Budapest, Scotland, Iceland, Berlin & (maybe) Croatia on *A premium
Jul 27, 2017, 9:23 am
#31
Original Poster
Join Date: Jul 2013
Location: MRY - CNX - TXL
Programs: UA 1K / *G / Marriott PE / Expedia Gold+ / Hertz PC
Posts: 7,058
Eurowings TXL-SPU
Of all the times I have flown out of TXL I think this is maybe the 2nd that it wasn't early morning flying something like TXL-MUC/FRA-NYC or the TXL-EWR flight. Being able to saunter out of the hotel at noon was nice.
I was expecting a little worse with the check-in but perhaps mid-week with schools already being out most people have done their holiday-ing.
I spent a little time in the LH SEN lounge but it's a pretty standard LH lounge and wasn't going to be bothered so much as I was trying to actively find flights to get my friend to California at the end of August.
Instead of having our own gate/security we were in the larger section but with going to Croatia outside of the Schengen zone we had to do passport control there and be cordoned off in a small gate area. A FlyBe flight was late which should have left by the time we went in there causing it to be pretty packed.
But the views were good.
Like the KEF route they don't even sell BEST seats on this flight so while I got the bulkhead there was a German couple next to me. Very nice seatmates offering me some of their candy throughout the trip and instead of being on their phones the whole time spent the trip playing a card game with each other.
Bus to plane to bus to Skoda. I used "Get By Bus" which I just found googling "Split Airport Taxi" and for 34euro/260kuna you could get a one-way transfer with driver waiting for your outside of baggage claim. Website and everything seemed legit and I could pay cash in the car not having to give a CC to make the reservation which was comforting. Driver was there and waiting, I needed to exchange some money and he pointed me to the actual bank instead of one of the exchange counters.
Of all the times I have flown out of TXL I think this is maybe the 2nd that it wasn't early morning flying something like TXL-MUC/FRA-NYC or the TXL-EWR flight. Being able to saunter out of the hotel at noon was nice.
I was expecting a little worse with the check-in but perhaps mid-week with schools already being out most people have done their holiday-ing.
I spent a little time in the LH SEN lounge but it's a pretty standard LH lounge and wasn't going to be bothered so much as I was trying to actively find flights to get my friend to California at the end of August.
Instead of having our own gate/security we were in the larger section but with going to Croatia outside of the Schengen zone we had to do passport control there and be cordoned off in a small gate area. A FlyBe flight was late which should have left by the time we went in there causing it to be pretty packed.
But the views were good.
Like the KEF route they don't even sell BEST seats on this flight so while I got the bulkhead there was a German couple next to me. Very nice seatmates offering me some of their candy throughout the trip and instead of being on their phones the whole time spent the trip playing a card game with each other.
Bus to plane to bus to Skoda. I used "Get By Bus" which I just found googling "Split Airport Taxi" and for 34euro/260kuna you could get a one-way transfer with driver waiting for your outside of baggage claim. Website and everything seemed legit and I could pay cash in the car not having to give a CC to make the reservation which was comforting. Driver was there and waiting, I needed to exchange some money and he pointed me to the actual bank instead of one of the exchange counters.
Jul 28, 2017, 11:14 am
#32
Original Poster
Join Date: Jul 2013
Location: MRY - CNX - TXL
Programs: UA 1K / *G / Marriott PE / Expedia Gold+ / Hertz PC
Posts: 7,058
Split & Hotel Cornaro
My first instinct was to check out Marriott/SPG but seems the only real choice was Le Meridien in a resort that sat south of the city. Not wanting to deal with any of that and figuring 2.5 days was enough to not get bored staying inside the city I just did the Expedia route and went off of location + reviews.
I narrowed it down to the Cornaro or Hotel Luxe opting for the former.
The hotel is two buildings with two entrances. This "back" one is to a smaller lobby but is the street that cars can drive on. The other side of the building is in the "old" city and pedestrian traffic only.
Nice soothing rooms. Lower floors don't have much of a view. I was in what seemed like the "smaller" building which I realized the lay out and the 2nd lobby/building when I went up to the rooftop for a drink before walking around to find some food.
Just around the corner from the hotel I came across M Street Food and drawn in immediately. I actually had this Dalmatian pork sandwich twice!
Just more wandering around the city, port and off to Bacvice beach.
