The following article originally appeared in TravelWeekly Australia
Justin Wastnage travelled on the Emirates A380 from Sydney to Dubai in business class. Here's how he rated it.
LOUNGE: Attempting to leave Sydney during the Great Dust Storm of 09, my flight was always going to be delayed. Whiling away two hours in the Emirates lounge was a pretty painless way of doing so. The food is the stand-out, featuring a hot buffet with comfort food like shepherd's pie alongside Moroccan tajine and poached salmon. There is great Middle Eastern fare to try as well. The décor of gold trims on the wooden partitions may be a little gaudy to many, but all the usual lounge ingredients are there. 8/10
SEAT: The vast real estate available to airlines flying the A380 is used in different ways. Emirates has gone for a pod-like module that has a myriad of compartments and a minibar for each passenger. Couples have two conjoined seats, while singles have window pods. Considering the aircraft only entered into service earlier this year, some of the plastics and materials looks a little scuffed already and the seat was impossible to escape from. The interlocking table also makes it impossible to escape during the lengthy meal service. Once converted into a lie-flat bed and covered with a mattress, the bed is one of the most comfortable I have slept in. As with the lounge, the brass and pastel styling might be more suited to Middle Eastern tastes. 8/10
SERVICE: The multinational cabin crew all seemed to gel together and at times you felt like you were part of their gang as they laughed and joked. Service was very friendly and efficient without being fawning or obsequious. However, the drinks service for all meals was extremely slow; meaning a main meal with no wine and breakfast without coffee. 7/10
EXTRAS:The amenities kit features Bulgari toiletries plus the men's kit has none other than a Taylor's of Old Bond Street razor, raising the bar for others who give away plastic disposables. The biggest extra on the Emirates A380 is the huge bar. Pioneered by Virgin Atlantic, the in-flight bar is now perfected. Rather than standing around or perching on bar stools, the Emirates bar provides two long couches ideal for socialising. 9/10
FOOD:The great start made in the lounge is built upon in the air. Braised beef is a staple of airline cuisine, but the Emirates cut was excellent quality. The dessert was light and there was a good choice of healthier meals too. Once again, the Arabic cuisine such as the hummus and olives with flat bread was excellent. 8/10
ENTERTAINMENT: From the wide screen television to the noise cancelling headphones, Emirates shows its class from the moment you arrive. Add in a wireless remote control tablet and over 600 television channels and you've got one of the best systems going. For me the standout was the quality of the Bose headphones which amplified subtleties in albums I have already listened to hundreds of times. Sadly my wifi remote control malfunctioned and the USB stick did not support iPod format content, but I did manage to view my photos as a slideshow. 9/10
OVERALL RATING: 81%
The seat is big and impressive, the entertainment fantastic and the bar a stand-out. Small problems in service and technology hamper the offering, but the Emirates A380 is still one of the best business classes flying.
