March 01st, 2016

TRAVEL DAY

We love to travel and we look forward to and get so much out of each and every trip we take.  Normally this time of year we would be sailing on Crystal Serenity as part of a World Cruise, which we have done eight times starting in 2007.    This year we are spending more time at home to be with our ever growing family of three grand children

​We were picked up at our home in the afternoon for the one hour drive to our regional airport for the flight to London Heathrow.

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Once at the airport we checked in for our British Airways Flight.  British Airways has one flight each day that is a direct flight to and from London Heathrow.  This service began a couple of years ago.  We have taken the flight several times since service began.


British Airways only operates this one flight so many of the personnel are involved with both the check in desk and the gate.  The check in desk closes on our before the scheduled flight departure to allow the personnel to assist at the gate.

The man that we see at the gate has been at the check in desk and the gate on each and every flight we have taken since this service commenced.  We asked him whether or not he takes time off during the week.  


Recently, British Airways added First Class service in addition to Business and Coach Classes.  We were fortunate to be able to use airline miles from our preferred USA airline to get first class and the miles were quite reasonable.  The flight was actually half full and there were not to many people in first class.


Service was terrific.  The flight actually took off one hour late but arrived only fifteen minutes after the schedule arrival time at London Heathrow.  

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After our flight arrived we made our way to passport control and there was no line so in a matter of a couple of minutes we then made our way over to collect our one piece of checked luggage which was already on the luggage carrousel.  We then exited the area and met our driver for our drive over to the Hotel.

We are staying at The Egerton House Hotel.  It is part of the Carnation Hotel Group.  Our last couple of times in London we have stayed at a sister property called Hotel 41.  We chose this property based on reviews we read, and its location which is near the V&A Museum.

Upon arrival to the Hotel we were greeted by two of the personnel who work at the Hotel.  We were told that our room would be ready in ten minutes and we enjoyed a cup of coffee in a beautiful room where on can sit to read or have quiet conversation or at night to have a drink.  It is well known for its potent Martini's.   We enjoyed some coffee and when we went to the reception desk the person who checked us in showed us around the hotel and also escorted us to our room and spent fifteen minutes with us and was very helpful to us.  This is a small hotel with rooms of various sizes. Our room is their one of a kind suite with two lovely rooms and even a small area to sit outside.  With rain in the forecast we are not sure how much we will utilize the patio but time will tell.  After freshening up we made our way outside for a short walk to pick up salads to bring back to the room along with a few items.  There are lots of eating establishments near the hotel and we went to one that we are quite familiar with to get our salads.  

We spent a couple of hours after lunch unpacking and then went out on a walk in the afternoon.  We love London.  Tomorrow we will begin touring around.  We will post more tomorrow.

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