Dublin for Thanksgiving 2012: Hilton Dublin Airport

• Introduction
• AUS-SFO-IAD 
• Exploring Washington DC
• IAD - BRU - DUB
• Conrad Dublin
• Hilton Dublin 
• Exploring Dublin
• DUB - FRA - IAH
• IAH - LAX on 787 and back home to Austin

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We decided to stay the second night at the Hilton Dublin Airport since it was one third cheaper than the Conrad and we had an early 5.30 am flight. After collecting our bags from the Conrad after a day out, we took the bus hoping to save a couple of Euros. We were 15 minutes during the journey when a pre-planned driver change took place. The new driver refused to drive saying there was something wrong with the brakes. We sat there for a couple of minutes before I figured saving those few Euros was just not worth it. We hailed a cab and eventually got to the hotel at the some cost if we had taken a cab from the start.

The hotel itself wasn’t too exciting. We were again upgraded to a Deluxe room but could definitely tell the difference between a Conrad and a Hilton. The bathtub was tiny, the bed wasn’t as comfy but you get what you get for.

There was nothing really around the hotel except for a Tesco couple of minutes walk away. I wouldn’t recommend staying here if you’re going to explore Dublin. 

We took the first complimentary shuttle leaving at 4am for our 5.30am flight. We were at the airport in 10 minute drive.

 

Dublin for Thanksgiving 2012: Conrad Dublin

 

• Introduction
• AUS-SFO-IAD 
• Exploring Washington DC
• IAD - BRU - DUB
• Conrad Dublin
• Hilton Dublin 
• Exploring Dublin
• DUB - FRA - IAH
• IAH - LAX on 787 and back home to Austin

___________________________________________________________________________________

We splurged the first night at the Conrad since it had the better location than the other Hiltons in Dublin. The Conrad is close by to St Stephen’s Green and a ten minute walk to the shopping and dining Grafton street area.

We were checked in even though we arrived before check in time. Was upgraded to a corner deluxe room. Despite some negative reviews on tripadvisor and flyertalk, we didn’t have any issue with the hotel.  It was definitely more upscale than a typical Hilton with marble bath rooms, huge bathtub, excellent toiletries and a nespresso machine in the room. 

Dublin for Thanksgiving 2012: IAD – BRU – DUB

• Introduction
• AUS-SFO-IAD 
• Exploring Washington DC
• IAD - BRU - DUB
• Conrad Dublin
• Hilton Dublin 
• Exploring Dublin
• DUB - FRA - IAH
• IAH - LAX on 787 and back home to Austin

___________________________________________________________________________________


One of the best thing about flying through IAD is the Lufthansa Senator Lounge. We took a much needed shower before catching up with emails while enjoying some beer, coffee and the tarmac views.

Austrian flight arriving

We moved to the United RCC dump that was closer to our departure gate an hour before departure. It was crowded with nothing interesting to eat or drink. With nothing better to do, we proceeded to the boarding gate with the gate agent got on the PA informing us that there were running into mechanical issues and that it would take at least 30 minutes. She tried comforting us with information that saying that worst case, there was a substitute plane available.

With the delay, we were most probably going to miss out BRU-FRA-DUB connection. We headed back to the United lounge trying again to change to the 747-8 LH flight but was informed that the flight had already closed. We pleaded saying we were going to miss our connection and just had hand luggage and would run over but there was nothing the agent could do. The agent protected us on a direct Aer Lingus BRU-DUB flight.

45 minutes after the scheduled departure, we were informed that boarding. Hooray! We might still be able to make the connection.

We got settled into our seats. Whoever decided on a 2-4-2 configuration in business should be shot. The business class cabin felt cramped and thankfully we had the 2 window seats. I would not want to be in the middle seat. It was pretty interesting first time for us seating in the backward facing seats. Pre-departure, we were served some champagne in some “classy” plastic glasses. 

More bad news followed when the captain came on board informing now that we now had some issues with the radio and they were trying to fix it as soon as possible. Some passengers got pretty feisty and started ranting to the pursuer. After another 30 minutes the doors were closed and we thought we were finally on our way or so we thought. A couple of minutes later the doors were re-opened and were left wondering on what next now. A business class passenger got his stuff and at this point, wanted to be offloaded. A flight attendant did convince the passenger to stay at a couple minutes of later, the doors were closed and we were finally on our way.

The flight attendant came around taking dinner order after take off with dinner served an hour or so after take off. 

Dublin for Thanksgiving 2012: Exploring Washington D.C

• Introduction
• AUS-SFO-IAD 
• Exploring Washington DC
• IAD - BRU - DUB
• Conrad Dublin
• Hilton Dublin 
• Exploring Dublin
• DUB - FRA - IAH
• IAH - LAX on 787 and back home to Austin

___________________________________________________________________________________

On arrival at IAD, we started off the day with a Starbucks latte before taking the shuttle to the National rental car station. National wanted $75 for a one day rental but thankfully we had a free day cert thanks to the "rent 2 free 1 day promo".

We spent the day at “the mall” enjoying the cold weather and various monuments that DC is famous for. We were overly ambitious and wanted to walk the entire area but gave up half way through and just drove the rest of the way.

Hello Mr. Lincoln

Whjte House from a far

We ended the day in D.C. with some comforting dim sum thanks to recommendation from yelp. We were lucky to have just missed the crowd as the lines were long by the time we were done. The dim sum was definitely better than what we get in Austin and the roasted BBQ pork belly was one of the best we've had in the US. 

Since it was still too early when we got close to the airport, we decided to park the car at the cellphone area and got a one hour nap right in the car.

Dublin for Thanksgiving 2012: AUS-SFO-IAD

• Introduction
• AUS-SFO-IAD 
• Exploring Washington DC
• IAD - BRU - DUB
• Conrad Dublin
• Hilton Dublin 
• Exploring Dublin
• DUB - FRA - IAH
• IAH - LAX on 787 and back home to Austin

___________________________________________________________________________________

The trip didn’t start out on in a good way. I started to feel to sick with a sore throat after lunch at work. Looks like we missed the Thanksgiving crowd with airport was empty when we got there at 6pm. The check-in machines were being cranky and we needed an agent to help us get our boarding passes. The computer started spitting out some weird visa requirements at check-in for Dublin – Visa required except for Malaysian passport holders. Hmm.. how about the rest of the world?

The flight itself was uneventful. I had a beer predeparture thinking it would help with the sore throat. With nothing to do , I slept most of the flight waking in the middle of the flight for some snacks.

We arrived on time in SFO and I was starting to feel peckish. We shared a pretty good chicken soup at one of the food courts that again I was hoping to help with the sore throat. 

By the time we got on the plane for our red-eye to IAD, we were pretty tired. I'm pretty good at sleeping up right and slept most of the flight where as Lydia pretty much stayed awake and watched the complimentary directTV in domestic first class.