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3 Days in Wengen, Switzerland

We spent 3 days exploring the Bernese Oberland based from Hotel Edelweiss in Wengen. On our way from the train station to the hotel, we stopped in a grocery store and purchased pre-made sandwiches to take with us for lunch during our hiking that afternoon. Once we checked-in the hotel and changed into our hiking clothes, we started exploring by taking the aerial cableway to near the top of the Männlichen. From there, we hiked to the top of the Männlichen. Then, we had our sandwiches for lunch. After lunch, we hiked over to the Kleine Scheidegg train station, which is a beautiful flat hike with stunning views of glaciers and the "Eiger Wall.” Once there, we took the train all the way up to the Jungfraujoch. We explored the “Top of Europe” for a while before taking the train all the way back down to Wengen.

Our second day in Wengen arrived with rain. We decided to hike from Wengen down to Lauterbrunnen as it was primarily through woods. The rain and mist continued as we walked to Trümmelbach Falls. We took the elevator to the top of the falls and hiked back down. We then continued to near the end of the Lauterbrunnen Valley to the aerial cableway at Stechelberg up to Mürren (we had lunch at the station while awaiting the next car). From Mürren, we hiked over 3 hours back down to Lauterbrunnen. By this point, the rain had tapered off and the hike had decent views (though, they were mostly towards our back). From Lauterbrunnen, we took the cogwheel train up to Wengen.

Our third and final day in Wengen was beautifully clear. We checked-out of the hotel after breakfast and left our luggage with the front desk. We started the day with the aerial cableway to near the top of the Männlichen and walked over to take the cable cars to Grund. Then, we took a bus to Grindelwald. Next, we took another aerial cableway up to First. From there, we hiked to the Bachalpsee. The sky was relatively clear and the views were stunning. We hiked back and took a zip-line and cable cars down to Grindelwald. Then, we took trains back to Wengen before retrieving our luggage and departing the Bernese Oberland.

Below are some pictures from (with descriptions of a few of our activities during) our 3 days in the Bernese Oberland:

Photo Below: Aerial Cableway from Wengen to Mannlichen – Bernese Oberland Region, Switzerland


Photo Below: View of Wengen and Lauterbrunnen Valley from the Mannlichen Cableway – Bernese Oberland Region, Switzerland


Photo Below: View from Mannlichen – Bernese Oberland Region, Switzerland


Photo Below: View of Lauterbrunnen Valley from Mannlichen – Bernese Oberland Region, Switzerland


Photo Below: View from Mannlichen – Bernese Oberland Region, Switzerland


Photo Below: View from Mannlichen – Bernese Oberland Region, Switzerland


Photo Below: View toward Grindelwald Valley from Mannlichen – Bernese Oberland Region, Switzerland


Photo Below: Views of the Swiss Alps from Mannlichen – Bernese Oberland Region, Switzerland


Photo Below: Hike from Mannlichen to Kleine Scheidegg – Bernese Oberland Region, Switzerland


Photo Below: Hike from Mannlichen to Kleine Scheidegg – Bernese Oberland Region, Switzerland


Photo Below: Arriving in Kleine Scheidegg – Bernese Oberland Region, Switzerland


Photo Below: Train Seats from Kleine Scheidegg to Jungfraujoch – Bernese Oberland Region, Switzerland


Photo Below: View aboard Train from Kleine Scheidegg to Jungfraujoch – Bernese Oberland Region, Switzerland


Photo Below: View along Train from Kleine Scheidegg to Jungfraujoch – Bernese Oberland Region, Switzerland


Photo Below: View along Train from Kleine Scheidegg to Jungfraujoch – Bernese Oberland Region, Switzerland


Photo Below: View along Train from Kleine Scheidegg to Jungfraujoch – Bernese Oberland Region, Switzerland


Photo Below: Jungfraujoch – Bernese Oberland Region, Switzerland


Photo Below: View along Trains from Jungfraujoch to Wengen – Bernese Oberland Region, Switzerland


Photo Below: View along Trains from Jungfraujoch to Wengen – Bernese Oberland Region, Switzerland


Photo Below: View along Trains from Jungfraujoch to Wengen – Bernese Oberland Region, Switzerland


Photo Below: View along Trains from Jungfraujoch to Wengen – Bernese Oberland Region, Switzerland


Photo Below: View along Trains from Jungfraujoch to Wengen – Bernese Oberland Region, Switzerland


Photo Below: View along Trains from Jungfraujoch to Wengen – Bernese Oberland Region, Switzerland


Photo Below: View along Trains from Jungfraujoch to Wengen – Bernese Oberland Region, Switzerland


Photo Below: Streets of Wengen at Night – Bernese Oberland Region, Switzerland


Photo Below: Hiking from Wengen down to Lauterbrunnen – Bernese Oberland Region, Switzerland


Photo Below: Lauterbrunnen Valley seen while Hiking from Wengen down to Lauterbrunnen – Bernese Oberland Region, Switzerland


Photo Below: Robot Friend? Or, Fire Hydrant? – Bernese Oberland Region, Switzerland


Photo Below: Trümmelbach Falls – Bernese Oberland Region, Switzerland


Photo Below: Mürren – Bernese Oberland Region, Switzerland


Photo Below: Outside Mürren – Bernese Oberland Region, Switzerland


Photo Below: Hiking from Mürren to Lauterbrunnen – Bernese Oberland Region, Switzerland


Photo Below: Lauterbrunnen Valley Floor – Bernese Oberland Region, Switzerland


Photo Below: Lauterbrunnen Valley – Bernese Oberland Region, Switzerland


Photo Below: View from Mannlichen – Bernese Oberland Region, Switzerland


Photo Below: Jungfraujoch Spotted from Mannlichen (with a Telephoto Zoom) – Bernese Oberland Region, Switzerland


Photo Below: Eiger Wall – Bernese Oberland Region, Switzerland


Photo Below: View along Cablecar from Mannlichen to Grindelwald – Bernese Oberland Region, Switzerland


Photo Below: View along Cablecar from Mannlichen to Grindelwald – Bernese Oberland Region, Switzerland


Photo Below: View along Cablecar from Mannlichen to Grindelwald – Bernese Oberland Region, Switzerland


Photo Below: View Hiking from First to Bachalpsee – Bernese Oberland Region, Switzerland


Photo Below: View Hiking from First to Bachalpsee – Bernese Oberland Region, Switzerland


Photo Below: View Hiking from First to Bachalpsee – Bernese Oberland Region, Switzerland


Photo Below: View Hiking from First to Bachalpsee – Bernese Oberland Region, Switzerland


Photo Below: View Hiking from First to Bachalpsee – Bernese Oberland Region, Switzerland


Photo Below: View Hiking from First to Bachalpsee – Bernese Oberland Region, Switzerland


Photo Below: View Hiking from First to Bachalpsee – Bernese Oberland Region, Switzerland


Photo Below: View Hiking from First to Bachalpsee – Bernese Oberland Region, Switzerland


Photo Below: View Hiking from First to Bachalpsee – Bernese Oberland Region, Switzerland


Photo Below: View of Resting Cow while Hiking from First to Bachalpsee – Bernese Oberland Region, Switzerland


Photo Below: View while Hiking from First to Bachalpsee – Bernese Oberland Region, Switzerland


Photo Below: View while Hiking from First to Bachalpsee – Bernese Oberland Region, Switzerland


Photo Below: Bachalpsee – Bernese Oberland Region, Switzerland


Photo Below: View from Bachalpsee – Bernese Oberland Region, Switzerland


Photo Below: Bachalpsee – Bernese Oberland Region, Switzerland


Photo Below: Wildflowers – Bernese Oberland Region, Switzerland


Photo Below: Wildflowers – Bernese Oberland Region, Switzerland


Photo Below: Wildflowers – Bernese Oberland Region, Switzerland


Photo Below: Swiss Cow – Bernese Oberland Region, Switzerland


Photo Below: Pond – Bernese Oberland Region, Switzerland


Photo Below: Grindelwald Valley – Bernese Oberland Region, Switzerland


Photo Below: Along Train from Grindelwald to Wengen – Bernese Oberland Region, Switzerland


