My Special Travel Experiences

Document Last Modified: August 26, 2023

The Best Complimentary Breakfast

As many people know, eatting out is relatively expensive in Oslo, Norway. Yet, I had the best complimentary breakfast duirng my stay in the summer 2019 in the Clarion Hotel The Hub (I paid less than $100/night).

There were lots of food items including hot food, coldcut, pastries, fruits, drinks, and a cooking stations. Expensive items that you don't usually see in hotel breakfast menu such as smoked salmon, caviar, macaroons, etcs were also part of the breakfast; and the best part? It was free with your stay.

Presidential Suite

I was once upgraded to the Presidential Suite in Grand Hyatt Denver. The hotel was charging $1,839/night for the Presidential Suite that I got upgraded for free. It was a very nice stay. Thank you, Grand Hyatt Denver!

Train Ferry

For the people who have taken a large ferry, you have probably seen some people also drive their cars onto the ferry. However ferries that carry train are not as common and to many people are unheard of.

There are a few of these train ferries in Europe (and probably some other regions too). I first experienced this when I travelled from Copenhagen, Denmark to Hamburg, Germany. There was a segment of the trip, from Roedby (Rødby), Denmark to Puttgarden, Germany, our train was carried inside a huge ferry.

After our train drove onto the ferry, everyone must disembark the train and get onto the ferry. The ferry had multiple levels and it was spacious. Inside there were restrooms, shops, and even a buffet restaurant. I call the ferry a mini-cruise; my friendly Swedish travel mates called it micro-cruise. About 15 minutes before the ship reached to port, we were asked to get back to the train; then our train journey continued. The train ferry was definitely one of the biggest highlight of my trip.

Dividing Train

I booked a night train to travel directly from Krakow, Poland to Prague, Czech Republic. When I and other travellers got to the platform, we were surprised to find out the train was scheduled to go to three separate destinations: Prague, Czech Republic; Budapest, Hungary; and another city I don't remember for certain (possibly Vienna, Austria). Many travellers were confused because these three destinations are in different directions.

Later we learned that the at some point in the journey, the wagons of the train were split and attached to different engins to go to different directions. I had never experienced something like this. They did it so smoothly that I did not even know when they split the wagons.

A Haunted Hotel

I stayed one night in the historic Hotel Monte Vista in downtown Flagstaff, Arizona. According to the hotel's website, the hotel has been known for rumors of hauntings.

The reason that I chose this hotel was because it is very close to the train station and I had to take a very early train the next morning. Although I felt a bit scared at night because of the rumors, I did not encounter any paranormal activity.

A Hotel with Its Own Island

In the summer 2023, I stayed at the JW Marriott Venice Resort & Spa, a hotel with its own private island (Isola delle Rose) just about 15-20 minutes (complimentary) boat ride from Piazza San Marco in Venice, Italy. It also has beautiful pools, a fruit and vegetable garden, an olive garden, a rose garden, etc.