I had booked a round trip to Bilbao back in March, for the princely sum of 88.00 return. With easyJet's generous hand baggage allowance I was able to pack a lot and avoided their luggage fee, and any risk of the luggage going walkabout.
Tired of the usual god awful early starts to get to Stansted, I opted this time to stay at the Stansted Airport Hilton and headed up on the dirty Stansted Express on Wednesday night. I keep on saying it, but Stansted Express is simply a disgraceful introduction for people to the UK. But there's that broken record again!!
The Stansted Airport Hilton.
I really don't like Hilton UK. I should in all fairness, declare that I work for a hotel company, but I think I can be objective. I am completely underwhelmed by the Hilton UK experience. That's based on only three stays - Belfast, Glasgow (both apparently 5*) and this one. But I paid peanuts for the room, the bed was comfortable-ish, it was quiet but next time I'll try the Radisson. My reasons for not liking Hilton UK are peculiar to me, so I don't expect everyone to agree, but the ambience they create is cold and unwelcoming. For example, after queuing to check in for about 3 minutes (doesn't sound long, but just stand and time it...!) I noticed some welcoming bottles of mineral water on the counter. And then noticed a sellotaped price tag attached. At check in they tried to upsell me, (check in at 2300hrs, check out at 0500hrs - no thanks!) Then the HHonors-sell. (I'm already a member (!) but would Matt like to join? You get POINTS!) Then the crude adverts around the hotel, the mineral water in the room with another price tag attached 'Just 3.95 per day!'. The charge for WiFi. The charge for the airport bus. I know what you're thinking - for someone who flies a lot on low cost airlines I'm not very forgiving of a hotel having extra charges. But Hilton UK don't market themselves as 'low cost'. They market this strange lifestyle brand, which, quite simply, the product does not match. Enough of that. I didn't feel ripped off, (at the price I paid, I really couldn't. Booking.com btw is who I booked with), just that I had to be on my toes to avoid any accidental incidental charges. And when I stay at a hotel, that's not what I want to feel. And I didn't feel any more refreshed the next morning.
Security at Stansted was fine, boarding was at Gate 19 so a little trip on the special train and then priority boarding was strictly enforced, with one of the staff being told off by another after inadvertently letting someone through who was in a different group.
The plane was clean, the uniform seems to have been smartened up quite a bit, the crew were smiley, the captain pleasant and very soon we were on our way. We landed on time, at Bilbao which is a lovely little airport.
I could go on for days about Bilbao. It was festival time. It was awesome. Facebook members - I am trying to upload pics but it's taking it's time! We also went to San Sebastian.
I even went skinny dipping but no photographs of that, and it was just a lovely four days.
Obligatory Guggenheim pic
The flight back was delayed by 20 minutes, Bilbao airport staff were very organised - again, boarding was correctly controlled, although they swapped our online check-in documents for ATB variety, which was, strange. But anyway.
Bilbao Airport
Flight back was fully booked, boarding was swift, as mentioned in another report there was what looked like dry ice pumping out near the overhead lockers and I was alarmed for a bit but my travelling companions assured me it was fine. easyJet now sell Penn Pretzels for 1 a bag, if you're so inclined. Just thought I'd let you know.
The crew were again lovely, they were more professional than the BA lot on my recent flight to Prague, and it was with a sense of wellbeing that we landed at Stansted on time.
Had to wait for a few of the little trains to go by before we could get to Customs, and there was the face-recognition trial which speeded our way through.
So, at the end of the day.
Hilton - thanks, but no thanks.
easyJet - when they get it right they are great.
Bilbao - a lovely little airport
Stansted - you need more of those little trains!