Showing posts with label review. Show all posts
Showing posts with label review. Show all posts
Friday, November 20, 2009
Friday, September 25, 2009
Seat review: Singapore Airlines A380 SYD-SIN
Article originally appeared in TravelWeekly Australia BUSINESS TRAVEL & MICE supplement
Seat review: Singapore Airlines
Singapore Changi Airport to Sydney Airport
Airbus A380-800 business class
LOUNGE: An amazing shower with horizontal as well as vertical jets is worth the admission alone, but the buffet is another strong selling point. It features superb cuisine from Singapore’s three main cultural influences (namely Indian, Chinese and Western) and it is brought out freshly. Draught beer, a host of big screen televisions, free wi-fi and lots of seating also contribute to make this an excellent lounge. 9/10
SEAT: What can be said about the amazing Singapore Airlines Airbus A380 business class seat? Firstly, it is so wide that two could sit side by side, such is its breadth. It also has amazing storage space underneath the seat in front, meaning that very few will have any need to use the overhead compartment. There are a myriad of stowage spaces and fold-down shelves for drinks and the like on the panel in front. The lie-flat bed is so vast you can roam around and toss and turn rather than lying head up only. This is truly the new standard of comfort for the business traveller. 10/10
SERVICE: Singapore Airlines is well known for, and justifiably proud of, its personal service. A
minor visa issue had staff working on my behalf contacting Canberra while I relaxed – all very
professional. Similarly, orders were taken prior to take-off, to speed up service afterwards. For
some Australian sensibilities, the service may appear a little fawning, but no request is ever
refused and my visa issue illustrated perfectly the lengths staff go to to ensure an excellent
experience. I found the service very hard to fault. 9/10
EXTRAS: Passengers are presented with amazing noise-cancelling headphones that eliminate the minimal cabin noise as soon as you switch them on. There is no amenity kit, instead,
socks are handed out along with a fairly thin eye mask and the rest can be found in the bathroom, where L’Occitane skin products are on hand. It is a new take on the standard offering and it works very well. 8/10
FOOD: Singapore has engaged chefs from around the world, including Matt Moran, Gordon
Ramsay and Georges Blanc to help customise their in-flight menus. A signature dish of cod
with sautéed mushroom showed off Singaporean cuisine well while the wine list shows a new world bias for whites and a distinctly classic view on the reds. 9/10
ENTERTAINMENT: A huge choice of film and for those who are prepared, an option to plug in a USB stick to play your own choices of MP3s and video files. KrisWorld is easy to navigate and looks good. The black LCD screen makes for great contrast and picture quality. 8/10
OVERALL: Quite simply, this is the best business class offering we have tested. No one element is disappointing and Singapore Airlines have raised the bar for the rest of the world’s airlines. 88%
Seat review: Singapore Airlines
Singapore Changi Airport to Sydney Airport
Airbus A380-800 business class
LOUNGE: An amazing shower with horizontal as well as vertical jets is worth the admission alone, but the buffet is another strong selling point. It features superb cuisine from Singapore’s three main cultural influences (namely Indian, Chinese and Western) and it is brought out freshly. Draught beer, a host of big screen televisions, free wi-fi and lots of seating also contribute to make this an excellent lounge. 9/10
SEAT: What can be said about the amazing Singapore Airlines Airbus A380 business class seat? Firstly, it is so wide that two could sit side by side, such is its breadth. It also has amazing storage space underneath the seat in front, meaning that very few will have any need to use the overhead compartment. There are a myriad of stowage spaces and fold-down shelves for drinks and the like on the panel in front. The lie-flat bed is so vast you can roam around and toss and turn rather than lying head up only. This is truly the new standard of comfort for the business traveller. 10/10
SERVICE: Singapore Airlines is well known for, and justifiably proud of, its personal service. A
minor visa issue had staff working on my behalf contacting Canberra while I relaxed – all very
professional. Similarly, orders were taken prior to take-off, to speed up service afterwards. For
some Australian sensibilities, the service may appear a little fawning, but no request is ever
refused and my visa issue illustrated perfectly the lengths staff go to to ensure an excellent
experience. I found the service very hard to fault. 9/10
EXTRAS: Passengers are presented with amazing noise-cancelling headphones that eliminate the minimal cabin noise as soon as you switch them on. There is no amenity kit, instead,
socks are handed out along with a fairly thin eye mask and the rest can be found in the bathroom, where L’Occitane skin products are on hand. It is a new take on the standard offering and it works very well. 8/10
FOOD: Singapore has engaged chefs from around the world, including Matt Moran, Gordon
Ramsay and Georges Blanc to help customise their in-flight menus. A signature dish of cod
with sautéed mushroom showed off Singaporean cuisine well while the wine list shows a new world bias for whites and a distinctly classic view on the reds. 9/10
ENTERTAINMENT: A huge choice of film and for those who are prepared, an option to plug in a USB stick to play your own choices of MP3s and video files. KrisWorld is easy to navigate and looks good. The black LCD screen makes for great contrast and picture quality. 8/10
OVERALL: Quite simply, this is the best business class offering we have tested. No one element is disappointing and Singapore Airlines have raised the bar for the rest of the world’s airlines. 88%
Saturday, June 27, 2009
The Rialto Reloaded
Hotel review originally appeared in Australian Traveller magazine, June 2009
Justin Wastnage inspects the long-awaited renovation of this Collins Street masterpiece that has artfully enclosed a classic Melbourne laneway, capturing it within a vast atrium of cool glass and warm steel.
