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Help Me Plan My Asia Trip, Starting With Singapore!

March 16, 2012
2 min read
Help Me Plan My Asia Trip, Starting With Singapore!
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This is an installment in my March 2012 Asia Trip Series which includes: A Birthday Present To Myself: Business Class on the World's Longest Flight for $2.50, Help Me Plan My Asia Trip Starting With Singapore, Flight Review: Singapore Airlines All Business Class Flight From Newark To Singapore, Hotel Review: Intercontinental Singapore, Video Trip Report: Singapore, Hotel Review: Le Meridien Bangkok Avantec Suite, Video Trip Report: Bangkok, Hotel Review: Le Meridien Angkor, Video Trip Report: Siem Reap, Hotel Review: Intercontinental Phnom Penh, Video Trip Report: Phnom Penh and the Khmer Rouge Killing Fields, Hotel Review: W Hong Kong.

Photo courtesy of YourSingapore.

Like I said when I decided to go to China back in January, one of my resolutions this year is to see more of Asia. That's why for my birthday last week I decided to book myself a ticket in business class on the longest commercial flight in the world: Singapore Airlines flight SQ21 from Newark to Singapore using 60,000 United miles I scored by transferring my Chase Sapphire Preferred sign-up bonus of 50,000 points (expired) and the rest I earned on spending and the 7% year-end points dividend plus $2.50 in fees. Not bad for a ticket that would cost over $4,500 otherwise!

I'll be taking you along for the ride with videos of the experience and showing just what it takes to endure a flight that lasts nearly 19 hours.

Meanwhile, this will be my first visit to Singapore and I want your input on where I should go, what I should do and see, and most importantly, where and what I should eat! And if any of you TPG readers are around, I would love to meet up while I'm there.

For those of you who live in other parts of Asia, I'll be asking you for your advice on my next destinations on this trip including Bangkok, Cambodia and Hong Kong so stay tuned. As always - appreciate your advice!

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