#bathroom is also my favorite layout so cleaning it and myself should be more approachable as well

[kethabali]

yall.. ive been gathering up energy since the semester ended and i finally cleaned out my fridge today.. there was over 20 dishes to wash and a 30 gallon trash bag filled completely i also broomed and mopped my room and the kitchen and wiped down the counters

[savannah-lim]

Room With A Viewing || Savannah & Carrington

Timing: Before No Dead Room Mates Allowed Parties: @carringtonblackwood and @savannah-lim Location: Carrington’s townhouse  Content: Mentions of body horror, compulsion  Summary: Savannah checks out Carrington’s property as she’s thinking of renting a similar one. She gets more than she bargained for. 

If she was honest with herself, Savannah should have moved out of the hotel room weeks ago. At the very least, she should have moved to a different hotel, even a different room. Staying in the same room as your now-confirmed-dead co-worker was pretty freaking morbid, and she really needed to stop tripping over all of Javier’s things when she got up to go to the bathroom in the night. If this stranger knew of a well-priced townhouse downtown, it would have been foolish to pass it up, so she went to his address, ringing the bell and waiting till he answered. Jeez, was everyone in this town handsome? “Hello, Carrington? Mr. Blackwood? I have no idea what you prefer. I’m Savannah. Here for the tour.” 

Carrington answered the door a few moments after the bell rang, smiling warmly at the lovely woman on his stoop. “Carrington is just fine. ‘Mr. Blackwood’ makes me sound like an old man.” The irony was not lost on the 420 year old vampire. But they weren’t here to talk about his age. So Carrington stepped back and swept his arm out, indicating that Savannah should come inside at her leisure. The foyer was bright and clean, white walls against dark floorboards, with a matching staircase that lead up to the second floor. Carrington gave Savannah the general layout of the first floor: foyer, with kitchen to the right (which included access to the short stair-case leading to the single-car garage) and living room to the left. Half bath just under the stairs, and an extra room down the hallway and to the right. Carrington’s piano was housed there currently.

“So what brought you to town, Savannah?” Carrington asked, observing her curiously as he moved casually towards the kitchen. “And may I get you something to drink while we look around?”

"Carrington it is." Thank God. Savannah loathed forced formalities. The house was great from the outside, and The Bureau covered her rent up to a certain amount as part of her assignment. In the long-run, it had to be cheaper than staying at a hotel, but the idea that she might afford a place like this, even with White Crest prices, was hard to believe. She followed him inside, looking around. "I'm sorry, and you pay how much for this?" She shook her head in disbelief. "I'm here on a case. An investigation into the disappearance of my colleague. Javier Sterling." God, a drink would be fantastic. "A light beer if you have one, or a vodka and some kind of diet soda?" 

Forced formality had been part of Carrington’s life from the nearly the moment he was born. So it was a blessed relief when he met someone who didn’t seem to mind letting them drop. Carrington gave her a wry look when she asked about his rent. When he gave her the price, he knew it sounded ridiculously cheap, all things considered. “You’d think there might be a catch,” he amended. “But other than the occasional pesky creature deciding to make it’s home in my attic-” He shook his head at the memory of the alghoul infestation. Bloody nightmare that was. “- it’s been pleasant.” The answer to his question gave Carrington a slight pause. But he covered quickly, reaching into the fridge for two light beers (a locally brewed brand that he found quite palatable). He opened them - careful to find a bottle-opener instead of just popping the tops with his hand - and handed one to his guest. He took a slow pull, thinking back on the news he’d heard of an FBI agent poking around. “I remember hearing the FBI was around town, though I never met Agent Sterling myself.” He gestured they should walk back through the foyer to look at the den if she wanted. “I assume  by now you’ve heard the stories people tell about this town? About people disappearing?”

And never coming back. 

“Like… what?” Savannah asked, waiting for the revelation. “Rats? A cockroach infestation?” That was an even bigger deal-breaker than knowing there had been a murder on the premises. Judging by what other people had said, that was true of most places in White Crest At least the crime scene clean-up crew removed all signs of the body. At least the walls were repainted and the floors recarpeted. “Once, a raccoon got inside my old apartment. The sounds I woke up to..” She shivered, sipping the drink Carrington had given her. “They record the statistics of deaths and unsolved disappearances. Both are far above average for a town of this size.” She looked around the kitchen. The cabinets looked new. The stove was spotless. Did he ever do any cooking? “Have you lived here long?” 

