Great Places To Be Stuck In Transit

While most airport hotels are just designed to be transient and dreary, the Langham Place Beijing Capital Airport must be one of the most happening, progressive airport hotels around. With four F&B outlets and DJs in the lobby, they are often so chockfull of interesting programmes from the many press releases I see, that I figure you wouldn’t be bored.

 

If I had to be stuck in an airport hotel, I’d like it to be at the Langham Place, Beijing Capital Airport and in their newly opened Club Floor rooms, thank you. Just launched, they include Loft, Townhouse and Penthouse suites, served by their 24-hour, two-storey high Club L Lounge which overlooks the airport. Apart from the usual wifi, Happy Hour cocktails and brekkie, they also offer all-day buffet, massage chairs, full size pool table, PS3 machines and arcade gaming stations, Internet den with Mac and Windows screens, a telescope to see planes on the runway, plus small meeting rooms for up to 10 people. There’s also free high-speed in-room internet access – pity you can’t access Facebook though. If you’re timing is a little off, there’s also rain shower facilities in the lounge.

 

Good to know – they have a 24 hour art gallery which holds exhibitions from time to time. Currently they are showcasing the art of 6 young artists giving a contemporary spin to traditional Chinese landscape painting. Getting into the mood the chefs have created a special menu inspired by the artworks too. Not bad for an airport hotel, huh?

 

 At the Airport

 
On the other hand, if you are stuck at an airport on a long layover before your connecting flight, hope that it’s at Helsinki-Vantaa airport where you have access to the Finnair Lounge. Why? ‘Cos this space has been picked as the World’s Best Airport Lounge from among 600 lounges, by 40,000 Priority Pass customers. (It’s the first time that a lounge outside America has won the award in its seven-year history.)

 

Located between gates 36 and 37 in Helsinki-Vantaa’s Terminal 2, the Finnair Lounge and Finnair Spa & Saunas offers a whole lot of pampering for Finnair passengers connecting between Europe and Asia. What’s inside? Six shower rooms, a buffet, a bar and LED TVs in relaxation areas. If you must work, there’s free wifi, Apple iMac work stations and wireless mobile phone recharging facililites. What takes the cake for me though is the Finnair Spa & Saunas!  The spa offers treatments from short express treats like 15-minute massages and 20-minute facials (so everyone gets a chance to enjoy!), to 90-minute packages which include wraps, massages and dips in the pool if you have more time. Nice!

 

If you are not a Finnair traveller, you may still be able to get in for a fee. Lounge from 6am – midnight;   Spa & Saunas 10am – 11pm 

 

On a Train

 

If you are travelling by train in France, make sure it’s first class with a personal concierge! The France Rail Pass Premium package is the only way for fabulicious sightseeing if public transport must be undertaken. At 205 euros for three days unlimited luxury travel within one month, it comes with ‘service à la Française’. Mimi or Jean-Luc would be on hand to help with every conceivable request – recommending and booking tables at famous restaurants to spa treatments, luggage service, personal shoppers or even hot air balloon rides. Not only is it supported by a dedicated telephone number 24/7, there are also multi-lingual concierges so don’t worry if Uncle speaks only Hokkien! What’s more, the assure us that this pass gives you “unlimited access to the 31,000 km of the national rail network to virtually every corner of France, from big cities to small villages, and sea to mountains, aboard some of the most comfortable trains in the world, including the TGV high-speed train and scenic lines”.
You can get this pass at Rail Europe’s flagship store in Hong Kong, which was set up recently to serve customers in China, Taiwan, Singapore, Malaysia, Indonesia, Philippines and Vietnam markets.

688 Nathan Road, Floor 11, Room 12, Argyle Centre
Phase 1 Mongkok, Hong Kong
Tel: +852 2390 0421
www.raileurope.fr/wheretobuy

 

On the other hand, if you’re in China, the only way to travel between Beijing and Shanghai these days is on their spanking new high speed rail link. Traveling at 300km/hour (180 mph), covering the distance between the two cities  will take just 4 hours and 45 minutes. Expect 90 trains daily carrying 1004 passengers each – compared with 50 flights per day. Lots more convenient, and cheaper too. Plus, there’s also business class, first class and second-class seating. Beijing-based travel agency The China Guide is offering booking services for these trains as part of their China custom and group tours.  www.thechinaguide.com for more details.