Waiting for us was this brand new QantasLink A220-300 sitting at Tullamarine airport, Melbourne.

I was excitedly anticipating this flight with Qantas’ one of only two newly acquired A220’s at the time.  More fuel efficient and with nearly double the range, these will eventually replace the older  B717’s in the Qantas fleet.

Airline and Flight #

Qantas |QF1266

Aircraft

Airbus A220-300

Airport and Terminal

Departure:  Tullamarine Airport, Melbourne Victoria, Australia |Terminal 1

Arrival: Canberra Airport, Canberra ACT, Australia

Waiting at Gate 24 of Tullamarine airport to board our QANTAS A220-300 aircraft to Canberra

Scheduled Departure Date and Time

Saturday 16th March 2024 | 10:00 (10am)

Scheduled Flying Time

1 hour 5 minutes (delayed by 2 minutes)

Luggage Allowance

Checked Luggage

Luggage is included in the Qantas fare with limits varying according to travel destination, travel class and frequent flyer status.  Business class passengers on a domestic flight are allowed two checked bags up to 32kg (70lb) each. Platinum and Platinum One Business class flyers are allowed an extra piece. If your ticket includes flights to the US then the International bag limits apply.  This is also the case if the flights are on separate tickets but the connection is on the same day.  So for Qantas Club members, or silver or gold Qantas frequent flyers, three checked bags are allowed in Business class for a ticket originating to or from the US.  The length + height + depth of any bag cannot exceed 158cm (62in).

Carry-on 

All classes are allowed 14kg (30lb) with no bag heavier than 10kg (22lb).  This can be in the following combinations:

1 x 115cm (45in) bag = 56cm (22in)+ 36cm (14in)+ 23cm (9in) up to 10kg (22lb).

Or

2 x 105cm (41in) bags = 48cm (19in) + 34cm (13in) + 23cm (9in) with one piece up to 10kgs (22lb); 14kgs (30lb) total.

Or

1 x 105cm (41in) bag = 48cm (19in) + 34cm (13 in) + 23cm (9in) + 1 x 185cm (72lb) non-rigid garment bag = 60cm (23in) + 11cm (4in) + 114cm (44in) with one piece up to 10kg (22lb); 14kgs (30lb) total.

Fun Facts

• Qantas is the third oldest airline in the world and Australia’s largest airline
• Qantas is an acronym for Queensland and Northern Territory Aerial Services
• Qantas is a founding member of the Oneworld airline alliance
• Qantas’ main hub is in Sydney, Australia
• Registered VH-X4B and sporting the Aussie name “Koala”, this plane is one of only two A220’s owned by QANTAS at this time and came into service this month (March 2024) after being built in Montreal, Canada.
• This plane and the A220’s QANTAS will be acquiring in the future are more fuel efficient (28% less fuel burned per person compared with the B717’s), quieter and have a longer flight range than the aging B717’s they will be replacing.

Check-in 

Check-in for Qantas domestic flights commences 24 hours prior to departure (if checking in via the Qantas app or online) and up until 30 minutes prior to departure.  If connecting to an International flight check-in closes earlier depending on a number of factors.  For further details see here. Check-in can be done via one of the following ways:

1. Mobile check-in – by downloading the Qantas app you can check in and access your digital boarding pass without the need to print it.  Other benefits of this method include being alerted to when check-in first opens, access to real time flight data in case of delays and the ability to view any entertainment options prior to your flight.  The app also allows you to choose your seats.  You can only use this method if you have no connecting flights.
2. Desktop check-in – by logging on to the Qantas website http://Qantas.com and entering your booking reference and last name to bring up your booking.  Select the Checkin/Print Boarding Pass button and remember to take your boarding pass with you to the airport.
3. At the airport – via the self-service kiosks or at the desk in the Departures area prior to passing through security.  Here you can also select your seat, enter your frequent flyer number, upgrade your flight using Qantas points and print out your boarding pass and bag tags so you can drop off any bags at the bag drop.  Recommended check-in time is 45 minutes prior to departure on domestic flights.

Check-in for our Qantas A220 flight at Melbourne’s Tullamarine airport

Airport Lounge

This would have to be the nicest Qantas domestic business class lounge I’ve ever been to.  With seating for 350 passengers, the space felt spacious, uncrowded and bright due to the mix of indoor lighting and natural light coming in from the windows along the entire length of the lounge.  Fantastic views of the runway could also been seen.  I liked that there were power and data outlets with all fixed seating positions, something sadly lacking at other airport lounges.

The Melbourne domestic business class lounge was designed by Woods Bagot and his dark tones and finishes in marble, timber, brass, glass and black metal make the area look impressive.  Features of the lounge include a communal work zone with large work tables, mixed seating arrangements with different furniture, a magazine rack, flight information, large TV screens and shower suites.

We were there at breakfast time so the Spice Bar was not available but there was a good range of hot and cold breakfast options ranging from Scrambled eggs, bacon and baked beans to Bircher muesli, almond chia pudding,  pancakes, fruit and pastries.  A fresh fruit and vegetable juice station was available, along with a Quench station offering healthy flavoured and sparkling waters. All day Barista coffee was also on hand.  Alcoholic beverages were available to help yourself until bar service commenced at midday.

Seating

Layout – The Qantas A220-300 is a narrow bodied twin engine single isle jet. With just two classes, it is comprised of just ten business class seats in a 2-2 configuration and 127 economy class seats in a 2-3 configuration with two seats on the left hand side of the plane and three on the right.  We were  seated in row 3 on the right hand side of the aircraft.

Qantas A220-300 seat map – source www.qantas.com

Seats – The seats were made of maroon leather and still had that enticing new smell to them.  The headrests were adjustable six ways and included head-wings.  Two buttons on the side of the cocktail tray allowed for seat back recline and shin support. Seat pitch was 37 inches (94 cm) with a 5 inch (12.7 cm) recline and seat width was a generous 23.9 inches (60.8 cm). Leg room was plentiful and there was even a foot rest which you rarely see on aircraft these days.

Trays – The trays are stored inside the arm rest and were quite tricky to release, perhaps owing to the fact they were new and still a bit stiff.  The trays can be folded half way or be fully expanded.  They were large, sturdy and could be pushed either away or towards you.  A flip up tablet holder was a feature new to me on the tray.  There was no cup holder on either side and thankfully returning the tray into its position in the arm rest was easier than taking it out.

Storage – Storage was quite good on this aircraft and included:

• Integrated tablet shelf
• Literature pocket
• Extendable cocktail table
• In arm tray table with built in tablet holder
• Integrated coat hook
• Spacious overhead storage bins

Cabin Comfort

• Seats were wide and comfortable
• A foot rest and an adjustable shin rest was a pleasant surprise for a domestic flight
• Individual air vents above each seat allowed passengers to control the amount of air flow and a reading light was also overhead
• Two large windows beside the seat allowed for good views and lots of light

In-flight Entertainment

Electronic Devices

• Electronic devices can be used whilst boarding using the aerobridge but not if you’re using the tarmac to board.
• Once doors on the plane have closed you need to then switch your device to flight mode
• Phones could not be charged during takeoff and landing

Power

Dual USB A and USB C power was provided in the seat back and under the cocktail tray.  There is also a wireless charging pad under the middle armrest.

In the Seat Pocket

In the seat pocket was the safety card, an air sickness bag and the Qantas magazine.

WiFi

Qantas now has Wifi on all domestic flights including their A220-300.

Entertainment System

No personal entertainment screens were fitted to this new aircraft.  It is becoming more common as the added weight results in higher fuel bills for the airline.  However with flight mode turned on you can enable WiFi to connect to the Q-Streaming or Qantas Free WiFi network to access entertainment to view or listen to on your own personal device.

Catering

Menus

There were no menus on this short flight with just the one food option.

Food/Drinks

As soon as the seatbelt lights were turned off, cabin crew began preparations for the meal service.  The usual soft drinks, water and juices were available and this time I went for a glass of sparkling water to drink.  As it was before 12pm no alcoholic beverages were being offered. We were served a generous sized individual spinach and feta quiche with herbed tomatoes along with a Lindt chocolate ball.  Tea and coffee was also available.  The quiche was very tasty and filling, especially as we had also eaten in the lounge prior to boarding our flight.

Our meal on board our Qantas A220-300 flight from Melbourne to Canberra

Restrooms

There is one business class toilet with baby change facilities up the front left of the aircraft.  The tap is not contactless and needs to be pressed for water to come out.  Two additional toilets for Economy passengers are located at the rear of the aircraft with one being wheelchair accessible.