Photo Below: Lauterbrunnen Valley from Train to Wengen – Bernese Oberland Region, Switzerland

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Swiss Federal Railways (SBB CFF FFS) Second Class from Wengen to Luzern

Map Below: Swiss Federal Railways (SBB CFF FFS) Second Class from Wengen to Luzern (via Lauterbrunnen & Interlaken Ost)


TRAIN: Wengen to Luzern (via Lauterbrunnen & Interlaken Ost)
DATE: Saturday, September 6, 2014
OPERATOR: Swiss Federal Railways (SBB CFF FFS)
TRAIN NUMBERS: R#366, R#166, IR#2235
TRAIN TYPE: Regio & InterRegio
CABIN: Second Class (Using Swiss Pass)
DEPARTURE - SCHEDULED: 5:03pm // ACTUAL: 5:03pm
ARRIVAL - SCHEDULED: 7:55pm // ACTUAL: 7:56pm
DURATION: 2 hours 52 minutes (3 different trains with 2 transfers)
DISTANCE: Approx. 50 miles

This train ride occurred on day 3 of our 4-day Swiss Rail Pass (and each train was included). We had complete flexibility with respect to which trains we took with our use of the Swiss Pass. Since it was a beautiful day in the Bernese Oberland, we chose to maximize the day there and spent most of the day hiking around before taking the last train option that arrived in Lucerne before sunset. We took the following three trains on the journey:

5:03pm-5:21pm – WENGEN - LAUTERBRUNNEN – Regio R#366 Second Class[18m]
-- 12m Connection in LAUTERBRUNNEN --
5:33pm-5:54pm – LAUTERBRUNNEN - INTERLAKEN OST – Regio R#166 Second Class[21m]
-- 10m Connection in INTERLAKEN OST --
6:04pm-7:55pm – INTERLAKEN OST - LUZERN – InterRegio IR#2235 Second Class[1h 51m]

The ride from Wengen down to Lauterbrunnen was one with which we had become quite familiar (having taken the route 3 times in as many days already). So, we made sure to sit on the side of the train with best views for our final descent from the Bernese Oberland. This was a regional, cogwheel train. It had wooden seats. The seats were a bit tight. The seats were nearly all taken; but, it wasn’t quite the standing-room-only from our trip in.

We arrived at the platform in Lauterbrunnen before our next regional train. The platform became packed with passengers before the train arrived. I could tell there would be more people than seats. When the train pulled-in there was a mad rush to board. The car was cramped; but, the seats were padded and we were able to get seats. Similar to the ride in, we held our luggage between our legs during the ride to open up room. The seat was small, but still modern and padded. The 21-minute ride left on time.

Upon arriving at Interlaken Ost, we following the displays to the appropriate platform and waited for our next train. It pulled in and we boarded to find a roomy, uncrowded train (once we moved to a different car). We selected two window seats in a grouping of four seats but never had any seatmates as the train didn’t overfill. We hadn’t eaten since our picnic lunch at the Bachalpsee, so, we wandered to the snack car to find something to eat. However, we were unhappy to find a sign designating the counter closed. So, we resolved to find food in Lucerne. We enjoyed the train ride along the various lakes with the setting sun lighting up the mountains near and far. We arrived in Lucerne almost exactly on-time and could see the hotel as we pulled into the station.

Photo Below: View of Lauterbrunnen Valley – Swiss Federal Railways Regio Train #366 Second Class from Wengen to Lauterbrunnen


Photo Below: Interlaken Platform – Swiss Federal Railways Regio Train #166 Second Class from Lauterbrunnen to Interlaken Ost


Photo Below: Train Car Interior – Swiss Federal Railways Regio Train #166 Second Class from Lauterbrunnen to Interlaken Ost


Photo Below: Train Interior – Swiss Federal Railways Regio Train #166 Second Class from Lauterbrunnen to Interlaken Ost

Photo Below: Train Interior – Swiss Federal Railways Regio Train #166 Second Class from Lauterbrunnen to Interlaken Ost


Photo Below: Arriving in Lauterbrunnen – Swiss Federal Railways Regio Train #166 Second Class from Lauterbrunnen to Interlaken Ost


Photo Below: Train on Platform in Lauterbrunnen – Swiss Federal Railways InterRegio Train #2235 Second Class from Interlaken Ost to Luzern


Photo Below: Seating Arrangement – Swiss Federal Railways InterRegio Train #2235 Second Class from Interlaken Ost to Luzern


Photo Below: Alternate Seating Arrangement – Swiss Federal Railways InterRegio Train #2235 Second Class from Interlaken Ost to Luzern


Photo Below: Train Car Interior – Swiss Federal Railways InterRegio Train #2235 Second Class from Interlaken Ost to Luzern


Photo Below: Train Car Interior – Swiss Federal Railways InterRegio Train #2235 Second Class from Interlaken Ost to Luzern


Photo Below: Informational Display Onboard – Swiss Federal Railways InterRegio Train #2235 Second Class from Interlaken Ost to Luzern


Photo Below: Lake Views – Swiss Federal Railways InterRegio Train #2235 Second Class from Interlaken Ost to Luzern


Photo Below: Snack Car – Swiss Federal Railways InterRegio Train #2235 Second Class from Interlaken Ost to Luzern


Photo Below: Restaurant Closed Sign – Swiss Federal Railways InterRegio Train #2235 Second Class from Interlaken Ost to Luzern


Photo Below: Restaurant Car Seating – Swiss Federal Railways InterRegio Train #2235 Second Class from Interlaken Ost to Luzern


Photo Below: More Lake Views – Swiss Federal Railways InterRegio Train #2235 Second Class from Interlaken Ost to Luzern


Photo Below: Lake Views Continued – Swiss Federal Railways InterRegio Train #2235 Second Class from Interlaken Ost to Luzern


Photo Below: Seats – Swiss Federal Railways InterRegio Train #2235 Second Class from Interlaken Ost to Luzern


Photo Below: Train on Platform in Luzern – Swiss Federal Railways InterRegio Train #2235 Second Class from Interlaken Ost to Luzern


Photo Below: Train on Platform in Luzern – Swiss Federal Railways InterRegio Train #2235 Second Class from Interlaken Ost to Luzern

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Radisson Blu Hotel, Lucerne, Switzerland

HOTEL: Radisson Blu Hotel, Lucerne, Switzerland
NIGHTS/DATES: 2 Nights – Saturday, September 6, 2014 to Monday, September 8, 2014
LOYALTY PROGRAM STATUS: Club Carlson Gold
ROOM: 533
ROOM TYPE: 1 King Bed, Non-Smoking, Standard Guest Room
EARLY CHECK-IN?: N/A
LATE CHECK-OUT?: No
COMPLIMENTARY ROOM UPGRADE FROM RESERVED TYPE?: No

We arrived at the hotel around 8:00pm after walking about 5 minutes from the nearby train station. The building’s depth is not apparent from the front façade. It is far deeper than it is wide. Overall, it is a much larger hotel than I expected. The check-in staff made quick work of finding our reservation and providing us with room keys, which we appreciated as we were quite hungry and wanted to drop our bags and eat dinner.

The hotel’s lobby is large and trendy. The lobby always seemed to have a lot of people enjoying the bar and restaurant.

We asked and were told that our room was on the top floor and faced the lake. The view did not disappoint! The room was very spacious. The bathroom was also a good size. The room was well appointed. The room had a lot of frosted glass incorporated into the design around the bathroom. It made it very sleek and trendy. There was a lot of storage available in the room. We found some chocolates and bottled water awaiting our arrival in the room. We made quick work of the chocolates (as we hadn’t eaten dinner yet) and left the hotel to find a restaurant and eat dinner.

The hotel’s location was excellent. It was within easy walking distance of the train station, the boat slips, and the historic sights in the old town. When we left, we asked for a 2pm late checkout (assigned time is noon) but our request was denied. We would definitely stay here again if back in Lucerne (especially if we were able to use the last night free on award stays benefit of the U.S. credit card on another 2-night stay).

