Lofty Suite), Bangkok, Thailand (2 – 5 Apr 26)

April 25, 2026 / kktong76 / Leave a comment

Location

SO/ Bangkok is located in the heart of Bangkok, opposite the famed Lumpini Park, the largest park in downtown Bangkok. There are a couple of shopping malls near the hotel. One Bangkok, the larger of the two, is diagonally opposite the hotel with shopping and food options. In terms of 24-hour convenience shops, there are two 7-Elevens within a 5-minute walk from the hotel. Despite its central location, SO/ Bangkok is only connected by the MRT and some bus services. To access the BTS, we need to catch the MRT for one stop and change to the BTS at Si Lom. For visitors who are using the BTS to visit the sights or shop in central Bangkok, where the BTS is the only way to get to these sights, they would find SO/ Bangkok a tad cumbersome to get around. There are not many sights, other than Chinatown, that the MRT connects. The MRT also connected us to shopping areas like Patpong and Terminal 21.

SO/ Bangkok facade

Reception on ground floor of the hotel assisting guests

Hote Signage

Hotel lobby on the ground floor

Reception at SO/ Bangkok on level 9

The hotel reception is located on level 9

Hotel lobby has tons of seating for guests to relax

Hotel lobby seatings on level 9

The SO/ Lofty Suite (Water Element)

We originally booked the SO/ One Bedroom Suite, the second-lowest-tiered suite in the hotel. To our surprise, SO/ Bangkok gave us a two-tier upgrade to the SO/ Lofty, the second-highest tiered suite in the hotel. The 99㎡ water-themed SO/ Lofty Suite is one of the four elemental themes on which the hotel designed its rooms. For those who prefer the higher floor, water-themed rooms sit on the top few levels of the hotel.

Layout of the Water Element SO/ Lofty Suite that we stayed in

Entryway

The entryway in the SO/ Lofty Suite is not furnished with any furniture that would otherwise make it easier for guests to take off their shoes. Instead, the plain entryway was designed to be a thoroughfare for guests between the living room and the entrance to the suite. As an introduction to the suite, we were given a glimpse of the dark grey colour scheme used to represent the claim and sophistication of the water element. The designer uses the dark tone and soothing shades of grey to enhance the panoramic city views.

Powder Room

The power room is situated opposite the main entrance to the SO/ Lofty Suite. The stone colour theme at the entryway flowed into the powder room. The light shade of grey on the wall of the powder room complements the darker shade used in the tile, which is one of the ways the designer of the suite uses to create a calm atmosphere. The powder room is only fitted with a toilet and a large sink, and given the space allocated to this room, the sense of calmness also comes from the spaciousness. To reinforce the water theme, SO/ Bangkok hangs a picture of a water ripple in grey tones above the porcelain throne.

Living Room

The shades of grey used in the powder room are replicated in the living room. Here, the lighter stone grey wall colour, together with the darker near black grey used in the tiles of the floor, created a darker interior. It is here where we could really see what the designer meant by letting the bright bustling city be the centre of attention. The darker tones in the living room focus our attention on the bright colours in the City of Angels. The colour used in the living room is slightly more from wooden tones in the TV console and the cabinets at the side of the living room (which we welcomed the abundance of storage here), to the sand coloured floor lamp sited next to the floor to ceiling window quietly provides warm illumination to the living room at night, to the light grey coloured two seater European size sofa. Despite an increase in the variety of colours used, everything flows in harmony. The two-seater fabric sofa, which is sufficient to seat three or even four adults comfortably, is the centrepiece of this part of the suite. Sitting by the walls and facing the 55” LED TV mounted onto the wall opposite, the sofa is where we relax while watching the multiple entertainment options from the TV, from international cable channels to local TV shows. There is something to occupy every age group sitting on the sofa. The larger hourglass-shaped side table functions as more than an ornamental piece. When nothing is placed on top of it, it is an art piece that gives some life in the living room, but when used, it can also function as an additional table area for us to stow our shopping. The single armchair, in the same tone as the sofa, sitting by the floor-to-ceiling window, provides guests of the SO/ Lofty suite with additional sitting space for hosting.

There is a cabinet at the wall in the living room of the SO/ Lofty Suite

The living room in our SO/ Lofty Suite

The comfortabled two-seater sofa in the living room

The living room is equipped with a 55" LED TV mounted on the wall above the TV cabinet

The TV has lots of channel to keep us entertained while not exploring Bangkok

Bedroom

Perhaps the only space in this water element, the SO/ Lofty Suite, that took a departure from the dark tone is the wardrobe in the bed area. Instead of having a dark tone, this part of the suite is laid with natural wood colour, which seems to be for practical reasons. As there were no views in this part of the site, the lighter colour tones used here allow guests to perform functions that are allocated to this part of the suite better. I like how SO/ Bangkok designed a walk-in wardrobe in the bedroom of the suite, with a sliding door that gave the separation between the wardrobe and the bedroom. The wardrobe space employs an open design fitted with only hanging racks. Other than the ledge below the hanging racks, which we used to place our luggage and the oversized drawer below, we found a lack of shelving for us to stow our smaller clothing items. Shelving space is limited to the two built into the wall of the wardrobe, of which one is used to house the in-room safe. While we still have the other shelving to use, I find it awkward and difficult to access. Fortunately, SO/ Bangkok furnished the vanity table inside the walk-in wardrobe, which we used to place our smaller clothing items on.

The only shelving in the wardrobe is rather difficult to access

The wardrobe has a large hanging rack but few hangers

The walk-in wardrobe in our SO/ Lofty Suite sits between the bedroom and the living room

The vanity table inside the walk-in wardrobe

The sleeping area occupies the rest of the space allocated to the bedroom. The bedroom past the king bed continued the dark grey tones we saw in the living room. Differing from the living room, instead of having grey walls, the bedroom is decked with the same dark marble tiles on the floors and the walls, with only the ceiling painted in the same grey tones as those we saw on the walls of the living room to accentuate the focus on the colour of the city skyline. The king bed is very comfortable to sleep on, with a good selection of pillow options from the pillow menu that SO/ Bangkok pampers its guests to choose from; we woke up feeling refreshed every day. SO/ Bangkok did not use your traditional wooden bedside tables with drawers; in their place were white tables that stood guard on either side of the bed. Unlike the traditional bedside tables, these tables did not come with any drawers, but were sufficiently sized for us to place our lifestyle devices to charge overnight. SO/ Bangkok cleverly fitted the minibar into the suite on the wall just outside the walk-in wardrobe, next to the king bed. The minibar is only visible when the door to the walk-in wardrobe is closed. Despite taking up a small footprint in the suite, the mini bar has everything that makes it a full-functioning mini bar. It houses a Nespresso machine, a kettle and a mini fridge that is stocked with complimentary drinks that are replenished daily. I do, however, find the usage of the coffee machine a little difficult. Due to the space allocated, I would have to pull the machine to the edge of the shelf for the insertion of a coffee pod.

Looking into the bedroom of the suite from the living room

The bedroom in our SO/ Lofty Suite

The king bed in the bedroom is very comfortable to sleep on

SO/ Bangkok has a pillow menu catering to most guests' preference

The hotel fitted Thai power outlets on both bedside tables

One of the two bedside tables in the bedroom

Mini bar is fitted at the side of the bed along the walls of the walk-in wardrobe

The sliding door to the wardrobe reveals the mini bar in the bedroom

The king bed faces the quadrant floor-to-ceiling windows that curve towards the bed, giving us views of the city from our bed. There is a fairly large space between the windows and the bed. This is where the hotel filled the void with a circular armchair and a small coffee table. This grey fabric chosen for this armchair complemented the dark grey palette used by the designer, continuing the sophistication and calm vibe we had seen in the other parts of the suite. The armchair is very comfortable to sit on, allowing us to laze, focusing our attention on the bustling city. Another 55” LED TV is placed just a little shy of the window facing the king bed. A small work desk facing the city skyline is fitted in one corner of the bedroom, with the power outlets fitted on the ledge beside the work desk. This is a perfect spot for guests to do some work. The ledge also gave us additional space to place things like documents.

Looking out in the rest of the bedroom from the bed area

The work desk is found in a corner of the bedroom next to the bathroom

There is another 55" LED TV in the bedroom and a oversized armchair for us to relax

The work desk is of a good size

View of Bangkok from the bedroom of or SO/ Lofty Suite

Bathroom

The bathroom was allocated a good amount of space. The massive wooden sliding door separates the bedroom from the other bedroom. Right in front of the sliding door sits a dual sink. For a sink of this size, I thought the countertop space was a tad limited due to the larger-sized sinks the hotel used in the SO/ Lofty Suite. After placing a large amenities box in the centre of the sink, we were left with little space to stow our toiletries. Other than insufficient countertop space, we also found a lack of hanging spaces. There is only one hook in the bathroom, which limits the number of clothes we can hang here. The issue became more pronounced when we needed a space to hang our bath towels to dry for the next day, and at the same time, our clothes when we took a shower. More often than not, we found water splashing out of the sink due to the force from the sink, if we were not careful with turning the water from the tap to the “right” amount of pressure. SO/ Bangkok fitted the porcelain throne on the left side of the sink countertop, behind a shallow wall. There are no doors to segregate the toilet from the rest of the bathroom. The walk-in shower took up the bulk of the area in the bathroom, located to the right of the sink next to the floor-to-ceiling window. I like how the hotel placed the massive round bathtub (by the window) inside the walk-in shower. This allowed us to head straight for the shower after taking a relaxing soak, looking out into the skyline of Bangkok. The bathtub took a while for the water to fill up, partly due to the oversized bathtub and partly due to the weak water pressure.

The bathroom seen from the bedroom

The bathroom is fitted with two large sinks but the countertop space is a little tad

Bathroom amenities

The toilet sits behind a wall in the bathroom

Bathroom amenities provided by SO/ Bangkok

The bathtub is located inside the walk-in shower cubicle

We could see into the Bangkok skyline while soaking in the oversized tub

Service

The service we received in SO/ Bangkok was nothing short of excellence. From the moment we stepped out of our ride from the airport, to the check-in process and the daily interactions with staff members of the hotel, we were made to feel welcome. Everyone we bumped into wore smiles and portrayed the warmth that the Thais were famously known for. The great service started during our arrival at SO/ Bangkok, where we were greeted by the porter at the driveway. As we were talking to the driver of our airport transfer, our luggage was already taken care of by the porter who escorted us to the concierge to confirm our check-in. As we booked to stay in a suite, the porter escorted us to the lounge for checking in, and introduced the locations of the various facilities in the hotel along the way. The porter handed us over to his lounge colleagues, who assisted with our check-in. At the lounge, we were shown to a seat, and the lounge staff disappeared into action, leaving us with welcome drinks while she processed our check-in. Before long, our check-in was completed, and we were on our way to our suite, where the porter had already placed our luggage. That is what I called service! With a well-oiled team working behind the scenes to ensure our stay was seamless, starting from our check-in process.

We were served welcome drink during check-in at the lounge

Welcome drinks redemmed at the poolside bar

Welcome amenities in our suite waiting for us

The lounge staff were always very welcoming whenever I popped into the lounge for a smoke or a drink. We were greeted with the widest smile by Georgia and were always offered drinks. Whether ordering a drink to have it in the lounge or to go for our enjoyment in our suite, nothing seemed too troublesome for the lounge staff. The lounge staff always made us feel welcome at the lounge and would put down their work and give us their full attention. The staff at the Red Oven were welcoming as well. At the entrance during breakfast, we were always greeted by a cheerful staff member with a warm smile while confirming our room number and showing us to our seats. The staff at the Red Oven were always on their toes, attending to guests’ requests. They were very efficient in clearing the used plates on the tables. I had not seen any used plates being left at the table for more than 5 minutes.

Hotel Facilities

Breakfast @ Red Oven

Breakfast is served at the Red Oven restaurant, located on the 7th floor of the hotel. The Red Oven Restaurant serves up a good spread for breakfast, from Western to Asian to Thai cuisine. We were already spoiled for choices just on pastries alone, where the hotel serves a larger variety of bread from the usual suspects to croissants and au pain chocolat, together with a large variety of spreads and jams. For cold food options, the hotel offered cold cuts, smoked ham and salmon, as well as a large variety of salads. While the hot food options were a choice between sausages, bacon and eggs from the Western options, as well as dim sum and sushi from the Asian menu. There is even a small number of Thai dishes in the hot food buffet line. I find it interesting that SO/ Bangkok has a station during breakfast where Thai noodle soup is made to order. For drinks, other than the usual coffee, tea, juices, SO/ Bangkok also serves a wide variety of fruits available for breakfast that provide guests with a hearty and all-around nutrition during the most important meal of the day. There is even ice cream served during breakfast. Despite the spread of food, the menu for breakfast stayed the same throughout the three days of our stay with SO/ Bangkok.

Entrance to Red Oven where we had our breakfast

Bread station at the entrance of the restaurant

The dessert station includes ice cream

The hot food station is situated in the middle of the restaurant

The hot food and cold food stations in Red Oven

There is a noodle station that cooks Thai noodles to order

The dim sum station during breakfast

Breakfast at Red Oven

The breakfast crowd at Red Oven

Club Signature

Club Signature is the Executive Lounge in SO/ Bangkok, nestled on the 25th floor of the hotel building. The Club Signature boasts bold colour schemes with a hint of retro vibe seen in the decor and the choice of furniture. Due to the high ceilings in the main area of the lounge and the balcony that looks out into Lumpini Park, Club Signature felt airy and spacious. The fore lounge has an inviting and cosy vibe with the sofa and a handful of dining tables catering for two, furnished here. Walking into this part of the lounge felt like walking into the living room of a house. There is some outdoor furniture in the balcony that invites guests to relax while looking out into the lungs of Bangkok – Lumpini Park. It felt liberating sitting here and looking out into the city. The back part of the lounge is mainly furnished with dining tables, and is where the retro and funky vibe is most pronounced. Here, the colour choice in the decor is more vibrant and bold. Most of the dining tables here cater for two pax, arranged in front of the floor-to-ceiling window that allows guests to look out into the city. There is a handful of seating that caters to larger groups, in a sofa setting. Club Signature welcomes guests at any time of the day for a drink. But it also caters for afternoon tea and evening cocktails, where guests are treated to finger food to enjoy with the drinks. Guests who want a quieter breakfast experience can pop up to the Club Signature during breakfast hours. The breakfast spread is certainly smaller compared to the Red Oven Restaurant.

Reception outside the Club Signature Lounge

The lounge is adorned by a large fashion painting

The main lounge area

There are dining tables further into the lounge that cater to larger groups

More dining tables at the back of the lounge

There are more dining tables at the back of the lounge

Club Signature lounge has a playful vibe

The food station in Club Signature Lounge

View of the city from the balcony of Club Signature Lounge

There is a balcony at the Club Signature Lounge

The balcony at the Club Signature Lounge

Swimming Pool

SO/ Bangkok has a beautiful infinity pool that overlooks the Lumpini Park. Perched on the 10th floor of the hotel and looking out of the park, swimming in the lap pool felt like swimming in the sky amidst the greenery below the hotel. The swimming pool is large enough for guests to get some decent laps, and a small, separate jacuzzi pool at the end of the pool on the sundeck for guests to relax. In terms of sundeck chairs, about 1/3 of the poolside space is cordoned off for poolside bistrol, leaving 2/3 of the space for sundeck chairs. Despite not being blocked by vegetation, suntanning in the morning can be challenging. The swimming pool will only receive sunlight in the afternoon due to its orientation. It doesn’t help that only a handful of sundeck chairs are arranged in the sun, with the majority of them hiding under the shade. The orientation of the hotel also meant the pool can be quite cold when swimming in the morning.

The swimming pool at SO/ Bangkok overlooks the city skyline and Lumpini Park

The swimming pool at SO/ Bangkok is located on level 10

A jacuzzi in one corner of the swimming pool deck

There is a sunken seating area at the poolside bar

There are plenty of sundeck chairs at the pool, but most of these are under the shade

SO/ Fit Gym

The gym in SO/ Bangkok is located on the 10th floor in front of the swimming pool. For a gym of this size, I thought the number of pieces of equipment and the range of workouts that can be done in the gym were rather limited. For cardio workouts, the gym is equipped with three ellipticals and treadmills, and four stationary bikes facing the swimming pool, allowing only a limited number of guests to use at any one time. Other than the free weights at the end of the gym, guests who wanted to do some strength training were limited to a couple of back machines, two leg machines, and a functional workout machine. I was rather surprised to find a small studio inside the gym.

The cardio machines in the gym are placed in front of the window facing the pool

The gym is also equipped with strength training machines

There is free weight area in the gym

There is a studio in the gym at SO/ Bangkok

More strength training machines hidden in a corner of the gym next to the studio

The studio seems to have been repurposed for core training

Overall

We had a great stay at SO/ Bangkok. The Water Element SO/ Lofty Suite was well-appointed, and the sleep quality on the king bed left us feeling refreshed every day. The service at the hotel was nothing short of impeccable. All the staff whom we bumped into are always wearing their smiles and making guests feel welcome. It felt as though no request was too small, and the staff at the hotel always responded to requests with great efficiency. The location of the hotel is an issue as it is not served by any BTS (where most shopping and sights are located along the BTS lines), but via the MRT. It took us a while to get used to having the MRT as our primary mode of transport (we always used the BTS as the primary means of getting around Bangkok).

[Airline Review] – Thai Airways A350-900 v.1 (TG404)/(TG409) – Royal Silk Class, SIN-BKK (2 Apr 26)/BKK – SIN (5 Apr 26)

April 17, 2026 / kktong76 / Leave a comment

The Thai Airways A350-900 that we took between Singapore and Bangkok

At the Airport

Singapore Changi Airport

Check-in

Thai Airways used to depart from Changi Airport Terminal 1, and passengers flying in Royal Silk Class were invited to check in at the SATS Premier Check-in Lounge, where we were invited to a sit-down check-in process with direct access to immigration. Since COVID, the airlines have removed the sit-down check-in experience. The airline shifted its departures to Singapore Changi Airport Terminal 2 in February 2025, with five check-in counters in Row 8 on the right side of the terminal check-in hall. This shift also allows the airline to use the self-service check-in kiosks in the front part of the row. The nearest entrance to the Thai Airways check-in counters is Door 6 of the terminal building. There was a long queue at the economy class check-in counter (termed as assistance). Thai Airways has two other lines at the airport, one for Business Class passengers and another for Star Alliance Gold members. There was no queue at the time of our arrival in these two lines. Thai Airways has one counter for Business Class passengers and Star Alliance Gold members. The ground staff checking us in came across as impatient. There were no smiles from her, nor did she bother to establish rapport. She took a while to complete our check-in, did not even bother to give us information about the lounge that we could use or the boarding gate and time. She merely placed our passports and boarding passes on the counter table.

Thai Airways check-in counters are near Door 5 at Changi Airport Terminal 2

Thai Airways check-in counters are located at Row 8 in Changi Airport Terminal 2

Queues for Royal Silk Class passengers and passengers holding Star Alliance Gold status flying in Economy Class

There is only one counter serving Royal Silk Class passengers in Singapore Changi Airport Terminal 2

Queue for Economy Class passengers who prefer counter check-in

There is one counter each for Royal Silk Class and Star Alliance Gold members

Thai Airways check-in counters at Row 8 in Singapore Changi Airport Terminal 2

There is a long line for Economy Class passengers who wanted to perform counter check-in this morning

Self-check-in kiosk in Singapore Changi Airport Terminal 2

Passengers performing self-check-in and bag drop in Changi Airport Terminal 2

Thai Airways passengers can also opt to use self-check-in kiosks in Changi Airport Terminal 2

There are plentiful self-check-in counters in Terminal 2

Singapore Airlines SilverKris Lounge

Thai Airways used to operate its own lounges when it departed from Terminal 1. The airlines closed its Royal Orchid Lounge in 2023 and has been using a contracted lounge since. With its move to Terminal 2, passengers flying in Royal Silk Class were invited to use the contracted SATS Premier Lounge in Terminal 2 (as printed on the boarding pass). Being a contracted lounge, SATS Premier Lounge is always crowded as it has to cater to airlines and lounge access pass holders. Fortunately, as Thai Airways is a member of Star Alliance, we were able to use the Singapore Airlines SilverKris Lounge in Terminal 2. I was pleasantly surprised to find a newly renovated SilverKris Lounge. There was much hype over social media about the renovation of the First Class Lounge, but not much was mentioned about the renovation done to the SilverKris Business Lounge. The moment we approached the lounge, the eagle-eyed staff took the initiative to approach us instead of waiting for us at the entrance of the lounge. The newly renovated lounge felt more polished and relaxing. The walnut brown seen in the wooden walls and the light grey carpeting accentuated the relaxing vibe past the staffed counters at the entrance of the lounge, a row of leather armchairs with marble top side tables lined up the corridor that leads to the main part of the lounge. SilverKris Lounge at Terminal 2 is equipped with 10 shower rooms next to the toilet across its entrance. There is a counter which I guess passengers can approach the staff to get a queue number during busy times. As the lounge was not crowded at the time of our visit, we could just walk into any of the empty shower rooms. The newly renovated shower rooms, decked in light grey marbles, felt luxurious and spacious. There is a toilet facility in every shower room, on top of the walk-in shower cubicle fitted with both a rain shower and a regular shower head. I liked how the airlines fitted a small stone table in the shower rooms, catering to passengers with carry-on baggage.

