Trip Report: Kenya Airways, Lagos to Dar Es Salaam, Kigali to Lagos via Nairobi (April 2018)

Trip Report: Kenya Airways - Lagos to Dar Es Salaam, Kigali to Lagos via Nairobi

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Traveling around Africa generally can cost a lot, both in time and money.  The ticket price will be high, the travel time long, be very expensive, and most times you have to leave the continent to travel from one country to the other.  Luckily, there are African companies that are making travel within Africa more affordable and convenient; both Ethiopian Airlines and Kenya Airways.  Both are the flag carriers of their respective countries, both seem to have updated fleets, good schedules, and both seem reliable.  I was looking to travel from Nigeria to Tanzania, and return from Rwanda back to Nigeria and in looking at my options both Ethiopian and Kenyan came up in the search.  Both were competitive in price and both had about the same overall travel time, but I choose Kenya Airways for a couple of options: 1) I had flown Ethiopian on my way into Nigeria so wanted to try another airline; 2) it had been about 4 years since I had flown Kenyan so wanted to see what updates were available; 3) the departure timings for Kenyan were better; and 4) Kenya had more options in terms of flight scheduling.

Booking travel with Kenya was very easy through the website.  The site was easy to book and manage your reservation.  I had to make some modifications to my reservation and that could not be accomplished online, so they either have a chat function available or a call center; both of which were helpful.  Another good feature about Kenya is that they offer refunds on your ticket – if your schedule changes and you need to cancel your ticket, you can ask for a refund instead of travel credit.  The refund amount depends on your ticket and class of service, but everything is available online and usually the refund is processed within 4-6 weeks.  A great service from Kenya.

After booking my flight, I managed my reservation through the Kenya Airways app.  Through the app and website I was able to preselect my seats for free, request a special meal, and add my Skyteam frequent flyer number.  I was also able to check-in and print my boarding pass directly from the website 24-hours prior to my departure.  My first flight was from Lagos to Dar Es Salaam via Nairobi.  The Lagos to Nairobi sector was scheduled to depart Lagos at 10:45p and arrive into Nairobi at 6:05am, and then I had 45 minutes to connect to my other flight which was scheduled to depart Nairobi at 6:55am and arrive into Dar Es Salaam at 8:20am.  This was a tight connection, but this is what Kenya Airways provided me and everything was booked on one ticket so I went ahead with it and hoped for the best. 

The first flight was operated by a Boeing 737-800 with a 3-3 seat configuration.  The aircraft operates the Nairobi to Lagos sector, and the same planes brings passengers back to Nairobi.  The incoming aircraft arrived late, and the turnaround time was slow, thus boarding began well past the 10pm which was listed on the boarding pass.  Boarding was done by groups and the groups were strictly enforced; this made for a lengthy and delayed boarding to an already delayed flight.  First impressions upon entering the aircraft were good, as it looked like a new-ish plane with updated seats and personal PTV for each seat.  Each seat also contained a blanket, a pillow, and headphones on them.  The seat pitch was decent, not too tight but not too generous either (I am 6’1 and while my knees were not hitting the back seat, there wasn’t tons of room either) and the seat comfort was also average (it was fine for a 3hr flight but there needed to be more comfort for the longer flights).  Each seat contained a PTV with a USB port and headphone jack, a tray table, and then a seatback pocket with the airline magazine, the duty free, and an airsickness bag.  The doors finally closed, we pushed back for the gate, and headed to the runway for the 5hr 20mi flight to Nairobi.

Kenya Airways is a full service airline so complimentary meals and drinks are provided.  Once we reached cruising altitude, the meal and drink service commenced.  The special meals were delivered at the same time as the regular meal, and for the regular meal there was an option between two choices.  I had ordered a special meal and while I appreciate being served a meal (as these days meals are disappearing from economy), the quality of the meal was not that good.  It was a decent quantity, not too much food but not too light either (perfect for a 4hr flight) but the quality of the food definitely need to be improved.  Complimentary soft drinks, tea, and coffee were also provided.  Once the meal service ended, passengers sat back and watched their screens.  The PTV screens were already on once you sat down, so most passengers just watched the entertainment program the entire flight.  There was a decent selection of TV shows and movies, again good enough for a 3-4 hour flight but you would get bored on longer flights.    

Even though we departed late, we landed roughly on time and taxied to the gate.  There is a separate line for transferring passengers, but because Kenya is starting new flights to the U.S. they have modified the transit so all passengers must go through enhanced screening.  While I understand the security of this, it adds time to the transit process and this needs to be factored into the connection time they provide to customers.  There was a HUGE line of passengers in the transiting security line and it looked like I was going to miss my connection when the airline itself started to call out passengers for my flight.  A representative was pulling passengers and putting them ahead of the security line as I only had a total of 25 minutes to make my connection.  Since I was moved to the front, I went through security and ran to my gate in time to make it to my flight.

