AF is flat but not horizontal but quite comfortable and nice dinner. Rome was fantastic and Bologna was a surprise - not touristy but very interesting indeed.

William  & Anthe

Gold Coast

We liked Swiss Air – and especially liked Zurich as a change flight airport – but don’t believe we saw anything of an upgraded Swiss cabin. The business class seats we had were quite acceptable – not as big in structure or style as Qantas  - but OK from a comfort viewpoint.

We hadn’t realized that mid to late September was still so peak in Europe – still very hot – and very crowded – so from our viewpoint late May / early June is still the best time to visit Europe.

We missed the Emirates / Etihad Limo service – that is a real feature . In Rome our hotel organized a limo pick up for us – this worked well.

Tony Bates
sydney

Singapore Airlines in Perth suggested that we check the bags through to Vienna. I had my doubts, however she seemed confident. We were without luggage for 2 days. In hindsight, we could have easily collected our bags and made the next flight, although there is a very long (>800m) walk between terminals even after the shuttle train.

(Note, connection time in Paris was less than 2hours, from international terminal to another terminal to catch flight to Vienna)

Singapore airlines was a good experience – I won’t be so keen to fly A380 again. The seats are wide and plenty of room to lose the book etc, but I found the bed a little harder than the A330. Having said that the overall level of comfort was great, and it is nice to get there and back with almost no jetlag.

We stayed in Hotel Alstadt, near museum quarter in Vienna. Converted old building run by an on site owner with his art collect through the hotel. I can thoroughly recommend it and very good value – listed in Epoque Hotels.
BA connection though Heathrow worked well – crowded, but they handled our excess luggage (had to replace the clothes we thought might not turn up).

Michael  Prichard

Perth

Hi Tina,

Everything went very smoothly.

Etihad was great.  The only complaint (about which you can do nothing) is that the business class seats are very narrow and that made sleeping a little difficult.  Apart from that, all was very much up to scratch.  The limo service is a great added extra.  It just makes getting to and from the airport so much more relaxing.

We stayed at Tremezzo on Lake Como and we agreed that it was much more relaxed than Villa D’Este further south on the lake.  Villa D’Este is beautiful but it seemed a bit stuffy, whereas Tremezzo Palace was beautiful AND relaxed.  I’d go back in an instant.

Venice we stayed at the Londra Palace and it was also very nice.  Very humid and very expensive in Venice.  Great place but not hurrying back there.

All in all a very good holiday and the flights in particular were excellent.

Thanks for your help.  We would be only to happy to use firstclass.com.au again for our next trip.

Ross Clarke
Sydney

We had a wonderful time in Paris.
I would recommend the Hotel we stayed at; the Hotel Keppler.  We were also upgraded to a Suite with a terrace and a view of the Eiffel Tower.  The best thing about the hotel was the exceptional service with each and every one of the staff being helpful and friendly, and going out of their way to help us with any tickets or booking we wanted.  The breakfast was also terrific (and included in the room price).  Have a look at their Web site if you get the chance and the rooms are in fact as beautiful as the pictures.
We did all of the usual attractions like the Eiffel Tower, Lourve, Notre Dame, Arc de Triomphe, Versallies and the Opera.  My favorite was the Opera for the most beautiful building, but of course it depends where your interests lie.  If you are into old works of Art I don’t think there would be anywhere better in the world than the Lourve.  One of the out of the way things we did was to book a car and do a trip out to Chantilly Castle which is only about 40 mins out of Paris and it was beautiful.  There is also one of the biggest and grandest stable complexes in the world which is open to the public most afternoons and has a living horse museum (a collection of nearly 200 horse breeds).  This was stunning and I love horses so a fantastic side trip.
The metro train system is a breeze to use and can get you anywhere in Paris.
Hope this gives you some ideas and areas which you can investigate.  My top recommendation really is the Hotel Keppler (I think it is one of the top 5 on trip adviser for Paris), a wonderful place to stay with the best service I have ever had anywhere in the world.

Vicki Hood , Ghana

SWISS International Airline is to showcase the Michelin Star cuisine of Chef Renee Rischmeyer of The Park Hotel Weggis on Lake Lucerne this spring, as part of its “SWISS – Taste of Switzerland” menu series served in first and business class on long-haul flights and selected European routes.