Service

• The service on this flight was excellent.  The crew were noticeably excited about their new aircraft and their enthusiasm was great to see.  Brooke was our cabin attendant and she couldn’t have been nicer.

Pros

• Brand new aircraft
• Comfortable seats with generous amounts of room and storage
• Tasty food
• Friendly and enthusiastic cabin crew
• WiFi enabled

Cons

• No entertainment screens
• The tray tables are hard to deploy from the armrests
• My shin rest didn’t seem to work properly

Conclusion

I loved this flight on Qantas’ new A220.  The aircraft felt way superior to the usual domestic planes I’m used to and of course everything was new.  The staff were also very friendly and obviously excited to be flying in the new A220.  It was nice having access to WiFi although I am a sucker for the old fashioned individual entertainment screen which is sadly missing on this aircraft.

Our holiday in Tokyo had sadly come to an end so after catching a train to Narita airport and some time at the Sakura lounge, we boarded our JAL flight to Melbourne.  

Airline and Flight #

Japan Airlines (JAL) | JL 0773

Aircraft

Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner

Airport and Terminal

Departure: Tokyo Narita International Airport| Terminal 2

Boarding was on time at Gate 82 Narita Airport

Arrival: Melbourne Tullamarine Airport |Terminal 2

Scheduled Departure Date and Time

Friday 15th March 2024| 1735 / 5:35pm (Pushback 1742)

Scheduled Arrival Date and Time

Saturday 16th March 2024| 0540/ 5:40am (Arrived 0533)

Scheduled Flying Time

10 hours 5 minutes

Luggage Allowance

Carry-on:

Business class passengers flying internationally are allowed one cabin bag when flying JAL weighing up to 10kg (22lbs)

Checked baggage:

Business class passengers are allowed a generous 3 bags of checked luggage at a weight of up to 32kg (70lbs) each.

Fun Facts

• Registered as JA840J, this B787-9 took its first flight on 11/02/15
• Founded in 1951, JAL joined the Oneworld airline alliance in 2007
• This JAL aircraft was painted in Oneworld colours in March 2022
• JAL is Japan’s national airline
• JAL is headquartered in Shinagawa, Tokyo with its main hubs in Haneda and Narita in Tokyo and Kansai and Itami airports in Osaka

Check-in and Security

JAL advises passengers to check in online up to 24 hours prior to departure using the app or the website. For Business class passengers check-in closes 60 minutes prior to departure.  Seats can also be selected or changed here.  Check-in can also be done at the counter inside the airport.  As we had multiple flights including a different carrier, we had to check in at the airport.

Check-in counter for JAL Business class flight Narita to Melbourne

Lounge

• The Japanese Airlines Sakura Business class lounge in terminal 2 of Narita Airport is located directly opposite passport control on level 2.  A beautifully lit staircase leads you up to level 3 where most of the dining is.
• With warm earthy tones and large windows, the lounge offers a comfortable place to hang out and relax, eat and watch the planes come and go with excellent views of the runways.
• The Sakura lounge is open from 7:30 in the morning until 10:00 at night
• Free and fast WiFi is available with lots of charging points in the various seating arrangements
• The lounge contains a business centre with desktop PC’s and a printer as well as shower rooms and a kids room.
• Massage Chairs are apparently available which I wish I knew at the time
• A buffet provides both Japanese and western food with a selection of wines, sakes and beers.  The self pouring beer machine was a fun addition.

Seating

Layout – This JAL Dreamliner is a wide bodied jet with 195 seats.  The first nine rows contain 44 Business Class sky suites arranged in a 2-2-2 configuration with all seats having direct aisle access due to the seats on the sides being slightly staggered, allowing a narrow right angled corridor from the window seat.  Rows 17 to 21 contain 35 Premium Economy seats and rows 45 to 59 is set aside for economy (116 seats).

Seat layout on our JAL B787-9 aircraft from Narita, Japan to Melbourne, Australia

Features – Known as the JAL Sky Seats, each lay flat seat bed is made from a maroon cloth with a leather piece of material over the headrest.  Seat width is 52cm between the armrests and 65cm when the seat is fully reclined.   There is plenty of room for your feet when the seat is reclined which is not the case with a lot of airlines.  Seat length is 188cm when fully extended in its horizontal position.  Retractable privacy partitions offered privacy from your neighbour and there were the usual features like personal lights, USB charge outlets, coat hook, and a control panel to adjust your seat which also included a massage function (not so usual).

On our seat was  an Airweave pillow, a blanket, Sony noise cancelling headphones, slippers, a menu, a duvet and an amenity bag.  Mattress toppers were available in the overhead compartments. A bottle of water was sitting on the ledge beside the privacy divider.  Staff came around loaning out cardigans to Business class passengers prior to takeoff.

We were seated in seats 2D and 2G in the middle row of the aircraft, each with direct aisle access.  These seats are ideal for couples.  

Tray tables – The tray tables were one of the best I’ve seen in Business class.  They were easy to take out and put away by opening the little cocktail tray and pressing down on it gently allowing the tray to pop up so you can pull the tray up and fold it down.  It could be moved back and forward and you could swivel it for ease of leaving your seat whilst your tray was set up if needed.  The tray was equally nice and easy to put away. 

Storage – Large storage bins above allowed plenty of room for luggage however storage around the seat itself was not so generous.  With Business class configured in a 2-2-2 layout instead of the more common 1-2-1 layout,  each individual seat was left with less storage.  In my centre row seat there was some storage on the table in front of the entertainment screen and also above and under the ottoman.  A small shelf just where the tray table is released can be used to store small items like a phone.  A round knob on the outside panel of each seat provides storage for a hanged garment.

Amenity kits – The pattern is designed by Atsuhito Fujiki with products by welfare company Heralbony.  My bag was quite attractive whilst my husband’s was more masculine looking.  Unlike all the others I’ve seen, this one contained no lotions or potions like lip balm and moisturiser which I was a bit sad about. Just a packet of tissues, ear plugs, an average quality eye mask, a plastic toothbrush and mini toothpaste, a plastic foldable phone stand which hubby found quite useful and an iPhone USB charging cable which was also a practical idea.  More so if it sped up charging.

Cabin Comfort 

The Good:

• Plenty of leg room, even when the bed is in its lie flat position
• The pillow was nice and soft with its flanelette feel pillowcase
• Slippers were great for having something to quickly slip on when getting out of your seat
• A cardigan lending service made it more comfortable when the temperature dropped
• A privacy screen gives you a good amount of privacy from the passenger next to you if you want it

The Bad:

• No individual airflow above seats to adjust temperature
• Not a lot of storage space around the seat
• Felt a bit cramped with the 2-2-2 seating configuration 

In-flight Entertainment

Power

• A USB port and AC power outlet were located just under the table in front of the entertainment screen.  I used the cable supplied in the amenity bag as well as my own and in both cases charging was slow.  The socket for the AC power supply can only accept a 2 pin European plug, a 2 pin US plug (Japan) and a 3 pin US plug.  The USB power source does not support tablet devices and charging is not allowed during takeoff and landing.

Reading Material

Skyward, an inflight magazine along with an inflight shopping catalogue are stored in the magazine holder of each seat along with the safety card and air sickness bag.

WiFi

• Wifi is available and costs $10.15 USD per hour, $14.40 USD for three hours or $18.80 USD for 24 hours which is quite reasonable for a long flight.  If you pay with your JAL card you get a 10% discount.  I didn’t purchase Wifi on this flight as I found the inflight entertainment good enough to keep me occupied for the duration of the flight.

Entertainment System

The MAJIC inflight entertainment system contains a range of movies, documentaries and TV shows to watch as well as games, news and audio.  With its large 23 inch screen, you’re sure to not miss a thing.  The flight map on this aircraft was quite dated and unfortunately didn’t show much, nor was it interactive.  There was a decent range of good viewing options which kept me occupied during the course of the flight. The liquid crystal remote was mounted on the seat divider but wasn’t that responsive.  Sony noise cancelling headphones are provided for Business class passengers on JAL.

Catering

Menus

• The menus are nothing fancy to look at on JAL but the food makes up for this. Inside you will find a Japanese and western selection with the menu in both Japanese and English.  There are just two choices of mains for the western menu following the appetiser and then one dessert. For those still feeling hungry throughout the flight an Anytime menu of assorted cheeses and a selection of three types of noodle snacks are available.  A Japanese or Western style breakfast is served prior to arrival.  Beverages included a selection of Champaigns and western and Japanese wines, sakes and shochus, three cocktails, an assortment of spirits and liqueurs, sherry and four Japanese beers.   There was also a non alcoholic beer and wine and a selection of soft drinks, teas and coffee.

