Stay Report: Radisson Blu Royal Viking Hotel (Stockholm, Sweden - June 2022)

   Stay Report: Radisson Blu Royal Viking Hotel
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I was traveling to Stockholm and when looking for a place to stay, there is not a lot of variety especially if you want to stay in the city center.  There were only a couple of options and one of them was a local brand and the other was the Radisson Blu.  Radisson Blu had a couple of locations throughout Stockholm City Center so you could choose from a variety of options.  I had never stayed at a Radisson Blu so was not sure what to expect, but my travel companion had stayed and had some status so we decided to book the Radisson Blu Royal Viking Hotel.  

This hotel is located right next to the train station and is within walking distance to many sights, shops, and restaurants and this is the main reason we choose this hotel; location.  We booked the hotel through the Radisson app as there were discounts through the app that were not available online.  There were various room types to choose from and each room had various booking types - bed only, bed plus breakfast, bed plus extra points, etc.  We were using the hotel as a base to walk around and were not planning on being in the room long so we booked the basic bed-only room.  

The hotel is located on the main road right next to the train station.  As you exit one section of the train station - right next to the entrance to the airport train - you will see the hotel on the left-side.  From the outside, the hotel does not look like much and definitely needs an upgrade and paint job from the outside.  There are entrances to the hotel - one is located right next to the train station entrance so you can walk out of hotel, take 5 steps and be inside the train station.  This exit is only open during the day and closes at night due to security reasons; I did not feel unsafe walking around at night but did have to be more vigilant at night.  The main entrance is located on the main road so from the train station you go towards the main road, take a left and the main entrance is right there.  When you enter the lobby, there is a long walkway that leads you to the check-in desks at the other side of the lobby.  Service at the check-in desks was varied and greatly depended on who was at the desk which made requests and service extremely difficult and inconsistent.  

Along the left-side of the walkway are seating areas.  Along the right-side are seating areas, the hotel restaurant, the hotel bar, as well as access to the second section of the hotel (more on that below).  The lobby did not match the outside and luckily looked updated so was large, roomy and had plenty of seats.  There were two sets of elevators - one of the left and one on the right - and these led to the two different sections of the hotel which contained the rooms.  

The rooms on both sides were designed the same and both resembled a cabin on a cruise ship.  In my stays I experienced both a smaller room size as well as a 'deluxe' room type - both were laid out the same and had the same amenities and the only difference was the size of the room.  In both rooms, as you entered on the right was the bathroom.  The bathroom contained a sink, a toilet, a shower tub or shower stall as well as refillable bottles of hand wash, lotion, and body wash.  In addition, there were other amenities in the bathroom including towels, comb, and other bathroom amenities.  Across from the bathroom was an extremely narrow closet which contained an iron, ironing board, safe, shelves, and place to hang your clothes.  The closet had everything but was EXTREMELY narrow.  In between the bathroom and the main part of the room was a nook that had a fridge on the bottom and the coffee maker on top.  In the main part of the room, on the right side was the two twin beds each with a nightstand on either stand as well as a nightstand in the middle.  The beds were small but comfortable and provided a decent nights sleep.  Along the left side, across from the beds, was a TV mounted on the wall and a desk and a chair next to the wall; it was a basic desk but nice since there was no storage space in the room.  Those were the basic amenities that were in both rooms - and as I said the only difference between the rooms was space as both were identical in features but one was larger.  Both rooms also had a window and in one room there was a chair and small desk next to the window; the other room did not have this feature.  

Amenities in the hotel included a restaurant, a fitness center, wifi, and meeting rooms.  The wifi was complimentary and at a decent speed with no limitations to the number of devices connected.  The fitness center was not a fitness center but an actual gym in the bottom of the hotel that hotel guests were allowed to use; but the service at the fitness center was not pleasant so it did not create a pleasant workout  experience. Overall, it was a disappointing stay at the Radisson Blu.  The only advantage to the hotel was the location right next to the train station but otherwise they offered an average room that had ok features but was small and definitely not worth the exorbitant price that was charged for the room.  The service was poor and the amenities and layout did not match the price paid.

