"MAY INCLUDE RUM"..14 NIGHTS SAPPHIRE FALLS.. MAY `19 TRIP REPORT

Welcome home, @schumigirl ! I wondered what you thought of the unexpected May heat. My parents moved back to VA from Ocala this past weekend and they were ever so glad to be back in the cooler mountains......only to have record heat coming in next week.
 
Thanks so much Brenda...it is nice to be back!

I’m taking my mum back to NY again to see family.....just for a week.....mainly staying in a hotel in Long Island but plan a day in the City as opposed to the 5 days we have done in the past when I go with mum. We had been staying for just over two weeks last couple of times, but this time I said a week was long enough as I do miss my guys incredibly....

This is going to be a hard trip in many ways, as this is probably going to be mum’s last trip as, although she is fit as a fiddle mentally as well as physically, she is 84, the journey does wear her out a little.....not that she’d admit that though! She’s feisty and determined........::yes::

Looking forward to spending time with my aunt, cousins and their kids too......and weather should be lovely :thumbsup2

Sounds like a lovely trip- I’m sorry it might be your mum’s last one. It’s wonderful she is still so fit (mentally and physically). Enjoy and safe travels. Looking forward to reading about that trip as well.

Brenda
 


Welcome home, @schumigirl ! I wondered what you thought of the unexpected May heat. My parents moved back to VA from Ocala this past weekend and they were ever so glad to be back in the cooler mountains......only to have record heat coming in next week.

:welcome: back PoohisHome ........always good to see you and glad to see you over here!

The heat was quite extreme some days I have to say.......last few days especially were quite energy sapping.....I was glad we didn’t have to do anything if we didn’t want to......retreating to the suite was ideal some days.....

Hope your parents settle back in back in VA! Quite a change I guess for them........

Glad to see you have a trip sorted now......:thumbsup2 always good to know something is in place......and really hope you enjoy this report too.........:wave2:
 
Sounds like a lovely trip- I’m sorry it might be your mum’s last one. It’s wonderful she is still so fit (mentally and physically). Enjoy and safe travels. Looking forward to reading about that trip as well.

Brenda

I think it will be lovely yep, but, it’ll be tough knowing it’ll be the last time they’ll probably see each other as my aunt can’t travel to the UK. But she’s such fun, I adore my aunt too.......we are so alike it’s scary!!!

I do appreciate how lucky we are that my mum is so healthy at 84......just wish she had a better filter at times......she just says what comes into her mind, good or bad......lol.......can be tricky at times.......:duck:

Should be fun though......:thumbsup2
 


Welcome back!!! Goodness this trip went by fast!!! Can't wait to read all about it!

Thanks Nancy........yep, two weeks isn’t long enough!! :D

Will get it going soon as I can.......busy few days at home then should get settled into it........glad you’re still here.......:wave2:
 
Dang it, woman, hurry up and give us the details! ;)
Glad you had another fabulous trip! Can't wait to read about it!

Lol........

I’m so glad we have no jet lag this time as we’ve had so much to do since we got back.......not quite sure what!!! But between the drive way which is going to be disruptive to say the least, organising final details with the car, organising final details for some of a friends trip she asked me to help with, they leave Tuesday ......and of course enjoying the sunshine a little.........:D

But at least all laundry is done!!!

But, you know me.......it’ll be up soon..........::yes::

:wave2:
 
Welcome home. Boy it was hot down there. Cant wait to read your trip report. Sorry our paths didnt cross, but we upgraded to annual passes so maybe next trip.

Thanks Vicki.......

It was searingly hot most days........we did enjoy that occasional little breeze that’s missing from September trips....that helped........

Yes, I wish we’d seen you too.....we didn’t do an awful lot of park time this trip, but hope your trip was a success and you enjoyed it......congrats on the AP ::yes:: you’ll make good use of them I’m sure........:wave2:
 
Hi Carole,
So excited to be reading another trip report!! Love your advice and adventures!! Hope all is well :flower1:

:welcome: along Jocelyn...….

I`m happy you`re still here...…….yep, all is good with us, hope you are too.....I should finally get a start, well a proper start this week......got pics uploaded tonight and think we`ll be stuck in a lot this week as we are getting a new driveway done.....taking 3 weeks......I`ll be off next week though with mum to NY...…so plan to do as much as I can before we set off.....I really don't like dragging out a trip report more than is needed, but well, you know...….

Glad to see you again...……..:wave2:
 
Ooh, said you uploaded pictures, so let this wonderful trip report started.

