Tag: Switzerland

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A Bed in Interlaken – Backpackers Villa Sonnenhof Review
Interlaken is one of Switzerland’s most popular tourist destinations. Surrounded by some of the most famous and beautiful nature in the country, with great transport links, it is no wonder. There are plenty of hotels and hostels to choose from but in a country that is pretty hard on the backpacker’s wallet, how can you be sure you are staying somewhere that is affordable and nice? In 2023, we stayed at Backpackers Villa Sonnenhof and it very quickly became one of our favourite hostels. Read on for our full Backpackers Villa Sonnenhof review.

This post may contain sponsored content or affiliate links that help support the blog. All opinions are our own.

About Backpackers Villa Sonnenhof

Backpackers Villa Sonnenhof has been operating since 1998 so they have had a few years to nail the hostel formula. That is probably why they offer:
- Free Wifi
- Free breakfast (more on that later)
- Bed linen as standard (although you will have to make your own bed in the dorms)
- Free entry to a local swimming pool
- Free lockers for everybody
- Dorms, private rooms with shared bathrooms and privates with en suite bathrooms. (Everyone has hot showers)
The architecture of the Backpackers Villa Somnenehof may surprise you. It is definitely a hostel of two halves, with the old section actually around 200 years old and the shiny new block built in 2009 which is now where you’ll fine reception, the breakfast room and a few dorms. The old chalet was actually moved from its original home over by the famous Victoria Hotel and reconstructed perfectly. This means that you will find some gorgeous original mouldings and tiling on the old staircase.

The Location

Backpackers Villa Sonnenhof sits on the edge of a large green patch next to the town centre. nowhere is more than a fifteen minute walk, including most shops, restaurants, both Interlaken train stations and the boat launches. When you first arrive, you may be concerned about its proximity to the road and roundabout but we had no issues with traffic noise (there was barely any real traffic).

A Look Around Backpackers VIlla Sonnenhof

Our Room

Our room was a private double with a shared bathroom up on the top floor of the hostel. We had two windows that let in plenty of light and the white walls made it seem nice and bright too. With the sloped room, I was actually a little worried about the sunlight in the morning but the gravity-controlled curtain by my bed was really fun and worked beautifully.

We each had a large locker which would have easily fit both of our bags in. These were both denoted by letters that coordinated with our lettered towels. It’s a nice system. Considering that most of the 200 beds on offer are in dorms, they obviously know what they are doing. They also provided loads of plugs including a couple of standard European sockets for those that don’t realise Switzerland has its own plugs.

In the room, we also had a simple table and a wash basin. This is a nice touch when you have a shared bathroom, saving you the trek down the corridor just to brush your teeth or wash your face when you’re sleepy. Finally, my favourite thing in the whole room, a gorgeous little book hanging next to the sink. It had some lovely illustrations and quotes of the day.

The Bathrooms

We had a large toilet right next to our room which almost seemed almost private. It had a frosted glass door that head out onto the fire escape so I made a mental note to listen out for fire alarms as I used the bathroom. I wouldn’t want to get caught with my trousers around my ankles in an emergency! The bathroom was really clean as were all the other bathrooms we poked our head into around the hostel.

At the other end of the corridor were the showers, three cubicles for the floor and two more toilets. The showers were lovely and clean but it was a shame not to have some kind of basic soap/body wash in them. There was also another sink and a huge dressing table type set up with a giant mirror and a couple of hairdryers. One morning, a couple of girls who were staying in a large dorm were using the mirror to French braid their hair and do their outfit checks. More hostels need more mirrors and good hair dryers.

Reception

Reception wasn’t just a place to check in, but a hub for everything/ The staff were really knowledgeable, sharing all kinds of advice about the areas and what was possible. A computer screen on the reception itself was an updated timetable of local buses and over the big comfortable chairs, a huge screen showed the live webcams of the viewpoints around Interlaken. You could book all kinds of fun excursions through them including paragliding, hiking and canyoning.

Garden

Behind the hostel building, away from the road was a lovely, lush lawn. It is really nice to have some green space when surrounded by the gorgeous green hills. Sadly, it was a little too wet during our time in Interlaken to fully enjoy it but when we first arrived, we saw some people hanging out on the patio reading and enjoying the view. I would have loved to have had a picnic dinner out here so we must come back in the heat of summer!