“Squirrels mostly,” Carrington assured her. “The occasional family of bats.” The irony of that wasn’t lost on him. He shook his head, glancing up at the ceiling with a long-suffering look. “Bloody menace. And God knows how they’re getting in.” He took a long pull of his drink. “Though I haven’t seen any in awhile, so I think they’ve finally given up. Or found a better attic to roost in.” Her story about the raccoon made him grin in a way that said he shared her pain. “I can say there has never been a racoon in my attic, so small mercies, hm?” Carrington hummed in agreement as she mentioned the statistics. “Yes, they are. Makes one wonder if any of the stories are true. Or-” He made a small gesture with his drink. “- if perhaps they’re more… self-fulfilling?” He watched her as she regarded his immaculate kitchen. He did cook- if she was wondering - but he also tended to be unnaturally tidy. Too much clutter made him feel anxious. “About a year now,” he answered smoothly. “I came for work. And a change of scenery. I wasn’t quite sure what to expect, but it’s been… interesting.” He took another drink, still watching her curiously. “So… what do you think of White Crest so far? Have you been warned to stay away from any particular place yet? That seems to be a favorite pastime of the locals.” 

Savannah nodded thoughtfully. “We had a family of sparrows nest in our roof too once when I was a kid. I’d wake up to the sound of baby birds. It was quite exciting for a young child. Probably less so for my parents.” A year wasn’t too long. She’d already been here a couple of months, and they’d passed in the blink of an eye. “I quite like it. The investigator in me is kind of excited by all the mystery of the place, but logically, I know I should be far more disturbed than I am.” Savannah gave a low chuckle. She looked out the window. A thick fog had rolled in from the sea, seemingly out of nowhere. “Coastal towns and their fog, hm?” she said, making small talk as she headed for the bathroom. As she got closer to the door, she heard water running. “Oh, is there someone in the shower?” 

Carrington smiled at the image Savannah’s story brought to mind, but the town’s oddness quickly became the subject again. “Well, then you’re in for a treat if you hang around for awhile.” He tipped an eyebrow at her. “Should you be? Perhaps you just have an open mind when it comes to… preternatural occurrences?” Or perhaps it was all building to a head, and Savannah would slowly find herself going mad. Carrington sincerely hoped that wasn’t the case. He glanced out the window as she mentioned the fog. It was rather thick this evening, but Carrington didn’t give it much more than a passing glance. “It’s part of the charm,” he quipped as them moved on. But his smirk waned as they neared the bathroom. “No. There’s not.” He approached cautiously, listening for any sounds other than the running water. There was nothing in the hallway to indicate intrusion, and he’d sensed no one else in the house but himself and his guest. But something felt… off. 

Slowly, Carrington opened the bathroom door. Steam poured out, rolling across the ceiling and instantly making the vampire’s pale skin feel damp and sticky. It was so thick that it took a moment to make out the strange shape behind the fogged up glass of the shower. Even then, it took a moment to realize just what he was looking at. And if Carrington’s blood hadn’t already been cold, it would’ve turned to ice right then and there as he saw what was in his shower. “Christ…” 

"An open mind is the most polite way of putting it," Savannah answered with a vague chuckle. More likely she was just a cat about to be killed by her curiosity. The very same curiosity led her towards the bathroom as Carrington confirmed there was nobody else home, and she pulled a gun from beneath her jacket. "Don't worry. I'm FBI," she answered, just in case he was alarmed by his house guest's sudden revelation that they were armed. 

An attempted burglary would be one thing; it was a very nice house, but what kind of thief stopped to use the shower? God, please don't let it be some kind of bunny boiler ex who had let themselves in... No such luck, unfortunately. "ARGHHH!" Savannah screamed. It was Javier, except it wasn't. Scales and tentacles covered his body, his face malformed by something. It seemed to be growing out of his skin. 

"It's not real!" Savannah insisted. "I'm fucking dreaming. It's not real." 

“Well, it’s not always a bad thing.” But curiosity could certainly be bad for one’s health. Especially here. Though Carrington was guilty of it just as much as anyone else. But his move towards the bathroom was more concern than anything. If someone had gotten in without him knowing… When Savannah pulled her weapon, Carrington gave it a glance, and a nod of acknowledgement to Savannah herself, but was otherwise unaffected by the presence of the gun. Though what good it would do was yet to be seen. So Carrington prepared himself for the worst as he opened the door. But that still didn’t prepare him for what was actually on the other side. Savannah’s scream caused the creature to turn it’s grotesque head towards them. It’s mouth opened, and instead of a voice, thick black ichor gurgled up from Javier’s - from the creature’s - throat… spilling down his contorted face and body like oil. It made a shuddering motion, and lurched suddenly in their direction. Without a second thought, Carrington pushed Savannah back into the hallway and shut the door. He held the knob with one hand - the door didn’t lock from the outside - and kept the other in front of Savannah. He turned to her a moment later, hand still on the knob, as she tried to tell herself it wasn’t real. 