Food/Drinks  

• 1820 – 1840 : No pre-departure drinks were served but as soon as the seatbelt lights were switched off, cabin crew were quick to hand out cold perfumed hand towels and were back shortly after to take drink orders.  Whilst waiting for my drink, a table cloth was put over my tray table prior to my “JAL Original Drink” arriving.  This was a peach and grape mix I had on a previous flight and quite liked.  A small packet of mixed crackers were served alongside it.

• 1900: I chose the western menu and started with the Hors-oeuvre which was Salad of Scallop, Firefly Squid, 3 kinds of Seaweed & Caviar with Cherry Blossom Sour Cream & Tankan Citrus Vinaigrette.  This was nice but I prefer my scallops cooked.   I had a sparkling water to wash it down.  My husband went with the Irodori Gozen from the Japanese menu and enjoyed it.

• 1920: For the main I chose the Beef Fillet with Red Wine Vinegar Sauce & Wasabi Flavoured Maître d’Hotel Butter.  A glass of red went nicely with this dish where the beef was cooked exceptionally well and the wasabi butter tasty.  The sauce could have been thicker but otherwise this was an enjoyable meal.  A selection of breads from Maison Kayser were also on offer.

• 1940: For dessert there was Matcha Pudding from the Japanese menu or Matcha Tiramisu from the Western menu so I went with that.  Despite not being a fan of Matcha, I quite liked the tiramisu.  Tea and coffee were offered after the meal service.  For breakfast prior to landing  I went with the International Plate which included a Soufflé Omelette, Yoghurt with Acacia Honey and a small selection of fresh fruit.

Restrooms

A Business class restroom was located at the front left of the plane and two between the two business class cabins.  There were some spare toothbrushes available along with some mouth wash, hand soap and moisturiser as well as a spray bottle that I assumed staff used for cleaning.  The toilet contained a bidet and staff did a good job during the flight keeping the room clean which I always appreciate.

Service  

As you would expect staff were friendly and efficient.  Drinks were offered regularly and the 

Pros

• The food was beautifully presented
• The entertainment screen was nice and large
• The flight ran on time
• Anytime dining was available
• Restrooms were kept lovely and clean
• The crew were friendly and efficient
• The seats contained a back massage function
• Tray tables were easy to pull out and put away

Cons

• No pre-departure drinks
• Seats didn’t contain much storage space
• The cabin felt cramped with the extra business class seating in each row
• No hand or surface sanitisers were given out
• Remote for entertainment system was not very responsive
• The panelling around the seats was showing its age
• No pyjamas are available for Business class passengers

Conclusion

I enjoyed this flight with Japan Airlines and would happily fly JAL again.  I’m not a big fan of the 2-2-2 seating arrangement in business class as it makes the cabin feel a bit cramped.  The service was very good and I loved the large entertainment screens and the good choice of viewing options.  It’s a shame JAL doesn’t give out pyjamas to business class passengers but the seats in their lie flat positions are very comfortable with a good amount of leg room.  The food was good although I wished there was a selection of snacks (chips, chocolate etc) for have whilst watching movies.

The Blossom Hibiya, Tokyo Japan

Our first time to Tokyo and Japan, we chose to stay away from the hustle and bustle but still close to subways, shops and eateries.  We also found we could get a nicer place for our money and The Blossom Hibiya turned out to be in the perfect location with stunning views, modern rooms and an amazing all you can eat breakfast.

Address

1-13 Shimbashi, 1 chome, Minato-Ku, Tokyo 105-0004 Japan

Date stayed

Saturday 9th March, 2024 for 6 nights

Room Type

Superior Double room, 22 sq metres, non-smoking

Price

$2,021 AUD for six nights averaging $336.83/night.  We booked through Hotels.com and had free cancellation up until the day before.

Location

Located in the city centre just a 5 minute walk from Shimbashi station and 13.6 kilometres from Haneda Airport, The Blossom Hibiya is surrounded by over 300 restaurants and 227 attractions within half a kilometre.  We found the location to be ideal as it was close to stations, supermarkets and eateries and some attractions such as the Karasumori Shrine but away from the hustle and bustle of the more touristy areas.

Location of The Blossom Hibiya, Tokyo Japan

Check-in/Check-out

• Check-in is from 3pm to Midnight
• Check-out is at 11am (we asked for an extra hour and the hotel kindly obliged without charging us a fee)
• 24 hour front desk
• No pets allowed

Parking

There is no on-site parking available at this hotel.  Public transport is so good here that we found a car was not necessary.

Internet

Free high speed internet with Wi-Fi and a wired connection is available in all rooms and free Wi-Fi is available in some of the public areas.

Room Features

This 4 star hotel features 255 sound proofed non-smoking air-conditioned rooms.  Our Superior double room on level 21 featured:

•  A Queen bed with a down duvet that is fully enclosed in a cover
• Floor to ceiling windows showcasing stunning city views
• Blockout blinds and sheer blinds
• Daikin air-conditioner
• Toshiba flatscreen TV
• Desk and small table and couch
• Fridge
• Tea and coffee making facilities with green tea and drip coffee
• Wardrobe with six wooden hangers, shoe horn, brush & cloth for polishing shoes
• Full length mirror on wardrobe
• Iron, ironing board and a bottle of air freshener and fabric mist
• Robes and slippers
• Ipad beside bed to control air-conditioning and lighting
• Panel on bedhead with power to control lighting
• Plenty of power outlets including four USB ports at the desk, Type A power 100V (compatible with most US plugs) beside each bedside table and above bed head, LAN connection (for laptops etc) and power below couch, 2 power outlets beside wardrobe on wall, 2 power points on ledge under the TV beside the phone and 2 power outlets in the bathroom.
• Private bathroom with shower and bath
• Complimentary bathroom amenities including Darjeeling tea scented shampoo, conditioner and body soap by Aromad’or, eco friendly toothbrushes, razors, cotton sets etc
• Toilet and bidet functions as well as a heated toilet seat

Hotel Facilities

• A lounge with complimentary soft drinks, water, tea and coffee on the 19th floor
• Fitness centre on the 19th floor
• Restaurant and bar
• Laundry with washer/dryers and ice and vending machines on the 20th and 24th floors
• Free newspapers and luggage storage in the foyer

Breakfast

A buffet breakfast is available at the hotel for JPY 3,300 or about $35 AUD per person.  It’s a must do at least once during your stay as the range and quality of food as well as the magnificent views make it a special experience.  We ate breakfast here on our last morning and thoroughly enjoyed it.  There is a good mix of Western and Japanese food though we mostly stuck to the Japanese.

Things to do in the Area

There is much to do in Tokyo and six days was not nearly enough time to do the place justice.  Some of the things we did whilst there were:

• Tried lots of yummy food including ramen at Ichiran and soufflé pancakes at Benizuru Pancake
• Visited the stunning Mt Fuji
• Spent the day at the magical but overcrowded Disneyland theme park
• Explored the streets of Asakusa by tuk tuk
• Learnt how to make sushi whilst enjoying the views and eating our creations
• Took the lift up to the top of the 634 metre Skytree tower, the world’s tallest tower

Pros

• The views from the lobby and room were incredible
• The staff were very friendly
• The buffet breakfast was impressive
• The rooms were modern and clean
• Lots of power outlets for charging
• Robes and slippers plus a heated toilet seat made it feel 5 star
• Bottled water and a fridge
• Blockout blinds allowed us to have a good night’s sleep
• I liked having the ability to control lighting and air-conditioning from bed
• A lounge serving complimentary drinks
• Having access to laundry is very handy, especially on longer stays

Cons

• The room smelled musty despite the air purifier/humidifier
• The room was a little small making it a bit hard to store luggage

Summary

We loved this hotel and would definitely stay here again.  The location was perfect for us – quiet but still close to plenty of subway stations, supermarkets and restaurants.  The hotel despite only 4 stars felt like 5 stars and we loved the stunning views, fantastic breakfast and friendly staff.

Our JAL B777-300 aircraft preparing for our flight from San Francisco to Haneda, Tokyo

We were excited for our stay in Tokyo being our first time to Japan and were looking forward to our flight with JAL.

Airline and Flight #

JAL | JL 0001

Aircraft

Boeing 777-300 ER

Airport and Terminal

Departure: San Francisco Airport, California, USA| Terminal 1

We liked some of the artwork found on the walls of the San Francisco International Airport

Arrival:      Tokyo Haneda Airport, Tokyo, Japan|Terminal 3

Scheduled Departure Date and Time

Friday 8th March 2024| 1255 / 12:55pm 

Scheduled Arrival Date and Time

Saturday 9th March 2024| 1720 / 5:20pm 

Scheduled Flying Time

11 hours 25 minutes

Luggage Allowance

Carry-on:

Business class passengers flying internationally are allowed one cabin bag when flying JAL weighing up to 10kg (22lbs)

Checked baggage:

Business class passengers are allowed a generous 3 bags of checked luggage at a weight of up to 32kg (70lbs) each.