Photo Below: Exterior Facade – Radisson Blu Hotel, Lucerne, Switzerland


Photo Below: Hotel Lobby and Bar – Radisson Blu Hotel, Lucerne, Switzerland


Photo Below: Guest Room Door – Radisson Blu Hotel, Lucerne, Switzerland


Photo Below: Guest Room Entrance – Radisson Blu Hotel, Lucerne, Switzerland


Photo Below: King Bed – Radisson Blu Hotel, Lucerne, Switzerland


Photo Below: Guest Room Desk and Television – Radisson Blu Hotel, Lucerne, Switzerland


Photo Below: Guest Room Entry Hall and Closet – Radisson Blu Hotel, Lucerne, Switzerland


Photo Below: Guest Room Windows – Radisson Blu Hotel, Lucerne, Switzerland


Photo Below: Guest Room – Radisson Blu Hotel, Lucerne, Switzerland


Photo Below: Guest Room – Radisson Blu Hotel, Lucerne, Switzerland


Photo Below: View from Guest Room – Radisson Blu Hotel, Lucerne, Switzerland


Photo Below: Guest Room Bathroom – Radisson Blu Hotel, Lucerne, Switzerland


Photo Below: Guest Room Bathroom – Radisson Blu Hotel, Lucerne, Switzerland


Photo Below: Guest Room Bathroom – Radisson Blu Hotel, Lucerne, Switzerland


Photo Below: Guest Room Toiletries – Radisson Blu Hotel, Lucerne, Switzerland


Photo Below: Complimentary Chocolates and Water – Radisson Blu Hotel, Lucerne, Switzerland


Photo Below: Floor Layout – Radisson Blu Hotel, Lucerne, Switzerland


Photo Below: Guest Room Morning View – Radisson Blu Hotel, Lucerne, Switzerland

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2 Days in Lucerne

The Radisson Blu Hotel, Lucerne was perfectly situated for us to explore Lucerne and nearby Mount Rigi. On our first day, we walked from the hotel to the steamboat, which we took across Lake Lucerne to Vitznau. We took a train from Vitznau all the way to Rigi Klum (the peak of Mt. Rigi). Both the steamboat and train were included with our Swiss Pass, which was on its final day. From Rigi Klum, we hiked around the peak before hiking down and all around the mountain for nearly 5 hours. We ate lunch outdoors at Rigi First. We hiked to the Rotstock overlook. We took an aerial cableway down to Weggis. Finally, we took another steamboat back from Weggis to Lucerne. We arrived back in Lucerne in the evening and we walked to and across the old chapel bridge and on and around the old city wall (and the nine towers).

The next morning we took a more thorough self-guided walking tour of Lucerne (mainly Old Town Lucerne). We saw the Lion Monument of Lucerne. We were the first of the day to visit the Bourbaki Panorama (we know because they had to turn on the video equipment for the introductory video). We explored the Kapellbrücke a bit more. We visited the Church of St. Leodegar. We walked past the Lucerne Culture and Convention Centre. We also stopped in the Jesuitenkirche.

Below are some pictures from (with descriptions of a few of our activities during) our 2 days in Lucerne:

Photo Below: View of Old Town Lucerne from the Steamboat to Vitznau – Lucerne, Switzerland


Photo Below: View of Surrounding Mountains from the Steamboat to Vitznau – Lucerne, Switzerland


Photo Below: Telephoto View of Lucerne from Rigi Klum – Lucerne, Switzerland


Photo Below: Hiking around Mount Rigi – Lucerne, Switzerland


Photo Below: Wildflowers on Mt. Rigi – Lucerne, Switzerland


Photo Below: View of Lake Lucerne while Hiking Down Mt. Rigi – Lucerne, Switzerland


Photo Below: View of Mountains and Valleys from Mt. Rigi – Lucerne, Switzerland


Photo Below: View while Hiking on Mt. Rigi – Lucerne, Switzerland


Photo Below: Edelweiss – Lucerne, Switzerland


Photo Below: Alphorns aboard the Steamship from Weggis to Lucerne – Lucerne, Switzerland


Photo Below: Old Chapel Bridge (aka the Kapellbrücke) – Lucerne, Switzerland


Photo Below: View of Lucerne from atop the Old City Wall – Lucerne, Switzerland


Photo Below: View of Lucerne from atop the Old City Wall – Lucerne, Switzerland


Photo Below: One of the Towers of the Old City Wall – Lucerne, Switzerland


Photo Below: Old Town Lucerne – Lucerne, Switzerland


Photo Below: The Jesuitenkirche – Lucerne, Switzerland


Photo Below: Old Chapel Bridge (aka the Kapellbrücke) – Lucerne, Switzerland


Photo Below: Lion of Lucerne – Lucerne, Switzerland


Photo Below: Another Old Bridge across the Reuss – Lucerne, Switzerland


Photo Below: Old Town Lucerne – Lucerne, Switzerland

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Swiss Federal Railways (SBB CFF FFS) Second Class from Luzern to Zürich Flughafen

Map Below: SBB from Luzern to Zürich Flughafen


TRAIN: Luzern to Zürich Flughafen
DATE: Monday, September 8, 2014
OPERATOR: Swiss Federal Railways (SBB CFF FFS)
TRAIN NUMBER: IR#2340
TRAIN TYPE: InterRegio
CABIN: Second Class
DEPARTURE - SCHEDULED: 1:10pm // ACTUAL: 1:10pm
ARRIVAL - SCHEDULED: 2:13pm // ACTUAL: 2:13pm
DURATION: 1 hour 03 minutes
DISTANCE: Approx. 40 miles

We booked this one-way train trip on the platform in Luzern. We did so because we had trip options nearly every half-hour and because our Swiss Pass had expired. We left the hotel about 18 minutes before the train was scheduled to depart and easily had time to walk to the train station, find the train, purchase the tickets from the platform vending machine, and board the train.

We did not reserve seats and the train was only about half-full. We selected seats (on the lower level to avoid lugging our larger bags upstairs) and placed our larger luggage in the designated space between seats. The seats were comfortable and had a good amount of leg room, especially because no one sat next to us.

The train ride was extremely smooth and moved very quickly. We were very comfortable and the train was on-time. So, we made it to the airport about 3 hours prior to our flight’s scheduled departure time.

Photo Below: Train at Luzern Platform – Swiss Federal Railways InterRegio Train #2340 Second Class from Luzern to Zürich Flughafen


Photo Below: Train at Luzern Platform – Swiss Federal Railways InterRegio Train #2340 Second Class from Luzern to Zürich Flughafen


Photo Below: Train at Luzern Platform – Swiss Federal Railways InterRegio Train #2340 Second Class from Luzern to Zürich Flughafen


Photo Below: Boarding in Luzern – Swiss Federal Railways InterRegio Train #2340 Second Class from Luzern to Zürich Flughafen


Photo Below: Seats Onboard – Swiss Federal Railways InterRegio Train #2340 Second Class from Luzern to Zürich Flughafen


Photo Below: Luggage Storage between Seats – Swiss Federal Railways InterRegio Train #2340 Second Class from Luzern to Zürich Flughafen


Photo Below: Seats – Swiss Federal Railways InterRegio Train #2340 Second Class from Luzern to Zürich Flughafen


Photo Below: Seats – Swiss Federal Railways InterRegio Train #2340 Second Class from Luzern to Zürich Flughafen


Photo Below: Onboard Stairs – Swiss Federal Railways InterRegio Train #2340 Second Class from Luzern to Zürich Flughafen


Photo Below: Onboard Restroom – Swiss Federal Railways InterRegio Train #2340 Second Class from Luzern to Zürich Flughafen


Photo Below: Train Car Interior – Swiss Federal Railways InterRegio Train #2340 Second Class from Luzern to Zürich Flughafen


Photo Below: Train Car Display – Swiss Federal Railways InterRegio Train #2340 Second Class from Luzern to Zürich Flughafen


Photo Below: Platform at Zurich Flughafen – Swiss Federal Railways InterRegio Train #2340 Second Class from Luzern to Zürich Flughafen

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Zurich Kloten Airport, Swiss Check-In, & Swiss Business Lounge (Terminal A)

We arrived at Zurich Airport about 3 hours before our scheduled departure. The signage from the train station to the check-in was well marked and the distance short. We found an empty check-in area and promptly checked-in (confirming our bags would be waiting in Warsaw and not checked-through to Chicago).

