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Renard Aug 11, 2006 6:32 pm


Originally Posted by kyushuman
Jaimito (and anyone else who might know).... a few questions:
I'm going to be in LCA next week, and I have some similar plans as yours:
1) I'm flying the YYZ-FCO flight. Is the Biz seat any different from the YYZ-MXP Biz seat? eg, Personal IFE montiors, etc?

Thanks for the help!

The flight I had yyz-fco had the new magnifica class seats with little personal monitors that they brought around. The seats were nice. The IFE was nice but more clumsy than the built in variety. (A FA tripped over the cord on mine and broke the cord between the unit and the power source--giving me a 'look' as if I had done something wrong :rolleyes: .)

It is my understanding that the yyz-mxp is the old style seats and no personal IFE... the old seats are not all that bad. I found them comfortable and the space more than adequate. I certainly prefer the newer seats...but no problem with the old. The lack of personal IFE is certainly a bigger issue for me personally....sometimes it was very difficulty to see the subtitles in the movie in Italian depending on the position of the seat in front of you. Certainly given the price either seat/ife combo is just fine...comfy and roomy. However, I would frankly never consider buying a J/D class on AZ at regular price given what else out there is available. (I also have a preference for my luggage arriving with me too and it appears to me that is an issue with AZ :rolleyes: )

gaugeguy Aug 12, 2006 2:34 am


Originally Posted by Jaimito Cartero
Hertz was okay to rent from. Friendly, but not so good instructions for the Hilton Park. I paid about $307 for a week for a Honda CRV (The website will quote you a Rav4, but they say they don't have any). This is with a AAA discount.

They do precharge you about $80 US for a tank of gas, but you can fill it up and get it refunded. (I'd recommend this, as they charge you 15% VAT on the gas charge!)

I booked both the Hilton Park and Hilton Cyprus award nights, both before the June 1st increase. (10K Park, 25k Cyprus, though I changed the latter to their 18k point stretcher that is out now). The Park is now at 12k point stretcher.

I got a much nicer welcome gift from the Hilton Park (Champagne, salmon platter, water) than the Hilton Cyprus. I got a 2x sized room from the Park, as well. However, the king bed just sucked there in my opinion. Even the presidential suite had the same bed.

The Hilton Cyprus is much nicer, bedwise (but only upgraded to Exec floor and just a fruit plate & small bottle of wine), much easier to find, but parking is quite bad here the night I was there. The buffet breakfast here is nice, but maybe only 10% better than the Park. They also didn't give me breakfast as a Diamond, and the waitress had to call the front desk to get it approved.

The spa in the Hilton Cyprus is also pretty nice, and included with executive floor, I think.

When I checked, both locations were in the $200 US or more a night range. I personally would not pay this amount to stay at either place. At 1/2 cent a point, I paid $50 and $90 a night for each place which is reasonable.

The Park is a bit out of everything. There's a supermarket, bowling alley, and McDonalds in easily walkable distance. Decent parking, and a nice pool too.

I have to agree with the comments at the Hilton Park. I have stayed there 2 times now and will check in tonight again (8/12) for one night as I am back to the US again tomorrow. They have treated me very nice and have German Sekt (Sparkling Wine) in the room, canapies and a bottle of water. Breakfast was free and very nice as is most European Hiltons. The room was also very nice (Given room 101) twice now. As far as the bed, yes it sucks!! Very hard and uncomfortable but for 10,000 pts night, I think that it is an increadible deal. I really like the property but the location sucks for sure. Kind of a long drive just for a quick overnight in LCA imho. Anyway, Like I said, Will be there tonight and also the 15th. If anyone else will be there, please PM me so we can have a beverage or two. ;)

PrivatePilot Aug 15, 2006 7:58 pm

Trip coming up in Sept:

We have a 5+ hr stopover in Rome. Can anything be done during that time? (Quick trip to town, etc)

In Cyprus, We are staying at the Hilton Park Hotel for the first night (to see Nicosia and meet up with a friend) and then heading to the coast. We are staying at the Aeneas Hotel in Ayia Napa:

http://www.aeneas.com.cy/

Unique Features: largest pool in Europe. Some rooms have direct access to the pool from the balcony.

bostonbali Aug 15, 2006 9:04 pm


Originally Posted by PrivatePilot
We have a 5+ hr stopover in Rome. Can anything be done during that time? (Quick trip to town, etc)

I was considering visiting Ostia Antica (only 7KM away from FCO) during my 5-hour FCO layover. The only thing I wasn't sure about was the cost of the taxi ride there, as well as how easily I could find a cab to take me back to FCO once I was done visiting the ruins there. Check out this link to the question I asked on the virtual tourist forum...
http://forum.virtualtourist.com/6/di...azX74JVbXFrLxM

SAT Lawyer Aug 16, 2006 12:21 am


Originally Posted by PrivatePilot
We have a 5+ hr stopover in Rome. Can anything be done during that time? (Quick trip to town, etc)

Certainly, assuming your flight is relatively on time, you get throught the airport quickly, forego a lounge visit upon arrival, are checked in with a boarding pass for the onward flight, and have a minimal sense of direction and ability to read a transportation map. Take the express train to Termini and the Metro Line B two stops from there to the Colosseum. Tour the Colosseum and the adjacent Forum if you have leftover time. St. Peter's and the Vatican would be too ambitious for your timetable, in my opinion. But I wouldn't pass on the opportunity to take in a small sliver of the wonders of Rome on a layover like yours, unless you are a regular visitor to the Eternal City.


Unique Features: largest pool in Europe.
Who needs a pool when you have lovely Nissi Beach across the street?

