#950635 by gilly
29 May 2019, 18:32
Apologies for the delay in posting these trip reports.

The background to this holiday is that we had booked to do Hong Kong to Southampton 40 nights in Queen’s Grill on QM2, but after our first beach holiday in years, in Cyprus last September, which was truly fabulous and we enjoyed so very much, we realised we were a bit “cruised out” for the time being and decided to take a year off. We really wanted to go to the Seychelles, or possibly Mauritius, but after endless research couldn’t find a hotel in the Seychelles that we liked enough so settled on Mauritius.

We booked through Emirates Holidays, who at the time, had a short term promotion on, offering full board for the cost of half board, and an amazingly low flight upgrade price if booked together with the hotel as a package, and a real bargain compared to the outrageous cost of booking these particular upgraded flights separately from the hotel. We had a good budget due to the cruise we had cancelled (even though we had lost a hefty deposit) although even with our good budget one or two of the hotel prices were eye-wateringly beyond reach, so we carefully chose our hotel focussing on quality and location. We picked one of the suites that suited us from the myriad of room and suite choices the hotel offered, then realised that if we dropped one suite grade, to one that appears virtually the same overall, but with a slightly smaller sitting room, we could fly, not just Business as we normally would, but actually get to fly First Class. This was a no brainer for us: we are unlikely to fly First again, and we knew that First with Emirates on an A380 meant individual suites with doors and best of all, an on board shower - so, with great excitement, and my flexible friend clutched in my very sweaty little hand, I paid the deposit and we were booked! We have been beyond excited ever since, as much for the flight as for the holiday itself.

We always travel to LHR by train, if we possibly can: neither of us can tolerate a long car journey due to us both having back problems, severe, permanent back injury for my husband and at present I have wretched, really painful sciatica! The train service from where we live in South Wales is frequent, comfortable, and actually pretty reasonably priced if booked far enough ahead. Annoyingly, this particular weekend, Network Rail had chosen to work on the lines around Neath so there are no trains at all between Swansea and Port Talbot, which meant either taking the bus provided, or a taxi from our home on Gower to Port Talbot. It was too far to ask a friend to take us we felt, especially on a Sunday, so given we would have more luggage than we wanted to manage on the bus, we booked a car for the 45-50 minute drive to Port Talbot. I just hope he arrived in a timely manner and that there were no delays driving through Swansea.

We booked the Heathrow Express from Paddington and to stay at the Terminal 5 Sofitel the night before, our Heathrow hotel of choice, fully paid for with my Accor points. Emirates provided a car to take us from the Sofitel to Terminal 3 to get the flight, and back to our daughter’s home in Islington on our return, these are booked as well.

Our train journey was ok, comfortable and quiet, with the trolley man trying his hardest to fatten us up with his wares. It was a pleasant journey as was the HEX and we were quickly at the Sofitel where we got upgraded to a Junior Suite. This came with Club Lounge access - our booked room also had this access, but the upgraded one also came with a free mini bar! And a TV in the bathroom! We went along to the Club and had a spot of afternoon tea - dainty sandwiches, fabulous tiny pastries and scones with “clotted cream” and jam. Although personally, I do not think it was clotted cream, it was far too fluffy, but nice enough anyway. We then had to nip back to the terminal as I discovered I had forgotten to pack my comb! There's always something I manage to forget!

We then went back to the Club about 6pm for drinks and canapés. After this we didn’t want, or indeed need, dinner, so we watched a little TV and then went to the bar for a cocktail which came with some delicious nibbles. Very nice they were too, and very reasonable we felt for a Heathrow hotel. Next morning we had an excellent breakfast in the restaurant, where the egg chef insisted on making me fresh pancakes after I glanced at those on the buffet counter, despite me saying I really didn’t want them! I then felt obliged to eat at least some of them! Our car arrived promptly at 10.10 and we were at check-in 10-15 minutes later. The agent was pleasant and efficient, if a little remote. Through security and a quick detour to Boots for a new lipstick and we arrived at the Emirates lounge. This was very nice indeed: long and narrow it spanned two gates so had runway views and had very comfortable seating and a decent buffet, with a good self serve bar, including Laurent Perrier - not my favourite champagne but hey ho! We had a small plate of flatbread and humous and two glasses of the LP, took seats right at the window, where the sun was streaming in despite it being bitterly cold outside, and spent a very pleasant couple of hours. Our incoming aircraft was late, meaning we were delayed well over an hour, a worry as we only had a 90 minute transit in Dubai.

Eventually we boarded, direct from the lounge, two jet bridges, one for Economy and one for First and Business upstairs, and were escorted to our seats - or suites as they called them. Wow! They were amazing, very blingy as you’d expect from Emirates, with enormous screens, individual mini bars with soft drinks, baskets of snacks including crisps, cracker type snacks, chocolate, sweets, mints and chewy bars. There was an extremely comfortable seat and even when I raised the foot to horizontal, there was about acres of space in front of me, which is where all hand luggage is stowed since there are no overhead lockers. We were swiftly offered more LP, given a big bag with PJ, furry slippers, amenity kit full of Bvlgari products, eye mask, Bose noise cancelling headphones. A crew member handed out the extensive menu and another booked us a shower slot. Then they came with Arabic coffee - which was weak and watery - and dates! Very quickly we were away with Business full - all 70 odd seats, First had 3 empty of the 14 and Economy had 100 empty seats.

We opted to have lunch when available, but could choose when we wanted it, and while waiting were served Dom Perignon 2009 together with warmed nuts. I skipped the Canapés and Caviar and went straight for the Meze, which was served with an assorted bread basket with olive oil and balsamic. Altogether there was a choice of I think 7 starters,I didn’t want a main course, but there were 6 on offer,including beef tenderloin cooked to order, then 4 desserts and a cheese course with no fewer than 6 cheeses on offer. Then they gave us small boxes of Belgian chocs each. The wine list was not extensive - I think 4 each of red and white, but extremely good wines I believe, though I refused all of them, my husband who couldn’t choose which to have, was given all 4! After lunch out came the Hennessy Paradis cognac, which retails at £700 ! My husband had that too, not me!

We watched a movie then made our way through Business to the bar, where we chatted with the crew member tending the bar area and also other passengers while enjoying a Mojito. Tony asked for a half glass of the Dom Perignon so they brought the bottle through for us AND the First glasses! They took an instamatic picture of us behind the bar and handed it over in a little wallet. Then we had to go back as it was time for our showers! Showers! On an aeroplane!

Oh my, this was totally surreal. The two bathrooms were beautifully appointed, with heated floors, every product one could possibly want, including shower caps, shower gel, shampoo, conditioner, body lotion, lip salve, eye cream, combs, brushes, shaving kit, toothbrushes, loofahs, nail files, even sanitary products, plus there was a hairdryer. We were allowed 30 minutes in the bathroom with 5 minutes of water flow, which could be stopped and started at will. The actual shower cubicle had a fresh orchid in a vase on the wall! I found I didn’t need the full five minutes worth of water, Tony said he didn’t either, but how lovely and refreshing to have a shower before our arrival at Dubai - but totally totally surreal to be stark naked, in a shower ON BOARD AN AIRCRAFT!!! After dressing again, we were given fresh fruit skewers and green tea. Then all too soon we were arriving at Dubai and ready to change aircraft - and do it all again!

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