OCBC has supported Alipay+ QR payments since 2024, allowing customers to pay overseas merchants directly from their Singapore bank account in more than 55 destinations. Travel Treat layers dining, shopping and travel offers on top of this, so you no longer need a separate app or loyalty programme to access merchant deals abroad.

Participating merchants include several names familiar to Singaporean travellers:

• Japan: Matsuya Food, Don Quijote

• South Korea: The Shilla Duty-Free

• Malaysia: Suria KLCC and TRX Mall in Kuala Lumpur

• Multiple markets: Shake Shack, 7-Eleven

Vouchers can be claimed before your trip, and new users also appear to get a welcome voucher (the app screens show a 50% off “New User Discount” with no minimum spend).

How to Claim and Use Your Voucher

1. Log in to the OCBC app, tap Rewards, then select Alipay+ Travel Treat.

2. Browse deals by destination and category.

3. Tap Claim to add a voucher to your account.

4. View your claimed vouchers under My vouchers.

5. At the merchant, select the voucher and tap Use it before paying.

6. Complete payment by scanning or showing your Alipay+ QR code.

Do read the usage instructions on each voucher. The sample in OCBC’s guide is valid for 30 days after collection, limited to one voucher per transaction and must be presented before payment.

This is a sensible addition for anyone already using the OCBC app to pay in China, where QR payments are close to unavoidable. OCBC says the number of customers paying Alipay+ merchants overseas through its app more than doubled in the first eight months of 2026 compared with the same period last year, so the audience is clearly there.

The elephant in the room for miles chasers is that Alipay+ payments through the OCBC app are debited from your bank account rather than charged to a credit card, so you will not earn miles on that spend. For larger purchases, a 4 mpd card (paired with Amaze to manage FX fees) will usually remain the better play. Where Travel Treat makes sense is for smaller-ticket dining and convenience store spend, or at merchants where the voucher discount comfortably outweighs the miles you would forgo. It costs nothing to claim a few vouchers before your next trip to Tokyo or Shanghai, so I would at least check what is available for your destination.

Click HERE to apply for the Citi Rewards Card and get S$480 cash!

Choice of Rewards

• S$480 Cash via PayNow

• S$500 Shopee Vouchers

• 28,000 Max Miles

• Dyson Airstrait (worth S$799)

• Dyson V8 Cyclone cordless vacuum (worth S$559)

The 28,000 Max Miles work out to about 1.7 cents per mile compared with the cash. Unless you value miles more highly than that, I would take the S$480, which is guaranteed and flexible.

Eligible Cards

The promotion covers five Citi cards. Do note that the Citi SMRT Card is not included this time.

Citi Rewards Card: my pick, and one of my recommended miles cards. It earns 4 mpd on online spending (excluding travel and in-app mobile wallet payments) on up to S$1,000 per statement month, and is now issued as a Mastercard only. Pair it with the Amaze Card to earn 4 mpd on in-store spending too, since all Amaze transactions are processed online, which means they will be eligible for the online spending bonus with the Citi Rewards Card. The annual fee is S$196.20, waived for the first year.

Citi PremierMiles: a general spending miles card for everything your 4 mpd cards do not cover. Citi Miles never expire.

Citi Cash Back+: for those who prefer cashback with no fuss, with unlimited 1.6% cashback on all eligible spend with no minimum spend.

Citi Cash Back and Citi M1: niche picks for drivers and M1 customers respectively.

You can only receive one reward per person, so pick the card you would actually keep.

How to Qualify

• Be a new Citi credit cardholder. You must not currently hold a principal Citi credit card, or have cancelled one in the last 12 months. A Citi card that is approved but not yet activated, or a pending Citi application, also counts against you.

• Apply through SingSaver between 29 October and 2 November 2026, then complete the SingSaver Rewards Redemption Form emailed to you within 14 days of applying.

• Activate the card and spend at least S$500 within 30 days of approval. Instalment plans, cash advances, bill payments, fees and refunded transactions do not count.

• Keep the card for at least 12 months, as the reward may be clawed back if you cancel early.

Is It Worth It?

If you do not already hold a Citi card, this is one of the best sign-up offers of the year: S$500 of spending gets you S$480 back. The window is only five days, so do not wait until the weekend. For miles chasers, I would pick the Citi Rewards Card, as it is a card worth keeping in your wallet long after the cash lands. Already a Citi customer, or want to compare with other banks? See my Best Credit Card Sign-Up Bonuses page, which updates automatically as promotions start and end.

Qantas Singapore First Lounge: now opens at 3.45pm

The First Lounge is now open daily from 3.45pm to 11pm, giving it seven and a quarter hours a day. That is 45 minutes more than the 4.30pm opening from earlier this month, though still 15 minutes short of the 3.30pm start it had in August. Qantas has also published a note on capacity. If the First Lounge is temporarily full during peak travel periods, eligible guests will be welcomed into a dedicated premium area within the Business Lounge until space becomes available. Reading between the lines, the evening peak around the Qantas departures to Australia and London is clearly busy. If a sit-down dinner in the First Lounge matters to you, arriving in the late afternoon rather than closer to boarding is the safer bet.

Qantas Singapore Business Lounge: open until 1am

Every evening session now runs to 1am, 45 minutes later than the previous 12.15am close. The trade-off comes at both ends of the day: most afternoon sessions start at 2.30pm rather than 2pm, and the long 3.20am to 10.15am mornings are no more.

What this means for oneworld flyers at Changi

The biggest losers are early risers. With the 3.20am openings gone, anyone on a departure before about 9am now has little or no time in a Qantas lounge, whichever day they fly. For those of us on the morning KUL run with Malaysia Airlines, the 8am to 10am window on Tuesdays, Fridays and Sundays is now the one to plan around. Wednesday and Saturday mornings have no Qantas lounge at all.

At the other end of the day, the 1am close is good news for anyone on a late-night oneworld departure, with an extra 45 minutes in the Business Lounge. If you are eligible for the First Lounge but arrive early, start in the Business Lounge (open from 2.30pm most days, and from 10.40am on Mondays and Thursdays) and walk over once the First Lounge opens at 3.45pm. The two lounges sit at opposite ends of Terminal 1, with the Business Lounge towards the C gates and the First Lounge towards the D gates, so allow a few minutes for the walk.

This is a more substantial reshuffle than the tweak earlier in the month. Night owls gain 45 minutes in the Business Lounge and First Lounge guests get back most of their afternoon, but early risers lose the pre-dawn openings that made the Business Lounge so useful for the first wave of morning departures. The new capacity note is also worth keeping in mind at peak times.

The rules here are tighter than a typical Hyatt promotion, so it is worth reading them carefully before you start racking up dinner bills.

• Targeted offer. Hyatt’s FAQ confirms this is a targeted promotion. You must have received the offer directly from Hyatt to participate, so check your inbox (and spam folder) for an email from World of Hyatt before assuming you are eligible.

• Non-stay charges only. Anything billed to a guest room or folio does not count. If you are dining at a hotel you are staying at, settle the bill directly at the outlet rather than charging it to your room.

• Identify yourself at the point of purchase. You need to present your World of Hyatt membership number and a valid ID when paying. Retroactive claims are unlikely to succeed, so make this a habit at every visit.

• Not every outlet participates. Participation is limited and may vary even within the same hotel. Ask the restaurant team before ordering, not after.

• Payment restrictions. House accounts, company or organisation payments, points or award redemptions, Hyatt gift cards, Hyatt gift cheques and property-issued certificates are all excluded. Pay with your own card.

• Alcohol may be excluded. In certain jurisdictions, alcoholic beverages do not count towards the spend due to local laws. Clarify this with the outlet, particularly if your festive dinners lean heavily on the wine list.

• Spend is cumulative. You do not need a single US$1,500 bill; several meals across different participating hotels and markets add up.

Let me be upfront: US$1,500 is a substantial sum to spend on hotel dining in under two months. This is not a promotion I would recommend manufacturing spend for. If you are not already planning to eat at Hyatt restaurants, a Category 1-4 night does not justify close to S$2,000 of incremental spend. The calculus changes if you were going to spend the money anyway. A couple of festive buffets, a Christmas lunch with the family and a year-end dinner with friends at a Hyatt property in Singapore can get you most of the way there. In that scenario, the free night is effectively a rebate on spending you had already committed to.

A Category 4 standard night currently prices at up to 18,000 points at peak, and Free Night Awards can typically be used regardless of off-peak or peak pricing as long as a standard room is available. Redeemed at a Category 4 property in Japan or Australia, that night could easily be worth S$300 to S$450 in cash terms, representing a return of around 15 to 20% on your dining spend. Layer the 7,500 Base Points on top (which also count towards elite status if you are chasing it via the Base Points route), and the overall return becomes reasonably attractive for planned spend.

One caveat on the Base Points: 5 points per US$1 is the standard earn rate for eligible non-stay dining with World of Hyatt. It is not a bonus, so do not count it as part of the promotion’s incremental value. Also check the expiry date on your Free Night Award once it posts, as promotional awards often come with shorter validity windows than you might expect.

Since the spend is at hotel restaurants, it will generally code as dining, which opens up a few 4 mpd options for Singapore cardholders. The UOB Lady’s Card with Dining selected as your bonus category earns 4 mpd up to its S$1,000 monthly cap, and the HSBC Revolution Card earns 4 mpd on contactless dining. Splitting the spend across November and December lets you stay within monthly caps while hitting the US$1,500 threshold. At 4 mpd, roughly S$1,950 of spend works out to around 7,800 miles. Combined with the free night and the Base Points, this is a reasonable triple dip on spending you were going to make anyway.

