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SIN-MXP-BCN by 77W and a revieW of W Barcelona

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  • SIN-MXP-BCN by 77W and a revieW of W Barcelona

    Introduction

    Barcelona is where my wife and I went using our UG3 upgrade vouchers.

    I had the same problem as many on SQTalk in finding a seat using our vouchers.

    So I made it simple for SQ.

    I asked them...looong ago...July, I think... to tell me when we could fly using the vouchers and got 8 days in Barcelona.

    When SQ gives things away, don't think, grab first!


    Changi Airport

    It's been a while since I've seen the airport so busy. Good for Changi!

    Luckily, there was no line at check in and I bypassed the queues at immigration by using the automated counters.

    Spent an hour in the lounge before it was time to board.



    My ride to BCN. Changi may have won many awards but photo opportunities is not one of them!

    SIN-MXP



    I was planning to sleep all the way to MXP but decided that it might be
    a very short TR so, for the sake of putting out this TR for SQTalk, I had supper.
    So here is the supper menu...



    Caeser salad with cajun spiced roasted chicken



    Pork short rib bolognese with rigatoni.
    And then I went to bed. Sorry!



    I woke up to the smell of caviar around 8am Singapore time.
    Quickly I turned on my Air Map.
    Yes I was right! We were flying over the Caspian Sea. See?



    Unfortunately no caviar or silver spoons available in Biz class,
    so I looked at the menu, and decided on...



    ...Fish ball noodle soup instead .

    More to come...
    Last edited by 9V-SIA; 20 October 2009, 11:56 PM.

  • #2
    Breakfast




    1.5 hours before landing, breakfast was served.
    Breakfast menu



    Sliced fresh fruit



    Granola with yoghurt-berry compote



    Parsley omelette with chicken sausage, roasted tomato, mushrooms & potatoes

    Milan Airport

    We landed on time..just past 630am Milan time.
    The landing at MXP was the best I have experienced in a while.
    You know the kind. When you hear the sound of the wheels rolling as an indication that you have indeed landed.
    We were on the ground for approx 1 hour.

    Transit passengers were not allowed off the plane
    so I spent the time reading and taking pictures of the F cabin.
    Cleaning crew came on board during the short stopover



    I could only take pictures outside the aircraft when
    • it got light
    • the condensation cleared from my window

    And then I caught sight of this TG 772
    I'm always happy to catch a glimpse of a familiar "face"



    Soon after the arrival of the TG 772, pushback for our flight.
    Glimpse of MXP before we were on our way



    Alitalia, a former visitor to Changi.
    Their problem is branding.
    If they renamed it Giorgio Armani Airlines,
    the queues would stretch for miles to get on board



    View of the mountains overlooking MXP after take-off for BCN
    Last edited by 9V-SIA; 20 October 2009, 10:16 PM.

    Comment


    • #3
      Milan-Barcelona






      So this was my space for 12 hours..Seat 11K.



      Get a window seat on the right of the aircraft.
      You will get good views of the city.



      Mrs 9V-SIA. Across the aisle in 11F.
      At check in, they offered to seat us together... 18DF. I declined

      As things turned out, 11D was not taken.
      Loads were 3F and 37J ( from SIN-MXP). Not sure of loads in Y.



      Flight is slightly more than an hour but they still provided a snack..



      Chose the ciabatta.
      I think if SQ is willing to pay the caterer to provide a snack,
      they could go the extra mile by heating it up before serving.
      What does that cost?

      I do note with some satisfaction that after completing a SQ feedback form,
      butter they now serve is more "spreadable" and ice cream is served softer.
      Instead of frozen solid.
      Has anyone else noticed this?
      Last edited by 9V-SIA; 20 October 2009, 11:58 PM.

      Comment


      • #4
        Wow very nice report and thanks for bringing me to Barcelona !! Keep it coming !
        When the going gets tough, the tough go travelling ...

