Hey {{first name | reader}},
Happy Friday! Coffee's ready, the week's almost done. Three things for you today:
Aman is going to sea (and yes, it's wildly expensive)
Cash deal: Egypt to China in business class (and it's actually interesting)
How my booking brain works (and why "points or cash" is not a religion)
Aman is going to sea (and yes, it's wildly expensive)
Aman just opened bookings for Amangati, their first "Aman at Sea" superyacht, launching spring 2027. It's a 600-foot ship with 47 suites, all with balconies and floor-to-ceiling windows. Amenities sound like Aman fan-fiction in the best way: 4 restaurants, a jazz club, a 52-foot pool, beach club + marina, spa with a Japanese garden, and even two helipads.
Amangati yacht rendering
Now the part where my wallet politely faints: pricing is per suite, not per person. The early numbers being published show five-night journeys from ~$38,500 and seven-night journeys up to ~$54,600 – roughly $7K - $8K per night for entry-level suites.
My take:
Do I think it's expensive? Absolutely. If it is not expensive for you, you are very lucky!
Do I still want to go? Also yes.
Because if Aman can do on-water what they do on land — the quiet, the service, the "you forgot the world exists" feeling — this could be one of those once-in-a-lifetime trips that just hits different. The inaugural itineraries being published (so far) are Mediterranean-focused, running May through early October 2027.
If you're the kind of person who does Aman properties already and you're looking for your next "big" trip: this is one to watch.
And a quick reality check / alternative: if you want a luxury cruise vibe with the same "everything handled" feeling but don't want Aman-level pricing, we can absolutely help. We can book options like The Ritz-Carlton Yacht Collection and Four Seasons Yachts for much lower than Amangati, and we'll handle the planning end-to-end for you — from the ship to the before/after hotels, transfers, and any special requests.
If you want a luxury cruise where you just show up and everything's taken care of, submit your request here!
Cash deal: Egypt to China in business class (and it's actually interesting)
There's a Hainan Airlines business class deal floating around that's worth a look
Hainan Airlines 787-9 business class
The headline: Cairo (CAI) to China in business class for as low as ~$1,300 roundtrip and ~$790 one-way.
Where can you go?
Deal examples include multiple Chinese cities, depending on the dates you find — Beijing, Shanghai, Guangzhou, Shenzhen, Xi'an, Changsha, Chongqing, and more.
What's the product like?
On the long-haul legs, Hainan is showing a Boeing 787-9 with a 1-2-1 lie-flat business class layout.
Some routings include a 737 with recliner-style seats (2-2) on the leg within China— still fine for a shorter hop, but it's not the same experience as the widebody.
Hainan Airlines 787-9 business class
Why I like this deal (even if you're not Egypt-based):
It's a legit way to get into Asia in a premium cabin for not-premium money.
It's also a fun excuse to do something different: build a trip around a city you wouldn't normally pick (Xi'an? Chongqing?) and let the fare guide you.
And if you're positioning anyway, sometimes these deals fit into a bigger puzzle surprisingly well.
How my booking brain works (and why "points or cash" is not a religion)
I want to share a real example of how I think about booking, because I see people get stuck in the wrong mindset:
They decide in advance that they're going to book everything with points… and then get frustrated when reality shows up.
Here's my situation:
In late 2026, I'm flying to Madrid with my parents for a commitment we have there. After that, we're heading to Hong Kong and Beijing. For that part, we're flying on very specific days — and because I'm traveling with my parents, we wanted a straightforward routing and a predictable experience.
So for the long-haul into Asia, we're flying Cathay Pacific business class straight to Hong Kong, doing a 2-day stopover, and then continuing to Beijing. I paid cash for those flights.
Cathay Pacific business class cabin
Why? Because sometimes the best booking is the one that:
Matches the exact date you need
Keeps the routing simple (especially with family)
And avoids turning your trip into a scavenger hunt
Then the next part: we're visiting Japan, and we're also going to Seoul — because I specifically wanted to see the city and because I wanted to fly Qsuite long-haul with my parents.
Qatar Airways Qsuite
That's where points came in.
I found two saver award seats from Seoul → Doha → Madrid, and I grabbed them at 80,000 points each (saver space is the whole game). But I needed a third seat… and saver availability wasn't there.
So what did I do?
I booked the third seat with cash. It wasn't cheap, but:
We all fly together (non-negotiable for me on this trip)
I'll earn some miles back
And I'm not forcing a bad redemption just to say "I used points"
That's the strategy I want you to adopt. The rule: optimize the trip, not your ego.
Points are incredible when the availability lines up. Cash is incredible when you need certainty.
And the real power move is mix-and-match:
Use points where they're a slam dunk (saver space, great product, great value).
Use cash where your dates are fixed, seats are limited, or it keeps the trip clean and easy.
If you can start thinking this way, you'll book better trips with less stress — and you'll stop feeling like you "failed" when you pay cash for one segment.
Because you didn't fail. You booked the trip you actually wanted.
That's it for this week. Enjoy the weekend, and I'll see you Monday with more deals, routes, and strategies.
Catch you in the clouds,
Tomi