Just more wandering once I was showered and changed to find some food. Not far from the hotel I looked at Bokeria and it seemed great. Pretty busy at about 8:45 with empty tables having reserved signs; but, the hostess gladly showed me upstairs to the "gallery" where I was free to sit at the long bar tables facing down into the main dining room.
Smoked swordfish carpaccio and a seabass with cauliflower puree. Both were great. With two glasses of rose the price came out to about $45.
As I walked through the breakfast dining room (you have to going between the two buildings) I noticed the "Dalmatian" and "Diocletian" breakfast signs so I was intrigued to come down the first morning.
On paper, in theory it seemed more appealing than it actually was.
Decided to go the opposite way along the coast and check things out walking along the riviera towards Obojena Svjetlost & Kupaliste Jezinac.
Stopped for a coffee.
"Can I get a double espresso poured over a glass of ice?"
-So an ice coffee?
"Sure"
Well...I specifically ordered the first drink to avoid this. At least it was just milk in it but they didn't put in any sugar.
Darth Vader was anchored.
On the way back I stopped by F Marine for lunch. Seems like they own 3-4 restaurants along this strip. Very nice octopus carpaccio and (just slightly salty) tuna.
Somehow I thought running 4 miles round trip to Crossfit BoxV was a smart idea.
Nice group of people. There's also Crossfit Split but their website wasn't working and I wanted to know what the workout was before I was coming. Also only about $10 to drop in for a class where most other places are $20-$25.
The first day walking I saw the menu for Portofino and wanted to come back and try it. 9pm it wasn't a problem getting a table. While the rest of the city seemed packed this one sits down a little alley that you have to specifically go to and not just stumble upon on a main thoroughfare.
The wild boar ragu was AMAZING.
3 dishes, 2 glasses of wine for about $60. Thought it was well worth it. Just like the night before I had wonderful and friendly service.
I had been talking and trying to set up a shoot with a local guy (who won Mr. Croatia a year or two ago) so we met for a quick sec earlier in the day to then meet later in the afternoon to go back around the beach and shoot.
He doesn't go to the gym, just "street" workouts. There are "real" photos on my social media.
Worn out in a good way from the shoot and going to have to get up at 5am I wanted to eat and finishing up packing so I could wind down. I walked out the main entrance of the hotel which has a strip of about 4-5 cafes. The one directly across the steps, Mad Dog Cafe, had a guy with an acoustic guitar playing James Taylor, Paul Simon, Neil Young, etc so it drew me in.
More octopus.
More seabass.
I think they were down a server (or cook) because the service was pretty slow and they seemed a little frazzled, but they addressed it and apologized to everyone. But, it wasn't a big deal and didn't seem like it for most as it's not like people needed to rush off to the theatre or something like that.
My first instinct was to check out Marriott/SPG but seems the only real choice was Le Meridien in a resort that sat south of the city. Not wanting to deal with any of that and figuring 2.5 days was enough to not get bored staying inside the city I just did the Expedia route and went off of location + reviews.
I narrowed it down to the Cornaro or Hotel Luxe opting for the former.
The hotel is two buildings with two entrances. This "back" one is to a smaller lobby but is the street that cars can drive on. The other side of the building is in the "old" city and pedestrian traffic only.
Nice soothing rooms. Lower floors don't have much of a view. I was in what seemed like the "smaller" building which I realized the lay out and the 2nd lobby/building when I went up to the rooftop for a drink before walking around to find some food.
Just around the corner from the hotel I came across M Street Food and drawn in immediately. I actually had this Dalmatian pork sandwich twice!
Just more wandering around the city, port and off to Bacvice beach.
Just more wandering once I was showered and changed to find some food. Not far from the hotel I looked at Bokeria and it seemed great. Pretty busy at about 8:45 with empty tables having reserved signs; but, the hostess gladly showed me upstairs to the "gallery" where I was free to sit at the long bar tables facing down into the main dining room.
Smoked swordfish carpaccio and a seabass with cauliflower puree. Both were great. With two glasses of rose the price came out to about $45.
As I walked through the breakfast dining room (you have to going between the two buildings) I noticed the "Dalmatian" and "Diocletian" breakfast signs so I was intrigued to come down the first morning.
On paper, in theory it seemed more appealing than it actually was.