The second flight was operated by an Embraer 190 with a 2-2 seat configuration.  While the plane size was small, the seat pitch and comfort were nice and each seat had its own PTV screen as well as USB port.  The plane was only half full so the doors closed and we pushed back for an on-time departure.  Since there were not that many passengers, I was able to move up and stretch out to a row unto myself.  Even though the flight time was 1hr30min, a light breakfast was served just after take-off.  The breakfast consisted of a fresh croissant which was nice, warm and fresh.  It was small but it was nice and that is something I appreciated from Kenyan, especially on this short flight.  Tea, coffee, and complimentary drinks were also served with the meal.  Once the meal service end, most passengers either slept or watched the entertainment system.  The system was not as extensive as the system of my Lagos to Nairobi flight, but there was a decent selection of TV shows to pass the short flight time.  We soon landed in Dar Es Salaam and luckily my bags also made the tight connection in Nairobi.

My return flight was scheduled differently than my outbound flight.  I was returning from Kigali to Lagos via Nairobi, and I had scheduled a long layover in Nairobi.  My flight was scheduled to depart Kigali at 8:30am and arrive into Nairobi 12:35pm, and I was then going to connect to my flight departing Nairobi at 6:35p and arriving back into Lagos at 9:50pm.  The first flight was operated by an Embraer 190 and has a stop in Bujumbura.  The flight was supposed to board at 7:45am, but that came and went without any announcements.  Finally, the announcement was made and we boarded the plane.  This plane looked similar to the plane that I had taken from Nairobi to Dar Es Salaam, with the same legroom, the same individual PTV’s on each screen, and the same 2-2 configuration.  The flight time from Kigali to Bujumbura was only 45 minutes so most passengers past the time watching their screens.  The passengers on the plane consisted of passengers flying from Nairobi to Bujumbura (who stopped in Kigali); passengers flying from Kigali to Bujumbura; passengers flying from Bujumbura to Nairobi; and passengers flying from Kigali to Nairobi (who stopped in Bujumbura).  We landed at Bujumbura, where some passengers got off while others got on, and set off for Nairobi.  Since this was a longer flight, at 1h55m, both a beverage service and a meal service were provided.  The flight was uneventful and we landed in Nairobi close to on-time.

After a scheduled delay, I fought my way through Nairobi traffic to connect to my 6:35p flight to Lagos.  Even though we had boarding groups assigned to us, these were not enforced and everyone boarded as they pleased.  The operating aircraft was a Boeing 737-800, the same aircraft that brought me from Lagos to Nairobi.  The layout was the same, the seat pitch and seat comfort were the same, and again each seat had their own PTV screen.  As this was my fourth flight with Kenyan in the span of two weeks, I had basically exhausted the entertainment options by this point.  As the flight time was 5hr15m, after takeoff a meal and beverage service were provided.  For the rest of the flight, the attendants were not present at all until it was time to get the aircraft ready for landing.  They attendants did not come by with water or to pass through the cabin to collect trash; the attendants just sat in the back talking.  After a bit of a delay, we finally landed in Lagos a bit behind schedule.

Overall, it was a decent experience with Kenya Airways.  Since my last experience with them, some aspects have improved while others have stayed the same.  They definitely have a better on-board product versus what they previously had, and that makes for a better inflight experience.  The food quality still is average, and the overall customer service still needs to be improved.  I had some great flight attendants and great customer service, and I had some really apathetic ones.  I would not hesitate to fly them again, but I would just keep my expectations manageable. 

Trip Report: Air Canada, Toronto Pearson to New Orleans (June 2018)

Trip Report: Air Canada, Toronto to New Orleans
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I was traveling from Africa back to America and was connecting in Toronto for my last flight.  My first flight was operated by Ethiopian Airlines and I was connecting to Air Canada.  Since both flights were booked on one ticket, and both are Star Alliance members and thus have a partnership, it would be a seamless transfer in Toronto.  My bags were tagged in Africa and I received my Ethiopian-issued boarding passes for my flight, so in essence all I had to do was 1) collect my bags and hand them to Air Canada or 2) just transfer and go to Air Canada to receive their boarding pass.  When I landed, the process could not have been smoother – I did not have to collect my bags and had them to Air Canada as all I needed to do was transfer from one get to another (and clear U.S. security).

