travel

JW MARRIOTT MUMBAI SAHAR HOTEL, MUMBAI AIRPORT, INDIA

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The JW Marriott Hotel Sahar is located strategically at the ramp of the departure level at Mumbai’s Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj International Airport, a 3 minute drive to/from the airport.

I checked in with the Marriott Bonvoy App choosing the keyless door option and got my check-in confirmation including room number right after I landed in India.

I quickly passed by the Bonvoy check-in area to make sure my bags would be delivered to the room after security screening. This was done very quickly and I proceeded to my room and the “keyless” door opening system worked fine.

The room was luxurious and spacious in a modern decor with all the necessary amenities a five star hotel can offer. There was an open bathroom with a separate standalone bathtub and an oversized shower with a rain shower providing a strong water pressure which is seldomly found in hotels nowadays. I was pleasantly surprised by that.

Housekeeping (including daily shoe shine service) provided an excellent service, always having staff to check back if any more drinking water, ice, or anything else would be needed.

The JW Marriott provides a swimming pool, a large gym and the hotel’s spa which is nearly open for 24 hours..  I tried it and was spoiled every time.

The hotel is posh and luxury property featuring a JW Café, Romano’s Italian Restaurant and a lobby bar including a chocolate shop. I had breakfast at the cafe several times and there were plenty of food choices available.  There were manned food stations offering eggs to order, paratha (Indian flatbread) rice pancakes and many other English and continental breakfast items. The bakery section also included the JW Marriott signature waffles (including ice cream).

Romano’s, the Italian speciality restaurant was one of the highlights of my stay. All food was delicious, in a chic ambiance and plenty of lovely desserts were available. I had a panna cotta with raspberry sauce and sorbet.

The service provided at this premises was excellent throughout and I felt well taken care of during my stay.

https://www.marriott.com/en-us/hotels/bomsa-jw-marriott-mumbai-sahar/overview/

AIR VISTARA, INDIA

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Air Vistara Business Class 

Bangkok – Mumbai. A320N

Delhi – Bangkok, A 321N

Vistara (Tata SIA Airlines) is an Indian based, full-service airline which commenced operations in 2015. The airline is a joint venture between Tata Group and Singapore Airlines who own 51% and 49% respectively. The name “Vistara” was taken from the Sanskrit word “Vistãra” meaning “limitless expanse”.

After the acquisition of Air India by the Tata Group in 2022, the Competition Commission of India approved a merger of Vistara and Air India in September 2023.

I checked-in online and after uploading my Indian visa confirmation I was issued an electronic boarding pass. Bag drop at the airport was a matter of a few seconds and I was off to the Lounge (Miracle at Suvarnabhumi Airport)

This was a single aisle A320 with a separate business class cabin of 8 seats. I was greeted by a friendly cabin crew member who introduced herself and offered a welcome drink and a cold refreshing towel. Later the purser introduced himself too and menu cards were distributed.

Soon after take-off the first round of drinks were served, followed by a full course meal including dessert and separate coffee/tea service featuring Starbucks brew.More drinks were served later in the flight.

The meal was nicely presented and tasted fine. Customs forms were handed out well ahead of landing so passengers could take a little rest. There is wifi availble for using the Vistara Channels, Inflight maps and their entertainment program.

I found this flight and airline a very pleasant experience. Everything worked well and the crew was friendly and courteous. Bags were delivered swiftly at Mumbai airport and as there was no queue at the E-visa zone for foreigners, I was out of the airport within approx 30 minutes.

Vistara also operates some flights to Europe but the outcome of the merger with Air India leaves many questions open for the near future of this emerging airline.

I can highly recommend Vistara and would fly again with them with much pleasure.

Flight Check:

UK121 DEL-BKK, A321Neo, Configuration:  12 – 24 – 152 (Business, Premium Economy and Economy)

Check-in: 4/5 ****
Boarding: 5/5 *****
Inflight Service: 4/5 ****
Food and Beverage: 4/5 ****
Cabin Crew: 4/5 ****
Comfort: 5/5 *****

Impressions:
I checked-in online via the Vistara app and it worked well. Baggage drop off was fast at DEL Airport as there was no line for the Business Class section. However, staff did not mention lounge access or Fast Track Security/Immigration. The lounge was Air India which I wrote about in a separate review. The Fast Track Security Immigration on the left of Delhi Airport T3, far away from Vistara Check-in but worth the walk as this airport can get crowed. Smooth and fast processing at fast track counters.

Boarding took place according to passenger priority printed on the boarding pass, and was smooth.

The Airbus 321 Neo aircraft was equipped with 12 lie-flat seats which were very comfortable (2 -2). The flight time was around 3:30 hours and it left time to relax after the meal service. Vistara offers inflight Wifi for a fee, or passengers can watch their entertainment on their own device for free.
Food quality and taste was excellent and the cabin crew was pleasant and attentive in a friendly way.
I find this airline really great and it offers good value for money.

https://www.airvistara.com/th/en

SRIWILAI RESORT AND SPA, SUKOTHAI, THAILAND

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The Sriwilai Sukhothai is located just 2 km from Sukhothai Historic Park, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. It’s the city’s main attraction, and rather than taking a cab, you can also visit by bike, weather permitting. The hotel also offers free bicycle rental. A hotel-owned Tuk-Tuk shuttle is also available for free. 