“Of course it’s not real,” Carrington said, locking his eyes with hers. They were very blue, and looked at her with a gentle intensity that tightened the corners just so. “It’s not real at all. There’s a raccoon in the bathroom. Like in your old apartment. Remember? You told me that story.” He waited patiently - not caring for the use of compulsion to alter someone’s memories, but in this case it was necessary - to see if his suggestion would work. All the while trying to ignore the way the doorknob shuddered in his grasp.

Savannah’s heart hammered in her chest, beating against her rib cage like an animal that didn’t want to be contained. Her body was hot, palms sweating, muscles tight and tense. Instinctively, she tried to fight Carrington off, beating his chest while she reached for her gun, but it was no use. He was deceptively strong. “What do you mean?!” She practically yelled in his face. “I saw it! I fucking saw him!” But as quickly as the panic had overcome her, something started to calm it. Savannah shook her head, as if waking up from an unplanned nap. “What… what the…?” She cleared her throat, standing up straight. “Sorry. This is embarrassing. I’m clearly not getting enough sleep.” She pointed towards the bathroom door. “You should… call pest control. I’m gonna go.” 

[cartzypage]

You, Me, and YOTELAir Amsterdam: The Truth You Need to Know

Escalator up in Departures 2 to YOTELAir AMS

After wandering around Schiphol Airport for three hours, I finally located my hotel, YOTELAir Amsterdam. Keep reading to learn the truth about my stay at this cabin based hotel located inside Schiphol Airport.

YOTELAir Amsterdam Is NOT a Pod or Capsule Hotel

Before we even arrive at YOTELAir Amsterdam, let’s just address what the haters will want to say. “Why would I ever want to stay at a pod hotel?” Pod or capsule hotels were created in Japan and are basically small pods for sleeping. Think a box with a bed inside and nothing else and that’s a pod or capsule hotel.

For clarification’s sake, YOTELAir Amsterdam is a regular hotel and NOT a pod or capsule hotel. It’s a “small, but smart hotel located in the transit area of Schiphol Airport.” Now that we’ve addressed that, let’s try and find the hotel.

Escalator up in Departures 2 to YOTELAir AMS

Located on the way to D gates, look for the escalator with the sign for Yotel hotel on it. You won’t be able to see the hotel from here, but this was the first signage I had seen in the airport with the hotel’s name on it anywhere.

On the Schiphol airport’s website, you’ll see that there’s Departures 2 and 3 and while I had gone through security in Departures 3, the YOTELAir Amsterdam was located in Departures 2. It’s only a short walk, when you’re lost and confused after an overnight flight, it can seem like it’s in another country altogether.

TSG Tip: In all fairness, the YOTEL website gives explicit instructions on how to get to the hotel from anywhere in the airport. There’s even a handy PDF download you can store on your phone to prevent the mishaps I had. I highly recommend downloading it when you book your cabin so you can reference it once you’re in the airport.

Arriving at YOTELAir Amsterdam

YOTELAir AMS entrance

Located in the back left hand corner of the food court is the YOTELAir I had been thinking of for hours. You’ll recognize the telltale funky neon lighting and cool YOTEL font on the exterior.

The thoughtfully placed artwork and neon lights only add to the vibrant and contemporary feel of the hotel. Click To Tweet

Inside YOTELAir AMS

As I approached the front door dragging my bags behind me, I spotted two monitors in front of a large brightly colored muraled wall on the right. The thoughtfully placed artwork and neon lights only add to the vibrant and contemporary feel of the hotel. They’ve also done it in such a way so as not to make it look cheap or trendy, which I love.

Mission Control

On the left was Mission Control, where the front desk person was assisting another customer. Then it was my turn, I was quickly checked in, and given the rundown of what to expect during my stay at YOTELAir Amsterdam.

Instruction sheet

This instruction sheet shows the various controls inside the room, which I took a pic of for later reference. Free hot drinks like coffee (lattes, cappuccinos, espressos), tea, or hot chocolate are included in your stay and if you need a hairdryer, just ask at Mission Control. Drinks, snacks, and food are also available for purchase from Mission Control. While there isn’t a rooftop Sky Lounge like at YOTEL Boston, remember — you’re staying at an airport.

Card for cabin 14

With my cabin card in hand, I headed off into the luminescent pink hallways that make YOTELAir Amsterdam feel incredibly futuristic.

