Thursday, April 30, 2015

Houston - To Do (ABBA Contribution by Kelvin Seet - Top Gun)

Houston - To Stay
Houston - To Do
Houston - To Eat
Houston - To Buy
Houston - To Do
Top Gun
(Shooting Range)
 
(Complimentary Transport provided by Hilton Posk Oaks Hotel)
 Click here for Top Gun Prices and charges
 
*Viewing gallery*

Visited On:
14Aug2015

Staff are extremely knowledgeable, friendly and helpful. They even suggested some good eats around their shop lots. What better than firing at a gun range Pre/post meals.

Taking pictures in the gun range aren't a problem at all. One can take as much shots both through the camera and on the range. Gun Safety us paramount throughout the experience and everything done in a safe manner. Staff is on hand to guide us through. Staff were willing to chat on all manner of weapons available and showing off the classics, along with the latest and greatest. There are no problems on handling ammunition and/or fire arms of choice at the payment counter. Photo taking is not a problem at all.

For our pump action Shot Gun Experience (6shots each). USD33.30 per pax or pretty much USD5+ a shot. 
*ABBA Contribution by Kelvin Seet*
Weapons are at $12 per handgun and $30 per automatic rifle or submachine gun.
Ammo prices are variable. 
 
- 9mm is $20.99 per box of 50.
- Shotgun shells are $13.99 for 25 shells.
- .44 rounds are $52.99 per box of 50.

Lane fees are $15 per head. Ladies don't have to pay on Wednesdays if they (and you definitely will) buy ammo for the shooting practice.
They didn't count by the hour for our case. 

We took one lane and there were 5 of us. Before they allowed us to use handguns, they wanted to find out our shooting experience level. If no one has experience, they will not allow handguns to be used.

Only the rifles and submachine guns as they are used in their presence and guidance. They will ask questions and you have to be able to demonstrate your knowledge and skills to be allowed to rent one.

To rent one, someone needs to surrender an ID. And we all had to sign indemnity forms before shooting. Standard SOP.
A variety of weapons are available and there was even an AK47 using 7.62mm. Standard $30 rental applies but rounds are very expensive at something like $50 for 20 rounds, and that's per magazine. We didn't go for it.

Other weapons included the Uzi, P90, Thompson etc. Basically, all of you who grew up on Counterstrike and First Person Shooters can finally shoot in the real First Person here! tongue emoticon

We used a Walter 9mm pistol, which was recommended by the staff for its ease of use and low recoil. The ladies handled it well. I found it easy to shoot as it's light and accurate. Cheap and fun for an introductory shoot. 
Next we used a pump action 12 gauge Shotgun. Not bad for the experience and it has a strong recoil. Felt like Terminator. But no one hand pump action allowed. Usage is the same as any other rifles but one has to push forward in his or her stance for the recoil.
We then moved on to the MP5 with 9mm rounds.

Compared to the M16 or SAR80 (ancient NS weapon used before M16), it's lighter and less recoil. Usage is the same as other rifles. Fun for its automatic mode! But IA IA IA frequently. That's NS speak for weapon jamming.
Both ladies and the other guy with us decided to leave after that. But the remaining two of us tried the Desert Eagle.
Woah! That is an experience!!
Rental is the same at $12 and as mentioned, ammo is $52.99.
That weapon is the king of handguns! The power felt when I released the explosive content of a. 44 is astounding for a handgun! One has to be there to feel it for him or herself! I literally can feel a mini shockwave with every shot! (I can't stop smiling at the memory). Though it's powerful and heavy, it's still a very accurate weapon! Do give it a try if you feel gung-ho enough! No regrets on our end when we finished shooting!!

The staff were very friendly and helpful and though we were not buying anything (for obvious reasons unless we want to arrive in Changi Prison instead of Changi Airport when we come back), they were willing to talk about the weapons and tell us about them.
It was a superb outing in my opinion (I'm biased because I love shooting, whether it's photographs or bullets), and do give it a try at least once if you are in Houston. Expenditure was $45 for each of us excluding the Desert Eagle.
Have fun!
 Dessert Eagle
Served 2.


Range of Weapons
Served 5

Wednesday, April 22, 2015

ABBA Deals - SFO - Bicycle Rentals


ABBA Deal -  San Francisco
Bicycle Rentals
50% off Bike Rentals for basic bicycles for Aircrew!
with Blazing Saddles
50% off standard and comfort Mountain bikes for whole day rentals.Or (above mentioned) + (Difference of full price standard/comfort mountain bikes and other bicycle variants e.g. electrical).
- USD18 for whole rental of comfort mountain bike from any of the outlets. Mention you are aircrew. I.D may or may not be required at the outlets. Electrical bicycle not available at all outlets.
So with the discount, the cheapest electric bike at USD48 a day would be USD48-USD18(Difference of full price comfort bike and other variants). You get the picture.

ABBA Deals - SFO - Car Rentals


ABBA Deal -  San Francisco

Car Rentals
ABBATip:
When renting a car, especially on a weekend, try to make an advance booking. Cars for your needs may not be available, and its especially difficult for companies to rent out cars for just single day rentals (24hrs).

Enterprise Deal with Parc55.

