Australia road trip

Exploring new places is something I enjoy a lot and Australia is a perfect destination on that account. I’ve been to the country before and we also traveled by car for the biggest part of that trip. But a real road trip in Australia is done with a camper van of course. And that’s exactly what this trip was about. We toured Western Australia and it was amazing, even despite the rainy weather. I’ll publish more on our adventures later.

Our trip brought us to the city of Adelaide, which is mostly known for its world class vineyard – a great reason to visit this area of course.

After the living in a campervan for a while we were looking for something more luxurious. In Adelaide, the Sofitel is the place to go for luxury. Whether you choose to stay in a suite or a regular guest room, the experience is great!

The 5 star Sofitel Adelaide

The Sofitel Adelaide is centrally located in the city center. It’s a lively neighborhood where most of the city’s bars, restaurants and clubs are concentrated. Both during the day and in the evening you can go here for a snack, drink or even a dance if you like. The Central Market – another tourist spot – is also in close proximity to the hotel.

The train station is about a 10-minute walk from the hotel. And the airport is just under 15 minutes away by rental car or taxi. You can also take the bus to the airport. It takes about 20 minutes and conveniently departs right in front of the hotel.

Check out our YouTube channel, where you can find a nice video impression of this review of the Sofitel Adelaide. Did you know that you can view many more reviews , InsideLooks and trip reports on our YouTube channel? We frequently post new videos, so follow our channel to make sure you don’t miss out!

Suite Upgrade at the Sofitel Adelaide

The room was booked about a month before I arrived in Adelaide. As an ALL Accor Platinum member I was happy to use my ‘Suite Upgrade certificate’ at this hotel. Accor ALL Platinum members get two upgrade certificates per year. You can also earn additional upgrades when staying more often at Accor proporties.

The booking process works slightly different when you use the certificate. First, you need to log on to the Accor hotel booking website and indicate that you want to use your certificate. Then, you can select the suite you would like to book. The website will show the price as if it’s a regular room. I booked a Junior Suite with access to the Club Millésime lounge. The regular nightly rate for this suite is $AUD 645. With the certificate it is $AUD 295. This rate includes breakfast for two people.

Welcome at Sofitel Adelaide

It was about 1 PM when we arrived at the Sofitel Adelaide. Unfortunately, the room wasn’t ready yet, but there was good news too –  we had been upgraded from the Junior Suite to a Prestige Suite!

Because the room was not ready, we were offered the chance to wait at the Club Millésime. This is the hotel lounge on the 10th floor. You can have a beautiful view of the city while enjoying a snack and a drink. Later in this review about the Sofitel Adelaide I will share my experience with Club Millésime at this hotel.

The Prestige Suite

Sofitel Adelaide has 251 rooms and suites on 24 floors, including accessible rooms. The ‘standard’ room is a Deluxe Room. The Superior Room is slightly bigger and has more amenities. There’s also a Presidential Suite, as well as the Junior Suites and Prestige Suites. The Prestige Suite offers three separate areas spanning a total size of 57 m2.

Living Room

The first room you enter is the spacious living room. It has a beautiful view of the city and the Gulf of St. Vincent. Next to that, there is a large corner sofa with coffee tables and a dinner table with chairs. Opposite the sofa, a big TV is built into the wall. The tv offers both local and international channels. The audio and video quality are good and you can also stream from your own device if you want.

We also received a nice welcome gift in the living room. The gift consisted of a chocolate bar, a bowl of nuts and a bottle of Australian red wine, accompanied by a personal welcome note from the hotel staff. A nice gesture!

On the side of the living room there is a small cupboard with a range of food and drinks. Here you can also find the minibar, kettle and a Nespresso coffee machine. Mind that there is a price tag for anything from the minibar. Nespresso coffee, tea and bottled water are free of charge. You can ask housekeeping to restock if needed.

The living room also has a separate washroom that is accessible from the hallway. The washroom features a toilet, sink and big mirror. The room is decorated in white marble.

Bedroom

When you go through the sliding doors from the living room, you enter the bedroom of the Prestige Suite at the Sofitel Adelaide. This part of the Suite is slightly smaller than the living room, but has plenty of space for two guests. The space is divided into the main bedroom and a walk-in wardrobe. The sliding doors can be closed for extra privacy.

The comfortable king size bed is at the center of the room. The mattress is fantastic and the sheets actually feel wonderful. The bedding at the Sofitel is for sure of a very good quality, which you may expect of course given the nightly rate.

There are bedside tables with reading lights on both sides of the bed. The hotel installed sufficient power sockets in the wall, which is convenient for charging your mobile devices. You can find a control panel for the lighting, which can also be operated with a special tablet that is on one of the bedside tables.

Just like in the living room, you have a good view of the city here. Opposite the bed there is a TV, just like in the living room. The TV is neatly mounted into the wall and works the same as the other TV. You can also stream content from your own mobile devices.

Bathrobes and ironing facilities are also provided, as well as a safe and a hairdryer.

Bathroom

An oasis of white floor-to-ceiling marble meets you as soon as you open another sliding door. The toilet and shower cabin (with rain shower) offer a beautiful mosaic. These smaller areas are separated with a door on the left side of the bathroom.

The bathroom offers a wash area with a big mirror and plenty of luxury amenities.  On the other side you can find a free standing bath from which you also have a view of the city, especially in the evening you get some nice views.

Finally, there is a large cupboard under the sink. Here you can find towels and other small amenities such as a comb, razor or ear buds. There is also a Dyson hair dryer.

Comfort of the room

As you could read earlier in this review of the Sofitel Adelaide, I was pleasantly surprised with the upgrade to the Prestige Suite. This room on the 24th floor is very spacious and therefore offers an upgraded stay. The living room is perfect to start your morning with a cup of coffee in front of the TV, or to watch a movie in the evening. The suite is generally well furnished, although the hallway felt somewhat ‘empty’. It’s also good that there is an extra toilet, which is accessible from the living room.

The bedroom is equipped with a very comfortable bed. The sheets are not too warm and provide enough comfort. The tablet and control panel make it very easy operate the lighting and the TV. 

Finally, there is the beautiful and spacious bathroom. Equipped with both a shower and a bath, so you can choose whether you want to change quickly or, for example, enjoy the view from the bath while enjoying a book or a movie. All in all, this Prestige Suite at the Sofitel Adelaide is an excellent room that offers you everything you can wish for during your stay in Adelaide.

Wondering what you can do in and around Adelaide? Have a look at our Adelaide and around Trip Report on YouTube for some inspiration! Our recommendation: an exclusive chauffeur driven wine tour with Door to Door.

Facilities at the Sofitel Adelaide

As well as the rooms and suites that we covered in this review, there are also some other activities that you can do at the Sofitel Adelaide.

Club Millésime

The Sofitel Adelaide features a hotel lounge called Club Millésime. The lounge is located on the 10th floor. The lounge is accessible to guests staying in a Suite, or Luxury Room with lounge access. Accor ALL Platinum and Diamond members also get complementary access, regardless the room they stay in. The hotel lounge has its own reception for check-in and check-out.