Click HERE to book the Shangri-La Circle Exclusive Valley Wing Upgrade at Shangri-La Singapore!

Room upgrades at Shangri-La Singapore usually depend on availability at check-in, and even top-tier Shangri-La Circle members cannot count on getting into the Valley Wing. This promotion is different. The Valley Wing Deluxe Room and its privileges are built into the rate from the moment you book, so you know exactly what you are getting. I have stayed in both wings involved in this offer. My Valley Wing Deluxe Room review covers my stay on the Valley Wing Indulgence package, where the all-day free-flow Champagne was the headline benefit then too. If you want a sense of the Garden Wing, you can read my Garden Wing One-Bedroom Suite review from a Luxury Circle stay a few weeks later.

The free-flow Champagne from noon until 10.30pm is the massive perk here. Factor in breakfast, afternoon tea and evening canapés, and you could reasonably skip paying for lunch and dinner on a one-night staycation.

How Much Do You Save?

To see how much the promotion saves, I compared it with booking a Valley Wing Deluxe Room directly on the same night:

On that night the promotion works out to S$209++ less per night, about 31% cheaper for the same room and privileges. Including the 10% service charge and 9% GST, that is roughly S$557 nett against S$807 nett, a saving of about S$250 per night. Two trade-offs explain the gap. First, you earn fewer Shangri-La Circle Points because points are based on the lower room rate. Second, and more importantly, the promotional rate is prepaid and non-refundable, while the regular member rate lets you cancel for free.

For Singapore-based readers, this is one of the better staycation deals of the year. You get the full Valley Wing experience (private lobby, Summit Room breakfast, and Champagne from noon) for about S$209++ less than booking the same room directly. The stay window also covers the November school holidays. The elephant in the room is the non-refundable rate. If your plans are firm, the saving is easily worth giving up flexibility. If there is any chance your dates will move, the flexible Valley Wing rate may be the safer choice despite the premium. Inventory looks tight, so I would not wait until the last day to book.

Also worth knowing: Shangri-La is currently refreshing the Valley Wing. The hotel’s website already lists a reimagined 57 sqm Valley Wing Executive Room as coming soon. You may want to ask the hotel whether renovation works will cause any disruption on your dates.

The participating properties span five brands: Oasia, Quincy, Rendezvous, Village and Far East Collection. There are also two properties under Far East Hospitality’s TFE Hotels joint venture, Vibe Hotel Singapore Orchard and Adina Serviced Apartments Singapore Orchard. That works out to 22 of the 26 properties in Singapore, one in Kuala Lumpur and three in the Tokyo/Yokohama area.

Far East Hospitality’s wider portfolio is much larger (over 100 hotels in 11 countries, including the Adina, Vibe and Travelodge hotels in Australia and Europe through TFE Hotels). However, only the properties listed above are part of this deal for now.

What This Means for GHA DISCOVERY Members

Once integration goes live, members will be able to earn and redeem Discovery Dollars (D$) at these properties, as well as access member rates, tier recognition and local offers. Since D$ can be earned and redeemed across all GHA brands, you will be able to earn them locally and spend them overseas at one of the aforementioned participating properties, or vice versa.

I see three main wins here:

• More staycation options at home. GHA’s Singapore footprint was already decent, but this adds Sentosa resort options (Oasia Resort, The Outpost, The Barracks, Village Hotel Sentosa) and heritage properties like AMOY and The Clan. Both groups now draw from the same D$ pool.

• Long-stay earning. Serviced residences such as Oasia Residence and Village Residence Robertson Quay are popular for relocations and extended stays. Earning D$ on a multi-week stay could add up meaningfully, depending on how GHA treats long-stay rates.

• Japan coverage. The three Far East Village hotels in Tokyo and Yokohama are sensibly priced, well-located options. They help fill a gap in GHA’s Japan offering.

This is not a luxury play. Most of the portfolio sits in the midscale and upper-midscale segment, and there are only a few properties outside Singapore. That said, Far East Hospitality is exactly the type of regional operator GHA’s model is built for. For Singapore-based members, it is a practical boost to the programme’s local relevance. The elephant in the room is the details. The finer points of how benefits will apply (particularly upgrades, breakfast benefits, and recognition at serviced residences, and which rates will be D$-eligible) have not been released.

Click HERE to open a uSMART account and get 10,000 Max Miles!

For a single deposit of S$1,000, maintained for 30 days:

• 10,000 Max Miles by HeyMax

• S$150 Cash via PayNow

• S$160 Grab Vouchers

Alternatively, if you deposit S$5,000 as a single deposit, keep it in for 30 days and make two eligible trades, you can choose S$170 cash or a S$190 eCapitaVoucher instead. You can only receive one reward, and your choice cannot be changed once you submit the redemption form.

SingSaver values the 10,000 Max Miles at S$180, or 1.8 cents each. Compared with the S$150 cash option, the miles work out to 1.5 cents each, so if you value miles above that, the miles are the better pick. Max Miles never expire once credited to your HeyMax account, there are no redemption fees, and they can also be exchanged for gift cards and vouchers from 1,000 Max Miles. As a quick reminder, Max Miles do not convert into KrisFlyer Miles but honestly, they are worth way more than that - you can use them for Enrich points and redeem a return flight to Kuala Lumpur in Economy Class for as little as 3,200 points.

How to Qualify

• Be completely new to uSMART. You must never have created or registered a uSMART SG brokerage account before 19 October 2026.

• Be a Singapore resident. Singaporeans, PRs and Employment Pass, S Pass and work permit holders are eligible.

• Apply through SingSaver between 19 and 25 October 2026. Sign-ups through other links do not count.

• Submit the SingSaver Rewards Redemption Form within 14 days of applying. It is emailed to you and asks for your uSMART account number.

• Make a single deposit of at least S$1,000 by 25 October 2026. Splitting it into smaller deposits does not count.

• Keep the funds in your account for 30 days from the date of deposit. You can leave it as cash.

When Will You Get Your Miles?

If you choose Max Miles, HeyMax will email you instructions to activate your HeyMax account (if you do not have one) and redeem your miles. HeyMax aims to credit the miles within 4 working days of SingSaver confirming your eligibility. The overall process can take up to 16 weeks from when you submit the redemption form, so be patient, and check your spam folder.

If you have S$1,000 you can set aside for a month, this is one of the easiest sign-up rewards around: no spending and no trades, just a deposit you get back. Do note that uSMART is a brokerage, so leave the money as cash if you do not intend to invest it, as investments can lose value.

For the latest credit card sign-up bonuses, see my Best Credit Card Sign-Up Bonuses page.

Click HERE for more information on the Credit on Us offer!

The 2X points apply only when you book as a Dusit Gold member on the Member Flexible Stay, Member Advance Saver and Member Stay Longer rates. Points are calculated on final room charges and credited after check-out. Membership is free, and members also enjoy:

• 15% off with member rates

• From 15% off dining at select outlets (excluding alcohol)

• In-stay privileges that vary by tier

At Dusit Thani Laguna Singapore, the hotel credit works out to S$15 nett per room, per night. It can be used at GreenHouse, Tee Deck and In-Room Dining during your stay, but excludes alcoholic beverages. The credit cannot be carried forward, so it is effectively use-it-or-lose-it each night.

The group-wide headline of up to US$110 per night sounds generous, but the Singapore figure is a more modest S$15 nett. That will cover a coffee and a light bite at GreenHouse or a soft drink at Tee Deck, so I would treat it as a pleasant sweetener rather than a reason to book. The real value lies in stacking the credit with the Dusit Gold member rate and double points, which together make booking direct the obvious choice if you were already planning a staycation or a pre-flight night near Changi. For overseas Dusit properties, check the credit amount per hotel before committing, as it varies considerably.

Click HERE to gift World of Hyatt points to another member!

The new tool is processed by Points.com on Hyatt's behalf, and the experience is about as simple as it gets: pick an amount on a slider, enter your recipient's details, and the points generally arrive within 24 hours.

How It Used to Work

Until now, moving World of Hyatt points between accounts meant downloading the Point Combining Request Form, a PDF that both the sender and recipient had to fill in with their names, addresses, emails and member numbers. The sender then signed an authorisation section, and the completed form had to be emailed (or, in earlier years, faxed or mailed) to Hyatt's customer service team for manual processing.

The form technically stated that points could only be combined for the purpose of booking a specific award stay, and each member could only send or receive a transfer once every 30 days. In practice, it worked, but it was clunky, there was no confirmation on screen, and you were at the mercy of whoever picked up the email at the other end.

How to Transfer World of Hyatt Points Online

I tested the new flow on my own account, and the whole process takes a couple of minutes.

1. Log in to your World of Hyatt account and head to the Purchase, Share or Gift page on Hyatt's website.

2. Select the option to gift points. You will be passed through to a Points.com storefront branded for World of Hyatt, already signed in to your account.

3. Use the slider (or the plus and minus buttons) to choose how many points to gift. The minimum is 1,000 points, and the amount moves in increments of 500. The page shows your current balance and your balance after the gift, and confirms that gift processing is free.

4. Click Gift Bonus Points and enter your recipient's first name, last name, email address and World of Hyatt member number.

5. Confirm the transfer. Points generally post to the recipient's account within 24 hours, although transactions flagged for additional review can take up to 10 business days.