I mean, seriously. I've never understood people who travel to beautiful beach resorts and spend even a minute of time at the pool. But maybe that's just me.

planeluvr Aug 16, 2006 12:21 pm


Originally Posted by AndrewNewOrleans

On a side note….I highly recommend the Inter-Continental Aphrodite Hills! What a beautiful resort! We really enjoyed our two days there. Its a bit of a drive from Larnaca but I thought it was worth it!


I rented a villa at Aphrodite Hills and had a great time.

jpdx Aug 16, 2006 12:57 pm


Originally Posted by bostonbali
I was considering visiting Ostia Antica (only 7KM away from FCO) during my 5-hour FCO layover.

Ostia Antica is definitely worth it, but do make arrangements for your return to FCO. Otherwise, finding a cab to take you back might be tough.

YVR Cockroach Aug 16, 2006 2:34 pm

You can get to Ostia Antica by public transport from FCO. Just take a bus (not sure what frequency) towards Ostia Lido, and cross over the highway to get to a rail stop (the line that runs between Roma Piramide and Ostia Lido) and go towards Rome for one stop, and cross the highway to get to Ostia Antica. Only trouble with this I don't think you should/can rely on the timetables for the train and/or the bus.

There isn't much around the place (it's surrounded by a very suburban area) where you are likely to find a taxi so you may end up stranded though so close to the airport.

bostonbali Aug 16, 2006 10:30 pm


Originally Posted by YVR Cockroach
There isn't much around the place (it's surrounded by a very suburban area) where you are likely to find a taxi so you may end up stranded though so close to the airport.

YVR - Sounds like you've visited Ostia Antica before. Would you recommend visiting it during a 5 hour layover? Seems like it only takes 15-20 minutes to drive there, so I figure we'd have 2-3 hours to walk around.

I did look up a car rental (7am-11:30am). Surprisingly, my Hertz CDP allows me to rent an economy car (Peugeot 107) for only 34 Euros, all taxes and fees included!!!
Now I need to decide whether it's worth leaving the airport for 3.5 or so hours for $43...

YVR Cockroach Aug 17, 2006 10:05 am


Originally Posted by bostonbali
Would you recommend visiting it during a 5 hour layover? Seems like it only takes 15-20 minutes to drive there, so I figure we'd have 2-3 hours to walk around.

The trouble is Ostia Antica is only open from 0830 so assuming an ontime (or even early) arrival from YYZ, you have to cool your heels for at least 1/2 hr waiting for it to open. I'd highly recommend it if you even had an hour or 2 more but not sure if you only have 2 hours to walk around. Maybe make the reservation and see what time the LCA flight is actually scheduled to leave? You'll have to make a judgement call on that one.

LapLap Aug 17, 2006 2:11 pm


Originally Posted by YVR Cockroach
The trouble is Ostia Antica is only open from 0830 so assuming an ontime (or even early) arrival from YYZ...

Hostia!

stephem Aug 18, 2006 12:15 pm

How have the on-time arrivals (or I should say delays) been for the return MXP-YYZ this summer? The flight is supposed to arrive at 2pm, we are connecting to NW on a 4:30pm flight, although there is also a later 6-ish flight that NW says has room if we miss the first one. with a 2.5 hour cushion I expect we should make the 4:30pm flight, or am I mistaken about that? Any anecdotal evidence of actual arrival times of the MXP flight would be appreciated...

kyushuman Aug 18, 2006 3:23 pm


Originally Posted by stephem
How have the on-time arrivals (or I should say delays) been for the return MXP-YYZ this summer? The flight is supposed to arrive at 2pm, we are connecting to NW on a 4:30pm flight, although there is also a later 6-ish flight that NW says has room if we miss the first one. with a 2.5 hour cushion I expect we should make the 4:30pm flight, or am I mistaken about that? Any anecdotal evidence of actual arrival times of the MXP flight would be appreciated...

I would STRONGLY recommend just changing your flight to the later one. Even that one is not a guaranteed thing with a late MXP flight. I have connected on KLM AMS-YYZ-MSP with 2.5 hours at YYZ, and BARELY made it even before this week's new security rules.
You need to exit the plane, get your bag (if it comes--KLM lost mine, and based on reports here, it would be completely unsurprising if AZ lost yours!), and go to check in for the NW flight upstairs--and THEN you will be facing a quite -long US immigration line.
It's not terrible, as all the lines move quickly, but it's just that there are many hoops to jump through. If everything goes well, you could make the 2.5 hour connection, but barely. With the extra cushion, you won't be in such a big hurry.

YVR Cockroach Aug 21, 2006 10:31 am


Originally Posted by kyushuman
You need to exit the plane, get your bag (if it comes--KLM lost mine, and based on reports here, it would be completely unsurprising if AZ lost yours!), and go to check in for the NW flight upstairs--and THEN you will be facing a quite -long US immigration line.

Actually, it's worse than this. You have to switch terminals (I'm pretty sure NW operates from T3). You can possibly do it but you have to be fast. Get off the plane fast and on the bus (the terminal AZ uses is remote) and that can be lengthy, get to immigration/customs (should not take too long but if you have bags - add at least 30 minutes), switch terminals, checkin (unless you did webcheckin in MXP and have carryon only), go through U.S. immigration and customs, dump bags if any, security and then the gate.

zrudeboyz Aug 27, 2006 4:55 pm

Can someone who has travelled confirm the mileage earning with AZ on the CY flights?

My tickets say fare basis D, but some of my seats are in Y (due to availability); will I earn 200% with AZ regardless of where my butt is parked?

I believe this should be the case, but would like a confirmation with someone from experience.

Thanks


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