The Club Millésime is open daily from 06:30 to 22:00 hrs. Breakfast is served from 07:00 to 10:00. There is a small self service buffet, but there is also a menu with hot and cold dishes. Personally, I think the selection of the buffet is a bit limited, but the menu items were very good. And you can also order multiple times – the service is very attentive.

From 15:00 to 16:00 hrs. the lounge serves ‘Le Goûter’ – kind of like a French version of an English afternoon tea. While enjoying a cup of coffee or tea you get a selection of sweet and savory snacks. The quality is very good, although it sometimes took a long time before the coffee and tea were refilled.

In the evening, there is the ‘L’Apéro’ from 17:00 to 19:00 hrs. The lounge offers a choice local Australian wines, accompanied by some savory snacks. The Sofitel also has its own Prosecco.

I think the amenities and service of the lounge is very good. The dishes change daily, so there is variety even if you stay in the hotel for a longer period of time.

In addition to these facilities, there is also the possibility to freshen up. Separate toilet and shower rooms are available in the back of the lounge.

Restaurants and bars

On the 9th floor of the Sofitel Adelaide you can find Sofitel Breakfast and Garçon Blue. Here you can enjoy breakfast, lunch and dinner. You can order from the menu, but there’s also a wide range of breakfast items at the breakfast buffet. My made to order dish wasn’t prepared well, but the restaurant staff served me a new one.

In the afternoon, I also enjoyed a luxurious lunch at the Garçon Blue restaurant. Check out the video below for an impression of the restaurant.

On the ground floor of the hotel you can find Déjà Vu Champagne Bar. You would expect champagne, but it is actually more a kind of coffee shop. During the day you can also order a coffee with a snack. In the evening you can go here for other snacks and drinks.

Wellness and exercise

For guests who like to stay fit during their stay, there is also plenty to do. There is a beautiful swimming pool, a sauna and a large fitness room.

The pool on the 5th floor is not very big, but fortunately it was quiet at the time of my visit. You can get a pool towel at the entrance. The fitness room is located on floor up and it very big. The hotel also provides towels and cooled water.

Photos Review Sofitel Adelaide – Australia: InsideFlyer

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Location in New York

Planning a trip to New York City can be a little daunting if you think about all the many hotel options. This time, I was in the market for a centrally located hotel near Times Square. Even with such a specific area to stay, there’s still a lot to choose from. However, InsideFlyer got the opportunity to stay at the M Social Hotel Times Square New York and in this review you can read all about it.

The hotel is located in the heart of the city, just next to Times Square. Iconic Times Square is a year round ‘must visit’ for many tourists. The amazing buildings, big ad screens and neon lights make it a sight you will not forget any time soon.

M Social Hotel is located on 226 West 52nd Street, just around the corner of Broadway and only a couple of minutes by foot from Times Square. Central Park, MoMo, Rockefeller Center and Radio City Music Hall are also close by. In the area you can also find hotel brands such as Sheraton, citizenM, Riu Plaza, Crowne Plaza and Hilton Garden Inn.

If you’re flying in from New York JFK Airport (JFK) or New York Newark Airport (EWR) then it will take you about one hour to reach the hotel by public transport. A taxi ride is also possible, which may take somewhere between 45 to 80 minutes depending the infamous New York City traffic.

Don’t feel like reading the review of the M Social Times Square New York City, or short on time? Don’t worry! Just check out the video impression on our YouTube channel. You can also find many other hotel, airport lounge and flight reviews here. Don’t forget to like and subscribe, so you won’t miss out on our new videos!

On a side note, some time ago this 480 room hotel was operated by Accor Hotels under the Novotel brand. However, during the pandemic it closed down, and after a takeover and renovation it’s now fully operated by Millennium Hotels & Resorts using the M Social brand.

Check-in at the M Social Hotel

When I arrived at the hotel in the early afternoon it was fairly quiet. The ground floor is used for baggage storage and here you can take the elevator up to reception. The reception and check-in area are located on the 5th floor.

I was kindly greeted by the employee at the reception desk. It’s quite a big open area with lots of cosy seats and big windows. On the same floor I also saw a games area and a bar.

After handing over my ID and reservation confirmation, the employee checked if my room was ready. As this stay is offered by M Social to InsideFlyer, I didn’t need to make any payment. Normally, I would use my American Express Platinum card, as it includes extensive travel insurance and you never know when that can be of use.

After a bit of explanation about the hotel facilities, the employee handed over the room key and then I was off to the 21st floor! Before entering the elevator, I noticed a piece of art showcasing the area around the hotel in a very nice way:

The Room: Social Superior Hudson River View

The elevator took me up to the 21st floor and the room was easy to find. My Social Superior room claimed to have views of the Hudson River, so I was very curious about the view of course.

When I stepped into the room it immediately felt quite spacious. That’s really a plus considering some of the small hotel rooms I’ve seen in New York. It’s also great to have enough space to open my suitcase after a long trip. When entering the room there was a wardrobe on the left and on the right you could access the bathroom. In the wardrobe there was an iron and ironing board, bathrobes and a hairdryer.

When entering the actual room, there was a cupboard on the left. Here you can find some cups, a fridge and a small safe. This hotel unfortunately does not offer any free bottles water and there’s also no kettle to make coffee or tea.

The large kingsize bed took up most of the space in the room. I recognize the outer headboard from some of the Novotel hotels I’ve stayed before, though the inner part has been refreshed with a yellow M Social headboard. The mattress was very comfortable and the blankets were also good, although I felt a bit warm during the night. The bed has four pillows in total, two per person. On both sides of the bed you can find a small stand with a reading light. On the left there was an alarm clock that also let’s you charge your smartphone wirelessly – a nice detail.

Opposite the bed, there was a big wall-mounted tv with local and international tv channels. The desk below the tv offered a bigger reading light, some power outlets and a phone to make calls for room service and reception.

The sofa was located in front of the window, which had a nice view of the area, New Jersey and the Hudson River!

The bathroom

In the bathroom you immediately notice the big mirror with integrated lighting. The wash area is on the small side here, but there are enough towels in different sizes. You also get a small Five Wits soap bar. On the other side there is a big walk-in shower, separated by a glass wall. In the shower there is both a hand and rain shower. The hotel offers C.O. Bigelow shampoo and shower gel, and Five Wits conditioner in refillable bottles. Finally, there is of course a toilet.

Comfort of the Social Superior Hudson River View room

A hotel room can look nice in videos and pictures, but it’s hard to judge the comfort of a room like that.

First of all, the 25 sqm. size of the room is very good for the area. The room is also designed to have sufficient space for storage and opening your suitcase.

It’s a pity there’s no coffee machine or kettle. This basic amenity does make a hotel room more comfortable facility wise, I would say. After my long trip from Amsterdam, I was quite tired and could fall asleep easily, but I noted some noise coming from the air-conditioning system, which may be irritating to some. The soundproofing of the rooms was good – I never heard any noise from the other rooms or hallway.