Turning left from the corridor from the entrance, we came to the main part of the lounge. Singapore Airlines furnished the left side of this corridor with the same armchairs, arranged in groups of four, catering to families or larger groups, as those we had seen by the entrance of the lounge. This corridor extended all the way to the back of the lounge, where the buffet line is located. On the right of this corridor, we spotted dining tables, arranged to seat four at each table. The space just shy of the buffet line is also furnished with more dining tables, forming the main dining area in the lounge. Singapore Airlines dedicated the sizeable area next to the main dining area as the lounging area, mainly decked with armchairs. The natural lighting streamed from the frosted glass, making this area feel bright and less claustrophobic. A handful of dining tables are also found in this part of the lounge that can seat up to six. Overall, the renovated lounge is refreshing, comfortable and relaxing.

There is a good mix of lounging and dining areas along the corridor from the entrance of the SilverKris Lounge in Changi Airport Terminal 2

The area at the front part of the lounge is decked with dining tables

Dining tables are arranged just before the buffet section in the lounge

There is another area at the side of the buffet line with more lounging chairs and a few more dining tables

The lounging area of the lounge beside the buffet line

There is a children's playroom and more lounging area in the lounge

The buffet line is located at the back of the lounge, where we found cold food selection at the counters by the walls, and hot food options with a good mix of local cuisines laid out on the island. There is a small counter at the side of the buffet area, serving the must-try made-to-order Singapore Airlines Laksa. The beverage stations are located next to the dining area before the buffet line.

The beverage station in the buffet area of the lounge

Ther eis a fridge of cold beverages at the end of the beverage station

The main buffet line serving hot local cuisine

Breakfast selection at the counter by the wall in the buffet station

Ice cream is available during breakfast at the beverage station

Bangkok Suvarnabhumi Airport

Check-in

Thai Airways dedicated the entire Row A to their Premium Passengers, with a bulk of the row set aside for their Royal Silk Class passengers, and a small corner carved out for their First Class passengers. Despite having the whole row of counters, only three were open for processing check-ins. Although there is only one passenger ahead of us, we had to wait a little while for our turn to check in. The ground staff was very friendly and processed our check-in efficiently. Other than the boarding time, she also recommended the nearest lounge that we could use while waiting for our flight. One benefit of flying Thai Airways Royal Silk Class is access to the fast-track immigration lane, located in the same area as their Royal Silk Class check-in counters. This fast-track immigration usually sees few passengers and is also open to passengers flying Business Class on other airlines. Despite being at a busy time when we arrived at the airport, we were through immigration in under 5 minutes.

Door 1 is the nearest door into the airport terminal for Thai Airways Royal Silk Class check-in counters

Thai Airways dedicated Row A to Royal First and Royal Silk Class passengers

Thai Airways dedicated the entire Row A for its Royal Silk Class passengers for checking in

Royal Silk Class passengers are entitled to use the fast-track immigration lane next to the check-in counters

Despite having the entire row, only three counters are open to serve passengers

The fast track security lane, opened to all passengers travelling in Business Class, is located next to Row A in Bangkok Suvarnabhumi Airport

Royal Orchid Lounge (Concourse D)

The Thai Airways Lounge is the default lounge that the signs point to after clearing the fast track security and immigration at the back of Thai Airways check-in counters at Row A. There is an escalator that leads to the lower floor of the airside after immigration. A couple of ground staff at the reception welcomed us with the typical Thai warmth. From there, there are two lounges, the older Thai Airways Royal Silk Lounge on the left and the newer and bigger Royal Orchid Lounge on the right. There are two entrances to the Royal Orchid Lounge, one after the escalator at the fast-track immigration and the other faces Concourse D. From the fast-track entrance, a bar counter where we could order cocktails and mocktails from welcomed us. The presence of green walls and the bright lighting made the lounge feel airy and spacious. The natural wood element seen in most Thai designs and the signature Thai Airways purple are the primary colours used to decorate the lounge. Most parts of the lounge are furnished with lounger armchairs that are dotted in front of the multiple green walls, with two dining areas found next to the buffet lines. There are lots of lounge seats spread across the lounge, mainly on the left side of the lounge, by the windows. The light purple and mustard yellow armchairs and the accompanying side tables made relaxing with a beverage here comfortable.

Thai Airways Royal Orchid Lounge at Concourse D is just one escalator away from the dedicated fast track immigration lane

We were welcomed by the friendly ground staff at the reception of Royal Orchid Lounge

Thai Airways Royal Orchid Lounge sigange

There is a bar counter serving up cocktails and signature Thai beverages at the Fast Track entrance of the lounge

Armchairs are dotted all over the Royal Orchid Lounge for passengers to relax

There are tons of green walls in the lounge bringing live into the lounge

Lounge seatings are mainly arranged around the green walls in the Royal Orchid Lounge

I like the green walls displayed throughout the Royal Orchid Lounge

We spotted a buffet station after the bar by the Fast Track entrance of the Royal Orchid Lounge at Concourse D

Buffet line at the dining area near the Fast Track entrance of the Royal Orchid Lounge

The dining area near the Fast Track entrance is placed in front of the buffet line

Most part of the lounge is furnished with armchairs for passengers to relax before their flight

Lounge seatings in the Royal Orchid Lounge

The Royal Orchid Lounge has two dining areas, one at the fast-track entrance and one near the Concourse D entrance. The dining area near the fast-track entrance is furnished with a number of round dining tables, where we had no problems finding seats. The buffet line at this entrance offered mainly Thai dishes with a small selection of vegetarian options at the hot food line next to the dining area. Desserts and beverages are found on the counters behind the hot food counters. The other pocket of dining area is near the Concourse D entrance, after the toilet and shower rooms. There seem to be more food options here, with a kitchen island filled with salads and fruits, and another with light snacks. The hot food section is found on the counters against the wall, offering similar Thai food options. There is an à la minute food counter here where chefs serve food cooked to order. The Shrimp Tom Yum Ramen was delicious with a generous amount of shrimp.

The buffet station near to the Concourse D entrance of the Royal Orchid Lounge

On top of the buffet line, we also found a counter that serves made-to-order meals

The beverage station at the buffet station near the Concourse D entrance of the lounge

There are also signature Thai desserts at the made-to-order counter

The Tom Yum Shrimp Ramen that I ordered from the made-to-order counter

The menu at the made-to-order counter changes perodically

The dining area is located next to the buffet station near the Concourse D entrance of the lounge

There are different dining tables catering for differing group sizes

There is a work station amidst the lounging chairs opposite the dining area near the Concourse D entrance of the Royal Orchid Lounge

The green walls amidst the walnut coloured walls gave the lounge a "jungle" vibe

The lounge seating at Royal Orchid Lounge is arranged on one side of the lounge, making a clear segregation between dining and lounging

Inside Thai Airways Royal Orchid Lounge at Concourse D

The entrance reception facing Concourse D

The shower facilities are situated in the middle part of the lounge, between the two dining areas. To use the shower rooms, I approached the staff at the reception outside the toilet, who ushered me to the next available shower room. The shower room was spacious and screamed of luxury. Other than the usual sink and walk-in shower, the shower room is also equipped with a toilet and, most importantly, racks for us to stow our carry-on baggage.

The counter outside the shower rooms where we can make reservations for shower facilities in the lounge

The shower room in Royal Orchid Lounge at Concourse D

The sink and toilet in the shower room

There are quite a number of shower rooms in the lounge

The shower amenities Thai Airways treat its passengers in the shower room

The walk-in shower in the shower room

There is a rack in the shower room where we can place our carry-ons

The Aircraft

Thai Airways flies six flights between Singapore and Bangkok daily, using a mix of B787-8, A350-900, their refurbished A320-200 aircraft, and their new A321neo. We flew in the A350-900 for this trip. Thai Airways has three configurations for this type of aircraft, and we got the v.1 of this aircraft featuring their signature Stelia Solstys seats that are also installed in most of Thai Airways’ long-haul aircraft.

Cabin

Thai Airways A350-900 v.1 Royal Silk Class cabin incorporated Thai design elements as seen in the heavy use of natural wood finishing. The wood element is seen the moment we step onboard the aircraft, where the galley floor is laid in wood panelling. This wood element flows into the Royal Silk Class cabin in the form of the side table, parts of the seat shell, and the seat pocket. Purple is the colour element used by Thai Airways, derived from the Thai orchid, which symbolises tropical beauty and a blend of modern elegance with traditional Thai culture. The cabin is decked in shades of purple to reflect the brand identity of the airline, as seen in the seats, seat shells, and carpet. There is even a large purple orchid motif on the bulkhead at the back of the Royal Silk Class cabin. The large windows used on the Thai Airways A350-900 let in a lot of natural light, which made the cabin look spacious and enhanced the purple hues used in the cabin, despite housing 32 seats at the front of the aircraft. The bright and airy vibe in the Royal Silk Class cabin is accentuated by the white colour used in the bulkhead and parts of the seat shell.

Thai Airways Royal Silk Class A350-900 (v.1) cabin is decked in the airline's signature purple colour

Thai Airways A350-900 (v.1) Royal Silk Class cabin

The white walls and the number of seats made the Thai Airways A350-900 (v.1) Royal Silk Class looked spacious

The wood grain on the side table and the literature pocket not only add colour to the cabin, it also add a sense of lux

First look at the Royal Silk Class cabin onboard A350-900 (v.1)

The purple mood lighting used in mid-flight complements the colour scheme of the cabin very well

There are three lavatories serving all 32 passengers in Royal Silk Class, with one located up front and two between the Royal Silk Class cabin and the Economy Class cabin. These lavatories are pretty much standard-sized, but the mirrors used here made it feel larger than it actually is. Thai Airways A350-900 v.1 Royal Silk Class lavatories are located in front of the cabin. The wooden panelling on the floor and the sink not only pays homage to the Thai design element, but it also makes the lavatory feel premium. I like how the sink in the lavatories feels large, thanks to its rectangular, deep sink design. Thai Airways stocked their Royal Silk Class lavatories with house brand Eau de toilette and hand lotions. However, dental kits were stocked only on the morning SIN-BKK flight and not on our afternoon return flight.

The Royal Silk Class lavatory has a premium feel thanks to the lamented wooden panelling at the sink

The tissue and paper cups in the lavatory

Unlike our SIN-BKK leg, the BKK-SIN leg did not have dental kits stocked in the paper bag beside the hand lotion

The amenities in the lavatory include Eau de Toilette and hand lotion. However the dental kits is only found on this SIN-BKK leg

Seat Features

Thai Airways A350-900 v.1 Royal Silk Class cabin is fitted with 32 seats arranged in a staggered 1-2-1 configuration across eight rows. These seats have a pitch of 60″ and measure 20″ wide, and are the narrowest Royal Silk Class seats the airline has. Despite not being installed with a side door (or panel), these Thai Airways A350-900 v.1 Royal Silk Class seats offer a good amount of privacy, with the high shell back design that somewhat hides passengers, especially those sitting next to the window. Like most Business Class seats, these seats come in three preset modes – the upright, flatbed and the lounge mode, which can be converted with a touch of one of the nine seat control buttons located at the side table. In upright mode, the seats felt comfortable thanks to their thick padding and the fabric used in the seats. Another button reclined the seat 180°, converting it into a flatbed. In bed mode, the seat also felt comfortable. My favourite mode is the mode in between, which I termed the “lounge mode”. I was able to get comfortable and relaxed in the angled seat back and the seat positioned closer to the ottoman for us to rest ur feet on. To ensure passengers get more comfortable in these Royal Silk Class seats, four of the eight seat control buttons allowed us to adjust the angle of seat recline and calf rest, and the position of the upper and lower lumbar support. With such versatility, I was able to find a position of the seat that made me feel comfortable. The other two buttons adjust the reading light and the light at the side table.

Thai Airways Royal Silk Class seat onboard A350-900 (v.1) in take-off/landing mode

Thai Airways A350-900 (v.1) Royal Silk Class seat in lounge mode

Thai Airways A350-900 (v.1) Royal Silk Class seat in flat bed mode

The legroom on the Royal Silk Class seat was excellent

Seat controls is mounted on the armrest next to the side table

The storage situation in the Thai Airways A350-900 v.1 Royal Silk Class cabin is a bit of a let-down. There is only one deep cubby under the inside armrest of the seat for us to stow our stuff. This cubby is ideal only to stow “taller” items such as a thin book or iPads. The deep design does not allow us to stow smaller items such as our mobile phones, charging cables and passports as fishing them out would be challenging. The only other place we can stow our stuff is on the side table. However, this side table cannot be used for stowage during taxi, take-off and landing. The space under the footwell is another storage place which we can use to stow our carry-on. The seat pocket in the Royal Silk Class seats is found next to the headrest. However, due to the rigid design and the awkward position, I find storing anything here challenging.

The only storage in these Royal Silk Class seats onboard Thai Airways A350-900 (v.1) is the small cubby under the inside armrest

The side table can only be used to stow items when the aircraft is at crusing altitude

The space below the footwell is another option for us to stow our carry-on

There is another seat pocket at the entrance of the seat, but can hardly used to stow anything

The seat pocket is found above the side table on the Royal Silk Class seat onboard Thai Airways A350-900 (v.1) , but the rigid design prevents us from storing anything

Seat pocket contents

The seat table in Thai Airways A350-900 v.1 Royal Silk Class seats is stowed on the seat shell in front, secured with a ledge. The table is of a good size, which gave us sufficient space to dine on or work on our tablets or laptops. I like how the seat table can be swivelled for us to exit the seat without putting it away in its stowage position. The side table in the seat not only serves as a cocktail table, but we were also able to use it for stowing at cruising altitude, keeping our stuff within reach. To keep our devices juiced up, Thai Airways A350-900 v.1 Royal Silk Class seats are fitted with two USB-A charging ports under the personal TV. But I find the charging speed on these USB-A ports to be slow. There is an additional international power outlet at the seat. In addition to the overhead reading light, Thai Airways installed another reading light at the headrest of the seat.

Thai Airways fits its Royal Silk Class seats onboard its A350-900 (v.1) aircraft with a large and sturdy seat table

I like how the seat table can be swivelled so we can get in and out of our seat without putting the table away

Seat table storage in the Royal Silk Class

There are two USB-A charging outlets under the personal TV with very slow charging speed

Beside the overhead reading light, there is another reading light at the side of the Royal Silk Class seat

The standard overhead reading lights

Headphone jack and international power socket is found on the side of the seat

Inflight Entertainment

Thai Airways A350-900 v.1 Royal Silk Class seats are fitted with a 16″ touchscreen personal TV. The picture quality on the personal TV is good, but it can be a tad reflective when the window shades are left open in the day. The touchscreen function on the PTV is very responsive, giving us the option of selecting our entertainment options directly on the TV. The IFE controller, stowed above the armrest, is very intuitive to use. Designed to resemble a PSP handheld device, entertainment options can be selected via the touchscreen panel. The IFE controller also switches on the overhead reading light and has a service button designed into it. The noise-cancelling headphones supplied by Thai Airways in the Royal Silk Class are comfortable to wear for a prolonged period of time and are very effective in blocking out ambient sound. However, the headphone protectors had a very bad fit on the headphones. My protectors keep falling out on both legs of the flight. The Thai Airways IFE is stocked with a large library of entertainment options, from the latest Hollywood blockbusters to movies of yesteryear to TV serials. We found a good range of genres to occupy our 2-hour flight. There is even a menu of Thai movies to keep us occupied. The Thai Airways A350-900 aircraft is equipped with Wi-Fi offering a 60-minute complimentary internet to Business Class passengers, accessible with the Wi-Fi code printed on our boarding passes. However, as the Wi-Fi code was not printed on our outbound boarding pass, we only had internet access on our inbound flight. The internet speed offered is only sufficient for social media browsing and chatting.

Thai Airways fitted a 16" HD Personal TV in each Royal Silk Class seat

The IFE controller onboard is very easy to us

Thai Airways provided noise cancelling headphones to its Royal Silk Class passengers

The IFE menu is very well organised

Entertainment sub-menu that made selection of movies very easy

There is wifi onboard the A350-900 aircraft, but we were only given the code (printed on our boarding pass) for our BKK-SIN leg

Royal Silk Class passengers gets 60 mins of free wifi onboard

Meal

Due to the short flight time between Singapore and Bangkok, instead of serving our meal course by course, the meal was served all at one go. Thai Airways offered three meal options on both legs of the flight.

SIN-BKK

Thai Airways served their Royal Silk Class passengers two appetisers. I thought the Tiger Prawn with Smoked Duck was a tad tough, but the overall flavour profile was good. The Pommery mustard did not come across as overpowering and complemented the dish well. The other appetiser on the plate was the Foie Gras, which I only took a bite from as I am not a Foie Gras person. The Foie Gras has a buttery but gamey aftertaste. Out of the three options of main course from the in-flight menu: chicken with jasmine rice, braised beef with wine sauce, and prawn with salty egg yolk, I opted for the Chicken Breast with Garlic Chilli Sauce. The chicken was a little tough, but the sauce was flavourful with a hint of spiciness that goes very well with the Jasmine Rice. The dessert comes in two separate bowls, one with the cheese platter and the other with the Mango Creme Brûlée Tart, which was sweet and refreshing.

The meal options for the SIN-BKK leg of the flight

Beverage options for throughout the flight

The Grill Sous Vide Chicken Breast that I opted this morning

I went for the Thai Airways signature drink, the Violet Bliss, as the pre-departure drink

I had more Violet Bliss during meal time

The cabin crew came by with coffee after meal

BKK-SIN

For this leg of the flight, we were served crab meat and salmon tartare as the appetiser. The crunchy roll had more of a vegetable taste rather than the taste of crab or salmon. Nonetheless, the appetiser tasted fresh. The three options for the main course on this flight comprise Duck Breast with Red Curry, Beef Fillet with XO Sauce and Pan Seared Turbot. I opted for the Turbot, which was well seasoned and moist. The Tarragon Shallot Cream Sauce tasted a little thick and heavy, but it goes very well with the fish. Despite being fried, the fingerling potato was saggy due to a prolonged period of mixing with the sauce. However, the paprika powder packs a punch to the otherwise plain potato. It is a pity that the amount of paprika powder scattered on the potato was insufficient. Like our outbound flight, we were served with two desserts. As I am not a cheese person, I skipped the cheese platter. In the other dessert bowl sit two small dessert dishes. I did not quite like the Caramel Jelly as I find it overly sweet, but I enjoyed the Mango Sticky Rice. The mangoes were sweet, while the pandan flavour used in the sticky rice was flavourful.

The meal options for our BKK - SIN leg

Beverage options today

I went for the Pan-Seared Sous Vide Turbot tonight

Thai Airways provided physical menu in its Royal Silk Class

More Violet Bliss for pre-departure drink

Cabin crew served warm nuts before meal service

Service

We were very well taken care of by the cabin crew in Royal Silk Class on both legs of the flight. The cabin crew portrayed the warmth and hospitality that the Thais are famed for.

Cabin crew patiently explaining the meal options to other passengers

SIN-BKK

The service onboard this leg was nothing short of impeccable. Apart from the mandatory welcome at the door during boarding, the friendliness of the crew and the excellent service were also experienced throughout the entire 2-hour flight time. The moment I settled into my seat, another cabin crew came around with pre-departure drinks, while another came around with hot towels. The cabin crew working on my aisle introduced herself to us while taking our lunch order. I thought it was very thoughtful for her to inform us of the location of the lavatories. All the crew were very friendly, wearing their smiles throughout the flight, keeping themselves busy patrolling the cabin and clearing the tables. They were very responsive to passengers’ call buttons. The cabin crew working on my aisle constantly asked if I needed more drinks and coffee after the meal.

