
/ KUCINTA SETIA
Distributed to All Press & Travel Professionals
Etihad Airways has notified Sayacinta - Airpost that it is launching daily B787-900 Dreamliner flights to Singapore from Abu Dhabi from 1 August 2015. The new flight schedules are as follows:-
Etihad Dreamliner flight EY470 departs from Abu Dhabi for Singapore at 10 pm on 1 August 2015. arrives in Singapore on 2 August at 10.15 am. At 8.10 pm on the same day, it departs for Abu Dhabi at 8.10 pm and touches down in Abu Dhabi at local time 11.45 pm under EY473.
Etihad Airways provides convenient shuttle bus services from Abu Dhabi to Dubai and frequent onward connections to its European and other continental destinations from Abu Dhabi.
To celebrate the new flights, Etihad Airways is promoting all-in return fares from 688 Singapore Dollars until 3 August 2015 for flights until 31 March 2016.
Etihad Airways no longer flies to Brisbane from Singapore since end of May 2015.
Etihad Airways is exhibiting at NATAS Holidays 2015 from 31 July to 2 August 2015 at Singapore Expo Halls 3B and 4.
Report by : Gan Yung Chyan
/ KUCINTA SETIA
Distributed to All Press & Travel Professionals
After an absence of at least six months, Jetstar Pacific Airlines has re-launched its inflight magazine under the title JetstarPacific in mid-July 2015. Available on its routes with a higher density of Vietnamese passengers and at its Ho Chi Minh City headquarters, it is a bimonthly publication published by Publicitas Publishing which has opened an office in the city to publish and print the magazine on behalf of the airline.
The June/July 2015 issue of JetstarPacific covers Singapore cocktail bars, Bangkok and the Hai Van Pass among others. It also reveals that after new destination Hong Kong, Jetstar Pacific Airlines has a plan to launch Vietnam's first scheduled flight from Ho Chi Minh City to Denpasar, Bali.
Jetstar Pacific Airlines is launching scheduled flights from Hanoi to Hong Kong on 7 September 2015. Its other international routes include Ho Chi Minh City-Singapore, -Bangkok and Danang-Macau.
JetstarPacific is not available on its Singapore route.