I had received my Air Canada reservation number prior to my departure and had downloaded the app where I could manage my reservation.  There was a charge for pre-selecting my seat, so I waited until I got to Toronto to see if I could change my seat.  Even though I was already checked-in, I talked with an Air Canada representative who said I could use the kiosks or the app to change seat and receive my Air Canada-issued boarding pass (I also spoke with them to ensure my bags had been transferred successfully).  The entire process could not have gone smoother.

The flight was scheduled to depart Toronto at 1:15p and arrive into New Orleans at 3:05p.  The flight was operated by an Embraer RJ-175 with a scheduled flight time of 2hr50m.  As I had a long time between my flights, I was waiting near the gates well before the scheduled departure time.  I am glad I downloaded the app because it was through the app that I found out that the gate had been changed (an announcement happened later on); from my understanding this happens a lot with Air Canada at Toronto (another reason to download the app).  All the passengers made it to the right gate well in time before departure.  Boarding started around 12:45p, which I thought was a bit late but it was fine considering it was a small plane the load was light.  The plane was configured in a 1-2 business class and a 2-2 economy class.  The first few rows of economy were designated as ‘Preferred Seats’ which meant they provided additional legroom and earlier boarding.

First impressions of the cabin were very good as the plane looked like it had been well-maintained and recently updated.  The seats looked like they were new-ish slimline seats and each seat had its seatback PTV.  In Africa, I was initially assigned a seat in the back of the plane but through the app I changed my seat to an aisle seat in the middle of the plane.  The seat itself was decent in terms of size and comfort, it was not too small but not too large, and the legroom was decent. I am a tall man (6ft) and my knees were not hitting the back of the seat in front of me (a good sign).  As with regional jets, the overhead bin space was limited so this was the only negative thing.  The seat itself had a personal PTV screen (which was a decent size and looked updated) and had a USB port next to it.  Below the screen was the foldout tray, and below that was the pocket with the airline magazine, duty free magazine, and air sickness bag.  As I said, overall first impressions were very good (especially since most U.S.-based regional jets do not look anything like this at all!).  The plane was about 70% full which meant that those of us in the back each got a row to ourselves.  As weight distribution is a key factor, especially for regional jets, before the boarding door closed the gate agent came to move passengers around.  I was moved from my seat in the middle to one of the Preferred Seats right behind business class.  This was a bulk-head seat which meant that my bags had to go in the bin for take-off and landing, but the legroom in this seat was really good.  The seat was still not as wide as I would’ve liked it, but it was a very comfortable seat. 

We pushed back, a safety video was shown on the screens, and we made our way to the runway for our on-time departure.  Once we reached cruising altitude, the crew started with their service.  For this flight (and most flights within Canada and the U.S.), Air Canada provided complimentary water, soft drinks, tea or coffee and pretzels but everything else needed to be purchased.  Despite the long flight, drinks were served in glasses and not cans although later on in the flight the attendants came with water.  After the service, passengers sit back and either talked, read, or watched the PTV screens.  The screens were a decent size, were very responsive to touch screen, and had a good selection of movies.  The only negative about the entertainment was that it would not remember where you were, so if you paused it or stopped it, it would start from the beginning instead of asking you to resume where you left off (as I have seen other airline entertainment systems do).  This was a small issue as overall the system was responsive and had a good selection.

Overall, I was very impressed with the Air Canada service.  Given my experience with U.S.-based airlines and regional jet service, I had very low expectations and Air Canada exceeded those.  The seats were comfortable, the legroom was decent, and PTVs as well as USB ports were provided.  The service was decent as one flight attendant (the one in business class who came back to help) provided much better and pleasant service versus the one who was based in economy.  Based on this experience, I would not hesitate to fly Air Canada short- or long-haul. 

Stay Report: SpringHill Suites by Marriott Gainesville (Florida - December 2015)

Stay Report: SpringHill Suites by Marriott Gainesville
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photo courtesy Marriott.com

I was on my way to Miami and passing through Florida when I decided to stay the night in Gainesville.  I have previously stayed at SpringHill Suites and have enjoyed the spacious rooms and the complimentary amenities, so based on this I decided to book the SpringHill Suites in Gainesville. From the exterior, the hotel looks like a standard Springhill Suites.  Inside, the lobby included the check-in desks, a small pantry to purchase forgotten items, a nice relaxing lounge/sitting area, as well as the restaurant where the breakfast is served in the morning.  Check-in was efficient, I received my key and proceeded to my room. 