Dining – Breakfast

Breakfast is served in the back of reception with some people sitting in the big chairs and other using the little dining room behind the buffet. It was a cold, continental selection with some lovely, creamy yogurt and three different kinds of cereal. There was delicious bread that was nice enough to just have as was or to stick in the toaster. Thick toast with butter and a cup of decent cappuccino machine coffee was a great start to a chilly day.

The Kitchen

In a country as expensive as Switzerland, there is a high probability that you will be preparing a meal or two yourself. Luckily, the kitchens in Backpackers Villa Sonnenhof are new and exceedingly well equipped. You’ll find hobs. ovens and microwaves…something for every level of cookery skill. The fridges adhere to the standard rules of, “label your food and only eat things with your name on unless they are in the Free Food fridge”. During our stay, there was a large group of young Koreans and when we cAsually wandered into the kitchen we were blown away. Everyone was cooking feasts and two hours later, the place was spotless once again. It was an impressive show of just how this kitchen scan be used. I sheepishly stuck our quiche in the microwave to warm it up. There is plenty of seating too with lots in the main kitchen, some in the cute sauna-style room and then lots more in the room with the ping pong table.

A Few More Rooms
- More Outdoor Space – As well as the garden, there is a cute roof terrace that connects the two buildings of the hostel. This would be another excellent spot to catch some rays or have an al fresco dinner but it was really raining when we checked it out.
- Meeting Room – On the first floor is a lovely room that can be used for reading, working or holding meetings. It has a lovely wooden fireplace wall and huge windows that look out across the green to central interlaken.
- Kid’s Room – There was a little playroom that we found. Inside was a comfy sofa and lots of toys to play with.
- Laundry Room – The hostel has washing machines that you can use 24 hours a day.
- Ski Room – We visited in spring and so we didn’t need this particular room but it is great to see that they are catering for all year.
- The Hidden Games – In the laundry room you will find a table football set up and in the second dining room is the ping pong (table tennis). Being as going out drinking is expensive, its cool that you can grab a reasonably priced drink from reception or a supermarket and then come down here and chill out.
Final Thoughts on Our Backpackers Villa Sonnenhof Review

This is a wonderfully run hostel with friendly and informative staff and full of thoughtful touches for visitors. It would make an excellent base for anyone travelling to Interlaken that is on a budget whether they are travelling solo, as a couple, a family or a big group. We hope to be back one day!

Rosie xx
28/06/2023
A Bed in Zürich – Pop Up Hostel Krone Zürich Review

Zürich is an expensive city, there are no two ways about it. Money flows through like the pretty river water that cuts through the city. You might think there is nowhere to stay on a budget but there is a new accommodation option that sits somewhere between a hostel and a boutique hotel. Its superb location, stylish decor and reasonable price tag might be a game changer. Read on for our Pop up Hostel Krone Zürich review.

This post may contain sponsored content or affiliate links that help support the blog. All opinions are our own.

If you are visiting Zürich, find out all about the city and “How to Spend 2 Days in Zürich”.

Our Arrival

We arrived a bit later than planned and reception is only open during certain hours of the day. We emailed the hotel and they set up a self check in for us. So we received an email with a lockbox code. We popped in the code and grabbed our room key. It was really easy. We used the little lift to take us up the two floors to ours. I know, it was lazy but we had walked the long way from the station by mistake and spent 30 minutes trying to find our Too Good to Go location…all whilst wearing our backpacks. We dumped our bags and then ate our delicious dinner. (More about the dining room later).

The Location

Krone Zürich has an excellent location. It’s just two minutes from the heart of the old town and fifteen minutes from the lake. You are also just fifteen minutes from the main train station (or you can hop on the tram that is right outside). Located right on the riverside, if you have a room overlooking the road, you’ll also have a wonderful view of the Limmat. In the sun, it glitters beautifully at the bottom of the hill.

Our Room

We had a lovely large room at the front of the property. I was very surprised by the size , expecting the property to have much smaller rooms. There was a wardrobe built into one wall with room for both of our bags and a few shelves for extra bits. Next to this was a big sink with “that IKEA mirror” that I’ve listed after for years. It was backed by a gorgeous golden feature wall and J was instantly obsessed. Opposite was a standing full length mirror so outfit checks were a go!

There was a writing desk with a wooden chair, but also a big bucket chair to relax in. On the desk were two coffee pods that you could take downstairs to pop in the coffee machine. There was also a sign about getting a free coffee just around the corner at a coffee shop. We asked reception about this as we couldn’t find the spot on Google Maps. It seems it’s actually a brand of coffee and lots of places serve it but we didn’t fancy trying to convince someone to give us a free coffee if they didn’t know about it so I stuck to the pods.