Decided to go the opposite way along the coast and check things out walking along the riviera towards Obojena Svjetlost & Kupaliste Jezinac.
Stopped for a coffee.
"Can I get a double espresso poured over a glass of ice?"
-So an ice coffee?
"Sure"
Well...I specifically ordered the first drink to avoid this. At least it was just milk in it but they didn't put in any sugar.
Darth Vader was anchored.
On the way back I stopped by F Marine for lunch. Seems like they own 3-4 restaurants along this strip. Very nice octopus carpaccio and (just slightly salty) tuna.
Somehow I thought running 4 miles round trip to Crossfit BoxV was a smart idea.
Nice group of people. There's also Crossfit Split but their website wasn't working and I wanted to know what the workout was before I was coming. Also only about $10 to drop in for a class where most other places are $20-$25.
The first day walking I saw the menu for Portofino and wanted to come back and try it. 9pm it wasn't a problem getting a table. While the rest of the city seemed packed this one sits down a little alley that you have to specifically go to and not just stumble upon on a main thoroughfare.
The wild boar ragu was AMAZING.
3 dishes, 2 glasses of wine for about $60. Thought it was well worth it. Just like the night before I had wonderful and friendly service.
I had been talking and trying to set up a shoot with a local guy (who won Mr. Croatia a year or two ago) so we met for a quick sec earlier in the day to then meet later in the afternoon to go back around the beach and shoot.
He doesn't go to the gym, just "street" workouts. There are "real" photos on my social media.
Worn out in a good way from the shoot and going to have to get up at 5am I wanted to eat and finishing up packing so I could wind down. I walked out the main entrance of the hotel which has a strip of about 4-5 cafes. The one directly across the steps, Mad Dog Cafe, had a guy with an acoustic guitar playing James Taylor, Paul Simon, Neil Young, etc so it drew me in.
More octopus.
More seabass.
I think they were down a server (or cook) because the service was pretty slow and they seemed a little frazzled, but they addressed it and apologized to everyone. But, it wasn't a big deal and didn't seem like it for most as it's not like people needed to rush off to the theatre or something like that.
Jul 30, 2017, 2:24 pm
#33
Original Poster
Join Date: Jul 2013
Location: MRY - CNX - TXL
Programs: UA 1K / *G / Marriott PE / Expedia Gold+ / Hertz PC
Posts: 7,058
Croatian Y SPU-MUC Lufthansa F MUC-LAX United Y LAX-MRY
I was glad that I changed my ticket to add Split and also spent the extra miles on my existing J ticket to fly LH F. I had done LH F on paid flights when it was great with GPUs doing a mixed UA Y to J ticket EWR-EUR and LH F EUR-JFK. I had done both the A380 and 747-8i but not on the A340 (my favorite plane). Prior to this also my LH flights were all East Coast except for FRA-LAX in J coming home from CPT. Anyways more on it later.
The early morning flight from SPU on Croatian is on a Dash-8 so that was an extra "bonus" to fly the prop plane. I assumed that it was Y only layout for the sub 2h flight. I didn't feel "cheated" by not having the intra-EU flight not being a J award.
I thought the OLCI was weird when it got re-routed to a 3rd party. Seems the airport is all handled by one central 3rd party company. All the flights and airlines are at the same counters. Luckily there is a J/*G/Premium line which by passed the crowds.
Literally right behind passport control before the escalators to the departure area is the Lounge.
Nothing amazing, but places to sit compared to the crowded upstairs. Just some nuts and crisps, I went upstairs to try and get a bite and was pretty SOL. The duty free place at least had these fig protein bars.
The plane came in from Zagreb landing 5 min before our boarding time. Luckily it was a quick turn and we were bussed out to the plane.
There was 3 rows of J in front of me behind the curtain. However, some rows had 2 people sitting next to each other so it wasn't even adjacent seat blocked...just a try of food instead of these sweet olive oil crackers.
When we landed at a non-gate position I saw a silver MB and thought "great, they are doing a transfer service". Once I got out and noticed the guy was talking to ground crew and it looked a little more used and abused than the limos that it wasn't for me. I had always thought it was always LH-LH transfers but another FTer mentioned he thought it was any LH group-LH that got it. In any event this meant going all the way to the main terminal and then taking the train back to the satellite terminal to get to the F lounge. I would still have about 90-100 minutes to enjoy.