TSG Tip: Not only does the cabin card open your room, but to get back into the hotel each and every time, you’ll need to swipe your card to open the front doors. As a woman traveling alone, I love this added layer of security.

YOTELAir AMS hallway

Check out the fancy pink-hued ultra modern hallway. Not like anything else you’ve ever seen before, right?

Cabin layout grid

On the back of my cabin door was the layout of the hotel showing that there are a total of 59 cabins located in YOTELAir Amsterdam. Guests can choose from Standard (sleeps 1), Premium (sleeps 2), or Family (sleeps 4) cabins as well as one of the two shower and changing facilities available for an hourly fee.

YOTELAir Amsterdam Cabin 14

When you first arrive to your cabin, you’ll notice that the shade is up. I immediately closed it for privacy.

Inside my cabin

When you enter the cabin, you immediately notice the small, but efficient sized cabin laid out in front of you. This 110 sqft (10sqm) Premium cabin has everything I could want or need for my stay. While smaller than my cabin at YOTEL New York, it offered everything I could need or want for an overnight short stay.

Cabin 14

While it’s designed for 2 people, I totally enjoyed stretching out and having it all to myself.

Wall area

The wall area in the cabin is cool because there are inserts for the chair and that purple square is yes, a table! Take them out as you need them to enjoy the extra space. In addition to the flat screen TV and multiple power points, YOTELAir Amsterdam also offers free super fast WiFi, too.

Bathroom

The private en-suite bathroom was spacious and even had a Monsoon rain shower.

The Adjustable SmartBed™

My favorite part of the cabin, aside from the funky pink lighting, was the adjustable SmartBed™.Click To Tweet

My favorite part of the cabin, aside from the funky pink lighting, was the adjustable SmartBed™. In the upright position, it is up and out of the way to take up less space and allow you to pass through and not worry about tripping over yourself or the bed. The bedding itself is luxury bedding on top of a Serta gel mattress. In plain English, we’re talking super comfy and when I crashed, I was out within seconds.

View toward door

This is the view toward the door of the cabin standing in the bathroom. Can you see at the foot of the bed the little cut out underneath for storage? In addition to the two bedside tables and storage in the wall, the room offers an abundance of storage options.

Feeling Hungry?

Food court area

Inevitably, you’re going to get hungry at some point during your stay at YOTELAir Amsterdam. Maybe because you had a long flight or maybe because your body doesn’t know what time zone it’s in.

Food court area

Since you’re staying in a food court area, you’ll find that there’s a ton of food choices available including healthy options that offer fruits and vegetables.

McDonald’s inside food court

And some less healthy options like McDonald’s that everyone seemed to want. Whatever you desire, it’s here in the food court.

YOTELAir Amsterdam Offers “Eat When You Want To”

But what if you don’t want to get up and get food? Order meals, drinks, or snacks from your cabin 24 hours a day. Decide on what you want and then head to Mission Control to pick it up.

TSG Tip: I perused the menu and the prices were less than what you might expect and cheaper than the food court. Unfortunately, there weren’t any real options for me so I had to look elsewhere for food, but some of the options included:

Chicken Masala

Margarita Pizza

Dutch Syrup Waffle

Panini combo including crisps and soft drink

Ben & Jerry’s ice-cream pots

Stroopwafels! Image via Flickr by rhodes

Breakfast items are also available, including a speedy breakfast you can have ready for you at check out. We’re talking fresh squeezed orange juice and baked croissants, as well as:

Eat Natural muesli bar

A selection of Dutch pastries

Fruit yoghurt

An apple

Apple or orange juice

Any hot drink – coffee, tea, or hot chocolate

TSG Tip: Pre-order your breakfast by email and have it added to your booking to save you time and trouble while traveling.

Why You Should Consider YOTELAir Amsterdam

Premium cabin 14

If you’ve got a long layover between flights, you’ve probably thought about staying at an airport hotel. Whether you stay overnight with rates starting at €92 or 4 hour stays starting at €52, how can you go wrong? Maybe you’re only looking for a shower cabin for 1 hour with rates at €15 to let you clean up and get on your way. Either way, YOTELAir Amsterdam offers you a variety of options, all of which are perfect for frequent flyers, families, couples, or solo travelers.

TSG Tip: In addition to their YOTELAir Amsterdam Schiphol Airport location, you can also find other YOTELAir locations at London Gatwick, London Heathrow, and Paris CDG Airport with more locations coming soon.

