We’re taking you along on her first-ever trip at the front of the plane: a 9 hour Delta One flight from Rome to JFK in New York City. She gives the full review including what the lie-flat seat and Missoni amenity kit are really like, every course of the meal (short rib, an ice cream sundae, and a warm chocolate chip cookie included), and how she maximized remote work life and worked on free Wi-F.

Highlights of the Delta One review:

• What Delta One is and which flights offer it
• Flying standby and why Kim paid only $338 in taxes and fees
• Why you should always ask about paid upgrades at check-in and the gate
• The cabin: lie-flat seats, 1-2-1 layout with direct aisle access, mattress pad, and suites with closing doors on newer aircraft
• Plush bedding and the Missoni amenity kit with Grown Alchemist skincare
• Mimosas, hot towels, and a chef-curated multi-course meal
• Seatback entertainment and free Wi-Fi for working at 35,000 feet
• Delta One Lounges at JFK, LAX, BOS & SEA
• Sky Priority perks: check-in, security, boarding & bags
• Is Delta One worth paying for?

Find a great Delta One flight deal with Thrifty Traveler Premium. Use our promo code TSP to get $20 off your first year subscription.

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Connect: YouTube, TikTok, and Instagram and contact us at travelsquadpodcast@gmail.com to submit a question of the week or inquire about guest interviews and advertising.

Contains affiliate links, thanks for supporting Travel Squad Podcast!

We’re giving you the inside scoop on what it’s really like to fly Premium Economy with Cathay Pacific. From priority check-in to mid-air meals and in-flight sleep quality, we break down every part of the 16-hour red-eye journey from Los Angeles to Hong Kong. If Hong Kong is on your list, be sure to check out our full ⁠Hong Kong itinerary⁠ and ⁠episode⁠ for even more tips and must-do experiences.

Whether you're considering an upgrade or just curious if it’s worth the points, this honest review covers everything: seat comfort, service, entertainment, food, and overall experience.

• Enjoy bulkhead seats with extra legroom, located right behind business class
• Receive priority check-in and early boarding benefits
• Get 2 free checked bags, up to 50 lbs each
• Experience upgraded seating with amenity kits, larger pillows, and calf rests
• Elevated in-flight meals: beef with roasted veggies, fried pork noodles, Ghirardelli chocolate, and Haagen-Dazs ice cream
• Sip on wine and cocktails, with a broader drink selection than economy
• Noise-canceling headphones and enjoy a wide selection of in-flight entertainment
• Cons: limited storage, no window, and no Wi-Fi

Find amazing flight deals on Cathay Pacific Airlines by signing up for ⁠Thrifty Traveler Premium⁠ and getting daily flight deals (points and cash) sent straight to your inbox. Use our promo code TSP to save $20 on your first year subscription.

Check out our other airline reviews below, or listen to our complete⁠ ⁠Airline Reviews playlist on Spotify⁠⁠ to hear them all in one place:

• ⁠⁠Singapore Airlines Business Class Review ⁠

• ⁠⁠Singapore Airlines Premium Economy Review⁠

• ⁠KLM Business Class Review⁠

• ⁠⁠Egypt Air Business Class Review⁠

• ⁠⁠American Airlines Domestic Business Class Review ⁠⁠

• ⁠⁠Cathay Pacific Premium Economy Review ⁠⁠

• ⁠⁠TAP Air Portugal Stopover Program ⁠

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Shop: ⁠Trip Itineraries ⁠⁠&⁠ ⁠Amazon Storefront ⁠⁠

Connect:⁠ ⁠YouTube⁠⁠,⁠ ⁠TikTok⁠⁠, and⁠ ⁠Instagram⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠and contact us at travelsquadpodcast@gmail.com to submit a question of the week or inquire about guest interviews and advertising. Submit a question of the week or inquire about guest interviews and advertising.

We took a KLM Business Class Flight from San Diego to Amsterdam and are giving you the inside scoop on our experience. From the check-in process and lounge access at SAN, to the onboard service, seat comfort, in-flight dining, and even how we felt stepping off the plane in Amsterdam we're covering it all. Whether you're planning an international trip or just curious about what it’s like to fly KLM’s premium cabin on a long-haul route, this episode has everything you need to know.

Here’s what we cover:

• Seat setup: window vs middle seats, storage, and lie-flat comfort

• Amenity kit + perks: champagne, mocktails, noise-canceling headphones, and more

• In-flight dining: from crab salad & truffle pasta to French toast & cheese plates

• Entertainment & WiFi (or lack of it)

• Service experience: how KLM stacks up against Singapore Airlines & others

• The iconic ceramic Dutch house souvenir

• Our overall rating: 7/10 good value, but with some misses

Check out our other airline reviews below, or listen to our complete ⁠Airline Reviews playlist on Spotify⁠ to hear them all in one place:

• ⁠Singapore Airlines Business Class Review ⁠

• ⁠Singapore Airlines Premium Economy Review ⁠
• ⁠Egypt Air Business Class Review ⁠
• ⁠American Airlines Domestic Business Class Review ⁠
• ⁠Cathay Pacific Premium Economy Review ⁠

• ⁠⁠TAP Air Portugal Stopover Program ⁠⁠

Find amazing flight deals on KLM Airlines by signing up for ⁠Thrifty Traveler Premium⁠ and getting daily flight deals (points and cash) sent straight to your inbox. Use our promo code TSP to save $20 on your first year subscription.

