Business Trip –Pasco / Tri-Cities (PSC) to Orange County (SNA) via San Francisco (SFO) in United Economy and First

United Canadair RJ200

Seat:  3B

Cabin:  Economy

Date:  01/25/12

Scheduled Departure:  5:37pm

Actual Departure:  5:36pm

Scheduled Arrival:  7:25pm

Actual Arrival:  7:16pm

The client actually ferried me from my hotel to the campus for meetings and then to the airport.  It was nicer than dealing with a rental car and provided more time to connect with my client contact.  As I mentioned in a previous blog, the Pasco airport is very small.  It’s the type of airport that has the same person checking you in and managing the gate.  Security at these smaller airports is always a gamble.  Sometimes the TSA agents feel the need to exercise their authority more than their counterparts at larger airports.  I have been through more wandings and pat-downs at airports like Charleston and Huntington than at LAX or DCA.  These agents were very friendly and I passed through security without any issue. 

The airport terminal, all three gates of it, had a central seating area serving the major three airlines present: Alaska, Delta, and United.  I surprised to see that Allegiant has a check-in counter at the airport.  Perhaps they have a seasonal service in the summer to Pasco.  Complimentary Wi-Fi is available however, few power outlets can be found.  The terminal seating area could barely hold two regional jet loads of passengers.  A Delta flight at a neighboring gate was experiencing technical delays and their passengers combined with the United flight were crowding up the area. 

There was no jet bridge to board the smaller regional jet which was a nice treat to walk out to the plane and up a ramp.  United’s CRJ-200’s do not have first class or economy plus seating.  The seat map had blocked out several seats in the forward part of the cabin that it looked like a 1-1 configuration versus a 2-2 configuration.  I was seated in one of those seats but it was a standard set up.  They may reduce some seating on the plane for weight reduction as the flight continues from Denver to San Francisco without refueling in Pasco.  Legroom on the flight was decent and we were about half full. 

The departure was smooth and I managed to fall asleep for most of the flight.  I awoke about 20 minutes outside of San Francisco and from my seat I was able to see the outline of the Golden Gate Bridge and city lights at night.  I’ve always enjoyed flying into large cities at night and seeing all the buildings lit up and the traffic moving on the streets and highways.  The fog was starting to roll into the bay reducing visibility around SFO which thankfully wasn’t impacting our landing approach or time.  We pulled up to the gate a few minutes early allowing me plenty of time to grab some dinner before my connecting flight home.

The United terminal at SFO has a several food options available.  I will usually hit up the soup station for a bagel or oatmeal in the morning for breakfast and the Japanese place for lunch or dinner.  There I tend to always go with the chicken bento box with brown rice as it seems like a relatively healthy option.  I could pass on the shrimp tempura though.  Once finished I had about 20 minutes before my flight was scheduled to board so I headed over to that gate to wait. 

United Airbus 320

Seat:  2F

Cabin:  First

Date:  01/25/12

Scheduled Departure:  8:51pm

Actual Departure:  8:45pm

Scheduled Arrival:  10:19pm

Actual Arrival:  10:00pm

I saw several people on the Pasco flight waiting in the gate area to head to Orange County as well.  The flight load was very light; only 44 seats out of the 144 were occupied.  My upgrade cleared earlier in the weak and I was looking forward to my more spacious first class seat.  The gate agent started boarding the flight 30 minutes prior to departure and was able to load the plane quickly.  Everyone was in their seats waiting 15 minutes prior to the departure time.  As passengers boarded the purser offered first class passengers drinks and hung up all of our jackets.

We pushed back about 15 minutes early and were number 2 in line for takeoff.  I was grateful for an early departure so I can get home that much sooner and into my own bed.  Once the plane had leveled off a bit drinks were offered in a quick but courteous fashion.  A snack basket followed with options like bananas, Toblerone, chips, granola bars, and a few other items.  Overall, there was nothing outstanding to note about the service on this flight. 

The in-flight entertainment was a couple “short subjects” – Subpurgatory and a genealogy special with Gwyneth Paltrow.  The other entertainment on the flight was watching the guy next to me head bob while he snoozed and listening to his rather loud snoring.  It wasn’t as fun as seeing the middle-aged women hunt and peck on her laptop on the previous flight but it was still entertaining.  I just hope that I don’t snore like that when I am sleeping on a plane. 

Before I knew it we were already starting our decent into SNA.  It was a quick flight that ended a very productive trip and best of all an early arrival!  When the plane rolled up to the gate I was disheartened that I was at the very far end of the terminal, the farthest gate from where my car was parked.   