The biggest improvement is simply that the process is now self-service. There is no PDF, no signature from both parties, and no waiting for someone to action an email. You see the amount, your balance after the gift and a confirmation on screen. The recipient also no longer needs to be involved. Under the old form, both members filled in their details; now the sender only needs the recipient's name, email and member number.

The trade-off is a set of clearly defined limits. The old process was loosely policed (the "for a specific award" condition was rarely enforced), whereas the new terms spell out hard caps of 525,000 points per year and six transfers per year. For the vast majority of members, neither cap will ever bite.

This is a fantastic win for couples and families who both earn World of Hyatt points. It matters more for Singapore-based members than for those in the US, because there is no Singapore-issued credit card that converts into World of Hyatt points. Unlike American members with Chase Ultimate Rewards, Singapore-based members earn their points almost entirely from paid stays, which makes every point harder earned and pooling far more valuable.

Click HERE to apply for a Citi credit card and get S$400 cash or a smartphone!

How the Smartphone Flash Deal Works

• Four phones a day: two go to the first eligible applicants at 3PM, and two at 9PM.

• Timing matters: if you want a shot at a phone, submit your application just after 3PM or 9PM.

• Realistic odds: that’s 28 phones across the whole week, shared among all SingSaver applicants. Treat the phone as a bonus, and the cash as what you’re actually signing up for.

• Same qualifying rules: phone winners still need to be new Citi customers, and still need to spend S$500 within 30 days of approval.

If You Do Not Win the Phone

For the Citi PremierMiles, Rewards, Cash Back+, Cash Back and M1 cards:

• S$400 Cash via PayNow

• S$420 Shopee Vouchers

• 25,000 Max Miles

• Dyson Airstrait (worth S$799)

• Dyson V8 Cyclone cordless vacuum (worth S$559)

For the Citi SMRT Card, the cash option is S$450, or S$470 in Shopee vouchers.

Which Citi Card Should You Pick?

• Citi Rewards Card: my pick, and one of my recommended miles cards. It earns 4 mpd on online spending (excluding travel and in-app mobile wallet payments) on up to S$1,000 per statement month. Pair it with the Amaze Card to earn 4 mpd on in-store spending too, since all Amaze transactions are processed online, which means they will be eligible for the online spending bonus with the Citi Rewards Card. Overseas, Amaze’s FX spread is also lower than Citi’s 3.25% FX fee.

• Citi PremierMiles: a general spending miles card for everything your 4 mpd cards do not cover. Citi Miles never expire, which makes it a good place to park miles.

• Citi Cash Back+: for those who prefer cashback with no fuss, it offers unlimited 1.6% cashback on all eligible spend with no minimum spend.

• Citi Cash Back and Citi M1: niche picks for drivers and M1 customers respectively.

• Citi SMRT: S$50 more upfront, and a decent everyday cashback card if your spending is mostly groceries, online shopping and transport.

You can only receive one reward per person, so pick the card you would actually keep.

How to Qualify

• Be a new Citi credit cardholder. You must not currently hold a principal Citi credit card, or have cancelled one in the last 12 months. A Citi card that is approved but not yet activated, or a pending Citi application, also counts against you.

• Apply through SingSaver between 16 and 22 October 2026, then complete the SingSaver Rewards Redemption Form emailed to you within 14 days of applying.

• Activate the card and spend at least S$500 within 30 days of approval. Instalment plans, cash advances, bill payments, fees and refunded transactions do not count.

• Keep the card for at least 12 months, as the reward may be clawed back if you cancel early.

If you do not already hold a Citi card, S$400 for S$500 of spending is a strong return, and the Citi Rewards Card is a card worth keeping long after the cash lands. Already a Citi customer, or want to compare with other banks? See my Best Credit Card Sign-Up Bonuses page, which updates automatically as promotions start and end.

Click HERE to check out the latest room promotions for Waldorf Astoria Osaka!

Check-in takes place in the lobby of Waldorf Astoria Osaka. It is a striking double-height rotunda wrapped in tiers of vertical timber slats that rise towards a softly lit dome. At its centre is a circular black reflecting pool set beside a pair of rough-hewn boulders, which gives the space a calm quality reminiscent of a Japanese rock garden. The stacked lantern pendants and marble flooring nod to the Art Deco glamour of the original Waldorf Astoria in New York. The reception desk sits discreetly off to one side, so the water feature is the first thing you see on arrival rather than a queue. As a Hilton Honors Diamond member, I did not receive a room upgrade on this stay, and the hotel appeared to be running at close to full occupancy.

I booked this stay as a Standard Room Reward at 100,000 Hilton Honors points per night. The Fifth Night Free benefit meant five nights cost me 400,000 points in total. The same stay now costs 120,000 points per night, or 480,000 points for five nights with Fifth Night Free applied. Hilton Honors is currently offering a 120% bonus on purchased points until 21 November 2026, which brings the cost down to roughly 0.45 US cents per point. Buying 219,000 points (US$2,190) nets you 481,800 points after the bonus, enough to cover all five nights and comfortably within the annual cap of 240,000 purchased points. That works out to about S$2,800 for the stay, or roughly S$560 per night, before the foreign currency transaction fee most Singapore credit cards will charge. Compare this against the cash rate for your dates before buying. If paying cash works out better, booking Waldorf Astoria Osaka through my luxury travel advisor rate on ClassicTravel.com gets you a US$100 property credit and unlocks exclusive savings such as stay 3, pay 2 offers. Those savings are often the better deal for shorter stays where Fifth Night Free does not apply.

Stepping into the Deluxe Room at Waldorf Astoria Osaka, you first pass through a short walkway lined with warm timber panelling and textured grasscloth walls. The bathroom sits off to the side of this walkway, so the sleeping area stays tucked away from the door and feels noticeably more private than in many Japanese city hotels, where you often walk straight into the bed. A slatted timber screen marks the transition into the main room, with a ceramic vase displayed on a dark pedestal in front of it. This small detail echoes the vertical timber lattice in the lobby and gives the entrance a gallery-like feel. Beyond the screen, the walkway opens up into the bedroom, which is flooded with natural light from the floor-to-ceiling windows and looks out over the towers of Umeda. Keep in mind that this is the lead-in room category at Waldorf Astoria Osaka. The layout feels considered and residential rather than compact, which aligns with the brand’s “grand residence” pitch for this property.

The King Deluxe Room is the lead-in category at Waldorf Astoria Osaka, and at an average of 48 sqm, it is generously sized by Japanese standards. The centrepiece of the bedroom is the headboard, which pairs a backlit timber lattice reminiscent of traditional kumiko woodwork with a hand-painted panel of sweeping blue and grey wave motifs. The geometric fan patterns in the latticework carry a subtle Art Deco influence, so the panel manages to feel both distinctly Japanese and true to the brand’s New York roots. The king-size bed is dressed in crisp white linen and flanked by lantern-style pendant lights, a thoughtful touch that frees up the bedside table for your phone and other essentials. Opposite the bed, full-height timber wardrobes slide shut to keep the space uncluttered. A minibar nook next to them is finished with a marble countertop and woven rattan cabinet fronts, and it is stocked with an espresso machine and a selection of spirits.

The best feature of the King Deluxe Room is the floor-to-ceiling windows, which flood the room with natural light and frame sweeping views across the high-rises of Umeda from the upper floors of Waldorf Astoria Osaka. A pair of plush armchairs upholstered in deep blue fabric sit by the window around a small round pedestal table, creating a comfortable spot for a morning coffee or for simply watching the city below. The blinds and drapes are fully automated and open as soon as you enter the room, so the cityscape gradually reveals itself as you walk in. It is a small piece of theatre, but it makes for a memorable arrival after the dimly lit walkway at the entrance. The 55-inch Smart TV is set into a timber-framed panel opposite the bed, and it blends into the joinery rather than dominating the wall.

Because all the rooms at Waldorf Astoria Osaka sit between the 31st and 38th floors, even the lead-in category comes with an elevated outlook over the city. My room faced west, with an uninterrupted view over the dense low-rise neighbourhoods beyond Umeda towards the river mouth and the cranes of the port along Osaka Bay in the distance. The skies were overcast for much of my stay, but the panorama was still impressive, and I can only imagine how striking it would be at sunset on a clear day. At the W Osaka, many of the rooms lack an iconic landmark view, so you are mostly looking at neighbouring buildings along Midosuji Boulevard. Here, the height advantage of Waldorf Astoria Osaka gives you a genuine sense of scale across the city, without having to pay extra for a suite.

My stay at Waldorf Astoria Osaka happened to coincide with my birthday, and I returned to find a small celebratory treat waiting for me under a glass cloche on the table by the window. It was a slice of strawberry swirl cheesecake on a wooden pedestal stand, crowned with fresh strawberries, blueberries and a fleck of gold leaf, alongside a white chocolate plaque with “Happy Birthday” piped in elegant script. It was beautifully presented and tasted as good as it looked. It was also a welcome improvement on my stay at the Conrad Osaka, where the birthday amenities never materialised. With that said, I have noticed that birthday amenities at Hilton properties tend to be a lot less elaborate than at Hyatt properties, where I am a World of Hyatt Globalist. In my experience, Hyatt properties often throw in a bottle of champagne and go the extra mile with a more thoughtful set-up. That is not to take anything away from the gesture here, which I genuinely appreciated, but Hilton Honors Diamond members celebrating a special occasion at Waldorf Astoria Osaka should keep their expectations measured.