BKK-SIN

The crew on board this flight also made passengers feel welcome. The warmth and hospitality were immediately felt at the door when the cabin welcomed us on board with the widest smile that one can ask for. The observant cabin crew working in the galley at the front of the aircraft noticed us walking past the galley to our seats, dropped their work immediately and made way for us with a smile. We were served welcome drinks the moment we settled into our seats. When dishing out pre-departure towels, the cabin crew explained to every passenger that they were giving out cold towels due to the hot weather. I find this to be a very thoughtful touch. Cabin crews were smiling all the time when interacting with passengers. Throughout the short 2-hour flight time, the cabin crew were seen patrolling the cabin very frequently. All four cabin crew working in Business Class were seen helping each other, serving passengers with food or drink, or clearing trays for passengers. Before landing, the cabin crew would go around thanking every passenger for flying with the airline.

Afterthought

The last time I flew on Thai Airways was before the pandemic. Back then, I found the service level on both Economy and Royal Silk Class to be inconsistent. This time round, I found consistent service on both legs of the flight. The cabin crew were welcoming and sincere. Other than serving food and drinks to the passengers, these diligent cabin crew made flying with Thai Airways very pleasant. The seats looked outdated and showed signs of ageing, and storage in these Royal Silk Class seats was rather limited. However, I find them very comfortable, especially in lounge mode. They are so comfortable that I dozed off while watching movies on the IFE. The food served was of high quality and very delicious. Overall, I had a very pleasant flight on board the Thai Airways A350-900 Royal Silk Class.

[Accommodation Review] – Novotel Genève Centre (Superior Suite), Geneva, Switzerland (18 – 20 Jan 26)

April 11, 2026 / kktong76 / Leave a comment

Location

Novotel Genève Centre is conveniently located near Geneva train station, with a 7-minute walk to the station or a 7-minute bus ride (due to the bus using a longer route). The area between the hotel and the train station felt a little complicated, especially at night (we later found out from one of the hotel staff that this part of the city is the red light district). Having said that, walking through this area felt completely safe. There are several restaurants with a good variety of cuisines, ranging from African to Indian to French and Italian restaurants, within a 3-minute walk from the hotel. There are several supermarkets located around the hotel, with the nearest about a 3 min walk to the main street from the hotel and one more situated in the train station. The tourist sights like Lake Geneva can be reached from the Novotel Genève Centre on foot in under 10 minutes, and Geneva Old Town is slightly further, reachable in 25 minutes’ walk.

Novotel Geneva facade

Novotel Geneva reception

Novotel Geneva signage

Hotel lobby opposite the reception

Hotel signage

Hotel lobby

The Suite

We checked into the 50㎡ Superior Suite, the only suite category that Novotel Genève Centre offers, which has a weird layout. Not only does the suite have two entrances, one in the bedroom and the other in the living room, but it also has two fully functional bathrooms. It felt as though two rooms were reconfigured into the Superior Suite.

Layout of the Superior Suite at Novotel Genève Centre

Entryway 1

The first entryway is situated further from the lift lobby and leads into the living room of the suite. At the entryway, we found a full-length mirror and a single hook installed on the wall. This simply furnished entryway is where the entrance to the bathroom (I termed the bathroom in the living room as Bathroom 1) is. Past the entrance to the bathroom, a minibar station fully stocked with a Nesspro Machine and a kettle, as well as a mini fridge, is located. An in-room safe is located between the Nespresso Machine and the mini fridge.

The entryway that leads to the living room of the Superior Suite at Novotel Geneva

The minibar by the entrance to the living room

We found ironing equipment and sofa cushions inside the wardrobe

The wardrobe in the Superior Suite that is next to the entryway to the living room

One of the two Nespresso machines in the Superior Suite

Living Room

The living room took up a bulk of the real estate in the Superior Suite at Novotel Genève Centre. Originally, this room was furnished with two sofas and a chaise lounge. However, when we entered the room, we saw the sofa placed against the wall and facing the window being converted into a bed. This sofa bed comes with its own headboard and charging outlets on either side of the headboard. We managed to get the housekeeping staff to reconfigure the bed back into a sofa the next day. The second sofa in the living room is placed by the window and faces the entrance to the bedroom. This two-seater sofa can be split into two single-seater chairs.

The living room of our Superior Suite in Novotel Geneva

The sofa in the living room was made into a bed at the time of our checking in

The sofa bed in the living room

The bed in the living room converted into a two-seater sofa

View from the living room of our suite

A chaise lounger is located at the other corner of the living room, by the door to the bedroom. The brown fabric chaise lounger not only can comfortably sit three, but it can also be used as a daybed. The only coffee table in the living room is placed in front of the chaise lounger. The wardrobe in the living room opposite the chaise lounger, capable of holding at least one week’s worth of clothing, seems to suggest that the living room of the Superior Suite might have been used to be a Junior Suite. The TV in the living room is mounted on the wall facing the sofa bed, and can be tilted to face the chaise lounger or the sofa placed by the window at the end of the living room. Despite having many channels for us to choose from on the TV, only a handful of these channels are in English. Most channels are either in French or German.

The TV in the living room is mounted onto the walls between the sofas

The chaise lounger in the living room that is next to the bedroom entrance

View of Geneva from the living room

The chaise lounger coomes withe a large coffee table

Bathroom 1

There are two fully equipped bathrooms in the Superior Suite: Bathroom 1 in the living room and Bathroom 2 in the bedroom. Entrance to Bathroom 1 is located in Entryway 1. Bathroom 1 has an elongated layout, stretching from the entrance to the suite to the living room. The space allocated to Bathroom 1 was excellent that it did not feel cramped when using the bathroom. Other than the bathtub in the left corner of the bathroom being a little on the small side, whose length occupies the entire width of the bathroom, the rest of the bathroom felt spacious. Novotel Genève Centre fitted only one sink in Bathroom 1 next to the bathtub, and there is space on both sinks for us to place our toiletries on. The toilet bowl and the European bidet were wedged between the sink and the walk-in shower, which is only fitted with a regular shower head. Even the space afforded to the semi-opened walk-in shower is sufficient to prevent any elbow war with the walls while I shower in here (unlike that of Bathroom 2). I find it weird that the bathroom in the living room is the bigger of the two bathrooms and is better equipped in terms of amenities. Only Bathroom 1 is stocked with full shower amenities, while the other bathroom lacks conditioner and bathroom amenities.

The sink in Bathroom 1 is quite sizeable with ample countertop space on both sides

Novotel Geneva supplies its guests with RITUALS bathroom amenities

The walk-in shower in Bathroom 1 is only fitted with a regular shower head

Novotel Geneva supplies its guests with RITUALS shower amenities

There is a bathtub in Bathroom 1 next to the sink

The toilet and bidet in Bathroom 1 is wedged between the walk-in shower and the sink

Entryway 2

Weirdly, there is another entrance to the suite via the bedroom, hence a second entryway for the suite. Like the other entryway, Entryway 2 is only furnished with the wardrobe in the bedroom, and it is also home to the entrance to the Powder Room. The wardrobe has only hanging racks, which limits the amount of clothing we can stow. The limited number of hangers the hotel supplies further limits the number of clothes we can hang. Despite having a ledge above the hanging racks, we found little use for this rack. Next to the wardrobe, and facing the bedroom, is where we found the second minibar and the second in-room safe. A second Nespresso machine, an electric kettle and a second set of coffee capsules and tea bags occupy the open shelving space on top of the safe. In contrast, a second mini fridge is situated below the safe.

Entryway 2 provides direct access to the bedroom from the lift lobby

The wardrobe in the bedroom is found in Entryway 2

The wardrobe in Entryway 2 has only hanging rack that limits the amount of clothing we can stow

There is another set of minibar with an empty minifrige in Entryway 2

Powder Room

The Powder Room is a weird situation in the Superior Suite at Novotel Geneva Centre. The suite does not have a powder room per se, rather it has a toilet that is separated from the bathroom in the bedroom. The toilet is situated in the entryway next to the second entrance to the suite, akin to a powder room. However, unlike the powder room of other hotels, the powder room in the Superior Suite only houses the porcelain throne and does not have a sink. The space allotted to the powder room is rather modest, and the absence of a sink makes it inconvenient to use.

Bedroom

A king bed is placed next to the entrance to the bedroom from the living room. The king bed was comfortable with a firm mattress, but the sleep quality on the king bed was impaired by the soft pillows that were provided. Those who prefer softer pillows might find better sleep quality on the bed than I do. The bedside tables in the bedroom are essentially two wooden planks that were wedged into the headboard of the king bed. The space afforded by these bedside tables is a little tight, which provides us with little space to place our lifestyle equipment to charge overnight. To make matters worse, the phone placed on the right bedside table took up the entire space, rendering this bedside table useless. It also doesn’t help that only one side has a power outlet, while the other only comes with two USB-A charging outlets.

The bedroom of our Superior Suite at Novotel Geneva at a glance

The king bed in the bedroom

The king bed is placed in the centre of the bedroom and provided us with good sleep quality

The design on the headboard of the king bed

The bedside table is just a wooden plank wedged into the headboard of the king bed and provided us with limited space for our lifestyle devices

The readiing light at the king bed is mounted on the headboard, which frees precious bedside table space

Next to the entrance to the bedroom from the living room is another two-seater sofa, identical to that one in the living room by the window. I thought the sofa was useful here as we used it to place our backpack (there is limited space in the entire suite where we can place our backpacks). Next to the sofa, facing the wall, is a work desk. The already sizeable work desk that has another table top can be swivelled out to face the king bed, further increasing the available desk top area for guests to work. The power outlets are conveniently installed on the wall by the work desk, ensuring guests’ work is not disrupted by keeping their laptops juiced up. The TV, mounted onto the wall, beside the work desk and opposite the king bed, provided us with the same entertainment options as that in the living room.

The sofa and work desk in the bedroom are arranged next to the window

The bedroom is furnished with a two seat sofa which we mainly used to stow our backpacks

The work desk in the bedroom

There is sufficient space on the work desk for us to do some work, and this is the only place where we can charge our lifestyle devices in the bedroom

The TV in the bedroom is mounted onto the wall beside the work desk and faces the king bed

Bathroom 2

The bathroom in the bedroom is the second bathroom in the Superior Suite at Novotel Genève Centre. This bathroom is smaller than Bathroom 1 in the living room, equipped with only a shower and bathing facilities. The sink lies in the centre of Bathroom 2, which only has a small countertop space on the left side. A bathtub, having the same size as the one in Bathroom 1, is located on the left of the sink, while a walk-in shower lies to the right of the sink. Due to the space allocated to Bathroom 2, the walk-in shower is smaller than that in Bathroom 1, and there are no toilet facilities in Bathroom 2. Not only is the space in Bathroom 2 reduced, but the amenities are also reduced, such as the absence of conditioners. Despite the “reduced” bathroom, I thought Bathroom 2 still functions as a full bath.

Bathroom 2 is located in the bedroom and has a smaller layout compared to Bathroom 1

The sink in Bathroom 2 has a smaller countertop space

The bathtub in Bathroom 2 is identical to that in Bathroom 1

The walk-in shower in Bathroom 2 is also fitted with only one regular shower head

RITUALS shower amenities provided by the hotel

Service

Our interaction with the staff at Novotel Genève Centre was very limited, and it doesn’t help that the reception is tucked further into the lobby, with a little distance to the main entrance. This design somewhat inhibited the staff from interacting with guests. Despite our interactions with the hotel staff being limited to check-in and check-out, I found the service in the hotel to be good. They were friendly and welcoming, and processed our check-in with great efficiency. The staff were always seen with a smile and greeted us with a warm bonjour whenever we approached them. We were given detailed information by the staff who checked us in about the location of the hotel and the amenities in the hotel. When we approached the reception for an additional fan and converted the sofa bed in the living room back to a sofa, things were done efficiently. The reception staff were always seen with a smile and stood ready to render any assistance that guests might have. Even the housekeeping staff, whom we bumped into every morning, warmed up our day with a friendly greeting.

Novotel Geneva treats its guests with chocolate chip cookies as a welcome amenity in the room.

Hotel Facilities

Gym

Novotel Genève Centre has a small gym located on the Basement (-1 floor) of the hotel. The gym has a small setup with only two treadmills, two stationary bikes, a couple of strength training machines and some dumbbells. Despite its modest size, guests would still be able to do strength and cardio workouts in the gym.

Directory to the gym in Novotel Geneva

The cardio machines in the gym

The free weights in the gym

Overall

Novotel Genève Centre is well situated between the train station and the old town, close to most of the sights in Geneva. I find the layout of the Superior Suite to be weird. It felt like the hotel converted a Junior Suite and a connecting Superior bedroom and called it a 1-bedroom suite. The sleep quality on the king bed was decent, and the furniture in the suite shows signs of Aging. Despite the limited interaction with the hotel staff, we felt welcomed by the friendly staff in the hotel.

[Accommodation Review] – Aparthotel Adagio Zurich City Centre (Superior Studio with Terrace), Zurich, Switzerland (16 – 18 Jan 26)

April 8, 2026 / kktong76 / Leave a comment

Location

Aparthotel Adagio Zurich City Centre is situated north of Zurich Hauptbahnhof, approximately 7 minutes on foot from the train station and 10 minutes on foot to Zurich’s old town. As this seems to be a residential area, we did not find a lot of amenities near the hotel. There are several restaurants located next to the hotel, but they always seem to be closed whenever we walk past them. The nearest supermarkets are situated near Zurich Hauptbahnhof, which is approximately a 7-minute walk away. There is a bus stop near the hotel, but not directly in front of the hotel, which is a 3-minute walk from the hotel entrance to this bus stop. The hotel shares the same building as Ibis Styles Zurich City Centre.

Aparthotel Adagio Zurich City Centre shares the same building as Ibis Styles Zurich

The reception counters of Aparthotel Adagio Zurich City Centre and Ibis Styles Zurich

The lobby at Aparthotel Adagio Zurich City Centre

There is compllimentary coffee and tea at the lobby of Aparthotel Adagio Zurich City Centre

There is a small shop at the lobby selling drinks and snacks to guests

The Suite

We checked into the 40㎡ Superior Studio with Terrace, which is a one-of-a-kind room in the hotel. Although it is termed a studio, the suite features a separate living room and a bedroom. The highlight of the studio is the spacious outdoor terrace that overlooks the city.

Layout of the Superior Studio with Terrace at Aparthotel Adagio Zurich City Centre

Entryway

The entryway to the Superior Studio with Terrace at Aparthotel Adagio Zurich City Centre occupies a small area of the studio suite. There is no furnishing at the entryway, and it shares the same space as the living room.

Living Room

The living room of the Superior Studio with Terrace is made up of the lounging area, the dining area and the kitchenette.

Lounging Area

The lounging area is immediately next to the main entrance and features Scandinavian decor, with woody tones from the flooring to the sofa. The sofa, which can comfortably sit two, is placed next to the main entrance to the Superior Studio and can be converted into a bed, which would increase the capacity in the studio by an additional two guests. In fact, the sofa was converted into a double bed when we first entered the Superior Studio. Instead of a large coffee table, I like how the hotel uses small round tables that not only save space but can also double up as stools for more people to sit on. There are three such stool-tables in the living room of the Superior Studio, one placed in front of the sofa, another placed next to the sofa, and yet another placed by the floor-to-ceiling window. I thought that not furnishing a TV cabinet was a great idea, as having a TV cabinet would clutter the lounging area due to the space allocated. The TV in the lounging area is mounted on a wall, opposite the main entrance and at a corner of the living room. Aparthotel Adagio Zurich City Centre is one of the few hotels that I have stayed in Switzerland that offered its guests more English channels. The placement of the TV with a pivoting mount allowed us to watch the TV while dining in the dining area. The living room, from the lounging area to the dining area, has a total of three floor-to-ceiling windows that open up to a French balcony. These three windows allowed lots of natural light into the living room and created an indoor-outdoor concept. They also made the elongated living room feel larger.

We converted the bed back into a sofa in the living room

The sofa in the living room was made into a double bed when we first entered the suite

The TV is mounted on the wall opposite the sofa in the living room

The lounging area in the living room is furnished with one sofa and a coffee table that can also double up as a stool

View from one of the windows in the living room

Dining Area & Kitchenette

The dining area & kitchenette took up about ⅓ of the living room space. Placed between the lounging area and the bedroom, the dining area is furnished with a suitably sized round table with four accompanying leathered seating dining chairs. As there are no work desks in this Superior Studio, the dining table also doubles up as a work desk. Behind the dining table is a kitchenette that has all one needs to whip up a simple meal. Other than a sink and the usual Nespresso Coffee machine and mini fridge, the kitchenette also has a two-stove induction cooker, a microwave oven and even a dishwasher. Aparthotel Adagio Zurich City Centre also equipped its Superior Studio with a full set of dining set for four, together with pots and pans. I like how the kitchenette, despite a small footprint in the Superior Studio, was able to function as a full kitchen with the many amenities the hotel provided.

The dining area is furnished with a round dining table with four chairs

The kitchenette in the living room is packed with facilities that gave us the option of whipping up a simple meal

The mini fridge is tucked in a cabinet in the kitchenette

Nespresso machine is found on the kitchen cabinet

Aparthotel Adagio Zurich City Centre even installed a dishwasher in the kitchenette of the Superior Studio with Terrace

There is a microwave oven in the kitchenette of our Superior Studio with Terrace

The two hob induction cooker in the kitchenette

The glasses and mugs are found in the cabinet next to the microwave oven

Bedroom

The bedroom is further into the Superior Studio with Terrace at Aparthotel Adagio Zurich City Centre. Instead of a wall and door, the bedroom can be isolated with the use of thick blackout curtains. The bedroom is simply furnished with a queen-size bed and two bedside tables. One of the bedside tables is mounted onto the headboard of the queen bed, while the other is a standalone cabinet. Another TV is mounted on the wall opposite the queen bed, which has the same international and local channels available as the one in the living room. Underneath the TV is a long bench fitted with a cushion, I guess to double up as a seating area in the bedroom, as well as a luggage rack. Perhaps the weakest link in the Superior Studio with Terrace at Aparthotel Adagio Zurich City Centre is the wardrobe space. The hotel fitted an open concept hanging rack that only has sufficient space for us to hang four jackets, which is grossly insufficient if the Superior Studio is maxed out with four guests. There is a deep drawer underneath the hanging rack, which gives us more storage space, given the limited space for storage in the bedroom. The enclosed cabinet next to the hanging rack also did not provide us with more storage space. Of the four tiered cabinet shelves, we were only able to use three, as one of these precious shelves is being occupied by the in-room safe.

The queen bed is furnished with two small side tables in the bedroom of the Superior Studio with Terrace at Aparthotel Adagio Zurich City Centre

The TV is mounted opposite the queen bed with a small wardrobe featuring an open hanging rack and a cupboard of shelves

The queen bed in the bedroom is quite comfortable to sleep on

Bathroom

The bathroom in the Superior Studio at Aparthotel Adagio Zurich City Centre comprises two rooms, the toilet and the shower room. The toilet is located in a separate room from the shower and sits right at the end of the corridor in the studio suite. Despite the modest space, the toilet does not feel cramped. There is even space in the toilet for the hotel to install a small basin with a countertop that is large enough for me to place my toiletries on. I thought the hotel was clever to put a sink here, creating a dual sink in the bathroom area. Further into the bathroom, next to the toilet, is where the shower room is situated. Sitting next to the entrance of the shower room is the other sink in the Superior Studio, placed on a slightly larger countertop compared to the one in the toilet, giving us more space for toiletries. In the corner of the shower room sits a standing walk-in shower stall, equipped with both rain and regular shower heads. Aparthotel Adagio Zurich City Centre supplies its guests with a PRIJA combination of shampoo cum shower gel that gives off a woody scent after a shower. The only flaw in the walk-in shower is the lack of a ledge for us to place our facial wash and dental kit.

