Worst layover experiences?!?
Joined: Jun 2007
Aviation Qualifications: SLF
Posts: 1,889
Likes: 503
From: Beyond the Blue Horizon
Humble self loading freight here and former Sand Pit dweller - now only part time there, with my two Bits worth.
Capetonian
I was in Warsaw just before Christmas and the knock is still happening at the same hotel. Also had that issue in Almaty though the girls appeared to be better looking, not a connoisseur you understand !. Not had the issue you refer to in Accra but have had this in Lagos (it was part of an attempted bribe - 2 girls and suite but I did not play). Rio has also been a problem. When I was there last with a number of male UK clients it was like kids in a sweet shop with inevitable consequence's when it came to rounding them up for the trip home. The funny thing is none of these are below 5 star hotels with global chains so I am sure somebody on a kick back.
Harry The Cod
You were not at our Christmas party in DXB were you !, as I can honestly say it's along time since I walked into a bar with such attentive hosts (Burg Al Arab).
Most recent unusual one (November) was a Rat in the bathroom at the Four Seasons Langkawi - I did not bring it in before you ask, but GM up graded room - did not tell wife as I felled it with my deck shoe. We have had water buffalo / Green Mamber/ Viper all crash through or found in bathrooms, all in Africa but on Safari,s so you sort of expect it.
Looking forward to hear some other stories.
Regards
Mr Mac
Capetonian
I was in Warsaw just before Christmas and the knock is still happening at the same hotel. Also had that issue in Almaty though the girls appeared to be better looking, not a connoisseur you understand !. Not had the issue you refer to in Accra but have had this in Lagos (it was part of an attempted bribe - 2 girls and suite but I did not play). Rio has also been a problem. When I was there last with a number of male UK clients it was like kids in a sweet shop with inevitable consequence's when it came to rounding them up for the trip home. The funny thing is none of these are below 5 star hotels with global chains so I am sure somebody on a kick back.
Harry The Cod
You were not at our Christmas party in DXB were you !, as I can honestly say it's along time since I walked into a bar with such attentive hosts (Burg Al Arab).
Most recent unusual one (November) was a Rat in the bathroom at the Four Seasons Langkawi - I did not bring it in before you ask, but GM up graded room - did not tell wife as I felled it with my deck shoe. We have had water buffalo / Green Mamber/ Viper all crash through or found in bathrooms, all in Africa but on Safari,s so you sort of expect it.
Looking forward to hear some other stories.
Regards
Mr Mac
Joined: Jul 2014
Posts: 209
Likes: 0
From: Sandy lane
Just on the flip side one of the best layovers I had was in 99 out of McCarran arriving at a strip hotel getting our room keys and casually putting a dollar in the slot machine on the way to the elevator and winning 3M bucks!! Having room upgraded to the presidential suite girls girls girls for 5 days straight.
Joined: Jun 2002
Posts: 400
Likes: 8
From: Far East
Many years ago one summer evening in certain city that over looks the Bosphorus Straits, having walked many a yard looking at the sights and sounds I dropped into a bar for nice cold one. A chap sidles up who wants to practice his English, along with three rather well dressed ladies. They sit down and order beer and champagne. It was no more than 5 mins before I ask for MY bill. I cant remember the amount in old Lira but the number went on and on. Turned out to be a nice round figure of US$500. Off to the office I get escorted - searched for a credit card - including shoes but not where the sun don't shine - and escorted by two bouncers to my hotel so as to be able to get cash from the room!!
I didn't pay up as I managed to get to hotel management before entering the elevator. Skeptically they listened to my plight but eventually sided with me and told the bouncers to bugger off.
Oh the hotel itself was great!!
I didn't pay up as I managed to get to hotel management before entering the elevator. Skeptically they listened to my plight but eventually sided with me and told the bouncers to bugger off.
Oh the hotel itself was great!!
Joined: Jan 2000
Posts: 860
Likes: 0
From: FL410
In a year just before the new century, we were on a night-stop in the Caribbean, when all known alarms started going off.
Quickly all crew were rounded up with their belongings and escorted by hotel management to the basement, to be followed by all other (found) hotel guests. In the 19 hours that followed a tropical storm passed within a few miles of our location devastating everything around it. The surrounding are looked like a minefield when we emerged.
And although we were all badly shaken by the experience, we elected to not fly back as passengers, rather to operate a few flights between Caribbean Islands to collect other crew and passengers from various locations prior to our return.
Quickly all crew were rounded up with their belongings and escorted by hotel management to the basement, to be followed by all other (found) hotel guests. In the 19 hours that followed a tropical storm passed within a few miles of our location devastating everything around it. The surrounding are looked like a minefield when we emerged.
And although we were all badly shaken by the experience, we elected to not fly back as passengers, rather to operate a few flights between Caribbean Islands to collect other crew and passengers from various locations prior to our return.
Joined: Jun 2001
Posts: 511
Likes: 1
From: Great Southern Land
Many years ago to extend the duty time on a DC3 night freight run through AMS, the company gave us a dog box room each for a few hours at the travellers rest inside the terminal. I lept into the bed only to leap out even quicker ....... someone had wet the bed! 
Joined: Apr 2000
Posts: 413
Likes: 47
From: FL, USA
During Gulf War I, I flew for a US cargo outfit that was heavily involved with US Military airlift in the active shooting war zone. I had (uneducated) family members worried about my activities during that time.
Whilst on a layover, a gun battle breaks out close to my first floor hotel room, prompting my immediate relocation to a lower altitude on the floor from my bed. (pilot's discretion, didn't ask for clearance). The gun battle subsided relatively quickly after 20-30 rounds fired. These things happen in a war zone.
The funny thing was, my relatives thought I was safe laying over in Oakland CA vs Riyadh, King Khalid or Dubai. Good thing those CA gun laws kept things in check.
Next morning while leaving breakfast at the local pancake house, a Housing and Urban Development police vehicle pulls in and parks. It had about 7 bullet holes on the driver side alone.
Whilst on a layover, a gun battle breaks out close to my first floor hotel room, prompting my immediate relocation to a lower altitude on the floor from my bed. (pilot's discretion, didn't ask for clearance). The gun battle subsided relatively quickly after 20-30 rounds fired. These things happen in a war zone.
The funny thing was, my relatives thought I was safe laying over in Oakland CA vs Riyadh, King Khalid or Dubai. Good thing those CA gun laws kept things in check.
Next morning while leaving breakfast at the local pancake house, a Housing and Urban Development police vehicle pulls in and parks. It had about 7 bullet holes on the driver side alone.
Joined: Aug 2000
Posts: 763
Likes: 1
From: Monrovia / Liberia
Farrell: Chittagong........The Peninsula
Pahhh, that's LUXURY in comparison to the salubriously dubious delights of the 'Dynasty Hotel' in Malabo / Equatorial Guinea, wherein it would be generously kind to call the latter "an adventure in both architecture & hospitality"... 'nuff said!
Pahhh, that's LUXURY in comparison to the salubriously dubious delights of the 'Dynasty Hotel' in Malabo / Equatorial Guinea, wherein it would be generously kind to call the latter "an adventure in both architecture & hospitality"... 'nuff said!