The room was nice and spacious.  The first part of the room was divided into a left and right section.  The left section contained a counter against one wall and the TV on top of a chest against the other wall.  The counter contained a mini-fridge on the bottom and a microwave and a coffee station on top; the counter also contained plates and cups.  Across from the counter, next to the partial wall, was a chest with drawers on the bottom a TV on top that swiveled to allow access from either the bedroom or the lounge.  On the other side, the right section contained a couch that turned into a sofa bed, as well as a desk.   Behind the desk was a wall, a ¾ wall that separated the lounge/sitting area from the bedroom/bathroom area.  The half-wall provides some separation but not complete separation. 

The beds were located against the right side of the wall, while the bathroom was on the left.  The beds were decent and comfortable, and provided a good night’s sleep.  There was one nightstand in between the two beds.  Next to the second bed, close to the window and away from the half wall, was a small closet to store items.  The closet was small and out of place as it was hard to access and hard to open.  Across from the beds, in the middle of the room, was the access to the bathroom.  The bathroom is laid out with an open sink, which can be loud if you are sharing the room with others.  The other bathroom facilities are behind a door, including the toilet and the bathtub, but the quality of the facilities was a bit low and made the room look cheap.

photo courtesy of Marriott.com

The hotel provides a decent amount of facilities for guests to enjoy including complimentary parking, complimentary wifi, complimentary breakfast, and a fitness center.  As I had arrived fairly late at night and left early the next morning, I was only able to enjoy a few of the facilities such as the wifi, free and a decent speed; the complimentary parking which had plenty of spaces; and the complimentary breakfast, which was basic but decent. 

Overall, Springhill Suites provide the guests with a good night’s sleep and a lot of a facilities.  The room is not perfect, but it’s decent and they are generally clean and spacious.

Stay Report: Hyatt Place Memphis/Primacy Parkway (Memphis, TN - June 2018)

Stay Report: Hyatt Place Memphis/Primacy Parkway
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I had previously stayed at a Hyatt Place in Memphis (see review here)  and while I was not overly impressed with the brand, I was also not deterred from trying the brand again.  I was traveling to Memphis and the Hyatt Place was convenient to where I needed to go, so I decided to try the brand again.  Hyatt Place is Hyatt’s low to mid-budget option for travelers.  The rooms are mini-suites – with a bedroom, bathroom, and sitting area – and contain a mini kitchen as well.  Complimentary breakfast and parking are provided, and the brand competes with Hampton Inn and Courtyard. 

The hotel in Memphis is located in between two other hotels, so it’s a bit difficult to distinguish which is the entrance to the hotel.  Also, the hotel has a narrow footprint, as the hotel is built lengthwise and not width wise.   I pulled up to the main entrance and went into the lobby.  The hotel looked modern and fresh, but the other hotel had a distinct and open lobby while this one looked more like a traditional hotel lobby.  As you entered, there were chairs and tables in front of you and the check-in desk was off to the side.  Behind the check-in desk was the bar as well as additional tables and chairs.  Across from the bar was the kitchen area where the complimentary breakfast was served in the mornings.  There were additional chairs and tables in between the check-in desks and the windows as well; so plenty of space to sit and relax. 

As there were only two check-in computers, it took a while for both check-in and check-out.  I received my key and proceeded to the elevators.  Given the layout of the hotel, if you enter the front door with your luggage, you hit the guests waiting in line for the check-in desks on your way to the elevator; it was an odd layout.  The elevator was also somewhat narrow and slow. 4 people barely fit into an elevator - or only 2 people and their luggage.  As with the previous stay, Hyatt Places seem to be very narrow and more reminiscent of European hotels rather than American-style hotels.

As you enter the room, on left is a counter with a sink, coffee, and a fridge

and across from that is a desk.  On the other side of the room are couches - one of which can turn into a sofa bed – a very uncomfortable one at that.  There is a ‘partition’ between the 'living room' and the bedroom, and I put it in quotes because it only extends half way while the remaining section is open so it does not provide a lot of privacy.  Next to the desk is a chest with drawers on the bottom and a TV on top – the TV can be turned to face either the bedroom or living area.

Further into the room, on right side is the bathroom while on left side are the beds.  I had booked a room with two beds, so the beds were against the wall and there was a nightstand in the middle of the bed as well as one next to the partition.  Plugs and USB ports were available next to the bed.  The bed itself was comfortable and provided a decent sleep (much better than the sofa bed).  Across from the bed was the bathroom, which was again very narrow.  As you enter the bathroom, there is an open sink and large mirror in front of you.  To the right is a small closet that is only sufficient for one, maybe two people.  On the other side of the sink is the remaining bathroom, with a toilet and a shower behind a door.  The bathroom is very narrow, so narrow in fact that the door barely misses the toilet as it is closing. The shower is also narrow so you feel constricted and you cannot stretch out.