And welcome home, and ready for NYC in 2 weeks.
 
Ooh, said you uploaded pictures, so let this wonderful trip report started.

And welcome home, and ready for NYC in 2 weeks.

Yep, uploaded pics, but can`t post them right now.....must be a glitch......

Yep, I leave June 5th to meet mum for overnight at the airport hotel......you`ll be there before me!!!

Is it you and your daughter or the whole family visiting??
 
Just me and little one. Two nights, three days. Only things we have to do is watch a play the night we arrive, and drop and pick up little one’s shoes she wants to have serviced from a shoe place that is only in NYC.
 
Just me and little one. Two nights, three days. Only things we have to do is watch a play the night we arrive, and drop and pick up little one’s shoes she wants to have serviced from a shoe place that is only in NYC.

Sounds like a nice trip.....you`re so lucky to be so close to NYC......:)
 
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Well...….it`s finally beginning again...….it always strikes me as such a busy time coming home from a vacation with one thing and another, and this time is no exception......but......today I`m finally managing to sit down with all housework done and everything I have to organise has been done...…...it`s always a good feeling when I`m caught up with stuff...….

So, onward we go and I hope you enjoy what you read...



TUESDAY MAY 7TH

DRIVE TO AIRPORT HOTEL DAY




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We had slept really well the night before, which is always good news.....I guess we were so tired as we had a few things going on before we set off this time, trying to organise several major jobs to be done outside the home and some inside too....and patiently wait to go pick up our new car which had been ordered for a while.....but...….sleep well we certainly did.

We had also sat up later than usual just chatting to Kyle about one thing and another......we knew again he`d be busy and had plenty to keep him amused while we were gone and would be kept busy at work for a while, then he found out he had 10 days off...…my immediate response was COME JOIN US!!!!



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But, there`s always a downside 🥺...…..the way the dates worked out, he would only have been able to join us for 5 days before we came back home...…...

So, not really worth it...…...that brought me back down with a bump...…..but he had plans so we were quite happy...….

Around 5.30am I was wide awake...….Tom was still out for the count and showed no signs of waking anytime soon.....I did think he was really awake and thinking if he lay really still I`d never notice...….of course I noticed!!!

Showered and hair dried I knew Kyle was now up as I heard his shower going in his bathroom......although it is such an exciting time, I do hate that leaving him home as we go and have nothing but fun.....but it is easier now. Tom had now woken up and was showing signs of hopping in the shower before I went downstairs....

Kyle had already eaten his breakfast by the time I got downstairs, and had set off back up to change into his suit......I ambled around making sure everything was in it`s place and tidy......why I`m not sure as Kyle does keep the place really tidy, but I think it`s just something we do.....out of habit I guess...…..once he was back downstairs, so was Tom, just in time to say goodbye to him for two weeks...…..and I didn't cry this time...….well, got a little sniffly, but no tears......we hugged for what seemed like ages, before he hugged his dad and then he was out the door and got his car out for the journey to work......we watched and waved as he slowly drove down the drive and then he was out of the gates. This is always the worst part...….it really is......now though, we could get set for the rest of the day......

We ate breakfast and then packed last minute items into the cases and hand luggage...…..we had a little time before the car service came this morning, so that was used up by again, checking the house and calling my mum...….and as always, making sure we had our passports and credit cards.....anything else we could do without......but without passports, we would be going nowhere......and I`m sure we checked at least 20 times before we set off and once again after that...….


The car service we booked arrived around 10 minutes early as before, they are incredibly prompt and reliable and we are so glad we do it this way now......we won`t do it all the time, but we did like the idea of not driving home particularly...…...

Cases loaded in the back of the car, we checked everything one last time and Tom set the house alarm and we drove out...…...


Our driver is very chatty and we have a good old yap all the way there.....it takes around 3 hours to get up to Manchester and it passes quicker than we realise today.....my only hope is we arrive in nice time for lunch....breakfast was far too early again.

And we do. We get dropped off right outside the main door and she wishes us a safe trip and sets off. We go inside and head up to the 9th floor where the Executive rooms are...….the elevators here have been under maintenance for what seems like forever, and they are now incredibly slow......the wait despite the time of day is long, so we head to where a staff member had told us there was another elevator usually only for hotel staff, but since these were unreliable they were telling guests to use the staff one. So we disappeared and got in and were up on our floor in seconds.