        Comment


        • #5
          The snack on MXP-BCN leg looked so economyish! Probably economy class also served the same ciabatta...
          My past and future travels

          My Travel Map

          Comment


          • #6
            Thoroughly enjoying this TR excellent stuff ... I miss SQ!

            Comment


            • #7
              Approach to BCN

              Barcelona is surrounded on 3 sides by hills.

              The city faces the Mediterranean Sea.

              Aircraft approach the airport from the sea.

              It was overcast ( but thankfully not bumpy ) all the way from MXP to BCN.

              Luckily the clouds cleared for me to get these shots of the approach.



              Look at the prominent position of the W Barcelona, right on the beach!

              Behind the W Barcelona ( separated by water, it is long walk from W ) is Port Vell, the old port.

              There are 2 wharfs there.
              1. One still functions as a wharf for cruise ships ( and on which stands the World Trade Centre... that pink block right on the water.)
                The Ramblas, the most famous road in BCN, can be seen running north from the WTC.

              2. The other has been turned into a commercial hub ( for cruise ship PAXs, I suspect )
                with shops, restaurants, IMAX theatre and their famous aquarium.




              As the plane heads towards the airport, the new port comes into view...



              That hill overlooking the harbour is Montjuic



              Old terminal BCN



              New terminal BCN designed by architect Ricardo Bofill,
              who also designed W Barcelona
              Look at the international aerobridges.. they look like steps
              The airport is breathtaking



              Domestic pier on the way to our aerobridge



              Thanks for the ride!

              Immigration clearance was fast.

              We were the only international arrival and I had 4 counters to choose from.

              Had to wait a while for the bags but not too long.
              Last edited by 9V-SIA; 27 October 2009, 05:40 PM.

              Comment


              • #8
                Great TR 9V-SIA! I love BCN. Nou Camp & Tapas!

                I recall going to this Tapas Bar around the Port Veil area (one of the backlanes), just mainly local traffic and retirees but the stuff was awesome. Top notch! Not to forget the restaurant up some hill with excellent baby lamb. Yum!

                Comment


                • #9
                  Bravo on your dedication, 9V-SIA. Thanks for the TR.
                  ‘Lean into the sharp points’

                  Comment


                  • #10
                    W Barcelona

                    Introduction

                    I was not planning to stay here at first.
                    I'd booked for 8 nights at Omm in Eixample.
                    But after my good experience in W Hong Kong, I split my stay.
                    4 nights at W Barcelona & 4 nights at Omm.
                    W Hong Kong helped me with the booking as I couldn't get a room online.

                    First Impressions

                    First things first, W Barcelona is Hotel Vella to the locals.
                    Vella means Sail... I think.
                    Useful if you are catching a taxi who will otherwise give you a blank stare back if you ask for W.

                    I think W is onto a winner with this hotel.
                    I am convinced that it will become one of the landmarks of Barcelona
                    ( just as Burj Al Arab is to Dubai )
                    It will also be the "poster hotel" for the W group.

                    One problem. Location.
                    It's not even on existing maps of Barcelona!
                    I reckon it's about 200m outside the lower edge of the map.


                    Public Areas



                    View of the hotel as you approach it from the beach.



                    The front of the hotel.
                    Notch in "the sail" is the lift lobby on each floor.
                    Offers great views of the city while waiting for the lift!
                    Not very grand but...



                    ..look up as you enter the lobby and a soaring 6 story atrium, a light show
                    topped by a glass sky light and glimpses of "the sail" beyond



                    At 2 o'clock..
                    concierge to the left,
                    reception to the right



                    To the left of the entrance, the space is split into 3 areas.
                    The Living Room leading to the pool deck



                    The restaurant to the left of the Living Room



                    The bar to the right.
                    This picture is not view from the lobby
                    but pool deck view of the bar

                    Sweat

                    The gym is more comprehensively equipped than my gym in Singapore!
                    Very, very good.



                    The Entrance to the gym
                    You can just about make out equipment arranged in 3 rows
                    Far end are cardio machines..