 

The Hyatt Place does offer free facilities for its guests to enjoy such as complimentary parking, complimentary wifi, and complimentary breakfast.  The hotel also provides a fitness center, an outdoor pool, a business center, and a local shuttle.  The complimentary breakfast was decent, with nice yogurt and fruits; the wifi had decent speeds; and the business center had 2 computers with free printing – so the facilities were nice and a good for customers.  

Overall, it was a decent stay at the Hyatt Place.  We were only there for one night and so for that one night the hotel provided a convenient location, decent bed quality, and complimentary facilities; however, given the narrowness of the room I am not sure I would spend more than one night at the hotel.  

Stay Report: Hampton Inn, New York City - JFK Airport (New York - September 2015)

Stay Report: Hampton Inn New York City - JFK Airport
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photo courtesy of Hampton Inn

I had an early morning flight from JFK, so instead of leaving early from downtown, I decided to look for a hotel that was near the airport.  I had previously stayed at the Hampton Inn JFK Airport and so decided to stay there again.  Previously and this time, my stay lasted for less than 24hrs and each time the hotel provided a decent place to stay and was a nice transit hotel.

My previous stay at the hotel was when I was connecting from a domestic to an international flight and had a long layover in New York, about 8hrs.  Instead of spending it in a lounge or at the airport, I decided to get a nearby hotel to relax in.  I came back this time because, as previously stated, I had an early morning flight out of JFK so wanted to be closer to the airport in case of any delays. 

The layout of the hotel is a standard Hampton Inn layout.  As space is limited in New York, the hotel lobby is not that large.  As you enter the lobby, on the right are the check-in desks while on the left is a small waiting area.  Straight ahead is the restaurant area while to left are the elevators.  Check-in was generally quick, while check-out takes some time, but I received my key and proceeded to the room.

The rooms look decent – in my first stay the rooms looked a bit outdated but during my second stay at least the beds and other fixtures had been updated; the hotel generally looks a bit older.  As you enter the room, on the right is the bathroom while on the left is the closet.  Both are standard, with the closet provided storage space, and the bathroom containing the basic fixtures of a sink, a toilet, and a bathtub; this is where the hotel looks the oldest as the bathroom has not been updated.  Further into the room, the bed was on the right while on the left was a table, a stand with a TV on stop of it, and a desk with a chair.  During my first stay, I had a room with two double beds and during my second stay I had a king-size bed.  The double beds were a nice size, but they were a bit older so not as comfortable; the king-size bed had been updated and so it was both a nice size and comfortable.

photo courtesy of Hampton Inn

The hotel provides standard Hampton Inn amenities such as complimentary breakfast, complimentary wifi, fitness center, business center, meeting rooms, and complimentary shuttle.  Since both of my times were limited, I was only able to try the complimentary wifi and the shuttle.  The wifi was decent and strong enough to check emails and do basic searches.  The shuttle was an issue during both of my stays.  The shuttle picks you up from the Federal Circle Station but drops you off at your specific terminal; and both times it took a really long time for the shuttle to come to the station.  This is definitely something that needs to be improved (Hint: the Hilton JFK and Hampton JFK share a parking lot so if the Hilton shuttle is there, I was advised by the hotel to get on that shuttle and just walk to the Hampton).

Overall, the Hampton Inn JFK provided a nice transit hotel.  I had specific reasons why I wanted to stay near the airport; the first time I had a long layover so getting a hotel with a bed and a secure place to leave my luggage while I went to the city, and the second time was to ensure I made my early morning flight.  For both of these reasons, the hotel was good.  Given the shuttle issue and the distance from the city, it would not be my first choice if I was staying in the city but it’s a good choice as a transit hotel.

Stay Report: Kigali Marriott Hotel (Kigali, Rwanda - April 2018)

Stay Report: Kigali Marriott Hotel
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I was planning a trip to Kigali and when looking for a place to stay, many individuals recommended the Marriott hotel.  I looked online and they had some good reward stays so I went ahead and booked my rewards stay at the hotel.  It was very easy to book the hotel through the Marriott’s website, and very easy to manage the reservation either through the app or through the website.  The only thing I found difficult was trying to contact the hotel – as I was out of the country I could not call the hotel, and trying to find an email of the hotel was almost impossible.  I contacted the hotel through social media, and from there I received an email address.  While the hotel responded somewhat quickly through social media, to me it was an unnecessary step as other hotel brands put their email directly on their website.  From the outside, the hotel looks grand and newly built, and the grandeur and new look continues inside the hotel. 