The bed at Waldorf Astoria Osaka is easily one of the most comfortable I have slept on in Japan. The mattress strikes a lovely balance between support and softness, and the crisp white linen and plush pillows make it very difficult to get out of bed in the morning. It immediately reminded me of my stay at the Waldorf Astoria Bangkok, where I had some of the best sleep I have ever had in a hotel. Along with the Waldorf Astoria Shanghai on the Bund, it is clear that exceptional beds are one thing the brand gets right consistently around the world. The symmetrical layout works well for couples. Each side of the bed has its own lantern-style reading light and bedside table, and a tablet on one side controls the lights and curtains, so you can switch everything off without getting up.

The bedside tables are thoughtfully laid out, with a telephone, a leather notepad tray and a soft leather pouch for the TV remote. A power socket and a USB PD charging port are built into the back of the table, which is handy for topping up your phone overnight. It is worth noting that, even at high-end luxury hotels in Japan, the power sockets are the two-pin Type A variety, so travellers from Singapore will always need an adapter for their Type G plugs. As someone who visits Japan three to four times a year, I have learnt to invest in an Anker charger with a Japanese plug and USB-C Power Delivery (PD) ports. It lets me fast-charge all my devices without relying on a bulky universal adapter, which often sits loosely in Japanese sockets and falls out in the middle of the night.

Tucked into the side of the bedside table at Waldorf Astoria Osaka is a row of dark bronze toggle switches, angled towards the bed so they sit within easy reach of your pillow. Each switch is marked with a simple icon for the lights, blinds and drapes, along with a night mode and a master switch that turns everything off at once.

One of the things I appreciate most about the King Deluxe Room at Waldorf Astoria Osaka is how clean and uncluttered the design feels. Almost everything is concealed behind floor-to-ceiling timber joinery, including a generously sized wardrobe with sliding doors that offers more than enough hanging space for a week-long stay. The minibar nook next to it is where the room’s personality comes through. Alongside the espresso machine and the selection of spirits, you will find a cast iron teapot with Japanese teacups on a wooden tray. I love seeing this in a Japanese luxury hotel, and it is a small detail that so many properties in this part of the world overlook. Complimentary drinking water is also provided in reusable glass bottles rather than single-use plastic, which is a welcome nod to sustainability. On the other side of the wardrobe, a low console beneath the lantern-style floor lamp has a row of power and USB charging points built into the top. It is a convenient spot to charge your devices or set up your laptop if you need to get some work done from the seating area by the window.

The private bar at Waldorf Astoria Osaka is one of the most thoughtfully curated I have come across in Japan. Alongside familiar labels like Johnnie Walker Black Label and Maker’s Mark, you will find KI NO BI Kyoto Dry Gin and Okuhida Vodka from Gifu. These are chargeable, so do check the Private Bar Menu before helping yourself. A pull-out drawer below the counter reveals a beautifully organised tray of Nespresso Vertuo capsules, organic sencha from Kyoto, sugar and milk, which are all complimentary and replenished daily. The coffee cups and mugs feature a blue geometric pattern that mirrors the Art Deco latticework on the headboard.

The bathroom at Waldorf Astoria Osaka is easily one of the highlights of the King Deluxe Room, and it is surprisingly spacious for a lead-in category in Japan. The walls and countertops are clad in warm beige stone, which gives the space a calm, spa-like feel. The double vanity is flanked by Art Deco lantern-style sconces that tie in beautifully with the lanterns in the bedroom. Mint green accents, from the tissue box to the amenity tray, add a subtle pop of colour without disturbing the muted palette. At the far end, a framed artwork set against a green panel serves as a focal point, and a pair of plush bathrobes hangs within easy reach of the glass-enclosed rain shower. The deep soaking tub comes with a cushioned bath pillow and sits beneath a textured green glass panel that lets in soft light while preserving privacy. A sliding timber door separates the bathroom from the walkway, so the room never feels cramped, even when two people are getting ready at the same time.

The double vanity offers plenty of counter space, which is a huge plus when you are sharing the room and both need to get ready at the same time. Each side has its own sink with sleek chrome fixtures and a lidded glass tumbler. Fresh hand towels are rolled neatly in a mint green box, and more towels hang from the dark bronze rail beneath the counter. The large mirror is framed in slim bronze with a softly curved top corner and integrated vertical light strips. This gives you even, flattering lighting for shaving or applying makeup, while the lantern-style sconces add warmth to the space.

Bath amenities at Waldorf Astoria Osaka are provided by Aesop. In the shower, you will find the Geranium Leaf Body Cleanser alongside the Shampoo and Conditioner, the latter two scented with bergamot rind, frankincense and cedar. Aesop is a brand I genuinely enjoy using, and the understated amber bottles suit the stone-clad bathroom perfectly. The products come in bulk-sized pump bottles to reduce single-use plastics. Crucially, they are not mounted to the wall, so you can easily move them between the rain shower and the bathtub, which is something I always appreciate.

Hilton Honors Diamond members receive a daily ¥4,000 credit at Waldorf Astoria Osaka, which can be used at Peacock Alley, Jolie, Tsukimi, Canes & Tales and towards spa treatments. The real sweet spot is that the credit stacks with the 25% dining discount Hilton Honors Gold and Diamond members enjoy at participating restaurants and bars in Asia Pacific, so the discount is applied to your bill first and the credit then goes noticeably further. I spent mine at Canes & Tales on most evenings of my stay. It is a speakeasy hidden behind an unmarked green door on the 28th floor, with a cocktail menu inspired by F. Scott Fitzgerald’s Tales of the Jazz Age. The space is intimate and moody, with green leather bar stools, an Art Deco latticework canopy above the bar, and glowing crystal lamps on each marble table that cast a warm amber light over your drinks. The cocktails were very good, and it is easily one of the best hotel bars I have been to in Japan. On average, the ¥4,000 credit combined with the 25% discount was enough to cover two drinks each evening, which makes it a fantastic way to unwind after a long day of exploring the city without spending a single yen.

One of the things I appreciate about the ¥4,000 Diamond credit at Waldorf Astoria Osaka is its flexibility. You are not locked into a single outlet, so you can mix things up over the course of your stay. On one evening, I swapped Canes & Tales for Peacock Alley, which is named after the legendary promenade at the original Waldorf Astoria New York and sits at the heart of the hotel. I ordered a classic martini, and it arrived ice-cold in an elegant V-shaped glass, accompanied by a sidecar of the remaining pour chilling in a ribbed glass on a bed of crushed ice. It was served with both a lemon twist and pickled cocktail onions, so you can take it as a martini or turn it into a Gibson. The sidecar meant my second half was just as cold as the first, which is exactly how a martini should be enjoyed

Breakfast at Waldorf Astoria Osaka is served at Jolie Brasserie, the hotel’s French-inspired brasserie, and it is a beautiful space to start the day. Floor-to-ceiling windows flood the room with natural light, and a glass atrium filled with leafy trees runs alongside the dining room, so it feels almost like eating in a garden conservatory high above the city. Cane-backed chairs with terracotta upholstery, plush banquettes with mustard cushions and cylindrical paper-lantern pendants give the space a relaxed, sunlit feel that contrasts nicely with the moodier bars upstairs. Jolie can get pretty busy during peak hours, and the hotel also serves breakfast at Peacock Alley to help manage the crowds. Both venues offer the same à la carte menu, which is included for Hilton Honors Diamond members, but I would still recommend heading to Jolie because the buffet spread there is far more extensive. If you would rather avoid the queue, aim to arrive early.

If you are staying at Waldorf Astoria Osaka, I highly recommend ordering the Japanese breakfast, which is what I had on most mornings. It arrives as a beautifully presented set on a wooden tray. The centrepiece is a plate of grilled fish with a fluffy slab of tamagoyaki, an umeboshi and seasonal vegetables. It comes with steamed rice, miso soup in a lacquered bowl and a hearty dish of simmered beef with daikon and carrot. Smaller plates of spinach with tofu dressing, pickled vegetables and a soft-boiled egg round out the set, along with a bowl of fresh fruit. Every component was well executed, and it is the kind of breakfast that keeps you full well into the afternoon. The Japanese breakfast is part of the à la carte menu that is included for Hilton Honors Diamond members, so there is no need to pay a supplement for it. This is not always the case at other luxury hotels in Japan. At the Park Hyatt Kyoto, for example, the Japanese breakfast comes with an additional charge even for Globalist members.

If you are craving something Western, the à la carte menu at Waldorf Astoria Osaka has plenty of good options. The eggs Benedict with smoked salmon was a highlight. Two perfectly poached eggs sat on toasted English muffins and were generously coated in a rich, vibrant hollandaise that was silky without being overly heavy, which is surprisingly rare at hotel breakfasts. It came with crispy roast potatoes and a tangy tomato relish to cut through the richness. The buffet spread at Jolie is also very good, with a wide selection of great-quality bakes. The croissants were flaky and buttery, and the fruit danishes tasted as good as they looked.

For something lighter, the avocado toast is a solid choice. A thick slice of crusty sourdough comes piled high with chunky smashed avocado and topped with a soft poached egg, cherry tomatoes, crisp radish, diced cucumber and toasted pumpkin seeds, finished with cracked black pepper and a drizzle of olive oil. It is fresh and well balanced, and the toppings add a nice crunch that keeps every bite interesting. Do not skip the fresh fruit at the buffet either, as Japanese fruit is on a different level, and the selection at Jolie was consistently excellent throughout my stay. Between the buffet, the Japanese breakfast and the Western à la carte dishes, breakfast at Waldorf Astoria Osaka gives you more than enough variety to keep things interesting over a five-night stay.