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Shop:⁠ Trip Itineraries ⁠⁠&⁠ ⁠Amazon Storefront ⁠⁠

Connect:⁠ ⁠YouTube⁠⁠,⁠ ⁠TikTok⁠⁠, and⁠ ⁠Instagram⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠and contact us at travelsquadpodcast@gmail.com to submit a question of the week or inquire about guest interviews and advertising. Submit a question of the week or inquire about guest interviews and advertising.

Contains affiliate links, thanks for supporting Travel Squad Podcast!

We’re taking you inside Zuvier Spa in Amsterdam to explore the saunas, steam rooms, pools, tranquility spaces, and wellness experiences. We share details of what to expect, how to navigate nude vs swimsuit required days, walk through the different ticket options, and detail the lunch menu. Zuvier Spa is a gorgeous and unique wellness venue - but very different than other coed spas we’ve reviewed.

In this Zuvier Spa episode we cover:

• How to get to Zuvier Spa from city center

• Tips for using Google translate to read signs within the spa (but most people speak English)

• What to pack and what to rent at Zuvier Spa

Hotels in Amsterdam we recommend:

• Kimpton De Witt Amsterdam by IHG

• Pillows Grand Boutique Hotel Maurits at the Park

• Tivoli Doelen Amsterdam Hotel

• Andaz Amsterdam, Prinsengracht

Find a great flight deal to Amsterdam with Thrifty Traveler Premium’s flight deals. Use our promo code TSP to get $20 off your first year subscription.

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Shop: Trip Itineraries ⁠& ⁠Amazon Storefront ⁠

Connect: ⁠YouTube⁠, ⁠TikTok⁠, and ⁠Instagram⁠⁠ ⁠and contact us at travelsquadpodcast@gmail.com to submit a question of the week or inquire about guest interviews and advertising. Submit a question of the week or inquire about guest interviews and advertising.

Contains affiliate links, thanks for supporting Travel Squad Podcast!

We’re taking you on a 3-day solo trip to Amsterdam starting with a business class flight on KLM and straight to exploring the city by foot and by canal cruise. We share what we did for 3 days including a museums, vintage shopping, coffeeshops, tasting dinners, a nude spa and more. We share if Amsterdam is good for solo travel and what we’d do differently if we went back again - including a few nearby day trips.

In this episode:

• Amsterdam history and modern culture facts
• Getting from Schiphol to Amsterdam Centraal by NS train in about 30 minutes
• A review of the Kimpton De Witt: plants in your room, daily cocktail hour, free bikes and breakfast
• Where to eat, drink, and enjoy coffeeshop shenanigans in Amsterdam
• Sightseeing and shopping in Jordaan, Bloemgracht, Egelantiersgracht, Westerkerk, the Anne Frank House and Dam Square
• The canal cruises with snacks and free flowing drinks, and how to choose between different experiences

Travel tips for Amsterdam:

• English is spoken almost everywhere
• Don't photograph or film sex workers or the windows in the Red Light District
• Use the NS app for train times and tickets
• The center is walkable: most spots are 10–20 minutes on foot; museums and Vondelpark are about 35
• Book timed Van Gogh Museum tickets in advance because they sell out

Hotels in Amsterdam we recommend:

• Kimpton De Witt Amsterdam by IHG
• Pillows Grand Boutique Hotel Maurits at the Park
• Tivoli Doelen Amsterdam Hotel
• Andaz Amsterdam, Prinsengracht

Find a great flight deal to Amsterdam with Thrifty Traveler Premium’s flight deals. Use our promo code TSP to get $20 off your first year subscription.

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Shop: Trip Itineraries ⁠& ⁠Amazon Storefront ⁠

Connect: ⁠YouTube⁠, ⁠TikTok⁠, and ⁠Instagram⁠⁠ ⁠and contact us at travelsquadpodcast@gmail.com to submit a question of the week or inquire about guest interviews and advertising.

Contains affiliate links, thanks for supporting Travel Squad Podcast!

We're taking you inside the Arasan Spa & Bathhouse in Almaty, Kazakhstan, for one of the most interesting spa experiences we've ever had! We break down the Russian banya, Finnish sauna, steam rooms, and pools, how to navigate a communal (and nude!) bathhouse, and our nearly 2-hour spa package with a body scrub, seaweed wrap, and a massage from a Kazakh lady who does not hold back.

Highlights of this episode:

• What the Arasan Bathhouse is

• Tips: finding the right entrance, how pricing works, and what to bring

• Bathhouse etiquette (yes, it's nude)

• Finnish sauna vs. Russian banya vs. steam room

• The venik ritual

• The swimming pools (bring a swim cap)

• Eastern/Turkish hammam

• Spa services: massages, peels, wraps & packages

• Our "Tales of Maghreb" package: body peel, seaweed wrap & massage

Hotels in Almaty we recommend:

• Rahat Palace - where we stayed; big atrium, pool, hot tub, sauna & steam room

• The Ritz-Carlton, Almaty - home of the Sky Lounge, Vista, and Le Petit Chef

• InterContinental Almaty by IHG

• Holiday Inn Almaty

Stay connected with an e-SIM from Airalo and check out our Kazakhstan Viator Experiences for all activities we recommend and even some we wanted to do but couldn't get to.

Find a great flight deal with Thrifty Traveler Premium's flight deals. Use our promo code TSP to get $20 off your first year subscription.

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Shop: Trip Itineraries & Amazon Storefront

Connect: YouTube, TikTok, and Instagram and contact us at travelsquadpodcast@gmail.com to submit a question of the week or inquire about guest interviews and advertising.

Contains affiliate links, thanks for supporting Travel Squad Podcast!