Last week I took a look at some awesome comfort options mid-flight and it got me thinking, that’s all well and good, but what about in the terminal, the bane of many traveler’s existence…and this is what happened!

It’s no secret among travelers that one of the few downsides of seeing what our incredible planet has to offer, is waiting at the airport, any airport, for a connecting or delayed flight.  I’ve ‘slept’ (hard with one eye open!) on my backpack in the departure lounges of my fair share, including amongst others Arlanda Stockholm, Suvarnabhumi Bangkok, Ataturk Istanbul, O.R Tambo Jo’Burg and of course, Mascot Sydney. They all blend into one blurry memory of discomfort, frustration and fear that when I woke from my disjointed slumber, I would do so devoid of my backpack, passport and all valuables! The most recent of these was a few years ago now, how times have changed. I want to show you, for those who haven’t seen them yet, what I consider a godsend, and I cannot wait to try them out next time! I’ve only chosen 3, but these innovative and affordable solutions are popping up all over the planet.

Let’s start with Munich Airport and their NapCab’s. Located beyond the security checkpoint up on Level 5, the Napcab is the dearest of my three options, and perhaps this is based on location as the offerings whilst clean and comfortable are minimal. Perhaps less truly IS more in this case. Designed by students of Munich’s renowned University of Science and Technology, they’re about 2.5m x 1.4m, contain a bed (the largest of the three, granted), small desk and free Wi-Fi access. For those not there to ‘work’ or just after some ‘me time’, there is also a music system and a selection of impressive LED light ‘moods’ available designed to allow personalization to some extent. Regarding cleanliness, of linen in particular (one of my phobias!!!), rest assured that the automatic linen changing is state of the art and from the hundreds of reviews I have read, it’s totally acceptable. We’ll see! You’re looking at 15 euro an hour and there’s no pre-booking. You simply find a vacant one, swipe the plastic fantastic and enter your own little serene world for a bit. I love it…the concept and the delivery.

'Napcap' Munich. So worth it!

Next let’s head to Delhi and check out the super impressive SAMS SNOOZE AT MY SPACE. Interesting name, interesting offering! With a comfy if not massive bed, desk for your lap top, Wi-Fi, flat screen TV, DVD player, charging sockets for cell phones etc. they are perfectly located in the international departure area for your convenience. Believe it or not there are also facilities to shower and freshen up. These CAN be booked in advance and seem to offer a more rounded experience. Some points from travelers who have experienced SAMS to be aware of. They are not totally soundproof which might be somewhat annoying, and are a little more cramped than our other 2 examples (might be because there’s so much more in them!). A huge factor is that you cannot enter SAMS without a boarding pass. What does that mean? Well as we all know, gates seldom open earlier that 4 hours prior to flight time (usually 3), thus by the time you get to SAMS, you’re looking at a maximum of 3 hours in which to enjoy the service. This is the only downside to me as it becomes more a place for a nap, or brief relax than somewhere to have a good long sleep.

That said, for around USD9 per hour, I’d do it every day of the week, even if just for a single hour. Who wouldn’t?

It ain't perfect, but SAMS SNOOZE is value & fun in any language!

My favourite and final mention of the day goes to Yotel, at London’s Heathrow Airport. If there’s ANYWHERE you want to escape the rat-race within the confines of an airport…it’s Heathrow. Agree? Heathrow’s Yotel sits inside Terminal 4 in the ‘landside’ or publicly accessible area. If you’re going via Heathrow to your destination, you will need a UK entry visa to utilize Yotel, but that’s easy. This is the closest to a ‘mini-hotel’ of the lot. Totally soundproof. Bathroom facilities available, bed, Wi-Fi, flat screen complete with free movies, desk, hanging space, the works. You can even order a snack 24/7 delivered to your door! Awesome!

From all reports, the service at Yotel set it apart from the rest. Service, space, location, inclusions and availability ALL receive  a massive ‘tick’ according to every review I have read.

There’s a convenient online booking engine, allowing you to lock in your ‘pod’ for a minimum of 4 hours right up to 24 hours. Starting rate for a Premium room is GBP46 for the 4 hours. Bargain!

Yotel Heathrow screams FUN!...oh, and perhaps a little shut-eye!

I have researched and read countless reviews on all three of these options and one thing is clear. You need to manage your expectations. Yes, they are super convenient, comfortable and a massive relief for the weary traveler (we’ve all been there right?). But they’re not the Ritz, the Waldorf or any other 5 star hotel. These innovations have simply made layovers more bearable, and for mine, they’ve done this in a very impressive manner. If you want perfection, jump in a cab, head to the CBD, book into an established hotel with turndown, full room service and a corner spa…oh then before you have a chance to actually get any sleep, it’s time to head back to the airport for your next flight a couple of hundred dollars poorer.

I can’t wait to try one! For me it will part of my overall travel experience, and compared to the alternative, it’s complete luxury (and depending on who you’re traveling with could be a whole bunch of fun!!). Some people always want more no matter what. That’s cool. But I’m tipping those of you who love travel the way I do, who thrive on new and varied experiences, and who have stayed in so many hotels that novelty offers it’s own unique attraction these days, will love it.

Who HAS experienced any of these brilliant innovations, or an equivalent elsewhere? What can you tell me about YOUR experience? I cannot wait to get into one of these things!!! In the meantime though I would love to hear your take on it.

Till next week travelers!!

So a couple of months ago I blogged on the concerns AND excitement that both my beautiful partner Jody and I had when considering traveling overseas with our perfect new daughter Grace. As it turned out, it happened MUCH sooner than anticipated! I was required to go to Malaysian MotoGP with Sportsnet clients and as I’d made a deal with Jody that I would NOT travel again in 2011, the only solution was…take the family. Awesome! This is how it all panned out.