The bed was really big with two nice thick duvets. Yes, it was May but no one had told the weather that! We each had a big pillow but they were the European kind that are swuare and very squishy. These are not my favourite and so I used my travel pillow as well. On each side was a lamp on a bedside table and I had a weird but very useful multi plug on mine. If you are bringing plug adaptors then you probably only be able to use two of the three slots so near that in mind.

We also had a towel and a pair of slippers each which was a nice touch as the bathrooms were outside of the room.

The Bathrooms

The bathrooms are shared. We had a toilet just outside the room and one further around the corridor on the same floor. They were kept immaculately clean throughout our stay.

The four showers for our floor were all in one spot towards the back of the building. They were also very clean but one was missing a curtain so it was out of action in my book.

All of the bathrooms and our room’s sink have gorgeous products from a local brand called Foeders. Apparently they really took off during the pandemic and I can tell why. They smell gorgeous, especially the black palm.

Dining

There is a small kitchen on the first floor, next to reception. It has a kettle and microwave so great for noodles and packet rice but not if you want to make a proper dinner. There was no hob or oven. However, there are a few tables and then a more comfortable seating section for chilling out. There is a big communal fridge where hostel rules apply. Label your food and don’t take anything that has a label belonging to someone else.

Overlooking the river was an area that seemed to be a bar but was never open during our two night stay. When it was raining, we walked back to the hotel to eat our packed lunch in the dry and we took a table in here. A few other people seemed to be doing the same.

Final Thoughts on Pop Up Hostel Krone Zürich

I wasn’t sure what to expect from Pop Up Hostel Krone Zürich and to be honest, I am still a little perplexed…but pleased. I would say that it is definitely a hostel. It has the kitchenette and shared bathrooms meaning it’s not what most people would think of as a hotel. However, our lovely big room with its fabulous view is definitely a cut above your standard hostel. It is an excellent option for budget travellers that want a bit more privacy and a bit more space than you will find elsewhere in the city.

Rosie xx

17/06/2023
Riding the Rails – Montreux to Interlaken GoldenPass Express Prestige Class Review

The train line that runs between Montreux and Interlaken is one of the most popular tourist routes in Switzerland. There have been some lovely trains that travel between these two spots but, until very recently, travellers have had to change trains at Zweisimmen. However, there is a new kid in town with a rather neat party trick, allowing you to travel in comfort the whole way. Plus, it is one of the most comfortable train rides in the world! Read on for our full GoldenPass Express Prestige Class review.

This post may contain sponsored content or affiliate links that help support the blog. All opinions are our own.

Tickets

Our journey was booked by MOB but if we wanted to use our 1st class Interrail passes, we would have had to pay CHF20 for the seat reservations and then CHF15 for the Prestige supplement. That’s just £35 for the extra exclusivity and comfort. This is quite the bargain in my opinion.

You can book your reservation ahead of the two-month ticket sales so get straight on that as soon as you decide to take the train, especially if you are coming in high season. You can pick your perfect seats and then grab the ticket if you need one when those bookings open. Not many people know this so you will beat the rush.

Boarding at Montreux

We thought we were arriving at the station nice and early, turning up 20 minutes in advance. However, we quickly realised that everyone else had already boarded! We dropped our bags inside the train and then took a few quick snaps of the gorgeous blue and gold exterior. After making a couple of reels and laughing at the name of the carraige (Shania Train) we settled into our lovely, comfortable Prestige Class seats.

The GoldenPass Express Prestige Class Carriage

Prestige Class was a small section at the back of the train, separated from first class by a couple of steps and an opaque glass partition. I believe this is the front of the train when it travels in the other direction as there is a driver’s cab in there too. The elevated section gives a wonderful view of the landscape as it has a higher vantage. Above the big, wide windows was a panorama window to see up to the sky. In the UK, this wouldn’t be worth it, but when you are passing through glorious valleys with mountains, it is such a treat for everyone to see the top!

The Seats

The creamy beige leather seats feel very luxurious and as we settled in we got very excited about all of the options they offered. There were buttons galore and the seats were very adjustable, giving everyone the most comfortable ride from individual to individual. On the controls, we could change the footrest, lumbar support or recline. We fiddled with buttons, giggling with delight. It will never get old to sit in a seat as it whirs to life and pokes you in the back. Oh, and it is also heated for those winter journeys. In the armrests were our little tray tables and between our chairs we each had a AC plug and a USB plug too.