Waldorf Astoria Osaka is a worthy debut for the brand in Japan, and it has quickly become one of the most compelling luxury hotels in the city. Even the lead-in King Deluxe Room feels considered and residential, with a superb bed, a well-designed bathroom with Aesop amenities, thoughtful touches like the cast iron tea set, and sweeping views from the upper floors. The location next to Osaka Station is hard to beat for day trips across Kansai, although it is a different proposition from the W Osaka, which remains better placed if you want to walk to Shinsaibashi and Dotonbori. For Hilton Honors Diamond members, the benefits on offer are genuinely useful. The included breakfast covers the excellent Japanese set at no extra charge, and the daily ¥4,000 credit stacks with the 25% dining discount, so you can enjoy a couple of drinks at Canes & Tales each evening without spending a yen. That goes some way towards making up for the lack of an executive lounge. At 120,000 points per night, award stays are no longer cheap. That said, the Fifth Night Free benefit and the current 120% bonus on purchased points make a longer stay much more palatable, and paying cash through a luxury travel advisor rate is worth comparing for shorter trips.

Waldorf Astoria Osaka
5-54 Ofukacho, Kita Ward, Osaka, 530-0011, Japan
Website | Email

Click HERE to register for the World of Hyatt x Aeroplan dual earning promotion!

How to Participate

There are three steps, and the order matters.

1. Link your accounts. You need a World of Hyatt account and an Aeroplan account (both free), linked via Hyatt’s Aeroplan partnership page. Names must match across both accounts.

2. Register for the promotion. Linking alone is not enough. Only stays completed after registration count, so register before your next check-in.

3. Book an Eligible Rate with your World of Hyatt number attached. Award stays and most third-party bookings do not qualify. Hyatt Privé rates booked through a travel advisor do earn points, so they remain eligible.

Take a three-night stay at US$300 a night, or US$900 in eligible spend. A Globalist would earn:

• 4,500 World of Hyatt Base Points

• 1,350 Globalist bonus points (30%)

• 1,350 bonus Aeroplan points from this promotion

Effectively, this is a 1.5 miles per US$1 kicker on stays you would make anyway. That will not move the needle on its own, but Aeroplan is a useful programme to have a balance in. It offers Star Alliance award bookings with no fuel surcharges on many partners, as well as stopovers on one-way awards for an additional 5,000 points. Singapore-based travellers have few easy ways to earn Aeroplan points, so a few thousand points trickling in from hotel stays is welcome.

For context, the alternative is converting World of Hyatt points to Aeroplan at 2:1, which I would not recommend unless you have a balance that you do not plan on using on flights.

Put another way, if you converted the bonus Aeroplan points into World of Hyatt points at the 2:1 ratio, the promotion is worth an extra 675 points on this stay, an 11.5% uplift on what a Globalist would normally earn. That said, converting is only available to Aeroplan Elite members, and I would generally keep the points in Aeroplan for Star Alliance redemptions rather than convert them.

With no cost, no minimum stay and no trade-off as long as you keep earning World of Hyatt points, this is a program every member should register for immediately. The stay window also covers the December school holidays and the run-up to Chinese New Year, which is when many Singapore readers will be travelling anyway. The bigger opportunity for Globalists remains the Aeroplan status challenge, which can unlock Star Alliance Gold with 17,000 SQC in 90 days.

Click HERE to find out more about Marriott Bonvoy Lounge!

Marriott calls this a pilot of an "elevated experience" for qualifying lounges at select premium hotels, with around 320 hotels transitioning in two waves.

Participating lounges promise enhanced, locally inspired food and beverage, dedicated staff during peak periods, and two signature items: The Coral Pour (a morning wellness drink) and Marriott Bonvoy Bites (featured evening dishes). A new lounge filter on the app and Marriott.com will show participating hotels and lounge hours. Access is for "eligible Elite members", with no further detail.

So What Is It Actually Going to Be?

Marriott has not said, but its own wording points in some directions more than others.

New lounges at hotels without one: unlikely. Converting 320 hotels in about six months is only realistic for refreshing lounges that already exist.

A premium tier lounge, like Hilton's Diamond Reserve: possible, but not signalled. The worry here is a better lounge reserved for Titanium and Ambassador Elite, while Platinum Elite is left with the standard club lounge, much as Hilton Honors does with premium lounges for Diamond Reserve members. Nothing in Marriott's wording mentions a tier split, and naming it after the whole programme suggests it is meant for everyone with lounge access.

A watered-down lounge dressed up as an upgrade: the biggest risk. "Bites" and "featured dishes" read like a fixed, curated or plated selection rather than an open buffet. That is a cost-control model already used at some Marriott hotels in Europe and North America. With swollen elite numbers in Asia (particularly Greater China) and lounges being a cost centre for owners, this is the scenario I would watch most closely.

My best guess is a largely cosmetic rebrand of existing club lounges with a more standardised, and possibly leaner, evening offering. Most of the destinations Singapore travellers frequent are in the first wave, so the answer will be clear soon enough. If it turns out to be a downgrade, it may be worth thinking about the value proposition of the loyalty program and potentially shifting some stays to World of Hyatt or Hilton Honors.

Click HERE to register for the Aeroplan Elite Status Challenge!

Explorists can earn 25K with 8,000 SQC. Globalists can go further: 25K with 8,000 SQC, 35K with 12,000, 50K with 17,000, or 75K with 25,000. For comparison, standard qualification requires 25,000 to 75,000 SQC across those same tiers in a calendar year. The tier that matters is 50K. 25K and 35K map to Star Alliance Silver, while 50K and above carry Star Alliance Gold, which is where alliance-wide lounge access and extra baggage begin.

SQC are earned at 4 per dollar on Economy Flex or higher, 2 per dollar on Economy Standard, and 1 per dollar on Air Canada Vacations packages. They are based on base fare and carrier surcharges, excluding taxes, and Economy Basic earns nothing. Fares paid in Singapore dollars are converted to Canadian dollars at Air Canada’s internal rate.

In practice, one premium cabin return to North America on an Air Canada ticket could get a Globalist to 50K. If you are flying economy, price Economy Flex: if it costs less than double the Standard fare, it is the better deal for status.

Do You Have to Fly Air Canada?

No, but Air Canada must either issue the ticket or operate the flight. The following count, all in Economy Standard or higher:

• Air Canada-operated flights (including Express and Rouge), whoever issued the ticket.

• Star Alliance flights (Singapore Airlines, ANA, Thai, EVA and so on), but only on an Air Canada-issued ticket with a number starting with 014.

• Air Canada Vacations packages.

What does not count: partner flights on a partner-issued ticket (such as an SQ flight on an SQ ticket), Economy Basic, Aeroplan award bookings including Points + Cash, SQC from promotions, and non-flight SQC from cards or partners. Check your ticket number before you fly.

The Singapore Catch: Air Canada Is Leaving Changi Airport

Air Canada is discontinuing its Vancouver to Singapore service, with the last Singapore departure on 26 January 2027. Your 90-day window starts when registration is processed (up to 48 hours), and eligible flights must depart within it. Registering in late October gives you a window to around 26 January, covering the December school holidays and the remaining nonstops. After that, you would need Air Canada-ticketed itineraries connecting through other Asian gateways such as Bangkok, which Air Canada is making a year-round route.

How Long Is the Status Valid?

Status lasts until 31 January of the second calendar year after the year you registered, based solely on your registration date. Register in 2026 and status runs to 31 January 2028. Register in 2027 and it runs to 31 January 2029. This is a real trade-off from Singapore. Registering now lets you use the remaining nonstops. Registering in early 2027 adds a year of validity, but the nonstop ends partway through your window.

The Fine Print

• One attempt per calendar year. You can only re-register after your current 90-day window ends.

• Your Hyatt tier is locked at registration. If you are close to Globalist, finish those nights before you register.

• Posting rules. Status is updated within 72 hours of meeting the target. SQC from flights within your window can still post during a 120-day allowance period afterwards.

• Existing Aeroplan elites cannot enrol if they already hold a tier equal to or higher than their top challenge tier that is valid through the following year.

For Explorists, 25K is only Star Alliance Silver, so it is hard to get excited unless you fly Air Canada regularly. For Globalists, 17,000 SQC for 50K is the sweet spot: Star Alliance Gold lounges worldwide, Maple Leaf Lounge access and 15 eUpgrade credits. If you already have a North America trip planned, register before you book and make sure Air Canada issues the ticket.

Apply for the Trust Freedom Card in the Trust app with my referral code 9VCJF1P5 and earn up to 100,000 Max Miles!

What Has Changed on the Trust Freedom Card

The Trust Freedom Card is the old Trust Cashback Card with a new name and four reward modes. You pick one each membership quarter: Bonus Cashback, Unlimited Cashback, Stockback, or the new Trust Miles mode, which launched on 21 September 2026. You switch modes in the Trust app, and the change takes effect from your next membership quarter. Note that a membership quarter is not the same as a calendar quarter, so check yours in the app before you plan around it.

On paper, 1.3 mpd is unremarkable. For local spend I would still reach for a 4 mpd card in the right category. The rate becomes interesting once you remember that every other miles card in Singapore adds 3.25% to every foreign currency transaction.

The Welcome Offer: Up to 100,000 Max Miles

The welcome offer is for brand new Trust credit card customers only. If you currently hold a Trust credit card, or have ever held one in the past, you will not qualify. From 21 September to 31 October 2026, eligible new customers who apply for the Freedom Card, select Trust Miles as their initial reward, and meet a minimum spend within 31 days of card approval will receive bonus Max Miles via HeyMax.