Hotel Review – Red Lion Richland Hanford House

I typically book Hilton brands when I travel for work but this time the University actually purchased my airfare and hotel.  They selected the Red Lion Richland Hanford House as the best rate.  I’ve seen the Red Lion brand around but this was my first time staying at one. 

The hotel’s website notes a complimentary shuttle to and from the Pasco airport.  I called the hotel once I landed and was informed that they would call a taxi for me which was waiting outside the airport by the time I left the terminal.  The ride took about 15 minutes to get to the hotel and thankfully the hotel paid the taxi driver when I arrived.

The lobby was rather spacious and the hotel has quite a large amount of conference and meeting rooms.  My guess is that they have the largest flat floor space for events in the Tri-Cities area.  Check-n was quick and I was on my way to my first floor room.  The floor plan is a tad bit humorous as it looks like a question mark on its side. 

My hotel room was decent although dated.  Two queen beds, a work station, flat screen TV, and dresser were provided.  The closet has an iron and board which is a plus.  Two feet outside the floor to ceiling window was a parking lot.  The bathroom must have been recently remodeled as it was very nice and included decent products.   The funniest part of the room was the thermostat which must have been from the 50’s as it didn’t even have degrees marked on the metal dial, just warmer or colder.  This presented a few problems for me in regulating my temperature at night. 

A breakfast buffet was offered for $7.95 and included eggs, breakfast meats, potatoes, cereal, and drinks.  It wasn’t the greatest value but it did work for me in the morning.  Their photos advertising the breakfast buffet were very misleading though.  Free Wi-Fi is included on a daily basis.  Internet speed was good. 

I still prefer my Hilton brands but if the price is right for these hotels and they are near a client, I may have to opt for one again.  I would equate it to a lower end / older style Hampton Inn.  

Business Trip – Orange County (SNA) to Pasco / Tri-Cities (PSC) via Salt Lake City (SLC) in Delta Economy

Delta Airbus 319

Seat:  11D

Cabin:  Economy

Date:  01/24/12

Scheduled Departure:  4:35pm

Actual Departure:  4:29pm

Scheduled Arrival:  7:25pm

Actual Arrival:  7:23pm

I had a plan arriving at John Wayne Airport to park my car in the B parking structure so that I could access it easily on my United return the following night.  The airport has recently invested a fair amount of money in creating a parking management system that displays the number of spaces available on each level of the structures.  According to that sign, 15 spaces were left in the structure which would work for me.  Unfortunately, no spaces were actually available in the structure so I had to circle around again and find other parking.  I ultimately found parking in the A structure which just means a long walk late at night back to my car. 

Security was a breeze in the afternoon with only 3 people in front of me in line.  The Delta gate was a short walk past the checkpoint and I was able to sit down, hit up the free wifi, and get some work done before boarding.  I rarely fly Delta as I have never been a fan of the airline or their destination.  For a while I was flying quite a few of their regional jets in and out of Cincinnati for work which meant my long legs were always cramped and pushing into the seat in front.  This mainline flight should be decent though. 

The boarding area was relatively empty which indicated a very light load on the flight.  Boarding was quick and we all were seated before our scheduled departure time with perhaps a third of seats occupied.  Luckily for me, I was the only one in my three right side seats so I scooted over to the middle and spread out.  We waited a while after pushback before taxiing to the runway as other airplanes were heading out as well.  One of the drawbacks of SNA is that airplane traffic builds up quickly.  Once on the runway, the engines ramped up to full speed while the brakes remained on and then we were off and in the air on the slightly more than normal incline typical of SNA flights. 

The first part of the flight was a little bumpy but once we smoothed out drink service began.  Distribution of beverages was speedy given the light passenger load.  We also received a small packet of peanuts which I am not used to on my usual United flights.  I was able to get a good bit of work on my presentation before we started our decent about an hour and twenty minutes after takeoff.  The plane was equipped with GoGo wireless internet, however, I didn’t feel the charge to use it was worth it given the short duration of the flight.  

The pilots performed a smooth landing and we reached the gate a few minutes early.  My connecting time in SLC was scheduled for 40 minutes which worried me slightly but Delta.com indicated that my flight to Pasco was going to be out of the next gate.  A quick check of the airport monitors after deplaning changed my planning.  The gate had been switched from the C concourse to the B concourse and was showing a half-hour delay. 