The award-winning concept presents in-flight menus by the country’s most renowned chefs from different regions which change every three months.
(more…)

The Jumeirah Carlton Tower in the heart of Knightsbridge, London, has opened six brand new luxury suites. Created by world renowned interior designer Khuan Chew the suites offer guests a slick retreat with an added element of surprise.

Interior designer Khuan Chew is the creative talent behind the stunning interiors at Jumeirah’s Burj Al Arab. Each suite represents a glamorous ‘home from home’ with comfort key to the experience. All six suites mirror a similar style but with subtle changes demonstrated through individually commissioned art works by British artists. On entering, guests are welcomed via private lobbies complete with mini-bar, sweeping through to spacious lounges. Timber floors line the living spaces cocooned by rich upholstered couches, dark wood furniture and hand tufted rugs. Vivid reds, aubergines and warm natural woods emulate high glamour throughout.
(more…)

Once the centre of the Great Habsburg Empire, Hungary today is a romantic land of Gypsy music, fine wines, folklore and great culinary traditions at still very affordable prices!

Hungarian born, I can never get tired of this gorgeous country and her people!:)) On my last trip with my husband, baby girl and 4 months pregnant, we happened to experience a particularly cold winter. We travelled in January.

Though the weather was crystal clear and sunny, it was terribly cold. However that and my 14 month old who just started to walk and was determined to practice, didn’t stop us doing and seeing all that we wanted. Snow started falling on our second day of arrival and it just added to beauty of this magical country.

In Budapest we stayed with some dear friends of mine who cheuffeured us everywhere from the Castle District where we saw the Fisherman’s Bastion (Halászbástya), the Mattias Church (Mátyás Templom) and the Castle (Budai Vár) inside and out. We had coffee and lovely desserts at the historic Ruszwurm Cukrászda (Ruszwurm Cafe).

Come to think of it we stopped at quite a few restaurants and Cafés! You can easily find one that suits your palate and budget. Interestingly the Cafés in Hungary only offer coffe and desserts unlike in Australia where you can have light meals as well. The Gerbeaud Kávézó (Gerbeaud Cafe) in particular has the most delicious cakes like the Dobos Torta, the Eszterházy and my husband’s favorite the Somlói Galuska - heavenly! And when you ask for a hot chocolate that is exactly what you get, thick, rich magnificent chocolate that is actually liquid! You must try it!
We found that eating in Hungary is very inexpensive and good value wheather you dine in a restaurant or shop in a supermarket.

Another favorite of ours was the Gellért Fürdő (Gellert Spa) in Buda by the foot of the Szabadság Hid (Freedom Bridge) and the Gellért Hegy (Gellert Hill). This thermal bath and spa offers gorgeous mozaic pools of different temperature and you can endulge in the most wonderfully relaxing body treatments. In summer you can also make use of the equally beautiful outdoor pool and garden that is also a work of art.

Then there is the beauty of the neo-gothic Országház (Parlament House) or the lavish Magyar �?llami Operaház (Opera House) in Pest.

However Hungary is not all about the “Pearl of the Danube”, Budapest. Taking a Danube River cruise north will take your breath away as you sail through historic Visegrád, Szentendre and Esztergom that also has the largest Roman Catholic cathedral in Hungary the Esztergom Basilica.

Hungary offers many diverse destinations from lush mountains in the north-west like the Bükk mountains, the Great Plain (Alföld) in the east, rivers like the Tisza and lakes such as the famous Balaton to gorgeous small villages and hidden gems of cities.
On your next trip to Europe why not visit this ever evolving country that is rich in culture! Isten Hozta Magyarországra! (Welcome to Hungary!)

If you would like to know more about Hungary please visit www.hungarianworld.blogspot.com.

I’ve stayed twice in st moritz, switzerland, about 10 years apart once over xmas and new year. the glamour, atmosphere and night life is well….electric! and then throw in some of europe’s best snow terrain as well. i’ve skied down to italy from here. don’t forget the swiss chocolates….just don’t eat too many as i did or you’ll be sorry!

stayed in hotel schweizerhof a huge magnificent older style hotel right in town and suvretta house…wow!. up at 1856m and in a fir tree forest. it’s a wonderful example of a grand chateau at it’s best.