For those holding bookings or are planning bookings for the upcoming seasons, let me show you the current situation and facilities.

Currently new reservations requests are still on a case by case approval because a lot of people wish to evade the uncertainty of luggage handling/deliveries for peak holiday & summer travel times.

I am fortunate to have been able to travel twice this year via the VIP Centre via S/O's connections and was told between nose&lips that if:
- Royals are travelling, all other reservations are cancelled the same day due to the security sweep (before/during/after)
- a certain sheik with his harem rents the whole facility and wishes only to be assisted by an all female crew, causing staff deployment issues in schedule
- some airlines / destinations require additional processes which can eat up time
which have of course their effect on availability for us mere mortals......

Anyway let me take you along with a photo pictorial so you can decide if the facilities appeal to you .....
NB: it was worth to me in € because of the removal of uncertainties of travelformalities and for the superb assistance.
As others on the IHG-forum know: i have been visiting to Houston Medical Centre for some issues plus looking at a pied à terre there for more conveniance.
As i was travelling on UA to IAH on both occassions with my domestic caretakers / nurses with non-EU passports,
the staff at the VIP-centre were very helpful assisting and arranging everything with UA checkin and the privilege of Kmar passport control visiting in person to assess the situation made all worries sooth away.
Very polite and civilised inhouse security at the VIP-centre made it smooth to travel with medical supplies.


So let's start with....

The main facilities

Main waiting room for aides de camp / drop off & pick up




I want one of those




Magazine rack: nice to see Gassan still in cooperation






A different view into the main waiting room





Part of the display at the food & beverage section of the VIP-Centre :
You can guess one of the dates we travelled on




Available at a surcharge: for pricing scroll down for the menu/pricelist




Thoughtful touches :
every guest using the VIP-Centre on the most romantic day of the year,
received a box of Neuhaus chocolates: S/O & kids reported those were scrumptious!
(i wasn't allowed to eat mine)




For this occasion,
cakes were catered from a certain wellknown chocolaterie patisserie from the Cornelis Schuytstraat in Amsterdam Oud-Zuid to pair with rosé champagne
Hip & Hapenning Spataro : https://spataro.nl
https://www.instagram.com/spatarochocolaterie/?hl=en
https://www.linkedin.com/posts/menno...986572800-_AJT
Also the caterer/partner of Waldorf Astoria Amsterdam Hotel & VIP-Centre







The normal version was still present too




Unfortunate due to the medical issues,
i wasn't allowed to swoop in and polish this off like Shaggy & Scooby doing the hoover...
.... travelling with nurses as entourage means they have eyes like hawks!





Other assorted candies at the bar

And we go on further to explore......
Other facilities available are


The shower room
- there is only 1 of those
- cleaned by dedicated staff after each use and amenities replenished
- does NOT contain its own toilet
- is discrete located within the halls of many turns



Entrance into the shower room




Amenities available to refresh onself and look as glamerous as Lex & Max of Orange





Tulip flavour Rituals Amenities : i believe KLM uses these too onboard for their World Business Class Lavatories ?




Powerful handheld and rainforest shower : i can report no yoyoing temperatures




And for those having wavy hair like Solangé x Farah Fawcett: an excellent hairdryer is available



The game room
- comfy seating with drinks
- electronic games to keep the adults teens busy
- away from the main area so you can have no worries about causing noise that travels




It takes a keen intellect to play chess, i always lose from no.2 son though ...




Glad S/O + no.1 son were not on this trip: they can get extremely competative with all kinds of electronic 2 player games


Art
Rotating every month are the objets d'art from established https://www.simonis-buunk.com
One can get up close and personal with some beauties and have them wrapped up ready to go if you so prefer.....
(Just a sidenote: my kids are in line each to inherit from their gran an item from Simmons & Buunk gallery: excellent handling of paperwork/certificate, so you know)



This month featured at the VIP Centre:
the style of Cobra https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/COBRA_(art_movement)
Also due to https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cornei...laume_Beverloo

I shan't bother you with the rest of the art, as we all know it is subjective ....

PS: there is private meeting room too
Suits about 12 persons, couldn't take a photo because they were just setting up

Pssssst.....
Some photos of the smoking room found on https://www.dezeen.com/2022/03/21/ma...ort-interiors/

Sssssh...
The snooze room was unfortunately occupied !
We don't want disturb Medusa in her curlers...
The discrete photo of the snooze room can be found in link above / under expand more images : seems like a Queen or King bed

Now follows a tour through different private rooms,
these are allocated for each guest departing/arriving/in transit as their own room away from the bustle
The design is by Marcel Wanders, the one of infamous fame on the KL forum for doing the Wanders wonder meal box on KL Europe Select Euro-Business Class
https://www.marcelwanders.com/work/v...rport-schiphol

NB: there are many more private rooms ranging from small to medium but these were in use already

The smallest "yellow" private room for 2

This is the smallest of all private rooms


The "Flower" private room for 10


Almost hypnotic carpet



The Dutch "Heroes" private room for 8 (can be combined with adjoining space)

Can you recognise them all?
I do feel the pleasure of the gaze of Anne, Annie, Rutger, Vincent, Mies, André, Jos, Harry, Carice, Johan & Nijntje (aka for the non-Dutchies: Miffy)



The Dutch "Canal House" private room for 4

Ample seating to have a meal




For those wishing to compare with the past: https://archello.com/project/vip-cen...hiphol-airport
Yes in the past it looked like a morgue
https://concreteamsterdam.nl/vip-lounge-schiphol



Yes, instead of the Rue Morgue look, the quirky " what have i been smoking in Amsterdam" is more my style



The "grandest" private room
(for those having a crown as carry on or for those to park their harem)


As Hyacinth Bouquet Bucket would exclaim : "one can entertain here!"





You can squeeze in a lot of people here




An emphasis on adult beverages




Lots of interesting details




Crowned heads have the fortunate use of their own private refreshing facilities : other private rooms share together the loo & toilet in the corridor






You can judge that those regular using this private room regularly have an excellent taste in authentic Bols Korenwijn





Gin & Jenever & Juniper & Geneva : confused & want to get an explaination that makes no sense ? Just read Elliot Richards' novel Always Toujours from Bedazzeld the movie...


So what do have all these private rooms in common?
You can find in all of them:


Flasks of water & sophisticated audio equipment: where is no.1 son when you need him to pair up bluetooth : i prefer to just use cables




Tea menu: I've died and gone to tea heaven!


Food & Beverage
On the premises is present a true chef to prepare the food items of the menu.
Special options like Kosher / Halal / Vegan / Lactose free are possible provided one emails at least 48 hours in advance their requests.



Breakfast & Lunch menu (FEB 2023)





Because travelling on what some call the day of romantic nonsense and crass comercialism : we were offered welcoming sweet treats with a hint of Valentine's love



Updated breakfast & lunch menu MARCH 2023




Yoghurt Bowl



Salmon Bawykov sanwich




Salade Riche

And that concludes my update on the VIP-Centre Amsterdam Schiphol Airport.
Besides the very hefty price tag,
the appeal can be for some because of the discretion, the facilities, the hassle free formalities and the possibility of customisation to one's preference (at €$¥£)
https://www.schiphol.nl/en/page/vip-service-rates/
Hope this is informative for everyone !