The bathroom in the Superior Studio with Terrace at Aparthotel Adagio Zurich City Centre comprises two separate rooms

The sink in the toilet makes the Superior Studio with Terrace having some form of dual sinks

The toilet in the bathroom is housed in a separate room

There is a wooden shelf outside the toilet that gives us additional space to stow our stuff

The walk-in shower is housed in another room futher into the bathroom

There is another sink in the shower room, making the Superior Studio with Terrace having a dual sink set up

Aparthotel Adagio Zurich City Centre supplies guests of PRIJA with shower and bathroom amenities

The walk-in shower features a rain and a regular shower head

Terrace

What surprises me most is the terrace. From the picture on the hotel’s website, the terrace looked like an extension of the Superior Studio, having the same width as the studio suite. However, when we entered the terrace, we were surprised that the terrace took up the entire width of the 7th floor. In fact, we thought the size of the terrace was approximately the same size as our Superior Studio. Aparthotel Adagio Zurich City Centre furnished the terrace with two sets of outdoor furniture. The area immediately in front of our Superior Studio is furnished with a sofa for three and another four single-seater armchairs, together with an outdoor table. There are some holders for potted plants, which were empty due to the wintry weather. The other side of the terrace is furnished with three sundeck chairs and a single armchair with a matching table. I guess this area sees more use in the summer.

The terrace in the Superior Studio with Terrace at Aparthotel Adagio Zurich City Centre occupies the entire terrace on level 7 and is the biggest space in the suite

The part of the terrace just outside our suite is furnished with outdoor sofa and armchairs

The outdoor furniture with deck chairs are located further from the suite

View from our terrace

View of Zurich from our terrace

Service

The service at Aparthotel Adagio Zurich City Centre is good. We were warmly welcomed by the staff during check-in, who processed our check-in with much efficiency and patiently answered our questions about the breakfast and our half-board booking. The next day, we approached the reception staff about our welcome drink, who gleefully recommended us her favourite drink. Although there are signs in the hotel lift that state housekeeping services are only available every seven days, we were pleasantly surprised to find our rooms being made up when we returned to our Superior Studio in the evening. We booked a half-board package to dine at the YUKA restaurant. The staff there appeared to be aloof initially, but they started to warm up after our initial interaction with them. Despite us having the set menu, the staff took the effort to check with the kitchen if they were able to customise the dishes for us.

Welcome amenities provided by Aparthotel Adagio Zurich City Centre

Hotel Facilities

Gym

The hotel shares a small gym with Ibis Styles Zurich City Centre, located on the ground floor of the hotel. The gym is equipped with a limited number of cardio workout machines, with only one stationary bike, one elliptical machine, one rowing machine, and two treadmills. Guests who want to engage in strength training are limited to one strength workout machine that targets every muscle group, as well as free weights. We found a sauna in the gym at Aparthotel Adagio Zurich City Centre.

Entrance to the sauan in gym

The free weight and strength training machine in the gym

The kettle bells and stretching area in the small gym

There is a sauna fitted inside the gym

There are a few cardio training machines in the gym

Breakfast @ YUKA

Breakfast is served at the YUKA restaurant, located on the ground floor of the hotel, adjacent to the reception. Breakfast is limited to a large selection of bread, some hard-boiled eggs, sausages and cold cuts. Despite the limited breakfast variety, the hotel still serves a hearty breakfast to fuel guests for the day before exploring Zurich.

Breakfast is served at YUKA restaurant on the ground level of the Aparthotel Adagio Zurich City Centre

The hot food section in the breakfast buffet line

The cold cuts available for breakfast

The bar in YUKA restaurant

The bread and pastries station in YUKA restaurant during breakfast

Overall

We had a pleasant stay at Aparthotel Adagio Zurich City Centre. I liked the terrace that looked out into the streets of Zurich and the amenities in the Superior Studio. Despite being termed as a studio, the bedroom can be isolated from the living room and the bathroom, creating a one-bedroom suite. The inclusion of a kitchenette gave us the option of preparing a simple meal, and the dishwasher eliminated the need for doing the dishes. The hotel is close to Zurich Hauptbahnhof and the city centre, making exploring Zurich and its surroundings a breeze.

[Accommodation Review] – Jägerhof Hotels & Apartments (Modern 3-Bedroom Apartment), Zermatt, Switzerland (13 – 16 Jan 26)

April 4, 2026April 7, 2026 / kktong76 / Leave a comment

Location

Jägerhof Hotels and Apartments is located about a 7-minute walk from the centre of Zermatt and 15 minutes’ walk from Zermatt Bahnhof. The hotel is situated in a quiet location in town, offering stunning views of the Matterhorn. Despite its somewhat secluded location, the hotel is about a 15-minute walk to the cable car stations bound for the Matterhorn and Gornergrat. I thought the location of the hotel was ideal as we were never too far from the action in Zermatt. The hotel provides a complimentary transfer from Zermatt Bahnhof in one of its electric cars.

The lodgings in Jägerhof Hotels and Apartments

Jägerhof Hotels and Apartments offers a variety of lodging options from hotel rooms to apartments

Jägerhof Hotels and Apartments facade in the day

The reception at Jägerhof Hotels and Apartments

Jägerhof Hotels and Apartments lobby

The hotel resturant and bar

The Apartment

Jägerhof Hotels & Apartments offers two types of accommodations: standard hotel rooms and serviced apartments. For the serviced apartments, Jägerhof Hotels & Apartments offer apartments ranging from studios to 3-bedroom units. We checked into their 150㎡ spacious 3-bedroom apartment.

Layout of Jagerhof Hotel & Apartments 3-bedroom Apartment (Source: *https://www.jaegerhofzermatt.ch/en/flats-in-zermatt-with-hotel-service/*)

Entryway

The entryway to the Jägerhof Hotels and Apartments 3-bedroom apartment is the area that links the bedrooms to the living and dining room. Technically, the entryway is not furnished, but we found a wooden bench mounted onto a wooden feature wall outside Bedroom 1. This is our first look at the Scandinavian decor in the apartment, and it was a great addition for us to put on our shoes. However, we merely used this as a place to stow our backpacks. The hooks on the wooden feature wall gave us a spot to hang our outer coats without taking up space in the wardrobes in our bedrooms. The painted posters of Zermatt hanging on the wall provided some colour in an otherwise plain entryway wall.

There is a bench and hooks for our jackets at the entryway

The entryway that links the rooms to living room

Bedroom 1

Bedroom 1 sits right across from the entrance to the 3-bedroom apartment at Jägerhof Hotels and Apartments. This bedroom, like the rest of the apartment, is decked out in a natural Scandinavian theme, apparent in the large usage of natural wood and green colour on parts of the walls. The bedroom is not large, and the king bed in the middle of the room occupies a bulk of the real estate here. The power outlet is conveniently installed on the headboard above two-tiered open shelving bedside tables that were mounted onto the headboard of the king bed, providing us with space to charge our lifestyle devices. The two-tiered design gave us additional space to put more stuff on the bedside tables. I like how Jägerhof Hotels and Apartments installed the reading lights onto the headboard of the bed, freeing up the already tight space on the bedside tables. Across the king bed is a table mounted on the wall with a bench. This table is a little odd in its function. It does not come with a mirror to call it a vanity table, and it is not large enough to function as a work desk. However, there are power outlets here for guests to charge their lifestyle devices as well. A flatscreen TV is mounted above the table that faces the king bed, providing occupants of Bedroom 1 with entertainment in the comfort of the bed. Next to the entrance of Bedroom 1 sits a double-panel wooden wardrobe. The space afforded by this wardrobe is not large, but sufficient for us to stow a few days’ clothing. Other than the hanging rack, I like how smaller shelves are designed into the wardrobe, which increases its storage capacity. The in-room safe is tucked at the bottom of the hanging rack part of the wardrobe. The small safe only provides enough space for us to place our passports, but it is not large enough to place even an iPad. Bedroom 1 is connected via a door to the right of the table to the wrap-around balcony that extends all the way to the living room.

The sleeping area in Bedroom 1

The king bed in Bedroom 1

One of the two bedside tables in Bedroom 1

The table in Bedroom 1 is wedged between the wardrobe and the exit to the balcony

The wardorbe in Bedroom 1

Bedroom 1 has a flatscreen TV mounted on the wall above the table

The wardrobe in Bedroom 1

View from Bedroom 1

Bathroom 1

Bedroom 1 does not have an ensuite bathroom; bathroom 1 is situated outside, next to the bedroom. Bathroom 1 is more utilitarian than trying to create an atmosphere to impress its users. Bathroom 1 is rather compact, but it has all that is required to function as a full bathroom. The sink counter is a little on the compact side, but it still has space for its users to place their toiletries. The walk-in shower sitting in one corner of the bathroom is only fitted with one regular shower head. There is a ledge for us to place our toiletries. The porcelain throne is stationed next to the walk-in shower. Despite the compact layout, there are hooks installed here for us to hang our clothing.

Bathroom 1 is rather compact but has everything to function as a bathroom

The sink in Bathroom 1

Bedroom 2

Bedroom 2 is further down the entryway next to Bedroom 1 and is the largest bedroom of the three. I’d call this the Master Bedroom. Bedroom 2 also has the same Scandinavian decor as Bedroom 1, decked with natural wood furniture and a green wall. Unlike Bedroom 1, Bedroom 2 is fitted with two wardrobes, an open wardrobe at the entrance and a second double-panel wardrobe further in. The open wardrobe has only hanging racks and a shelf on top. We mainly used this wardrobe to hang our outer coats. As there is space at the bottom of this wardrobe, this is also where we place our backpacks. The second wardrobe, further into the room, is identical to that in Bedroom 1, with one side of hanging racks and the other side five shelves. We mainly used this to hang our clothes, and the shelves on the side were perfect for us to place our smaller clothing items. Similar to Bedroom 1, there is also a table next to the wardrobe, mounted onto the wall in a corner of the bedroom. As a work desk, I find this table a little tight, but the power outlet here allowed me to keep my iPad juiced up. However, we mainly used this table to stow our loose items. A TV is mounted on the wall above the table, which provides us with limited English Channel entertainment, as most of the channels are in French or German. A King bed is furnished opposite the TV. The king bed is very comfortable to sleep in, and the blanket provided kept us warm and cosy on a colder winter night. Unlike most hotels, the king bed is topped with two single-sized blankets, so we did not have to fight over a blanket. Like the bed in Bedroom 1, the two-tiered open shelving bedside tables are mounted on both sides of the king bed. With the power outlet fitted on each of these tables, we found it especially useful to charge our lifestyle devices overnight. As the bedside tables were not large, I applauded Jägerhof Hotels and Apartments for fitting the bedside lamps, which essentially are reading lights, onto the headboard of the bed. This frees up the already tight bedside table for us to put more of our stuff.

Bedroom 2 in the Modern 3-Bedroom Apartment at Jägerhof Hotels and Apartments

The wardobes in Bedroom 2 are situated at the entrance to the bedroom

The wardrobe in Bedroom 2 is identical to that in Bedroom 1

The comfortable King bed in Bedroom 2

The table in Bedroom 2 with the TV mounted on top of the table facing the king bed

Natural motif above the king bed in Bedroom 2

Bedroom 2 is also fitted with the same bedside table as Bedroom 1

View of Zermatt from Bedroom 2

Bathroom 2

Unlike Bathroom 1, Bathroom 2 is located inside Bedroom 2, with its entrance located opposite the open wardrobe in the bedroom. Like the bedroom, it is also the largest of the three bathrooms. We were greeted by an oversized sink counter top at the entrance of the bathroom. Fitted with only one sink, the space afforded by this sink countertop felt larger. We were not complaining as this meant we were able to stow more toiletries on this countertop. The porcelain throne is situated behind the door to the bathroom. A bathtub is fitted at the end of the bathroom. This bathtub also doubles up as a walk-in shower. Although no ledge was installed here, we used the window sill to place our toiletries. Jägerhof Hotels and Apartments provided Absolute Nordic shampoo/body wash shower amenities, which have a hint of musky smell and left our skin feeling soft and refreshed after showering.

Bathroom 2 at a glance

The sink in Bathroom 2 has a relatively larger countertop

The toilet in Bathroom 2 is situated behind the door

Bathroom 2 has a tub/shower combination set up and is fitted with only a regular shower head

Jägerhof Hotels and Apartments supplies its guests with Nordic Brand shower amenities

Bedroom 3

Bedroom 3 is a similar layout to Bedroom 1, with the exception of having an ensuite bathroom inside the bedroom. The decor is the same except that the wardrobe is now further into the bedroom, in a corner rather than by the door, which made perfect sense as the door would be in the way of the wardrobe. Like Bedrooms 1 and 2, the enclosed double-panel wardrobe has a section for a hanging rack and a slightly smaller section fitted with five shelves. The table in this bedroom is the same as those we saw in both Bedrooms 1 and 2, and the location of the TV in the bedroom is mounted on the wall above the table, facing the king bed. The king bed and the bedside tables in Bedroom 3 are exactly designed the same as those in the other two bedrooms.

Bedroom 3 has a similar layout as Bedroom 1

The set up in Bedroom 3 in our Modern 3-Bedroom apartment at Jägerhof Hotels and Apartments

Bedroom 3 has the same bedside table as the other two bedrooms in the apartment

The table in Bedroom 3 is situated next to the entrance to the bedroom

The wardrobe in Bedroom 3

The wardrobe in Bedroom 3 has the same design as those in the other two bedrooms

View from Bedroom 3

Bathroom 3

Unlike Bedroom 1, Bedroom 3 has an ensuite bathroom with the entrance located next to the king bed. Bathroom 3 felt slightly larger than Bathroom 1, which had the fittings lined up in a linear fashion. Like Bathroom 1, the walk-in shower in Bathroom 3 took up the spot in a corner of the bathroom, fitted with a regular shower head. Next to the walk-in shower is the sink. Similar to Bathroom 1, the sink countertop here is tight, but it still offers sufficient space for my friends to stow their toiletries. The toilet took up the space in the other corner, opposite the entrance to the bathroom.

Bathroom 3 is located inside Bedroom 3

The toilet in Bathroom 3

Walk-in shower in Bathroom 3

Bedroom 3 has similar sink layout as Bathroom 1

Living Room

The living room in the Modern 3-Bedroom Apartment at Jägerhof Hotels and Apartments is the largest space in the apartment. The Scandinavian design language is especially pronounced here with the wooden flooring, the large green wall, and natural wood furniture. Jägerhof Hotels and Apartments fitted out the living room with two three-seater sofas that are comfortable to sit on and relax while we watch TV. The mustard colour chosen for these sofas blended in with the overall colour theme very well. I like the usage of a log as a coffee table in the centre of these sofas, which, together with the moose logo and the fake moose skeletons, gave the living room a cosy and lodge vibe. The cabinets and shelves around the TV not only gave the overall Scandinavian look, but they are also functional, giving us additional space to put our stuff.

The living room of our Modern 3-Bedroom apartment at Jägerhof Hotels and Apartments gave us ample space to hang out

The couch in the living room

The couch that is placed by the floor-to-ceiling window in the living room

The couches in the living room were comfortable to sit on and the unique log coffee table

The TV in the living room sits on a cabinet that gives us lots of storage space

Dining and Kitchenette Area

Situated next to the living room is the open dining room and kitchenette area, segregated by the black matt tilings used for the flooring. The dining area had the Scandinavian elements, as seen in the large natural wood finished dining table that caters to six pax and matching dining chairs. We used this dining table a lot. Other than using it for dining, we mainly gathered at this table to do our work and discuss our itinerary. The placement of the dining table by the large windows not only brought in natural light in the day, but it also connected us to nature (our apartment faces the forested area of Zermatt. The overhead lighting that hangs down from the ceiling gave the dining area a modern look, which fits perfectly into the theme of the open kitchen. A couple of reindeer decorations hanging on the wall at the end of the dining and kitchenette area reinforce the natural theme in the dining area.

The large dining table in the dining area provided with ample space to dine

The dining area in our Modern 3-bedroom apartment at Jägerhof Hotels and Apartments

The kitchenette in our Modern 3-bedroom apartment at Jägerhof Hotels and Apartments is actually a full kitchen. The hotel equipped the kitchenette so well that we were able to whip up a full meal. In the centre of the kitchen counter, there is a set of four induction cookers where we used to fry eggs and bacon for breakfast. We also used this to cook the rosti that we bought from the supermarket in town, made possible with the full set of cookware and china. Jägerhof Hotels and Apartments equipped the kitchenette with a large oven, perfect for us to cook up the ribs we bought. The kitchenette is also equipped with a large full-size fridge, which is great for longer stay guests who want to eat in to save a few bucks. There are also the usual suspects, such as a toaster, a Nespresso machine and a kettle, made available in the kitchenette. Despite being fitted with a large kitchen sink for us to do the washing, Jägerhof Hotels and Apartments also equipped the kitchenette with a dishwasher, saving us the time to wash the crockery and china that we used.

The kitchenette in the dining area

The kitchenette is well equipped with a large oven and a full fridge

There is a Nespresso machine in the kitchenette

Jägerhof Hotels and Apartments equipped the kitchenette with a full set of cutlery for six pax

We also found a toaster in the kitchenette

We also found full sets of cups and glassess for six pax

There is even a dishwasher in the kitchenette

The cook wares in the kitchenette

The kitchenette in our Modern 3-bedroom apartment at Jägerhof Hotels and Apartments is equipped with a full set of china for us to dine on

Balcony

The Modern 3-bedroom apartment at Jägerhof Hotels and Apartments features a wrap-around balcony that extends from the living room to Bedroom 1. The part of the balcony outside the living room is furnished with four chairs and a table, while the part of the balcony outside Bedroom 1 is furnished with two outdoor chairs. The balcony was a perfect place for us to sit and relax in the morning with a cup of coffee while watching the golden sun rays lighting up the peak of the Matterhorn during sunrise. The balcony not only offered us the million-dollar view of the Matterhorn, but it also gave us views of the town and the two nearby mountains. We find ourselves using the balcony a lot, just chilling with the view of the Matterhorn.

The balcony in our Modern 3-bedroom apartment at Jägerhof Hotels and Apartments

The part of the balcony in front of the living room

The part of the balcony outside Bedroom 1

View of the Matterhorn from our balcony at night

View of the Matterhorn from our balcony in the day

Service

The service was fantastic at the hotel. I’d say the service at Jägerhof Hotels and Apartments was thoughtful. Before our arrival, I had emailed the hotel to request a train station pick-up. Despite our late arrival (after 8 pm), we were delighted to find the hotel pick-up was already at the train station waiting for us. The staff who did the pick up volunteered to carry our luggage up two flights of stairs, despite our insistence that we would do it ourselves, as our luggage was very heavy. Before we could stop him, he had already brought our luggage to our apartment building. Even with our late arrival, we were warmly welcomed by the reception staff, who processed our check-in with much efficiency. She also gave us a brief of the breakfast timing and the locations of the hotel bar and restaurant. We met with another staff at the reception the next day, requesting to top up our shower amenities. She was equally friendly and ensured our requests were being fulfilled. The staff at the restaurant were awesome as well. We dined at the restaurant for their cheese fondue, where the staff patiently explained the menu and constantly checked with us how we found the food. The housekeeping staff deserve a mention. As we were not too sure if Jägerhof Hotels and Apartments makes up rooms daily, we hung out towels back onto the towel racks in the bathrooms. We were surprised that our apartment was meticulously cleaned the next day we returned to the apartment with fresh towels in the bathrooms.

Jägerhof Hotels and Apartments arranged an electric bus to pick us up from and take us to the train station.

Overall

We had a pleasant stay in the Modern 3-Bedroom apartment at Jägerhof Hotels and Apartments. Not only was the apartment very well appointed and had everything that we needed for a comfortable stay, but it was also very cosy. We also found the apartment value for money; it is difficult to find lodging with three bedrooms and three bathrooms at this price point, and yet it offered us a direct view of the Matterhorn. The sleep quality on the king beds was excellent, leaving us recharged every night. The service at the hotel was excellent, with every staff member we met being so welcoming and friendly. I would return to Jägerhof Hotels and Apartments the next time I return to Zermatt.

[Accommodation Review] – Hotel Royal St Georges (Royal Suite), Interlaken, Switzerland (11 – 13 Jan 26)

April 1, 2026April 7, 2026 / kktong76 / Leave a comment

Location

Hotel Royal St Georges is located about an 8-minute walk from Interlaken Ost Bahnhof. The hotel sits on the street that runs through the town between Interlaken Ost Bahnhof and Interlaken West Bahnhof. There are a few restaurants and cafes around the hotel along the street, with most of the amenities, such as the supermarket (in fact, there are two), located outside Interlaken Ost Bahnhof.