The room has sufficient power outlets with American plugs. The lighting is also good and easy to switch on and off.

Facilities at the M Social Hotel Times Square New York

Let’s also have a look at the facilities that this M Social hotel offers.

On the 5th floor, you can find the restaurant and bar called ‘Beast & Butterflies’. Here you can enjoy a nice meal or a drink at the bar.

I had a great American Breakfast at the restaurant in the morning, which was served between 7 and 11 AM. The breakfast offers yoghurt and cereals, bagels and some cold and hot dishes. If you don’t have breakfast included, you can book it at a rate of $ 27 (before tax) per person.

As mentioned earlier, the 5th floor also offers a games room and an area to see some sports on the tv. There’s plenty of seating, so it’s also a good area to relax and enjoy the company of your fellow travelers. Every floor has an ice machine.

On the same floor, there is also a nice outside terrace and bar with a great view of Times Square. Here you can also have a drink and a meal. On some nights the hotel organizes live music here.

The fitness center is located on a lower floor. It’s quite well equipped with different types of fitness equipment. Here you also have a view on Times Square.

Finally, you can find a souvenir shop and computer corner opposite the reception desk.

Frequent traveler benefits: MyMillennium

We wouldn’t be InsideFlyer if we don’t discuss the frequent traveler benefits in this review of the M Social Hotel Times Square New York. As mentioned, M Social is part of Millennium Hotels. The loyalty program is called MyMillennium. It’s free to join and you can collect points and elite night credits.

Staying 10 or more nights in a year earns you ‘Prestige’ status. Members with this status earn more points on stays. They get a welcome amenity and a room upgrade (if available and applicable). You can read more about the MyMillennium program here.

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Location in Singapore

The Hotel Indigo Singapore is located in the Katong area in eastern Singapore, on East Cost Road. As well as the modern design, you will also find some references to the former Joo Chiat building and the local Peranakan culture. These design details can be seen in the communal areas, as well as the hotel rooms.

Hotel Indigo Singapore Katong is only a fifteen minute taxi drive from Singapore-Changi Airport. Normally such a ride is about 20 Singapore Dollars (SGD), so currently around $14 USD. 

Public transport in Singapore is excellent, so you can also take the metro (MRT) or bus. Bus 36 stops near the hotel and will only cost you a few dollars, but the trip takes about 45 minutes. The time it takes to go from the hotel to the city center is about the same as the time from the airport to the hotel.

The Indigo Hotel is situated in the same building as the Holiday Inn Express Singapore Katong, but each hotel has its own tower. Both the Hotel Indigo and Holiday Inn Express are a member of the IHG One Rewards loyalty program. IHG has quite a number hotels in Singapore. For instance the luxury InterContinental Singapore and InterContinental Robertson Quay. But also the newly opened VOCO Orchard Singapore and seven Holiday Inn and Holiday Inn Express hotels.

On our YouTube channel you can find a video review of the Hotel Indigo Singapore Katong. Don’t forget to subscribe to our YouTube channel for more reviews, InsideLooks and trip reports. We post new content every week.

Reception

After my arrival from Perth in Singapore, I took the bus to the hotel. When I arrived there, the doorman directly approached me to take my luggage. I was directed to the stylish reception area and offered a welcome drink. A fresh iced latte is always a good idea in sweaty Singapore!

Without exception at IHG hotels, I am thanked for my loyalty as an IHG One Rewards Platinum Elite member. I also got a welcome gift of 600 points. After I’ve handed over the passports, I showed my reservation in the IHG app. Because of the online check-in, all formalities were done quickly. The only thing I needed to do was pay the security deposit. I did this with my American Express Flying Blue Platinum Card, but the hotel also accepts Visa, MasterCard, Diners Club and China Union Pay. After check-in, the agent escorted me to the room and my luggage was brought up soon after.

The Room: King Standard Heritage View With Bath

The Indigo Hotel in Katong has 131 rooms, divided over sixteen floors. All rooms are 30 square meters, but there are different types of rooms. The Standard Room features a regular bathroom with walk-in shower and a kingsize bed (King Bed room) or two separate beds (2 Twin Beds room). The Heritage View rooms can be found on the higher floors and are available with a kingsize bed or two separate beds.

The Heritage Rooms have upgraded amenities, such as a Nespresso coffee machine. There is one other type of Heritage Room, this room also includes a bath. The Heritage Rooms are about 10% more expensive than the Standard Rooms. And the Heritage Room with a bath is 20% more expensive than the Standard Rooms. During check-in I got a King Standard Heritage View Room With Bath, a nice upgrade as I expected to get a Standard Room.

When you enter the room there is a small hallway. Directly on the left you can find a small toilet with wash area. On the right there is a big wardrobe with some drawers. Here you also find a hair dryer and a laundry bag. Unfortunately, there’s no luggage rack.

Further into the room there’s a small sofa with a stool. On the wall you can find two power plugs and a light switch. On the other side there is a china cabinet with a kettle and Nespresso coffee machine. There are also three small jars with candies. A well equipped coffee corner in my opinion.

The big kingsize bed can be found in the center of the room. On both sides there’s a small bedside table with a reading light and light switches. On the left side of the bed you can find a telephone for calls to the reception and room service, but also national and international calls (at a charge). Next to that, there’s a small alarm clock. Opposite the bed a big flatscreen tv is mounted to the wall. Unfortunately, this hotel room does not have a desk.

I have to say the design of the hotel really honors its surrounding neighborhood. This is for instance visible on the nice wall sketch. The lighting in the ceiling is also very well done. More details can be found in the small coffee table that has a top showing a famous Singaporean board game. And the coffee corner is nicely decorated with traditional china plates. All of this really makes it a cosy room, without ‘overdoing it’.

The bathroom

In the Heritage Room, the bathroom can be found in the back. Here you immediately see a big round white bath. On the left side there’s a wash basin with plenty of amenities from the Australian brand Biology Smart. In the bathroom there are also two Indigo water bottles that you can borrow during your stay. They are also available for purchase in the small shop on the ground floor.

As you may expect there are lots of towels available in different sizes. Just around the corner you find a good size walk-in rain shower with Biology Smart amenities. The bathroom can be fully separated from the main bedroom using a sliding door for extra privacy. Talking about privacy: the view from the room is really great, but don’t forget to close the curtains when using the bathroom.

The size of the bath makes the bathroom slightly small. That’s probably also the reasons that there is no toilet in the bathroom. You can find the toilet in the small hallway at the entrance of the room.

Room comfort

In this review of the Hotel Indigo Singapore Katong we also discuss the comfort of the room, as sometimes the details really matter to make a stay stand out from the rest. Although the rooms are a good size, I disliked the fact that the toilet is separated from the bathroom, but that’s a personal thing perhaps. The quality of the amenities however is very good, as are the materials and finishing of the room. The bed is also high quality and comfortable.

The room is sound proof, so you won’t hear any noise coming from the hallway or from outside. The Singapore heat can be quite a thing, even in hotels. But here I experienced a comfortable temperature throughout my stay – so climate control is on point!