I forgot how slow the water takes to build up...luckily I had enough time to draw a bath and actually soak for a bit.
Had a few more bites and whiskey after the bath before I would head out to the gate. Since it was on the the other side of the terminal + security I left about 10 min before boarding time.
I hadn't boarded LH F without an escort/driver but I assumed it was the same skirmish like LX F/J/*G that get called at once. Surprisingly she did call F first and made a few people wait.
A warm welcome on board. I noticed the clock ticking down to departure. When I looked at the seat map around OLCI I thought it seemed like 4 seats were taken. I noticed the FA had only one set of PJs and kit (women's prepped) on the front counter. Doors closed and a random lady took 1K with me in 2A each having our own side of the cabin.
The purser introduced herself but the star of the show was the lead FA taking care of us in the cabin. She was absolutely wonderful. The right amount of cheeriness/conversation with professionalism and outstanding service.
The reisling and CdF were both great wines. I got pretty drunk with the champagne, vodka and wine.
Lobster+cream cheese amuse bouche.
Oh god why do I always think I should try a cold soup. It almost always makes me want to vomit. I've had maybe one or two fruity (melon mostly) ones in the past that were fine but this with the trout cream and cheese was a no go. The FA and I had a good laugh about it.
Very good lamb shoulder.
I thought I was going to sink in and watch a movie but feeling that I was going to zonk out the FA made the bed up across the aisle from me while I brushed my teeth.
A few hours of sleep were good and would do enough to make me rested to finish up the day in California and go to bed at a normal time to get on schedule.
While working on photos I ordered a snack of the chorizo (good spicy kick to it) pasta and some ice cream.
So I was a little confused with the menu. It had the whole first meal run of show and then a page of snacks on the next. I thought maybe they would present a new pre-arrival menu card; but, it turns out it is a choose your own adventure meal from that before landing. Honestly, I would have liked a proper meal service. Sure, I made one of myself but there's reasons now and then you like going to the chef's tasting vs. a buffet.
The tom kha was a let down.
I love that the LF F salads always have great greens, herbs and edible flowers.
Global Entry was easy as pie in the swamped TBIT. The LH F ground rep apologized that my bag didn't come out first because it didn't have the F/HON tag on it. I said I figured that would be the case because I've flown before where I didn't start on the F carrier and it wasn't a big deal I had a 3h lay over. Though when I've flown TG F and NH F connecting from a J flight that didn't get the F tag at check-in that at NRT or BKK they've added it on themselves behind the scenes.
Slowly made my way in the fresh air over to T7 after giving Tom Ford a once over while he was waiting with 4 Rimowa (Salsa) suitcases with a handler.
A confusing sign in the middle of nowhere.
Decent pulled pork at the cantina thing in the 80s gates.
A full flight to MRY with the only empties being next to me and the guy across the aisle from me.
Happy to be home.
In a few days flying to Hawaii to race the Spartan Beast and after that New Zealand in November and Thailand in December.
I was glad that I changed my ticket to add Split and also spent the extra miles on my existing J ticket to fly LH F. I had done LH F on paid flights when it was great with GPUs doing a mixed UA Y to J ticket EWR-EUR and LH F EUR-JFK. I had done both the A380 and 747-8i but not on the A340 (my favorite plane). Prior to this also my LH flights were all East Coast except for FRA-LAX in J coming home from CPT. Anyways more on it later.
The early morning flight from SPU on Croatian is on a Dash-8 so that was an extra "bonus" to fly the prop plane. I assumed that it was Y only layout for the sub 2h flight. I didn't feel "cheated" by not having the intra-EU flight not being a J award.
I thought the OLCI was weird when it got re-routed to a 3rd party. Seems the airport is all handled by one central 3rd party company. All the flights and airlines are at the same counters. Luckily there is a J/*G/Premium line which by passed the crowds.
Literally right behind passport control before the escalators to the departure area is the Lounge.
Nothing amazing, but places to sit compared to the crowded upstairs. Just some nuts and crisps, I went upstairs to try and get a bite and was pretty SOL. The duty free place at least had these fig protein bars.
The plane came in from Zagreb landing 5 min before our boarding time. Luckily it was a quick turn and we were bussed out to the plane.