The sweet spot depends on how much spend you can genuinely move onto the card within a month. Moving from S$1,000 to S$5,000 earns 30,000 extra bonus miles on S$4,000 of additional spend, which works out to 7.5 bonus miles per dollar at the margin. Going from S$5,000 to S$15,000 still adds 5 bonus miles per dollar. If you have a large overseas trip, a renovation, or a big-ticket purchase such as furniture or electronics coming up in the next few weeks, the top tier is within reach. I would not manufacture spend you would not otherwise make, though. Common big payments like insurance premiums, school fees and rent are excluded, so check the exclusion list below before you count on a particular payment.

To apply, download the Trust app, choose the Freedom Card, enter referral code 9VCJF1P5, and make sure you select Trust Miles as your initial reward. That last step is essential, as choosing a cashback or Stockback mode at sign-up will make you ineligible for the bonus Max Miles. The bonus is paid in Max Miles, and this is where it gets particularly useful. HeyMax charges no fees on Max Miles transfers. Its direct transfer partners include Qatar Airways Privilege Club, EVA Air Infinity MileageLands, Japan Airlines JAL Mileage Bank and even Malaysia Airlines Enrich - all at 1:1. Conversions are usually instant, and Max Miles do not expire. 100,000 Max Miles parked in HeyMax is a flexible pot you can deploy into whichever programme has the award space when you need it.

The Maths That Changed My Overseas Spending

Until now, most of my overseas spend has gone on the HSBC Premier Mastercard, which earns 2.76 miles per dollar on foreign currency spend. It also charges a 3.25% FX fee like everyone else. I had accepted that fee as the cost of earning miles abroad. The Trust Freedom Card has made me rerun the numbers.

The right way to compare the two cards is the cost per extra mile. Assume S$1,000 of foreign currency spend:

By putting overseas spend on the HSBC Premier rather than the Trust Freedom Card, I am effectively buying 1,460 extra miles for S$32.50, or about 2.23 cents per mile. That is more than I would like to pay for a mile (as there are cheaper ways to acquire them), and more than you would pay for miles during most bonus sales. On a S$5,000 trip, the gap is 7,300 miles for S$162.50 in fees. I would rather keep the S$162.50.

The elephant in the room is the HSBC Premier’s limousine benefit. Spending S$12,000 in a quarter unlocks two complimentary limo rides, a perk I have enjoyed for airport transfers. However, if I reached that S$12,000 entirely with foreign currency spend, I would pay S$390 in FX fees to earn 33,120 miles. The same S$12,000 on the Trust Freedom Card earns 15,600 miles with no fees at all. Paying S$390 for 17,520 extra miles and two limo rides does not stack up for me, especially when the same spend could go towards the Trust welcome bonus. For now, saving the 3.25% and earning 1.3 mpd is the better deal by a wide margin.

This matters most if you are working towards one of the new customer bonus tiers. Every dollar of overseas spend you move from the HSBC Premier to the Trust Freedom Card during your first 31 days does two things. It avoids the FX fee, and it counts towards the spending thresholds for bonus Max Miles. No other overseas spending option comes close to that during the welcome period.

The Fine Print Worth Knowing

The S$27.25 conversion fee is the one real catch. It is charged per transfer, so the solution is to batch. Converting 1,300 Trust Miles on its own costs about 2.1 cents per mile, which wipes out much of the benefit. Converting 20,000 Trust Miles at once brings that down to roughly 0.14 cents per mile. Trust Miles are valid until the end of the third calendar year after they are earned, so there is no hurry. I plan to let mine accumulate and convert once a year. Moving them into Max Miles also stops the expiry clock, since Max Miles do not expire.

Remember the S$5 earning blocks as well. A S$4.80 coffee earns nothing, and a S$9 meal earns the same as a S$5 one. This matters far less for the large overseas bills where this card shines.

As with any foreign currency spend, always choose to pay in the local currency when a terminal offers dynamic currency conversion. Paying in S$ abroad means the merchant’s exchange rate, not Visa’s, and it defeats the purpose of carrying a no FX fee card.

Finally, the welcome offer is strictly for customers who have never held a Trust credit card, and you must select Trust Miles as your initial reward when you apply. Existing and former Trust cardholders can still switch to Miles mode for the 1.3 mpd and no FX fee, but they will not receive the bonus Max Miles.

What Does Not Earn Trust Miles

Trust Miles are only awarded on retail transactions, and the exclusion list is longer than some readers might expect. If you are planning large payments to hit a welcome bonus tier, check them against this list first. The following transactions do not earn rewards:

• Cash advances, Instant Loans and Balance Transfers.

• Transactions that are later cancelled, voided, refunded or reversed, or that are never posted to your Freedom Card.

• AXS, SAM and ATM transactions.

• Insurance premiums.

• Monthly instalments of a split purchase.

• Fees and charges, including annual fees, service fees, interest, administrative fees, finance charges and late payment fees.

• Amounts rolled over from a previous month’s statement.

• Top-ups or payments of funds into any account.

• Tax refunds credited to your Freedom Card.

• Transactions under the following Merchant Category Codes (MCCs):

  • Utilities, rentals and cleaning services: 4900, 6513, 7349

  • Financial institutions, brokers, quasi-cash, insurance, stored value card loads and wire transfers: 4829, 5960, 6010, 6011, 6012, 6051, 6211, 6300, 6540

  • Gambling: 7995

  • Educational institutions: 8211, 8220, 8241, 8244, 8249, 8299

  • Charities, political and religious organisations, and government payments: 8398, 8651, 8661, 9211, 9222, 9223, 9311, 9399, 9402, 9405

  • Other services: 7299, 7399, 8999

• Any other transactions, fees or payments that Trust decides to exclude.

The ones most likely to catch people out are insurance premiums, education fees, utilities and rent, and e-wallet top-ups. These are exactly the large, lumpy payments people tend to use for welcome bonus spend. Also watch MCC 7399 (business services) and 7299 (miscellaneous personal services). Many online subscriptions and payment platforms code under these, so it is worth checking how a merchant codes before you rely on it. Your everyday overseas spend on hotels, dining, shopping and transport is unaffected, and that is where this card is meant to be used anyway.

Is the Trust Freedom Card Worth Getting?

For anyone who spends meaningfully overseas, I think the answer is yes. With no annual fee, forever, there is no cost to keeping it in your wallet as a dedicated foreign currency card, and no yearly waiver call to the bank. If you have never held a Trust credit card, the welcome offer of up to 100,000 Max Miles, which you can move freely into Avios or Asia Miles, makes signing up before 31 October 2026 an easy decision. It will not replace your 4 mpd cards, but it should replace the 3.25% fee you have been paying on everything else abroad. For me, that means my HSBC Premier will see a lot less overseas action from now on, limo rides or not.

The new amenities are only one piece of a larger puzzle. SIA says they form part of a broader elevated end-to-end travel experience, alongside next-generation cabin products, refreshed food and beverage offerings, a new KrisWorld in-flight entertainment system and high-speed internet connectivity. That full experience will be unveiled in Singapore in November 2026.

All new amenity kits will be introduced progressively from November 2026 on flights above six hours. The sleeper suits are more restricted: they will be available on selected medium-haul overnight flights of more than six hours, and on all long-haul flights. From Singapore, that six-hour threshold matters. The overnight red-eyes to North Asia and Australia are the ones to watch for sleeper suits, though SIA has not published a route list, so I would treat these as "selected" until confirmed. Long-haul flights to Europe and the United States will get the full set. As with any progressive rollout, expect a transition period where older stock is still being loaded on some flights.

Suites and First Class: SISLEY Takes Over

SIA has partnered with SISLEY, the French luxury cosmetics maison known for its botanical skincare. There are separate men's and women's kits, each carrying SISLEY's orchid emblem on the front and the SIA logo at the back, with the women's kit also incorporating the brand's gingko leaf pattern. The women's kit draws from SISLEY's premium anti-ageing Sisleÿa range, while the men's kit uses the Sisleÿum range. SIA says it is the only airline offering products from both ranges.

Women's Kit (Sisleÿa):

• Sisleÿa L'Intégral Anti-Age Cream

• Sisleÿa L'Intégral Anti-Age Eye and Lip Contour Cream

• Sisleÿa Essential Skin Care Lotion

• Black Rose Cream Mask

• Restorative Hand Cream

• L'Eau Rêvée d'Eliya fragrance

Men's Kit (Sisleÿum):

• Sisleÿum Anti-Age Mattifying Gel-Cream

• All Day All Year Essential Anti-Aging Protection

• Ecological Compound

• Nutritive Lip Balm

• Restorative Hand Cream

• L'Eau Rêvée d'Alma fragrance

In the lavatories, you will find SISLEY's Eau de Campagne fragrance, Eau de Campagne Moisturising Body Lotion and Floral Spray Mist, along with dental kits and mouthwash. The sleepwear has also been redeveloped. The new sleeper suits are 100% cotton in dark grey, with a subtle print of SIA's batik motif on the top's placket and side seams. Importantly, they now come in four sizes, which should help with fit. New coral fleece slippers with improved padding and eyeshades round out the set.

The SISLEY partnership extends to the ground. At The Private Room and the First Class SilverKris Lounge at Changi Terminals 2 and 3, the shower suites will stock HAIR RITUEL BY SISLEY Fortifying Densifying Shampoo and Restructuring Conditioner, plus SISLEY's Eau de Campagne Bath and Shower Gel, fragrance and body lotion. This makes for a consistent pre-flight ritual if you like to shower before a long-haul departure.