Any requests to the reception desk were handled swiftly and adequately. The service of the restaurant, bar and pool were also quite good.

Hotel facilities

This Indigo has several good facilities to offer, like a hotel restaurant, swimming pool and meeting rooms. These will also be briefly addressed in this review of the Hotel Indigo Singapore Katong.

The hotel restaurant, Baba Chews Bar & Eatery, offers all day dining. The restaurant serves a breakfast buffet (and a la carte breakfast) in the morning. Later in the day you can also have lunch or dinner there. There’s also a terrace to sit outside if you want. The restaurant is situated in a separate building next to the hotel, but is easily accessible via the pavilion next to the reception. There is also a Starbucks cafe in the same building.

As mentioned before, there is a nice pavilion next to the reception. The pavilion features a business center and a small self service shop called ‘Mama Stall’. Next to that, you can find an exposition of the traditional clothing that the people in this area used to wear.

The highlight of the hotel is definitely the infinity pool and bar on the top floor. The view from the room is great, but the top floor offers an even better overview of the surrounding Katong area, with its traditional houses and shops. The Indigo hotel has quite a big pool and green terrace on the top floor. There are also some showers, toilets and a changing room. At the pool you can find some seats to relax and enjoy the pool and view!

Next to the pool, there is a well equipped fitness center with big windows to also enjoy the view during a workout. The equipment is modern and in good shape.

The hotel has two meeting rooms, designed to fit in the rest of the hotel furnishings.

The hotel does not allow guests with pets. On the outside terrace however you are welcome to take your dog.

Breakfast and lunch

Breakfast is served daily at Baba Chews Bar & Eatery. When I entered the restaurant I was greeted by one of the friendly servers, seated at a nice table for two, and offered a choice of hot or cold drinks – including the famous TWG Tea.

There is a breakfast buffet at the back of the restaurant. Here you can find several kinds of bread and sweet pastries. Next to that, you can get fresh fruit, cereals and yoghurt. The choice of fresh fruit juices is also quite good. However, there is more than just the buffet.

It is also possible to order from the breakfast menu through the QR code on the table. The restaurant offers both a Western style and Asian style menu. The ‘Western’ food options include fluffy buttermilk pancakes, Belgian waffles and a classic Egg’s Benedict. The Asian menu offers Chinese dumplings, nasi goreng, gyoza and Singaporean Laksa soup. The menu is updated regularly and all dishes are included in the breakfast. So I have to say the breakfast offer is really quite good.

After breakfast, it’s time for a walk around the Katong neighborhood. And there’s quite a lot to see and do. You can for instance walk to the Sri Senpaga Vinayagar Temple and the Peranakan Houses. But you can also just stroll along East Katong Road. The area is well-known for its traditional shopfronts and houses.

Fancy going to the beach? That’s also easily possible –  it is only a 10 minute walk to East Coast Beach. The walk around the area was great. It also shows that Singapore has more to offer than just the city center.

When we returned to the hotel it was time for lunch. We decided to have it at Baba Chews, where we also had our breakfast. For lunch, there’s a modern Asian-European menu with culinary classics from the west and the east. Just like in the morning, the service was very attentive.

The waiter recommended the chili crab with tagliatelle and the salmon skewers with laksa sauce. We added grilled asparagus with truffle and Parmesan cheese. For drinks, we went for the famous Singapore Sling cocktail. The dishes arrived in no-time and tasted very good. Also, the side dishes were done quite well. I really liked the way the restaurant combines tastes from the west and the east.

Conclusion

My stay at Hotel Indigo Singapore Katong was very good – in particular, the service and facilities stood out. The restaurant was great for both breakfast and lunch, though you are never short of good dining options in Singapore!

The rooftop infinity pool and bar is a real highlight, especially if you compare this hotel’s rates with similar alternatives.

Source of all pictures in this Hotel Indigo Singapore Katong review: InsideFlyer Netherlands – Christian 

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We joined KLM to take an InsideLook at the Boeing 787-10 Dreamliner with KLM’s brand new Premium Comfort cabin. This new cabin class will eventually be rolled out on every aircraft type in the intercontinental fleet, except for the Airbus A330s. 

You could say KLM is late to the party introducing Premium Comfort Class, as many of the established airlines already have a Premium Economy offering. However, this was part of the KLM strategy. The Dutch national carrier was waiting to see how such a product fared with other airlines, although the pandemic delayed the introduction even more.

So what is KLM now offering its Premium Comfort passengers?

The airline now offers three cabins, covering four different travel products. Economy, and Economy Comfort (with its slightly increased recline and seat pitch), are in the Economy Class cabin. Premium Comfort is the new Premium Economy Class product. World Business Class remains KLM’s most prestigious offering.

Did you know InsideFlyer also has a YouTube channel? Every week we post new travel related content. Subscribe to our channel and don’t miss out. Here you can find a video impression of this InsideLook about the KLM Premium Comfort on the Boeing 787-10 Dreamliner.

KLM Premium Comfort Press event

InsideFlyer was invited by KLM to join the Premium Comfort Press event. Both Dutch and international media all assembled at Schiphol’s Departure Hall 2. Despite the chaos that the summer holidays can bring, check-in and security looked a breeze that day. After some free time airside, we were welcomed at KLM’s flagship Crown Lounge 52. The long closed restaurant ‘Blue’ was even exclusively opened for the occasion.

Many of the airline’s top executives joined the event, kicked-off by Marjan Rintel, KLM’s new CEO. Rintel expressed how proud she is that KLM and its co-workers were able to survive the pandemic as a company (with government support). She also emphasized how the airline worked in partnership with Schiphol Airport in the interest of the Dutch aviation industry. While we enjoyed a delicious lunch, Rintel and her team explained how Premium Comfort came to be.

Premium Comfort cabin on the Boeing 787-10 Dreamliner

Configuration

The new KLM Premium Comfort cabin will be installed on the Boeing 787 Dreamliner (both the -10 and -9) and 777 (both -300 and -200). In this InsideLook we will show you the first Dreamliner with the new product, which is the 787-10 with registration PH-BKA (named Orange Blossom). This aircraft is also the first 787-10 that KLM received in 2019.

The 787-10 now has 28 Premium Comfort seats, in a four-row 2-3-2 configuration. All the seats have a comfortable pitch of 38 inches (97cm),  with an 8 inch (20cm) recline. They are styled in the trademark KLM livery blue colour. The wider seat and leg and foot rest all contribute to a more pleasurable flying experience.

Seat

The first row seats have an inflight entertainment system (IFE) that is stored in the arm rest. All other seats have the IFE built in the seat in front. The highly responsive 13.3 inch touchscreen has a special anti reflective coating for increased viewing comfort. The screen is very clear and sharp and you can adjust its position slightly. You can use the touch screen to navigate but there’s no separate remote control like in World Business Class.

The middle arm rest is also equipped with a small panel that can be used to adjust the seat settings and leg rest. There is a handy space to store your personal items and a special nook for a water bottle.

Noise-cancelling headphones, a blanket and a comfortable pillow are provided and usb -C and -A ports are available for charging as well as a power point.

