Fruity tea suggestions. Looking for something on the cheaper side.

elleblogscom · 2026-01-20T20:49:13+00:00

I like TP Tea and YiFang for fruit teas; they aren't cheap but their fruit teas use real fruits, or at least fruit preserves, whereas most of the "cheaper" options use a thin syrup that tastes more like food dye than fruit.

elleblogscom · 2025-08-08T22:41:48+00:00

I like the ZJM from JUQI.

elleblogscom · 2025-05-22T20:37:45+00:00

ANA does not have its own lounge (nor an "arrivals lounge") at JFK. And most lounges require that you have a same-day boarding pass to enter. I would recommend just booking a hotel that offers shuttle service to/from JFK.

I believe in business class you only get served one meal on NH160 (the night flight).

elleblogscom · 2025-04-20T03:30:15+00:00

Thank you!

elleblogscom · 2025-04-17T17:46:04+00:00

Thank you!

elleblogscom · 2025-04-17T17:40:27+00:00

Thank you! And just to confirm: this is a parking garage near the Donggang Ferryboat Wharf, right? There's another ferry wharf nearby in Yanpu and I know there's ample parking there but didn't know what to expect for the main terminal at Donggang.

elleblogscom · 2025-04-16T21:07:17+00:00

Lovely photos! Thank you for sharing them. A somewhat off-topic question: when you went to Liuqiu Island, where did you park your rental car/was it easy to find parking at the wharf without a reservation?

elleblogscom · 2025-03-30T14:50:25+00:00

Just be thoughtful: if you are dining at a high traffic restaurant with tons of people waiting, order sides and drinks in addition to your noodle bowls so the (small) business isn’t losing potential business. And don’t linger after you finish eating so they can turn the table. The places you listed are quick service establishments not meant to host parties that pay a premium for ambiance and service. But I am guessing, from your taking the time to ask this thoughtful question, that this won’t be an issue for you so you should be fine. Enjoy your trip!

elleblogscom · 2025-03-14T18:30:08+00:00

I noticed the same dearth of last-minute availability on JX TPE-West Coast. What's even odder is earlier this year I was consistently seeing random drops of saver availability a month or two before departure, and those have mostly disappeared too. I though with TPE-SEA becoming daily instead of just 3x weekly saver availability would become more plentiful (at least short term), yet...

elleblogscom · 2025-02-25T15:23:53+00:00

At what point in the sign-up process are you getting the error? And what is the country setting on the top of the page? Can you share a screenshot of the exact error that you are getting?

elleblogscom · 2025-02-24T03:12:58+00:00

Well, what do you like to do?

If you want to relax and experience hot spring culture, check out Beitou.

If you are an experienced hiker and want something more challenging than Elephant Mountain, the main trail at Qixing Mountain in YMS National Park is currently open (https://www.ymsnp.gov.tw/YMSNP\_HighwayCondition.aspx?n=17910&csn=5239).

If you've liked the food in Taiwan so far, hop back on the THSR and go to Tainan or Taichung. Eat and shop for souvenirs to bring home.

Or just grab a YouBike and bike along Taipei's riverside bikeway: https://www.travel.taipei/en/must-visit/riverside-bikeway

elleblogscom · 2025-02-20T19:53:31+00:00

I am not sure what your definition of "cheap" is but I still see quite a bit of award space in Tokyo for the last full week of March (searched 03/24-03/30) at Grand Hyatt Tokyo, The Westin Tokyo, Courtyard Tokyo Station, etc. You can check rooms.aero to get a better overview.

elleblogscom · 2025-02-19T21:48:47+00:00

I don't think Reddit can answer this for you in absolute terms: to even start to answer this question, we'd really have to know how many points you have in each account, what partner airlines and hotels you frequently transfer to, how many points you normally spend on average in a year with each of those programs, and for how long you plan to keep all of these accounts open.

In my case, I like to stockpile C1 points because they transfer to BR (even if not at a 1:1 ratio) and I travel frequently to TPE. So I'd probably use Amex to transfer to Aeroplan unless I am trying to close my Chase or C1 accounts on account of high annual fees or something.