As you enter the hotel through the main entrance, you enter into a massive lobby which covers three floors, has an open terrace, and huge windows which look onto the outside gardens.  All of these design elements make the hotel feel bigger but also makes it more open.  The lobby contains a lot of facilities across many floors including the check-in desks, a waiting area, a coffee shop, and shops on the main level; the restaurant and access to the outdoor space on the lower level; and windows from the executive lounge looking down from the top level.  As I had booked with points, I was asked if I wanted to access the lounge for an additional daily fee; I took them up on the offer as in the lounge you could obtain breakfast, a private business lounge, and snacks in the evening.  Check-in was relatively quick and efficient and I received the key to my room.

My room was located towards the end of the hallway, and the hallway décor looked calm, nice, and new; the room also looked nice as well.  As you entered in the room, on the left was the bathroom while on the right was the closet.  The closet contained a mirror on the outside and storage, a safe, and a robe inside; the closets provided plenty of storage space.  Across from the closet was the bathroom which contained a sink, a shower, a toilet, a sink, as well as additional storage space.  The bathroom was nice, a bit compact, and contained nice toiletries but the major problem was the design of the shower.  The showerhead was pointed one way but the drain for the shower was on the opposite side.  Unfortunately the shower was not designed for efficient water drainage; therefore, every time you took a shower the bottom flooded before it drained.  Since the shower door was not sealed properly, this meant that every time the shower flooded so did the bathroom floor making all the mats and towels wet.  Taking a shower was a real pain.

Further into the room, on the left hand side was the bed with a nightstand on each side.  The bed was the updated Marriott bed and provided a comfortable night’s sleep.  Across from the bed, all along the wall, was a desk/ledge.  The ledge started on one side of the wall and continued further down to the other side of the wall, where it got bigger and turned into a desk.  The ledge was storage space as well as contained books on Kigali and Rwanda, contained the welcome tray that the hotel provided, and contained the desk.  On one side of the ledge was the space for a luggage rack and on the other side of the ledge was the window.  The room also contained a lounge sofa next to the window.  The windows were large and bright and let in natural light when they were opened – the hotel opened the curtains when they would tidy the room during the day, and closed the curtains during their turn-down service.  Overall, the room was spacious and provided a lot of nice amenities.  There were also USB ports available in the room, but the direction of the USB port was such that it made plugging items in very difficult; like the shower it was a great idea but poor execution.

The hotel is a full service hotel meaning there are a lot of amenities for the guests to enjoy.  These include a fitness center, an outdoor pool, a restaurant, a spa, business center, executive lounge, complimentary wifi, and concierge service.  As I said, I had access to the executive lounge so I went there for breakfast and evening snacks.  The lounge was nice and spacious, provided small but filling food items, contained a computer and printer, and had huge windows which overlooked the lobby.  The service in the lounge was also spectacular as well.  I also experienced the wifi, which was complimentary to everybody in the lobby and login access in your room – decent speeds and strong enough to check emails and stream videos.  The hotel also provides airport shuttle for a fee, and I used the hotel shuttle on my departure as my flight was early in the morning; the shuttle was confirmed 24-hours prior to my departure and everything went smoothly.

Overall, it was a nice stay at the Marriott Kigali.  It’s a grand and modern hotel with lots of amenities and lots of space for the guests to enjoy.  The rooms are spacious and comfortable.  The only negatives are the bathroom design, but other than that it’s a nice hotel that is centrally located and comfortable.   

Stay Report: Home2 Suites by Hilton New York Long Island City/ Manhattan View (New York - September 2015)

Stay Report: Home2Suites New York Long Island
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Hotels in New York can be very expensive at times, especially around holidays and weekends, and usually rooms in the city tend be smaller/compact.  There are many hotels outside the city that provide a lower price, a bigger room, and still have access to the New York train system.  I have been wanting to try the Home2Suites brand so when I saw one was located near New York, and had all the amenities mentioned above, I decided to try it out.

The hotel was very convenient located near two subway stops and was only 3-5 stops away from Manhattan so provided easy and convenient connections.  The hotel is located either a couple of feet away from the 39th subway stop on the N & Q line, or about a 2-3 minute walk from Queens Plaza where other lines are available.

Upon entering the hotel lobby, straight ahead is the check in desk with elevators to the rooms right behind the desk.  To the left of the check in desk is sitting area/kitchen area and computer stands.  You can access the two computers or just sit and relax in the lounge chairs; the kitchen area is also where complimentary breakfast is served in the morning.

 

I proceeded to the desk to check-in and receive my key.  Check-in took some time so it could have been more efficient, generally throughout the stay the front desk service was alright - not bad but not great and there is room for improvement here.  As a HHonors member, I did receive a complimentary bottle of water at check-in, which was a nice gesture.  Once I received my key, I proceeded to my room.

