Disability and trip to Europe?

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mhen

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May 2, 2006
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Any advice gratefully received.

I am in the midst of booking a long overdue holiday to France and the Netherlands in May. My travel companion has a mobility disability; uses stick, maximum walking pace is just average, can do steps but not too many, gets tired easily and usually needs slow start to day and not too much pressure. To balance that however is a great travel companion (goes anywhere I want!) and a very good friend.

We got premium economy to SYD-LHR in the recent QF 2 for 1 sale with 24 hours stopovers in Bangkok on way over (QF01) and Singapore on way back(QF32).

My questions are:

1. Arrive and leave Bangkok middle of the night. Options are either to go with an airport located hotel or go into town. I'd prefer to head for town so could do some walking around etc the next day. I did think staying by river might be nice. Happy to pay up to A$250 but would like late checkout, even wondered if I should book for two nights at a cheaper hotel. But it's 30 years since I was in Bangkok so don't know anything about taxi fares, traffic, decent hotels etc. I also thought that I should hold off on this booking to see if there are any good deals. What do you recommend?

2. BKK-LHR and LHR-SIN are overnights. Is it worth it to try for points upgrades to Business given that they are not on A380? This is first time in Premium economy so don't know what the seats are like, also I am not a fan of Skybed (I like to sleep flat!).

3. Arrive LHR early Friday morning and need to be in Lyon by that evening. Choices seem to be wait at LHR till 4pm and go BA direct to Lyon. I am SG and friend is PS&QP, presumably we can use a BA lounge? Would we be able to to check-in in the morning or would we have to wait till 3 hours before? Slightly cheaper option is to fly BMI with a short turnaround in Mancester (and no lounge access!). The option that appeals to me is get the Eurostar to Lille and then TGV to Lyon. Any comments on how tiring this would be?

4. The evening before LHR-SIN we will be flying in to LHR from Amsterdam. What hotel would you recommend at LHR? Assuming flight leaves middle of next day from T4 the Hilton seems an obvious choice (not cheap though!). Is it worth it to stay away from airport?

5. Stopover in SIN, arrive in morning and leave 9.30 next morning. Options are either to stay in city (which means a very early start in morning) or stay at airport at the new hotel. This would allow us to dump bags and head out for the day and give a bit more time in the morning. However reading on FT there was mention of the room access being exposed and slippery when wet. Any comments?

Sorry for the long post.
Thanks in advance.
 
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  1. There's a THB50 airport fee for taxis from BKK (not to). Also you pay the tolls of THB25 & THB40. See this post for more information.
  2. Can't assist - I sleep well on the slightly sloping Skybeds
  3. You both have access to the J galleries lounges when flying BA. Can't help with the other part.
  4. No experience with LHR hotels.
  5. Taxi's into SIN are plentiful, cheap and reliable. It may be more cost effective and just as easy to stay in 'town' - swapping 30 minutes in the AM for 30 minutes in the PM.
 
4. The evening before LHR-SIN we will be flying in to LHR from Amsterdam. What hotel would you recommend at LHR? Assuming flight leaves middle of next day from T4 the Hilton seems an obvious choice (not cheap though!). Is it worth it to stay away from airport?

Can't really comment on anything other than 4 (apart from the lounge access and SIN taxi that Serfty already answered).

My answer as to whether it would be worth staying away from the airport, is 'it depends'. If you are comfortable with Hilton's rate, then stay at Hilton even if it's just for convenience.

If you feel it's a bit too much, you can catch a taxi to any of the hotels near the airport quite easily. I haven't stayed at Hilton yet (I'm planning on doing so though) but Crowne Plaza was quite OK and generally is a lot cheaper than Hilton.

If you don't catch a taxi to hotels further away, there are transfer buses (but not free - I think £4 pp each way) but usually, taxi is a better value if there are two of you.

None are that far by the way - only 10-15 min away, generally.
 
Thanks Serfy and Commuter

Commuter - Crown Plaza looks fine to me. Just deciding whether to book with or without breakfast. Any comments on the breakfast?

:D
 
1. Arrive and leave Bangkok middle of the night. Options are either to go with an airport located hotel or go into town. I'd prefer to head for town so could do some walking around etc the next day. I did think staying by river might be nice. Happy to pay up to A$250 but would like late checkout, even wondered if I should book for two nights at a cheaper hotel. But it's 30 years since I was in Bangkok so don't know anything about taxi fares, traffic, decent hotels etc. I also thought that I should hold off on this booking to see if there are any good deals. What do you recommend?


There are so many hotels in Bangkok, and everyone will have their own preference. Last year I spent a night at the Novotel at the airport. Very nice and efficient, but very very pricey compared to the much better hotels in town. So on the basis if things to do and price, I would vote you head to town.

I also stayed a few days in Bangkok at Lebua at State Tower which isn't riverfront, but is highrise and gets great river views. It isn't quite up there with the 5* hotels it tries to benchmark itself with, and it is more of a serviced apartment....however it was very nice, they usually have many many packages on their website with inclusions such as airport transfers in BMW/Merc, breakfast etc. Pay the extra for a room overlooking the river....the view is absolutely sensational, and standing on the balcony at that height is frightful. If you arrive early enough they have an open air bar and restaurant on the rood. The bar is nothing special and because of non resident tourists there are no seats etc. The restaurant Sirroco provided a great meal (though pricey) and whilst usually booked out in advance, tables are kept for hotel guests. Location is also close to the skytrain) though may be a bit far for your companion, but there is a shuttlebus to the station as well.
 
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