The delay would give me enough time to grab something to eat and walk to the other gate.  One of my favored chain food outlets in airport is the Wolfgang Puck Express where I get some butternut squash soup or a chicken ceasar salad, pricey as most things in airports.  When I went up to order my salad I was informed that they didn’t have lettuce….  How do you run out of lettuce?  I settled for a bagel sandwich place on the B concourse which may have been a healthier option anyway.  The toasted bagel did make the sandwich enjoyable. 

I booted up my computer once settled at gate B13 and was waiting for boarding.  About the time we were supposed to board, the gate agents made an announcement about why our flight was delayed.  The crew scheduled to be on our plane was stuck in Reno on their delayed flight.  Delta operations (rather SkyWest operations since it is an RJ flight) called in a new crew which was supposed to be at the gate within another 10 minutes.  10 minutes later, another announcement indicated that we may be delayed by up to an hour because operations called the cabin crew, but not a pilot until much later.  I would think that would be something important to do at the same time as the rest of the crew.  So now we have to wait for the original pilot to arrive on the Reno flight and get us to Pasco.  We were given the ok to board the plane at 8:45pm before the pilot even landed.  I will give props to Delta for keeping everyone informed even though the news wasn’t the greatest. 

Delta Canadair RJ900

Seat:  10B

Cabin:  Economy

Date:  01/24/12

Scheduled Departure:  8:02pm

Actual Departure:  9:10pm

Scheduled Arrival:  8:48pm

Actual Arrival:  10:09pm

The CRJ filled up fast with passengers as we were all in a hurry to get to Pasco.  The plane had about 15 open seats and unfortunately, I was not next to one of them.  I usually prefer window seats as I won’t be disturbed by passengers climbing over me but on regional jets I prefer the aisle seat.  It allows me to stretch and lean out into the aisle for more room and more workspace – until the drink cart rolls by.  Delta has first class on this regional jet with 12 seats in a 1-2 configuration.  The rest of the economy cabin has decent seat pitch in the 2-2 configuration which surprised me.  My previous commuter flights on Delta had very little legroom.  My seat had nearly as much space as economy plus on United branded regional jets. 

The captain eventually appeared at the cabin door and completed his safety checks before we pushed back.  Departure was delayed even more as we had to de-ice the wings.  It was a cold night, no snow or rain though.  We were number one for departure and then airborne.  The crew were all nice and cheery even though they were called in from reserve.  They were also sincerely apologetic for the delay we experience.  Apparently it was a mechanical issue on the inbound Reno aircraft where they were leaking fuel.  Not a good thing. 

The flight time was scheduled for one hour and twenty three minutes wheels up to wheels down.  Strong headwinds added a bit more to that time and I just hope we can land by 10pm so I can get to my hotel.  Drink service was quick although the cart and the attendants kept bumping into my shoulders. 

The approach to the airport was bumpy due to some pretty gusty winds.  The plane rolled around a bit before getting closer to the ground and a good landing by the pilots.  Snow was still on the ground from the recent “snowmagedon” which hit the Pacific Northwest and it was cold outside.  As we were taxiing to the gate I called my hotel, the Red Lion Richland to arrange the courtesy shuttle.  They actually didn’t have a shuttle but they hired a taxi for me instead. 

The Pasco airport is another small town airport that has 3 or four gates at most.  The waiting area could maybe seat 60 people.  It only took me a couple minutes to get from the gate to the curb outside where the taxi was waiting for me.  At least the timing was perfect for my ride.  More on my experience at the Red Lion Hanford House Richland, WA to come. 

Israel Trip Report Part 10 – United First Class Denver to Orange County

Trip Report – Israel 2011

1. United #1273: Orange County, CA (SNA) to Newark, NJ (EWR)
2. United #90: Newark, NJ (EWR) to Tel Aviv, Israel (TLV)
3. Tour of Jerusalem and Bethlehem
4. Tour of Caesarea, Rosh Hanikra, and Acre
5. Tour of Petra
6. Tel Aviv
7. Grand Beach Hotel Review
8. United #91:  Tel Aviv, Israel (TLV) to Newark, NJ (EWR)
9. United #311:  Newark, NJ (EWR) to Denver, CO (DEN)
10. United #403:  Denver, CO (DEN) to Orange County, CA (SNA)

Part 10 – United First Class Denver to Orange County

United Airbus 320

Seat:  2A

Cabin:  First

Date:  01/18/12

Scheduled Departure:  12:26pm

Actual Departure:  12:23pm

Scheduled Arrival:  1:51pm

Actual Arrival:  1:41pm

I was feeling worse and worse as the morning progressed.  I waited at the gate after visiting the lounge and grabbed my seat quickly once on board.  I don’t have much to say about this flight as I was asleep before we took off and only woke up when we were on final approach into Orange County.  We arrived about ten minutes early and I was anxious to grab a taxi and get home.  All I had to do was head to the baggage claim to wait for my bag to get off the plane.  I headed downstairs and waited.  And kept waiting, and waiting, and waiting until all the bags were claimed.  The United luggage agent asked what flight I was waiting for and informed me that all the bags were unloaded from the Denver flight. 