There was 3 rows of J in front of me behind the curtain. However, some rows had 2 people sitting next to each other so it wasn't even adjacent seat blocked...just a try of food instead of these sweet olive oil crackers.
When we landed at a non-gate position I saw a silver MB and thought "great, they are doing a transfer service". Once I got out and noticed the guy was talking to ground crew and it looked a little more used and abused than the limos that it wasn't for me. I had always thought it was always LH-LH transfers but another FTer mentioned he thought it was any LH group-LH that got it. In any event this meant going all the way to the main terminal and then taking the train back to the satellite terminal to get to the F lounge. I would still have about 90-100 minutes to enjoy.
I forgot how slow the water takes to build up...luckily I had enough time to draw a bath and actually soak for a bit.
Had a few more bites and whiskey after the bath before I would head out to the gate. Since it was on the the other side of the terminal + security I left about 10 min before boarding time.
I hadn't boarded LH F without an escort/driver but I assumed it was the same skirmish like LX F/J/*G that get called at once. Surprisingly she did call F first and made a few people wait.
A warm welcome on board. I noticed the clock ticking down to departure. When I looked at the seat map around OLCI I thought it seemed like 4 seats were taken. I noticed the FA had only one set of PJs and kit (women's prepped) on the front counter. Doors closed and a random lady took 1K with me in 2A each having our own side of the cabin.
The purser introduced herself but the star of the show was the lead FA taking care of us in the cabin. She was absolutely wonderful. The right amount of cheeriness/conversation with professionalism and outstanding service.
The reisling and CdF were both great wines. I got pretty drunk with the champagne, vodka and wine.
Lobster+cream cheese amuse bouche.
Oh god why do I always think I should try a cold soup. It almost always makes me want to vomit. I've had maybe one or two fruity (melon mostly) ones in the past that were fine but this with the trout cream and cheese was a no go. The FA and I had a good laugh about it.
Very good lamb shoulder.
I thought I was going to sink in and watch a movie but feeling that I was going to zonk out the FA made the bed up across the aisle from me while I brushed my teeth.
A few hours of sleep were good and would do enough to make me rested to finish up the day in California and go to bed at a normal time to get on schedule.
While working on photos I ordered a snack of the chorizo (good spicy kick to it) pasta and some ice cream.
So I was a little confused with the menu. It had the whole first meal run of show and then a page of snacks on the next. I thought maybe they would present a new pre-arrival menu card; but, it turns out it is a choose your own adventure meal from that before landing. Honestly, I would have liked a proper meal service. Sure, I made one of myself but there's reasons now and then you like going to the chef's tasting vs. a buffet.
The tom kha was a let down.
I love that the LF F salads always have great greens, herbs and edible flowers.
Global Entry was easy as pie in the swamped TBIT. The LH F ground rep apologized that my bag didn't come out first because it didn't have the F/HON tag on it. I said I figured that would be the case because I've flown before where I didn't start on the F carrier and it wasn't a big deal I had a 3h lay over. Though when I've flown TG F and NH F connecting from a J flight that didn't get the F tag at check-in that at NRT or BKK they've added it on themselves behind the scenes.
Slowly made my way in the fresh air over to T7 after giving Tom Ford a once over while he was waiting with 4 Rimowa (Salsa) suitcases with a handler.
A confusing sign in the middle of nowhere.
Decent pulled pork at the cantina thing in the 80s gates.
A full flight to MRY with the only empties being next to me and the guy across the aisle from me.
Happy to be home.
In a few days flying to Hawaii to race the Spartan Beast and after that New Zealand in November and Thailand in December.
Jul 30, 2017, 2:49 pm
#34
Join Date: Apr 2012
Location: ORD
Programs: United 100K, Etihad Gold, Marriot Platinum, Hilton Gold
Posts: 578
cool trip report. I made have stayed at the same room as you at the Marriot in Budapest last week. Was it the corner suite on the 5th floor with the bad ... balcony?
Jul 31, 2017, 3:05 pm
#35
Original Poster
Join Date: Jul 2013
Location: MRY - CNX - TXL
Programs: UA 1K / *G / Marriott PE / Expedia Gold+ / Hertz PC
Posts: 7,058
No I didn't have a balcony room this time, I did on the previous trip. This time I was more in the middle across from the elevators in the rooms facing the McDonald's.