Power outlet between the seats.

The front row seats have a separate panel for the reading light and crew button. Other seats have these in the armrest.

Each seat is equipped with a flexible head rest which can be moved in four directions. The individual reading light is easy to adjust. There is also a coat hook provided at each seat.

Storage and table

The back of the seat in front of you has a pocket with the standard safety info, waste bag and inflight magazine.The bulkhead seats have a similar seat pocket attached to the cabin divider with the same offerings.

There’s a further pocket just below the IFE screen which can fit your amenity kit, passport or phone.

A foldable ample-sized table is neatly tucked away in the arm rest which can be opened by a small latch on the side.

It easily fits a laptop and snacks. 

The table also has a special stand for a tablet or phone.

Food and beverage service on board

With the new Premium Comfort class, KLM is also introducing a new special menu – with a choice of hot or cold dishes (vegetarian, fish or meat).

Depending on the length of the flight, you get either one or two hot meals. Our flight served one hot dish, as well as salad and cheese. After the meal, there is a coffee and tea service (add a shot of Baileys if you want). And don’t forget the lovely ‘stroopwafel’ ice cream!

Between meals there is a drinks service. Choose the new Espresso Martini which KLM has exclusively created using the Dutch gin brand Bols. If you’re still peckish there are always snacks available in the Economy galley.

A cold meal was served just before landing. I chose a green salad with beetroot and smoked almonds, and a Pastel de Nata pastry.

All meals are served in reusable plastic containers, with a distinctive design inspired by the Dutch landscape. Passengers traveling in Premium Comfort dine with similar cutlery as World Business Class and real glassware is used for most drinks.

Premium Comfort amenity kit

Upon boarding you’ll receive a useful and eye-catching amenity kit made from up-cycled ocean plastics. Sustainability is at the forefront, with a bamboo toothbrush, as well as the usual eye mask, earplugs and a pen. 

Cabin retrofit

In order to fit in the new Premium Comfort product, KLM needs to retrofit a large section of its Boeing 777 and 787 cabins.

KLM carries out the retrofitting process at its own Engineering & Maintenance department at Amsterdam Schiphol Airport. It takes about eight days to install the new Premium Comfort product.

When an aircraft is finished it will go directly into service. By the end of this year, all Boeing 787-10s and 787-9s will be furnished with the new  cabin. At the beginning of next year the Boeing 777-300s and later the -200s will also be retrofitted.

The Boeing 777s  will also get a renewed World Business Class cabin. This cabin will change from a 2-2-2 configuration to 1-2-1 offering direct aisle access to all Business Class passengers. The seats will also get a sliding door for increased privacy.

Although the first Dreamliner is now fitted with Premium Comfort, it will take some time before the complete long haul fleet is retrofitted. As the Airbus A330 is being be phased out, KLM has decided not to install Premium Comfort on this aircraft.

Paul Terstegge, the Executive Vice President of KLM Inflight Services said:

“We’d like customers to walk away with a ‘wow’ experience, where it is really something different. We hope our Premium Comfort product stands out from premium products from our competitors—and most importantly, that the value for money is worth the extra investment in terms of what you get back in luxury comfort and a memorable experience.”

Conclusion

It is good news that KLM has finally introduced a Premium Comfort cabin. It’s a real step up from Economy (and Economy Comfort) and we think it could be a great success for KLM and its passengers.

The post InsideLook: KLM Presents New Premium Comfort Cabin On Boeing 787-10 Dreamliner appeared first on InsideFlyer.

Review of the Waldorf Astoria Dubai Palm Jumeirah

The resort is located on the outer edge of the Palm Jumeirah, so unlike other hotels in the area, it is very quiet and offers the best view of the palm itself, the skyline of Dubai Downtown and Dubai Marina.

From Dubai Airport, it takes between 30 and 45 minutes by taxi to get to the hotel, depending on the traffic. If you want to drive from the Waldorf Astoria to the marina or the Mall of the Emirates, you should allow around 15 to 20 minutes. Downtown Dubai and the Dubai Mall can be reached in around 25 minutes.

We arrived at the Waldorf Astoria Dubai Palm Jumeirah around noon and were greeted immediately by the friendly employees of the resort. As a guest with access to the Pearl Club, the hotel’s club lounge, you are taken directly to the fifth floor, where check-in takes place in a relaxed atmosphere at the lounge. With a cool drink, the formalities are taken care of and an overview of the resort and the Pearl Club services are given. We immediately noticed how warm the employees were and how much they responded to individual requests.

Pearl Club Suite at the Waldorf Astoria The Palm Jumeirah

The Pearl Club Suites at the Waldorf Astoria Palm Jumeirah extend over a total of 100 square meters of living space, which is divided into two rooms and a large terrace. The suite is comfortably designed and local design elements are combined with the standard ‘luxury hotel’ style. With a desk and a large seating area, the living room offers more than enough space to relax and work.

The bedroom is similar in size to the living room. Apart from the very comfortable Waldorf Astoria king size bed, the highlight here is definitely the large marble bathroom.

The terrace extends along the entire suite and offers a very beautiful view of the resort’s pool and beach, as well as the Palm Jumeirah and the skyline of the Dubai Marina in the background. It is equipped with a sun lounger and a comfortable seating area.

Particularly noteworthy is the housekeeping, which was extremely attentive and precise. Every day, among other things, a new surprise of towel art was waiting in the room.

While this suite has a view of the Palm Jumeirah and the Marina skyline, the rooms on the other side of the building have a beautiful view of the Burj Al Arab and the skyline of Dubai in the background.

Pool & beach

The Waldorf Astoria Dubai Palm Jumeirah impresses with a large outdoor area. Here you will find two different pools, a 200 meter long beach and Palm Avenue, a pool bar and a restaurant.

There is a large pool for all guests, as well as a separate adults-only pool.

The employees at the pool and on Palm Avenue were very attentive  – constantly ensuring that a fresh ice bucket with free water is available on every occupied lounger, etc.

There is a QR code on each lounger that can be used to access the Palm Avenues snack and drink menu. If, for once, there are no employees nearby, you can also place your order digitally and have the charge applied to your room – a very practical solution that many hotels can use as an example.

Pearl Club Lounge

Guests staying in a Pearl Club Room or Suite have access to the Pearl Club Lounge, which is located on the fifth floor. The lounge offers a large area to relax with sofas and armchairs as well as a dining area with tables. There is also a terrace, which is a wonderful place, especially in the not-so-hot months. Here you can enjoy a drink or two in peace and enjoy the view.

From 8:00 a.m. to 10:30 a.m., breakfast is offered in the Club Lounge, with freshly prepared egg dishes such as Eggs Benedict, a large selection from a cold buffet and more. Guests can find even more choices in the Mezzerie restaurant, but we decided to use the Club Lounge as our breakfast location.

During the day there are non-alcoholic drinks and coffee specialities. Tip: Definitely try the iced cappuccino – this is prepared absolutely superbly. Afternoon tea is served from 3:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m. with various sandwiches, salads and sweet delicacies.