The Executive Floor has it`s own separate check in up here, and sometimes it isn't manned, but today it is and we check in easily......she comments how often we stay and is very nice, but a little corporate...…..we are used to the other girl who is incredibly natural and genuinely friendly. She also asks if we want to upgrade to a runway view room, this used to be free, it was first come first served, now it started off at around $14 to upgrade to one, this time it was around $45. I don't mind parting with money usually, but this seems a little money grabbing....especially with the cost of the room in the first place!! We could see the runway from the lounge so we declined her very kind offer....

Once we had our room cards we trundled down to the furthest room in the corridor......we didn't mind that, less traffic and only one neighbour.


The rooms are incredibly familiar to us now of course, we `ve lost count how many times we have stayed here over many years....we often think we should stay in one of the other airport hotels, but the convenience of this being attached to the terminal outweighs any other consideration. And we like it...…

So, apologies for the similar pictures from previous trip reports, but here is our room...….and again a couple of the things we love about this hotel is the very comfortable beds and everything is immaculately clean...



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I don't think we have ever used a coffee machine in any room since I read the weird thread on the Disney side of the boards where folks spoke of doing weird and not so wonderful things with food in coffee makers to save a penny and I don't even want to think about what else!!!! Seriously.....who cooks hot dogs and similar items....and don't even mention the grilled sandwiches on the irons!!!! People are weird.

We do, on occasion, use the kettle to make tea in the room, but we boil it about 5 times before we actually use it......I cannot think of what might have been in it!


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The rooms are spacious and bright with the full length windows, and even on a dull Manchester day like today, it feels light and airy in the room.



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The bathrooms are tastefully decorated and we do like them.....I`m not a fan of brown tiles or brown much at all.....but it is nice in here and the underfloor heating in winter is lovely...….I do get cold feet!!!



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The products we make do with to save carrying any shower gels or such with us.....and they are nice. Not as nice as they had a few years ago, but they work.



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Not having a runway view is not something we miss.....you can see (on a nice day) over to the City Centre and beyond.....down to the right of us we can see where the train station is, and you can see it really is only a few minutes walk to the hotel along the covered Sky Walk.



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We use the bathroom and head down to get some lunch as usual, I`m peckish…..we stop off first into the lounge to get some pictures while it is as quiet, as at times it can get quite busy....although our last four stays has seen it fairly quiet.

The windows are odd.....you can see the airport, for what that's worth.....some like it, some don't. But there is a bar in a very awkward place all the way across....of course there is a very good engineering reason for it concerning the structure.....but it does look in the most awkward place for most people to see, you either have to duck below or peak over the top...….the things we find to complain about...….

The lounge itself is beautiful.....seats aren't the softest or comfiest as the cushions just seem to be so rigid, so we end up moving them to the side and some folks drop them on the floor which isn't the most hygienic thing to do, but...…..they do.




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And the offending bar in the image below......

We grab a coke for me and a coffee for Tom and a couple of olives......they are already stoned for you, so no worries about biting into a solid stone in the middle....although I am still careful......crowns make you think before you bite!!



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Once we have the olives we head down the little M bar in the lobby area......this is our usual stop for lunch here and today it is busy!!

As soon as we walk in we see Ibrahim who has worked here for years......we are surprised to see him as he told us he may be on vacation when we come back.....but he wasn't.....he is a lovely man and we even discuss today how long we`ve known him.....we remember when his children were born and were disappointed one visit to discover he had left for somewhere else, but came back the following year.....he is super at what he does and makes everyone feel so welcome.

He introduces us to one of the other managers who in fact remembered looking after us on our December trip, which was quite a memory...….the staff here are lovely for the most part.....


We find a seat and sit at the high tops as the booths are all taken today...…..we are always amused to see folks having their business meetings and conference calls while we are settling in to our vacation...….and thankfully today we don't hear anyone who has to let the world know how important they are with incredibly loud phone calls!!!

We order our usual bottle of prosecco that begins our vacation every trip, and he tells us they don't carry it anymore, so as we don't like the alternative bottle they have, he very kindly offer us champagne for the same price as the prosecco which was kind of him...….we make sure he gets tipped over an above for that......and it is very nice too!!!!!


Our first toast of the trip...…….and the strawberries were beautiful too....



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Tom opted for the BLT today, with potato chips and coleslaw...…...



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And I asked for the Turkey Club sandwich with no fries or coleslaw...…..oops! The sandwich is incredibly filling so no need for fries really, but as they were there, I did have a few...….or maybe more than a few!