After checking-in we took the long walk to and through security. It took longer to walk from the check-in counter to the security line than it did from the train station to the check-in counter. Once airside, we spent the last of our Swiss Francs at the duty free shops and then followed the signs to the lounge on the 2nd floor. The lounge was enormous. When we arrived, it wasn’t very busy but it did fill up before we left. The lounge had several stations with self-serve beverages and food. There was a reasonable assortment of each. Upstairs from the lounge was a bar that was labelled as the longest lounge bar in the world. People were smoking inside; so, I didn’t stick around to measure it. I spent most of our time in the lounge on my computer catching up on emails, news, and, of course, FT, before we left for the airplane. I enjoyed the lounge but was disappointed with the lack of more hot food. There was a lot of separation in the space that helped make the lounge feel more intimate than it should given how many people can be accommodated in the lounge.

Photo Below: Swiss Airlines Check-In Counter, Zurich Airport


Photo Below: Zurich Airport


Photo Below: Zurich Airport


Photo Below: Zurich Airport


Photo Below: Zurich Airport


Photo Below: Entrance to Swiss Lounge (Zurich Airport, Terminal A)


Photo Below: Entrance to Swiss Lounge (Zurich Airport, Terminal A)


Photo Below: Swiss Lounge (Zurich Airport, Terminal A)


Photo Below: Swiss Lounge (Zurich Airport, Terminal A)


Photo Below: Swiss Lounge (Zurich Airport, Terminal A)


Photo Below: Swiss Lounge (Zurich Airport, Terminal A)


Photo Below: Powerports Swiss Lounge (Zurich Airport, Terminal A)


Photo Below: Departures Board in Swiss Lounge (Zurich Airport, Terminal A)


Photo Below: Beverages in Swiss Lounge (Zurich Airport, Terminal A)


Photo Below: Drinks in Swiss Lounge (Zurich Airport, Terminal A)


Photo Below: Drinks in Swiss Lounge (Zurich Airport, Terminal A)


Photo Below: Tea and Coffee in Swiss Lounge (Zurich Airport, Terminal A)


Photo Below: Food in Swiss Lounge (Zurich Airport, Terminal A)


Photo Below: Food in Swiss Lounge (Zurich Airport, Terminal A)


Photo Below: Dining Area in Swiss Lounge (Zurich Airport, Terminal A)


Photo Below: Computers in Swiss Lounge (Zurich Airport, Terminal A)


Photo Below: More Beverages in Swiss Lounge (Zurich Airport, Terminal A)


Photo Below: More Beverages in Swiss Lounge (Zurich Airport, Terminal A)


Photo Below: Olives and Pickles in Swiss Lounge (Zurich Airport, Terminal A)


Photo Below: More Food in Swiss Lounge (Zurich Airport, Terminal A)


Photo Below: More Wine in Swiss Lounge (Zurich Airport, Terminal A)


Photo Below: More Wine in Swiss Lounge (Zurich Airport, Terminal A)


Photo Below: Sign to Upper Bar in Swiss Lounge (Zurich Airport, Terminal A)


Photo Below: Upper Bar in Swiss Lounge (Zurich Airport, Terminal A)

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Swiss Airlines (Op. by Helvetic Airways AG) Fokker 100 Business Class from ZRH to WAW

Map Below: Swiss Airlines (Op. by Helvetic Airways AG) Business Class from ZRH to WAW


FLIGHT: ZRH-WAW
DATE: Monday, September 8, 2014
CARRIER: Swiss Airlines (Op. by Helvetic Airways AG) (LX)
FLIGHT NUMBER: 1352
AIRCRAFT: Fokker 100
CABIN: Business Class (tommy class)
SEATS: 2D, 2F
DEPARTURE GATE: A57
DEPARTURE - SCHEDULED: 5:15pm // ACTUAL: 5:58pm
ARRIVAL - SCHEDULED: 7:10pm // ACTUAL: 7:37pm
DURATION: 1 hours 39 minutes
MILES FLOWN: 641 miles

We left the Swiss Business Lounge a shortly before our scheduled departure. We arrived at the gate to find no open seating and a large crowd standing around. Worse yet, a delay had posted after we left the lounge but before we arrived at the gate. The gate was a bad experience. It was part of a grouping of gates that utilizes busses to get passengers to remotely parked airplanes. It was crowded and the gates were extremely close together. After a short period, the delay was extended a bit. And, then, it was extended again. Overall, it was only a 45-minute delay; but, with no seating and a swarming crowd, it was extremely unenjoyable.

The boarding process was simply a single call for boarding. We walked to an awaiting bus on which we stood until all passengers in the boarding area crowded inside. After a short ride, the bus arrived at the plane. However, no one was allowed off the bus for more than 5 minutes. After escaping the terrible boarding area and bus ride experiences (which was worse than our EVA Airways experience detailed in my last TR), we made our way up the stairs and onto the airplane.

Once on the plane, we quickly sat down. The distinction between business class and economy class was a roughly 2-inch by 5 inch sign attached to the aisle seat headrest. No wall, no curtain, etc. Despite the FAs announcement that the forward lavatory was for the exclusive use of the business class passengers, it was constantly full of folks from economy during the short flight.

The plane was a bit old and tired. The crew was pleasant enough. We were provided with a selection of newspapers, a handwipe, and a bottle of water prior to departure. During the flight, we were served a small meal, which was okay. After the meal, small chocolates were distributed. There was no IFE.

Upon our arrival in Warsaw, we proceeded through immigration and customs quickly and retrieved our checked bags before following the signs to the trains into the city center. The walk from the C/D/E terminal area to the train station is extremely well marked (although, there is currently construction on the A/B terminal, so, it wasn’t as direct as it otherwise would be) and took a bit over 5 minutes. Once in the terminal, we purchased tickets from the ticket machine near the entrance (I needed a PIN with my Arrival+ MasterCard); however, one may also purchase tickets onboard with change (note: not paper money). We took the 8:22pm SKM S3 into the city and disembarked at the Warszawa Centralna station across the street from the Marriott. It arrived nearly 10 minutes earlier than scheduled.

Photo Below: ZRH Gate A57 – ZRH-WAW Fokker 100 LX1352 Flight


Photo Below: Waiting Area around Gate A57 (before it got crowded!) – ZRH-WAW Fokker 100 LX1352 Flight


Photo Below: Initial Delay Posting – ZRH-WAW Fokker 100 LX1352 Flight


Photo Below: Bus from Gate to Airplane – ZRH-WAW Fokker 100 LX1352 Flight


Photo Below: Onboard the Bus to the Airplane – ZRH-WAW Fokker 100 LX1352 Flight


Photo Below: Airplane – ZRH-WAW Fokker 100 LX1352 Flight


Photo Below: Boarding Stairs – ZRH-WAW Fokker 100 LX1352 Flight


Photo Below: Boarding Stairs – ZRH-WAW Fokker 100 LX1352 Flight


Photo Below: Airplane – ZRH-WAW Fokker 100 LX1352 Flight


Photo Below: Airplane – ZRH-WAW Fokker 100 LX1352 Flight


Photo Below: Onboard the Airplane – ZRH-WAW Fokker 100 LX1352 Flight


Photo Below: Seats – ZRH-WAW Fokker 100 LX1352 Flight


Photo Below: Business Class Legroom – ZRH-WAW Fokker 100 LX1352 Flight


Photo Below: Overhead Controls – ZRH-WAW Fokker 100 LX1352 Flight


Photo Below: Seat View – ZRH-WAW Fokker 100 LX1352 Flight


Photo Below: Legroom – ZRH-WAW Fokker 100 LX1352 Flight


Photo Below: Complimentary Newspaper & Water – ZRH-WAW Fokker 100 LX1352 Flight


Photo Below: View of Central Zurich after Takeoff – ZRH-WAW Fokker 100 LX1352 Flight