The perfectly adjusted seat with its super comfortable cushioning and giant headrest was so delilously comfortable. I was tempted to curl up and have a nap but just didn’t want to miss the view.

There are several videos on social media that make it look like you can swivel the seats so you can stare straight out of the window. However, this is not actually the case. The chairs can be swung around but only lock in when facing forwards or backwards.

Petit Déjeuner

Very soon after we departed, the person in charge of our carriage came to check who had ordered breakfast. It was just us and one other couple and we all had a basket presented to us. along with a coffee. The croissant was great but we were rather full from our hotel breakfast (bad planning on our part) so we saved one for later. I was impressed at how nice the coffee was too, expecting instant but it seemed pressed.

The View

The most important thing of our GoldenPass Express Prestige Class review is the spectacular views! Great vistas are afforded to travellers on the hill that winds its way up from Montreux. The sparkling lake backed by green hills has everybody glued to the windows and, as the train makes several turns, both sides get a great view. Through a tunnel and you emerge in a green valley with snow-capped mountains above. It is Swiss perfection. (Mind you, if the clouds decide to smother them, you won’t need them quite so much).

This is the Vaud Alps and the train winds around the hills before the scenery levels out. It then begins to pass through the villages and along the rivers of Bernese Oberland. It really doesn’t get old and the last section runs along Lake Thun, one of the two linked by Interlaken. If you’re more organised than us, you can spot Gstaad Palace as you turn out of town after the station. We were so busy discussing our lunch that we totally forgot to snap it.

Déjeuner

Very soon after breakfast was taken away, we were given our lunch! We had a planchette of cheese, cured meats, some pretzel-style bread and a lovely glass of wine. We were already pretty full but everything was so tasty that we just kept eating. The wine was a quintessential Swiss white that paired with the cheese perfectly. The lovely lady looking after us said that it would be ideal if we could finish by the next stop. We tried our best but couldn’t drink all of the wine in time. She took away the slates and then we were surprised to see her on the platform at the next stop as we chugged away and left her behind.

The Change

Now, one of the things we were most looking forward to was the magical track change. It is the big GoldenPass Express party trick, meaning that in theory, we could travel all the way to Interlaken. This means you keep your super comfy seat, leave your luggage untouched and not have to face the Swiss weather. The wheels slowly change to fit the next section of track which has a different gauge to the section between Montreux and Interlaken. That’s a change from 1000 to 1435 mm in seconds without stopping. Its a world first and still truly fascinating.

However, due to issues on the track, we had to change to another train. We all scrambled to find new seats, with first class rather less plush than the Prestige Class we’d left behind. It all made sense. That was why we had to finish all of our food so quickly; the new train didn’t have such provisions. It was a real disappointment as we were really looking forward to experiencing the bogies adjusting but it sounded like there was an issue with the track.

Arriving in Interlaken

We were so happy to see the sunshine when we disembarked at Interlaken Ost. Everyone spilled out from the station and our hostel was just a ten-minute walk. The blue sky, pretty flowers and hills rising up around Interlaken made it the perfect welcome.

Final Thoughts for Our GoldenPass Express Prestige Class Review

Having tried all three trains that run along this line, we both agreed that the GoldenPass Express was the most comfortable and Prestige Class felt so luxurious. The cabin’s 9 seats were full but it still felt exclusive. Let’s face it, sipping a crisp white wine as the world slips by will always be a winner! In a country that does train travel so very well, and with some of the world’s most iconic routes, this is a crowning jewel in the Swiss train crown.

Rosie xx

13/06/2023
10 Things To Do in Montreux, Switzerland

Montreux is a pretty town that rises above the eastern end of Lake Geneva. It offers a relaxed and enjoyable spot to visit in Switzerland as a spot on its own merit as well as a great jumping off point to explore the cheese and wine hubs nearby by Lavaux and Gruyères. If you are planning a visit here are 10 things to do in Montreux.

This post may contain sponsored content or affiliate links that help support the blog. All opinions are our own.

1.) Go Back in Time at Chateau de Chillon

On the water’s edge, just outside of town, sits the Chateau Chillon. This is a genuine medieval castle dating from the 12th century. The original name literally means castle on the rock so you know the view has to be good!

Inside you will find glimpses of the ancient dungeons, medieval framework (who doesn’t love a garderobe room) and more modern touches. The castle is used for special dinners, parties and wedding receptions and you might be lucky to catch a room set for dinner.