Melbourne likes to think of itself as a bit cool. A bit European. And more than a bit above Sydney with its brash megabars and shiny temples to consumerism. So it was with some trepidation that I booked a room in the recently renovated Rialto hotel on Collins Street for a romantic weekend with my wife.
The publicity around the Joseph Pang-designed $60m overhaul, which saw the hotel close for 16 months as it swapped management from Le Méridien to InterContinental Hotels, talked of expanses of glass and steel; all very Sydney. Worryingly so. The charm of the Rialto lay in its quintessentially Melbourne laneway feel, chiefly because the communal spaces were situated in Collins Lane, which served as access way between the Melbourne Wool Stores and its office building. Yet it is the glass itself that absolutely makes the Rialto; the vast atrium that spans the laneway has been preserved largely intact as part of the renovations. The refurb has made better use of the openness and vertical space that a ten-storey glass ceiling affords. Natural light during the day is replaced by cool blue at night. Clean lines accentuate the long, narrow dimensions of the bar and restaurant area.
In truth, InterCon couldn’t have tampered with the atrium even if it wanted to. The two buildings that make up the present-day hotel were considered masterpieces even when the renowned St Kilda architect William Pitt finished them in 1891. The Federal Coffee Palace that completed Pitt’s Collins Street trio was the city’s tallest building and a showcase for the neo-gothic style that became known as Marvellous Melbourne.
As the city tore down some of Pitt’s other works (including the Coffee Palace to make way eventually for Melbourne’s new tallest building, the Rialto Tower), the National Trust slapped a preservation order on the hotel and its faux-Venetian façades.
The grandeur of the building adds to a sense of style as we arrive, fresh from one of Melbourne’s modern architectural triumphs, Southern Cross Station on Spencer Street. Yet once inside, you could almost be forgiven for thinking you were in a boutique hotel. The hotel lobby, such that it is, is tucked away inside the Winfield Building that was once the wool board’s office complex. Here ceilings are low, the concierge and check-in counters manned by effusive staff in smart uniforms.
Read the full review on the Australian Traveller website by clicking here.
Justin Wastnage inspects the long-awaited renovation of this Collins Street masterpiece that has artfully enclosed a classic Melbourne laneway, capturing it within a vast atrium of cool glass and warm steel.
Melbourne likes to think of itself as a bit cool. A bit European. And more than a bit above Sydney with its brash megabars and shiny temples to consumerism. So it was with some trepidation that I booked a room in the recently renovated Rialto hotel on Collins Street for a romantic weekend with my wife.
The publicity around the Joseph Pang-designed $60m overhaul, which saw the hotel close for 16 months as it swapped management from Le Méridien to InterContinental Hotels, talked of expanses of glass and steel; all very Sydney. Worryingly so. The charm of the Rialto lay in its quintessentially Melbourne laneway feel, chiefly because the communal spaces were situated in Collins Lane, which served as access way between the Melbourne Wool Stores and its office building. Yet it is the glass itself that absolutely makes the Rialto; the vast atrium that spans the laneway has been preserved largely intact as part of the renovations. The refurb has made better use of the openness and vertical space that a ten-storey glass ceiling affords. Natural light during the day is replaced by cool blue at night. Clean lines accentuate the long, narrow dimensions of the bar and restaurant area.
In truth, InterCon couldn’t have tampered with the atrium even if it wanted to. The two buildings that make up the present-day hotel were considered masterpieces even when the renowned St Kilda architect William Pitt finished them in 1891. The Federal Coffee Palace that completed Pitt’s Collins Street trio was the city’s tallest building and a showcase for the neo-gothic style that became known as Marvellous Melbourne.