YOTELAir Amsterdam Overall Final Thoughts

With YOTELAir, I can honestly say that it offers the best of both worlds. The price is so affordable and you'll save time by not leaving the airport. Click To Tweet

Overall and the absolute truth of it all is that I found my cabin immaculate, the service professional and courteous, and the hotel perfectly located. I didn’t have to wait 30 minutes for a shuttle to take me off airport, which meant I could get right to my cabin. While things would have been a lot smoother if I didn’t have a checked bag, that was my fault, not YOTELAir‘s. I always equate time with money and often have to balance out which is more important to me. With YOTELAir, I can honestly say that it offers the best of both worlds. The price is so affordable and you’ll save time by not leaving the airport.

Have you stayed at a YOTEL or YOTELAir lately? Share your thoughts in the comments below. Then take a moment to read some of the other travel tips and hotel reviews on the website.

While I was generously provided accommodations by YOTELAir Amsterdam, as always all opinions and photographs, unless otherwise noted, are my own.

The post You, Me, and YOTELAir Amsterdam: The Truth You Need to Know appeared first on Travel Shop Girl.

You, Me, and YOTELAir Amsterdam: The Truth You Need to Know published first on http://ift.tt/2wmAGMc

[migrately]

You, Me, and YOTELAir Amsterdam: The Truth You Need to Know

Escalator up in Departures 2 to YOTELAir AMS

After wandering around Schiphol Airport for three hours, I finally located my hotel, YOTELAir Amsterdam. Keep reading to learn the truth about my stay at this cabin based hotel located inside Schiphol Airport.

YOTELAir Amsterdam Is NOT a Pod or Capsule Hotel

Before we even arrive at YOTELAir Amsterdam, let’s just address what the haters will want to say. “Why would I ever want to stay at a pod hotel?” Pod or capsule hotels were created in Japan and are basically small pods for sleeping. Think a box with a bed inside and nothing else and that’s a pod or capsule hotel.

For clarification’s sake, YOTELAir Amsterdam is a regular hotel and NOT a pod or capsule hotel. It’s a “small, but smart hotel located in the transit area of Schiphol Airport.” Now that we’ve addressed that, let’s try and find the hotel.

Escalator up in Departures 2 to YOTELAir AMS

Located on the way to D gates, look for the escalator with the sign for Yotel hotel on it. You won’t be able to see the hotel from here, but this was the first signage I had seen in the airport with the hotel’s name on it anywhere.

On the Schiphol airport’s website, you’ll see that there’s Departures 2 and 3 and while I had gone through security in Departures 3, the YOTELAir Amsterdam was located in Departures 2. It’s only a short walk, when you’re lost and confused after an overnight flight, it can seem like it’s in another country altogether.

TSG Tip: In all fairness, the YOTEL website gives explicit instructions on how to get to the hotel from anywhere in the airport. There’s even a handy PDF download you can store on your phone to prevent the mishaps I had. I highly recommend downloading it when you book your cabin so you can reference it once you’re in the airport.

Arriving at YOTELAir Amsterdam

YOTELAir AMS entrance

Located in the back left hand corner of the food court is the YOTELAir I had been thinking of for hours. You’ll recognize the telltale funky neon lighting and cool YOTEL font on the exterior.

The thoughtfully placed artwork and neon lights only add to the vibrant and contemporary feel of the hotel. Click To Tweet

Inside YOTELAir AMS

As I approached the front door dragging my bags behind me, I spotted two monitors in front of a large brightly colored muraled wall on the right. The thoughtfully placed artwork and neon lights only add to the vibrant and contemporary feel of the hotel. They’ve also done it in such a way so as not to make it look cheap or trendy, which I love.

Mission Control

On the left was Mission Control, where the front desk person was assisting another customer. Then it was my turn, I was quickly checked in, and given the rundown of what to expect during my stay at YOTELAir Amsterdam.

Instruction sheet

This instruction sheet shows the various controls inside the room, which I took a pic of for later reference. Free hot drinks like coffee (lattes, cappuccinos, espressos), tea, or hot chocolate are included in your stay and if you need a hairdryer, just ask at Mission Control. Drinks, snacks, and food are also available for purchase from Mission Control. While there isn’t a rooftop Sky Lounge like at YOTEL Boston, remember — you’re staying at an airport.

Card for cabin 14

With my cabin card in hand, I headed off into the luminescent pink hallways that make YOTELAir Amsterdam feel incredibly futuristic.

TSG Tip: Not only does the cabin card open your room, but to get back into the hotel each and every time, you’ll need to swipe your card to open the front doors. As a woman traveling alone, I love this added layer of security.

YOTELAir AMS hallway

Check out the fancy pink-hued ultra modern hallway. Not like anything else you’ve ever seen before, right?