I knew that my luggage would get lost.  I rarely if ever check a bag and I shouldn’t have checked it this time.  At least my bag wasn’t lost on the way to vacation!  The agent was able to pull up the tracking record for my bag and found out that it was send to San Diego (SAN) instead of Orange County (SNA).  I suppose it is an easy enough of a mistake to make but I still wasn’t happy.  The funny part is that my bag would first have to be sent to San Francisco before it could get to Orange County.  I would be able to pick up my bag the next day. 

Although the vacation was great, I was ready to be home in my bed and visit the doctor the next day to check on my ear infection.  

Israel Trip Report Part 9 – United First Class Newark to Denver

Trip Report – Israel 2011

1. United #1273: Orange County, CA (SNA) to Newark, NJ (EWR)
2. United #90: Newark, NJ (EWR) to Tel Aviv, Israel (TLV)
3. Tour of Jerusalem and Bethlehem
4. Tour of Caesarea, Rosh Hanikra, and Acre
5. Tour of Petra
6. Tel Aviv
7. Grand Beach Hotel Review
8. United #91:  Tel Aviv, Israel (TLV) to Newark, NJ (EWR)
9. United #311:  Newark, NJ (EWR) to Denver, CO (DEN)
10. United #403:  Denver, CO (DEN) to Orange County, CA (SNA)

Part 9 – United First Class Newark to Denver

United Airbus 320

Seat:  1E

Cabin:  First

Date:  01/18/12

Scheduled Departure:  7:00am

Actual Departure:  6:57am

Scheduled Arrival:  9:21a

Actual Arrival:  9:09a

Once my pack was rechecked through to Orange County I had to change terminals at Newark with via an airtrain and then go through security at Terminal A to make my United flight.  I was able to pop into the United Club and was hoping that they would have a shower for use but alas no.  I felt sorry for those sitting next to me on the remaining flights. 

The flight to Denver was full and boarded started early.  The first class cabin on the United 320 was standard and my bulkhead aisle seat felt a little cramped in the knees and feet.  I was still feeling a bit off from my earlier flight and the bad omelet.  I had a glass of water before departure and soon enough we were taxiing and in the air. 

Breakfast service started about 30 minutes after takeoff with orange juice.  On the ground, drinks on United flights are always served in plastic cups but once in the air the glassware is broken out.  It’s a plus that they also hold more juice, water, or wine.  I usually select the warm option / eggs for breakfast on these flights bit my poor experience with eggs on the previous flight made me opt for the cereal and fruit plate.  This option was the better one with enough food to satisfy my stomach and a good variety.  The fruit was fresh, the yogurt tasty, the croissant warm, and the cereal a good finish.  I may start opting for this selection more although they do not cater enough of these meals on these flights.  They typically will have only two or three meals in a cabin that seats 12. 

Cereal and Fruit

After my tray was removed I reclined my seat and before I knew it we were landing in Denver.  Overall, the service on the flight was decent with nothing outstanding.  The one plus of the flight was the early arrival into Denver which gave me more time to relax in the United Club before heading home to Orange County.  

Israel Trip Report Part 8 – Continental BusinessFirst Tel Aviv to Newark

Trip Report – Israel 2011

1. United #1273: Orange County, CA (SNA) to Newark, NJ (EWR)
2. United #90: Newark, NJ (EWR) to Tel Aviv, Israel (TLV)
3. Tour of Jerusalem and Bethlehem
4. Tour of Caesarea, Rosh Hanikra, and Acre
5. Tour of Petra
6. Tel Aviv
7. Grand Beach Hotel Review
8. United #91:  Tel Aviv, Israel (TLV) to Newark, NJ (EWR)
9. United #311:  Newark, NJ (EWR) to Denver, CO (DEN)
10. United #403:  Denver, CO (DEN) to Orange County, CA (SNA)