Photo Below: In-Flight Meal – ZRH-WAW Fokker 100 LX1352 Flight


Photo Below: Chocolate – ZRH-WAW Fokker 100 LX1352 Flight


Photo Below: Taxiing in Warsaw – ZRH-WAW Fokker 100 LX1352 Flight


Photo Below: Warsaw Baggage Claim – ZRH-WAW Fokker 100 LX1352 Flight


Photo Below: Map Trains – after ZRH-WAW Fokker 100 LX1352 Flight


Photo Below: Initial Signs to Exit/Trains – after ZRH-WAW Fokker 100 LX1352 Flight


Photo Below: SKM Train – after ZRH-WAW Fokker 100 LX1352 Flight


Photo Below: On-Board SKM to City Center – after ZRH-WAW Fokker 100 LX1352 Flight


Photo Below: On-Board SKM to City Center – after ZRH-WAW Fokker 100 LX1352 Flight


Photo Below: On-Board SKM to City Center – after ZRH-WAW Fokker 100 LX1352 Flight


Photo Below: Disembarking in Warszawa Centralna Station – after ZRH-WAW Fokker 100 LX1352 Flight

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Warsaw Marriott Hotel (and Executive Lounge), Warsaw, Poland

HOTEL: Warsaw Marriott Hotel, Warsaw, Poland
NIGHTS/DATES: 1 Night – Monday, September 8, 2014 to Tuesday, September 9, 2014
LOYALTY PROGRAM STATUS: Marriott Platinum
ROOM: 3911
ROOM TYPE: Corner Junior Suite (upgraded from 1 King Bed, city view)
EARLY CHECK-IN?: N/A
LATE CHECK-OUT?: Yes
COMPLIMENTARY ROOM UPGRADE FROM RESERVED TYPE?: Yes

We arrived at the hotel around 9:00pm after taking the SKM S3 train from the airport to Warszawa Centralna, which is across the street from the Marriott. We followed signs to the hotel, but, once inside the building, we had to ask how to get to the Marriott as it was a bit of a maze. The lobby is multiple-stories and finished with nice stone. It does have a grand sense to it.

We were immediately welcomed and checked-in. We were told the lounge (which is located on the 2nd floor overlooking the atrium of the lobby) was open until 9:30pm and opens at 6:30am for breakfast. It has a keycard entrance. The entrance to the attached casino is also on the 2nd floor (although, we didn’t visit it).

We were upgraded from a standard guest room, 1 king bed room to a corner junior suite on nearly the top floor. The room was a very nice size and the bathroom was enormous (and also offered windows!). Although it was categorized as a “junior suite;” it wasn’t much larger than a typical guest room (other than the bathroom). Still, it was definitely bigger than the room we booked; so, no complaints from us. We found complimentary Perrier waiting in the room. The room offered four, yes four, different electrical outlet styles by the desk, which was convenient. There was also an electric tea kettle in the room. The room was nicely finished and the bed was quite comfortable.

We visited the executive lounge for breakfast in the morning and were very impressed with the space. It is large and very well laid-out with different types of seating and a lot of natural light from the floor-to-ceiling windows. The breakfast offerings were also quite nice and included a good selection of both hot and cold food as well as drinks. The lounge was also staffed and service was very good. We also stopped by again for a snack the same afternoon before heading to the airport.

The front desk had no hesitation in accommodating our request for a 2:00pm check-out, which enabled us to linger a bit in the lounge before heading to the airport.

Photo Below: Exterior – Warsaw Marriott Hotel, Warsaw, Poland


Photo Below: Exterior – Warsaw Marriott Hotel, Warsaw, Poland


Photo Below: Signage in Warszawa Centralna Train Station – Warsaw Marriott Hotel, Warsaw, Poland


Photo Below: Check-In Desks – Warsaw Marriott Hotel, Warsaw, Poland


Photo Below: Lobby – Warsaw Marriott Hotel, Warsaw, Poland


Photo Below: Lobby – Warsaw Marriott Hotel, Warsaw, Poland


Photo Below: Room Door – Warsaw Marriott Hotel, Warsaw, Poland


Photo Below: Corner Junior Suite Room – Warsaw Marriott Hotel, Warsaw, Poland


Photo Below: Corner Junior Suite Room – Warsaw Marriott Hotel, Warsaw, Poland


Photo Below: Corner Junior Suite Room – Warsaw Marriott Hotel, Warsaw, Poland


Photo Below: Corner Junior Suite Room – Warsaw Marriott Hotel, Warsaw, Poland


Photo Below: Bathroom Shower – Warsaw Marriott Hotel, Warsaw, Poland


Photo Below: Bathroom – Warsaw Marriott Hotel, Warsaw, Poland


Photo Below: Bathtub – Warsaw Marriott Hotel, Warsaw, Poland


Photo Below: Bathroom – Warsaw Marriott Hotel, Warsaw, Poland


Photo Below: Bathroom Toiletries – Warsaw Marriott Hotel, Warsaw, Poland


Photo Below: Electric Tea Kettle – Warsaw Marriott Hotel, Warsaw, Poland


Photo Below: Complimentary Perrier – Warsaw Marriott Hotel, Warsaw, Poland


Photo Below: Desk Electrical Outlets Galore – Warsaw Marriott Hotel, Warsaw, Poland


Photo Below: Room View – Warsaw Marriott Hotel, Warsaw, Poland


Photo Below: Room View – Warsaw Marriott Hotel, Warsaw, Poland


Photo Below: In-Hotel Casino – Warsaw Marriott Hotel, Warsaw, Poland


Photo Below: Executive Lounge Seating Over Lobby Atrium – Warsaw Marriott Hotel, Warsaw, Poland


Photo Below: Executive Lounge – Warsaw Marriott Hotel, Warsaw, Poland


Photo Below: Executive Lounge – Warsaw Marriott Hotel, Warsaw, Poland


Photo Below: Executive Lounge Breakfast Hot Food – Warsaw Marriott Hotel, Warsaw, Poland


Photo Below: Executive Lounge Drinks – Warsaw Marriott Hotel, Warsaw, Poland


Photo Below: Executive Lounge Breakfast Cereal – Warsaw Marriott Hotel, Warsaw, Poland


Photo Below: Executive Lounge Breakfast Drinks – Warsaw Marriott Hotel, Warsaw, Poland


Photo Below: Executive Lounge Cold Food – Warsaw Marriott Hotel, Warsaw, Poland


Photo Below: Executive Lounge Breads – Warsaw Marriott Hotel, Warsaw, Poland


Photo Below: Executive Lounge Seating – Warsaw Marriott Hotel, Warsaw, Poland


Photo Below: Executive Lounge Lounge-Style Seating – Warsaw Marriott Hotel, Warsaw, Poland


Photo Below: Executive Lounge Seating – Warsaw Marriott Hotel, Warsaw, Poland


Photo Below: Executive Lounge Dining Area – Warsaw Marriott Hotel, Warsaw, Poland


Photo Below: Executive Lounge Dining Area – Warsaw Marriott Hotel, Warsaw, Poland


Photo Below: Executive Lounge Interior Seating – Warsaw Marriott Hotel, Warsaw, Poland


Photo Below: Executive Lounge Drink Offerings – Warsaw Marriott Hotel, Warsaw, Poland


Photo Below: Executive Lounge Daytime Food – Warsaw Marriott Hotel, Warsaw, Poland