Many other activities are available in the surrounding area and are posted near reception;. These activities include ceramic workshops, craft activities, and more.

We were well received at Sriwilai, with fresh towels and a welcome drink on our arrival. We were informed that we could take advantage of a 20-30% discount on spa treatments. There were also coupons for discounted drinks and meals at the hotel restaurants.

We booked a room with a balcony and a splendid view into the beautiful green, rural countryside. The room was spacious, decorated in a traditional Sukhothai style, inspired by the lifestyle of Thai farmers. The high ceiling and wooden furniture contributed to the room’s rustic, welcoming feel.

The room was well-equipped, with a flat-screen TV, mini-refrigerator, desk or dressing table, bathrobe, mosquito repellent and a flashlight – a thoughtful addition.

The generously sized bathroom had two sinks and a walk-in shower. 

A large infinity edge pool allows you to cool off on hot days and offered a beautiful view of the rice paddies. A gym or fitness room was not available. 

Umbrellas, sun loungers and towels were provided at the swimming pool and I took advantage of the opportunity to relax there after a long day of sightseeing. Since it’s adjacent to the restaurant, drinks and small food items could be ordered from there. 

I tried the spa twice and the massages were wonderful and affordable. 

Breakfast was fairly good with an egg-station, a small western section, as well as many Asian breakfast dishes. The resort charges extra for Espresso drinks which was fine by me. 

The hotel is built in perfect harmony with its surroundings, emphasizing nature, well-being and relaxation. You can feel the respect for nature and the intention to offer customers an authentic experience. I highly recommend it for a luxurious experience in nature at an affordable price.

Hotel Home

AXEL BEACH (HADDON HALL) HOTEL, MIAMI, FLORIDA, USA

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The Haddon Hall Hotel in South Beach was built in 1939 and achieved some notoriety over the years being part of several movies or TV series which were filmed there.

The hotel It has been recently taken over by AXEL Beach Hotels which operate a few hotels in Spain (see my review of Axel Hotel Madrid), Berlin and Cuba and mainly target a gay (hetero-friendly) clientele. The hotel has a prime location on Collins Avenue just a block away from the beach in the heart of South Beach (Art Deco district). Main attractions such as restaurants, shops, and night life are just a few steps away.

This 3 star hotel offers a hip decoration and spirit whilst maintaining its former bohemian spirit. There is a gym, a pool and a restaurant available (a decent free breakfast is served as well and a wide choice of extra items are available to order at separate cost)

The bar is very popular in the evening and attracts quite a party crowd. There is an also a small swim suit shop located in the lobby (open weekends).

I booked a room with a pool view but did not use the balcony much. The room offers a fridge, but has no coffee or hot water maker. The bathroom was generously sized and the water pressure was fine (usually the water pressure is very weak in most US hotels, so this was a pleasant surprise)

Front desk staff were friendly but not the most efficient. However, the staff at the restaurant were charming, helpful and always ready for a little chat.

I found this hotel to be a budget friendly option (considering the price of hotels in Miami and the US these days). Everybody was in a vacation and party mood and this made this hotel a happy place to be.

https://www.axelhotels.com/en/axelbeach-miami/hotel.html?origen=ppc&gad_source=1&gclid=EAIaIQobChMIitGaprfuhgMVpxyDAx0aRQHcEAAYAiAAEgKoA_D_BwE

WESTIN GRAND CENTRAL, NEW YORK, USA

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The Westin New York Grand Central is located in midtown Manhattan, less than two blocks east of the iconic Grand Central train station.  The hotel is within walking distance of the United Nations Plaza, the Chrysler Building, Bryant Park and Fifth Avenue and public transportation is easily accessible for all other destinations. Uber and Lyft rides and New York Cabs are usually less than a minute away. 

I chose the Westin Grand Central because it was completely renovated during Covid and most hotels in New York are offering very dated and small rooms or, on the other hand, are on the super expensive side. (Note that a “destination fee” of US$ 25 per night now applies to all NY hotels)

The rooms in this dynamic hotel were modern with no frills and no unnecessary gimmicks. Marriott’s famous heavenly-beds with plenty of pillows allowed me to sleep very well. 

Breakfast, 24 hour room service, a Business Center and a large gym which is open 24/7 are also available. 

Check-in and check-out on the Marriott Bonvoy App worked  very well and Express check-out options shows the total bill in the app well ahead of check-out time and is conveniently used by most guests. 

Staff at the front desk, and particularly at the Concierge Desk, were helpful and never tired of giving out useful information and their insider tips about New York. 

I enjoyed my stay at the Westin Grand Central very much and found this a very comfortable hotel at reasonable rates (for New York). 

https://www.marriott.com/en-us/hotels/nyczw-the-westin-new-york-grand-central/overview/