First port of call – Australian Passport office. Express passports for a tiny person are pretty easy to organize. Hardest thing? Getting Grace to STOP smiling for the camera. I swear 3 months old and she’s the smileiest little thing on the planet! Anyway, $213 and 48 hours later Grace Mary Byrt was officially able to travel overseas. Woohoo! That was the easy bit.

Next the gravity of what we were facing started to hit home. The challenges;

-       What to pack

-       An 8 hour flight each way (Oh my god!)

-       Her little ears at the track

-       A ‘winter-baby’ facing 34 degree heat with 90% humidity

-       Feeding overseas with unknown water quality

-       Bedding in the hotel

Let’s start with the packing. In the past it’s been a suitcase for Jodes, a suitcase for me. This trip. A HUGE suitcase for Grace, nappy bag, stroller, a tiny little one with all our clothes, a hairdryer and minimal toiletries. Still hit 38kg somehow.

To the airport for our 3am departure. Lesson 1. BE EARLY! Check-in is so much easier when there in heaps of time. Airline staff are in a better frame of mind as they’ve not had to deal with idiots yet, and you have time to ensure the bassinet seat is booked and your ‘bulkhead’ seats are locked in. Lesson 2. When they ask ‘Would you like to take the stroller through to the gate?’ – say “YES!”. We made the mistake, as Grace was in her Baby Bjorn of thinking we’d be OK but after 2.5 hours of waiting for the flight, we were knackered and Jody’s back was struggling. Rookie mistake.

Emirates bassinet. A perfect fit!

Next…the dreaded flight. Being new parents, you’re amongst the first to board. As you’re getting settled though, watch the faces of those who are allocated the seats near you. A combination of fear, frustration, apprehension and disapproval lay behind the ‘smiles’ cast your way. Fair to say, we too were worried as to how Grace would perform on the flight, but put on a brave face. Turns out we needn’t have worried. We’re among the lucky ones. Grace stirred on taxi just in time for Jody to jam a bottle down her neck. Take-off…perfect. She woke for a bit, had a look around then thought “Nothing exciting is going to happen in here…” so proceeded to go back to sleep in the comfy looking, and very convenient bassinet. Great job Emirates!

Same in reverse for landing. Gracie fed on descent meaning her ears were fine, as the little ones cannot self-equalise. Naturally my chest was puffed out a little further as we prepared to disembark. A combination of pride, relief, joy and ‘up yours’ behind MY smile cast THEIR way!

A 45min transfer to the hotel and already the heat was becoming a factor. Grace simply is not used to it. Oh oh. We checked into our stunning villa over the water and cranked the air-con to Arctic. We didn’t pack a travel cot as the hotel ensured us that they had one. Well…it WAS a cot strictly speaking. But the mattress looked more like Malaysia’s Tama Abu Mountain Range than the flat firm mattress we’re used to. SIDS would have passed out had they seen this! It was kinda like the poor man’s memory foam…wherever she lay, Grace’s little body print stayed there!

The rest of the week went great. A HUGE find was the Milton Tablets that sterilize water, and everything in it. This was essential for Grace’s bottles. We just filled the basin in our 2^nd bathroom (told you the room was awesome!), dropped in 3 of these magic tablets and threw the bottles in. 15 mins later -  sterile! Needless to say I was very careful not to consume any Milton’s with my vodka tonics…anyway.

We took Grace everywhere. She got to chill with Colin Edwards on Friday night (48 hrs before ‘that’ accident. Get well soon Colin!). Then saw the Petronas Towers Saturday, had her first swim in the resort pool, and was all ready for the track on Sunday with these awesome ear-muffs.

Jody, baby Grace & Colin Edwards!

Get me to the track Dad! AM I SHOUTING??

She loved it...in the end!

Aside form the heat which made her a little grumpy she was perfect. AND the locals LOVED her. If I had a Malaysian Ringgit for every photo a local took of her…well, I’d have several ringgit anyway!

That’s Grace taken care of. As for mum and dad. Well, it was a great trip but we were so focused on her, that we didn’t think about how WE would be affected. We seldom ate together, didn’t eat out at night, and it wasn’t till about 9pm each night that we could sit on our balcony, look at the ocean, relax and have a few drinks and chat about something other than Grace. Before anyone says it. NO! I am not complaining. Having Jody and Grace there with me on a work trip was amazing, I loved it. But after all our worrying about Grace, would she be OK, could she travel, would the locals accept her? etc…it was harder on us than her.

It was a relief every evening to get to the balcony for a cold one...or three!

So we’re home again and things are back to our ‘new normal’. Our 3-month old angel has stamps in her passport, which is cool and we learned heaps. The biggest lessons?

Babies are super flexible and resilient, they’ll adjust. They pick up on parents’ stress, truly they do. Both Jody and I are pretty chilled out, and you can see it in Grace. Take the pram to the gate at the airport! Pack a travel cot. MILTON tablets are GOLD. Try to stick to your home routine, they’re little but they get it. Don’t expect your first trip to be romantic, but when you get a chance, jump on it (so to speak!). Be CONFIDENT! What we new parents do day to day is right. If it works here, it will work there. Trust me on that.

Thanks to those who gave advice and I feel suitably qualified now to assist anyone else concerned with their first family trip. What’s next for us? Well…I’m thinking Fiji or Bali. No work, just play. Anyone travelled to either with a little one? Tips?

Till next time. Travel safe and good luck!