London, Seychelles, Ethiopia

Jun 14-23, 2013
Jun 14 AC856 YYZ-LHR, Jun 16 ET701 LHR-ADD, ET879 ADD-SEZ, Jun 21 ET878 SEZ-ADD, Jun 22 ET704 ADD-CDG, Jun 23 AC871 CDG-YUL, AC831 YUL-YYZ

The main reason that I collect hotel points is to use them at the highest value aspirational properties in an individual hotel chain.  The Hilton program was a very good program, until in 2012 they changed the rules and required almost twice as many points for the highest value properties.  Luckily, they gave us some advanced warning, and we used the opportunity to empty our Hilton accounts before the rules came into place.  The Hilton Seychelles is one of the more exclusive properties in the Hilton chain, so we locked in a vacation under the old rules.  The Seychelles is an African island in the Indian Ocean with limited flight options.  Given the long distances, we wanted to use our points for business class tickets, and the only practical way to get there was via Ethiopia.  Due to some schedule changes, we got an extra day in London on the way, but still found enough time on Seychelles and even for a stop in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, on the way home.  For our flight from London to Ethiopia, we got our first ride on the 787 and were impressed with both the plane and the service.  Our flight back was a little less restful, as we had an older plane, and there were a lot of African diplomats meeting on the plane on their way to Brussels via Paris.  The Seychelles and the resort lived up to its reputation for beauty and relaxation and after we scheduled our wedding just prior to leaving, turned into our official honeymoon. 

Jun 14-15
Overnight flight to London day in the city

The inside of the Churchill War Room Museum

Some of the many interesting artifacts in the museum

Me looking serious in front of Big Ben

Jun 16
Day in London prior to our overnight flight to the Seychelles via Ethiopia

Exploring the remains of the 2012 Summer Olympic Grounds

Some of the more colourful participants in the London Walk for Life

Looking across the Millennium Bridge to St. Paul’s

Some of the many bubbles

The end of our Thames walk before heading back to the hotel and towards the airport

Jun 17
Arrive at the Hilton after overnight and connecting flights to the Seychelles

Jun 18
Exploring the capital of the Seychelles

The clock tower in Victoria’s main square

Seychelles historic court house

Seychelles National Library

Jun 19
After relaxing in the resort, explore more of the island

Looking out at Eden Island

One of the many beaches around the island

The beautiful infinity pool was never crowded

Jun 20
Last days relaxing at the resort

The small hotel buildings tucked into the hillside

Our incredible cabin

Some of the more original towel origami at the hotel pool

Jun 21-22
Afternoon flight to Addis Ababa and day exploring the capital

View of the sprawling capital from our hotel balcony

Some of the less developed areas of the city

Lucy (the skeleton of a female Australopithecus afarensis) background

Scale model of Lucy showing the discovered bones.  She was surprisingly short.

The exterior of the interesting Ethnological Museum where we were given a detailed tour

St. George’s cathedral Orthodox Cathedral

The moving “Red Terror” Martyrs Memorial Museum brought to life by a survivor

Entrance to the Holy Trinity Cathedral

Last view of the city before sunset and making our way back for the evening flight home

Jun 22-23
Overnight flight home via Paris