The room itself looked like a junior suite.  Upon entering the room, on the left hand side was the bathroom while on the right was the kitchen. The bathroom had a sink on one side and a shower on the other side. The shower had refillable shampoo, body wash and soap was provided – no other amenities were provided but this was a nice environmentally-responsible gesture.

The room itself had a full kitchen with a full fridge, sink, stove, dishwasher, and plates.  Beyond the kitchen was the sitting area with a couch, which turns into a sofa bed. In front of the couch is a TV with drawers underneath.  Next to the couch is the bed and there is a curtain which can be drawn to separate the sitting area from the bed area – but the curtain only extends the length of the bed and not the length of the room.  Across from the bed was a pull out desk and shelves above the desk, and next to the desk was a tiny closet (that had an iron and ironing board).  The bed itself was comfortable and provided a good night sleep. Each lamp had outlets so there were plenty of places to plug in a recharge.

As it aims to be a suite hotel, there are many facilities available for the guest to enjoy.  These include complimentary breakfast, a gym, laundry facility, a small market, as well as complimentary wifi.  As I was only here for a short while, I only got to experience the wifi which was complimentary and provided decent speeds. 

Overall, it was a nice stay at the Home2Suites.  The room was spacious, there were many amenities in the room, and the location was convenient.  As I said, I was interested in trying the brand and after experiencing it, the hotel seems to be a combination of two existing brands from competing companies.  The room size and layout is very similar to Hyatt Place while the kitchen, the additional amenities, and focus on the environment are very similar to the Element.  It all combines to a comfortable hotel in a convenient location

Stay Report: Park Hyatt Zanzibar (Tanzania - April 2018)

Stay Report: Park Hyatt Zanzibar
comment below and let me know your thoughts :)

I was traveling to Zanzibar for one night so was looking for a hotel that was near Stone Town.  When I had previously traveled to Stone Town, I stayed at Maru Maru (check out that review here) which was nice but I was looking for something more upscale and more centrally located.  During my previous stay, in 2013/2014, the Park Hyatt was just announced to be built and it was being built in a central location so I decided to look the hotel up.  The hotel was having a rewards discount night – possibly due to rainy season when occupancy is lower – but whatever the reason, I was able to book a reward room.  It was very easy to navigate and book the room through both the Hyatt’s website and the app, and when we had an issue and needed to call customer service, they were very responsive and friendly.  

The hotel is located in Stone Town and is about a 10-15 minute walk from the ferry terminal.  From the outside, you cannot tell it is a hotel as there is no grand entrance.  To me, this is a good thing as the hotel blends into the surrounding areas.  As you walk into the hotel, you enter into the open lobby.  The hotel’s design definitely has Arabic/Middle Eastern influences, a nod to Zanzibar’s own Arabic/Middle Eastern heritage.  In the middle of the lobby is a fountain with the check-in desks on the right, the fitness center on the left, and the ocean and other spaces straight ahead.  The lobby seems bright and open with the high ceilings and windows on the roof which let in natural light.  There are two check-in desks, so it creates an intimate experience but could be a lengthy process if there are many guests at the same time.  Check-in was quick, I received my key and proceeded to the room.  The rooms are in a separate building from the main check-in area.  To access this area, there is a hallway next to the check-in desks that leads to a corridor and from there you exit the first building and go up a small incline to access the second building, you go down a long corridor to the elevators that take you up to the rooms.  Even though you are existing one building, you are still within the hotel’s property.

The rooms at the hotel are nice, a decent size, and are nicely decorated. As you entered into the room, on the left was the bathroom while on the right was a luggage holder and the closet which contained storage space as well as a safe.  The bathroom was large and contained a sink, a tub, a shower behind a door, and a toilet behind a separate door.  The bathroom was spacious but the doors did not close fully so it was not complete privacy.  There were two doors in the bathroom, the main door that led into the bathroom and then next to the tub were sliding doors that opened up into the room; not sure why though.

The beds were comfortable and a nice side.  There were on the left side of the room and each had its own nightstand and its own mosquito net and drapery.  The beds looked very elegant and provided a decent night’s sleep.  Across from the beds was the TV on top of a chest with drawers on the bottom.  Next to the TV stand was a table with chairs, and in between the bed and the window were additional chairs.  It was nice that the room had the option of opening the window to let in the sunlight and breeze.  The view of the hotel depends on which side you are on, as one side of the hotel faces the town while the other side faces the ocean.  Overall, the room was nice and comfortable, and provided a good night’s stay.