The Evening Cocktail Hour(s) takes place from 6:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. In addition to beer, wine and sparkling wine, there is a large selection of freshly mixed long drinks and cocktails. There is also a buffet with numerous fresh salads, hummus, sandwiches and canapés. There is also a soup and a warm snack.

Service was excellent in the Pearl Club Lounge too – combining professionalism with genuine charm.

The post What Is Staying At The Waldorf Astoria Dubai Palm Jumeirah Resort Like? – Full Review appeared first on InsideFlyer.

The Hilton, as the name implies, is on the banks of the creek which splits the two old parts of Dubai – Deira and Bur Dubai. It was one of the first international chain hotels in the city, so it’s a tad dated. I was curious to see if the surcharge over the Garden Inn was worth it.

A version of this article first appeared on InsideFlyer.nl

Hilton Dubai Creek

Our stay was off to a good start a couple of days prior to arrival. The Guest Relations Manager contacted us, requesting our planned arrival time and any preferences we may have. Subsequently, the reservation was upgraded from a normal Twin room to a Twin Executive Room, based on our Hilton Honors Gold status.

After arriving from Düsseldorf with Emirates, it was only a short taxi drive to the hotel where we arrived around half past midnight. At the reception, the formalities were quickly taken care off. All Hilton Honors benefits, such as free breakfast, upgrade, wifi and also executive lounge access were offered pro-actively. We were also offered a welcome drink or extra bottle of water. All in all a very pleasant check-in experience!

Once in the room, we had a nice view of the Dhow wharf as we requested. Both the room and the bathroom were quite spacious, but dated. In particular, there was a lack of conveniently located power outlets. Next to the twin beds, there was a large desk and two seats. A plate of fruit, Arabic sweets and welcome letter were already placed on the desk.

The bathroom had quite a special design, with a glass/stainless steel sink. The shower area was large, but not in the best condition. Amenities were by Crabtree & Evelyn.

Breakfast is served in Glasshouse Restaurant. The Executive Lounge does not offer breakfast. The restaurant was quite small, and the selection limited compared to some other Dubai (Hilton) hotels. The service was very attentive though.

The Executive Lounge is located on the Mezzanine floor. At the end of the afternoon, there is a cocktail hour with snacks and alcoholic beverages. However due to our late arrival and early departure, we did not make use of this. During the day, coffee, tea and soft drinks are readily available. Also some cookies and fruit are offered. Interestingly enough, the lounge doors were always open without anyone checking if visitors have access. If the outside weather is not too hot, you can also sit on the terrace.

On the rooftop, there is also a modest pool. Not nice enough to hang out all day, but the view of Downtown Dubai, the Frame and the Burj Khalifa was great.

The post What is the Hilton Dubai Creek Like? appeared first on InsideFlyer.

Thailand has become a very popular holiday destination for Europeans, even if it is an 11-hour flight away from almost anywhere in Europe. Until now it hasn’t been a priority for me but needing an escape from snow and freezing temperatures, I decided it was about time.

I was able to secure a business class reward ticket with Thai Airways from Brussels, which wasn’t easy during Christmas holiday. The return trip set me back 82,500 SAS EuroBonus points and an American Express Companion Ticket.

Since I had plenty of time on the ground in Brussels, I had the chance to visit both The Loft and The Suite lounges before departure

• Lounge review: The Loft by Brussels Airlines and Lexus
• Lounge review: The Suite at Brussels Airport

Boarding

I arrive at the gate a few minutes ahead of scheduled boarding time. The line for priority boarding seems to equal the amount of business class seats on the Airbus A350. This isn’t surprising, since it’s Christmas Holiday for most of Europe and probably not many business travelers.

I boarded through the front door where I was greeted by two friendly flight attendants who point my to my seat 19K.

Cabin and seat

Thai Airways Airbus A350-900 business class cabin has eight rows in staggered 1-2-1 configuration with a total of 32 seats.

If you’re traveling solo, I would recommend the window seats and the rows where the seat is closer to the window. These seats offer the best view out the window and the most privacy. Similarly, for couples my choice would be the center section “honeymoon” rows where you are close to you travel companion while retaining privacy. The other rows are preferable if you’re traveling solo and unable to get a window seat or just want some space between you and your travel companion. These seats are however close to aisle and offer less privacy.

Already waiting in my seat was the bedding and a basic Lacoste amenity kit. The slippers are a bit of a tight fit. The seats are very comfortable while seated, but slightly cramped for my 6’2” when converted to a bed.

My Airbus A350-900 is just over two years old. As a result, the interior is fresh and modern, and I like the bright purple colors of the cabin.

The entertainment system TV screen is crisp and clear, and the remote and seat controls are responsive and easy to use. The electrical outlet is near the floor in front of you, while the USB outlets is under the TV. WiFi is on the expensive side with $35 for 500MB and $60 for unlimited data. Buying smaller packages doesn’t really make sense as background services or apps on your laptop or smartphone with consume your data in no time.

Food and beverage

As soon as everyone is seated, I was offered a glass of Champagne. I was even offered a refill when the flight attendant came back to take my food order.

As soon as the fasten seatbelt sign is switched off after take-off, I was served another glass of Piper-Heidsieck Essentiel along with some nuts. The crew immediately starts to prepare the meal service and a few minutes later, my starter was served. The first course consists of Parma Ham, Creame Cheese and Roasted Scallops. It’s very good, although maybe not spectacular. The wine I have chosen, Chateau Tour Prignac 2016, is also very good and I stick to it throughout the meal.

For the main course I have chosen the Samrab Thai with green curry beef, deep-fried crab meat, soup, rice and stir-fried pickled turnip with eggs. I really enjoyed the dish and it was definitely the culinary highlight of the trip.

I was then offered a cheese plate which wasn’t on the menu before I had chocolate cream for dessert. Neither cheese plate nor the dessert was bad, but not very exciting either. I had a Glenmorangie The Lasanta 12YO single malt scotch whisky with the desert.

For breakfast I go with smoked salmon, scrambled eggs, bread, fruits and yoghurt. A solid, wholesome breakfast.

Thai Airways delivers a perfectly fine business class meal, although there is room for improvement. The cheese plate and desert are uninspiring, the presentation is simple, and everything is served on trays. The service is extremely efficient, perhaps a bit too much as it feels a bit robotic and impersonal. The crew is however, always smiling, friendly and helpful.

Thai Airways Business Class

Thai Airways delivered in line with my expectations. It’s not quite on the same level as Singapore Airlines or Qatar Airways, but not at all bad. The Airbus A350 is a fantastic aircraft and I like the cabin and seats, although a bit cramped. The food and service are good, but not spectacular. Entertainment system and Wifi were good as well, but a bit expensive.

All in all, I’m happy with my flight and I would gladly fly Thai Airways business class again.

The post Thai Airways Airbus A350 Business Class from Brussels to Bangkok appeared first on InsideFlyer.

