Spontaneous Sicilian Splendour. Palermo in a day
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: Nov 2019
Location: Newcastle, UK
Programs: BAEC GGL, IHG Platinum, FlyingBlue Gold, Hilton Diamond, Mucci des repas d'enfant
Posts: 3,065
Spontaneous Sicilian Splendour. Palermo in a day
A bit of a wild card, I’ve booked a very last minute trip this week, choosing to avoid a three-day weekend at home. I decided to use some of my rewards for a quick getaway and Palermo, a place I've never visited before, fit perfectly for a short diversion from tonight to Sunday.
The itinerary is as follows:
I'll head out to the airport soon for the hop to Heathrow and stay overnight at the Sheraton for the first time.
Tomorrow I have an early flight to Palermo, giving me the afternoon and evening to explore.
Sunday morning will be leisurely, likely consisting of a long breakfast and then off to the airport
Finally, return to Heathrow and onwards to Newcastle Sunday evening.
At present both the Palermo outbound and return flights are on the wet lease Danish Air Transport A321 and hopefully it stays that way and I can see what the fuss is about.
And there’s the fun of a train ride from the Airport to Palermo and back as a car transfer is almost the same price as the entire trip!
With that brief preamble it’s time to sort out my life and make tracks to the airport.
The itinerary is as follows:
I'll head out to the airport soon for the hop to Heathrow and stay overnight at the Sheraton for the first time.
Tomorrow I have an early flight to Palermo, giving me the afternoon and evening to explore.
Sunday morning will be leisurely, likely consisting of a long breakfast and then off to the airport
Finally, return to Heathrow and onwards to Newcastle Sunday evening.
At present both the Palermo outbound and return flights are on the wet lease Danish Air Transport A321 and hopefully it stays that way and I can see what the fuss is about.
And there’s the fun of a train ride from the Airport to Palermo and back as a car transfer is almost the same price as the entire trip!
With that brief preamble it’s time to sort out my life and make tracks to the airport.
#3
Join Date: Feb 2022
Location: Athens, Kerry or Tromso
Posts: 495
Excellent - I haven't been to Palermo for 10+ years so looking forward to the catch up. It's about the same length of time since I was at the LHR Sheraton too, I try never to nightstop at LHR now so also interesting.
#5
Original Poster
Join Date: Nov 2019
Location: Newcastle, UK
Programs: BAEC GGL, IHG Platinum, FlyingBlue Gold, Hilton Diamond, Mucci des repas d'enfant
Posts: 3,065
#7
Join Date: May 2024
Posts: 5
And there’s the fun of a train ride from the Airport to Palermo and back as a car transfer is almost the same price as the entire trip!
With that brief preamble it’s time to sort out my life and make tracks to the airport.[/QUOTE]
Hey JapaesUK,
I love to read your reports so looking forward to this one. just been back from a week there with some friends and enjoy a lot of food and enjoy us.
Just a question, why are you taking the train. There is a bus running to downtown from the airport which works perfect. Other than that just enjoy all the streetfood.
With that brief preamble it’s time to sort out my life and make tracks to the airport.[/QUOTE]
Hey JapaesUK,
I love to read your reports so looking forward to this one. just been back from a week there with some friends and enjoy a lot of food and enjoy us.
Just a question, why are you taking the train. There is a bus running to downtown from the airport which works perfect. Other than that just enjoy all the streetfood.
#8
Original Poster
Join Date: Nov 2019
Location: Newcastle, UK
Programs: BAEC GGL, IHG Platinum, FlyingBlue Gold, Hilton Diamond, Mucci des repas d'enfant
Posts: 3,065
#9
Original Poster
Join Date: Nov 2019
Location: Newcastle, UK
Programs: BAEC GGL, IHG Platinum, FlyingBlue Gold, Hilton Diamond, Mucci des repas d'enfant
Posts: 3,065
And we’re off! Uber must have been waiting for me, he arrived inside the minute. The trip to the airport was traffic free, cannot say the same for the opposite direction, there were some major queues.
Newcastle airport in the daylight! I don’t ever remember travelling through the airport this late in the day
Security looked to be a bit backed up from in front of the boarding pass gates but in fact there were only two scanners running as it was quiet, and everything was moving smoothly.
My bags went straight through, no secondary for either, My favourite NCL sign.
And so to departures.
As you enter departures the first hostelry to the right is Bar11 which looked a bit dark and uninviting
Next to this is the newly reopened Aster and Thyme which is my first stop
Newcastle airport in the daylight! I don’t ever remember travelling through the airport this late in the day
Security looked to be a bit backed up from in front of the boarding pass gates but in fact there were only two scanners running as it was quiet, and everything was moving smoothly.
My bags went straight through, no secondary for either, My favourite NCL sign.
And so to departures.
As you enter departures the first hostelry to the right is Bar11 which looked a bit dark and uninviting
Next to this is the newly reopened Aster and Thyme which is my first stop
#11
Original Poster
Join Date: Nov 2019
Location: Newcastle, UK
Programs: BAEC GGL, IHG Platinum, FlyingBlue Gold, Hilton Diamond, Mucci des repas d'enfant
Posts: 3,065
Because I have a few hours to play with I’ve decided to visit a couple of the bars before heading to the lounge and the first stop is Aster and Thyme
A fairly compact all day menu, a speciality menu, and a fairly comprehensive drinks menu.
And the first order of the day, a pint of Cruzcampo and some olives with chilli pearls. The olives are good but the chilli pearls taste of nothing to me.
A fairly compact all day menu, a speciality menu, and a fairly comprehensive drinks menu.
And the first order of the day, a pint of Cruzcampo and some olives with chilli pearls. The olives are good but the chilli pearls taste of nothing to me.
#12
Original Poster
Join Date: Nov 2019
Location: Newcastle, UK
Programs: BAEC GGL, IHG Platinum, FlyingBlue Gold, Hilton Diamond, Mucci des repas d'enfant
Posts: 3,065
#14
Join Date: Mar 2005
Programs: IHG Diamond Ambassador, Accor Plat, M&M FTL, BA Blue, QR Gold
Posts: 3,843
#15
Original Poster
Join Date: Nov 2019
Location: Newcastle, UK
Programs: BAEC GGL, IHG Platinum, FlyingBlue Gold, Hilton Diamond, Mucci des repas d'enfant
Posts: 3,065
My second stop is the recently revamped Tap + Brew which I took a few pictures of recently when the hoardings first came down.
Ever since the hoardings came down and I did a fly by I have been itching to return for one thing and one thing only, the afternoon stottie menu!
Moretti is the beer of choice at this stop and I was also given this little bag of crisps to keep the wolf from the door whilst I await the arrival of my Stottie.
Which, with perfect timing, has just arrived
Smells good! Time to eat.
Ever since the hoardings came down and I did a fly by I have been itching to return for one thing and one thing only, the afternoon stottie menu!
Moretti is the beer of choice at this stop and I was also given this little bag of crisps to keep the wolf from the door whilst I await the arrival of my Stottie.
Which, with perfect timing, has just arrived
Smells good! Time to eat.