View of Hotel Royal St Georges' modern wing

Hotel Royal St Georges facade with both the historic wing and modern wing

Hotel Royal St Georges reception

The historic staircase next to the hotel reception

The hotel lobby in front of the reception

The hotel lobby

The main entrance to the hotel

The Suite

The historic Hotel Royal St Georges has two wings, the newer modern wing and the historic wing. The Royal Suite is the only suite category room in Hotel Royal St. Georges, where the hotel has several configurations of this 50㎡ suite. All of the Royal Suites are located in the historic wing of the hotel.

Layout of the Royal Suite in Hotel Royal St. Georges Interlaken

Entryway

The heritage of the Royal Suite can be witnessed from the entryway. From the brown carpeting to the mirror, it seems that this suite has withstood the test of time. The entryway in the Royal Suite at Hotel Royal St Georges is a short corridor in the suite that links the main entrance to the living room of the suite. I found the three hooks fitted in here, next to the entrance to the suite, very convenient for us to hang our outer coats before entering the room. The presence of these hooks also gave us a place to stow our outer coats rather than finding a space in the suite to hang them. Mounted on the wall of the entryway is a mirror that allows us to do a final appearance check before heading out. The frame of this mirror suggested that it might have been in this suite for a long time. The entrance to the only bathroom in the Royal Suite is situated in the entryway, opposite the mirror.

The entryway is a small corridor linking the suite's main entrance to the rest of the suite

The entryway is fitted with a mirror and some hooks and is also home to the bathroom entrance

Bathroom

The next room closest to the main entrance to the Royal Suite at Hotel Royal St Georges is the bathroom. I find having the bathroom at the entrance is a tad weird. Maybe there are some historical occurrences that led the designers to arrange the bathroom here, or maybe the suite was renovated over the years, leading to the placement of the bathroom. I also find the detachment of the bathroom from the bedroom a tad inconvenient. The only good thing about having the bathroom here is that our friends staying in the other rooms in the hotel can use the bathroom without having to go through our bedroom when they pop by our suite for a gathering.

Unlike the entryway (or the other parts of the suite), the bathroom predominantly uses blue colour, seen in the floor tiles and the furnishings such as the toilet, the bidet and the sink. Right next to the entrance of the bathroom stood the walk-in shower. Fitted with both a rain shower and a regular shower head, the space afforded by the walk-in shower felt a little tight. The glass screen doors also felt a tad flimsy. A large, deep-seated bathtub sits across the walk-in shower. This tub has seen better times, as there are scratches visible on the tub. To our dismay, we subsequently found out that this tub is currently used as an antique display piece after checking with the hotel reception when the water is not flowing from the taps. We were informed that the hotel was not able to find the spare parts to fix the tap, and owing to a strict Swiss law, the hotel was not able to remove or replace the bathtub. A European bidet with a blue gryphon carved onto the base is found next to the bathtub. As we did not use the bidet (rather, we were not used to the European bidet), we couldn’t confirm if the bidet is working or, like the bathtub, is merely a display piece. Opposite the bidet and next to the walk-in shower, positioned the (literally) porcelain throne. Like the bidet, the toilet is also engraved with a gryphon painted in blue at its base. Fortunately, the toilet was in working order.

The walk-in shower in the bathroom of the Royal Suite

Hotel Royal St Georges treats its guests with the luxurious Clarins shower amenities

The walk-in shower is situated next to the bathroom entrance

The display bathtub and bidet

The bathtub is not usable due to a lack of parts for the tap

The toilet bowl has an elaborate gryphon carving

The bidet also has gryphon carving

At the end of the bathroom, after the toilet, is a large sink that also has the head of a gryphon carved onto the base of the sink. The blue pattern on the sink top demonstrated the opulence that the original owners of the hotel placed in the decor of this Royal Suite. The opulence is also seen in the golden tap used in the sink. The biggest flaw of this bathroom is the amount of space for us to place our stuff. The sink is large, but there is not much space for us to stow our toiletries. I also found a lack of space to hang the towels after use. The only place for us to hang our towels is on the heater mounted on the wall above the toilet. The lack of hooks also meant there is no place for us to hang our clothing when we shower. Hotel Royal St Georges worked around this issue by placing a large marble top table in front of the door to the balcony in the bathroom, which I found weird to have a balcony in the bathroom. Speaking of weirdness, the other thing I found peculiar is a connecting door to the room next door, right in the bathroom. This made me wonder how many designs and redesigns this Royal Suite has gone through to arrive at this peculiar design.

The bathroom in the Royal Suite is fitted with a single sink

The sink also has gryphon pattern at its base

Clarins bathroom amenities available in the bathroom

Even the towel holder has a gryphon carving

The table in the bathroom gave us some space to stow our stuff

Living Room

The living room is the next room that the entryway leads to in the Royal Suite. Decked in blue wallpaper and parquet flooring, and together with the patterned cornice, the living room presents a vibe of yesteryears. The furnishing is a mix of modern and historic in the living room. A side table is positioned next to the entrance of the living room from the entryway. This somewhat oversized side table is equipped with a large lamp, which brings a sense of cosiness to this space. I found the sitting situation to be a little thin in the living room. Other than a large fabric two-seater sofa that can sit three adults, placed next to the side table, the only other sitting space in the living room is a single-seater armchair opposite it. To make matters worse, instead of a regular coffee table, the living room is furnished with a small dining table in the middle of the room. The height of this table is too high to be used as a coffee table or even dining table when seated on the lounge sets, or useless as a dining table due to a lack of dining chairs.

The sofa in the living room is capable of sitting three adults comfortably

The odd table in the living room that can neither function as a dining table nor a coffee table

The table and the only other armchair in the living room of the Royal Suite

Nestled in a corner of the living room, next to the sofa, sits a minibar table. The minibar table is sparsely equipped with a Nespresso machine and a kettle with tea cups, coffee pods and tea bags. I found it impossible to use both the kettle and the Nespresso machine at the same time, as there is only one power outlet fitted at the minibar table. The wooden table has seen better days, as it wobbles whenever we make coffee out of the Nespresso machine, giving me the impression that the legs will give way at any moment. We found a cabinet sitting in the corner opposite the minibar table. This cabinet (that we never used) could have been repurposed for some other functions, but finding a cabinet here is indeed out of place. Placed in the corner next to the bedroom is a TV cabinet. That is where we could receive entertainment from the TV positioned to face the sofa. Unless we understand French or German, there are very few channels, mainly news channels in English, that we can receive entertainment from the TV. The in-room minifridge is tucked inside a cabinet underneath the TV, stocked with chargeable drinks.

The mini bar in the living room with Nespress coffee machine

The cabinet in the living room

The cabinet in the living room can be used to stow stuff

The TV console sitting in a corner of the living room

The TV console and the fridge

The mini fridge under the TV is fully stocked with beverages

Bedroom

The heritage of the Royal Suite at Hotel Royal St Georges flowed into the bedroom with the same blue wallpaper used in the living room, and the same brown carpet seen in the entryway. The same patterned cornice design is also visible in the bedroom, while the chandelier hanging from the ceiling in the middle of the room and the LED light candles on both sides of the bed, as well as the vanity table, brought some elegance of yesteryears into the room. The king bed occupied the centre of the bedroom, providing us with excellent sleep quality that kept us recharged for the next day. The wooden bedside tables furnished on both sides of the king bed provided us with limited space to stow our lifestyle devices. I found a lack of power outlets installed here for us to charge our lifestyle devices. The only place we could charge them is on the vanity table, which has only one power outlet installed. I had to use the outlet in the living room, which created some inconvenience.

Peeking in the bedroom from the living room

The bedroom in the Royal Suite at Hotel Royal St Georges

The king bed in the bedroom is very comfortable

The bedside tables offered limited space and are not equipped with power outlets

This bedside table has a radio

The chandelier in the bedroom brings about a vintage vibe and a sense of lux

The bedside lamps also have a vintage vibe

Fitted onto the wall to the left of the king bed is a set of two white wardrobes. The single-panel door innermost wardrobe is fitted with shelving that allows us to stow small clothing items, while the two-panel wardrobe reveals a hanging rack that is capable of hanging at least two weeks’ worth of clothing. The Royal Suite in Hotel Royal St Georges is not furnished with a work desk. We had to rely on the vanity table in the bedroom next to the wardrobes to perform any work. The vanity table would be sizeable if not for the TV that is placed at the end of the table. As a vanity table, the large mirror with a similar design to that in the entryway allowed guests to put on makeup or style their hair. As a work desk, the power outlets installed on the wall allowed guests to keep their laptops powered up. There is another cabinet, similar to that in the living room, on the right side of the bed, occupying the corner. Here is where the hotel stores the in-room ironing equipment. We also found a wooden luggage rack by the entrance to the bedroom. However, its size is too small to hold our 28” trunk luggage, and we ended up using it to place our backpacks.

The wardrobe in the bedroom

The hanging rack wardrobe is capable of storing two weeks of clothing

The shelving wardrobe in the bedroom increases the amount of clothing we can store inside

The vanity table in the bedroom also functions as a work desk and TV console

The door to the balcony in the bedroom

There is a small vintage luggage rack in the bedroom

The cabinet next to the exit to the bedroom balcony has the ironing equipment inside

Balcony

There are technically three balconies in the Royal Suite that were assigned to us, of which two are usable. The first one is the bathroom balcony. Due to its location, we almost never use this balcony. Moreover, it is not furnished with any furniture. The other two balconies are accessible via the living room and the bedroom, respectively. These two balconies are furnished with an outdoor table and two chairs, which allowed us to relax and people-watch from the balcony. The balcony in the living room faces the main road, where we mainly used to drink coffee in the morning or just hang out and enjoy the winter breeze. The balcony in the bedroom faces the new wing of Hotel Royal St Georges. This is the largest of the three balconies. Due to its facing, we hardly use this balcony, as there are hardly any views.

View of the living room balcony seen from the bathroom balcony

The bathroom balcony seen from the living room balcony

View of the street from the living room balcony

The bedroom balcony

The bedroom balcony is the largest of the three and furnished with outdoor furniture

View of the modern wing from the bedroom balcony

Service

Service in Hotel Royal St Georges is nothing short of impeccable. The staff we met were warm and welcoming. Prior to our arrival, we received an email from the hotel offering to pick us up from the railway station. We were initially sceptical about the pick-up service, as we did not receive any reply emails from the hotel. To our surprise, the hotel staff called us to confirm our arrival timing and were present at the train station waiting for us before our arrival time. All the hotel staff we met were very friendly. The reception staff, the same guy who picked us up from the train station, processed our check-in quickly and showed us to our room. He also gave us a detailed brief on the usage of the sauna and breakfast timings. During breakfast, the staff at Brasserie St. Georges welcomed us with a smile every morning and cleared our table as soon as they spotted that the plates were empty. We visited the reception to ask about our defective bathtub. The staff took the time to explain the situation with the bathtub and offered to change our suite, which we declined. At check-out, the staff, upon knowing that we would return later in the afternoon, offered to store our luggage and send us to the train station. In the evening, the staff took care of our luggage and also brought us to the train station. He even helped us load the luggage onto the minibus and gave us tips for visiting Switzerland.

Hotel Royal St Georges provided us with round trip transfer from Interlaken Ost Bahnhof

The welcome amenities provided by the hotel in the living room

Breakfast @ Brasserie St Georges

We were pleasantly surprised that our rooms come with a complimentary breakfast. Breakfast is served at the hotel’s only restaurant – Brasserie St Georges. The spread is a typical Continental breakfast with a small section of Indian selection with rice and Indian food. The hotel served a good variety of bread, and the croissants were very fresh and crispy. There is a selection of cold cuts and salads with very fresh ham and cheese. The hotel also serves a small selection of hot food with sausages, bacon, and scrambled eggs. Though the selection of food for breakfast is small, it is hearty and certainly provides us with the fuel to explore the Jungfrau region.

The hot food options during breakfast

The cold food options are avialable in the counter behind the hot food table

Bread and pastries during breakfast

The hotel provides a good selection of cereals and a huge selection of spreads during breakfast

Brasserie St. Georges is the hotel's only restaurant and where breakfast is served

Overall

The Royal Suite in Hotel Royal St Georges pays homage to the heritage of the hotel. The suite is spacious, providing us with space to gather with our friends. The sleep quality on the king bed was excellent. However, the lack of seating space in the living room and the non-functioning bathtub in the bathroom were the main flaws in the suite. Additionally, the odd placement of the bathroom was a tad inconvenient for occupants of the suite. The service provided by the staff at Hotel Royal St Georges was excellent. They were always ready to help and were never stingy with their greetings and smiles. The breakfast served at the hotel’s only restaurant had simple offerings, but they did provide a hearty meal and the much-needed energy for our sightseeing in and around Interlaken.

[Accommodation Review] – Ibis Styles Luzern City (Family Room), Luzern, Switzerland (9 – 11 Jan 26)

March 28, 2026March 28, 2026 / kktong76 / Leave a comment

Location

Ibis Styles Luzern City is located north of Lake Luzern and close to Luzern Alstadt, with the Lion Monument being the closest attraction to the hotel, at only a 5-minute walk away. The hotel’s location is excellent for exploring Altstadt Luzern, which can be reached in about 7 minutes on foot. The hotel is approximately a 3-minute bus ride from Luzern train station, and a 7-minute walk to Luzern Lake. Being close to two bus stops that ply through the city, Ibis Styles Luzern City is a great base to explore Luzern and the nearby towns. In terms of amenities, the hotel is right across from Löwencenter, a two-storey shopping mall with shops and a large Coop supermarket. When it comes to food options, there is no lack of restaurants and bakeries within 5 minutes from the hotel, where we were spoilt for choice of food.

Ibis Styles Luzern signage

Ibis Styles Luzern reception

Ibis Styles Luzern lobby opposite the reception

Ibis Styles Luzern is located at the end of this street

Hotel lobby

The Room

The Ibis chain is known for its no-frills accommodations; naturally, most of the rooms in the chain are rather compact. As we wanted more space, we booked the biggest room in Ibis Styles Luzern City, the Family Room with a total area of 25㎡. There are several configurations and varying sizes of the Family Room, and the room that we were assigned happened to be the smallest Family Room the hotel has (my friends in the other Family Rooms were bigger than this). The decor in the family room felt no-frills, but I applauded the hotel’s effort in dolling up the otherwise plain and boring room with pictures of Luzern and its attractions.

Layout of our Family Room at Ibis Styles Luzern City

Entryway

The Family Room at Ibis Styles Luzern City has a small entryway that is only furnished with a two-door cabinet with no additional furniture. The entryway is so small that there is no room to accommodate any other furniture. The entrance to the bathroom is also located next to the main entrance to the room in the entryway.

Bathroom

The bathroom in the Family Room, despite its compact size, is very well designed. Due to the overall size of the room and subsequently the area allotted to the bathroom, there is no additional room for the hotel to install a dual sink. Despite the small setup, we welcomed the additional ledge at the sink that offered us additional space to place our toiletries. The toilet is wedged in between the sink and the bathtub, sitting at the end of the bathroom. I am pleasantly surprised to find a bathtub in the compact Family Room. However, the shower/tub combination setup left much to be desired. With such a setup, the shower/tub can be challenging for old folks and guests with children. The bathroom is only fitted with a regular shower head, but with very strong water pressure. The shampoo/body wash combination shower amenity provided, and the absence of other toilet amenities, reminded us of the price bracket the hotel positioned itself in.

The sink in the bathroom is next to the entrance

The bathroom is fitted with a shower/tub combination

Shower amenities

Bathroom in Family Room of Ibis Styles Luzern

Sleeping Area

The sleeping area took up most of the space in the Family Room. I like how the hotel maximises the space usage by fitting a large work desk cum TV console next to the wardrobe. This table, made of solid wood, is also home to the minibar in the room. Speaking of minibar, we only found a Nespresso machine and no mini fridge in the Family Room. Although the hotel offered tea bags as part of its mini bar setup, there is no kettle in the room that allows us to boil water for making tea. Despite having multiple functions, I still find space to work on the work desk. The TV in the Family Room has very limited entertainment options and offers us only local channels to watch.

The work desk is located next to the wardrobe and houses the minibar

The in-room TV is placed at the end of the work desk

As the name of the room suggests, the Family Room in Ibis Style Luzern City is furnished with not one but three beds. According to the photos of the room from the hotel’s website, the bed placed next to the work desk was supposed to be a sofa bed. However, a regular wooden queen bed was found in place of a sofa bed. I’d rather find a sofa bed here, where we could at least have a sitting area to relax or place our backpacks on. I also find it odd that there are no bedside tables next to the queen bed, showing that the addition of this bed seems to be an ad-hoc addition by the hotel. Opposite the queen bed is a twin bed placed next to each other, next to the only window the room has. I find the mattress on the twin bed very hard, which affects the sleep quality on the bed. It doesn’t help that the pillows provided were too soft for my liking and that the hotel does not offer a pillow menu. Two stools that were supposed to be the bedside tables were installed on either side of the twin bed. Unlike a regular bedside table, where one would at least find a drawer, this stool does not offer any form of storage. The only space for storage is the limited stool top, which was already full when I placed my mobile phone and two other gadgets I wanted to charge overnight.

The double bed in the Family Room next to the window

View of the sleeping area in our Family Room at Ibis Styles Luzern

The bedside table is rather small

Our Family Room facaes the back of the hotel

Service

We were not impressed by the service of a male staff member during check-in. The staff came across as cold and aloof. During our arrival, he was observed to stand at the reception counter waiting for us to approach him for our check-in instead of initiating the check-in formalities. This male staff member also demonstrated a lack of knowledge in the ACCOR programme. During check-in, I enquired about the complimentary breakfast that came with our booking due to our status with the ACCOR group (our status comes with complimentary breakfast worldwide during weekend stays, and we were at Ibis Styles Luzern City over the weekend). The staff insisted that the complimentary breakfast is only for the Asia Pacific region. He only relented when we showed him the terms on the ACCOR app on our phone. Only at this time was he more forthcoming with information, such as the breakfast timing and where we could get complimentary coffee and water.

Fortunately, the bad service is limited only to this one person. We met with friendly and warm reception staff who were generous in their greetings for the next two days of our stay at Ibis Styles Luzern City. The one who left a deep impression on us was Jasmin. We approached Jasmin and asked her about the luggage lockers in the train station. Jasmin demonstrated excellent local knowledge and generously shared it with us. She even offered for us to leave our luggage at the hotel, but when she found out that we had a tight schedule on our check-out day, she elevated our concerns regarding the safety of our luggage when leaving it in the lockers at the train station. Jasmin is always spotted with a warm smile, which is very much appreciated on a cold winter day.

Breakfast

Breakfast is served in the only restaurant in the hotel, next to the reception. We had breakfast on our last day (we had to leave early the day before) of our stay at Ibis Styles Luzern City. I am impressed with the breakfast selection for an Economy hotel. For hot food selection, Ibis Styles Luzern City offers bacon and scrambled eggs. A huge selection of garden greens, hams and cheeses was made available for cold food. The hotel also has a considerable selection of bread, and I found the croissant to be fresh and crunchy. On top of these, the hotel also offered juices and various cereals. We had a hearty breakfast at Ibis Styles Luzern City.

Breakfast timing at Ibis Styles Luzern

Seatings in the restaurant where we had breakfast

The cold cut section and self-served coffee and tea

Salad and fruits bar during breakfast

Bread station has a number of selection

The hot food section

Overall

For an Economy hotel, the Family Room in Ibis Styles Luzern City is spacious and served its purpose of providing us a roof to rest for the night. The bed is a tad uncomfortable to sleep on, and the storage situation is a little challenging. Other than the one bad apple, the service in the hotel is actually quite good. For an Economy hotel, I thought the service exceeded my expectations. The location of the hotel, being close to the train station and the sights in Altstadt Luzern, is a plus point.

[Accommodation Review] – Swissôtel Kursaal Bern (Vitality Suite), Bern, Switzerland (8 – 9 Jan 26)

March 26, 2026 / kktong76 / Leave a comment

Location

Swissôtel Kursaal Bern is situated in a quiet neighbourhood north of the River Aare and the old town. Other than the on-site restaurants and the casino, there are no other amenities in the vicinity of the hotel. It takes about an 8-minute walk across the Kornhausbrücke to Zytglogge, where we found restaurants and supermarkets. The main train Station, Bern Bahnhof, in the old town is about a 20-minute walk or 8 min by tram. Swissôtel Kursaal Bern is very well connected to Altstadt Bern with the tram stop right in front of the hotel, with very regular tram intervals, making sightseeing in the city a breeze.