                    The cardio equipment faces the beach.
                    Picture taken at 6am so you can't see it.
                    I had the gym to myself till 7am!



                    Strength training...
                    Last edited by 9V-SIA; 27 October 2009, 05:43 PM.

                    Comment


                    • #11
                      Originally posted by Flyerfly View Post
                      Wow very nice report and thanks for bringing me to Barcelona !! Keep it coming !
                      Long way to go.. must finish this by the weekend.
                      Momentum slows exponentially after that!

                      Originally posted by ycp81 View Post
                      The snack on MXP-BCN leg looked so economyish! Probably economy class also served the same ciabatta...
                      IMHO warming it up will make a world of difference with no added cost
                      ( SQ lurker/bean counter take note )

                      Originally posted by SQflyergirl View Post
                      Thoroughly enjoying this TR excellent stuff ... I miss SQ!
                      Thanks.

                      Originally posted by Nick C View Post
                      Great TR 9V-SIA! I love BCN. Nou Camp & Tapas!

                      I recall going to this Tapas Bar around the Port Veil area (one of the backlanes), just mainly local traffic and retirees but the stuff was awesome. Top notch! Not to forget the restaurant up some hill with excellent baby lamb. Yum!
                      Thanks Nick C. Loved the tapas. Wait till you see my shot of churros dipped in hot chocolate!



                      Originally posted by jjpb3 View Post
                      Bravo on your dedication, 9V-SIA. Thanks for the TR.
                      Thanks. Very dedicated.... and fat.

                      Comment


                      • #12
                        Hot stuff! Thanks for pics of the W Barcelona. More please!
                        All opinions shared are my own, and are not necessarily those of my employer or any other organisation of which I'm affiliated to.

                        Comment


                        • #13
                          The Rooms

                          6th floor and below, you can stay in "the sail" or "the block" at the front of the hotel.

                          Above 6th floor, only the sail.

                          We stayed on the 11th floor of "the sail".

                          Better to stay on a high floor at "the sail"





                          "The Block"
                          Floor plan for 6th floor and below
                          Note 2 extra lifts serve up to 6th floor
                          They are behind the "light show" seen from the lobby



                          View of the lobby from the 6th floor
                          You can see the concierge desk



                          Above 6th floor, only "the sail" to stay in
                          Views of Barcelona from the lift lobby are spectacular!



                          Our room as you enter
                          The sofa by the window works very well

                          For our sea view rooms:

                          Sit by the left and you get views of the harbour.
                          Also the TV swivels so you can watch it by the window
                          ( when Mrs 9V-SIA was asleep )

                          Sit on the right gives you views of the sea
                          ( and to watch the planes approaching BCN )
                          I use to watch the SQ flight land every morning around 850am!



                          Room from the window.
                          Minibar is in the cupboard at the entrance to the room
                          Note: Tivoli radio-alarm clock on the left bedside table
                          That rectagular column behind the Tivoli clock is an uplighter.
                          A remote control allows you to change the color ( IIRC red, green, blue, yellow ) of the light to suit your mood.
                          That blue bottle of water on the right was 4 EURO! Cough! Cough!



                          The wash basin. No walls between bathroom and bedroom.
                          Space was needed to put the desk behind the bed I think
                          So as to enjoy the views..



                          Rain shower!
                          What doesn't work for me is that you have to pull the shower curtains
                          to prevent your towel/gown from getting wet.
                          Despite having stepped into the shower already and closed the door



                          Loo beside the shower stall



                          Beware that multiple adaptor plugs do not fit in the sockets.
                          They need to be round
                          Free wi-fi and PCs in the business centre.
                          Last edited by 9V-SIA; 22 October 2009, 06:40 PM.

                          Comment


                          • #14
                            The Views



                            So this is the view from the left side of the sofa looking at the harbour and Montjuic
                            The cable in front of my window ruining my view belong to the window cleaners



                            Pesky window cleaners eye view of our rooms.
                            We could have appeared in that movie "Confessions of a Window Cleaner"



                            This is the view from the right side of the sofa towards the sea
                            Can you see SQ378?
                            It was the only plane that my LX3 could focus on
                            Everything else were narrow bodies and too tiny to register!
                            I need a small DSLR. Any suggestions?