Business Class: Sleeper Suits at Last, Plus BYREDO

This is the cabin where the upgrade is most meaningful. SIA is introducing sleeper suits in Business Class for the first time. They are navy blue poly-cotton with a relaxed fit, and feature a subtle tone-on-tone batik print below the inner collar and on the inner lining of the trouser pockets. Grey poly-cotton slippers complete the set.

The elephant in the room is sizing. The Business Class suits come in only two sizes (compared with four in First), so taller or broader travellers may find the fit a little hit-and-miss. It is also poly-cotton rather than the 100% cotton offered up front, which is a reasonable compromise for the volume involved.

The amenity kit moves to BYREDO, the Stockholm-founded fragrance and beauty brand. The kit comes in a soft grey zip pouch with a stylised BYREDO logo on the front and an embossed SIA logo at the back. Inside, you will find:

• BYREDO Blanche Eau de Parfum (the first time SIA has included a fragrance spray in a Business Class kit)

• Blanche hand cream

• Lip balm

• Eyeshades, socks and a dental kit

SIA says it will be the first airline to offer BYREDO's Blanche range. For those unfamiliar, Blanche is a soft, clean scent that blends delicate florals with sandalwood and musk, so it is a fairly safe choice that should suit most travellers. In the Business Class lavatories, BYREDO's Blanche body lotion and a Vitamin E chamomile facial toner will be available.

Premium Economy and Economy

Premium Economy customers will receive a new SIA-designed zip pouch with a hand strap, made from recycled materials and embossed with the airline's batik motif. Inside is a white tea-scented lip balm from INK & WATER, an Australian personal-care brand, which is exclusive to SIA customers. Eyeshades, socks and a dental kit complete the kit.

Economy customers will receive a collectible drawstring pouch featuring the batik motif, containing eyeshades, socks and a dental kit. It is a simple set, but the pouch itself is the kind of thing that ends up being reused as a cable or toiletry bag long after the flight.

Amenities for Children

Young travellers in Suites, First Class and Business Class on flights above five hours can receive the latest collectible Beary soft toy, which SIA says is larger, plusher and softer than before. Across all cabins and flights, SIA's latest collaboration with Disney brings Pixar's Toy Story-themed amenities for children aged 12 and below. These include a bib for infants, a drawstring bag for children aged three to six, and an activity notepad for older children.

The standout here is clearly Business Class. Sleeper suits and a proper fragrance spray in the kit are small touches individually, but together they close a gap that SIA's Business Class product has had relative to some regional rivals on long-haul. In Suites and First, SISLEY's anti-ageing skincare lines give the kits a level of skincare credibility that befits the cabin. For miles chasers, this is a fantastic win if you are already redeeming KrisFlyer miles for long-haul Business Class to Europe or the United States, since those flights will receive the full Business Class set. On shorter regional sectors, the six-hour threshold means nothing changes.

Of course, amenity kits are the appetiser. The bigger question is what SIA reveals in November 2026 with its next-generation cabins, new KrisWorld and high-speed connectivity, and I will cover that once the details are out.

Click HERE to compare the latest credit card sign-up offers before you book your 2027 holidays!

Singapore Airlines: Over 200,000 Return Tickets to 78 Destinations

SIA is releasing more than 200,000 discounted return tickets across Business Class, Premium Economy Class and Economy Class. Destinations highlighted in the release include Bangkok, Hangzhou, London, Los Angeles, Madrid, Seoul and Sydney. The travel window of 1 January to 30 September 2027 is generous. It covers Chinese New Year, the June school holidays and the run-up to National Day, which is exactly when fares out of Changi tend to be at their least forgiving. As usual, the discounted fares apply only to selected flights during specific travel periods, so expect the best prices to cluster around shoulder dates.

Scoot: Over 180,000 One-Way Tickets to 70 Destinations

Scoot is contributing more than 180,000 discounted one-way tickets in ScootPlus and Economy Class. Note the difference: SIA's figure counts return tickets, while Scoot's counts one-way tickets, so the two numbers are not directly comparable. The more interesting part is the new routes. Scoot is including Belitung, Chiang Rai, Guiyang and Okinawa in the sale, alongside established favourites such as Jeju, Nanjing, Osaka and Vienna. Okinawa in particular should appeal to anyone who has already done Tokyo and Osaka a few times over. Scoot travel runs from 9 November 2026 to 15 October 2027, which means the sale also covers the year-end school holidays. Blackout dates apply, however, so do not assume the peak December weekends will be included. Scoot says full details of its deals will be on its website from 23 October 2026.

The Physical Fair at Suntec (23 to 25 October 2026)

The three-day fair takes place at Suntec Singapore Convention and Exhibition Centre, Halls 401, 402 and 403, with exclusive deals from over 30 travel agents and partners. If you are heading down, these are the perks worth knowing about.

Lucky draws

• Grand prize: a pair of SIA Business Class return tickets to Cebu, Hangzhou and Sydney, with hotel accommodation.

• Daily draws: SIA Business Class return tickets to London Gatwick, Madrid and Male with hotel accommodation, Scoot vouchers worth up to S$2,000, and S$800 worth of KrisShop vouchers.

Kris+ at 11 miles per S$1

This is the perk I would pay the most attention to. Kris+ users earn an accelerated 11 miles per S$1 when paying with Kris+ at KrisShop or Pelago, plus bonus lucky draw entries and merchandise redemptions. Read the fine print carefully, though. At KrisShop, the rate only applies to Kris+ payments made at the KrisShop booth at the fair, while the Pelago portion carries no such restriction. If you were already planning to book tours or activities for a 2027 trip, stacking 11 miles per dollar on Pelago with the miles from your credit card is a sensible way to pad your KrisFlyer balance.

Mastercard spend offer

• Spend a minimum of S$5,000 on a Mastercard credit or debit card to redeem S$100 in Pelago or KrisShop vouchers.

• You also get a sure-win lucky dip, with prizes including a pair of SIA Economy Class return tickets (valid for selected destinations only).

• Vouchers are capped at 125 per platform daily, so the early birds will have the advantage.

The S$100 voucher works out to a 2% rebate on S$5,000, which is respectable but not remarkable. It only makes sense if you were going to spend that much on flights anyway and your Mastercard also earns a strong miles rate on the transaction.

Other perks

• KrisShop is offering up to 30% off selected Batik Label items and is launching its new Destination Series: Korea Edition merchandise exclusively at the fair.

• The top Pelago spender at the booth wins a hotel stay at Sofitel Singapore City Centre.

Time To Fly has become a fixture of the Singapore travel calendar, and the volume this year is substantial. The elephant in the room is that SIA has not yet revealed the actual fares, and "discounted" on SIA can mean anything from genuinely sharp Business Class pricing to a modest trim on Economy Lite. If you have 2027 holidays in mind, note down the cash fares for your preferred dates now, so you have a baseline to compare against on 23 October. For premium cabins, also check KrisFlyer award availability before paying cash. A paid Business Class fare only makes sense if it beats the value you would otherwise get from redeeming your miles. Whichever route you take, pay with a card that earns bonus miles on airline or online spend. Otherwise you are leaving miles on the table on what could easily be a four-figure transaction.

Click HERE to apply for the Citi SMRT Card and get S$450 cash!

Choice of Rewards

• S$450 Cash via PayNow

• S$470 Shopee Vouchers

• 25,000 Max Miles

• Dyson Airstrait (worth S$799)

• Dyson V8 Cyclone cordless vacuum (worth S$559)

What the Citi SMRT Card Earns

The card is a straightforward everyday cashback card. Rebates are paid in SMRT$ rather than straight cash:

• 5% back on three categories: online purchases, all supermarkets and grocery stores, and taxi and public transport rides. Public transport counts when you tap the card on buses and trains through SimplyGo.

• A S$500 monthly minimum spend unlocks the 5% rate. If you spend less than S$500 in a month, you only earn 0.3% SMRT$, which is also the rate on all other spending.

• An annual rather than monthly cap. Rebates are capped at 600 SMRT$ per card membership year, which is the same as earning 5% on up to S$12,000 of spending.

• The annual fee is waived for two years. The fee is S$196.20, with the first two years waived.

Why It Is an OK Card (but Not a Great One)

The appeal is simplicity. Groceries, online shopping and transport cover a big share of most Singaporeans’ monthly spending, so hitting S$500 a month is realistic for many households. Having no monthly cap is also helpful, as you can concentrate spending in a heavy month without leaving rebates on the table. The trade-offs are real, though. SMRT$ is not as flexible as cash, since SMRT$ or SMRT Reward Vouchers can only be redeemed in multiples of SMRT$10. SMRT$ also expires: your 12-month earning period starts from the date Citi issues or renews your card, so you will want to redeem regularly. Miss the S$500 minimum in a given month and the earn rate drops to a fairly poor 0.3%.

For most people this is a sign-up-bonus card first and an everyday card second. Collect the S$450, use the card for transport and groceries while the fee is waived, and keep your 4 mpd cards for everything else.

New Citi Customers Only

As usual, the reward is only for eligible new Citi credit cardholders. You must not currently hold a principal Citi credit card, and you must not have cancelled one in the last 12 months. A Citi card that has been approved but not yet activated also counts as an existing card, as does a pending Citi card application. Once approved, activate your card, complete the SingSaver Rewards Redemption Form within 14 days of applying, and spend S$500 within 30 days. Instalment plans, cash advances, bill payments, fees and refunded transactions do not count. Keep the card for at least 12 months, as the reward may be clawed back if you cancel early.

