Part 1 of my SAS EuroBonus challenge: Flying to South Korea and Bali

Last week, I wrote about how I was taking on the SAS EuroBonus million-mile challenge. Now that my trip has kicked off, I’ll be checking in with periodic reports on how it’s going.

I’m flying around the world in 25 days on 18 flights with 15 airlines, visiting 15 countries, and journaling every step along the way. So far, I’ve flown three airlines nearly 9,000 miles among four airports and stopped in two different Asian destinations.

Here’s how my trip is going so far and some of the experiences I’ve been having.

Flight 1: The short hop from Portland to Seattle on Delta

My first flight was an uneventful 30-minute hop from Portland International Airport (PDX) to Seattle-Tacoma International Airport (SEA) on Delta Air Lines early in the morning.

Rather than paying $35 to check a bag (after all, this is a long trip!), I was instead able to upgrade to first class for just $29, which gave me the ability to check two bags for free if I needed to. Not bad saving $6, especially considering I also got a more comfortable seat.

Flight 2: The long-haul flight from Seattle to Seoul on Korean Air

After I arrived in Seattle, I needed to get my bag and then check in with Korean Air, as I would be flying to Incheon International Airport (ICN) outside Seoul for the next leg of my trip.

Once I was all checked in, I headed to the Amex Centurion Lounge to relax before my flight, since I have The Platinum Card® from American Express, which allowed me access.

The airline gods were smiling upon me for this flight, as I noticed that once boarding had ended, nobody was sitting in the middle seat next to me. That meant I had more room to stretch out (a definite bonus for someone who is 6 feet, 4 inches tall), and it helped that even the regular economy seat pitch was about 34 inches, which rivals what you’ll find in some extra-legroom seats on U.S. carriers.

My favorite part of the flight was the food. My first meal was a Korean staple, bibimbap. It was quite tasty and, dare I say, even rivaled some versions I have had on land, though the portion was small.

The second meal I was served was a chicken and rice dish, and while it was good (if overly sauced), it didn’t rival the flavor of the bibimbap.

Between eating, nodding off and watching a few movies, 12 hours passed in no time, and before I knew it, I was in “The Land of the Morning Calm,” as South Korea is sometimes known. My only gripe with this flight was the lack of inflight Wi-Fi, but I must admit it was nice being disconnected for some hours.

Once I deplaned, I went through an incredibly efficient immigration process and was on my way to my hotel, the Sheraton Grand Incheon, for a good night’s rest before my next big flight.

Flight 3: The medium-haul flight from Seoul to Bali

The following morning, I headed back to the airport to check in for my Garuda Indonesia flight to Ngurah Rai International Airport (DPS) on Bali. I was feeling extra excited because Bali has always been on my bucket list.

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CHRIS NELSON/THE POINTS GUY

When checking in, I was presented with an offer to upgrade to business class for just $217, which I considered a steal for an almost-seven-hour flight. I jumped at the offer, but as soon as I tried to buy it, the Garuda representative told me they could not sell it anymore. Despite the disappointment, I was pleasantly surprised on board to find I had an entire four-seat row to myself on the Airbus A330 that was taking me to Bali.

On this 6-hour, 50-minute flight, we were served two meals. The first was another bibimbap dish that was good but not as tasty as Korean Air’s. The second was just an average tuna sandwich.

This flight did have Wi-Fi, but it was not working properly, unfortunately, so I couldn’t take advantage of my long daytime flight to do some research on my upcoming destinations. On the plus side, the service was exemplary — warm and gracious but efficient — and made me even more excited to be visiting Bali.

We landed in the evening and, although everything had gone like clockwork so far and all my flights had been pleasant, I was thrilled knowing that I wouldn’t have to step on another plane for five days.

Bali highlights

When I walked out of the airport in Bali, I was immediately met with humidity and lots of rain. It’s currently the rainy season, so all my plans to hang out at the beach and see the sights were planned around the few hours each day when it would be dry and sunny.

I stayed at the Aloft Bali Seminyak for five nights, which cost me 50,500 Marriott Bonvoy points. A bargain by any standard, I even saved a few thousand points by taking advantage of Marriott’s fifth night free on award stays perk. My Marriott Bonvoy Titanium elite status also got me an upgrade to a room with direct pool access.

On my second day, I went to the Tanah Lot Temple, an oceanfront temple and monument. Despite the pouring rain, the views were definitely worth it, and others seemed to share my sentiment, as it was packed with tourists.

On my third day, I came down with food poisoning, unfortunately. I was down for the count for the next two days, which derailed my plans to go to Uluwatu, a popular beachfront area where I hoped to visit Savaya Beach Club, a trendy venue I’d read about.

On my last day in Bali, I journeyed up to Ubud, an area known for nature, adventure and wellness activities. I stopped by the verdant Tegalalang rice terraces and the Tegenungan waterfall, which was one of the most breathtaking cascades I have seen.

After, I stopped at Omma Dayclub, which has reasonably priced food and drinks and is perched in the trees above the waterfall.

If you’re staying on the coast and want to visit Ubud, I would suggest getting a hotel near the city for a couple of nights instead. Traffic on Bali can be very heavy and hectic, meaning the journey from Seminyak to Ubud can take more than two hours, even though it’s only around 20 miles. More intrepid travelers can also consider renting a motorbike or scooter instead, since that can cut down on travel times.

I loved getting outside the more developed areas, personally, and seeing some of the island’s rural regions, where you can still find beautiful little villages and quiet temples.

I also found it handy to have cash on hand rather than counting on being able to pay for things with a credit card, since many places I visited did not accept cards, or had prohibitively high minimum spending requirements. I was disappointed I could not maximize my earnings, as the majority of the money spent was on food and transit, which I would have paid for with my Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card.

Bottom line

So far, my trip is going well and I’m feeling great, despite the large distances and many time zones I’ve already traveled. I’d been looking forward to visiting Bali for a long time, and the island certainly did not disappoint, despite some rainy weather. It’s simply beautiful, and the people I met were so kind. Next time, I plan to visit during a sunnier time of year, though.

The flights I have taken so far have already been posted to my SAS account, which is a good sign as I keep moving to meet the challenge. At this rate, I might even earn SAS EuroBonus elite status, which I can later use to status match to other airlines.

Next, it’s on to Vietnam, the so-called “Land of the Blue Dragon,” for more adventures, so stay tuned for part 2 next week!