Trip Report: Aeromexico, Houston IAH to Mexico City (May 2022)

 Stay Report: Aeromexico, Houston IAH to Mexico City
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I needed to fly to Mexico City from New Orleans and there were a couple of options available but most had me connecting in Houston - since I was connecting in Houston anyway I thought I may as well try and fly with an airline I have been wanting to fly for a while; Aeromexico.                                                                                                                                                                                              Aeromexico is a Skyteam member and is the national airline of Mexico.  They have a good reputation of flying mostly international flights from Mexico with some limited domestic routes.  Delta and Aeromexico have a joint venture agreement which allows them to seamlessly operate and sell tickets on each others routes.  Previously when I have flown to Mexico City, it has been with other carriers as they have provided better timings and fares; many carriers have stopped flying to Mexico City and instead have focused on leisure destinations such as Cancun in Mexico.  From Houston there are fullservice airlines flying like United and Aeromexico as well as low-cost airlines like VivaAerobus and Volaris.  I looked at the low-cost airlines and 1) the timings were odd; 2) with the addition of checked baggage and other amenities the price was the same as Aeromexico; and 3) I was traveling with my friend and so wanted to coordinate flight timings with them.  

It was easy to book the ticket with Aeromexico.  As a full service airline, a personal item plus a handcarry were included in the ticket as well as preselecting your seat at no charge.  Aeromexico has 3 categories of tickets - classic, plus and premier.  Classic is the regular ticket with a seat assignment and handy carry, plus includes that plus extra miles, extra legroom seats, and priority boarding.  Premier is business class with extra checked baggage and other business class services.  I selected the classic because I was not checking a bag and the classic fit my travel plans.  I was able to preselect my seat during the booking and could manage my booking through the app; including being able to upgrade at a cost or add additional services for a fee.                                                                                                                                                                            Checkin was open 24-hrs in advance where I could confirm my seat selection, add any extras, and receive my boarding pass.  I got to the gate really early as I was connecting from another airline and wanted to ensure I had enough time to connect to my international flight.  Because I had checked-in online, I needed to verify my passport and boarding pass with the gate agents.  The agents were very helpful and customer friendly so this was an easy process.  Flight was scheduled to depart at 11:15am and 30minutes prior boarding started.  Boarding was done by groups and these were strictly enforced; however, passengers waited until called by the gate agents event though the previous group had gone through so boarding took longer than necessary.  Luckily we were not a full flight so boarding completed, boarding doors closed and we pushed back ontime.

The operating aircraft for this 2hr20min flight was a Boeing 737 with a 3-3 seat configuration.  The color scheme, the layout, the seat configuration, everything reminded me of an older Delta plane; I know they have a joint-venture so do they also share planes?  The plane had business class up front and then economy in the back but in economy there was economy plus with extra legroom and then regular economy.  Each seat had a big PTV screen with USB ports and headphone jack underneath, followed by a full-size tray table and then a seatback pocket containing the safety card.  The seat pitch was good and so was the seat width but the seat comfort was lacking and you felt the age of the plane in that.  Once we were airborne, inflight service commenced with complimentary drinks and peanuts; there was also buy-on-board service as well for additional snacks.  Wifi was available but it was not complimentary but the PTV did have a decent amount of movies and TV shows; especially given the short flight time it was a good selection.

We landed and it took a VERY long time to get to the gate and deplane.  Overall, it was an average flight with Aeromexico.  It seemed very reminiscent as if I was traveling with Delta - same color scheme, same seat design and PTV design, and same layout.  The only difference was the onboard staff and primary language of instruction.

Trip Report: Finnair, Stockholm to Helsinki; Helsinki to Tallinn (June 2022)

 Trip Report: Finnair - Stockholm to Helsinki; Helsinki to Tallinn
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I was traveling to Helsinki, Finland and so that meant I had to try Finnair.  Finnair is Finland's national carrier and is also part of the oneworld alliance.  I have been wanted to try their service for a while and now got the opportunity in two regional flights - one from Stockholm to Helsinki on an Airbus A319 and then from Helsinki to Tallinn on an ATR plane.  I was traveling with hand-carry only so my experience with both flights were similar.                                                                                                                                               It was very easy to book flights on Finnair's website but since Finnair is a member of oneworld I could also use my AAdvantage points to book award travel on Finnair so that is what I did - I used AAmiles to book a free ticket on Finnair.  It was easy to use the miles and book my ticket, get my record locator number, and then use that to manage my booking on Finnair's website.  Finnair is a full-service airline so checked baggage and complimentary seat assignment were included in the fare.  