Part 5 – Continental BusinessFirst Tel Aviv to Newark

Continental Boeing 777-200ER

Seat:  2L

Cabin:  BusinessFirst

Date: 01/17/12

Scheduled Departure:  11:10pm

Actual Departure:  11:16pm

Scheduled Arrival:  4:19am (01/18/12)

Actual Arrival:  4:45am (01/18/12)

Boeing 777-200

The flight home boarded on time and I was first on board to head to my BusinessFirst window seat in the second row of the cabin.  My jacket was taken and hung in the closer even before my bag was placed in the overhead bin.  Menus were promptly distributed and drinks proffered and I selected champagne.  As the flight was departing late at night the flight attendants asked for our dinner selection before the doors on the plane were closed. 

Menu Page 1

Menu Page 2

Passengers were still boarding the place as two ground maintenance staff entered the flight deck.  Soon after one of the pilots headed farther back into the plane with a set of manuals – that is never a good sign.  It turns out that four of the eight bathrooms on the plane were not working.  I talked later to one of the pilots who explained that there was a considerable debate about proceeding forward with the flight given the malfunction but the flight was completely full and they had no idea how long a repair would take.  I’m glad they decided to proceed with the flight. 

Shortly after takeoff the drink and dinner service started.  Warm nuts were served with my glass of Cote-du-Rhone.  The nuts had too many walnuts for my taste and the wine was good but very tannic.  The salad with mozzarella and tomatoes followed quickly.  The salad and dressing were good, however, the cheese and salmon appetizer was rather inedible. 

First Course Salad

I selected the herbed of chicken provençale for the entrée.  The chicken was actually very good.  Typically airline chicken can be rubbery but the jus helped keep the chicken breast moist.  The white wine risotto was tasty as well, although, it was a little stiff to be a true risotto.  The greens were ok and I avoided the sautéed mushrooms.  The description included leaks but I didn’t taste any in the dish.  I was a little disappointed that no garlic bread was available on the flight, and the bread service overall was lacking as the attendants only came by once to offer something. 

Herbed Chicken Provencale

The cheese plate included was a nice break after dinner and included some blue cheese, swiss, brie, and chevre. 

Cheese Plate

The ice cream sundae cart passed through to finish off the dinner service and I opted for fudge and cherries.  The customer service of the staff was decent.  They were professional but not friendly or approachable – similar to domestic flights. 

Ice Cream Sundae

Dinner service finished up in about 2 hours which left almost 10 hours remaining in the flight.  The seat was the same as on my flight to Tel Aviv so I reclined it all the way.  The second row of seats has a much smaller foot space than the first row.   It was actually very cramped for me when lying down to try and have both feet in the space which required that I had my legs bent most of the time.  I would definitely recommend selecting a seat in row 1 on Continental’s 777.  I was able to fall asleep quickly and was passed out for about 7 hours. 

I woke up about three hours out from Newark with my sinuses and ears plugged up.  I had hoped my ear infection had cleared up but the pain was making me doubt it.  I watched a few of the Pixar movies available on the AVOD system while waiting for breakfast.  Meal service started about 1.5 hours before landing with two plates.  The first includes yogurt, granola, fruit, and tomatoes, cheese, and avocado spread.  I avoided the salmon but the rest was good. 

First Breakfast Course

I opted for the hot meal, a sun-dried tomato omelet with potatoes and zucchini.  While the potatoes and zucchini were good, the omelet was disgusting.  The texture, taste, and consistency were all bad.  The omelet had so much oil and butter that about two tablespoons of liquid were at the bottom of the dish.  It ended up giving me an upset stomach. 

The Bad Eggs

The flight landed smoothly albeit late.  I was able to deplane quickly as I was at the front of the plane and headed towards passport control.  There was another international flight that landed about the same time as ours from India and the line to get through passport was already long.  Only two border agents were working at 5am.  Thankfully, two more agents arrived within 30 minutes and started to process the line faster.  I had to grab my suitcase once through passport control to then proceed through customs.  Although I had no food items on me I was selected to go through the extra screening line adding another 15 minutes of waiting before getting out of the secured area.  My bag was tagged all the way through to Orange County but I did have to recheck it at a transfer desk.  I had a suspicion that something would go wrong with the transfer.  