As the city tore down some of Pitt’s other works (including the Coffee Palace to make way eventually for Melbourne’s new tallest building, the Rialto Tower), the National Trust slapped a preservation order on the hotel and its faux-Venetian façades.
The grandeur of the building adds to a sense of style as we arrive, fresh from one of Melbourne’s modern architectural triumphs, Southern Cross Station on Spencer Street. Yet once inside, you could almost be forgiven for thinking you were in a boutique hotel. The hotel lobby, such that it is, is tucked away inside the Winfield Building that was once the wool board’s office complex. Here ceilings are low, the concierge and check-in counters manned by effusive staff in smart uniforms.
Read the full review on the Australian Traveller website by clicking here.
The Rebirth of Pub Grub
The article below first appeared in Australian Traveller magazine, June 2009 edition.
In the cool rolling hills of the NSW Southern Highlands, the reborn Sutton Forest Inn – with its famous new neighbour, one Nicole Kidman – is redefining pub fare one elegant dish at a time. Words by Justin Wastnage, who paid his own way and visited anonomously.
In the cool rolling hills of the NSW Southern Highlands, the reborn Sutton Forest Inn – with its famous new neighbour, one Nicole Kidman – is redefining pub fare one elegant dish at a time. Words by Justin Wastnage, who paid his own way and visited anonomously.
The NSW Southern Highlands has a host of high-end eating options but no real mid-range, convenient alternative to Macca’s – and while eating at the Sutton Forest service station does have its highlights, for most it’s just a handy stopover between Canberra and Sydney. That all changed in June 2008, however, when the Sutton Forest Inn changed hands and Jason Grumley-Grennan, former executive chef at Sydney’s Summit restaurant, took over the pub’s bistro in his first solo venture.
His ongoing vision is to bring the gastropub trend from his native England. "There are lots of great restaurants in Australia and loads of good pubs to drink in," he says. "But there aren’t many pubs that offer restaurant-quality food."
The ethos is simple: an unpretentious pub with a bistro menu. The first part is certainly on the money – the Sutton Forest Inn is an unremarkable building from the road and its dark wood and tartan carpet décor date it. These will go in time, says Grumley-Grennan, but his first concern had been to overhaul the menu.
Calling his cuisine bistro is to do a disservice. At first glance an entrée of prawn salad or salt and pepper squid could have been plucked from any pub menu in the country. But when it’s brought out, it’s clearly something different. Spiced prawns are paired with salmon marinated in miso paste and both sit on a bed of delicately julienned paw-paw and cucumber. The mildest of satay sauces with a hint of mint finishes off the dish. These are complex flavours, rather than a mayonnaise-laced prawn cocktail.
To read the full review, please visit Australian Traveller by clicking here.
Friday, September 5, 2008
Make your Marque in Sydney
Review originally appeared in TravelWeekly Australia September 5, 2008
Booking business hotels in Sydney is tricky if your clients cannot spend $300 or more per night. The Marque Hotel Sydney is a renovated business hotel in great style with a central location. Justin Wastnage recently stayed at the property and had change to spare
The Rendezvous group recently finished a four million dollar makeover of the former Country Comfort Inn's central Sydney hotel. The Marque Sydney is now pitched at the trendy four-star market.
First impressions 7/10
The reception space is nicely done, with retro lollipop-coloured chairs and shiny plastic surfaces throughout. The check-in staff are pleasant and helpful, though not entirely at ease with the hotel's systems. Getting into the car park (a tricky thing in this neighbourhood of one-way streets and no entry signs) could have been better explained. All these points, plus the shabby lift, are no doubt teething problems and have probably already been sorted out.
Ambience 6/10
The Marque claims to be a boutique hotel brand. It's not. But that said, it pulls off the modern chic look with ease. It's minimalist, with blacks and reds complemented by grey furniture. The property is not huge, but the design team has worked wonders with the space it has. The location, almost directly opposite Central Station, means that slightly unsavoury characters and low-rent storefronts will remind you that you are in the cheap end of town despite the slick appearance.
