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DEPARTURES<br />
Reality check<br />
HOTEL: DAKOTA, MANCHESTER<br />
THE HOTEL<br />
This chic boutique<br />
THE ROOM<br />
<strong>The</strong> design scheme<br />
addition to the Manchester hotel scene is<br />
flows seamlessly throughout the hotel.<br />
fast becoming a favourite haunt of celebs<br />
My room featured muted grey tones with<br />
and savvy business travellers. On Ducie<br />
plush armchairs, framed vintage prints,<br />
Street in the heart of Manchester’s old<br />
floor-to-ceiling windows and a large<br />
mill district, it’s one of a clutch of trendy<br />
flatscreen TV. <strong>The</strong> very comfortable king<br />
venues to open as the neighbourhood<br />
sized bed had an upholstered leather<br />
undergoes rapid regeneration. Interiors<br />
headboard and crisp white Egyptian<br />
are dominated by dark slate tones,<br />
cotton linen. Tucked inside an alcove,<br />
complemented by warm yellow lighting,<br />
there was a nice leather desk area with<br />
fire places and candles. Studded leather<br />
USB charging ports and thoughtful<br />
chairs and tables, and vintage photos on<br />
touches like a magnifying mirror and<br />
the walls featuring stars such as Clarke<br />
slate board for heated appliances. <strong>The</strong><br />
Gable, are a nod to the 1930s New York<br />
stylish tiled bathroom had a walk-in<br />
influence. Tellingly, the brand is named<br />
rainshower with Dakota toiletries.<br />
after the pioneering US passenger aircraft<br />
THE FACILITIES<br />
With dark marble,<br />
perfect for entertaining clients.<br />
that transformed travel in the 1930s by<br />
leather seating, framed photos from old<br />
Complimentary wifi was faultless.<br />
offering an affordable service in an age<br />
Hollywood, low lighting, and cool bespoke<br />
THE VERDICT<br />
It’s a clear contender<br />
when flying was reserved for the elite.<br />
<strong>The</strong> buildng is perched beside a canal<br />
and is just a five-minute walk from<br />
Manchester Piccadilly train station.<br />
THE CHECK-IN My late afternoon<br />
cocktails, nowhere is the moody<br />
Manhattan influence more apparent than<br />
in the bar – it feels glamorous without<br />
being glitzy. <strong>The</strong> Dakota Grill’s classic<br />
gourmet dishes draw locals as well as<br />
IT'S A CLEAR<br />
CONTENDER FOR BEST<br />
BOUTIQUE HOTEL IN<br />
MANCHESTER<br />
for best boutique hotel in Manchester.<br />
Even though it’s a tad more pricey than<br />
other properties in the area, I would<br />
choose to stay here again.<br />
THE DETAILS 29 Ducie Sreet,<br />
check-in was smooth with a warm<br />
guests, and the buffet breakfast offers a<br />
Manchester M1 2JL. Rates from £203<br />
welcome from staff. I was given a quick<br />
tour and shown to my Classic King Room.<br />
brilliant selection. An atmospheric lounge,<br />
cigar terrace and Champagne room are<br />
per night. dakotahotels.co.uk<br />
Sasha Wood<br />
AIRLINE: EMIRATES<br />
THE FLIGHT<br />
I was travelling in<br />
although that might be put down to the<br />
economy class on Emirates flight EK9<br />
long walk between lounge and gate!<br />
from Dubai to London Gatwick,<br />
THE SEAT<br />
I'd chosen an aisle seat<br />
departing at 14.55 and arriving at 19.45<br />
(47C) in the forwardmost section of the<br />
(local times). <strong>The</strong> service is one of three<br />
lower deck of the A380. Just a few<br />
Emirates flights a day on the route and<br />
rows from the front, it enabled swift<br />
was flown by an Airbus A380.<br />
disembarkation on arrival and is in a<br />
PRE-BOARDING<br />
After being dropped<br />
more 'intimate' space than the some-<br />
off at Dubai International I headed<br />
what cavernous economy sections on<br />
straight to security as I'd checked-in via<br />
the rest of the lower deck. Seating was<br />
the Emirates app the previous day (and<br />
in a 3-4-3 configuration with most seats<br />
selected a seat) and as I was only<br />
occupied. It's a pretty standard economy<br />
travelling with hand luggage. It took<br />
seat offering with a small amount of<br />
around 20 minutes to pass through<br />
recline and in-seat USB points. I was<br />
security and passport control, and then<br />
impressed by the seatback screens<br />
I hopped on the airport train for the<br />
(better than one business class offering<br />
THE VERDICT<br />
A good, comfortable<br />
short transit to Terminal 3. I used my<br />
I'd recently experienced) and the huge<br />
economy class product and a slick<br />
Priority Pass membership to visit a<br />
range of films, TV and music on offer.<br />
experience on the ground too.<br />
Marhaba lounge for a quick drink and<br />
bite to eat, before heading to the<br />
allocated gate almost as soon as it was<br />
announced. I was therefore surprised<br />
to see the boarding process already<br />
Wifi connectivity included limited free<br />
access, plus several paid-for options.<br />
THE SERVICE <strong>The</strong> truly global cabin<br />
crew were pleasant throughout the<br />
flight as they served a choice of three<br />
THE RANGE OF<br />
ENTERTAINMENT ON<br />
OFFER WAS SERIOUSLY<br />
IMPRESSIVE<br />
THE DETAILS Emirates flies to Dubai<br />
six times a day from Heathrow, three<br />
times a day from Manchester and<br />
Gatwick, twice daily from Birmingham,<br />
Glasgow and Stansted, and daily from<br />
underway (and in surprisingly orderly<br />
hot dinners and, later, afternoon tea. An<br />
Newcastle and Edinburgh. Return fares<br />
fashion, given the number of<br />
passengers travelling on this A380),<br />
additional drinks run or two would have<br />
been appreciated.<br />
start from around £379. emirates.com<br />
Andy Hoskins<br />
96 THEBUSINESSTRAVELMAG.COM
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