FindAWay

A Day in Warsaw

We spent a night (really only dinner and sleep) and the following morning and early afternoon in Warsaw (as a layover, not a stopover) during our itinerary. After checking in to the hotel and leaving our bags in the room, we set out to find dinner around 9:30 p.m. We were very hungry, so, we settled for the nearest open restaurant (Vapiano across the street, which was significantly cheaper than the one near our home in Chicago).
The next morning, after breakfast in the hotel’s executive lounge, we walked non-stop for over 4 hours exploring central Warsaw. We headed north from the hotel. We walked by the Palace of Culture and Science and cut through park Świętokrzyski. Then we walked down Marszałkowska to and through the baroque statues, landmark fountain, monuments and tree-lined walkways of Ogród Saski. We made our way to The Royal Castle in Warsaw and continued to the Barbakan Fortification. From there, we turned back and walked throughout Old Town and Old Town Market Place back to Sigismund's Column and the beginning of plac Zamkowy. Then we continued down Krakowskie Przedmiescie. We stopped to look at Kościół Akademicki św. Anny (St. Anne’s Church). When we reached the Presidential Palace, we happened upon what appeared to be a changing of the guard, which was interesting to watch. We continued past Kościół pw. Opieki św Józefa Oblubieńca (Church of St. Joseph of the Visitationists) and Uniwersytet Warszawski. We soon reached Holy Cross Church (which has a Pillar containing Chopin's heart) and the Nicolaus Copernicus Monument. From there we continued down Nowy Swiat until reaching the 50-foot Joanna Rajkowska (palm tree sculpture). After turning right, we walked down Aleje Jerozolimskie back to the hotel.
Below are some pictures from (with descriptions of a few of our activities during) our short time in Warsaw:

Photo Below: Palace of Culture and Science at Night (from Marriott) – Warsaw, Poland


Photo Below: Palace of Culture and Science – Warsaw, Poland


Photo Below: Soviet Relic (in St. Anne’s Church Basement?) – Warsaw, Poland


Photo Below: Sigismund's Column and Royal Castle – Warsaw, Poland


Photo Below: Royal Castle – Warsaw, Poland


Photo Below: Old Town – Warsaw, Poland


Photo Below: Old Town Market Place – Warsaw, Poland


Photo Below: Old Town Market Place – Warsaw, Poland


Photo Below: Old Town Street – Warsaw, Poland


Photo Below: Krakowskie Przedmiescie – Warsaw, Poland


Photo Below: Presidential Palace – Warsaw, Poland


Photo Below: Kościół pw. Opieki św Józefa Oblubieńca (Church of St. Joseph of the Visitationists) – Warsaw, Poland


Photo Below: Holy Cross Church – Warsaw, Poland


Photo Below: Nicolaus Copernicus Monument – Warsaw, Poland

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Warsaw Szybka Kolej Miejska (SKM) S3 Fast City Rail from Warszawa Centralna to WAW


Map Below: SKM from Warszawa Centralna to Warszawa Lotnisko Chopina


TRAIN: Warszawa Centralna to Warszawa Lotnisko Chopina
DATE: Tuesday, September 9, 2014
OPERATOR: Szybka Kolej Miejska (SKM) Fast City Rail
TRAIN NUMBER: S3
TRAIN TYPE: Subway/City Rail
CABIN: Single Class
DEPARTURE - SCHEDULED: 1:43pm // ACTUAL: 1:52pm
ARRIVAL - SCHEDULED: 2:03pm // ACTUAL: 2:07pm
DURATION: 15 minutes
DISTANCE: Approx. 12 miles

I hadn’t planned to make a separate post about this train trip until I read a blogger’s post that “[t]he Warsaw metro isn’t tourist friendly.” I understand from where the blogger is coming; however, I disagree because I think part of traveling is learning a bit about the people, culture, and customs of the places to which one travels. From this perspective, I think the railway service in Warsaw, especially to and from the airport, is wonderfully friendly for tourists. The train service is operated by two companies: Szybka Kolej Miejska – SKM (Fast Urban Railway) and Koleje Mazowieckie – KML (Masovian Railways). We took SKM both from and to the airport and the airport provides a detailed webpage with a lot of information and the Public Transport Authority of Warsaw (ZTM) has a great route planner webpage. This train has connected to the airport for only 2 years, so, there isn’t as much historical information available for tourists.

I found it very easy to purchase a ticket at the airport (with a Chip+PIN credit card) and, if one has sufficient coins, onboard. The duration of the trip to/from the airport from/to central Warsaw is very quick and smooth. The trains were very clean and convenient and not crowded. The train is very easy to take with large luggage. The fare each way is extremely reasonable (4.40 PLN ~ $1.29 USD). The trains avoid any traffic congestion.

However, I do think there are some specific areas where improvements could be made. One thing that kept confusing me was that the same station was sometimes referred to with different names (e.g., Warszawa Centrum / Warszawa Centralna). Another aspect that I think could be improved is the acceptance of paper money for tickets onboard the trains (as far as I could tell, only coins were accepted in the automated machine). A final aspect I had difficulty with was purchasing a ticket at Warszawa Centrum / Warszawa Centralna (which is primarily served by inter-city trains) – I couldn’t find ticket machines specific to SKM/ZTM in the station and the woman at the ticket window was unable to sell me a ticket (though she did break a paper bill I had so I had sufficient coins to purchase a ticket onboard with ease).

We arrived on the platform (after being unable to purchase a ticket at Warszawa Centrum / Warszawa Centralna station) with the plan to use coins to purchase a ticket onboard. The train was delayed (a delay that was posted to the departures board). Once the train arrived, we moved to the first car in order to purchase our tickets. The process was extremely simple. There are also activation stamps near the train doors; however, I’m not sure if tickets purchased onboard require activation (we did so with our inbound tickets purchased from the machine in the airport station though).

The trains are modern, fast and comfortable. We quickly selected our seats and the train whisked us away. We arrived in the airport station shortly after 2:00pm for our scheduled 4:30pm departure.

Photo Below: Departure Platform - Szybka Kolej Miejska – SKM (Fast Urban Railway) from Warsaw Centrum to Warsaw Airport


Photo Below: Departures Board - Szybka Kolej Miejska – SKM (Fast Urban Railway) from Warsaw Centrum to Warsaw Airport


Photo Below: Well-Signed Platform - Szybka Kolej Miejska – SKM (Fast Urban Railway) from Warsaw Centrum to Warsaw Airport


Photo Below: Train Arriving in Station - Szybka Kolej Miejska – SKM (Fast Urban Railway) from Warsaw Centrum to Warsaw Airport


Photo Below: Boarding Train - Szybka Kolej Miejska – SKM (Fast Urban Railway) from Warsaw Centrum to Warsaw Airport


Photo Below: Onboard Train - Szybka Kolej Miejska – SKM (Fast Urban Railway) from Warsaw Centrum to Warsaw Airport


Photo Below: Additional Seating Options - Szybka Kolej Miejska – SKM (Fast Urban Railway) from Warsaw Centrum to Warsaw Airport


Photo Below: Seating - Szybka Kolej Miejska – SKM (Fast Urban Railway) from Warsaw Centrum to Warsaw Airport


Photo Below: Onboard Ticket Machine - Szybka Kolej Miejska – SKM (Fast Urban Railway) from Warsaw Centrum to Warsaw Airport


Photo Below: Onboard Ticket Purchase from Machine - Szybka Kolej Miejska – SKM (Fast Urban Railway) from Warsaw Centrum to Warsaw Airport


Photo Below: Ticket Activation / Validation Stamp - Szybka Kolej Miejska – SKM (Fast Urban Railway) from Warsaw Centrum to Warsaw Airport


Photo Below: Onboard Routemap (Live-Updated with Progress) - Szybka Kolej Miejska – SKM (Fast Urban Railway) from Warsaw Centrum to Warsaw Airport


Photo Below: Arrival at Airport - Szybka Kolej Miejska – SKM (Fast Urban Railway) from Warsaw Centrum to Warsaw Airport


Photo Below: Directional Signs at Airport Station - Szybka Kolej Miejska – SKM (Fast Urban Railway) from Warsaw Centrum to Warsaw Airport


Photo Below: Train at Airport - Szybka Kolej Miejska – SKM (Fast Urban Railway) from Warsaw Centrum to Warsaw Airport


Photo Below: Train Ticket Machines at Airport Station - Szybka Kolej Miejska – SKM (Fast Urban Railway) from Warsaw Centrum to Warsaw Airport


Photo Below: Train Ticket Machine Instructions at Airport Station - Szybka Kolej Miejska – SKM (Fast Urban Railway) from Warsaw Centrum to Warsaw Airport

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Warsaw Chopin Airport, LOT Polish Airlines Check-In, & Bolero Executive Lounge

We made our way from the train station to the check-in area in less than 10 minutes, arriving approximately 2 hours before our scheduled departure. There was no line at the business class check-in counter. We checked our luggage for the non-stop flight in Chicago (however, little did we know only one of the 2 checked bags would join us on our flight). The check-in agent was quick and courteous; so, we were making our way to the security line shortly thereafter. Once there, we found no line in the business class security and were quickly through. Immediately after going through security, we found a feedback station. However, I assume it is simply a placebo as it wasn’t connected to anything.