On entry, you can pick up a map to help you find your way around along the numbered trail. The final stop on the self guided tour is the tower so save some puff. The view from up here fantastic and there is an interesting room full of armour and weapons in the way up to let you catch your breath.

2.) Place a Bet at Casino Barrière de Montreux

Montreux has had a casino since the 1880s and it has always been a great spot for both a flutter on the tales and to see excellent music. It has played host to orchestras, world class bands and it used to be the main spot for the Montreux Jazz Festival. The casino was rebuilt after a huge fire in 1971. It was this disaster that inspired Deep Purple to write “Smoke on the Water”. The fire was started by flare guns used in a concert…see, it is really full of music history.

In terms of gambling, you’ll find plenty of table games like blackjack and roulette along with slot machines galore. If you love to take on The House then you will have a lovely time.

3.) Take a Swim in Lake Geneva

In the summer months, the water of Lake Geneva makes a refreshing place to take a dip. You will find a nice spot next to the Marche Couvert (covered market). It is a large, round swimming platform which has a couple of ladders into the lake. However, there isn’t a lot of room to sunbathe or relax with friends. For a roomier alternative, head around the lake to Vevey for easier access. You will be astonished by the clear water and the cute little fish darting through the lake.

4.) Fort de Chillon

Fort de Chillon was built into the hill behind Chateau de Chillon during the second world war. It housed a barrage of guns and antitank armaments. These days it houses a really fun museum, all based around the life of a soldier. Visitors can explore interactive challenges, complete problem solving puzzles and play fantastic VR games. You will learn about the defensive strategy of Switzerland, something that was luckily, never challenged during the fort’s active years.

5.) Freddie Mercury Statue

Standing proud on the edge of the lake is a 3m tall bronze statue of Freddie Mercury created by Czech-born sculptor Irena Sedlecka. It was unveiled in 1996, five years after the star’s death. All day, a steady stream of tourists are to be found striking the same famous pose made iconic at the 1986 Wembley concert. Freddy Mercury lived and worked in Montreux for many years and if you want to learn a bit more about it then you need to visit….

6.) Queen – The Studio Experience

To learn more about Queen’s connection to Montreux, and the life of Freddie Mercury, head to the Queen – The Studio Experience. This free museum has some amazing Queen memorabilia including stage costumes, family photos and handwritten lyrics from their song writing sessions. Queen recorded albums at Mountain Studios, their Montreux studio, including Freddie’s very last work. Although this is not the original location of the studio, it does hold a faithful reconstruction in which you can play at producing a track. Rumour has it, the actual studio is still hidden away somewhere in the casino but it is impossible to reach. You can imagine them performing songs for recording n on the large gambling floor though.

7.) Enjoy a Wine Tasting

Just a short train ride from Montreux are hundreds of small, family owned wineries. It is this boutique vineyard set up that mean most of Switzerland’s wine stays within the country. You can visit a couple of the wineries nearby when it’s warm but to get a wonderful overview of the wine produced, take the short train ride around to Lavaux Vinorama. Here there are over a hundred wineries represented and there are loads to try by the glass. You can also opt for one of their tastings, some of which like the Aromatic Whites tasting are rather unique. Its a very casual atmosphere so there is no worry that someone will discover you if your aren’t a connoisseur.

8.) Take a Train Trip

I know, I shouldn’t be telling you to leave the town but there are some really special trains that start and end in Montreux. You can hop on one and ride it up to the next station, changing to another to come back. Both of these trains run on the same tracks, affording stunning views as they climb the hill away from the lake, performing three switchbacks. Everyone gets a great view! Both of these trains can be booked on the MOB website and are included on the Interrail, Eurail and Swiss Travel Passes.

For a full comparison of these trains, check out this post : GoldenPass Belle Epoque vs GoldenPass Panoramic

The GoldenPass Panorama

The Golden Pass panorama has huge windows and, as an added bonus, small windows that face the sky. This may seem gimmicky but when the mountains stretch above you, you will understand why this is so special. If you are sitting in first class, you can pay a supplement and sit at the very front of the train, with just a huge windscreen in front of you. The driver is in the little bubble above you as you enjoy the sight of the rails slipping beneath the train.