Cabin layout grid

On the back of my cabin door was the layout of the hotel showing that there are a total of 59 cabins located in YOTELAir Amsterdam. Guests can choose from Standard (sleeps 1), Premium (sleeps 2), or Family (sleeps 4) cabins as well as one of the two shower and changing facilities available for an hourly fee.

YOTELAir Amsterdam Cabin 14

When you first arrive to your cabin, you’ll notice that the shade is up. I immediately closed it for privacy.

Inside my cabin

When you enter the cabin, you immediately notice the small, but efficient sized cabin laid out in front of you. This 110 sqft (10sqm) Premium cabin has everything I could want or need for my stay. While smaller than my cabin at YOTEL New York, it offered everything I could need or want for an overnight short stay.

Cabin 14

While it’s designed for 2 people, I totally enjoyed stretching out and having it all to myself.

Wall area

The wall area in the cabin is cool because there are inserts for the chair and that purple square is yes, a table! Take them out as you need them to enjoy the extra space. In addition to the flat screen TV and multiple power points, YOTELAir Amsterdam also offers free super fast WiFi, too.

Bathroom

The private en-suite bathroom was spacious and even had a Monsoon rain shower.

The Adjustable SmartBed™

My favorite part of the cabin, aside from the funky pink lighting, was the adjustable SmartBed™.Click To Tweet

My favorite part of the cabin, aside from the funky pink lighting, was the adjustable SmartBed™. In the upright position, it is up and out of the way to take up less space and allow you to pass through and not worry about tripping over yourself or the bed. The bedding itself is luxury bedding on top of a Serta gel mattress. In plain English, we’re talking super comfy and when I crashed, I was out within seconds.

View toward door

This is the view toward the door of the cabin standing in the bathroom. Can you see at the foot of the bed the little cut out underneath for storage? In addition to the two bedside tables and storage in the wall, the room offers an abundance of storage options.

Feeling Hungry?

Food court area

Inevitably, you’re going to get hungry at some point during your stay at YOTELAir Amsterdam. Maybe because you had a long flight or maybe because your body doesn’t know what time zone it’s in.

Food court area

Since you’re staying in a food court area, you’ll find that there’s a ton of food choices available including healthy options that offer fruits and vegetables.

McDonald’s inside food court

And some less healthy options like McDonald’s that everyone seemed to want. Whatever you desire, it’s here in the food court.

YOTELAir Amsterdam Offers “Eat When You Want To”

But what if you don’t want to get up and get food? Order meals, drinks, or snacks from your cabin 24 hours a day. Decide on what you want and then head to Mission Control to pick it up.

TSG Tip: I perused the menu and the prices were less than what you might expect and cheaper than the food court. Unfortunately, there weren’t any real options for me so I had to look elsewhere for food, but some of the options included:

Chicken Masala

Margarita Pizza

Dutch Syrup Waffle

Panini combo including crisps and soft drink

Ben & Jerry’s ice-cream pots

Stroopwafels! Image via Flickr by rhodes

Breakfast items are also available, including a speedy breakfast you can have ready for you at check out. We’re talking fresh squeezed orange juice and baked croissants, as well as:

Eat Natural muesli bar

A selection of Dutch pastries

Fruit yoghurt

An apple

Apple or orange juice

Any hot drink – coffee, tea, or hot chocolate

TSG Tip: Pre-order your breakfast by email and have it added to your booking to save you time and trouble while traveling.

Why You Should Consider YOTELAir Amsterdam

Premium cabin 14

If you’ve got a long layover between flights, you’ve probably thought about staying at an airport hotel. Whether you stay overnight with rates starting at €92 or 4 hour stays starting at €52, how can you go wrong? Maybe you’re only looking for a shower cabin for 1 hour with rates at €15 to let you clean up and get on your way. Either way, YOTELAir Amsterdam offers you a variety of options, all of which are perfect for frequent flyers, families, couples, or solo travelers.

TSG Tip: In addition to their YOTELAir Amsterdam Schiphol Airport location, you can also find other YOTELAir locations at London Gatwick, London Heathrow, and Paris CDG Airport with more locations coming soon.

YOTELAir Amsterdam Overall Final Thoughts

With YOTELAir, I can honestly say that it offers the best of both worlds. The price is so affordable and you'll save time by not leaving the airport. Click To Tweet

Overall and the absolute truth of it all is that I found my cabin immaculate, the service professional and courteous, and the hotel perfectly located. I didn’t have to wait 30 minutes for a shuttle to take me off airport, which meant I could get right to my cabin. While things would have been a lot smoother if I didn’t have a checked bag, that was my fault, not YOTELAir‘s. I always equate time with money and often have to balance out which is more important to me. With YOTELAir, I can honestly say that it offers the best of both worlds. The price is so affordable and you’ll save time by not leaving the airport.