Other Citi Cards on Offer (S$400 Cash)

If the Citi SMRT Card does not suit your spending, the same promotion offers S$400 cash via PayNow on the following cards, with the same S$500 minimum spend:

• Citi PremierMiles: a general spending miles card. Citi Miles never expire.

• Citi Rewards: earns Citi ThankYou Points on online and shopping spend - pair it with an Amaze card to enjoy lower FX fees.

• Citi Cash Back+: unlimited 1.6% cashback on all eligible spend with no minimum spend.

• Citi Cash Back: up to 23.64% savings at Caltex, Esso and Shell, including 8% cashback on petrol.

• Citi M1: earns Citi M1 rebates, best suited to M1 customers.

Since you can only get one Citi reward, pick the card you would actually keep. For my money, the Citi SMRT Card is only the best choice if its S$50 higher reward and 5% categories genuinely fit your spending. For the latest sign-up bonuses from every bank, see my Best Credit Card Sign-Up Bonuses page, which updates automatically as promotions start and end.

Click HERE to book a stay at InterContinental Taipei!

InterContinental Taipei sits at No. 535, Section 4, Zhongxiao East Road, within the Taipei Dome complex alongside the Dome itself and the Far Eastern SOGO Garden City mall on the same site. The nearest MRT station is Sun Yat-sen Memorial Hall on the Bannan (Blue) Line, and Exit 5 brings you out at the south-west corner of the Dome complex. Taipei Main Station, where you connect to the Airport MRT for Taoyuan, is five stops west on the same line. The Taipei Dome has become a major concert and baseball venue, and a growing number of Singaporeans now fly up specifically for concerts in Taipei. Being able to walk back to your room after a show, rather than fighting the post-concert crowds at the MRT, is a massive perk. The flip side is that room rates on event nights are likely to spike, so check the Dome's calendar before you lock in your dates.

Classic Rooms start from approximately 38sqm, which is a comfortable size for a city hotel in Taipei, and selected rooms frame views of Taipei 101. If you are booking, it is worth requesting a Taipei 101-facing room at the time of reservation rather than leaving it to chance at check-in. The more interesting product is the residential-style suites, which start from approximately 76sqm and come with a full kitchen, a dining area and in-suite laundry. The design concept is built around the idea of "In Taipei, For Taipei", drawing on the city's architecture, culture and collective memory. IHG says these references run from the lobby installation through to musical motifs woven into the event spaces, alongside details inspired by old Taipei.

The InterContinental Taipei has seven dining concepts, including restaurants led by Akira Back, the Korean-American chef whose restaurants are found across Asia, the Middle East and North America. Seven outlets is a lot for a 347-key hotel, and it suggests the hotel is pitching itself as much at Taipei locals as at international guests. Facilities include an indoor pool, a fitness centre, versatile event spaces and a Club InterContinental lounge. Do note that club access is not a published benefit for IHG One Rewards Diamond Elite members, so if lounge access matters to you, you will need to book a Club InterContinental room or rate.

InterContinental Taipei is the fourth InterContinental in Taiwan, and IHG has been opening roughly one a year since 2024.

InterContinental New Taipei Hot Spring is the brand's first hot spring resort in Taiwan, which means IHG members can now pair a city stay in Xinyi with a couple of nights at the hot spring property on the same trip. Add Hualien Farglory Hotel, Vignette Collection to the pipeline, and IHG's Luxury & Lifestyle footprint in Taiwan is starting to look like a proper network rather than a scattering of properties.

This is a fantastic win for IHG One Rewards members who travel to Taipei. Until now, the capital has not had a flagship InterContinental, and IHG members heading to Xinyi have had to look elsewhere for a full-service luxury stay. The elephant in the room is competition. Xinyi is already a crowded luxury market, with W Taipei and Grand Hyatt Taipei within walking distance, and InterContinental Taipei will need to earn its place on more than just novelty. The ingredients are promising: larger-than-average rooms, genuinely residential suites, Taipei 101 views and a location that is unbeatable for anyone attending an event at the Dome.

Click HERE for the best credit card sign-up offers in Singapore!

The first thing that struck me was how far removed the design is from the dated, dimly lit contract lounges I have come to expect in Thailand. The Vista leans into a breezy, coastal aesthetic: pale grey pillars, arched alcoves with brass picture lights, beach-themed artwork and a vintage-style illustrated map of Bangkok. Floor-to-ceiling windows are dressed in woven bamboo blinds with warm backlighting, which keeps the space bright without the harsh afternoon glare. Seating is varied and sensibly zoned. The central area is filled with round wooden dining tables paired with curved cream armchairs, which are at the correct height for actually eating a meal. Along the windows, a long leather banquette with yellow scatter cushions offers a more relaxed setting for couples or small groups.

For those who need to get some work done, a long communal high table sits under two rows of pendant lights, with pop-up power outlets along its length. Wi-Fi details are displayed on table cards throughout the lounge (network: Vista Lounge; password: ilovecoral), and flight information screens are placed in several corners so you can keep an eye on your departure gate. This is also where you can easily charge your devices as international power outlets are readily available here - there are some other power outlets scattered around the lounge but you will need to bring your own travel adapter if you have an international plug.

As I was flying back to Singapore via SQ735 which was scheduled to depart at 6:00PM, I arrived at the lounge at approximately 4:15PM and I noticed that it started to get busy from 5:00PM. Given that Phuket sees waves of departures to Singapore, Hong Kong and the Middle East in the late afternoon and evening, I would expect it to fill up quickly at peak times.

The Vista is also the designated lounge for Cathay Pacific in Phuket. At the back of the lounge, a small area is cordoned off with velvet ropes and brass stanchions, reserved for Cathay Pacific Business Class passengers as well as oneworld Emerald and oneworld Sapphire members. The section features bold tub chairs, side tables and arched windows that let in more natural light than the main lounge. From what I could see, it is a quieter seating zone rather than a separate lounge, and the food and beverage offering appeared to be the same as the main area. Since I was traveling on Singapore Airlines, I did not bother trying to gain access to this area.

All the food served at the Vista is halal, which makes it a comfortable choice for Muslim travellers flying home from Phuket. The buffet counter is dressed with towering floral arrangements and sculptural vases, and every dish is clearly labelled in English and Thai. A food allergy notice is also displayed, advising that dishes may contain or have come into contact with peanuts, tree nuts, soybeans, milk, eggs, wheat, shellfish or fish.

Hot dishes are kept in a row of cast-iron pots on induction warmers, alongside steamed rice and a creamy potato soup. The cold section includes a tuna niçoise salad with a choice of Thousand Island, Japanese sesame soy and Caesar dressings, green and black olives, and a small selection of maki rolls with shoyu and wasabi.

The bakery corner offers canapé tartlets, cheese sandwiches, banana cake and trays of blueberry and cherry muffins. A glass-fronted chiller holds yoghurt pots, cupcakes, butter, traditional Thai desserts such as thong yod (golden egg yolk drops), cut fruit (watermelon and dragon fruit) and jugs of chilled juices, including mango juice.

I kept my plate simple with a delicious beef massaman curry, stir-fried black fungus and mushrooms, and seafood fried rice. Even though they looked pretty ordinary, the flavours were actually great. While the spread is not extensive, it is a clear step up from the processed carbohydrates I have encountered at other contract lounges in the region.

While the food is halal, the Vista still has a fully staffed bar, and the drinks are complimentary for Priority Pass members. This is a massive perk compared to the Coral Executive Lounge on the 4th floor, where the Priority Pass listing limits complimentary alcohol to beer only.

The menu is surprisingly comprehensive for a contract lounge:

• Coral's Signature cocktails: Pink Coral, Blue Coral, White Coral, Orange Sunshine and a Siam Mojito made with Sang Som rum

• Classic cocktails: Gin and Tonic, Screwdriver, Mojito, Bloody Mary and Dry Martini

• Spirits: Sang Som, Mekhong, Uncle Tom, Smirnoff, Gordon's and Jameson

• Wine and beer: red, white and sparkling wine, plus Chang and Federbräu beer

• Mocktails: around ten options, including a Virgin Mojito, Mango Fizz and Pineapple Punch

• Soft drinks: Coke, Coke Zero, Orange and Sprite

The Vista has its own restrooms, so there is no need to leave the lounge and queue with the crowds in the terminal. However, there is only one male and one female toilet, so you may have to wait your turn when the lounge gets busy. The male restroom is a single room with a toilet, a urinal and a sink (that is awfully close to the urinal). There are no shower facilities in the lounge, which is worth noting if you are hoping to freshen up after a final afternoon at the beach after checking-out of the hotel.

The Coral Finest Business Class Lounge (Vista) is a welcome upgrade for anyone departing from Phuket's International Terminal. The design is bright and thoughtfully zoned, the halal buffet is well presented and properly labelled, and a complimentary bar with cocktails, wine and spirits is a rarity for a Priority Pass lounge in Southeast Asia. The main caveats are the 3-hour stay limit (even though this would probably not affect most of us) and the likelihood of crowds during the evening departure peak. Still, if you have Priority Pass through your credit card, this is the lounge I would head to first before my flight back to Singapore. oneworld Emerald and Sapphire members flying Cathay Pacific also get the bonus of a quieter cordoned-off section at the back.