Secure your Own Mask...

So the year has just begun and I have set my sights on January 2015. In the world of points and miles you have to plan ahead! Especially with all the changes that are taking place in the next few months.

The #1 reason early 2015 is on my mind is due to US Airways leaving the Star Alliance for One World at the end of March due to their acquisition of American Airlines. Many people, myself incuded, believe that when this happens the "new" American is going to revise their Award Redemption chart and jack up the prices to be inline with other legacy carriers.

My original plan was to finally get to Phuket and Bali. Those two places are basically 1 and 2 on my bucket list and are fairly easy to visit in one trip. Now in true Bobby fashion I have decided to see if I can add Johannesburg to the mix for a true around the world trip. Most of this depends on what flight availability looks like when I go to book, but I think I can pull it off!

So this Xmas I decided to keep up with the Jones', aka JT, and get me one of those SodaStream machines. I have to preface and say the only reason I wanted one is b.c JT spoke so highly of one so I really had no idea what to expect.

I have to admit, so far I am liking it. I think I use it every two days or so. The best thing about it is having bubbly beverages on demand without worrying about it being flat when you open it. The bottles that come with the SS are 1L so just enough for a guy my size to finish a bottle in a day. The other plus is that the SS takes a small footprint on the counter, unlike my rice cooker. 

As for flavors I went out and bought like 5 soda flavors. My favorite is the Crystal Light Fruit Punch. It tastes just like the powder but with bubbles! The great thing about making your own drinks is being able to control the intensity of the flavor and bubbles. I tend to like things a little watered down so its nice to be able to add less then the recommend amount of flavor to get the exact taste I want. As for the other flavors I would lower expectations on flavor matches. While the ginger ale isnt bad, its sub-par to Canada Dry and the like.

Yup I am start off 2014 in a big way with a trip to the Maldives!

I have had this trip on the books for 8months and I cant believe I leave in a few days :-)

There are a few things that will be a first for me on this trip:

Ultra Luxury hotel accomodations: Conrad Maldives & St Regis Bangkok

First class on an international carrier: Thai Airways, All Nippon Air

Flying upstairs on an A380

I have to admit the airplane nerd in me is geekin out over riding in 1st class on an A380!

Itinirary:

DCA-ORD-FRA - United First and United Global First

FRA-CDG-BKK - Lufthansa Business and Thai Airways First

St Regis Bangkok

BKK-CMB-MLE - Srilankan Business and Economy

Conrad Maldives

MLE-SIN-NRT - Singapore Economy and United Global First

Intercontinental ANA Tokyo

NRT-CDG - All Nippon Air First Class

Radisson Blu Le Dokhan's Hotel

CDG-FRA-IAD - Lufthansa Business

Costs to book:

160k US Airways Miles + $213.82

150k Hilton Honors Points

45k IHG Points

50k Club Carlson Points

$200 for St Regis

$1080 for Sea Plane to resort (paid at time of flight)

$230 for Srilankan Flights

Visit this blogger for detailed instructions on how to book an award trip with US Airways. Please note US Airways is leaving the star alliance on March 30th and redemption options will be different starting that date.

So in true "Bobby" fashion I have quite a few trips on the horizon for the next few months.

January: 2-5        Vegas17-29    Bangkok, Sri Lanka, Maldives, Singapore, Tokyo, Paris 31-2      Boston

February 14-17    MD Cabin Adventure 20-23    Barcelona

March 1-3        Dubai 27-1      Dublin

Yeah that is over 60k miles of sitting on an airplane! Luckily for me I will be sitting up front for a good portion of those trips...but dang that is a lot of flying...im already tired.

So after a long break I have decided to give this another go....yes its a resolution in a sense.

I have decided that in 2014 I will up my lusury levels and I think that maintaining this tumblr will help.