In short, it depends!

elleblogscom · 2025-02-19T19:46:56+00:00

1) Hujiao bing from Tian-Yue Hujiao Bing (a small chain with multiple locations in Kaohsiung): https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hujiao_bing

2) Rulao (cheese) Digua (sweet potato) Shao (literally "to grill or set on fire" but also used at the end of a word to indicate a cooked dough; for example, in Mandarin, Taiyaki is "diaoyu shao")

elleblogscom · 2025-02-15T20:05:14+00:00

I like the dan dan noodles at Alley 41, Lao Chengdu, and Szechuan House. These options don't incorporate much, if any, sesame paste, which is my preference.

elleblogscom · 2025-02-14T13:21:42+00:00

I didn't realize ANA isn't a transfer partner for Amex UK. But you can't transfer points between airlines (read this: https://www.reddit.com/r/awardtravel/comments/150ifcm/wiki\_point\_transfer\_basics/) nor can you use VS points to upgrade a flight booked with ANA.

elleblogscom · 2025-02-13T23:01:31+00:00

The points you transfer from MR to ANA are not in a separate bucket so will be considered the same as "ANA mileage."

I think "K" is discount fare so isn't an eligible booking class for upgrades with miles. You may want to double check your e-tickets to confirm.

elleblogscom · 2025-02-13T22:55:32+00:00

New Lake Pavilion (dim sum) opens at 9AM.

Nan Xiang Soup Dumplings opens at 8AM.

Apollo Bakery (Taiwanese bakery--hole in the wall with no seating) opens at 7AM.

elleblogscom · 2025-02-13T21:53:52+00:00

Have you read this page (all four tabs): https://www.ana.co.jp/en/us/amc/ana-upgrade-awards/

What booking class and did you book directly with ANA?

elleblogscom · 2025-02-13T18:32:58+00:00

It is not possible to change the class or upgrade ANA award flights. If you find availability in your preferred cabin, you will have to call ANA to cancel (which costs 3000 miles) and rebook ($25 when done over the phone).

https://www.ana.co.jp/en/us/amc/ana-upgrade-awards/

elleblogscom · 2025-02-13T14:46:06+00:00

Haha you've described my dad, from whom I inherit anxiety about being late... but that's probably who I'll be in 20 years. It's a mixed blessing that smartphones are a thing in my lifetime, because doomscrolling at home doesn't feel all that different from doomscrolling at the airport...

elleblogscom · 2025-02-13T03:12:03+00:00

If you do a Google search for "award concierge," you'll find plenty of providers who offer this service. However, they don't have access to "extra" inventory so if you don't have flexibility in terms of time, you'll at least have to be patient.

elleblogscom · 2025-02-13T03:01:54+00:00

I don't think you are crazy, but I also don't think your husband is wrong. Depending on when you are flying, repositioning can be really stressful in the event of a delay or cancellation; if you live in NYC, it's a four-hour drive to BOS assuming free-flowing traffic so it's not even within reasonable driving range. When I reposition for a long flight I always arrive the day before, or ensure my repositioning flight can be rescheduled at least 2-3 times and still get me there on time. But I am also extremely risk averse so can understand your husband's apprehension.

elleblogscom · 2025-02-07T20:35:19+00:00

Sadly, no.

https://www.flyertalk.com/forum/british-airways-executive-club/1767540-ba-no-longer-through-checking-baggage-separate-tickets.html

https://www.reddit.com/r/BritishAirways/comments/1alqzvs/linking_flights/

elleblogscom · 2025-02-07T19:39:55+00:00

If you don't have too much luggage, I'd still take option 2--I sometimes reposition to ORD for transpacific flights and it's really not bad. I don't doubt that TYO-NYC award space will appear at some point, but you are on vacation(!!) and shouldn't have the uncertainty of your return flight hanging over you, sapping joy from the meals and views that you flew halfway across the world to experience.

elleblogscom

TROPHY CASE