Hotel quality in Cathay
To anyone interested in a " career" in Cathay:
you will spend a considerable part of your life in absolute dumps. Cathay' s management has decided to save the last possible Yen/ Baht/ Renminbi on hotel cost - at the crew member's cost.
Unless you are an ex-military man used to live in tents for a few years you will find this extremely irritating to say the least. While at EK or BA you would stay in a decent place somewhere actually in the city you are just visiting, at CX your choice of accomodation will be the cheapest available option,non-descriptive location somewhere in the middle of nowhere or , if you are lucky, next to a third tier mall (hooray..). Room quality, food and beverages at rock bottom standard ( granted, a few exceptions, but they are just that: exceptions).
I just googled tripadvisor about the hotels I stayed recently, to give you an idea:
" ... appaling diner buffet frequented by stranded budget groups..."
" ... the hotel is a 1,5 Star at best, dirty and old, beware at all cost.."
" ... a run-down budget chain hotel in a very unconvenient location... no public transport within walking distance.."