There is no doubt that the Novotel Sydney Airport Hotel is a very convenient and homely place to stay prior to an overseas flight. Furthermore, it is well furnished, comfortable and quiet. Staff is professional, friendly and helpful. 

Overall, we have found the hotel to be very good. It is a pity however that in our experience, the shuttle bus service to and from the airport has been consistently unreliable and inefficient. The last thing travellers need when embarking on an overseas strip is to be left at the airport trying to find from where - and even worse, if and when - the correct shuttle bus is operating. This was especially the case on the last two occasions when everyone packed to the gunnels with luggage, was stumbling about in pouring rain. Rude and aggressive drivers didn't help either.... And neither did the fact that the buses prioritised passengers who were staying at the first stop of the Stamford Plaza Airport Hotel, while the rest of us huddled in a useless queue in foul weather conditions.

Discussing the unacceptable situation with hotel management upon our arrival, we were told that the service was contracted to private providers. There was nothing they could do. Really....?

But truly, we had no complaints compared with the many other guests who were actually stranded at the hotel. Mostly New Zealanders, they had been forced to stay at the Novotel or other Sydney hotels, as Cyclone Gabrielle lashed the coast of the North Island of New Zealand, causing devastating damage and resulting in the cancellation of some 500 flights to and from Australia. At an estimated cost of USD 8.4 billion, it was the most violent cyclone (165 km per hour winds and nine fatalities) to hit New Zealand in some 50 years.

Hundreds of anxious guests milled about the foyer waiting for the latest information on flights. Holidays were cancelled. Others were delayed for days from returning home. Many recounted some very trying situations. 

Over a pleasant breakfast, a young couple Kelsie and Marcus told us they had already lost three out of their five-day New Zealand vacation and were seriously considering abandoning their holiday plans and returning to their home city of Newcastle, in New South Wales where they were both due back to work by the end of the week. Totally out of control, they had no option than to sit tight and wait for further flight updates. Remarkably upbeat, we could not help but admire their patience.

Secretly however, we shuddered trying not to think about how many flight connections we were about to contemplate on our own journey. The ripple effect of even just one delayed or missing connection didn't bear thinking about.... Oh, and then there may also be COVID to contend with....

Flying Business Class on the very long outward legs of our journeys has always been a real treat. And best of all is a relaxing gin and tonic in the Business Class Lounge prior to departure. 

Our good friend Sue, who has over the last twenty years or so, consistently endured our crazy travels to some of the most off-beat places on earth, sighed yet again as she farewelled me over the phone. "Now every lead up to your travels has been the same. Everything goes devastatingly wrong beforehand. But on your return, you have always been over the moon about your travels. Just wait until you have that first gin and tonic. And all those pre-travel disasters will simply disappear.... You will as always, have the time of your lives....". Sue was diplomatic enough not to add that there was no way anyone in their right mind would travel to the places to which we did. We knew that. But, this trip was comparatively tame; bordering on the boring side we thought….

Not so kind was an acquaintance who, upon hearing that Alan was considering a glacier walk as part of a tour, during our travels in Iceland, told me in no uncertain terms that any resulting accidents would be totally my responsibility. Mine? After all, Alan did organise most of this trip himself.... And he was not suffering from dementia. Well, at least anything of which I was aware.... 

She went on "There is no way I would be taking an 85 year old on that sort of hike. If anything happens to Alan, it will be on your head. And there will undoubtedly be a coronial inquiry and take my word for it, you will be implicated by the police.....". 

Shocked by her seriousness, it did make me wonder what on earth people were thinking…. Upon arriving home, I poured out the story to Alan. Who burst out laughing. Thanks Alan. But strangely enough, her words kept with me for the entire trip. 

Sue should have been right about that first gin and tonic. But if one thing is almost as bad as finding gin with no tonic water, it is one which is weak and almost totally ice. 

The new Sky Team Lounge which is shared by Vietnam Airlines, was underwhelming. It was not unpleasant, just uninspiring for such a well-advertised new Business Lounge. More disappointingly, for the first time we encountered a Business Lounge whose bar was staffed. There was no help yourself to drinks which of course meant no indulgent decent-strength G & T's! Finally however, one of the kind bar persons agreed that she would pour Alan double strength gins to save his legs. And within a short space of time, Sue’s farewell wishes were becoming reality….

Interestingly, the Sky Team lounge was almost empty. Quiet, peaceful and relaxed - it was a very pleasant way to begin our travels.

The lounge may have been devoid of passengers, but the queuing to board the aircraft was frenetic. Actually, there was no queuing as anyone with children of any age, was allowed on first. After travelling for years on Business Class outward flights, it certainly was a very disappointing surprise. 

Of course it is totally reasonable, if not essential, to give preferential treatment to those with disabilities. Or parents with babies or very young ones but those with children around ten year's of age...? In our opinion, definitely not. Furthermore, many of the families had a plethora of plastic cars and bikes for the children as well as a heap of other toys - which of course, used up much of the carry-on bags overhead compartment space. We had never seen so many children in Business Class*. 

This was our first experience with Vietnam Airlines and we were interested to see what our flight would be like. After all, we had to report back to our cat foster parents Deb and Ian who were embarking on an overseas trip to Europe with the airline, soon after we would arrive home.

 

Overall, we would have to agree that the flight was very good. The food and drinks were first rate and the service as good as it could be given the size of the Business Class compartment. From our perspective however, it felt like additional seating had been squashed in. It was very tight and not particularly comfortable, especially for very tall people like Alan. Furthermore, the seats were arranged in a kind of herringbone fashion which meant that the area of each individual seat resembled a coffin-shape with a very narrow part for your legs and feet. Sadly, the lie down, flat bed option was unacceptably uncomfortable.  

Thanks to our local GP Chris, we decided to wear masks for the duration of our travels. "Oh, you will definitely have contracted COVID by the time you get to Sydney" he prophesised. We hadn't but we were diligent in keeping our masks on. And it wasn't easy. We joked that we would have to make an eyelet for Alan's mask so he could manage to drink his gins and tonic. But of course, he managed....

* Note: Although some of the above matters are of a relatively trivial nature, I am including them because it was our first observation of a complete disregard for customer service and/or satisfaction that we were to encounter throughout our coming travels. It was in hindsight, very much evidence of an ugly post-COVID travel attitude we had never seen before. 

Even for those in transit, security at Hanoi Airport was extreme. Perhaps there was a drugs issue. We had not left the airport yet to transfer from the arrival to the departure lounge, we were made to take off shoes, belts, watches and remove handkerchiefs from our pockets.

It is usually Alan who is singled out for MRI's and x-rays but for this trip it was me. Every time. And that's to say nothing of removing my snow boots. But that's another story.....  

Hanoi departures lounge was however, rather lovely. Decorated with bamboo and jungle vegetation, it certainly felt and smelt like a sultry, tropical destination. Perfect for a cold beer! And I must admit that we did enjoy a most entertaining time chatting with fellow Australian passenger Charles. 

As well of course, sharing a few ice cold beverages. Bliss....