Fun Facts

• Founded in 1951, JAL joined the Oneworld airline alliance in 2007
• Registered as JA733J, this plane had its first flight in June 2005
• JAL is Japan’s national airline
• JAL is headquartered in Shinagawa, Tokyo with its main hubs in Haneda and Narita in Tokyo and Kansai and Itami airports in Osaka

Check-in and Security

JAL advises passengers to check in online up to 24 hours prior to departure using the app or the website. For Business class passengers check-in closes 60 minutes prior to departure.  Seats can also be selected or changed here.  Check-in can also be done at the counter inside the airport.  As we had just flown in from New York, we had checked in there and given our boarding passes.

Lounge

There is no JAL lounge at the San Francisco airport so passengers are invited to use the British Airways lounge which received a makeover back in July 2019.  Located near Gate 5 of terminal 1, you simply turn left after passing through security.  There was a good selection of drinks, but unfortunately not a big choice of hot dishes, especially as we were there over lunch.  The tomato soup was nice but the spring rolls were not great.  The lounge was quite crowded so it was hard getting a seat.

Seating

Layout – This JAL Boeing 777-300 is a wide bodied jet with 152 seats.  In rows 5 to 12 there are 49 Business Class sky suites arranged in a 2-3-2 configuration with all seats having direct aisle access due to the seats being slightly staggered, allowing a narrow right angled corridor from the window seat.  

Seat plan of JAL B777-300 Haneda, Tokyo to JFK, New York

Features – Known as the JAL Sky Seats, each lay flat seat bed is made from a navy blue cloth with a leather piece of material over the headrest.  Seat width is 52cm between the armrests and 65cm when the seat is fully reclined.   There is plenty of room for your feet when the seat is reclined which is not the case with a lot of airlines.  Seat length is 188cm when fully extended in its horizontal position.  Retractable privacy partitions offered privacy from your neighbour and there were the usual features like personal lights, USB charge outlets, coat hook, and a control panel to adjust your seat which also included a massage function (not so usual).

On our seat was  an Airweave pillow, a duvet, Sony noise cancelling headphones, slippers, face mask, a menu and an amenity bag.  Mattress toppers were available in the overhead compartments.  A bottle of water was also supplied and staff came around loaning out cardigans to Business class passengers.

We were seated by the window in seats 9A and 9C.  The seat closer to the window has a lot more privacy than the one slightly recessed and closer to the aisle.

Tray tables – The tray tables were one of the best I’ve seen in Business class.  They were easy to take out and put away by opening the little cocktail tray and pressing down on it gently allowing the tray to pop up.  You could then pull the tray up and fold it down.  It could be moved back and forward and you could swivel it for ease of leaving your seat whilst your tray was set up if needed.  The tray was equally nice and easy to put away. 

Storage – Seat storage isn’t the most generous in JAL’s business class cabin.  There was a bit of storage on the narrow table in front of the entertainment screen and below the privacy screen as well as a bit in the alcove that held the headphones & bottle of water.  The ottoman when it wasn’t being used to rest your feet on could also be used or else shoes or other items could be parked underneath. There is also an overhead shelf above your seat behind you which is not easy to spot at first or reach.  A round knob on the outside panel of your seat provided storage for a hanged garment.

Amenity kits – The pattern is designed by Atsuhito Fujiki with products by welfare company Heralbony.  Unlike all the others I’ve seen, this one contained no lotions or potions like lip balm and moisturiser which I was a bit sad about. Just a packet of tissues, ear plugs, an average quality eye mask, a plastic toothbrush and mini toothpaste, a plastic foldable phone stand which hubby found quite useful and an iPhone USB charging cable which was also a practical idea.  

Cabin Comfort 

The Good:

• Plenty of leg room, even when the bed is in its lie flat position
• The pillow was nice and soft with its flanelette feel pillowcase
• Slippers were great for having something to quickly slip on when getting out of your seat
• A cardigan lending service made it more comfortable when the temperature dropped
• Large windows let in natural light and allow you to get a great view outside if you have a window seat
• A privacy partition allowed a good amount of privacy from the person next to you if you didn’t know them

The Bad:

• No individual airflow above seats to adjust temperature
• Not a lot of storage space
• No pyjamas for Business class passengers
• Cabin felt a bit cramped due to the 2-3-2 configuration

In-flight Entertainment

Power

• A USB port, video input and AC power outlet were provided on JAL.  I used the cable supplied in the amenity bag as well as my own and in both cases charging was slow.  The socket for the AC power supply can only accept a 2 pin European plug, a 2 pin US plug (Japan) and a 3 pin US plug.

Reading Material

In the magazine holder of each seat you will find Skyward, an inflight magazine which was mostly in Japanese, along with an inflight shopping catalogue (JAL Shop),  a safety card, seat instructions and information on the Wifi service.

WiFi

• Wifi is available and costs $10.15 USD for one hour, $14.40 USD for three hours or $18.80 USD for the entire flight which is quite reasonable given this was an eleven plus hour long flight.  If you pay with your JAL card you will receive a 10% discount.  I didn’t purchase Wifi on this flight as I found the inflight entertainment good enough to keep me occupied for the time I spent not sleeping and eating.

Entertainment System

The MAJIC-V inflight entertainment system has various audio programs showcasing a range of different music genres, movies, TV shows and news.  You can also order drinks and meals through it as well as follow the flight map, play games, order from the JAL shop or watch instructions on preparing immigration forms etc.  With its large 23 inch screen, you’re sure to not miss a thing. . The liquid crystal remote was mounted beside the seat divider but wasn’t that responsive.  Sony noise cancelling headphones are provided for Business class passengers on JAL.

Catering

Menus

• The menus are fairly plain looking and are in both Japanese and English.  With both a Japanese and an International (Western) menu to choose from, the selection is not expansive but the quality of food makes up for this. A vegan and vegetarian menu is available but needs to be reserved in advance. You could also select an express menu allowing you to get to sleep sooner.  Beverages included a selection of Champaigns and western and Japanese wines, sakes and shochus, three cocktails, an assortment of spirits and liqueurs, sherry and four Japanese beers. There was also a non alcoholic beer and wine and a selection of soft drinks, teas and coffee.

Food/Drinks  

• 1230: A welcome drink was served prior to takeoff which was a cold pressed juice containing pineapple juice, apple juice, lemon and ginger.  I didn’t see it on the menu but I found it tasty and refreshing.
• 1320: We were given a warm towel on a tray and drink orders were taken
• 1350: My Umeshu (Japanese Plum wine) with soda was served along with a bowl of olives and mixed nuts

• 1407: I went with the International cuisine which for starters was seared tuna, roasted vegetable salad, shell pasta & crab salad and basil green curry dressing.  A selection of bread rolls were also offered.  I enjoyed the generous portion starter and was amused by the collection of cutlery.

• 1407: My husband went with the International cuisine which included a selection of seasonal colourful delicacies (Irodori Gozen).  He enjoyed his food too and it’s hard not to admire JAL’s beautiful presentation of the food.

• 1435: For the main I had the USDA prime beef tenderloin with morel mushroom gravy sauce and grilled potato gratin.  I would have liked to have seen some carrots or more vegetables to go with it but otherwise the dish was enjoyable. The other option from the western menu was the sea bass.  The cabin crew kindly offered to refill my drink.  Hubby chose the Japanese menu which included simmered black cod, grilled ginger beef and asparagus, spinach & bell pepper served with steamed rice, Miso soup and Japanese pickles which he enjoyed.

• 1515: Dessert along with tea and coffee were served which was Mascarpone yoghurt mousse for both the Japanese and Western menus.  It was delicious and it went down nicely with my coffee.  I followed this up with a box of two pralines from the self-service bar.  Other options included cheese snacks with almonds, biscuits and dried seafood.

• 3 hours prior to landing: After a movie or two and a bit of shut eye I was feeling a bit peckish and chose the Pork rice bowl and a tub of vanilla Haagen Dazs ice cream whilst hubby had JAL’s special Tonkotsu flavoured miso ramen noodle.  Both meals tasted great.

Restrooms

A Business class restroom was located at the front left of the plane and two between the two business class cabins.  There were some spare toothbrushes available along with some mouth wash, Tea Tonique hand soap and moisturiser by Miller Harris and a bottle of hand sanitizer.  The toilet contained a bidet and staff appeared to go in regularly to clean it.