Accommodation 8/10
There are still some lingering reminders of the old Country Comfort Inn, chiefly in the tight layout of the corridors and internal structure of the rooms. But again, the décor more than makes up for it. The suite's bathroom had a very funky angled marble floor to drain the water away in the shower that left the rest of the room dry. Drawbacks of the location become apparent, however, during weekend nights when the street outside is noisy from either drunken revellers or unlicensed drag racers using the five-lane intersection as a starting grid.
Facilities 7/10
Unfortunately, when I stayed, the much-vaunted iPod clock radio did not work and neither did the television, which appeared not to pick up the ABC. But the suite had a fully stocked kitchen in addition to the mini bar - perfect for the longer business stay. The downstairs Script restaurant makes a good stab of being a trendy lounge bar and the food is good. Nearby options are plentiful if your clients know how to get to Chinatown. If not, they will find themselves at a loss for culinary alternatives in the wrong end of town.
Service 7/10
Friendly staff were still finding their way when I stayed, but it's still early days for the hotel and overall the service was fine.
Overall 70%
Four-star hotels in Sydney are often rough around the edges, but The Marque is one a brace of renovated properties that have a definite cool factor in the mid price bracket.
A business bed and breakfast package at The Marque Sydney is available from A$170 per room, per night. For more information visit www.marquehotels.com/sydney
Booking business hotels in Sydney is tricky if your clients cannot spend $300 or more per night. The Marque Hotel Sydney is a renovated business hotel in great style with a central location. Justin Wastnage recently stayed at the property and had change to spare
The Rendezvous group recently finished a four million dollar makeover of the former Country Comfort Inn's central Sydney hotel. The Marque Sydney is now pitched at the trendy four-star market.
First impressions 7/10
The reception space is nicely done, with retro lollipop-coloured chairs and shiny plastic surfaces throughout. The check-in staff are pleasant and helpful, though not entirely at ease with the hotel's systems. Getting into the car park (a tricky thing in this neighbourhood of one-way streets and no entry signs) could have been better explained. All these points, plus the shabby lift, are no doubt teething problems and have probably already been sorted out.
Ambience 6/10
The Marque claims to be a boutique hotel brand. It's not. But that said, it pulls off the modern chic look with ease. It's minimalist, with blacks and reds complemented by grey furniture. The property is not huge, but the design team has worked wonders with the space it has. The location, almost directly opposite Central Station, means that slightly unsavoury characters and low-rent storefronts will remind you that you are in the cheap end of town despite the slick appearance.
Accommodation 8/10
There are still some lingering reminders of the old Country Comfort Inn, chiefly in the tight layout of the corridors and internal structure of the rooms. But again, the décor more than makes up for it. The suite's bathroom had a very funky angled marble floor to drain the water away in the shower that left the rest of the room dry. Drawbacks of the location become apparent, however, during weekend nights when the street outside is noisy from either drunken revellers or unlicensed drag racers using the five-lane intersection as a starting grid.
Facilities 7/10
Unfortunately, when I stayed, the much-vaunted iPod clock radio did not work and neither did the television, which appeared not to pick up the ABC. But the suite had a fully stocked kitchen in addition to the mini bar - perfect for the longer business stay. The downstairs Script restaurant makes a good stab of being a trendy lounge bar and the food is good. Nearby options are plentiful if your clients know how to get to Chinatown. If not, they will find themselves at a loss for culinary alternatives in the wrong end of town.
Service 7/10
Friendly staff were still finding their way when I stayed, but it's still early days for the hotel and overall the service was fine.
Overall 70%
Four-star hotels in Sydney are often rough around the edges, but The Marque is one a brace of renovated properties that have a definite cool factor in the mid price bracket.
A business bed and breakfast package at The Marque Sydney is available from A$170 per room, per night. For more information visit www.marquehotels.com/sydney
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