The Belle Epoque

This 1930s style train is pulled by a normal locomotive but the interiors are just beautiful. The rich turquoise upholstery and honey-coloured wood are kept in tip top condition and evoke a more romantic age of train travel. The Belle Epoque goes twice a day so when booking your tickets, be sure to check out the operator when you are booking. (09:50 and 14:50 at the time of writing).

9.) Montreux Jazz Festival

Every year, Montreux bursts into life with the Montreux Jaxx Festival. This world famous celebration began in 1967 and these days, doesn’t just celebrate jazz but music from across the spectrum. The main festival now takes place in a huge convention centre but the music spills out across Montreux. Switzerland can be a pricy spot so you’ll be pleased to find out that there are plenty of free events during the festival. Plus, there are acts you’ll have actually heard of; Nina Simone, David Bowie, Marvin Gaye, Elotin John and of course, Queen.

10.) Take a Stroll Along the Promenade

Stretching from the northern end of Montreux, all the way to Chateau de Chillon, the lakeside promenade is a pleasant, pedestrianised place for a stroll. Along the way, the gentle lap of the waves and the perfume of the summer flowers is truly relaxing. The whole walk is 6km long and should take about 1.5 hours.

Final Thoughts

I have read elsewhere that Montreux is sleepy or even boring but it seems that you get out as much as you put in. Who wouldn’t enjoy a meander around a lake or sipping wine in the sun? We only had two days and it didn’t feel like enough! I can see us returning for the festival in the future or just to relax with a view across the glassy surface of the lake, dvine.

Rosie xx

12/06/2023
A Review of Edelweiss Air Airbus 340-300 Economy ZRH – MLE

The story so far…we found a crazy deal from London to Malé, Maldives; just £192 one way!! We have taken one flight from London to Zürich on SWISS (read about it here), and now we are going to embark upon leg two. From Zürich, we would be taking our flight with Edelweiss Air, the leisure airline owned by SWISS International Airlines. This is our review of Edelweiss Air Airbus A340-300 economy ZRH – MLE Zürich to Malé.

This post may contain sponsored content or affiliate links that help support the blog. All opinions are our own.

Have some time in Zürich? Check out our itinerary for some stopover ideas.

Review of Edelweiss Air Economy Cabin

Airport Experience

Having checked in from London, we didn’t need to visit the check in counter, which is good because Zürich International’s check-in is slightly confusing.

We made it through security quickly but then discovered that there wasn’t a lot of seating in the airport’s main concourse. The flight was delayed by a late inbound, and so we needed to find a seat.

We sat and watched the screens (plus Flightradar24) as the flight was delayed by tiny increments.

Finally a gate number popped up and it was a 15 minute journey down to the gate. We approached the desk when we got there. The SWISS app had shown that there were a fair few empty seats. The staff were really sweet and accommodating. Mr Fluskey wangled his way into an empty row of four so he could get a decent night’s sleep.

That is one happy hubby

Interior

The cabin was bright and clean, but the blue seats and orange pillows were a little clashtastic! I thought the logo on the wall was a simple but cute touch.

When we boarded, the lights were all plain white, but they faded in the orange side lights which was much nicer after take off. (Sorry that it made lots of my pictures quite orange-tinted).

The windows were quite small so if like me, you like the view, make sure you get the window seat. As soon as one person is looking out, the view will be utterly obstructed. Let’s continue with our review of Edelweiss Air.

Check out all our flight reviews including FlyMe Villa Air Maldives, Turkish Airlines and Emirates

Seats

I liked the bright blue of the seat covers but the bobbly material and blocky padding felt cheap.

Edelweiss Air’s seat recline seemed slightly below average for an economy seat on a long haul flight. You get a strange headrest. It is very adjustable vertically, which is great, but bending the side flaps forward creates a v-shape. Do you have a v-shaped head? We don’t!

Head rest adjusts loads

Head rest does not fold well

But look, I match the seats!

The tray table was very compact, and easy to operate. The only issue was that you have to push it quite hard to close it again, and it was quite a loud pop, unless you lifted the flap. This would really bother the person in front of you, so a little care should be taken.

The seat back pocket space is very good. You have a plastic magazine pocket above the tray table. Remember that small things will fall out of the bottom when the tray is opened so keep this for those magazines.

Below the tray table is the actual pocket. There is a large section, and on the front two smaller sections for your phone, cables and other little bits you need. Just remember to check all the pockets before you disembark!

Entertainment

The screens in the seat back are a great size for an economy cabin. It is also a nice matte finish so it isn’t too ruined by reflections. At the bottom of the screen is the headphone jack. We love having the plug here as it is much harder to accidentally knock out. There is also a USB point so you can charge your devices (slowly).