My first flight was from Stockholm to Helsinki and was operated by an Airbus A319.  I was able to 

select my seat, free of charge, upon booking and I could modify the seat assignment anytime prior to and during check-in.  It was very easy to checkin on the app and obtain my boarding pass.  In regional flights, Finnair does not provide food but you can preselect/purchase food and have it served on the plane.  The incoming aircraft arrival was delayed so that meant our departure was delayed - this information was communicated by the gate agents, by the monitors, on the app, and we also received email notification of the delay.  Once ready for boarding, Finnair boards in groups and is VERY strict about the boarding groups; they do not allow anyone outside their boarding groups to board.                                                                                                                                                              Once onboard the Airbus A319 the seats were laid out in a 3-3 seat configuration.  Generally there is an economy and Euro-business class on the flight (economy seats with the middle blocked) but with the flight time was only 1hour , I think Finnair considers this a more 'domestic' flight so there was no business class and only economy.  I say this because I was in seat 3 which would normally be 'Euro-business' but this time was all economy.  

The seats were basic with seatback pocket up top, a normal size tray table underneath and then a small pocket underneath that.  The seatback pocket up top contained the safety card information; airline magazine and buy on-board menu was available online.  The seat width was a bit narrow, especially if you had a broader person sitting next to you in the middle but the seat pitch was great - I am 6'1 with long legs and my legs easily fit with room to move.  Once we took off, inflight service commenced.  Complimentary blueberry juice, tea, or coffee were served; everything else needed to be purchased.  You could connect to Finnair's wifi which provides content dependent on the flight; for some flights this includes entertainment such as TV shows and movies but for this short flight it only included access to journals and newspapers (including international newspapers).  After drinks were passed out and rubbish collected, it was time to land and deplane in Helsinki.

My next flight with Finnair with an ATR Aircraft which is in a 2-2 seat configuration and one that boards from the back.  The check-in and complimentary seat assignment were the same with this flight, the only difference was that the flight time for this flight is 30min so this meant that there was no inflight service.  We boarded, took off, landed and deplaned.                                                                                                                            Overall, it was a nice flight with Finnair.  Their planes were nice, the service onboard was good and overall it was a nice short flights with each airline.  This definitely makes me want to try their long-haul or longer flights with them.

Stay Report: Holiday Inn Helsinki City Centre (Helsinki, Finland - June 2022)

    Stay Report: Holiday Inn Helsinki City Centre
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I was traveling to Helsinki, Finland but I was only going to be there for a short period so I wanted a hotel that would be central and within walking distance to the city center and most sites.  Based on this criteria, I found the Holiday Inn Helsinki City Center and it fit all the criteria I was looking for.  It was very easy to book and manage the hotel through both the website and app.  The hotel is connected to the train station but it is not attached, so you do have to exit the train station but it is in the same footprint so only a couple of steps from the last platform and a 30-second walk from the main entrance.  

As you exit the side entrance of the train station, the hotel is visible on the right-hand side.  From the outside it looks nice and modern, but perceptions can be deceiving sometimes.  As you enter the lobby, the check-in desks are straight ahead, to the right was the bar and restaurant as well as waiting area, and to the left are the elevators/lifts, the 'business center'/computer stations, additional waiting areas, some work stations, and some places to relax and lounge.  The lobby was definitely spacious, had lots of good amenities, and looked renovated and updated.  Check-in was quick, I received my key, went to the 5th floor and proceeded to enter my room; this is where the renovations had ceased.

The room was definitely not updated and looked very nice for the 1980s or 1990s.  As you entered into the room, along the right side were large doors and behind the doors were the closets, ironing board and iron, safe, and coffee maker; there was lots of space but the doors and look of the closets looked dated.  Along the left side of the room was the bathroom which contained a toilet, a sink with a long countertop, and a tub which contained only a half-door.  The half-door did absolutely nothing to hold the water in, the facilities in the bathroom did not look updated and the overall look was dated.  There were reusable toiletries in the shower and next to the sink; this hotel used Dove and while it smelled decent, it seemed a bit cheap (I stayed at the Holiday Inn Express in Warsaw and the product they used smelled and seemed more upscale).

As you moved further into the room, on the left were the two twin beds.  Each bed had a small nightstand on either side and each night stand had a small light as well as a plug and USB ports - at least that was updated and that was convenient.  The beds were updated and although somewhat small, provided a decent nights sleep.  Across from the beds was a TV screen mounted to the wall, a desk with an outdated phone and furniture, and along the wall was nice open windows which shown out onto the street and let it light; luckily they were also blackout curtains since the sun rose at 3am.