Have you stayed at a YOTEL or YOTELAir lately? Share your thoughts in the comments below. Then take a moment to read some of the other travel tips and hotel reviews on the website.

While I was generously provided accommodations by YOTELAir Amsterdam, as always all opinions and photographs, unless otherwise noted, are my own.

The post You, Me, and YOTELAir Amsterdam: The Truth You Need to Know appeared first on Travel Shop Girl.

You, Me, and YOTELAir Amsterdam: The Truth You Need to Know published first on http://ift.tt/2uCE2ez

[jifsy]

You, Me, and YOTELAir Amsterdam: The Truth You Need to Know

Escalator up in Departures 2 to YOTELAir AMS

After wandering around Schiphol Airport for three hours, I finally located my hotel, YOTELAir Amsterdam. Keep reading to learn the truth about my stay at this cabin based hotel located inside Schiphol Airport.

YOTELAir Amsterdam Is NOT a Pod or Capsule Hotel

Before we even arrive at YOTELAir Amsterdam, let’s just address what the haters will want to say. “Why would I ever want to stay at a pod hotel?” Pod or capsule hotels were created in Japan and are basically small pods for sleeping. Think a box with a bed inside and nothing else and that’s a pod or capsule hotel.

For clarification’s sake, YOTELAir Amsterdam is a regular hotel and NOT a pod or capsule hotel. It’s a “small, but smart hotel located in the transit area of Schiphol Airport.” Now that we’ve addressed that, let’s try and find the hotel.

Escalator up in Departures 2 to YOTELAir AMS

Located on the way to D gates, look for the escalator with the sign for Yotel hotel on it. You won’t be able to see the hotel from here, but this was the first signage I had seen in the airport with the hotel’s name on it anywhere.

On the Schiphol airport’s website, you’ll see that there’s Departures 2 and 3 and while I had gone through security in Departures 3, the YOTELAir Amsterdam was located in Departures 2. It’s only a short walk, when you’re lost and confused after an overnight flight, it can seem like it’s in another country altogether.

TSG Tip: In all fairness, the YOTEL website gives explicit instructions on how to get to the hotel from anywhere in the airport. There’s even a handy PDF download you can store on your phone to prevent the mishaps I had. I highly recommend downloading it when you book your cabin so you can reference it once you’re in the airport.

Arriving at YOTELAir Amsterdam

YOTELAir AMS entrance

Located in the back left hand corner of the food court is the YOTELAir I had been thinking of for hours. You’ll recognize the telltale funky neon lighting and cool YOTEL font on the exterior.

The thoughtfully placed artwork and neon lights only add to the vibrant and contemporary feel of the hotel. Click To Tweet

Inside YOTELAir AMS

As I approached the front door dragging my bags behind me, I spotted two monitors in front of a large brightly colored muraled wall on the right. The thoughtfully placed artwork and neon lights only add to the vibrant and contemporary feel of the hotel. They’ve also done it in such a way so as not to make it look cheap or trendy, which I love.

Mission Control

On the left was Mission Control, where the front desk person was assisting another customer. Then it was my turn, I was quickly checked in, and given the rundown of what to expect during my stay at YOTELAir Amsterdam.

Instruction sheet

This instruction sheet shows the various controls inside the room, which I took a pic of for later reference. Free hot drinks like coffee (lattes, cappuccinos, espressos), tea, or hot chocolate are included in your stay and if you need a hairdryer, just ask at Mission Control. Drinks, snacks, and food are also available for purchase from Mission Control. While there isn’t a rooftop Sky Lounge like at YOTEL Boston, remember — you’re staying at an airport.

Card for cabin 14

With my cabin card in hand, I headed off into the luminescent pink hallways that make YOTELAir Amsterdam feel incredibly futuristic.

TSG Tip: Not only does the cabin card open your room, but to get back into the hotel each and every time, you’ll need to swipe your card to open the front doors. As a woman traveling alone, I love this added layer of security.

YOTELAir AMS hallway

Check out the fancy pink-hued ultra modern hallway. Not like anything else you’ve ever seen before, right?

Cabin layout grid

On the back of my cabin door was the layout of the hotel showing that there are a total of 59 cabins located in YOTELAir Amsterdam. Guests can choose from Standard (sleeps 1), Premium (sleeps 2), or Family (sleeps 4) cabins as well as one of the two shower and changing facilities available for an hourly fee.

YOTELAir Amsterdam Cabin 14

When you first arrive to your cabin, you’ll notice that the shade is up. I immediately closed it for privacy.