First Class is only offered by Qatar Airways on their Airbus A380 and selected routes in the Middle East. In other words, free admission to Al Safwa First Class Lounge is for the privileged few. The lounge can however accommodate far more guests than there are First Class seats available with Qatar Airways. Therefore, the airline started selling lounge access for their business class passengers last year. Recently, Qatar Airways also started offering their top tier Privilege Club members access when traveling in business class.

• Review: Qatar Airways Al Mourjan Business Lounge
• Guide: The Ultimate Guide to Qatar Airways Privilege Club

Buying access to Al Safwa First Class Lounge as a business class passenger will cost you 600 Qatari rials, or around $165 USD. That’s actually a reasonable price and in my opinion, well worth it for a long layover.

First impressions

The Al Safwa First Class Lounge is located between A and B gates above the shops in the departure area. To get to the lounge, take the escalator to level 3 above the security check in the transfer area. My last visit here was just after they opened for paying customers and I had to wait at the front desk for several minutes before the staff could find someone who knew how to charge the lounge access. This time however, everything went smooth.

Al Safwa is impressive and unlike anything I’ve ever seen. The lounge is huge! It’s almost the same size as Al Mourjan, but the minimalist interior and open areas makes it seem even bigger. I feel like I’m in a crossover between a luxury hotel and a museum. The design is inspired by Doha’s iconic Museum of Islamic Art, with sandstone and marble details. The main hall and hallways have several art installations on loan from the museum.

Seating for 500 guests

The centerpiece of the lounge is a huge water installation that looks like a fountain. However, it’s not really a fountain, but rather a pond with a transparent tube with water flowing down from the ceiling. The light is reflected from the water onto the walls across the room. The main hall has different types of seating, open and fully private, for groups or solo travelers. It might not look that way as the seats are scattered over such a huge area, but the lounge has a total seating capacity for more than 500 guests. And we seem to be the only guests.

Most seats have a power outlet and a small monitor that displays airport and flight information.

There’s also a separate cigar and smoking lounge.

Catching up on some work during your stay? The business center offers private offices with iMacs for everyone.

The restrooms are first-class too, of course.

Restaurant and sushi bar

At the heart of the lounge is the huge bar and main restaurant. The restaurant offers a la carte dining only, but the extensive menu has something for everyone. There’s no buffet as you will usually find in any airport lounge. The kitchen is partially open towards the restaurant. You can watch your food being prepared while enjoying a drink.

We were only in the lounge during breakfast service, but long enough to try both the middle eastern and western offerings of the menu.

The bar has a far more extensive selection than what you will find in Al Mourjan and the champagne is upgraded as well. The Veuve Clicquot La Grande Dame Brut 2006 turned out to be a great pairing with our breakfast.

There’s also a snack and sushi bar, but it was closed during our stay.

Spa and private duty-free shopping

The Al Safwa First Class Lounge also has its own duty-free shop. If you’re traveling in First Class you may appreciate being able to do your shopping in peace and quiet. Here you will find a selection of items from shops in the departure hall, from jewelry to fragrances and cigarettes.

The Qspa features nine treatment rooms with jacuzzi, relaxation room and a rich selection of treatments to choose from. The spa treatments are, however, not included with the entrance fee.

Family section and playrooms

If you’re traveling with your family, the family section of Al Safwa First Class Lounge offers private living rooms, media room and playrooms for children of all ages. The family section has three separate playrooms for children aged 0 – 5 years, 5 – 10 years and 10 – 15 years (and above).

Sleep rooms

The Al Safwa First Class Lounge has 12 sleeping rooms, four of which are double rooms. The rooms are like basic hotel rooms with comfortable beds and a bathroom.

Why $165 for lounge access is a bargain

Qatar Airways Al Safwa First Class Lounge is arguably among the best first class lounges in the world. The hard product is second to none, the service is both professional and personal, and the food and beverage is first-class. In my opinion, free admission to Al Safwa is one of the main reasons for chasing Platinum tier in Qatar Airways Privilege Club.

Paying $165 for lounge access when you’re in business class may not seem like a great deal. Considering what you get, however, it’s definitely worth it for a long layover in my opinion. For instance, a room at the Oryx Airport Hotel will set you back at least $250. What’s more, they will charge you extra for champagne and food. For a shorter stay Al Mourjan is a great business lounge. For my next eight-hour layover, however, I wouldn’t hesitate to purchase access to Al Safwa again.

More lounge reviews

• Air China First Class Lounge, Beijing Airport Terminal 3
• Qatar Airways Al Mourjan Business Lounge
• The Suite at Brussels Airport
• The Loft by Brussels Airlines and Lexus

The post Qatar Airways Al Safwa First Class Lounge appeared first on InsideFlyer.

Cinnamon Hotels & Resorts is relatively small hotel brand operating in Sri Lanka and the Maldives. They currently have three hotels in Colombo, including the five-star Cinnamon Grand Colombo. I have dined at a few of the many restaurants at this property before, but this is my first stay at the hotel.

Location

The Cinnamon Grand is the largest of the Cinnamon hotels in Colombo. It has more than 500 rooms and suites spread across multiple buildings. The hotel is located Galle Road in walking distance of Galle Face, the Seema Malakaya Temple and various bars, restaurants, shopping malls and other hotels.

Personally, I prefer the location of this hotel over Mövenpick.

Travel time to and from the airport is 45 – 60 minutes by car.

First impressions

After going through security check at the entrance we find our self in a nice and spacious hotel lobby. The interior is elegant and luxurious, but the place still has a relaxed atmosphere.

We arrive at hotel at 11 in the morning. At the reception, we are informed that our room are ready for check-in. Since we have booked executive rooms, we are told to wait for a butler who will take us to the executive floors and check us in at the lounge.

Check-in is fast and efficient, and we get comprehensive information of the facilities of our rooms and the hotel.

Executive Room

The Executive rooms are located on the 8^th to 10^th floor of the main building. My room has a view of Galle Road and the roof top pool of the building where the spa and fitness center are located.

The room is approximately 350 square feet and looks clean and fresh, and is furnished with a king size bed, a sofa and a desk. On the right hand when you enter the room, there’s coffee machine and a fully stocked minibar.

As a welcoming gift I receive a fruit platter and a bottle of red wine.

WiFi works well by Sri Lankan standards, with speeds from 5 – 10 Mbps. The desk also has a network outlet as well two USB outlets for charging. I was able to use the electrical outlets without an adaptor.

The bathroom is quite specious and has a separate shower and bathtub. If you have forgotten your toiletries at home, there’s no need to worry. The bathroom is fully equipped with the essential amenities.

Food and beverage at Cinnamon Grand Colombo

The Cinnamon Grand Colombo have a total of 18 restaurant, cafes and bars. Here you will find food from all corners of the world, finer pastries and well-crafted drinks, wine and beer.

As you probably won’t have time to do them all during your stay, I’d like to highlight the Chinese restaurant Tao as one of my absolute favorites.

Room service is excellent with a comprehensive menu put together from the many restaurant offerings of the hotel. Prices are fair and delivery is usually quick.