Amenities in the hotel included a restaurant, wifi, business centre, and fitness center.  Because of my limited time there, I was not able to visit the fitness center and had no need to visit the business center - which basically was the computer station in the lobby.  I did try the wifi which was fast and you could connect many devices.  As I said, the lobby was very open and spacious and there were lots of amenities as well as working spaces in there.  To me, the best feature about the hotel was the location as it was right next to the train station, it had a grocery store across the street, it was a 2-3 minute to many restaurants and shops and it was a 10-minute walk to the University and Main Square.  Overall, the location was very nice, the lobby and customer service was very nice but the rooms need to be updated. 

Trip Report: TAP Air Portugal - Washington, D.C. to Zurich via Lisbon (November 2021)

  Trip Report: TAP Air Portugal - Washington, D.C. to Zurich
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I was looking to fly to Europe from the US and in Fall of 2021 only certain airlines were operating.  One of these was TAP Air Portugal and during that time their prices were good, the flight timings were good, and the COVID regulations were not strict thus limiting travel (I think TAP did this strategically to continue operating and providing a revenue for their operations); because of all these reasons I booked TAP Air Portugal.  I have flown TAP before both long-haul (Newark to Lisbon) and short-haul (Lisbon to Barcelona) so I was familiar with their product; they tend to offer lower fares and in return offer a decent product.  Their prices are not fancy and neither are their services - everything seems ok, especially given the price you pay so one should not expect a Singapore or Emirates-type service.  Since my last flight with them, they have invested in fleet renewal which includes A321LRneo which are long-haul single aisle planes.  These have been used recently on many long-haul flights between Europe and the U.S. in markets where a larger, twin-aisle plane capacity is not there.  

My flight was from Washington, D.C. to Lisbon and then from Lisbon to Zurich; the first leg wasoperated by an A321LRneo while the second leg was operated by an Airbus A320.  When I booked my trip, I was able to preselect my seat and select a special meal option for my long-haul flight at no cost; for the short-haul flight preselecting a seat and adding a meal would be an extra charge.  Since my itinerary included a long-haul sector, checked baggage was included but had my itinerary only been short-haul or within Europe then checked baggage and hand carry are only allowed on certain ticket levels.  I had all my documentation ready and so I was able to check-in online and receive my boarding pass but I still needed to stop by the desk to confirm all my health requirements and documentation.  During the check-in process I could modify my long-haul seat selection but could only add a seat for my short-haul for a cost.  

The flight from Washington, D.C. departed at 10pm and arrives into Lisbon at 10am.  In the Fall of 2021 there was not many people flying so the airport was empty and it took 10 minutes to get through check-in and security.  Once the flight arrived and was cleaned and catered, we boarded in groups.  The Airbus A321neoLR is a unique plane in that is a long-range plane but it is single aisle unlike most long-range planes which are double aisle.  The single aisle makes allows airlines to operate routes longer term that may not be as profitable with a bigger airline.  The airplane is in a 3-3 configuration and had a business class upfront, a small premium economy, and then economy section.  Even though it was a single-aisle the seat pitch and seat width of the seat were very good and comfortable for the 7hr+ flight.  The seat itself contained a wide PTV screen with USB and headphone jack underneath, a section for safety card and airline magazine, a tray table that can be used half-open or fully open, and then additional pockets and storage underneath.  Overall, it was a comfortable flight for the flight time and length of the flight. 

Once airborne, inflight service commenced.   First there was a drink and pretzel service and then meals were served.  The food was average, decent but not great, and this was also the comment on the entertainment options for the PTV, decent but not great.  The options were great for a 4-5hour flight but you would be limited for longer flights.  After the first meal, most passengers went to sleep.  There was water and pretzels available in the rear of the plane throughout the flight and then prior to landing a snack was served.  Once we landed, transiting through Lisbon airport was a NIGHTMARE as there were too many people and not enough staff to handle the transit.  I had about 2.5hrs transit time and the entire time was spent in line going through immigration and security.  I barely had enough time to clear everything and make it to my next gate; that happened both on the airport and the return.