Service  

The service was friendly and efficient, just as you would expect from a Japanese carrier.  The drinks trolley came around frequently and drinks were topped up regularly.  

Pros

• The food was tasty and well presented
• The entertainment screen was nice and large
• The flight ran on time
• Anytime dining was available
• Restrooms were kept clean most of the time
• The crew were friendly and efficient
• The seats contained a back massage function
• Tray tables were easy to pull out and put away

Cons

• Welcome drinks were served in small plastic glasses
• Seats didn’t contain much storage space
• The cabin felt cramped with the extra business class seating in each row
• No hand or surface sanitisers were given out
• Remote for entertainment system not very responsive
• The panelling around the seats was showing its age
• No pyjamas are available for Business class passengers

Conclusion

I enjoyed this flight on Japan Airline’s 777-300.  The food was tasty, the service top notch and the large entertainment screens and spacious beds provided for a very comfortable flight.  It’s a pity JAL don’t distribute pyjamas to Business class passengers but the slippers and loan of a cardigan were appreciated.

Residence Inn by Marriott New York JFK Airport, Jamaica NY, USA

This hotel is one of the better airport hotels we’ve found in the US.  There is a free shuttle to and from the airport, the rooms are modern and breakfast, although not great, is complimentary.

Address

142-30 135th Ave, Jamaica, Queens, New York, 11436 United States of America

Dates stayed

Wednesday 14th February, 2024 for 1 night

Thursday 7th March, 2024 for 1 night

Room Type

King Bed, non-smoking

Price

Wednesday 14th February 2024: $424.53 AUD.

Thursday 7th March 2024:  $423.51 AUD.

We booked through Hotels.com on both occasions.

Location

Location of Residence Inn by Marriott NY JFK Airport, Jamaica, Queens

Check-in/Check-out

• Check-in is from 3pm 
• Check-out is 11am and heavy fines apply for late check-out
• Front desk open 24 hours
• Minimum check-in age is 21
• Pets are welcome.  A one time pet cleaning fee of $150 USD per stay applies

Parking

The hotel has on site parking for $55 USD a day with valet parking also $55 USD per day.  For oversized vehicles it is $65 USD a day.  Up to six hours is $35 USD.  Parking is outdoors and not undercover.

Internet

All rooms and public areas have free Wi-Fi

Room Features

• 33 square metre non-smoking air-conditioned room with a King bed
• Modern bathroom with separate shower and toiletries
• Fridge, large microwave and coffee making facilities
• Complimentary bottled water on arrival
• Flat screen TV
• Wardrobe with coat hangers, iron, ironing board and safe
• Desk and chair
• Alarm clock and wake-up service

View from the window

Our view from our window was different on each occasion.  The first time we looked out to snow on the ground which was exciting considering we rarely get to see snow.  The second time we looked out over the cute picturesque houses of Queens.

Hotel Facilities

• Lobby lounge with fireplace
• Complimentary tea and coffee
• Complimentary buffet breakfast
• Fitness centre
• Coin operated laundry
• Local shop
• Business centre

Breakfast

Pros

• Our hotel room was modern and clean
• Breakfast was complimentary with coffee that was actually drinkable
• The hotel has a large microwave and fridge
• Complimentary tea and coffee in the area across from Reception
• Complimentary shuttle makes getting to and from the airport easy
• Friendly staff
• On our first stay, staff asked us for feedback which I see is a really good sign of a hotel trying to improve and interested in what guests have to say.

Cons

• Breakfast was not good with little healthy options.  Food was low fat and high sugar
• The hotel was expensive
• The doona on the bed isn’t properly encased in a cover which isn’t very hygienic 

Summary

This is one of the better US airport hotels we’ve stayed in.  Conveniently situated just 2 miles from JFK airport, Residence Inn has a complimentary shuttle service to and from JFK airport.  They request you call them once your plane has arrived to arrange pick up to the hotel.  Rooms were modern and although breakfast is complimentary, the food was neither healthy nor tasty.  I thought the accommodation was expensive for a 3 star hotel but quite a bit nicer than some others we’ve stayed in.

Continuing on from our previous JAL flight from Sydney to Haneda, this time we would be flying on a 777-300 the rest of the way to New York.  After about an hour and a half in the lounge I was excited for this next leg and to also be having a window seat.

Airline and Flight #

JAL | JL 0004

Aircraft

Boeing 777-300

Airport and Terminal

Departure: Haneda Airport, Tokyo Japan| Terminal 3

Terminal 3 Haneda Airport, Haneda Tokyo, Japan

Arrival:      JFK Airport, New York, USA |Terminal 8

Scheduled Departure Date and Time

Wednesday 14th February 2024| 1945 / 7:45 pm 

Scheduled Arrival Date and Time

Wednesday 14th February 2024| 1840 / 6:40 pm 

Scheduled Flying Time

12 hours 55 minutes

Luggage Allowance

Carry-on:

Business class passengers flying internationally are allowed one cabin bag when flying JAL weighing up to 10kg (22lbs)

Checked baggage:

Business class passengers are allowed a generous 3 bags of checked luggage at a weight of up to 32kg (70lbs) each.

Fun Facts

• Founded in 1951, JAL joined the Oneworld airline alliance in 2007
• This JAL aircraft was painted in Oneworld colours in March 2022
• JAL is Japan’s national airline
• JAL is headquartered in Shinagawa, Tokyo with its main hubs in Haneda and Narita in Tokyo and Kansai and Itami airports in Osaka

Check-in and Security

JAL advises passengers to check in online up to 24 hours prior to departure using the app or the website. For Business class passengers check-in closes 60 minutes prior to departure.  Seats can also be selected or changed here.  Check-in can also be done at the counter inside the airport which opens three hours prior to your flight’s departure.  The counter is not usually displayed until the day of the flight.  We checked in for this flight in Sydney along with our flight to Haneda and given our boarding passes for this flight also.

Lounge

JAL uses the Sakura lounge at Haneda airport located on the fourth level of terminal 3.  Opening at 6am, the lounge stays open until the last flight of the day.  There were some good views out the windows but I was a little disappointed in the selection of Japanese food on offer with the western menu being over represented.  In saying that, the curry was very tasty.

Seating

Layout – This JAL Boeing 777-300 is a wide bodied jet with 152 seats.  In rows 5 to 12 there are 49 Business Class sky suites arranged in a 2-3-2 configuration with all seats having direct aisle access due to the seats being slightly staggered, allowing a narrow right angled corridor from the window seat.  

Seat plan of JAL B777-300 Haneda, Tokyo to JFK, New York

Features – Known as the JAL Sky Seats, each lay flat seat bed is made from a navy blue cloth with a leather piece of material over the headrest.  Seat width is 52cm between the armrests and 65cm when the seat is fully reclined.   There is plenty of room for your feet when the seat is reclined which is not the case with a lot of airlines.  Seat length is 188cm when fully extended in its horizontal position.  Retractable privacy partitions offered privacy from your neighbour and there were the usual features like personal lights, USB charge outlets, coat hook, and a control panel to adjust your seat which also included a massage function (not so usual).

On our seat was  an Airweave pillow, a blanket, Sony noise cancelling headphones, slippers, a menu and an amenity bag.  Mattress toppers were available in the overhead compartments but as this was a daytime flight we didn’t use them.  A bottle of water was also supplied and staff came around loaning out cardigans to Business class passengers.

We were seated by the window in seats 10K and 10H.

Tray tables – The tray tables were one of the best I’ve seen in Business class.  They were easy to take out and put away by opening the little cocktail tray and pressing down on it gently allowing the tray to pop up so you can pull the tray up and fold it down.  It could be moved back and forward and you could swivel it for ease of leaving your seat whilst your tray was set up if needed.  The tray was equally nice and easy to put away. 

Storage – Seat storage isn’t the most generous in JAL’s business class cabin.  There was some storage on the table in front of the entertainment screen and also under the ottoman.  A small ledge just below the privacy divider acts as a cocktail tray or somewhere to store your phone, watch or similar.  There is also a storage bin above your seat behind you which is not easy to spot at first.  A round knob on the outside panel of your seat provided storage for a hanged garment.

Amenity kits – The pattern is designed by Atsuhito Fujiki with products by welfare company Heralbony.  My bag was quite attractive whilst my husband’s was more masculine looking.  Unlike all the others I’ve seen, this one contained no lotions or potions like lip balm and moisturiser which I was a bit sad about. Just a packet of tissues, ear plugs, an average quality eye mask, a plastic toothbrush and mini toothpaste, a plastic foldable phone stand which hubby found quite useful and an iPhone USB charging cable which was also a practical idea.  More so if it sped up charging.