The hotel overall is beautifully designed and developed hotel, and there are many amenities for the guests to enjoy.  These include a fitness center, a sauna, an outdoor pool, a library, a bar, a coffee shop, a restaurant, concierge service, and mini shopping arcade to gather souvenirs and other gifts.  As I was only there for one night, I was not able to fully experience all of the facilities the hotel had to offer.  I did experience the wifi, which was complimentary and provided decent speeds.  The room came with complimentary breakfast, which I did not partake in but my friends did, and they said it was alright and similar to the breakfast experienced at the Hyatt in Dar Es Salaam (see review HERE).  I also experienced the library, which was located in between the lobby and the entrance to the seaside/pool area.  This addition, which you do not see in many hotels, provided that nice extra touch that made this hotel feel that much more special.

In the end, it was a really nice stay at the Park Hyatt Zanzibar.  The hotel looks amazing and has great designs, the rooms are comfortable, and the service is really good.  There are some hotels that have high ratings and you are not sure why, and then there are others that deserve high ratings for their overall outstanding achievements; the Park Hyatt definitely deserves high ratings for design, service, and overall comfort of the hotel.

Stay Report: Hyatt Place Atlanta/Buckhead (Atlanta, Georgia - July 2015)

Stay Report: Hyatt Place Atlanta/Buckhead
comment below and let me know your thoughts :)

When Hyatt launched the Hyatt Place, I was intrigued by the new product so I wanted to try it so when I was looking for places to stay in Atlanta I decided to stay at the Hyatt Place Atlanta Buckhead.  Overall, the hotel is nice with decent size rooms but compact/tight spaces.  Also, the customer service needs VAST improvement as communication is not there and then when a problem does occur, there are no solutions - just for the customer to deal with it.

From the outside, the hotel looks newly build but the location is bit odd.  The hotel is located in complex with other buildings – with an apartment building located on the main road; the entrance located next to that in which you drive down to access the hotel; a parking garage; a restaurant; and then the exit.  The parking garage is not attached to the hotel and is shared with the apartments and the restaurants – the hotel is allotted floors 3 and 6 of the 6 story garage. The main entrance of the garage is on floor 2.  From the garage, you take the elevator down to the main level where you walk to the access the main entrance of the hotel.

When you enter the hotel, it looks modern and fresh.  As you enter, the check-in desks (more circular) is in front of you and connected to the check-in is a bar where you can order food or just relax.  Next to the check-in desk is a business center as well as the area where the complimentary breakfast is served in the mornings.  Beyond the check in are the elevators - which are narrow and slow. 4 people barely fit into an elevator - or only 2 people and their luggage.  This was the first sign of the narrowness of the hotel – which is more reminiscent of European hotels rather than American-style hotels.

The hallway to the rooms are also narrow, making it hard for 2 people to pass each other; and the narrowness continues into the room.  As you enter the room, on left is a counter with a sink, coffee, and a fridge and across from that is a desk.  Across from these are the couches - one of which can turn into a sofa bed – a very uncomfortable one at that.  There is a ‘partition’ between the 'living room' and the bedroom, and I put it in quotes because it only extends half way while the remaining section is open so it does not provide a lot of privacy.  Next to the desk is a chest with drawers on the bottom and a TV on top – the TV can be turned to face either the bedroom or living area.

Further into the room, on right side is the bathroom while on left side is the bed.  I had requested a room with 2 double beds but instead got a room with a king bed – when I talked to the front desk they were not helpful at all so I had to stick with the king size bed.  The bed was in the middle of the room with a night stand on either side, and there were plugs and USB ports next to the bed.  The bed itself was comfortable and provided a decent sleep (much better than the sofa bed).  Across from the bed was the bathroom, which was again very narrow.  As you enter the bathroom, there is an open sink and large mirror in front of you.  To the right is a small closet that is only sufficient for one, maybe two people.  On the other side of the sink is the remaining bathroom, with a toilet and a shower behind a door.  The bathroom is very narrow, so narrow in fact that the door barely misses the toilet as it is closing. The shower is also narrow so you feel constricted and you cannot stretch out.

The Hyatt Place does offer free facilities for its guests to enjoy such as complimentary parking, complimentary wifi, and complimentary breakfast.  The hotel also provides a fitness center, an outdoor pool, a business center, and a local shuttle.  The complimentary breakfast was decent, with nice yogurt and fruits; the wifi had decent speeds; and the business center had 2 computers with free printing – so the facilities were nice and a good for customers.

Overall, the hotel is nice and updated but it is extremely narrow and compact.  The location was very convenient, the bed quality was decent and the hotel provides nice facilities for the guests, but the customer service was extremely poor; they were neither helpful nor customer friendly at all.