We knew we had lounge options (both with our same-day LOT business class tickets and through Priority Pass). So, we first stopped at the LOT Business Lounge Polonez in the Schengen area. We poked our heads around and, after confirming the lounge didn’t appear to be anything special, we decided that with less than 2 hours to departure we’d move along to another lounge (since other lounge options were past passport control).

We made our way through passport control (where one of the agents received such a kick out of something in my passport that he showed it to the agent next to him -- my guess is that it was either my one of my bigger visas (Tanzania or India come to mind) or that I tabbed where I wanted him to stamp with a post-it. We continued to and down into the Bolero Lounge, which was right near our gate.

The Bolero Executive Lounge (access granted either by Priority Pass or same-day LOT business class boarding pass) was airside in the non-Schengen area. Our initial reaction to the lounge was that it was quite small. Overall, it was probably not as nice as the LOT Business Lounge that we passed-up. But, we’d have just over an hour inside the lounge before boarding; so, we cared more about connecting to wifi and having a snack and drink before our flight, for which the lounge was more than adequate.

The lounge was not busy at all when we arrived but it became moderately busy by the time we left. It was relatively small. The food offerings were all cold and less than I would have expected (both in terms of quantity and quality). However, some of the pre-packaged snacks were decent. The beverage selection was very good and substantial in quantity. We utilized the wifi while in the lounge and then made our way to our gate.

Photo Below: Exterior Entrance to Warsaw Chopin Airport


Photo Below: Polish LOT Airlines Check-In – Warsaw Chopin Airport


Photo Below: Polish LOT Airlines Check-In – Warsaw Chopin Airport


Photo Below: Polish LOT Airlines Check-In – Warsaw Chopin Airport


Photo Below: Security Line Feedback Buttons– Warsaw Chopin Airport


Photo Below: LOT Business Lounge Polenez (We Skipped It) – Warsaw Chopin Airport


Photo Below: Bolero Executive Lounge Entrance – Warsaw Chopin Airport


Photo Below: Bolero Executive Lounge Seating – Warsaw Chopin Airport


Photo Below: Bolero Executive Lounge Check-In – Warsaw Chopin Airport


Photo Below: Bolero Executive Lounge Mead, Drinks & Snacks – Warsaw Chopin Airport


Photo Below: Bolero Executive Lounge Additional Seating – Warsaw Chopin Airport


Photo Below: Bolero Executive Lounge Coffee & Tea – Warsaw Chopin Airport


Photo Below: Bolero Executive Lounge Soft Drinks – Warsaw Chopin Airport


Photo Below: Bolero Executive Lounge Tasty Desserts – Warsaw Chopin Airport


Photo Below: Bolero Executive Lounge Drinks – Warsaw Chopin Airport


Photo Below: Bolero Executive Lounge Hard Drinks – Warsaw Chopin Airport


Photo Below: Bolero Executive Lounge Apples – Warsaw Chopin Airport


Photo Below: Bolero Executive Lounge Seating – Warsaw Chopin Airport


Photo Below: Bolero Executive Lounge Food – Warsaw Chopin Airport


Photo Below: Bolero Executive Lounge Food – Warsaw Chopin Airport


Photo Below: Bolero Executive Lounge Food – Warsaw Chopin Airport

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LOT Polish Airlines Boeing 787-800 Dreamliner Business Class from WAW to ORD

Map Below: LOT Polish Airlines Business Class from WAW to ORD


FLIGHT: WAW-ORD
DATE: Tuesday, September 9, 2014
CARRIER: LOT Polish Airlines (LO)
FLIGHT NUMBER: 3
AIRCRAFT: Boeing 787-800
CABIN: International Business Class (two class aircraft)
SEATS: 2A, 2B
DEPARTURE GATE: 23/24
DEPARTURE - SCHEDULED: 4:30pm // ACTUAL: 5:03pm
ARRIVAL - SCHEDULED: 7:05pm // ACTUAL: 7:34pm
DURATION: 9 hours 31 minutes
MILES FLOWN: 5,050 miles

After leaving the Bolero Executive Lounge, we found the gate seating area enclosed with an agent checking tickets as people entered. There was actually a roped-off area designated for business class passengers to which we were directed. The seats were the same; so, perhaps it was to ensure seats for business class passengers in the event of overcrowding. But, the gate area never filled, so, it didn’t matter to us.

A short delay was announced, so, we continued to wait. The plane was a little obscured from our seats, so, I walked around to get a better look. It sure did look sleek in the light of the late-afternoon Warsaw sun.

Once boarding was called, we were among the first to board and quickly found our way down the jetway (which split off to provide a separate entrance to the plane for business class passengers). We were welcomed aboard by the friendly business class attendants. And found our way to our seats. The seats were very large and the cabin fairly open. A bottle of water, set of headphones, pillow and blanket, and our amenity kits awaited us at our seats. We enjoyed our pre-departure beverages and snack. Each seat was wide and offered a fair amount of space for non-luggage storage. I agree with others that the physical seats did look more worn than expected considering how new they are. Still, I found the cabin and seats attractive. The captain announced the delay would be a bit longer because bags were still being loaded (apparently not mine though).

The IFE selection was a bit underwhelming but adequate (including recent releases) for one long-haul flight. The tray table is well-sized and the seat controls are easy to understand and use. The seats did have individually controlled air vents, which was nice (and becoming rarer in premium cabins). The window controls (not physical shades) were the touch-button controls that electronically dim the window. They do not react instantly, which was unfortunate when we flew over Greenland and everyone wanted to “open the window shade” to get a better look because it took, what felt like, a minute for the windows to undim fully.

There were only 2 passengers in the business class cabin beside Mrs. FindAWay and me. With 14 of the 18 business class seats empty, the service was very attentive! The food was nothing great, but, it wasn’t bad either. The drink selection was pretty good (including vodka and mead).

I spent most of the flight working on my computer and watching recent movie releases. I reclined for comfort but not sleep (however, I did fully recline the seat for a photo opportunity).

We arrived approximately 30 minutes late and Mrs. FindAWay and I were the first to arrive at baggage claim (thanks to being in business class and having Global Entry). We watched the carousel begin to move and bags come out and Mrs. FindAWay’s was one of the first ten bags. We continued to watch. Every. Single. Other. Bag. None of them were mine. Our bags were checked at the same time and are actually identical in make and size (only different in color). In all, we waited at the baggage carousel for over an hour (the bags took a bit to start coming out and then came out in batches). After not seeing my bag, I checked the oversized luggage areas (and every other baggage carousel) to no avail. We went through customs to the LOT baggage services desk. We were the first there (although about 10 lined up after us too). After providing our information, the agent took our original claim ticket (I took a photo of it first) and provided us with a claim number, receipt, and the phone number for the baggage services desk. I made it clear and the agent stated it was standard policy that I should be called before my bag was to be delivered as I may be at work instead of home. We were told that we would definitely, absolutely be called when our bag was found and not to worry.

