I recently returned from a week in Central America, for the Central America Travel Market, in San Salvador.
I knew very little about this part of the world, save what I picked up over the years: political unrest, violence, scary gangs, Mayan ruins
(that’s me in Copan, Honduras, site of one of the most intricate Mayan ruins in the world), banana republics etc.
And although a lot of this is based on truth, in just a week I had all my preconceptions blown apart.
We started in Costa Rica, the so-called Switzerland of Central America (no army, no historical political unrest), where due to appalling intra-country flight connections, we were forced to spend the night.
Reading the itinerary on the flight over, my heart sank when I read where we would be staying – the Holiday Inn Express by the airport. Do I need to write those words again for full impact? – Holiday. Inn. Express (not even a Holiday Inn). Airport.
I swear it could not have been more welcoming, efficient and comfortable if it was a Four Seasons.
Let me list the things I loved about it in no particular order:
– Free (and fully working) Wi-Fi
– clean
– well-stocked mini-bar
– good products in the bathroom
– free international calls (I kid you not)
– free water
– coffee-making facilities and excellent local coffee
– comfy bed
– packed breakfast for early flights
– flight departure board in the lobby
– friendly, helpful staff
I could go on, but you get the idea. This is an airport hotel which by rights should be simply functional, yet it somehow transcended that and instead was a real haven for a weary traveller.
In fact, my companion and I liked it so much that on our return (during another interminable layover), we booked it again for the day at an incredibly reasonable $10/hour.
I wish I had taken a picture of the place to share with you!
By contrast, the previous 10 hours on a flight from Madrid to San José with Iberia were brutal.
I’d flown Iberia many times short-haul and apart from the odd brusque flight attendant, I really had nothing bad to say about it. Smart fleet, OK food, comfortable seats.
I’d heard vaguely that it left something to be desired long-haul, but nothing prepared me for what I was about to experience.
First the plane: no seat-back TVs, just TVs hanging from the ceiling. Frayed, uncomfortable, cramped chairs. Beaten up old toilets.
Just a feeling of neglect. Then the crew: rude, surly, indifferent and at times offensive.
I repeatedly had to ask for a glass of water – not unreasonable on a 10-hour flight– and was repeatedly told to get back in my seat and wait for trolley service.
When we did beg a bottle of water feigning illness, I had the temerity to ask for another glass and was told to finish what I had. I kid you not.
And the food was hands down worst I’ve ever had on a flight. Purporting to be chicken, it did not look, taste or smell anything like it, and I gave up after one mouthful.
So, the moral of this story is…? I won’t let pre-conceptions blind me again. Oh, and if you are ever in the region of a Holiday Inn Express I urge you to stay there.
Trust me, you will not be disappointed.
Tags: Costa Rica, Iberia, Holiday Inn Express