My next flight was an intra-European flight on an Airbus A320 and there was a noticeable difference in terms of cabin size, seat comfort, seat pitch and width, and general layout of the seat.  The seat comfort, seat pitch and width were all reduced and it made the 2h45m flight feel longer.  There was no PTV and I could not access wifi on the plane so it was up to you to bring your own entertainment.  Drinks are served on TAP but everything else is buy-on-board.  

Generally, it was an average flight onboard TAP.  My experience and opinion of them from my previousflight had not changed - they are an average airline which will get you from Point A to Point B in a lower cost and with an average plane with decent seat pitch and width.  There will be nothing outstanding that will make you say 'oh my God' but nor will there be anything that bad that will make you swear them off (except this time transiting through Lisbon was not fun). 

Stay Report: Holiday Inn Express Warsaw - Mokotów (Warsaw, Poland - June 2022)

 Stay Report: Holiday Inn Express Warsaw - Mokotow
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I was traveling to Warsaw and was looking for a place to stay.  There are many options either within the city, near the airport, or somewhere in between.  I was only there for a short period and was flying in and out so decided to stay near the airport and that is when the Holiday Inn Express Warsaw Mokotow came into my search.  Even though I am an IHG member, I am hesitant to stay at Holiday Inn Express hotels, especially in the U.S., because some of them are good but others are really disgusting.  I did some research and found that this hotel was relatively new so given that I decided to go ahead and book it.  

It was very easy to book the hotel through the IHG website or app and easy to manage through the both.  The hotel is located about 10 minutes from the airport by car or also a 10 minute train ride plus 10 minute walk - the walk from the hotel to the train does involve some steps and is somewhat lengthy so would not recommend it for those with lots of luggage.  The hotel is located in the Mokotow region which is a suburb of Warsaw.  The main entrance is on a side street while on the back there is a tram stop directly in front of the hotel (backside).  One or two stops away from the hotel is a big mall with lots of services and shops - the city center is about a 30-45min tram ride from the hotel.  If you take the train or the tram, you enter the hotel through the back parking lot and have to walk around the hotel to the main entrance which is the only entrance - my suggestion is that the hotel create an entrance to the back that guests can access with their key card.

As you walk up to the main entrance there are many seating areas outside - this was very nice in the 

Spring/Summer months when its really nice to sit outside and enjoy the weather.  As you enter into the lobby, there are some seating area to right and straight ahead is the check-in desks.  Further into the right is the kitchen and more seating area.  This is also where breakfast is available in the morning (more on that below).  Check-in was easy, received my key, and proceeded to the elevators on the left to head to my room.  

As you entered into the room, the first thing you noticed is how large the room is.  As you enter, on the right is the bathroom which contains a sink, a shower, a toilet, and a towel warmer.  There were no individual bathroom toiletries but rather refillable bottles - one by the sink and one in the shower; they both smelled really nice and of high quality.  The bathroom was standard and was a decent size.  As you move further into the room, also on right hand side was a narrow open closet - given the size of the room not sure why the closet was so small.  Next to the closet was an open area with the coffee maker on top, safe and fridge down below; again great amenities but given the size of the room not sure why it was narrow.  Further into the room, on the right side was a desk and a chair next to the wall - this would be a great working space and there were additional plugs and USB ports to make working in this area easier.  The table/desk was not connected to the wall so it could be moved and that was helpful as you could move it closer to the bed since there was some distance between these two areas.  

The bed was also on the right side of the room with one side really close to the window - there were mini nightstands on each side of the table and above each nightstand were plugs and USB ports.  Next to the bed was a large window which let in light during the day but also were blackout curtains which were helpful since the sunrise was very early in the morning.  Across from the bed was the TV mounted on the wall and underneath was a ledge which contained complimentary water - with gas and without - as well as a bottle opener and other items to enjoy your time there.  The ledge was a smart idea as it provided more space to store items.  The bed itself was nice and comfortable and a large size for Europe. 

Amenities at the hotel included complimentary wifi, connected parking facility, complimentary breakfast, and access to transportation.  As I mentioned earlier, right behind the hotel was the tram stop and a 10-15 minute walk was the train stop to the airport.  Wifi was complimentary and relatively fast and the complimentary breakfast was decent - it was medium size but generally had a good selection with something for everyone's appetite.  Overall, it was a nice stay at the Holiday Inn Express.  I was not sure what to expect since HI Express can vary but this was clean, modern, had great facilities, and overall provided a good nights' rest.