The next day I called to learn that they didn’t find my bag in Chicago and thought my bag was still in Warsaw and would be on the next flight to Chicago. Hearing nothing more, the following morning (Thursday, September 11th), I called again and was told the same thing (that my bag might be on that day’s flight). I repeatedly checked the tracing websites ( http://www.lot.com/pl/en/problems-with-baggage & http://www.worldtracer.aero/filedsp/lo.htm ), which I found – the baggage services agent did not inform me of them. I happened to be home that morning (Thursday, September 11th) and a few hours after I called, our doorbell unexpectedly rang. My bag was being delivered (about 36 hours after landing)! We never received a phone call (and it was unusual that anyone would have been home) and the tracing website never indicated (even after delivery) anything other than that our bag was being searched for. It was a strange, but happy ending.

Overall, I would definitely fly the same plane again during a daytime flight, but, would prefer it for an overnight flight (given how comfortable and large the fully-flat seat was).

Photo Below: Airplane at the Gate – WAW-ORD Boeing 788 LO 03 Flight


Photo Below: Gate Waiting Area – WAW-ORD Boeing 788 LO 03 Flight


Photo Below: Gate Desk – WAW-ORD Boeing 788 LO 03 Flight


Photo Below: Plane at Gate – WAW-ORD Boeing 788 LO 03 Flight


Photo Below: Plane at Gate – WAW-ORD Boeing 788 LO 03 Flight


Photo Below: Gate Seating Area – WAW-ORD Boeing 788 LO 03 Flight


Photo Below: Business Class Jetway – WAW-ORD Boeing 788 LO 03 Flight


Photo Below: Business Class Seats – WAW-ORD Boeing 788 LO 03 Flight


Photo Below: Business Class Seats – WAW-ORD Boeing 788 LO 03 Flight


Photo Below: Business Class Cabin during Boarding – WAW-ORD Boeing 788 LO 03 Flight


Photo Below: Business Class Footrest – WAW-ORD Boeing 788 LO 03 Flight


Photo Below: Business Class Seats – WAW-ORD Boeing 788 LO 03 Flight


Photo Below: Business Class Seats – WAW-ORD Boeing 788 LO 03 Flight


Photo Below: Business Class Seats – WAW-ORD Boeing 788 LO 03 Flight


Photo Below: Business Class Seats – WAW-ORD Boeing 788 LO 03 Flight


Photo Below: Business Class Seat – WAW-ORD Boeing 788 LO 03 Flight


Photo Below: Business Class Legroom – WAW-ORD Boeing 788 LO 03 Flight


Photo Below: Business Class Amenity Kit – WAW-ORD Boeing 788 LO 03 Flight


Photo Below: Amenity Kit Contents – WAW-ORD Boeing 788 LO 03 Flight


Photo Below: Business Class IFE Control – WAW-ORD Boeing 788 LO 03 Flight


Photo Below: Business Class Headphones – WAW-ORD Boeing 788 LO 03 Flight


Photo Below: Sign of Cabin Wear (Tape) – WAW-ORD Boeing 788 LO 03 Flight


Photo Below: Business Class Seat Controls – WAW-ORD Boeing 788 LO 03 Flight


Photo Below: Business Class Footwell – WAW-ORD Boeing 788 LO 03 Flight


Photo Below: Window Dimmer – WAW-ORD Boeing 788 LO 03 Flight


Photo Below: Business Class Seat Fully-Flat – WAW-ORD Boeing 788 LO 03 Flight


Photo Below: Business Class Seat Fully-Flat – WAW-ORD Boeing 788 LO 03 Flight


Photo Below: Business Class Seat Fully-Flat – WAW-ORD Boeing 788 LO 03 Flight


Photo Below: Business Class Seat Fully-Flat – WAW-ORD Boeing 788 LO 03 Flight


Photo Below: Pre-Departure Beverage and Snack – WAW-ORD Boeing 788 LO 03 Flight


Photo Below: Tray Table – WAW-ORD Boeing 788 LO 03 Flight


Photo Below: Business Class Video Screen – WAW-ORD Boeing 788 LO 03 Flight


Photo Below: Business Class Cabin – WAW-ORD Boeing 788 LO 03 Flight


Photo Below: Menu – WAW-ORD Boeing 788 LO 03 Flight


Photo Below: Menu – WAW-ORD Boeing 788 LO 03 Flight


Photo Below: Menu – WAW-ORD Boeing 788 LO 03 Flight


Photo Below: Drink Menu – WAW-ORD Boeing 788 LO 03 Flight


Photo Below: Wine Menu – WAW-ORD Boeing 788 LO 03 Flight


Photo Below: Wine & Mead Menu – WAW-ORD Boeing 788 LO 03 Flight


Photo Below: Spirits, Beers, and Soft Drinks Menu – WAW-ORD Boeing 788 LO 03 Flight


Photo Below: Coffee and Tea Menu – WAW-ORD Boeing 788 LO 03 Flight


Photo Below: Business Class Cabin – WAW-ORD Boeing 788 LO 03 Flight


Photo Below: Powerport at Seat – WAW-ORD Boeing 788 LO 03 Flight


Photo Below: Soft Drink and Mixed Nuts – WAW-ORD Boeing 788 LO 03 Flight


Photo Below: Dinner Appetizer – WAW-ORD Boeing 788 LO 03 Flight


Photo Below: Shrimp Dinner – WAW-ORD Boeing 788 LO 03 Flight


Photo Below: Pork Dinner – WAW-ORD Boeing 788 LO 03 Flight


Photo Below: Dinner Cheese Selection – WAW-ORD Boeing 788 LO 03 Flight


Photo Below: Dinner: Lemon Mousse Dessert – WAW-ORD Boeing 788 LO 03 Flight


Photo Below: Post-Dinner Vodka Round 1 – WAW-ORD Boeing 788 LO 03 Flight


Photo Below: Windows – One Dimmed; the Other Not – WAW-ORD Boeing 788 LO 03 Flight


Photo Below: Map In-Flight – WAW-ORD Boeing 788 LO 03 Flight


Photo Below: Map In-Flight – WAW-ORD Boeing 788 LO 03 Flight


Photo Below: View of Greenland from Above – WAW-ORD Boeing 788 LO 03 Flight


Photo Below: View of Greenland from Above – WAW-ORD Boeing 788 LO 03 Flight


Photo Below: Pre-Landing Supper – WAW-ORD Boeing 788 LO 03 Flight


Photo Below: Baggage Claim in ORD – WAW-ORD Boeing 788 LO 03 Flight

FindAWay

Final Thoughts

We had a wonderful trip! Despite the persistent rain and delayed baggage, we enjoyed nearly everything we did. And, I took a lot of pictures (which I hope you enjoyed). We definitely enjoyed each place we visited and felt like we made the most of each destination.

My Opinions on Aspects of Our Trip:

• Best Hotel Mattress: Warsaw Marriott Hotel
• Worst Hotel Mattress: Hotel Edelweiss, Wengen, Switzerland (too firm for my taste)
• Best IFE: Austrian Airlines Boeing 767-300ER Business Class
• Worst IFE: Swiss Airlines (Op. by Helvetic Airways AG) Fokker 100 Business Class (no IFE)
• Best Airplane Seat for Sitting: Austrian Airlines Boeing 767-300ER Business Class
• Worst Airplane Seat for Sitting: Swiss Airlines (Op. by Helvetic Airways AG) Fokker 100 Business Class
• Best Airplane Seat for Sleeping: LOT Polish Airlines Boeing 787-800 Business Class
• Most Surprising - Good: How easy it was to get around via public transportation everywhere
• Most Surprising - Bad: LOT Polish Airlines delayed baggage
• Best Sight: Alpine views while hiking the Bernese Oberland
• Most Overrated: Cheese fondue in Lucerne (I know, it is touristy; but, it was really very bad)
• Most Underrated: Mt. Rigi hiking.
• Most Memorable: Hikes around Wengen, Switzerland

Thank you for reading my trip report -- I hope you enjoyed reading it as much as we enjoyed traveling on the trip!

TravellingBeard

Wow...I've always wanted to visit the Alps. The views are breathtaking, and your pictures are amazing. I'm definitely planning a trip to Switzerland, just to do a rail tour of the Alps.

jacobac00

Amazing trip report! Your photos are also superb! I mostly enjoyed the photos the first time through. Now to go back and enjoy the commentary as well.

Thanks for posting a great report.