*Rented the white Toyota Carola pictured left for USD50++ with all insurance in. FYI Red Ferrari goes for USD1000 a day with own insurance.*
Enterprise car rentals only deals with credit cards. Any tolls incurred on the road trip will be automatically charged to the credit card, making payment a huge convenience.
- Parc55 provides free return of vehicle and overnight parking. Basically you can drive the whole day and just return the car to Parc55's valet and you're done. You'll be given a valet slip for proof of returning the vehicle.
An Incredibly convenient return policy Parc 55 has with enterprise cars.

Make sure you get the crew rates. A compaq car, like the toyota carolla we got on our trip, went for USD50. With insurance all in and half tank gas, total about 75USD for the trip.
ABBATIP:- There is no cost to register additional drivers aged 25 and above.
- It maybe cheaper to go with the self top up option of gas, although packaged deal fuel maybe cheaper by the gallon, but you may fall short of fuel usage.
- Always get full insurance coverage when renting a car whilst in the USA.

Click here for Review of Trip from Enterprise Car Rentals.
*ABBA Contribution Txt by Cy Ler*
Enterprise Car rentals SFO
1) Just book the car rental at the hotel concierge and state you are crew.
2) Get the printout/directions, about less than 5minutes walk from the hotel
3) You will however need to produce your crew pass at the car rental company.
4) Rental wise pretty much standard but as a hotel guest, we have the option to return the car at the hotel valet at night. (This means saving up on parking charges & totally hassle-free*Conflicting Info. On visit of Oct2014, concierge said a USD20 will be charged if returning vehicle to Parc55 for over night parking. If you return to enterprise before 6pm, this USD20 is waved. PLS Verify on your visit.*)

Typical Car charges approx. USD50-60 for a normal sedan, USD12 for GPS & I was lucky enough to get a free upgrade to a Mazda-6. Fuel-wise there's the option to fill-up yourself or the company will just charge whatever is used upon return. For a day's trip to Napa and Livermore Outlet Mall, with GPS and petrol the bill came up to about SGD$125.

My coursemate who arrived a day before me actually rented from Hertz and ended up paying about USD$150 (all inclusive with overnight parking charges, GPS, petrol etc).



Car Rental Agency

Today 7:30 am – 6:00 pm
  *ABBA Contribution Txt by Cy Ler* 

Alternate Car Rentals
(With potentially better deals)

Rented from Dollar Car Rental Shop - Click here for Review of Trip and Costings for that day trip on 18Oct2014. With a party of seven, along with full insurance coverage, self pump petrol option and returning the next morning before 0930hrs (USD22 overnight and checkout before 0930hrs parking charge included),
- the total charge, all in was about USD30per pax.
To return car rented from these row of car renters, one can park in the multi-story car park above the car rentals shops at USD22 a night if it is returned before 0930hrs. Otherwise it'll be USD32 for overnight parking.


Reliable Rent-A-Car
ABBA Contribution by Steven May
Details to come.
Actual review of services to come. Close work, crew discount and free parking with at your convenience drop off.
ABBATip:
Reliable Now Offers Free drop off with Hotel Valet and overnight parking at hotel. So returning the car is a breeze with NO ADDITIONAL Charge.

Click here for ABBA location of Reliable Rent-A-Car

ABBA Deal - Christchurch - Car Rentals (ABBA Contribution by Frankie Tan)


ABBA Deal -  Christchurch
Click here to see our facebook page
(ABBA Contribution by Jessica)
Ken 0800132523

Last I heard was 8pax for 28each. He picks up crew from crew lounge, call to check on his availability asap upon check-in. He's from Airport Rentals Ltd office near peppers. 
Contact who can do the driving in pick up directly from Peppers.
(ABBA Contribution by Frankie Tan)
Car Rentals
Car rental.  Cheap and good service.
http://snaprentals.co.nz.  Can consider rental from this company.   I rented a Nissan Sunny good for 5 person only at NZD18 per day with NZD12 for full insurance with zero excess.   
With NZD10 each way, they can come to our resort or airport to pick us to collect the car.  It's a toll free line to call them.   Likewise for return.
They have MPV too.  Very friendly and good service from the staff.  Look for Peter.

Monday, April 20, 2015

ABBA Deal - Indonesia - Bali - Tours


ABBA Deal -  Indonesia - Bali
Tours

Tour Option A:
ABBA Contribution by Hoonji Soong 25May2015
"I have just concluded my holidays in Bali. If you ever need a good guide and private driver for tours here, try out this family run business by Panji (www.balisafestdriver.com) +6287860018017. I found him from trip advisor and they are currently ranked top. I was very satisfied with their service, good recommendations to local food and cheapest price compared to all the rest. Do try quote SQ or airline crew. I asked him to provide airline discount or extra service. Happy holidays."

Tour Option B:

*Contributed by Emil Goh
- A guide (driver) with 6-seater car & insurance for USD$40 (8 hours). 
- Difference between getting him compared tour agencies is that you plan your own itinerary & you control the time. 
- Non inclusive of entrance charges etc.  
Contact is: Ma-De Sukirma (62) 85738244081 . Email (sukirmanmade@yahoo.co.id) A sample itinerary:
Tanah Lot temple- A temple carved out and built on a rock meters away from the coastal lip.
Nusa Dua Beach- One of the many beaches in Bali. Clear waters and clean sand. Having a Bintang by the beach a nice way to cool off the afternoon heat.
Uluwatu Temple- A Hindu temple set on a cliff bank. Breath-taking view of the cliff against the vast ocean. Good location for sunset-watching.
Local Seafood dinner (BBQ fish, sotong, veg)
Entrance fees not included but local rates can be obtained through Made.