Service with a smile lessens pain of early flight
I don’t suppose anyone really looks forward to a night at an airport hotel, but at Ramada Encore, located a £5 taxi ride from Luton Airport, the staff really do try hard to make your visit enjoyable.
As I had one of those hideously early Wizz Air flights to Slovenia for the ABTA Convention, and Luton Airport is one of the hardest airports to reach from south London, I’d booked a room at the Ramada for the night before my early departure.
I was greeted by a smiley receptionist who immediately booked me a table for dinner in the hotel restaurant, and offered to order me a cab to take me to the airport the following morning. The terminal building is only a 15-minute stroll away, but as my check in was at 06:30 I decided to skip the exercise to get an extra 10 minutes in bed.
Talking of which, my bedroom was ginormous and came with the bonus of a proper, full-size bathroom, rather than the shower room made out of moulded white plastic which I’d been expecting.
I was also delighted to find a full-strength hairdryer, not one of those useless hang-on-the-wall efforts that give out only a light breeze, and a full-size ironing board with iron.
Although the room was surrounded by busy roads and only a stone’s throw from the runway, I couldn’t hear a thing. In fact, it was eerily quiet, until I switched on the TV.
When I went down to dinner at 20:30, the open-plan reception area that mergers seamlessly into the bar and, beyond that, the small dining area, was almost as quiet. I think there were perhaps just another half a dozen or so diners and one or two people in the bar.
The restaurant menu was surprisingly extensive, offering a choice of starters, salads and mains including burgers, pasta dishes, steaks and pizzas. Prices were reasonable. My pappardelle with mushrooms and pesto was delicious, even though, oddly, the waitress told me: "We serve our pappardelle with penne." I didn’t want to quibble.
My chosen desert of lemon tart was off the menu, but the orange cheesecake was a good substitute. Once again, however, it was the service that was exceptional. Dining alone is always a little awkward, but the friendly waitress made me feel comfortable and the young waiter who later replaced her was charming.
I didn’t have the time or the inclination to try out the small gym, but I guess it’s good to know it’s there if you fancy a work out before or after your flight!
My bed was comfy, I had a good night’s sleep, and in the morning my taxi was waiting to whisk me to the airport in time for my early check in. What more could I have asked for?
www.ramadaencorelutonairport.co.uk
Linsey McNeill
Editor Linsey McNeill has been writing about travel for more than three decades. Bylines include The Times, Telegraph, Observer, Guardian and Which? plus the South China Morning Post. She also shares insider tips on thetraveljournalist.co.uk
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