Swissôtel Kursaal Bern facade at night

Reception at Swissôtel Kursaal Bern on the ground floor

Interior of the hotel seen from the corridor of our suite

Swissôtel Kursaal Bern lobby next to the reception

The Vitality Suite

We checked into the Vitality Suite at Swissôtel Kursaal Bern, which has a total floor area of 54㎡. The suite is decked out in a Scandinavian interior design, featuring a minimalist look and a massive use of natural wood colours.

Layout of our Vitality Suite in Swissôtel Kursaal Bern

Entryway

The Scandinavian decor of the Vitality Suite at Swissôtel Kursaal Bern is immediately seen at the entryway. The natural wooden finish can be seen from the walls to the flooring and extended into the living room and the bedroom. At the entrance, a knee-high drawer with a large slab of marble-looking vinyl top sits quietly at the side of the entrance. I am very sure the hotel intended this furniture to function as a stool for us to wear our shoes, and the drawer is meant for us to stow our shoes away. However, we found it suitable to be used as a luggage rack as the length is the same as our luggage. We found the only wardrobe in the Vitality Suite next to the knee-high drawer. I thought for a suite of this size, the space allotted for us to stow our clothing is a tad underwhelming. There are two single-panel wardrobes installed in the entryway: one filled with shelving where the in-room safe is, and another with a hanging rack. While the space for hanging our clothing is tight, the shelving next door provided us with the much-needed space to stow our clothing.

Entryway of our Vitality Suite at Swissôtel Kursaal Bern

The knee-high drawer in the entryway that we mainly used as a luggage rack

The only wardrobe with hanging rack in the Vitality Suite is found in the entryway

The wardrobe in the entryway with shelvings for us to stow clothings and other items

Sharing the same space in the entryway and situated across the drawer is the second entrance to the bathroom. I thought it was genius of the hotel to fit another door to the bathroom here. Having a door here gave us the convenience of accessing our clothing from the only wardrobe in the entryway after a shower. The other purpose I could think of is having a powder room without actually fitting a powder room. Most suites in four or five-star hotels would feature a powder room. Due to the design of the layout, it does not seem that Swissôtel Kursaal Bern would have additional space to fit a powder room. Instead, having a door at the entryway creates the illusion of having a powder room where our friends can access the toilet without barging into the bedroom.

There is another entrance to the bathroom in the entryway

Living Room

Next to the wardrobe are two double-panel wardrobes, marking the start of the living room. Hidden inside these wardrobes, which the hotel termed as Vitality Closet, are workout equipment. The closet next to the wardrobe features a wooden wall bar and some yoga mats. This system allowed us to do some core training and stretching. The closet next to the wall bar is fitted with sandbags of various weights and some sort of pulley system. This machine serves the same function as the functional trainer that we would see in gyms. The pulleys and the weights allow us to perform functional and strength training without needing to leave the room. There is a small LED TV installed in the Vitality Closet, but we couldn’t figure out how to turn it on. I suspect this TV would be loaded with workout videos that would guide us through the various training in the suite.

The wooden wall bar is hidden in the closet next to the wardrobe with hanging racks

The functional trainer inside the Vitality closet nearer to the sofa in the living room

Further into the living room, next to the Vitality Closets, sits the sofa in the suite. Unlike conventional sofas, the sofa in the Vitality Suite is essentially a wooden platform with backing and some thin cushioning stacked on the platform. I like how the hotel extended its Scandinavian design theme to this sofa. There is space on both sides of the sofa with wall-mounted reading lights and USB charging outlets, providing more illumination and additional spots for charging our lifestyle devices. The living room is also decked with two additional single seater, one in the form of an armchair and another a stool, which provided us with more seating space. Instead of furnishing the living room with a large coffee table that takes up space, Swissôtel Kursaal Bern placed a small wooden table between the chairs in the living room. This small coffee table is not only consistent with the Scandinavian theme, but it also makes the living room less cluttered.

The lounging area in the living room of the Vitality Suite

The armchair by the floor-to-ceiling window in the living room of the Vitality Suite in Swissôtel Kursaal Bern

The sofa in the living room of our Vitality Suite

TV in the living room of our Vitality Suite

The TV and minibar in the living room are placed next to the window

Cups and glasses as well as coffee capsules are found in the top drawer underneath the TV

There is a false wall in the living room, opposite the Vitality Closet, that separates the living room from the bedroom. Instead of mounting the TV on this false wall, the TV is mounted onto the wall next to the floor-to-ceiling windows. I thought it made sense to fit the TV here as the lounging area in the living room is not placed in the centre of the room, but to the side. Having a TV here meant guests were able to receive the multiple local and international channels better. Underneath the TV lies a three-drawer chest that doubles up as a mini bar area and additional storage space. As a minibar, Swissôtel Kursaal Bern installed a Nespresso machine and a kettle and placed the mugs, glasses, tea bags and coffee capsules in the top drawer. Swissôtel Kursaal Bern dedicated the space by the false wall as a work area, complete with power outlets to keep our laptops juiced up by the work desk. The mini fridge in the suite is found underneath the work desk, where the hotel keeps it stocked with complimentary beverages for guests to enjoy.

The work desk is fitted onto the false wall separating the living room and the bedroom of the Vitality Suite in Swissôtel Kursaal Bern

The mini fridge under the work desk is fully stocked with complimentary beverages and snacks

Bedroom

On the other side of the false wall lies the bedroom, which has the same natural wood Scandinavian design language as the living room. The bedroom has a minimalist decor, furnished with a king bed and a vanity table. The king bed, which occupied the bulk of the bedroom space, is topped with a firm mattress that provided us with great sleep quality, which kept us refreshed after our one-night stay at Swissôtel Kursaal Bern. Usually, I am not a fan of soft pillows, but I was still able to get a great night’s sleep despite the soft pillows used by the hotel. A large natural wood bedside table flanked both sides of the king bed. These bedside tables gave us a generous amount of space to lay out our lifestyle devices, including my iPad, and other knick-knacks to charge overnight with the European power outlet and two USB-A charging ports. I like how Swissôtel Kursaal Bern kept the bedside tables clean by mounting the bedside lamps onto the headboard on both sides, and was free of an in-room phone. Unlike most bedside tables, these tables were not fitted with drawers that increase the storage capacity. Instead, there is one open shelf on these tables, which somewhat limits the number of items we can stow here. However, the generous tabletop space was more than sufficient for us to place our stuff. The advantage of such a design is that we will not forget things that are placed on these bedside tables. At one glance, we were able to tell if we had unintentionally left things behind.

Bedroom of the Vitality Suite in Swissôtel Kursaal Bern

The bedside table has generous space for us to stow our items

The king bed in the bedroom provided us with excellent sleep quality

Swissôtel Kursaal Bern provided guests with a pillow menu

Mounted on the false wall opposite the king bed is a large LED TV, which we can watch from the numerous local and international channels from the comfort of the king bed. A vanity table, which is the same size as the work desk in the living room, is furnished on the false wall underneath the TV. The vanity table uses the same natural wood finishing that reinforces the Scandinavian design theme. The generous space on the vanity table, fitted with one small mirror, also allowed us to stow our small items here. There are three power outlets fixed onto the false wall at the vanity table, allowing us to use this space to charge more of our lifestyle devices. I welcomed the three-tiered, large drawers designed under the vanity table, which vastly increase the storage space in the bedroom. The absence of additional wardrobe in the bedroom reinforces the minimalistic theme.

Balcony

The Vitality Suite has a small balcony accessible from the bedroom. The balcony is large enough to accommodate four pax, but is only furnished with two metallic outdoor chairs and one outdoor round table. The furniture in the balcony allows guests to sip coffee or dine in the balcony and enjoy the views of Bern with the Berner Münster standing tall amongst the buildings.

The balcony in our Vitality Suite

The balcony is furnished with outdoor table and chairs

View of Bern from our balcony

Bathroom

The Vitality Suite at Swissôtel Kursaal Bern is fitted with a spacious bathroom. Decked in light olive green, the bathroom presented a natural theme. As previously mentioned, the two bathroom entrances are located in the bedroom and the living room. Across from the bedroom entrance sits the sink area. Despite Swissôtel Kursaal Bern fitting dual sinks in the bathroom, the countertop offered at the sink is rather generous. We had no issues with placing our toiletries on this countertop space, and we still have plenty of space on the countertop. I like how the bathroom, particularly the sink area, is brightly lit. Occupying the space on the right of the sink, separated from the bedroom with dark glass, is a large standalone bathtub. The placement of the tub here not only accentuates the spaciousness of the bathroom, but also allows us to watch TV in the bedroom from the bathtub through the black glass. The inclusion of a small table by the bathtub is a welcome sight, as it gave us space to place our stuff on (like mobile phones). The excellent water pressure in the bathtub filled the large tub in a short amount of time.

The bathroom is fitted with dual sinks with generous countertop space

View of the bathroom from the entryway entrance

Swissôtel Kursaal Bern furnished a large bathtub in the bathroom

Bathroom amenities at the sink of the bathroom

Bathroom amenities on the sink

A corridor opposite the bathtub and past the sink leads to the walk-in shower and toilet cubicles. These two facilities in the bathroom are located a little shy of the bathroom entrance from the entryway. Their location here, especially the toilet, allowed our guests to use the toilet without having to bash through the bedroom. The space allocated to the walk-in shower is generous, so I was able to shower without engaging in an elbow war with the walls. I like how Swissôtel Kursaal Bern installed a ledge next to the taps for us to place our toiletries and dental kits. The water pressure was excellent from both the rain and the regular shower heads fitted in the walk-in shower, and the hot water heats up pretty fast. The toilet cubicle, fitted with a lone porcelain throne, sits opposite the walk-in shower.

The walk-in shower in the bathroom has a large space

Shower amenities in the walk-in shower

The corridor that leads to the walk-in shower and toilet in the bathroom

The toilet in the bathroom

Service

The service in the Swissôtel Kursaal Bern is good. The staff at the reception initially came across as cold, but soon warmed up as she processed our rooms with great efficiency. We got the keys to the three rooms we booked in under 5 minutes. She even upgraded one of the rooms that we booked. The reception staff were patient in explaining how we could activate the Bern Guest Card, which granted us complimentary transport within Bern, and how we could use it. She even reminded us not to purchase any tickets while on public transport. We went back to her on multiple occasions with queries about our rooms and amenities around the hotel. She was patient and warm in answering all our questions, and welcomed us back to her if we had any more questions.

Welcome amenities provided by Swissôtel Kursaal Bern in our suite

We also met a very friendly bartender at the lounge when redeeming our welcome drink as part of the perks of being an ACCOR member. He was also patient in explaining the drinks that we were eligible to redeem (any drinks that are under CHF16 are covered under the welcome drink) and even allowed us to bring the drinks back to our rooms (we eventually had them in the bar). The friendly bartender brought us some nuts while we waited for our drinks to be prepared.

We requested to leave our luggage at the concierge’s desk the next morning after we checked out, so we could do some sightseeing in Bern. The reception staff happily helped us with our luggage and even recommended some sights she reckons are worth visiting. Upon our return to the hotel to collect our luggage, the friendly reception staff quickly attended to us and brought our luggage out immediately.

Hotel Facilities

Gym

The gym is the only facility (other than a restaurant and a bar) in the Swissôtel Kursaal Bern. The spacious 24-hour gym is located on the third floor of the hotel premises, which has machines for both cardio and strength training workouts. The gym is home to two elliptical machines, two treadmills, and two stationary bikes, placed by the window. Meanwhile, several strength training machines are spread out from the middle of the gym to the entrance. We also spotted a free weight area in the gym. Despite the modest set-up, the gym has everything catered to guests’ needs for a good workout.

Free weight and yoga area in the gym at Swissôtel Kursaal Bern

Strength training machine in the gym

Cardio workout machines in the gym

The gym in Swissôtel Kursaal Bern is very well equipped

Overall

We had a pleasant stay at Swissôtel Kursaal Bern. The hotel is close to the sights in Altstadt Bern. The Vitality Suite was very well appointed and very comfortable to stay in. The sleep quality on the king bed was so good that we felt refreshed after a night’s sleep. The staff that we interacted with were friendly and welcoming.

[Airline Review] – Saudia A330-343 (SV237)/(SV236) – Business Class, JED – GVA (8 Jan 26)/ GVA – JED (20 Jan 26)

March 21, 2026March 24, 2026 / kktong76 / Leave a comment

Flight path of SV237/SV236 between Jeddah and Geneva

At the Airport

Jeddah King Abdulaziz International Airport

We had our flight checked through from Singapore Changi Airport, and we proceeded directly to the security check for transfers. The security clearance for transfers took less than 5 minutes, and we found ourselves at Jeddah International Airport airside. We headed directly to the AlFrusan Lounge, where we spent the 2½ hour transit time.

It is a long walk from the gate to transfer area

Getting to the airside departure area after clearing security for transit

The airside duty free area in Jeddah Airport

AlFursan Lounge

Located on the second floor of Jeddah International Airport, the AlFursan Lounge at Jeddah International Airport is Saudia’s largest lounge and the largest lounge in the SkyTeam alliance spanning over 3,500㎡. The green coloured lighting at the lounge entrance immediately gave an association with the airline’s identity. There is a small recreation room after the entrance where passengers can spend their time playing pool or games on the PS5. The main lounge is situated past a bridge after the recreation room. Passing through the main doors to the lounge, we were welcomed by a white grand piano sitting in the middle of the foyer, surrounded by lounge chairs arranged in a circular pattern. Other than the lounge seating, we also found some computer workstations on the outer circle after the lounge chairs. At the back, near the walls, is where the airlines set up a dessert and a chocolate bar, coupled with a self-serve Arabic coffee station. A small, unmanned duty-free shop sits next to the main entrance to the lounge.

AlFursan Lounge reception

AlFursan Lounge entrance

The recreation room with pool tables and PS 5 behind the reception

Recreation room signage

Crossing the bridge to the main part of AlFursan Lounge

The foyer of AlFursan Lounge

There are lounge seats around the grand piano with the chocolate and dessert bar behind

The grand piano in the centre of the foyer

The foyer of AlFursan Lounge in Jeddah

The only meeting room in AlFursan Lounge is at the back of the huge circle in the foyer

There is a duty free shop in the lounge, but was not manned

Most of the actions are situated further into the lounge, past a pod of five circular booths at the side of the walkway. These circular pods, while great for larger groups, were often seen occupied by solo or dual travellers. At the back of the circular pods is a row of six slumber rooms for passengers to rest during long transits. Available on a first-come, first-served basis, I do find these rooms lack privacy due to the doorless design. Pass the circular pods of booths is a straight corridor that leads to the back of the lounge. The main lounging area in the AlFursan Lounge is situated on the right side of this corridor, where it is mostly furnished with lounge chairs arranged in groups of four with single armchairs placed at a corner. The left side of this corridor is the main dining area, furnished with numerous dining tables, mainly for four passengers. This is also where the main buffet line is found. AlFursan Lounge serves a good amount of warm food, mainly lamb, beef and chicken, and a good selection of cold foods like salads and fruits in an elongated semi oval counter. The drinks and bread stations are also found here. Interestingly, there is a pizza station at the buffet area, but it was not open this morning when we visited.

The larger circular pod with five booths that is always busy

Slumber rooms are found at the back of the circular pod next to the foyer

The lounging area in AlFursan Lounge are mainly located to the right of this corridor that leads further into the lounge

The corridor that leads further into the lounge

There is a pizza counter in the dining area but was not open this morning

The main dining area next to the buffet line

The buffet area in AlFursan Lounge

Beverage options in AlFursan Lounge

The dining area is to the left of the lounge, while the lounging area is to the right

The lounging area and dining area in the lounge

A kids’ playroom and more seating took up the space at the back of the lounge. Seats here are mainly arranged in two, with a coffee table in between and a handful of circular booths to cater for larger groups. At the centre of the back of the lounge is another circular structure that houses dining table-style seating for groups of four. Here is where another salad bar cum sandwich station is found. Unfortunately, it was not manned at the time of our visit. We found an interesting coffee bar diagonally across from the salad bar at the back of the lounge. For a coffee bar, I thought the menu was rather extensive. AlFursan Lounge has shower facilities. There are two shower rooms, one inside each of the male and female toilets. Use of the shower facilities is available on a first-come, first-served basis, where we would queue inside the toilet. However, during our visit, only one shower room was functional in the male toilet. The shower room is a little compact with little space for us to stow our carry-ons. While the shower room looks posh and elegant at first glance, using it revealed poor maintenance of these rooms. The walk-in shower cubicle is only fitted with an overhead rain shower head with weak water pressure. There is this ugly slab on the walls of the shower cubicle that seems to suggest the airlines might have ripped the mounted shower amenities off. What is annoying is that no shower gel was available; we were only given a dental kit, shampoo, conditioner, and body lotion. Nonetheless, I welcomed the shower room for us to freshen up after our previous flight in preparation for our next flight.

The kids play room at the back of AlFursan Lounge

More lounge seating at the rear of the lounge

There are more of these circular booths at the back of AlFursan Lounge

The salad and sandwich bar at the back of the lounge is hardly manned

More dining seatings at the salad bar area

The Coffee Bar has an extensive menu

Coffee Bar at the back of the lounge

Shower rooms are located inside the toilets

There is a cinema at next to the entrance to the toilets

The shower room in AlFursan Lounge is rather compact

The shower room in AlFursan Lounge

The shower room has only rain shower head and seem to seen better days

Geneva International Airport

Check-in

Saudia operates eight check-in counters out of Geneva Airport Terminal 1 from counters 042 to 049, located in the centre of the terminal. The airlines have two queues for passengers travelling today, one for Economy Class passengers and the other dedicated to Business Class passengers and the AlFursan Silver and Gold passengers. I welcomed the presence of ground staff at the Business Class line, ensuring only eligible passengers get access to them. As there was no one queuing at the Business Class queue at the time of our arrival, we could check-in immediately. We were greeted by very friendly ground staff who promptly processed our check-in. As we were transiting through Jeddah, the staff ensured that our documents were in order and promptly tagged our luggage for Singapore. She even gave us directions on where to go for security and immigration clearance, on top of providing information on the flight departure gate and time. She also gave us directions to the lounge and reminded us to use the priority security lane.

Saudia check-in counters are located in the centre of Geneva Airport departure hall

Saudia operates six check-in counters in Geneva Airport

There is a line with two counters serving Business Class passengers

Saudia has another queue with four counters serving Economy Class passengers

Saudia operates six check-in counters, four for Economy Class and two for Business Class, in Geneva Airport

Saudia operates two Business Class check-in counters in Geneva Airport

Marhaba Lounge

Saudia uses the Marhaba Lounge at Geneva Airport, located on the mezzanine floor of the East wing, airside, near Gate C53. This is the newer wing of the airport, which sees little human traffic and requires a little stroll from immigration. The lift to the mezzanine floor is located near Gate C51. The Marhaba Lounge at Geneva Airport is small and basic; in fact, it is so small that there are no toilet facilities inside the lounge, let alone any shower facilities. The Marhaba Lounge has a rectangular layout, with the usable areas located to the left of the main throughfare that runs from one end to the other.

Marbaha Lounge is a long way from immigration

Marhaba Lounge in Geneva Airport is located near Gate C53

The lift to Marhaba Lounge

Marhaba Lounge serves many airlines and lounge access passes

Lounge signage

Reception at the lounge

Entrance to Marhaba Lounge

Marhaba Lounge reception

The seating areas in the lounge are mainly located at the first and the last sections of the lounge, mainly decked with lounge chairs and low tables, making eating from these tables difficult. The bright red furniture at the front of the lounge brings some vibrancy to the lounge, while the furniture at the part of the lounge furthest from the reception is mainly decked in green. There are also some tall tables placed by the window along the main walkway inside the lounge, catering for passengers who want to get some work done. At the back of the lounge are three lounge chasers with blackout curtains, which were meant for passengers to catch a snooze. However, due to the crowd at the lounge this morning, these lounge chasers were taken up as seating by passengers (as all the seats were taken).