Cabin Comfort 

The Good:

• Plenty of leg room, even when the bed is in its lie flat position
• The pillow was nice and soft with its flanelette feel pillowcase
• Slippers were great for having something to quickly slip on when getting out of your seat
• A cardigan lending service made it more comfortable when the temperature dropped
• The bed once laid flat was wide and comfortable with plenty of room for your feet
• Large windows that let in natural light and allow you to get a great view outside

The Bad:

• No individual airflow above seats to adjust temperature
• Not a lot of storage space
• No pyjamas for Business class passengers

In-flight Entertainment

Power

• A USB port and AC power outlet were located just under the table in front of the entertainment screen.  I used the cable supplied in the amenity bag as well as my own and in both cases charging was slow.  The socket for the AC power supply can only accept a 2 pin European plug, a 2 pin US plug (Japan) and a 3 pin US plug.

Reading Material

Skyward, an inflight magazine along with an inflight shopping catalogue are stored in the magazine holder of each seat along with the safety card and air sickness bag.

WiFi

• Wifi is available and costs $10.15 USD per hour or $18.80 USD for 24 hours which is quite reasonable for a long flight.  If you pay with your JAL card you get a 10% discount.  I didn’t purchase Wifi on this flight as I found the inflight entertainment good enough to keep me occupied for the ten hour duration.

Entertainment System

The MAJIC inflight entertainment system contains a range of movies, documentaries and TV shows to watch as well as games, news and audio.  With its large 23 inch screen, you’re sure to not miss a thing.  The flight map on this aircraft was quite dated and unfortunately didn’t show much, nor was it interactive.  There was a decent range of good viewing options which kept me occupied during the course of the flight. The liquid crystal remote was mounted on the seat divider but wasn’t that responsive.  Sony noise cancelling headphones are provided for Business class passengers on JAL.

Catering

Menus

• The menus were fairly plain looking and contained a Japanese set menu and a western style set menu with two main dish options.  The Japanese appetiser was Irodori Gozen – a selection of seasonal colourful delicacies followed by steamed rice and a selection of accompaniments including Steamed Chicken with Red Miso, Cauliflower & Broccoli, Deep-fried Black Cod with Seri Greens & Starchy Sauce and Ren’s Special Curry. There was also Miso Soup, Kounomono (Chinese Cabbage, Cucumber & Simmered Kelp) and for dessert Kanmi (“Hojicha” Tea Pudding. The International menu contained Scallop & Northern Shrimp Salad with Radish Vinaigrette for the appetiser and a choice of Roast Beef Fillet with Burdock Sauce & Horseradish Potato Purée or Olive Flounder & Black Truffle Cotelette with Yuzu Chili Flavoured Sauce as the mains. Special Breads (Petite Ciabatta & Petit Fig Bread) accompanied the meal and dessert was a Hazelnut Opera Cake (containing alcohol). Tea and coffee rounded off the meal service.   The second meal offering was an A La Carte menu with a mix of Japanese and International cuisine.  Beverages included a selection of Champaigns and western and Japanese wines, sakes and shochus, three cocktails, an assortment of spirits and liqueurs, sherry and four Japanese beers,.  There was also a non alcoholic beer and wine and a selection of soft drinks, teas and coffee.

Food/Drinks  

• Shortly after taking our seat we were offered a small orange juice or champagne in a plastic wine cup.  Once the plane was in the air and the seatbelt signs turned off, staff came around with hot towels prior to taking drink orders.  I thought I should try the JAL Original Drink which was a “Sky Time Peach & Grape Mix”.  It was very nice.  A dish of olives and warm nuts accompanied drinks.   For dinner I went with the International menu this time starting with the Scallop & Northern Shrimp Salad with Radish Vinaigrette.  From the mains I chose the Roast Beef Fillet with Burdock Sauce & Horseradish Potato Purée.  Breads accompanied the meal and for dessert I had the Hazelnut Opera Cake and a tub of caramel ice cream.  I enjoyed the meal immensely, except perhaps for the uncooked scallops in my salad. An announcement was made about chocolates being handed out due it being Valentines Day.  These were what was contained in the red packet seen in the appetiser photo.  A few hours prior to landing I chose the Miyazaki Wagyu Curry which was delicious, followed by another tub of ice-cream (vanilla this time) and a cheese plate with fruit which tasted ok.

Restrooms

A Business class restroom was located at the front left of the plane and two between the two business class cabins.  There were some spare toothbrushes available along with some mouth wash, hand soap and moisturiser as well as a spray bottle that I assumed staff used for cleaning.  The toilet contained a bidet and staff did a good job during the flight keeping the room clean which I always appreciate.

Service  

The service was friendly and efficient, just as you would expect from a Japanese carrier.  The drinks trolley came around frequently and the restroom was kept clean throughout the flight.

Pros

• The food was beautifully presented
• The entertainment screen was nice and large
• The flight ran on time
• Anytime dining was available
• Restrooms were kept lovely and clean
• The crew were friendly and efficient
• The seats contained a back massage function
• Tray tables were easy to pull out and put away

Cons

• I was disappointed in the selection of the Japanese Main – one choice being offal
• Welcome drinks were served in small plastic glasses
• Seats didn’t contain much storage space
• The cabin felt cramped with the extra business class seating in each row
• No hand or surface sanitisers were given out
• Flight map old fashioned and provided little detail
• Remote for entertainment system not very responsive
• The panelling around the seats was showing its age
• No pyjamas are available for Business class passengers

Conclusion

I enjoyed this flight even more than the last JAL flight from Sydney to Haneda.  The food was more to my liking, I loved having a window seat where you also had direct aisle access and the beds were spacious and comfortable.  We saw some beautiful sunrises and sunsets as well as passed over picturesque snow capped mountains.  It’s a pity JAL don’t distribute pyjamas to Business class passengers but the slippers and loan of a cardigan were appreciated.

Japa Suites and Villas Ubud, Bali, Indonesia

We were in Bali for four weeks where we would be meeting up with our daughter and her husband for some of that time who were also holidaying in Indonesia.  Hoping to get a good rate on four weeks of accommodation we reached out to a few places and Japa Suites and Villas came back with the best deal.  So this lovely quiet retreat would become our home for the next few weeks.

Address

Jl. Hanoman Jl. Raya Pengosekan Ubud, Ubud, Kecamatan Ubud, Kabupaten Gianyar, Bali 80571, Indonesia

Date stayed

Friday 22nd July, 2022 for 25 nights

Room Type

Deluxe double room including breakfast each morning x 22 nights

Villa with private pool including breakfast x 3 nights

Price

The price was 24,700,000 IDR with 50% due before we got there and via an international transfer.  The breakdown ended up being:

22 nights in a double room = 22 x 850,000 =18,700,000 IDR ($1,843 AUD)

3 nights in a double room = 3 x 2,000,000 = 6,000,000 IDR ($591 AUD)

Location

Map of the area surrounding Japa Suites and Villas, Ubud, Bali

Japa Suites and Villas is centrally located in Pengosekan, Ubud.  With just a short walk to lots of good warungs and restaurants, massage places, Yoga Barn, Ubud Palace and Monkey Forest, we were able to easily walk everywhere.  Although centrally located,  it is tucked away slightly back from the main street. Japa Suites and Villas is 34km from Ngurah Rai International Airport.

Check-in/Check-out

• Check-in is from 1500 (3pm)
• Check-out is before 1200 (12 noon)
• 24 hour reception
• Government issued photo ID required 
• A welcome drink was brought to our room after check-in and a little while later two small banana pancakes, topped with banana and strawberry.

Parking

There is a small amount of onsite parking at the property which is complimentary for guests staying at the property.

Parking at Japa Suites

Internet

Free high speed internet is available in rooms and all areas of the hotel.  We found it to be reliable and fast.  

Room Features

We stayed in three different rooms during the course of our stay.  We spent seven nights in Room 201 Pancala which was a Deluxe Double room on the second floor, three nights in Room 108 Japa which was a Villa with a private pool and 15 nights in Room 110 Madra which was a Deluxe Double room on the ground floor adjacent to the pool.

Features of our Deluxe Double rooms included:

• 36 square metre non-smoking room with tiled flooring
• Complimentary internet access
• Adjustable thermostat controlled air conditioner
• One extra large double bed (otherwise known as a King)
• One long day bed
• Ensuite with shower, sink and toilet
• Bottled water
• Bedside tables with lights
• Flatscreen TV
• Long desk and stool
• Tea and coffee making facilities
• Hanging and luggage space

Each room is different so the two Deluxe Double rooms we stayed in contained mostly the same featured but differed in some ways.  For instance the Pancala room had a very large bathroom and was overall a nicer room where as the the Madra room had a partially outdoor shower and another small atrium room although I wasn’t sure of the purpose of this.  The layout and location of the rooms were different too with the first closer to the breakfast area and road and the other closer to the main pool.