Israel Trip Report Part 6 – Tel Aviv

Trip Report – Israel 2011

1. United #1273: Orange County, CA (SNA) to Newark, NJ (EWR)
2. United #90: Newark, NJ (EWR) to Tel Aviv, Israel (TLV)
3. Tour of Jerusalem and Bethlehem
4. Tour of Caesarea, Rosh Hanikra, and Acre
5. Tour of Petra
6. Tel Aviv
7. Grand Beach Hotel Review
8. United #91:  Tel Aviv, Israel (TLV) to Newark, NJ (EWR)
9. United #311:  Newark, NJ (EWR) to Denver, CO (DEN)
10. United #403:  Denver, CO (DEN) to Orange County, CA (SNA)

Part 6 – Tel Aviv and Overall Impressions

I love rain.  I love listening to it hit the windows of my house while I’m drinking red wine or hot chocolate.  I even like driving in the rain.  I hate being stuck in the rain, with a small umbrella that breaks from the wind and no shelter in quick walking distance…

The morning started off well enough.  Even though I had hopes of sleeping in I was awake by 7am and relaxing in my hotel room.  The weather outside looked decent but gray clouds were approaching in the distance.  My iPhone did say rain was likely.  I watched some TV while starting to pack up my things.  I decided to check my bag again so we will see if it makes it home with me.  A light drizzle had started by the time I headed downstairs around 9am to check out.  With my suitcase at the hotel and my laptop, iPad, and backpack with me, I headed out into Tel Aviv hoping that the rain wouldn’t be too bad. 

Walking Around Tel Aviv

I didn’t have an agenda for the day at all.  My only plan was to walk around the city and explore what I could.  I wanted to get a feel of Tel Aviv and some of the neighborhoods in town.  Starting east I meandered through side streets and main boulevards looking into the variety of shops along the way.  I tried to pet a few of the cats walking around but they weren’t as friendly as the ones in the tourist spots.  Heading up Ben Gurion Boulevard I then turned onto Iben Gvirol and walked all the way down to the Yarkon River.  From there I backtracked and then headed east on Jabotinsky then down south on Weizman.  By that time the rain was falling at a steady pace and my pants, jacket, and backpack were going from damp to wet.  Thankfully a mall was nearby so I passed through the security checkpoint and went inside to find a seat.  Unfortunately, every seat I could see was taken so I walked around the mall to see what was inside.  The ubiquitous McDonald’s was present along with a Toys ‘R Us.  On the lower level a small café/ice cream/pretzel stand had open seating so I grabbed a tea to warm me up and worked on a blog. 

People watching is always on of the best parts of traveling; whether it’s sipping a glass of wine on the streets of Bordeaux, eating some ice cold gelato in Nice, enjoying a beer in Rome, or drinking some hot tea in a mall in Tel Aviv.  I couldn’t understand the conversations at all but I could understand the generalities from a couple arguing, a toddler crying because she dropped her pacifier and the frustrated dad pulling her along, of the family entertaining their kid on one of those coin-operated merry-go-rounds.  While that child was smiling as he spun around looking at the blinking lights and listening to the music, I was cringing inside as it was playing “It’s A Small World” over and over.  And yes, the song has been stuck in my head most of the day.  I wonder if Disney licensed that song to that manufacturer.

The rain abated and I headed back out again with a destination now in mind, Jaffa.  I passed by the Tel Aviv Art Museum and eventually passed a pasta place on the street that sounded perfect for lunch.  A bowl of gnocchi in tomato cream sauce gave me back some strength to keep walking towards the old city.  There was a noticeable shift in building scale and composition walking along Jaffa road as the multistory buildings transitioned into two- or three-story older structures.  Small shops lined the streets on both side so packed with goods that would make a fire marshal faint.  It seemed as if there were distinct districts including appliances, house wear, repair, tailoring, and high-end fashion. 

The highlight, and highpoint, of Jaffa is St. Peter’s Church and the neighboring square.  The church was closed but walking around the square then down the narrow walkways and steeps stairs to the old port was fun.  There is something that I really enjoy about these types of settlements built on terraces up a hillside.  The square on top has a rather odd looking fountain with figures that look more like aliens than kids to me. 

Jaffa

Creepy Fountain

From this vantage point you can see the Tel Aviv skyline along the beach as you look north.  A considerable amount of the high rise development is along the beaches with commercial towers behind.  I was also able to see the dark clouds approaching in the distance and what looked like a fair amount of rain falling over the sea.  Fearing a heavy downpour I headed down from the top of Jaffa and back towards my hotel.  The clouds did move in faster than I anticipated and I was caught in a deluge.  My umbrella failed and I was soaked through all layers of clothing.  I was able to find shelter at a parking lot pay station but by that time the damage was done.  Thankfully, I was near a major street and eventually flagged a taxi to take me back to the hotel. 