There are some reserved seats right behind the reception in the lounge

The front part of the lounge is decked with red armchairs and sofas

The corridor that leads to the back of the lounge

The back section of Marhaba Lounge is furnished with green coloured furniture

There are some loungers with ottoman at the back of the lounge

The corridor that is the main artery of the lounge

There are three lounge chasers at the back of the lounge for passengers to rest, but due to the crowd they are used for seating

The centre part of the lounge is a dedicated dining area, furnished with dining tables that seat two passengers and one larger table that holds up to six passengers on both sides of the dining area. As these tables were moveable, we saw a few tables being combined by larger group passengers. In the centre of the two dining areas, we found the main buffet line. I find the food offering very underwhelming. There were only four choices from the hot food section, two of which were carbs. For the cold cut section, there are the ham and some simple greens as salads. Food was depleted fast as the lounge could not seem to cope with the size of the crowd. We were waiting for the staff to either top up the food or replenish the drinks for most of our time in the lounge. Most of the time, the staff were engaged in topping up food and cups that they did not have time to clean up after passengers had left. The Marhaba Lounge is a contracted lounge and serves not only Business Class passengers flying Saudia and Qatar amongst the list of airlines, but it is also open to passengers with Priority Pass, Lounge Key and DragonPass. For a small lounge that caters to such a large variety of passengers from so many airlines and lounge programmes, it’s no wonder the Marhaba Lounge feels so crowded. We had a hard time looking for seats in the lounge during our visit.

Dining tables are furnished on both sides of the buffet line in the centre of the lounge

The hot food selection in Marhaba Lounge

There are very limited hot food served at Marhaba Lounge in Geneva Airport

Beverage station in Marhaba Lounge

Salad and cold food section of the buffet selection

The Aircraft

Saudia operates three configurations of the A330-343 aircraft, two of which feature recliner seats in their Business Class cabin (one version offers more pitch in Business Class and fewer Economy Class seats), while the third version features a flatbed seat in Business Class. We flew on the version with the flatbed Business Class product.

The Cabin

The Business Class cabin on Saudia’s A330-343 feels a little cramped, with all 30 seats packed into a single cabin. However, the cabin’s colour scheme and the white lighting used during boarding gave it a clean look. The dual-tone sand-coloured seats, paying homage to the desert landscape of Saudi Arabia, complemented the cream coloured seat shells very well. The drape of black colour used in the IFE screen and the side of the seat gave the cabin a touch of elegance amidst a mildly coloured cabin. The wooden grain centre consoles between the seats, and the earthy brown carpet, exude a premium vibe.

Saudia A330-343 Business Class cabin seen from the Economy Class cabin

There are a total of 30 seats in Saudia A330-343 Business Class cabin

Saudia A330-343 Business Class cabin

Saudia A330-343 Business Class cabin look bright and airy

Saudia A330-343 Business Class cabin

There is only one lavatory serving all 30 Business Class passengers, located in front of the plane. The wooden grain used for the flooring and the dark brown used for the cabinet panels gave the lavatory a premium look. Saudia stocks its Business Class lavatories with additional in-house amenities, such as Eau de Parfum, hand lotion, and facial mist, in addition to the usual hand wash. The lavatory felt a little small, and the use of mirrors did not elevate the sense of claustrophobia in the lavatory.

Saudia A330-343 Business Class lavatory

Saudia branded amenities in the lavatory

Hand wash in the lavatory

The wood panelling at the sink gave the lavatory a premium look

The Seat

Saudia A330-343 Business Class seats are arranged in a 2-2-2 configuration, each comes with a seat pitch of 60″ and a width of 19″. One of the armrests can be lowered to increase the seat width slightly in bed mode. The thick cushioning and soft leather on the Saudia A300-343 Business Class seats are comfortable to sit on, even in upright mode. The regular seat belts fitted on these seats further add to the comfort, instead of the restrictive three-point seat belt. The comfort of these Business Class seats, when paired with a thick quilt instead of a filmsy piece of cloth, is very well translated to a comfortable bed when reclined 180° into a flatbed. We were able to catch a good 3 hour sleep in bed mode out of the 6 hour flight time. Despite not having a door like most airlines, I still find a good amount of privacy in bed mode, thanks to the high-shell-back cocoon design of the seats. However, the narrow footwell in these Business Class seats might be restrictive for passengers when the seat is in bed mode, especially for those with bigger feet. Having said that, the first-row seats have a much larger footwell, which we found ideal for sleeping. In addition to the flatbed and upright modes, the seat also offers a more relaxing lounge mode, a mode between the upright and bed modes where the seat back and calf rests are adjusted to a certain fixed angle with the preset lounge mode button. We found additional buttons that allowed us to customise the seat back recline angle, the calf rest angle, and the amount of lumbar support to our preferred angles that improved the comfort of the seat further. On top of the main seat control buttons on the inside armrest, we welcomed the two additional seat control buttons conveniently fitted into the seat shell, visible only when the seat is in flatbed mode, allowing passengers to convert the seat into lounge and upright mode when lying in bed mode.

Saudia A330-343 Business Class seats are arranged in 2-2-2 configuration

Saudia A330-343 Business Class seat in upright position

Saudia A330-343 Business Class seat in lounge mode

Saudia A330-343 Business Class seat in flatbed mode

There is two buttons at the side of the seat to set the seat in lounge or take-off mode when it is in bed mode

The legroom in these seats is excellent

The seat control with preset seat modes is located at the inside armrest

I thought the storage was the biggest weakness in the Saudia A330-343 Business Class seats (other than the narrow footwell on the non-bulkhead seats). The only space we can truly store anything is the small cubby hole in the inside armrest of the centre console. This space is so small that I can only stow my mobile phone, a couple of charging cables and my passport. While we could technically use the seat pocket situated next to the headrest, the shallow, slim design does not seem to allow me to stow anything. On top of that, the position of these seat pockets makes it difficult to access. We could also use the inner armrest to stow our stuff, but due to its open design, usage of this part for storage is only possible when the aircraft reaches cruising altitude. The storage situation under the footwell is equally bad. Due to the footwell’s small design, the space beneath is so small that I can hardly place my shoes under the footwell, let alone a backpack.

The seat pocket is very narrow that it is difficult to stow anything in there

There is a small cubby in the inside of the seat which has limited storage space

The footwell is wider for seats in the bulkhead

The footwell in the non-bulkhead seats are rather narrow

There are technically two tables in each Business Class seat on Saudia A330-343 aircraft. The main seat table is stored in the centre console between the two seats. This large table can be difficult and heavy to remove from its storage. However, once the main table is deployed, the sizeable, sturdy, wood-grain-finished seat table offers ample space for one to dig into the airline’s delicious meals or work on a laptop. I like how Saudia uses the space between the centre console as a cocktail cum side table. While most airlines use only the tip of this console as a cocktail table, Saudia’s design allowed us to utilise the smaller table as a side table fully. When it comes to powering up our lifestyle devices, I thought it was generous of Saudia to fit two USB-A charging outlets on the side of the seats on the black side extension (the headphone jack and IFE controller are also found on this black extension), on top of the international power outlets between the two seats. In addition to the overhead reading light, each Business Class seat is also fitted with a small reading light next to the headrest of the seat. Saudia is one of the few airlines that still fit their cabins with air nozzles, which give passengers some form of control over the temperature at their seats.

Saudia A330-343 Business Class seat is fitted with a large and sturdy seat table

I like how Saudia made use of the console between the seats as a side cocktail table

There are a couple of international power outlets and two additional USB-A charging outlets between the two Business Class seats

Each Business Class seat is fitted with two USB-A charging outlets at the side of the seat

Other than overhead lighting, the nozzles on the ceiling allowed us to control the tempature at the seat

On top of the overhead lighting, there is another reading light at the seat

Inflight Entertainment

Saudia fitted a 17″ touchscreen personal TV in every Business Class seat onboard their A330-343. These large TV screens deliver sharp picture quality, making watching the airline’s entertainment very pleasant. For those of us who still prefer to use the IFE controller to select our entertainment, Saudia’s IFE controller resembles a mobile phone, with minimal buttons and most selections made on the device’s touchscreen. Each Business Class passenger is provided with a noise-cancelling headphone by Saudia. Despite the rectangular ear-muff design, I still find these headphones very comfortable to wear for a prolonged period. BEYOND, Saudia’s in-flight entertainment system, is very well stocked with movies and shows, ranging from Hollywood blockbusters to regional movies and shows. The movies are well categorised in an easy-to-navigate menu, where I had no trouble finding the show I wanted to watch. Saudia also offers its Business Class passengers 10MB of complimentary Wi-Fi, which is only good for browsing and uploading to social media. Still, it was a tad slow for streaming videos. However, connecting to the in-flight Wi-Fi requires us to enter a long string of ticket numbers, and it would not work again after one’s phone went into sleep mode.

Business Class passengers get complimentary WI-FI onboard

I only managed to connect to WI-FI once throughout the flight and would disconnect once my phone went to sleep mode

Meal

JED-GVA

Despite being a 6-hour flight, Saudia provided us with two meals, consisting the main breakfast and the light dining meal. For breakfast, the Saudia Sufrah option comprises a Banana and Date Pudding with accompanying side dishes and traditional Arabic bread. For starters, in the à la carte menu, we can choose from Smoked Salmon, Chia Seeds Pudding or Fresh Fruit. The mains were choices between Spiced Salmon Frittata, Scrambled or Pan Fried Eggs, and Hong Kong Toast. And for Light Dining, it was a choice of Arabic Mezze, Bocconcini Salad and Wagyu Beef Burger. I opted for the Saudia Sufrah for breakfast. I had no idea what the pudding was made from, which tasted a little sticky. But the flavours from the caramelised banana and the toasted nuts from the Banana and Date Pudding were delicious. The accompanying manakeesh topped with thyme sauce was refreshing. I went for the Wagyu beef burger from the light dining. The beef was juicy, and the caramelised onion was tasty. The chunky chips were fried to perfection and not soggy.

We were served Arabic coffee during boarding

The onboard chef pouring me a cup of Arabic coffee

The breakfast choice in Business Class today

Business Class dining menu

Light dining choice for this leg of the flight

Warm nuts were served immediately after the plane reached cruising altitude

I opted for the Saudia Sufrah for breakfast today

I had the Waygu beef burger for Light dining

The cabin crew came by with movie snacks for us

GVA-JED

For this leg of the flight, the meal arrangement was a little different from the early morning flights. Instead of a main breakfast and light dining option, we were served a full three-course meal. Like with the previous flight, we were offered a choice between the Saudia Sufrah and à la carte menu. The Saudia Suffrah offered Chicken Kabsa, a baked chicken folded into rice. And the à la carte choices were between Roast Beef Carpaccio, Smoked Trout, and Wild Mushroom Soup for starters. For mains, we had a choice between Pan-seared Halibut, Braised Beef Short Ribs, and Truffle Cheese Ravioli. The dessert menu is a choice of Toffee Pudding, Rhubarb Tarte, Burnt Cheesecake, Fresh Fruit and Ice-cream. I opted for Wild Mushroom Soup for starters and Pan-seared Halibut for mains from the à la carte menu. The cabin crew first served the soup with a side of bread, which was flavourful and well-seasoned. After clearing my plate, the cabin crew served my Halibut main course. The fish was delicious and tender, and the lobster bisque sauce complemented the halibut well. My friend had the Saudia Sufrah, which I had a taste, and it was flavourful and delicious. The chicken was tender and very well-spiced. For desserts, I opted for the Fresh Fruit and Vanilla ice cream.

Business Class menu

Main courses for our Geneva to Jeddah flight

Dessert select for our flight today

I had to go for the Arabic coffee before take-off

Beverage select for our flight today

Warm nuts were served after the plane reached cruising altitude

My Wild Mushroom soup for starters

I had the Pan-seared Hallibut for main course

My friend opted for the Saudia Sufrah for meal today

I requested fresh fruit as dessert

I also had Vanilla ice cream for dessert

Service

Like our experience on their B787 flights, Saudia only uses one door for all passengers during boarding, which marred the boarding experience due to the long wait in line at the door. Service was good on board both flights in and out of Geneva. Service started from the mandatory welcome at the door during boarding, where we were welcomed onboard and guided to our seats. Once we were at our seats, the cabin crew working on our aisle would approach each passenger at a different time to serve the welcome drink, followed by a serving of Arabic coffee. Saudia offered their recently refreshed amenity kit from ELIE SAAB, which contains a selection of skincare products such as face mist, hand and body lotion, as well as Eau de Toilette on top of the usual dental kits, eye masks and socks. There are different kits for male and female passengers, but the difference stops at the pouches. The contents for both gender kits are the same.

We had Banana smoothie for welcome drink during boarding

Welcome drinks and hot towels were brought to us the moment we settled into our seats

The male ELIE SAAB amenity kit during the Jeddah to Geneva flight

Hot towels were distributed during boarding

The male ELIE SAAB amenity kit was distributed for our Geneva to Jeddah flight. The contents are the same for both legs, just the pouch was different

JED-GVA

For this leg of our flight, I felt the service was a tad better than my previous flight on their B787 from Singapore to Jeddah. The cabin crew came across as warmer and kept her smile throughout the flight, despite seeing how busy she was. After serving the welcoming drink, the Filipino cabin crew later would return to take our orders for meals and the time we wanted to have them. She would subsequently reappear after her meal order rounds with all the passengers on her aisle, with the distribution of amenity kits to all passengers. Throughout the flight, the cabin crew was kept busy serving passengers with differing dining times, and barely had any time to rest. Despite the busyness, the cabin crew was able to pay attention to detail and still care for all the passengers under her charge. The Indonesian onboard chef was also very friendly. He took the time to introduce the Arabic coffee and how it was supposed to be consumed with the date. He also popped by to check with us if we liked the meal and volunteered to whip up additional food for us.

GVA-JED

The service on this leg was good but not umimpressive. We were welcomed by the in-flight manager at the door, and that was the only time we saw the in-flight manager in action, apart from the time he was serving the signature Arabian coffee. The Indonesian cabin crew, who were responsible for our aisle, were much friendlier. However, she was also seen walking up and down the aisle nonstop, serving food to passengers at different meal times or busy clearing the table. She was too busy to provide any unimpressive service. Despite working nonstop, she was still observant and checked with me if she could clear my plates both times when she saw they were empty.

Afterthought

Despite being an older aircraft, I find the Business Class seat onboard Saudia A330-343 very comfortable. The seat was capable of reclining inflatbedatbed, which was great for us to catch up on some snooze time after a previous red-eye flight. The only issue I had with this seat is the narrow footwell and the lack of storage space. The food served onboard was delicious and flavourful for both legs of the flight. I empathised with the cabin crew on how busy they were. Throughout the flight, they were seen walking up and down the aisle, serving passengers and clearing their tables due to the airline’s dine anytime policy. They were so busy that I hardly saw them taking any breaks or having the time to establish rapport with their passengers. Despite all these, they were professional and observant. I had a great flight with Saudia.

Taking off from Jeddah International Airport

[Airline Review] – Saudia B787-10 (SV857)/ B787-9 (SV856) – Business Class, SIN – JED (8 Jan 26)/ JED – SIN (21 Jan 26)

March 18, 2026 / kktong76 / Leave a comment

Flight path of SV857/SV856 between Singapore and Jeddah

Saudia B787-10 in their new livery that flew us from Singapore to Jeddah

At the Airport

Singapore Changi Airport

Check-in

Saudia departs from Singapore Changi Airport Terminal 3, with its check-in counters in row 10 on the right side of the terminal building. The nearest door to Saudia’s check-in counter is door 7. Saudia operates six check-in counters with two dedicated to Business Class and Sky Priority members, which open 3 hours before flight departure. The airlines also have an early check-in counter that opens 4 hours before the flight. Since Saudia only offers Business and Economy Class on flights departing from Singapore, the airline sets up two queues for each class. As we were at the counter shortly after they opened, there was only one group in front of us at the Business Class line. The ground crew checking us into our flight was very friendly and greeted us with the warmest smile anyone could ask for. She meritoriously processed our check-in with great efficiency, while lightening the mood with a jovial conversation. Before long, we were given boarding passes for both of our legs of the flight. The ground staff also gave us crucial information such as the location of the lounge, the location of our boarding gate and the most efficient way of getting to our gate. She also reminded us of the boarding time.

Singapore Changi Airport control tower seen from Terminal 3

Departure hall map at Singapore Changi Airport Terminal 3 detailing where Row 10 is located

Saudia's check-in counters are located in Row 10 at the right of the terminal building

Door 7 is the closest door to Saudia check-in counters

Saudia check-in counters in Row 10 at Singapore Changi Airport

There wasn't any queue in Business Class line at the time of our arrival

Saudia set up three queues at Singapore Changi Airport to process check in more efficiently

Saudia operate two check-in counters for Business Class passengers

Saudia check-in counters in Singapore Changi Airport

SATS Premier Lounge

Saudia does not operate its own lounges, nor are there any SkyTeam Lounges in Singapore. Thus, we were invited to use the third-party SATS Premier Lounge before our flight, located about a 3-minute walk from the immigration counters. The SATS Premier Lounge is an intimate lounge with well-segregated dining and lounging areas. As there was a crowd at the lounge this evening, the friendly reception staff invited us to use the Executive Lounge section of the lounge, which seemed to have controlled access. The Executive Lounge section, located next to the reception, is mainly furnished with lounging chairs arranged in a six and four-pax configuration, which we thought was ideal for large groups like ours. However, dining on these loungers was a little challenging as we had to either hold the plate up or bend over the side table for dining. Fortunately, there are bar-type tables fitted onto the walls of this area that allow us to use for dining and also double up as a work desk. The Executive Lounge section is stocked with a small beverage station with coffee, tea and fizzy drinks. In the main area of the SATS Premier Lounge, there is a small dining area behind the wall separating the reception from the main lounge. This area is furnished with a handful of dining tables for two. Larger groups can opt for the tall bar tables that face the airside concourse. The buffet line is next to the dining area and features a good spread of local and western delights. There is even a noodle station where passengers can poach their own laksa in pre-portioned bowls next to it. The bread station and beverages are found at the end of the lounge.

We were invited to the SATS Premier Lounge at Singapore Changi Airport Terminal 3

As the main lounge was crowded, we were invitied to use the Executive Lounge section

There are individual booths in the Executive Lounge section

The dining cum work tables in the Executive Lounge section

The Executive Lounge section is mainly furnished withe armchairs for four to six pax

The Executive Lounge section has a small beverage station by the doors

The dining area in the main lounge

Hot food buffet line in SATS Premier Lounge at Singapore Airport Terminal 3

The bread selection in SATS Premier Lounge

The lounge is stocked with beverages for passengers to enjoy

Dessert and coffee section in the buffet area of the lounge

In the same area as the buffet are the toilets and shower rooms. There are two shower rooms available on a first-come, first-served basis. These shower rooms are rather basic, with only shower facilities, and lack places to put our carry-ons. Given the size of the lounge, I thought having the shower facility was great, especially for transiting passengers who wanted to freshen up between their flights. The lounging area occupies most of the lounge floor, featuring armchairs arranged in caccoons for four and high-back solo seats for those who want more privacy for work or rest. The lounge is also furnished with solo armchairs in a somewhat more enclosed area, which is great for solo passengers who did not manage to snag the high-back work pods. Like the caccoons for four, each seat is fitted with an accompanying side table for passengers to place their drinks on. The lounging area felt open and airy, thanks to the high ceiling that it shares with the terminal building. The lounge area gives passengers a partial view of the tarmac. The lounge also features two massage chairs in a quieter corner.

There are two shower rooms in SATS Premier Lounge outside the toilets

SATS Premier Lounge main lounge area

Though small, the shower room is clean and well designed

The quieter corner of SATS Premier Lounge decked with private work stations and two massage chairs

The main lounge is decked with armchairs for passengers to relax

Jeddah King Abdulaziz International

AlFursan Lounge

As we had a connecting flight for our onward journey, we did not have the check-in experience at Jeddah King Abdulaziz International Airport. The transit between flights at Jeddah Airport was straightforward. We just had to follow the signs to the transit security screening and show our boarding pass to the staff, and we were in the departing airside within minutes. We spent our 3½ hours transit time in Saudia’s AlFursan Lounge, located one floor above the terminal’s transit hall. The lounge reception feels polished and inviting, decked in sand-coloured marble, with the airline’s signature green colour lighting illuminating the reception counter and the barriers to the lounge. A couple of rooms sit behind the reception. A recreation room on the right, furnished with a pool table, a carom table, and a PS5 for guests to enjoy, while the luggage room took up the real estate in the room on the left.