Room 201 Pancala 

Room 110 Madra

Features of our Private pool villa included:

• 180 square metre non-smoking room with marble flooring
• Complimentary internet access
• Adjustable thermostat controlled air conditioner
• Flatscreen TV
• Safe
• Tea and coffee making facilities
• Kitchen set
• Mini bar
• Bottled water
• Private pool
• Outdoor kitchen and sitting area with beautiful gardens
• Oversized bathroom with duel sinks and a separate bath and shower with views
• Bathroom amenities
• Desk and chair
• Turndown & laundry service
• A sarong each to use when visiting temples

Room 108 Japa

Hotel Facilities

The facilities at Japa Suites and Villas include:

• Spa and Wellness centre
• Yoga
• Swimming pool with sun umbrellas, deck chairs and beach towels
• Restaurant
• Airport shuttle
• Daily housekeeping
• Dry cleaning, ironing and laundry services for a fee

Breakfast

Breakfast was included in the price of our accommodation and was a la carte with a choice of a savoury and a sweet dish, fresh juice and tea or coffee.  This could be brought to your room or you could enjoy it in the picturesque outdoor restaurant surrounded by the beautiful gardens which is what we chose each day.  There are tables out in the garden or under cover in case it rains.  A lot of care went into the presentation of the food and we enjoyed the food.  The menu changed slightly after about the first week but then stayed the same.  With only a few of each dish to choose from I would have liked to have seen it change more regularly.  After initially trying everything we found ourselves sticking mostly to our favourite dishes which were the Bubar Ayam and the Açai Bowl.  The black tea was too fragrant for my liking but the staff went and purchased some English Breakfast tea for me which was really thoughtful of them and really appreciated.

Things to do in the Area

Ubud has an abundance of temples that are worth visiting but as we saw a number of these last time, we skipped them on this visit.  Instead we enjoyed the following activities:

• Visit Monkey Forest
• Shop at the street side stalls
• Have a massage at one of the many massage outlets (we had heaps)
• Cool down with a cocktail or fancy drink
• Enjoy the views from the Love Swing at Campuhan Ridge Walk
• Sit and be entertained by how many items locals can carry on their scooters

Pros

• The location is ideal as it’s close to everything but off the main road so is lovely and quiet
• The staff are very friendly and go that extra mile to ensure your stay is enjoyable.  For instance, little gifts of mini fruit skewers, Balinese candy and Biscuits were brought to our room most days and when they found out I liked English Breakfast Tea they went out and purchased some for me to have at breakfast.
• The gardens and all the greenery not only looks attractive but provides shade and a feeling of peacefulness.
• Bottled water was provided in our room daily
• Having a fridge has been very handy
• Breakfast is a la carte which I prefer to a buffet breakfast
• Japa Suites and Villas represents very good value for money
• Our rooms were cleaned daily without fail and the cleaners did a great job
• On checkout we were presented with a personalised card and an attractive wooden gift.  Not sure if this is typical or because we stayed there for an extended period of time but it was a lovely gesture and we have a keepsake that will remind up of Japa Villas each time we see it.
• There are no monkeys on the property so there was no fear of having them snatch our things or them bothering us.

Cons

• The international transfer Japa Suites requested ended up being a bit of a hassle and cost us extra.  It would have been good if we could have just given them our credit card details so they could charge us that way.
• We had to move rooms due to the shower not draining properly
• Sometimes there is an unpleasant smell coming from the bathroom in the rooms we’ve been in.  We find the fan makes it worse and the situation has been a lot better since we stopped using the fan.
• I would have liked to see the breakfast menu change more as by the end of our 25 night stay we were definitely ready to sample some new breakfast food.
• The cleaners did a really good job cleaning our room but we found on a couple of occasions when we returned to our room that they had left our door unlocked.

Summary

Japa Suites and Villas represents great value for money and the staff try really hard to make you feel welcome.  The location is ideal with it’s close proximity to attractions, good eating places and shops and yet is far enough from the street to make it a quiet sanctuary away from all the hustle and bustle.

Apartamentos Tucha, Albufeira, The Algarve, Portugal

After spending a week in a noisy apartment we moved closer to Old Town to this delightful traditional Portuguese apartment, attractively renovated with all the mod cons and delightful views of the sea and the beach.

Address

Rua Do Municipio, Lote 1-5A, Cerro Da Alagoa, Albufeira, 8200-161, Portugal

Date stayed

Monday 9th May for 21 nights (3 weeks)

Room Type

I bedroom apartment 

We were allocated a room on the top level with views across the beach and the water to the left and the white Mediterranean style buildings on the right.

Price

We paid a lower rate for the first week compared with the second and third weeks.  We booked through Hotels.com for a non-refundable booking. Prices were as follows:

Week 1 (7 nights): A$730.59 AUD (€483) or A$104.37 AUD (€69) per night

Weeks 2 and 3 (14 nights): A$,2078.58 AUD (€1,374) or A$148.47 (€98) per night

Location

Set right in the centre of Albufeira’s historical Old Town, Apartamentos Tucha is an easy walk to Pescadores Beach, shops, and hundreds of eateries.  Just 50 metres from a bus stop, tourist train and taxi pickup point, everything is in easy reach.  Faro International airport is a 37 minute drive and the train station is only 4.8km away.

Apartamentos Tucha, Albufeira, The Algarve, Portugal

Check-in/Check-out

• Check-in is from 1500 (3pm) to 2359 (11:59pm) although we were able to check in earlier which was helpful
• Check-out is before 11:30am
• This property does not accommodate groups here for parties 
• A cash damage deposit of €150 is required according to the Tucha website however we were never asked to pay this
• No pets allowed
• Someone will meet you at the property at a prearranged time to hand over the keys and explain a few things about the property

Parking

There is no onsite parking although there is some free parking within a few hundred metres out on the street subject to availability.

Internet

Free high speed internet is available in all areas of the apartment.  We found it to be fast and reliable.

Room Features

Our apartment 6 included:

• A newly renovated (2019) modern air-conditioned space with ceramic tiled flooring throughout
• Opening windows in different parts of the room to let fresh air and the lovely sea breeze through.  There is a picturesque view out to the beach and sea.
• A lounge/dining area with wall mounted TV, cabinet, lamp, coffee table, coasters, double sofa couch with cushions,  two armchairs, round dining table with four chairs and shoe rack.
• A shared verandah facing the street
• A fully contained kitchen with ceramic cooktop, microwave, fridge, coffee machine, toaster, cooking pots & utensils, crockery, cutlery, mixing bowls, stick blender, etc.
• A cupboard in the kitchen containing Ironing board and iron, portable clothes line & pegs, first aid kit, mop & bucket, dustpan & brush and two beach umbrellas.
• A bedroom with two single beds which we pushed together to make one large bed, TV, cabinet with drawers, wardrobe containing hanging space and hangers plus bedding for the sofa bed if required.  There is also one bedside table and lamp, a dresser with drawers and an arm chair.
• An ensuite bathroom with rain shower and hand held washer, liquid soap, towels, floor mats and hand towels, clothes rack and unit containing extra toilet paper and hair dryer.

Hotel Facilities

In this small development there were not many facilities as each apartment was self contained, the beach was in site and you are surrounded by hundreds of eating places.  It would have been handy to have a washing machine but there are laundromats around and a clothes rack, hanger and pegs.  Services available are:

• Housekeeping twice a week to clean the apartment, wash and vacuum the floors and change the towels, hand towels and tea towels.  Bed linen is changed once a week.
• A shuttle to the airport can be arranged for a fee

Breakfast

The apartment does not have or need it’s own restaurant serving breakfast but with the fully equipped kitchen we were able to prepare our own with groceries bought from the supermarket.  And on occasion we would eat out or pick up a pastry from the bakery section of the supermarket.

Things to do in the Area

Some of the things we did whilst staying at this hotel were:

• Walked down to the Marina where our boat left to take us parasailing.  This was an amazing experience and I highly recommend it.  Followed up with an enjoyable meal from one of the restaurants at the Marina.
• Sampled some of the traditional Portuguese food and International food from various restaurants
• Spotted the various sculptures throughout Old Town
• Indulged in a piece of cake or two at the Pastelaria Riviera cake shop
• Watched the sun set over the water
• Hired a car and drove to Slide & Splash waterpark and Sand City 
• Walked along the beach and went for a swim
• Enjoyed a drink at the Portas Da Vila bar where the lovely owner has decorated inside and out with shells he collected from down on the beach here.  You can check out the outside of his home where he’s done the same thing.
• Walked along the cliff tops admiring the different rock formations and beaches
• Tried our luck at ten pin bowling down at the Marina

For other ideas of things to do in Albufeira please see my review on Paladim and Alagoamar Hotel where we stayed for seven nights.