The selection of films was pretty good, with films from the last six months. I watched Jumanji and Pitch Perfect 3 (because I’m just that cool). They also had a reasonable selection of TV, including a few Netflix favourites.

Amenities

The sleeping gear was a game of two halves. The pillows were very plump and I liked the thick covers. The blankets, however, were quite thin and not even big enough to cover half of my five foot frame. If we were taller, they would have been really silly. I don’t think that the blankets being square helped.

No amenity kit was provided for this overnight flight in basic economy, but economy max gets one.

The bathrooms were clean enough but were very basic. The water came out luke-warm; nice to wash your hands in but a bit weird for brushing your teeth. It was just another reminder that you are in the economy cabin at the back.

Food

Dinner

Dinner was served roughly an hour and a half into the flight. There were three options for the main. Sausage and potatoes, a white wine and mushroom risotto, and fish option.

Both Mr Fluskey and I opted for the white sausage and potato. The white sausage tasted a little better than a cheap hot dog but I got a few bits of gristle which was quite off putting. The potatoes turned out to be three potato rostis which were a mushy. It is very hard to keep deep fried things crispy when they are contained. The whole thing was sitting in a tomato sauce which was somewhere between a passata and ketchup. It seemed naturally sweet from the tomatoes but it definitely suffered from being very boring.

I mean, how do you make a wiener look appealing!?

With dinner there was delicious brown bread, so good that I had two pieces. I used the ham and cheese to make a tasty little open sandwich. I wasn’t a fan of the rice and veggie salad thing so I left that.

The strawberry mousse cake was very sweet but full of strawberry flavour, much better than most of the mousse cakes on planes I’ve had before.

In economy, unless you pay for economy max, customers have to pay for alcohol. Mr Fluskey and I both decided to stick to water and apple juice. It was probably the first time in years that we hadn’t had a proper drink on a long haul flight, but our bodies presumably thanked us.

Just before bed, they handed out little bottles of water, which I always think is great, especially in economy.

Breakfast

As it was an overnight flight of nine hours, we got two meal services. Breakfast was very continantal which I enjoyed. I always feel a bit gross after a hot plane breakfast.

The dried beef was delicious, the ham fine, and I always love a bit of cheese. I made a apricot jam, and brie slice which was scrummy (another two bits of gorgeous brown bread). The square pot had some sort of cold muesli/porridge concoction that was my idea of texture hell, so I left that too.

The coffee it was served with was actually really good. Strong enough to give me a little perk up, but not bitter.

Check out what we got up to when we arrived in the Maldives

Final Thoughts

We hope our review of Edelweiss Air was helpful. We found flying with Edelweiss Air fine, but didn’t really have anything overly special about it. There were no defining points to encourage us to book it again over another airline.

The food left a bit to be desired, but as I’m sure you’ve gathered, the bread was fantastic! Beyond the food, back in normal economy, we felt slightly like our custom had been forgotten. The blankets weren’t good enough for an overnight flight, and the complete lack of amenity kit would be very annoying if we didn’t always pack our own version.

Flying via Zürich would be worth it if, like on this trip, it saved so much money. If, however, there was a comparable flight on another airline, I may choose the other one.

I am giving Edelweiss Air 6.5/10

Rosie xx

29/04/2018
A Review of SWISS Bombardier Economy LHR – ZRH

When you are browsing through Kayak.com and you stumble across a one way fare to the Maldives for £192, you book it! Right? Well we did, and so found ourselves with a two leg journey to Male via Zürich. This is the review of SWISS Bombardier Economy LHR – ZRH, the first flight of the day.

Read about our second flight – a review of Edelweis Air from Zürich to Male

SWISS Airbus A220-100 or Bombardier CS100

Review of SWISS Bombardier Economy

Check In

Ahead of time, we downloaded the SWISS app. Here we submitted our advanced passenger information about a week before the flight and set it to issue our boarding cards automatically. This meant no early rising to complete online check in. That is one big win for SWISS, it was very easy to go back into the app and change our seats (got to have that view out of the window).

Airport Experience

London’s Heathrow Terminal 2 plays host to the airlines in the Star Alliance group, of which SWISS is a part. We were directed to a bag drop area in Zone B. Here there are bag drop machines where you can print your own bag tags. This was our first time doing this; but it was very easy. We scanned our mobile boarding passes and it gave us loads of options for seat changes, bag tags etc, etc.

