TRAVEL REVIEWS British Airways
Seats: It’s a pet hate of mine to a) travel backwards and b) sit in the middle. Yet there I was in both of these positions. Still, BA seat dividers have come a long way from the ‘fan’ of the old days. Nowadays screens whizz up and down at the touch of a button to give you much-needed privacy, and the seat reclines fully, landing on the footstool. Elemis male or female amenity kits and linen are also provided. Entertainment: The quality of the 10.4-inch screen on the console doesn’t compare to the tablets of
Eurostar
Seats: Spacious and comfortable in a 2-1 configuration. A shared central table could be folded out to create a larger surface, which was handy for laptop use. Entertainment: Magazines and newspapers were offered on the journey, with table lights allowing for easy reading. Food & drink: A light meal was served shortly after departure, accompanied by a choice of soft and alcoholic drinks. I opted for a fresh tasting yet rather small cheeseboard — two slices of cheese paired with a few
Hertz Car Hire
Booking: Online booking was easy and straightforward, with options to pre-pay online or at pick-up location. Collection: No queue at the desk meant collection was speedy. Despite pre-paying, I paid a surcharge for winter tyres, which are compulsory in Germany and not included in the price. The rest was simple — I was given my rental agreement, keys and directions to the garage, conveniently located across the street from the train station. Vehicle: The mid-range automatic BMW 4ER was a dream to drive, with
countrybycountry.com
a fuel-efficient diesel engine, built-in sat nav, plenty of space and heated leather seats, which were a treat in the chilly Bavarian Alps. Drop-off: Return location details were on the rental agreement and an attendant swiftly procured the keys and car for inspection. Service: Staff were diligent, quick and friendly throughout. At check-in, I was asked whether I was travelling to another country, and as my next stop was Austria, I was informed I needed to purchase a 10-day toll sticker. Stephanie Cavagnaro
ESSENTIALS
Pick-up/return location:Munich’s main train station Car model: BMW 4ER automatic Contact:
hertz.co.uk Verdict: 8/10
miniature biscuits — served with bread and a chocolate brownie pudding, followed by coffee. Service: Staff were attentive and efficient, but not overbearing. What else: The connecting TGV Lyria from Lille to Geneva offered comfortable headrests and the ability to recline. The train was quiet and the staff spread passengers out, giving everyone plenty of room. An aperitif was followed by a small three-course meal, with drinks and snacks throughout the journey. Tamsin Wressell
ESSENTIALS
Route: London St Pancras to Geneva Class: Standard Premier Journey time: 7h18m (with stopover in Lille) Contact:
eurostar.com Verdict: 7/10
today, but the video-on-demand selection was current and varied, and the noise-cancelling headphones were most welcome. Food & drink: A good selection: four mains and two starters, with lots of healthy-ish choices, including smoked salmon salad, hummus dippers and tiger prawn main salad. I went for the cheese, biscuits, sarnies and scones! Service: Friendly and efficient, though it was disconcerting when cabin staff would whizz my privacy screen up and down to offer me a drink. Maria Pieri
ESSENTIALS
Route: Heathrow to Washington DC Class: Club World Journey time: 8h Aircraft: B747-400 (now served by A380-800) Contact:
ba.com Verdict: 8/10
February 2015 ABTA Magazine 45
Page 1 |
Page 2 |
Page 3 |
Page 4 |
Page 5 |
Page 6 |
Page 7 |
Page 8 |
Page 9 |
Page 10 |
Page 11 |
Page 12 |
Page 13 |
Page 14 |
Page 15 |
Page 16 |
Page 17 |
Page 18 |
Page 19 |
Page 20 |
Page 21 |
Page 22 |
Page 23 |
Page 24 |
Page 25 |
Page 26 |
Page 27 |
Page 28 |
Page 29 |
Page 30 |
Page 31 |
Page 32 |
Page 33 |
Page 34 |
Page 35 |
Page 36 |
Page 37 |
Page 38 |
Page 39 |
Page 40 |
Page 41 |
Page 42 |
Page 43 |
Page 44 |
Page 45 |
Page 46 |
Page 47 |
Page 48 |
Page 49 |
Page 50 |
Page 51 |
Page 52