Pros

• We were able to check in hours early which proved very helpful
• Good communication from the owner
• Renovated and modern apartment that’s been nicely furnished
• A fully equipped kitchen for preparing and cooking food
• Perfect location in Old Town close to the beach, restaurants, shops and some attractions
• Plenty of windows to allow cross ventilation making the most of the sea breeze
• Views of the sea and the beach from the window
• The cleaners did a really good job cleaning our room each time

Cons

• Single beds instead of one double or queen
• For someone who has a lot of luggage or has mobility issues the rooms on the top floor may be a bit of a problem as there is no lift however there are a few rooms on the ground level.
• Although there was a good range of kitchen utensils we missed not having an egg flip (which we just ended up buying) and a set of tongs.

Summary

We loved our stay at Apartamentos Tucha.  I loved that it was newly renovated, in a suburb location, had views of the sea and the beach and had a fully equipped kitchen with which to prepare and cook food in.  The cleaners did a really great job cleaning the place and the double sofa bed came in handy when my brother came to stay with us one weekend.  Would definitely recommend this place and would happily stay here again.

The Paladim & Alagoamar Hotel, Albufeira, Portugal

We were excited to be spending some time in Albufeira down in the Algarve region of southern Portugal.  Our first week would be at this apartment style hotel situated right in the middle of New Town (the strip) and Old Town.

Address

Rua Do Municipio, Lote 1-5A, Cerro Da Alagoa, Albufeira, 8200-161, Portugal

Date stayed

Monday 2nd May for seven nights

Room Type

I bedroom apartment with pool views

We were allocated a room on level two (217) of three levels

Price

We paid $724.43 AUD (€485) for 7 nights through Hotels.com averaging $103.49 AUD (€69.29) per night.  This rate did not allow for cancellations.

Location

Situated 650 metres from the beach, the Paladim and Alagoamar hotel is conveniently located halfway between Old Town and New Town (the Strip).  Next door is a shopping centre which is currently closed for renovations however the large supermarket on the bottom floor is still currently open.  It is 42km from Portimao airport, 44.5km from Faro International airport and 4.3km from the Albufeira train station.  There are a few tourist shops, coffee shops and restaurants either side of the hotel.

Paladim & Alagoamar Hotel is conveniently located halfway between Old and New Town

Check-in/Check-out

• Check-in is from 3pm
• Check-out is before 11am
• 24 hour front desk
• Minimum check-in age is 18
• Government issued photo ID required
• A cash breakage deposit of €20 is required for guests under 25

Check-in area at Paladim & Alagoamar Hotel

Parking

Private parking is available onsite subject to availability and costs €10 a day.

Car parking costs €10 a day on the street and is subject to availability.

Internet

Free high speed internet is available in rooms and public areas of the hotel.  The connection is fast however the signal level is very weak inside the room and often drops out.  This is the case down by the pool as well.  In the corridor it’s much better but it’s annoying having to leave your room for reliable internet.  It doesn’t seem to work at all out on the balcony.

Room Features

Our apartment 217 included:

• Two twin beds in a 592 sq foot (55 sq m) wheelchair accessible apartment room
• Two bedside tables, one with a phone
• Two bedside lights on the wall (one not working)
• A European power socket on each side of the bed behind the bedside tables
• A long narrow desk and stool with smaller storage table beside it and mirror on wall
• Tiled floors throughout
• A wardrobe containing shelves with pillows and bedding for sofa bed, hanging space, 12 coat hangers, a full sized mirror and a safe that you can’t lock
• Mitsubishi self adjustable inverter for heating/cooling
• Ironing board but no iron
• Floor to ceiling tiled bathroom with shower with shower curtain in bath , bidet, good sized marble vanity unit, makeup mirror, hairdryer, bar soap, soap dispenser in shower and shower caps.
• Large airy room containing a lounge area with a sofa couch that converts to a two person bed once the trundle is pulled out, two lounge chairs, a TV cabinet, a Grundig LCD flatscreen TV, floor lamp, ceiling lights, pictures on the wall, four person dining table and mostly fully equipped kitchen.  There is a stove, fridge, toaster, kettle and a microwave/oven but no dishwasher, washing machine, detergent or dish brush.
• A good sized balcony with chairs, small table and clothes rack that can be accessed from the living area and the bedroom.

Hotel Facilities

The facilities at the Paladim and Alagoamar hotel include:

• Luggage storage
• Airport transfers for a fee (€37.50 at time of stay for two people)
• Restaurant (open 0800-2350)
• Entertainment each night 
• 2 large outdoor pools and 2 baby pools with pool bar, beach chairs and umbrellas
• Hairdresser
• Spa services
• Currency exchange
• Laundry service
• Downstairs bar

Breakfast

Breakfast is served from 0800 to 1030 in the Paladim Alagoa Mar Restaurant downstairs costing €9 per person.  The buffet breakfast provides a range of hot and cold foods and whilst the range isn’t enormous, it did us just fine for the one morning we ate there.  We had breakfast from the cafe next door on at least one occasion and the supermarket next door also sells a range of suitable breakfast items.  We liked the pastries from the Continente supermarket as they were always fresh and tasty.

Things to do in the Area

Some of the things we did whilst staying at this hotel were:

• Enjoy a nice cheap Portuguese meal at the Marinela Pastelaria snack bar next door to the apartment.
• Spot the different sculptures in Old Town made from steel washers
• Stroll along the beach (Praia do Tunel), laze on one of the sun chairs or go for a swim
• Check out Albufeira’s funky roundabouts
• Try gelato from one of so many gelato shops
• Walk down to the marina to check out the colourful buildings and the boats on the water.
• Check out the Portas Da Vila bar and house decorated with shells by the owner
• Walk through the tunnel and listen to one of the live musicians who is often playing
• Enjoy a romantic dinner on the rooftop at Pizzaria Ricardo’s
• Satisfy my sweet tooth with a crepe and/or milkshake from Sapori di Gelato
• Watch the reptile show in the bar area of the hotel

For other ideas of things to do in Albufeira please see my review on Tucha Apartmentos where we stayed for three weeks.

Pros

• The first young lady we met when we arrived was friendly and happily stored our luggage until our room was ready.
• The apartments are nice and spacious with a large balcony that was nice to sit on
• Kitchen came in handy when we prepared a couple of meals
• The tiled floors are easier to keep clean and don’t harbour smells, dust or dirt so easily.
• Although it was a little cool yet to use the pool, it looked nice and was relaxing to sit around on the sun chairs which were plentiful.
• The apartment was close to a large supermarket, eateries and halfway between Old Town and New Town.

Cons

• The bath/shower arrangement was very ugly and needed regrouting.  It appears they attempted to regroup over the old mould without removing it.
• It was very noisy with the construction going on next door until way past midnight as well as the entertainment on site and other guests talking loudly and slamming doors in the hallway.
• The bed arrangement was two singles pushed together which was very uncomfortable for a couple sharing the bed.
• There was no washing machine which seems pretty typical for apartments here
• No iron in the room – had to pay a €20 deposit to borrow one from Reception
• No shampoo or conditioner despite free bathroom amenities being advertised
• The kitchen had no washing up detergent or dish brush/sponge so you will need to purchase these items or bring your own.
• The furniture was very dated with broken parts replaced with poor quality plywood
• Despite the place being nearly empty and confirmation that no one was booking into our room the day we were leaving, the staff wanted to charge us to extend our check-out by two hours.  This was after staying a week with them!

Summary

Once upon a time this place would have been quite beautiful.  The workmanship that’s gone into the tiling, the marble staircase and the well appointed room was top class.  However time has passed and although the ceramic tiled floors and marble staircases still remain, the upkeep has been poor and the rooms are looking tired.  But probably the worst thing was the noise.  Although it’s not the fault of the hotel that construction of the supermarket next door is going on, better insulation could reduce the noise not only from outside when entertainment is playing late at night but in the hallways from other guests.  We found staff on the whole weren’t that friendly or accommodating.  The place is conveniently located to the supermarket and a nice cake shop and cafe but as we spent most of our time in Old Town we found our next accommodation more conveniently situated.  I wouldn’t choose to stay here again.