Arrival at Jeddah for our seamless transit

The departure area in Jeddah International Airport

Entrance to the AlFursan Lounge in Jeddah Airport

The recreation room right after the entrance to the lounge

Directory of the lounge

Smoking and prayer room in the lounge

Layout of the AlFursan Lounge in Jeddah

The main lounge sits right across a small bridge. My first impression of the AlFursan Lounge was that it felt elegant, spacious, and luxurious, with its Atrium Hall featuring white marble and gold-plated pillars. The first thing that caught my eye was the white grand piano sitting in the centre of a circular space, and the olive tree at the side of the Atrium Hall. Saudia furnishes the space around the grand piano with single-seat armchairs that are not only comfortable but also provide seating for passengers to enjoy the performance (if one is ever scheduled). Most of the spaces in the AlFursan Lounge are circular, which creates a comfortable atmosphere. Beyond the grand piano is a small beverage station and a chocolate and dessert bar. A meeting room is also found in this space, next to the chocolate and dessert bar. I found it interesting to find a small duty-free shop inside the AlFursan Lounge, near its entrance. There is also a small cinema seating up to 6 passengers located beside the duty-free shop in the lounge.

The foyer of the AlFursan Lounge in Jedda looks elegant and inviting

The bridge connecting the entrance to the main lounge

The grand piano in the foyer of AlFursan Lounge in Jeddah Airport

Chocolate bar at the foyer of the lounge

There is a small cinema in AlFursan Lounge

The dessert bar in the foyer of the AlFursan Lounge in Jeddah Airport

The Arabic coffee station in the foyer of the AlFursan Lounge

The small duty free shop in AlFursan Lounge in Jeddah Airport

There is only one meeting room in AlFursan Lounge available on a first-come first-served basis

The olive tree at the side of the foyer provided more seating space for passengers

The toilets are situated next to the cinema in the Atrium Hall area of AlFursan Lounge. There are two shower rooms (at least for the male toilet) located inside the toilet. As there are no counters to book these shower facilities, their use will be on a first-come, first-served basis by asking the attendant in the toilet. The bathroom in the AlFursan Lounge, having a wet walk-in shower and a dry sink area, looked rather dilapidated. Despite being their flagship lounge and decked in luxurious black marble tiles, the condition of the walk-in shower had seen better days. The panel on the wall suggested a hand-held shower head, but only the rain shower head was installed. To make things worse, there is a large, ugly patch on the wall of the shower that seems to suggest that the mountings had been removed. The attendant passed us a set of shower amenities, including towels, shampoo, conditioner and body lotion. But I was informed that they ran out of shower gel.

The shower room in AlFursan Lounge is located in the toilet

The sink area has a small ledge to store our carry-ons

The shower cubicle in the shower room looks dilapidated

AlFursan Lounge supplies its Business Class passengers with the local brand Patio bathroom amenities

As we walked further into the lounge, we came across four large circular booths, ideal for larger groups. There is even a small refreshment station in this space, providing passengers with great convenience. Behind these circular booth seats are five Slumber Rooms. These semi-open sleeping rooms feature a daybed (no bedding), a side table, a coat hanger, and a floor lamp, making them ideal for passengers who want to catch a snooze. However, I find the lack of privacy a downside (unless one is lucky to snag the corner room). Past the circular booths, the lounge layout shifted from circular to rectangular, with distinct functions: the lounging area on the right and the dining area to the left. The lounging area, fitted with softer lighting to create a more relaxed atmosphere, is furnished with lots of lounging armchairs arranged in pairs and groups of four. The dining area on the left features a pizza station where a staff member bakes pizza upon request, and the main buffet line is further into the lounge. I found the food selection at the AlFursan Lounge quite substantial. There are Middle Eastern and a small selection of Western options made available in the buffet line. Next to the buffet line are also many dining tables, mainly seating two to four passengers. Having the dining tables here made it convenient for passengers to grab food from the buffet line.

These circular booths were great for large crowds, unfortunately they are always occupied by solo or dual travellers

There are several open Slumber Rooms for passengers to catch a snooze

The lounging area in AlFursan Lounge are furnished with single and four armchairs

The lounging area in the lounge is found on the right side of the buffet area

The lounging area in AlFursan Lounge in Jeddah Airport

There is a small dining area next to the pizza bar

The main dining area in the lounge

The main dining area is located next to the buffet line in AlFursan Lounge

The buffet line in AlFursan Lounge at Jeddah Airport is located in the mid section of the lounge

Some of the hot food served in the buffet line

Cold food section in AlFursan Lounge

The egg station in the buffet line

Beverage station is located in the buffet area

Past the main dining area, we found more circular booths and some individual armchairs. This is the quietest part of the lounge. In addition to more lounge seating, this part of the lounge features a salad bar and a small dining area. There is a beverage bar counter, serving non-alcoholic drinks, also located next to the salad bar. Overall, I thought the AlFursan Lounge was a great place to spend time while waiting for our next flight. The sheer size of the lounge allowed passengers to spread out, making it feel less crowded.

The seatings at the back of the lounge

The children play room in AlFursan Lounge is located at the back of the lounge

There is a salad cum sandwich bar at the back of the lounge

The seating at the back of the lounge

There are more lounging seatings at the back of the lounge

The Aircraft

Saudia operates two versions of the B787, the -9 and -10 series, to and from Singapore. We took the B787-10, decked in the new white with green stripes livery for the Singapore-Jeddah leg and the B787-9 in the old cream coloured livery on the Jeddah-Singapore leg. Both -9 and -10 versions have the same number of Business Class seats, but more Economy Class seats on the -10 version.

Saudia B787-10 livery upclose

Saudia B787-10 safety card

Saudia B787-9 safety card

Saudia B787-9 livery upclose

The Cabin

Saudia houses all its 24 Business Class passengers in a single cabin onboard both its B787 series aircraft. Saudia B787 Business Class cabin looks clean and classy. The cream-coloured high-back seats bring out the black used in the framing of the IFE screen, while the dual-tone sand colour used in the inviting leather seat pays homage to the desert landscape in the kingdom, and the wood-grained finish on the seat’s tables exudes a sense of luxury. The earth colour used in the carpet and the interior of the seat back throughout the cabin makes one feel relaxed. White walls and the bright lighting during boarding accentuate the cabin’s clean look. The mood lighting changes to softer colours that enhance the relaxing vibe during mid-flight.

Saudia B787 series aircraft Business Class cabin

Saudia B787 series aircraft Business Class cabin looks clean and bright

Saudia B787 series aircraft Business Class cabin during boarding

Saudia B787 series aircraft Business Class cabin

Saudia B787 series aircraft Business Class cabin

Saudia B787 series aircraft Business Class cabin in mood lighting during flight

Saudia B787 series aircraft Business Class cabin mood lighting is great to aid sleeping on these red eye flights

There are three lavatories, one in the front of the aircraft and two at the back between the Business Class and Economy Class cabins, serving all 24 Business Class passengers on Saudia’s B787 series aircraft. The dark brown used in the flooring and the cabinetry in the lavatory gave it a distinct, posh look. While the lavatory was not large, the mirrors on its walls made it feel larger. The lavatory was stocked with Saudia’s in-house Eau de Parfum, hand lotion, and facial mist to differentiate the premium-class lavatory from the Economy Class.

Saudia B787 series aircraftt Business Class lavatory has a posh look

Toilet in Saudia B787 series aircraft Business Class lavatory

Amenities in the Business Class lavatory

The mirrors in the lavatory makes it feel larger than it actually is

The Seat

Business Class seats onboard Saudia B787 series aircraft are arranged in a 1-2-1 configuration. The dual-tone sand-coloured leather seat has a generous seat pitch of 78” and measures 21” wide. The aisle side armrest can be lowered to give the seat a more generous width. Like most Business Class seats, these onboard Saudia B787 seats come in three standard configurations—Take-off/landing, lounge, and bed modes —which can be activated using the touchscreen seat control panel. The seat felt comfortable even in its most uncomfortable upright position for take-off/landing, thanks to the thick padding and the soft leather used in these seats. In bed mode, the seat can recline to 180°, turning it into a comfortable flatbed on which we had a great sleep during the flight. Despite not having any doors in these seats, I still find a good amount of privacy in bed mode thanks to the high back of the seat. The lounge mode sits between the upright and flatbed modes, which are angled to provide passenger comfort. I like how the angles in these seats can be further adjusted, giving passengers the freedom to customise the seat angle to their preferences.

Saudia B787 series Business Class seat in upright position

The legroom was excellent

Saudia B787 series Business Class seat in lounging mode

Saudia B787 series Business Class seat in flatbed position

Saudia B787 series Business Class seat controls are in a touchscreen panel

There are ample legroom for us to stretch in the Business Class seats even in lounge mode

I thought the storage in the Business Class seats onboard Saudia B787 series aircraft was very generous. Despite the lack of a small cabinet on the side tables, there are still plenty of storage options in these seats. Right in the adjustable armrest on the aisle side of the seat lies a small compartment, large enough for the airlines to stow the provided headphones or bottled water. The main storage is found under the side table between the two seats (for those sitting in the middle couple seats) or at the window. This is where a slight difference between the -9 and -10 series aircraft. There is only one large compartment beneath the side table on the -10 series Business Class seat, whereas there are two smaller compartments underneath the side tables on the -9 series Business Class seats. On top of that, the IFE controller and the charging outlets are exposed on the -10 seats, whereas these are hidden in the larger compartment on the -9 series. Personally, I prefer the two smaller compartments in the -9 series Business Class seats as I thought they provided slightly more storage space, in addition to making the seat look cleaner with the IFE controllers and the charging solution tucked away when not in use. The -9 series also made organising the storage easier, where I could place my smaller items like passports and charging cables when not in use in the smaller compartment. There is another storage area in the small cubby near the calf area inside the seat. I was also able to use the space under the footwell to place my carry-on.

Both the -9 and -10 series Business Class seats feature a moveable armrest with storage compartment underneath

The storage compartment in the armrest of the Business Class seats of Saudia's B787 series aircraft

Saudia B787-10 Business Class seat has one large storage compartment under the side table by the window

The charging outlets on Saudia B787-10 Business Class seat are found under the literature pocket

The literature pockets of both Saudia's -9 and -10 aircrafts are found at the side of the seat

Saudia B787-9 Business Class seats has two storage compartments underneath the side table

The larget side table storage comparment on Saudia B787-9 Business Class seat

The smaller storage compartment on Saudia B787-9 Business Class seat is perfect to stow smaller items

The power outlet is found inside the larger side table storage compartment on Saudia B787-9 Business Class seat

The USB outlets and headphone jack are hidden in the larger side table storage compartment on Saudia B787-9 Business Class seats

Both Saudia's -9 and -10 series aircrafts have a generous storage under the footwell

There is also a small cubby in the inside of the Business Class seat on Saudia B787 aircraft for storage of personal items

Saudia B787 series aircraft Business Class is fitted with a large wooden table. It is even useful when stored under the IFE screen, with ⅔ of the bi-fold table sticking out, giving us a good amount of space to place our drinks. The table, when fully deployed, is rather sizeable and sturdy, which is perfect for meals or for doing some work. When it comes to illumination in the seat, aside from the overhead reading lights, airlines installed a smaller reading light. I like how the aircraft is fitted with air nozzles, giving us some freedom in adjusting the temperature in our seats.

The seat table on Saudia B787 series aircraft is large and sturdy when fully deployed

The seat table can be used in folded mode when we do not need such a large area

The side table onboard Saudia B787 series aircraft is great to stow small items on

Saudia B787 series aircraft Business Class seat tabel when in storage position

Coat hook in the Business Class seats

I like the overhead nozzles that allowed us to control the temperature at our seat

Another reading light in Saudia B787 series aircraft Business Class seat

Inflight Entertainment

Each Business Class seat onboard Saudia B787 series aircraft is fitted with a large 18″ HD personal TV. The picture quality is crisp and sharp, making watching shows on this TV pleasant. The IFE controllers Saudia uses resemble a smartphone, with most entertainment options controlled via touchscreen menus on the controller. Given its design, I thought the IFE controller was easy to use. BEYOND is Saudia’s in-flight entertainment system, loaded with tons of entertainment options, from movies to TV shows to music. I like how Saudia organises entertainment options in BEYOND by region, making it very easy to find the movie or show I want to watch. Saudia provides noise-cancelling headphones to all its Business Class passengers. Despite the ear cups’ rectangular design, I still find these headphones comfortable to wear for a prolonged period, and they do a good job of blocking ambient noise. Despite offering complimentary Wi-Fi to Business Class passengers, I was not able to connect to the Wi-Fi on both legs of the flight on board Saudia B787 series aircraft.

Saudia B787 series Business Class seat is fitted with a 18" touchscreen HD personal TV

The IFE controller onboard Saudia B787 series Business Class seat

The IFE controller on Saudia B787-10 is stored under the in-flight literature seat pocket

The IFE controller onboard Saudia B787-9 is stored inside the larger side table storage compartment

Saudia supplies its Business Class passengers with these comfortable noise caneelling headphones

The alternate IFE menu

Saudia's BEYOND is well stocked with movies in an easy to navigate menu

Meal

Saudia did not have a fixed meal time for its Business Class passengers, but offers a dine-on-demand concept. Saudia served two meals for our 9-hour flight to and from Jeddah: a light meal service and a breakfast service. As both legs of our flight started at night, the cabin crew on both legs of our flight checked when we wanted to have the light meal. Saudia served warm nuts after the aircraft reached cruising altitude as a pre-meal service.

SIN-JED

For the light meal on this leg of the flight, the three options that we had on the menu were Arabic Mezze, Chicken Satay and Lamb Kofta. I chose the chicken satay, which I found to be delicious. The chicken was tender, and the peanut satay sauce was flavourful. For breakfast, we could choose from the Saudia Sufrah set or from the à la carte menu. The à la carte menu breakfast came in two courses, and we were given three choices for both courses. For starters, we can choose between Greek Yoghurt, Fresh Fruit and Seared Halloumi; while the mains were a choice between Lamb Fettah, Organic eggs made onboard and Vanilla Pancakes. I opted for fresh fruit for starters and Lamb Fettah for mains. The fruits served were sweet and juicy, and the lamb was flavourful and well-spiced. There is a side dish of two pastry puffs that were stuffed with spinach. I am not a fan of these puffs due to personal preference.

Saudia Business Class menu

Ala carte choices for breakfast this morning

Light dining choices for after take-off and Saudia Sufrah option for Breakfast

We were served Arabic coffee as part of the pre-departure drink

The beverage choices onboard Saudia Business Class dining

I had the Apple and Banana smoothie for welcome drink

We were given Arabian date to complement the Arabic coffee

The Chicken Satay that I chose for my Light dining was delicious

We were served warm nuts after take off

The Lamb Fettah and Frsh Fruits that I opted for breakfast

JED-SIN

For our inbound flight, the three choices for light meal were Arabic Mezze, Wedge Salad and Mixed Grill. I had the Mixed Grill that comes with Beef Kofta, Lamb Cutlet and Chicken Shish Tawook. The beef and lamb were cooked to perfection; both were tender and juicy. The chicken on the plate was also tender and very well-spiced. However, the minty tahini sauce was not to my liking. For breakfast, we could also choose from the two menus: Saudi Sufrah or à la carte. Originally, I wanted to opt for the Saudi Sufrah, but I was told they had run out of that option despite being in the first three rows. I had to choose something from the à la carte menu. In this à la carte menu, we were also given three choices each for starters and mains. For starters, we were given the option of Cheese and Cold Cut Platter, Strawberry Muesli, or Fresh Fruit. I went for the Fresh Fruit, which was sweet and fresh. The options for mains were Seafood Congee, Organic eggs prepared onboard and Belgian Waffles. I opted for Belgian Waffles, which were delicious and flavourful. The burnt banana added the punch, and the caramel was tasty. But overall, as a dish, I find it too sweet.

Business Class Dining menu for our Jeddah to Singapore flight

Optons for Light dining tonight and Saudia Sufrah for Breakfast during this flight

Choices for the ala carte breakfast for this flight

The friendly Osama serving Arabic coffee during departure

Beverage menu available during this flight

The unique Arabic coffee served in Business Class onboard Saudia

I was served orange juice for welcome drink

Warm nuts served after take off

The Belgium Waffles I got for breakfast was delicious

The Mixed Grill I opted for Light dining was tasty

The cabin crew offered me chips and chocolate as snack when she saw me awake

Service

The boarding situation is chaotic. Rather than boarding by classes, Saudia boards everyone at the same time through one door, which impacts the boarding experience for Business Class passengers. Like most airlines, the cabin crew welcomed us onboard at the door and directed us to the correct aisle for our seats.

SIN-JED

The service onboard this leg was good, with a very attentive cabin crew. Despite not having smiles or striking conversation, she was observed to be attentive, and I felt very well taken care of by her. Although the service on board seemed to be taken from a page of the airline’s SOP and executed by a very well-oiled crew, I could feel the attentiveness of the cabin crew working on my aisle. We were promptly served a welcome drink and a hot towel after settling into our seats. I noticed that the cabin crew onboard Saudia did not wait for everyone to settle into their seat and started the welcome drink service. Instead, whenever a passenger was observed being settled into their seat, the cabin crew would approach us with our welcome drinks, which explains why they were seen walking up and down the aisle so frequently. I thought the Arabic coffee presentation was rather unique to Saudia. The onboard chef would go around the cabin asking if we wanted some Arabic coffee and gave us some dates at the same time. Orders for meal options and our preferred meal time were taken during taxiing. Throughout the flight, the cabin crew was kept busy with the different meal times. And when she walked by and saw that I was still awake, she offered to serve my light meal. After clearing my table, the same cabin crew came over to my seat with a tray of snacks, and at the same time, checked if I wanted any drinks to go along. During breakfast time, the cabin crew, seeing that I was awake, quickly heated up my breakfast order and served it after seeing I was settled down. The attentive cabin crew quickly cleared my table.

For this leg, we were presented with a retro white Saudia-branded amenity kit shortly after boarding. The retro-amenity kit was a departure from the ELIE SAAB ones that the airlines recently refreshed. I do find this amenity kit to be a little cheap-looking, but it was filled with contents. Inside the amenity kit, I found the Norwegian-branded Sprekenhus products such as lip balm, facial mist and hand cream, alongside eyemasks, dental kits and Saudia-branded socks. Unlike the recently refreshed ELIE SAAB amenity kits, this version of the kits is unisex.

The retro amenity kit that we were given for this flight

JED-SIN

The service onboard this leg is as good as our outbound leg. However, I find the cabin crew of Southeast Asian origins were warmer than their Arabic counterparts. The cabin crew working on our aisle was friendly and chatty, and no request seemed too troublesome for her. The Arabic crew who were working on the centre seats were also spotted taking care of their passengers well. They would stop by the passengers under their charge with extended conversations on multiple occasions, and constantly patrolled the cabin to ensure these passengers were well taken care of. The onboard chef, Osama, went around the cabin introducing himself to the passengers during Arabic coffee service. Osama was very friendly and checked if we liked the food that he prepared. I have seen him (during my waking hours) helping the cabin crew serve the meals. Like our outbound leg, the cabin crew approached us as soon as we settled in our seats to serve us a welcome drink and hot towels. They did not wait till everyone settled in to perform this service, which somewhat makes this service personalised. Like the outbound leg, cabin crew worked like clockwork, taking meal orders and our preferred meal timing. The Indonesian cabin crew was also very observant, who quickly approached me after I woke up to check if I would like to have my breakfast served.

For this leg, we were presented with the newly released ELIE SAAB amenity kit shortly after boarding. The amenity kit was housed in a PVC leather ELIE SAAB pouch containing products such as face cleanser, hand and body lotion, lip balm, as well as an ELIE SAAB Eau de Toilette, alongside eyemasks, dental kits and socks. There are different ELIE SAAB amenity bags for male and female passengers, but the contents are identical for both kits.

The ELIE SAAB amenity kit for ladies that I requested (I had both the male kits from my previous flights)

Afterthought

Saudia Business Class onboard both their B787 series aircraft was a solid product. The seats were comfortable and had tons of storage space. I slept comfortably in the bed mode of the seat for several hours. Despite not having a sliding door, I felt the seats offered a great amount of privacy, thanks to the cocoon design in the seat back. The Business Class seats came fitted with air nozzles, which allow us to customise the temperature at the seat. BEYOND is stocked with a huge library of entertainment, and we had no issues finding something to occupy our time. The food served was generous and had great taste. The service onboard was great, with the cabin crew constantly looking out for us. We felt very well taken care of on board. I had a great experience flying on Saudia B787 series Business Class.