Check out our 7 Super Heathrow Hacks – Top tips to make travelling a breeze

Bags tagged, we proceeded to the queue. Despite there being just one person in front of us, we were whisked over to the first class check in desk. This was great and had us on our way in two minutes flat.

Boarding was very smooth, but the airline was making constant announcements encouraging passengers to check in their small hand luggage suitcases due to the full flight. This may just be the curse of the hand luggage travel revolution, overhead bins just aren’t designed to fit all our larger pieces of hand luggage.

Interior

The Bombardier C Series CS100 was designed by…Bombardier and had 2 years in service before being renamed the Airbus A220-100. The decor was white & black with silver highlights. It seemed very modern and clean. I especially liked the silver seat trims which gave it a touch of 1950s/Americana vibe.

The lighting was plain white which I always find a little unimaginative.

The windows were quite large, with smooth moving window blinds that tucked all the way up, giving a fabulous view.

Check out all our flight reviews including Edelweiss Air, Virgin Atlantic and British Airways

Seats

The Airbus A220-100 or Bombardier C Series CS100 is quite a small aircraft, smaller than the Boeing 737s we are used to for European hops. Seating comes in a 2 – 3 configuration, which always leaves me feeling a little lopsided. It is nice that you can have your own space though if you are a couple travelling on a busy flight.

The leatherette seats seemed quite thinly covered. I guess you could say that they weren’t very plush. They only had a small recline function. Add to this the very thin arm rests and I think I would be pretty uncomfortable for any more than about three hours.

The head rest was just a small pad with a leather Swiss cover. There was no support there.

Leg room was about 30 inches, pretty standard for an economy cabin.

My seat

That is going to be a real elbow scuffle if you both want some arm rest

The leg room

The seat back pockets were split into three sections. The top is a plastic slot for your reading material. If you put anything small in this section, it would drop out the bottom when the tray was opened. Below the tray were two small pockets, perfect for your phone and other things that I would inevitably forget.

Entertainment

Honestly, this was not up to scratch for a full service airline. There were no seatback screens, just tiny overhead ones. This isn’t just annoying for entertainment purposes. I (as a visually impaired girl) couldn’t see the safety video whatsoever.

The inflight magazine was pretty standard fare. Lots of adverts, long articles about destinations they serve and snappy little listicles. However, being very tired and in need of completely passive entertainment, I was bored by this extremely quickly.

Amenities

There was no amenity kits provided on this flight. Honestly, I wasn’t expecting one at all for such a short haul trip. There was no pillow or blanket, and it was quite a chilly flight. If, like me, you get chilly at altitude, bring your own cover.

Neither Mr Fluskey or I made it to the bathroom on this flight so we can’t show you the facilities unfortunately. Although the two different cabins were marked by no more than a curtain, we were reminded that Economy guests should use the toilets in the back of aircraft, just in case we got any ideas above our station.

Food

Now, we got about four hours sleep before this flight. A taxi pulled up at 05:40 and we piled in, eyes still full of sleep. Our breakfast of eggs royale and Buck’s Fizz from Heston’s Heathrow offering, The Perfectionist’s Café was joyfully delicious. It is with all this in mind, that I describe just how hard it was to stay awake. With head drooping I willed the cart to reach me back at row 24. I tried so gamely to stay awake so I could review the food for you and JUST managed it.

First we were given a croissant. This wasn’t crispy on the outside, but if I were the cleaner, I would love that the floor wasn’t covered in shards of pastry after every flight. The inside was quite nice and soft. The whole thing tasted quite salty, a bit like a soft pretzel. After that, we were offered a choice of water or Coca-Cola, and a little Swiss chocolate.

Read about where we stayed – A bed in The Maldives – Kihaa Maldives Review

Final Thoughts

Honestly, I think we were expecting something a little better. We hope you found our review of SWISS Bombardier Economy useful. The Airbus A220-100 plane was clean and neat, the staff attentive enough, and there was nothing unclear, or tricky about the flight. However, it seemed a little dull….or clinical, and the lack of entertainment was a bit disappointing. I would fly with SWISS again, but they really wouldn’t be my first choice. We paid very little for our ticket, but you can pay in excess of £400 return just between London and Switzerland. For that, you could book a seat on EasyJet, pack heavier hand luggage and have plenty of change in your pocket for a hotel, a bus to Luton and an overpriced drink onboard.

Rosie xx

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29/04/2018