Forging the Titanium: Trip Planning
Avani Goldcoast Sepang (Picture from Official Site)
I had just one more stay to achieve GHA Titanium Status. Therefore this plan to achieve it over a weekend…..
Forging the Titanium: Trip Planning
Air Asia Economy Class SIN-KUL
Avani Sepang Goldcoast Resort
Jetstar Economy Class KUL-SIN
This year, I had already achieved staying at 2 brands under the GHA Discovery Programme: PARKROYAL COLLECTION (PRMB in Singapore) and GLO (in Helsinki, a really underrated hotel stay! More on that in future posts). As everyone knows, GHA has one of the easiest ways to achieve top status in a hotel membership programme, which is Titanium Status. This is achieved by staying at 3 hotel brands in a calendar year (highlighted in red below).
For my final brand stay, I feel that it is too costly to stay in a local hotel (especially since tourists are flocking back to Singapore). Moreover, I would need to stay at Pan Pacific (since PARKROYAL and PARKROYAL COLLECTION is considered a single brand as confirmed by CSO). Hence the thought of a short getaway without taking up my work leave!
Flights
I did contemplate on using up 25,000 Asia Miles to book a Malaysia Airlines Business Class flight, which also grants me access to the One World Business Class Lounges (Qatar and Qantas!), but unfortunately wasn’t able to fit in my weekend schedule I could have booked the morning flight, but will have limited time to enjoy the Qatar Lounge).
Air Asia vs Jet Star Economy Class
I will be taking 2 of the major budget airline carriers operating around the region, and would be a good time to do a comparison of the two! Stay tuned.
Hotels
After comparison, I found that Avani hotels would be a viable brand that is cost-effective and offered widely in neighbouring Southeast Asian countries. With additional consideration to flight costs, I decided to book in Malaysia, and I found Avani Sepang Goldcoast Resort to be the most attractive.
Avani Gold Coast Sepang (picture from Official Website)
With a 52sqm base room that is overwater and a nice sunset (from online reviews), you can actually get a close-to-Maldives like experience! But reviews do say that the water is not as clear.
Anyway, this would be a unique stay that is affordable and more practical to my weekend plans.
I may also use my Discovery Dollars for this stay, making this stay totally free! Will enquire on that during check-in.
Lounges
No plans to use the lounge for this short trip.
Travel Insurance
I had purchased an annual Travel Insurance Prestige Plan during April from Singlife for S$309, and will plan to use this till next April.
Miscallaneous
After my previous trip to KL, I decided on not getting a data plan for now, as the Wifi at KLIA International Airport is pretty good to catch a Grab ride.
Transportation-wise, will be taking Grab (a relatively affordable option). I have heard reviews on the hotel not accepting Grab rides, and if that is the case, I will hire a taxi either from the hotel or Klook.
Conclusion
A quick trip to get my second hotel elite status (after getting Hilton Diamond status a few months ago)! This will help greatly in my next stay with GHA, at the Capitol Kempinski later this year.