                            This would be the view from the city facing rooms. They cost more.
                            I'm sure you'll agree that the view from my room ain't too shabby
                            Twin towers in the distance is the 1992 Olympic Village area

                            Pool in foreground is the W Pool. Unheated but popular nonetheless!



                            Lift Lobby with a View.
                            My nomination....



                            The road and beach approach to the hotel.
                            Directly in front, they are building something.
                            I hope it's not too high...



                            From left panning to the right... Harbour and Montjuic.
                            Quite mesmerizing to watch the cruise liners come in and out of the harbour.
                            They all come in early in the morning.
                            Then they all leave in the evening.



                            World Trade Centre

                            See that sail boat in the water to the left of WTC?
                            2 cm above it is Monument a Colom, the start of The Ramblas
                            Reminds me of Nelson's Column in Trafalger Square,
                            except that it's Christopher Columbus standing on top



                            Mare Magnum, Cineplex, IMAX and L'Aquarium de Barcelona.
                            All catering to the cruise ship tourists visiting the city..
                            Pleasure craft park behind this wharf too

                            That tower to the right of the picture is the Torre de Sant Sebastia.
                            Terminus for the cable car that runs to WTC and beyond to the foothills of Montjuic.

                            I thought we could use this as a reliable means to get to The Ramblas.
                            You can't. One day it was closed because of high winds.
                            Another day there were long queues.
                            Last edited by 9V-SIA; 22 March 2010, 08:06 PM.

                            Comment


                            • #15
                              Sights of Barcelona

                              Introduction

                              This is my first visit to Barcelona, having been put off by 2 misconceptions:

                              1. Petty crime.

                              The guidebooks warn you to be careful.
                              Many friends have had their pockets picked in BCN.
                              Actually one just has to be situationally aware and not be distracted by the awesomeness of the place.

                              Guys, carry your wallet in your front pocket
                              Girls, clutch your handbags.

                              Watch out if people start crowding around you.

                              The police presence was palpable. Walking 10 mins along the beach for dinner at Barceloneta, 3 police cars passed us.
                              Ditto La Ramblas. Lots of police.

                              2. Late Dinners

                              One gets sleepy early when arriving from the Far East.
                              I was under the impression that the restaurants only open at 10pm, way past my bedtime.
                              Not true. They open at 8pm. First seating seems to be always the tourists.

                              Actually we met a lot of interesting fellow travelers at dinner.
                              The locals are waiting to take our place at the 10pm seating!


                              I usually divide up the cities into sections then see a section a day.

                              Places I would recommend:
                              1. La Rambla / La Boqueria
                              2. Port Vell
                              3. Barri Gotic
                              4. Ribera / Born
                              5. Eixample
                              6. Park Guell
                              7. Sagrada Familia


                              Not forgetting the beach and Barceloneta

                              A walk down La Rambla from Placa De Catalonia ( PDC ) to Port Vell

                              PDC is the crossroads of the tourist map so I suggest staying in a hotel nearby.

                              La Rambla is a very crowded pedestrian walk ( OK they allow cars at the sides), only 1 km long,
                              but packed with interesting stalls/things to see along the walk.



                              Placa De Catalonia



                              La Ramblas
                              Note: News kiosks selling newspapers, magazines and souvenirs



                              Flower stalls..



                              Stalls selling birds..



                              Performance artists...



                              Brave kid!



                              Portrait painters..



                              Quirky stores..



                              W is that-a-way!

                              PS I should mention that for SPGs, Le Meridian is right on La Ramblas.

                              More importantly, LM is a stone throws from the central market, Mercat de la Bouqueria aka La Boqueria

                              For me, it's the most fantastic market I have ever visited.
                              Last edited by 9V-SIA; 26 October 2009, 07:16 AM.

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