I love coleslaw, but in the UK it is always made with onions.....and I can`t eat onions....so I do waft the aroma despite not eating it....I do love onions, well, did love onions......so Tom ends up with mine. It`s not something I ever like to make a fuss about, I don't need to have coleslaw so wouldn't dream of asking them to make some without onion. You do hear some people drone on about their "allergies"...…..so, not an issue for me.



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The food was lovely......and Ibrahim came over for a chat and it was nice to have a really good catch up.....Tom does struggle at times as he does have a strong accent at times, but I find it quite easy to listen and pick up wat he`s saying...….he is so genuine and lovely.

He asks if we want another drink, and we decline as this was enough for now......I`d be sleeping if I had too much at this time of day...…

At this point there is almost a mix up and the other manager asks us our name......we laugh as this doesn't happen as often as it could. We have a double barrel name, but only use the first part, very few folks use our "proper" name.....we don't much either......but once we explained, it was fine....and Ibrahim would vouch for us anyway....


We told Ibrahim we`d pop down to the restaurant in the morning to say goodbye before we set off......then we headed for a walk around just to pass some time really.....there is a swimming pool and a little spa, but we never bother with them.....although maybe the spa would have been nice for a change.

Down to the main entrance we wander and of course, grab a picture...….one of our favourite spots.....


We are laughing as three business men are glowering at us for disturbing their tranquility down there......despite it being the main hotel entrance, so of course, I have been known to giggle inappropriately at times.....so as they look over at us with disdain we snap away...….this wouldn't be the last time this trip we would laugh at the wrong times!!!!



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Once we had wandered around a little we went back up to our room instead of the lounge and passed some time on ipads before both of us fell asleep for an hour......I woke up frozen of course as I hadn't covered up...….we had needed that snooze!!

We freshened up and then walked down to the lounge and saw there were a few more people in now. We had a coffee and again, looked out the window and mooched on the ipads.

At 5pm they serve appetisers and they also leave out alcohol and wines. It is serve yourself which I am still surprised at as there is vodka, spiced rum, gin and whisky. Then they have red, white and rose wine.....it`s not the finest wine by anybody`s measure, but it`s alright....drinkable. Some people do take advantage of course, but most don't.




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The appetisers are fine but nothing special, with little canapes, samosas, spring rolls with little tartlets filled with assorted flavours.

They also have little charcuterie selection and cheeses with grapes and crackers......

It`s not designed to replace a meal, but ideal as snacks...and they do replenish the food as it disappears....as the parma ham and spicy chorizo appeared, it disappeared just as quickly.

We really didn't have much of it tonight......I did have a little Parma Ham and chorizo.....Tom went for the samosas and spring rolls......but we were going down to the restaurant for dinner so wanted to keep our appetite.




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Around 8pm we headed down to the restaurant and were seated immediately in one of the booths and our waitress was the most enthusiastic we have ever seen!!! She was from Italy and immediately picked out the Scottish accent....she had a good ear.



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The restaurant is very nice, and airy in the front part....through the back area it`s a little more atmospheric and darker......we like this area better......

We ordered a glass of wine each and she asked why we hadn't brought our glass down from the lounge filled up.....honestly, I wouldn't do that. But, as we had two glasses up there, we didn't want to order a bottle....flying the next day certainly makes us think twice.

Food wise, they have cut this menu from what it used to be, but the food is nice.....they have a captive market really so they charge more than most places around as you`d expect, but we don't think the prices are too bad for an airport hotel.


I had opted for fish and chips, and Tom chose the Peri Peri chicken...…..and I have to say.….they were both lovely, but I preferred the chicken!!! It was nicely spiced and the squeezed lime on top added something nice to the flavour…..



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It was a very relaxing meal, the restaurant wasn't busy and we told her we wanted to leave a gap before we ordered dessert...….and it was lovely chatting and knowing the whole vacation was still all in front of us.....this is one of the best times of the trip.

Eventually we do decide to share the white chocolate cheesecake...…..

Tom knows I`ll only eat a little of it, but it was lovely....



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We sit and finish our wine before going back to our room where we facetimed Kyle......he already had a couple of stories to tell us.....he`s so funny!!!

After we spoke I did online check in for the flight tomorrow and replied to an email our friend had sent adding to our excitement for tomorrow....

We popped the tv on and made sure we had our clothes out for tomorrow...….I think we watched some British tv show called Midsomer Murders......we like that show, so I believe I fell asleep well before the end according to Tom, which was around 10.30 I`m told......

We just hoped we would get a good sleep tonight.....and indeed we did.


COMING UP......TRAVEL DAY...…..
 

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