The only real disappointment would be the noodles restaurants, which is also the breakfast restaurant at Cinnamon Grand. It was cramped and noisy, both during breakfast and in the evening. Thankfully, you can enjoy a nice breakfast at the lounge as an executive guest.

Executive Lounge

The Cinnamon Grand Colombo has a nice executive lounge on the 8^th floor overlooking the backyard pool area and the city.

The lounge serves a great buffet for breakfast and high tea. Happy hour is from 6pm to 8pm with free drinks and decent buffet. Snacks are available on request until midnight. There’s very little you miss out on by having your breakfast here, rather than the Noodles restaurant.

The amazing lounge staff offers great service, making sure your glass is never empty. Don’t be surprised if Mr. Saldin will remember your preferred drinks already after the first evening.

Amenities

The Cinnamon Grand Colombo offers two swimming pools. The backyard pool with the Breeze Bar right next to it is by far the most beautiful.

The largest and best equipped fitness center is also open to members who are not staying at the hotel and can be quite busy during peak hours. There’s also a smaller fitness center in the main building. It’s not as well equipped as the big one, but at least you don’t have to fight for the equipment.

The hotel also has two tennis courts. The staff can even arrange for someone to play with you if you’re traveling solo.

Asagna Spa is located in the same building as the main fitness center. Spa treatments are slightly more expensive than what you can find outside of the hotel. Nevertheless, it’s still quite inexpensive.

Booking

The room was booked through Expedia and the average rate was around $160 USD. For this stay I was rewarded a total of 2,728 Expedia Rewards Points.

The Cinnamon Grand Colombo Hotel

I really enjoyed my stay at the Cinnamon Grand Colombo. The location is great in my opinion and the hotel has all amenities required for longer stays. The rooms are clean, fresh and well-equipped and the executive lounge is very good. You get great value and food, drinks and other services are reasonably priced.

Photos by the auther unless otherwise specified. Cover photo by Cinnamon Hotels & Resorts.

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To be honest, Air China wasn’t at the top of my list, but finding any kind of last-minute reward availability from Europe to Thailand during Christmas is an almost impossible task. At this point I was happy with not flying economy class. It’s no secret that Air China doesn’t have the best reputation, but I’ve also seen some good reviews in the past. So I decide to take one for the team and take the journey with an open mind.

The return trip set me back 112,500 SAS EuroBonus Points and an SAS American Express Companion Ticket.

Boarding

My expectations weren’t high to begin with. The underwhelming Air China First Class Lounge didn’t make them any higher. After a ground experience where time seemed to stand still, I’m eager to board my flight. I know my flight is delayed, but I still arrive at the gate early to make sure I have time to take photos of the cabin.

When I get to the gate, I find myself at the end of an already long line for priority boarding. There is no separate line for first class boarding, and I have to wait in line with elite members and business class passengers. This may sound like a mere trifle, but the Boeing 747-8 is a huge aircraft.

Once the boarding process starts, it’s quite effective and a few minutes later I’m finally onboard. I’m greeted by a smiling flight attendant who shows me the way to my seat.

Cabin and seat

The cabin layout of Air China’s Boeing 747-8 is different from what you find in the same aircraft from Lufthansa. Lufthansa has their first class in the nose of the aircraft, while Air China has five rows of business class in the front of the aircraft. It would probably be hard to fit the huge Air first class seats in the nose of the aircraft. Air China’s decision makes sense and it doesn’t really bother me. As an upside you avoid the noise from the nose gear during take-off and landing. It’s also nice to be reminded of what the wing of an aircraft looks like from inside the plane.

I must admit I’m an Airbus guy at heart, but I still know how to appreciate the latest version of Queen of the Skies.

There are three rows of first class in a 1-2-1 configuration, for a total of 12 seats. The cabin itself feels nice and spacious. The color palette is neutral with a bit of accent from the orange pillows and headrests.

The seats are huge with five windows per seat row. The seats are very comfortable and feel a bit more private than Lufthansa First Class. It’s a bit surprising that Air China didn’t choose to install closable doors, but it doesn’t bother me. Apart from the overhead bins, the seat also offers some storage compartments and a small closet. The middle seats have a retractable divider, so you retain your privacy if you’re travelling solo.

Pre-departure

After settling in and stowing my carry-on, another smiling and friendly flight attendant came by to offer me slippers, pajamas, menus and newspapers. I don’t usually read newspapers, but I decide to make an exception for a chance to browse through China Daily. Waiting by my seat is also a L’Occitane amenity kit, noise cancelling headphones with a small flower decoration and personal hand-written greeting card from the crew. I love the small details like the flowers and the hand-written greeting card. It makes product feel more exclusive and the service more personal.

I’m also offered a hot towel and a choice of water and orange juice to drink. Boldly requesting a glass of champagne instead, I was told that I would have to wait another 5 to 10 minutes. I was never offered an explanation as to why, but as soon as the last passenger was on board, the flight attendant came back with my pre-departure champagne. I was even offered a refill before pushing back.

The inflight entertainment system is modern and responsive, with a crisp 26-inch TV and user-friendly remote. Given the distance from the seat to the TV, the screen could have been even larger. I usually bring my own entertainment, but the IFE seem to have decent selection of Hollywood movies and international content.

Food and beverage

As soon as the seatbelt sign is switched the crew starts preparing for the first meal service. Air China offers dine on demand, but it seems all five passengers have opted to have their meal right away. This is probably where I had the lowest expectations of Air China. A friend of mine who have traveled with Air China before even said “seats are great but bring a sandwich” before my flight. I’m happy to say I disagree with him.

My table is set, and the dishes are served one by one. It seems like it will never end. I though I was supposed to choose from the menu, but I’m apparently only supposed to choose the main course. Apart from the main couse, the entire menu is served. You will certainly not starve in Air China First Class.

The food doesn’t quite reach first class standards, but it’s well above your average business class meal. I’ve selected the crispy duck as the main course which together with the caviar and the desert are the culinary highlights of my flight. The same goes for the wine selection. It would be great for business class, but in first class it leaves some room for improvement.

After the huge meal I’m ready to get some sleep and I go to the restroom to change to my pajamas. When the leaving the restroom the flight attendant is waiting to take my clothes and tuck them neatly away in my personal closet.

It’s nice to see the cabin crew restock and clean the surfaces of the restroom before and after every visit.

While I was changing, the flight attendant had already made up my bed. Both the bedding and the bed itself is comfortable and spacious enough for my 6’2” body.

Lunch time

After a good five hours of sleep, I wake up just in time for the second meal. I’m not really hungry yet but for the sake of doing a complete review I decided to have a go at it.

The lunch meal is good, but still not first class.

Air China First Class

I really enjoyed my Air China First Class experience and I cannot understand why the airline has such an abysmal reputation. I wouldn’t hesitate to fly with them again. The seats are comfortable and spacious, and the service was great. The food and beverage have room for improvement, but with some minor adjustments Air China would have highly competitive first class product. The most disappointing part was undoubtedly the ground experience. Priority boarding for first class passengers would be nice and the lounge leaves much to be desired.

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