Ominous Skyline

Looking back on the trip I can say I packed a lot in a little amount of time.  The three tours I was on provided a quick view of some of the highlights of Israel and the neighboring areas.  There is still so much more to see and experience here and I know I will be coming back.  I have to at least do a wine tour to sample the Israeli and Jordanian vintages.  I would like to stay a few days in Haifa and learn more about that city and the Carmelite traditions there.  My best recommendation would be that if you are ever planning on coming to Israel, you must find a way to make it to Petra and experience the rose-red city carved into the cliffs. 

I spent a few hours at my hotel trying to dry off and stay warm before heading to the airport.  Ultimately I decided to change clothes to get dry.  It was a wise choice.  The taxi picked me up at 7:30 and I was at the airport by 8:00pm.  It actually took longer and was harder to get out of Israel than into Israel.  Perhaps being a single male traveling alone with no friends or family in Israel set them off but I had a long round of questions just to get past the first round of security and check-in.  I was number 3 in line and once the ticket counter opened I got all three of my boarding passes and an invitation to the Dan Lounge prior to boarding. 

Once past the check-in counters came the next round of security.  I’m glad I got arrived at the airport when I did as the line behind me kept growing.  It didn’t help that three passengers in front of me kept the security line at a standstill for 20 minutes as their belongings and ID were checked again and again.  An Israeli woman in front of me started complaining and arguing with the lead agent which is never a good thing.  Eventually I was able to go through and after having my belongings swapped and analyzed I received my exit stamp and headed to the lounge. 

The Dan Lounge is a contract lounge utilized by multiple airlines.  It is not very large and I can imagine it filling up quite fast.  The décor is quite nice; great attention to detail in the finishes and just enough screening to separate different seating areas while maintaining a view of the airport.  The food and snacks available are limited to some breads, veggies, and hummus.  It is a step up from the United Clubs I am used to but not by much.  Drinks were all canned or bottled in a self-serve fridge and two wines were available for you to pour.  Both were Israeli wines, one white and one red.  I poured myself a healthy glass of the red and found it very mellow.  It didn’t have much of an aroma but the light fruit lingered on my palate for a long time.  The lounge also has free wireless internet in 30 minute blocks.

Dan Lounge Ben Gurion Airport, C Gates

Israel Trip Report Part 7 – Grand Beach Tel Aviv Hotel Review

Trip Report – Israel 2011

1. United #1273: Orange County, CA (SNA) to Newark, NJ (EWR)
2. United #90: Newark, NJ (EWR) to Tel Aviv, Israel (TLV)
3. Tour of Jerusalem and Bethlehem
4. Tour of Caesarea, Rosh Hanikra, and Acre
5. Tour of Petra
6. Tel Aviv
7. Grand Beach Hotel Review
8. United #91:  Tel Aviv, Israel (TLV) to Newark, NJ (EWR)
9. United #311:  Newark, NJ (EWR) to Denver, CO (DEN)
10. United #403:  Denver, CO (DEN) to Orange County, CA (SNA)

Part 7 – Grand Beach Tel Aviv Hotel Review

When originally looking for a hotel in Tel Aviv I was surprised at how expensive many of the options were, in particular, my go to choice of a Hilton Brand.  My HiltonHonors points were not an option as those will be used for an upcoming trip to Australia in April.  That left me with navigating through the options on Expedia to find a decent option.  The majority of the hotels are located along the beach between the old city and Sde Dov airport.  For the price including free wifi, the Grand Beach Tel Aviv seemed like the best option available. 

The cost to get to the hotel from Ben Gurion International Airport was about 130 NIS and took about 35 minutes.  The exterior aesthetics of the hotel leave much to be desired.  The design instantly says 50’s/60’s hotel tower construction with few welcoming elements.  The hotel lobby is covered with stone and marble and lacks warmth.  The only soft components in the lobby include some round ottoman style chairs and a rug.  A café area is up 5 steps with some views towards the beach across a vacant property. 

Check-in was quick after providing my reservation and passport.  The staff made copies of my passport and handed me a card key for a room on the 10^th floor.  The hotel has a total of 12 floors with a restaurant on the second floor and a pool on the 12^th.  Given the rain forecast for most of my staff, the pool was not looking like an enjoyable option. 