Inside my cabin

When you enter the cabin, you immediately notice the small, but efficient sized cabin laid out in front of you. This 110 sqft (10sqm) Premium cabin has everything I could want or need for my stay. While smaller than my cabin at YOTEL New York, it offered everything I could need or want for an overnight short stay.

Cabin 14

While it’s designed for 2 people, I totally enjoyed stretching out and having it all to myself.

Wall area

The wall area in the cabin is cool because there are inserts for the chair and that purple square is yes, a table! Take them out as you need them to enjoy the extra space. In addition to the flat screen TV and multiple power points, YOTELAir Amsterdam also offers free super fast WiFi, too.

Bathroom

The private en-suite bathroom was spacious and even had a Monsoon rain shower.

The Adjustable SmartBed™

My favorite part of the cabin, aside from the funky pink lighting, was the adjustable SmartBed™.Click To Tweet

My favorite part of the cabin, aside from the funky pink lighting, was the adjustable SmartBed™. In the upright position, it is up and out of the way to take up less space and allow you to pass through and not worry about tripping over yourself or the bed. The bedding itself is luxury bedding on top of a Serta gel mattress. In plain English, we’re talking super comfy and when I crashed, I was out within seconds.

View toward door

This is the view toward the door of the cabin standing in the bathroom. Can you see at the foot of the bed the little cut out underneath for storage? In addition to the two bedside tables and storage in the wall, the room offers an abundance of storage options.

Feeling Hungry?

Food court area

Inevitably, you’re going to get hungry at some point during your stay at YOTELAir Amsterdam. Maybe because you had a long flight or maybe because your body doesn’t know what time zone it’s in.

Food court area

Since you’re staying in a food court area, you’ll find that there’s a ton of food choices available including healthy options that offer fruits and vegetables.

McDonald’s inside food court

And some less healthy options like McDonald’s that everyone seemed to want. Whatever you desire, it’s here in the food court.

YOTELAir Amsterdam Offers “Eat When You Want To”

But what if you don’t want to get up and get food? Order meals, drinks, or snacks from your cabin 24 hours a day. Decide on what you want and then head to Mission Control to pick it up.

TSG Tip: I perused the menu and the prices were less than what you might expect and cheaper than the food court. Unfortunately, there weren’t any real options for me so I had to look elsewhere for food, but some of the options included:

Chicken Masala

Margarita Pizza

Dutch Syrup Waffle

Panini combo including crisps and soft drink

Ben & Jerry’s ice-cream pots

Stroopwafels! Image via Flickr by rhodes

Breakfast items are also available, including a speedy breakfast you can have ready for you at check out. We’re talking fresh squeezed orange juice and baked croissants, as well as:

Eat Natural muesli bar

A selection of Dutch pastries

Fruit yoghurt

An apple

Apple or orange juice

Any hot drink – coffee, tea, or hot chocolate

TSG Tip: Pre-order your breakfast by email and have it added to your booking to save you time and trouble while traveling.

Why You Should Consider YOTELAir Amsterdam

Premium cabin 14

If you’ve got a long layover between flights, you’ve probably thought about staying at an airport hotel. Whether you stay overnight with rates starting at €92 or 4 hour stays starting at €52, how can you go wrong? Maybe you’re only looking for a shower cabin for 1 hour with rates at €15 to let you clean up and get on your way. Either way, YOTELAir Amsterdam offers you a variety of options, all of which are perfect for frequent flyers, families, couples, or solo travelers.

TSG Tip: In addition to their YOTELAir Amsterdam Schiphol Airport location, you can also find other YOTELAir locations at London Gatwick, London Heathrow, and Paris CDG Airport with more locations coming soon.

YOTELAir Amsterdam Overall Final Thoughts

With YOTELAir, I can honestly say that it offers the best of both worlds. The price is so affordable and you'll save time by not leaving the airport. Click To Tweet

Overall and the absolute truth of it all is that I found my cabin immaculate, the service professional and courteous, and the hotel perfectly located. I didn’t have to wait 30 minutes for a shuttle to take me off airport, which meant I could get right to my cabin. While things would have been a lot smoother if I didn’t have a checked bag, that was my fault, not YOTELAir‘s. I always equate time with money and often have to balance out which is more important to me. With YOTELAir, I can honestly say that it offers the best of both worlds. The price is so affordable and you’ll save time by not leaving the airport.

Have you stayed at a YOTEL or YOTELAir lately? Share your thoughts in the comments below. Then take a moment to read some of the other travel tips and hotel reviews on the website.

While I was generously provided accommodations by YOTELAir Amsterdam, as always all opinions and photographs, unless otherwise noted, are my own.

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