My room on the 10^th floor was a good size.  It was larger than what I’m used to in Europe but smaller than most standard US hotels.  A small workstation with a fridge in the pedestal and chair were against the wall with a soft lounge chair in the room that looked like it was from the 70’s.  I try to avoid soft hotel room furniture if I can.  Perhaps it’s just paranoia but I don’t feel like those every get cleaned properly to prevent whatever a previous guest had from getting onto me.  A six-drawer dressing was below a flat screen TV. 

10th Floor Room

The bed was a very hard queen size mattress.  Thankfully, only two pillows were provided which is one more than I need.  I just don’t get why a bed would need more pillows than that yet most of the hotels I stay at have four to six there waiting for me.  In the end I move them off the bed and onto the dresser or a table and do my best to keep them off the floor, but I can’t imagine that every guest in the hotel provides the same courtesy.  Who knows what may transfer over from the floor to the pillow?  Another hotel pet peeve of mine is the minimal bedding some hotels have.  Often it will just be a light comforter on the bed that serves as sheet, blanket, and bedspread as was the case and the Grand Beach.  In my mind, this is one area that more is better.  I often find it difficult to sleep with the weight or heat of the all-purpose comforter as opposed to a lighter sheet which means my sleep isn’t the best.  The other issue I had with the hotel was that the initial comforter on the bed had a few small stains on it that looked like blood.  Thankfully they changed it out after a call to the front desk. 

The closet was behind two sliding mirrored doors, or so I thought.  Only one of the doors actually moved, the other remained stationary as a wall was directly behind it.  The closet contained a safe and a few more drawers below.  The items missing from what I expected were an iron and ironing board which seems to be a common occurrence.  I’m one to always unpack my clothes and get my shirts all ironed and ready so I don’t have to worry about it the rest of the week.  It’s not a major gripe, I just like the convenience of having right there.

The bathroom was on the smaller side, but still larger than European standards.  The products provided (hand soap, body wash, shampoo) were good and were replaced each morning no matter how little I used of each.  The bath towels were thin and rough.  They were not the most comfortable to be used but were effective.  My biggest complaints in the bathroom were related to the shower/tub.  One the shower head, which no longer is usable was crusted over with a bit of lime and rust.  The faucet instead was connected to one of those hand held spray units with a holder than was no higher than 3’ off the floor.  It’s just not my preference to use one of those hand units – I feel like I am doing the work rather than the water.  The divider between the shower/tub and the bathroom, however, was the main issue.  Lately while traveling internationally the hotels I have stayed in seem to prefer the partial glass divider which has a pivot point where it hits the wall.  Typically these panels are 2’-6” to 3’ which only partially block the water spray especially with a handheld unit which means water ends up all over the bathroom floor.  I understand that this type of divider provides a classier look than a shower curtain but costs less than a full glass partition.  For me, the value of the better look or the cost savings are not worth it.  Or, I could just be inept at showering. 

Bathroom

One day after returning from a tour I walked in to find that the sink faucet was leaking and had flooded the trashcan below and then spilled out and covered about half of the bathroom floor.  I think the faucet lever was left on just slightly causing the water to leak out as it didn’t happen again the whole time I was there.  I used all but one of my towels to soak up the water and the following day the cleaning staff shorted me a couple towels which were provided after a call to the front desk. 

The walls in the hotel are very thin.  I was able to hear conversations in the hallway and in the next room easily.  Kids were running down the hall at night and renovations to the elevator were underway.  It was not the quietest hotel.  When I first checked-in it was quiet but that was at the start of the Sabbath and most of the city and people shut down.  It wasn’t until Sabbath ended Saturday night that I realized the noise level in and out of the hotel that I could hear from my room.  I didn’t even realize the first day that the hotel was on the flight path for Sde Dov airport since no commercial flights are scheduled Friday night into Saturday.  When I did start hearing the planes I was surprised.  Given that I am an airplane geek this noise wasn’t as bad as the rest. 

The View

Overall, while I found issues with the room and amenities provided, the staff and service provided were great.  Staff promptly responded to requests and answered questions in a friendly manner.  The free wireless internet was a little slow from the room but I was able to post blogs, answer emails, and update Facebook without much frustration. 

Will I stay here again?  No.  Would I recommend this hotel?  Maybe.  It depends on what you look for in hotels.  For me, I tend to place a higher value on the items I took issue with and would be willing to pay more to avoid them.  For others, the price may be the overriding prerogative and this hotel may be perfect.  It was the most affordable option I found with typically expensive amenities like breakfast and wifi included in the cost.  The location in the city worked for me, and the staff were great.   

Gotta Love the Classy Ziploc Bag