OK, ok, so this isn't a review about Manchester Airport as a whole. No, it's a review about the VERY BEST THING at Manchester airport, something that not many people appear to know about.
Picture the scene. My other half and I have driven through the the night for ten hours, yes TEN hours from our home in the Scottish Highlands to Manchester airport to get our morning flight to Samos.
We check in at roughly 6 a.m. - we're the first ones to check in for the flight. We are then faced with three hours of sitting around waiting, milling around the shops, drinking endless cups of expensive and foul-tasting coffee, and generally getting more grumpy by the minute.
The place is getting busier and busier as the morning gathers pace. It's chaos. There are kids screaming, families arguing, people sitting on the floor, groups of 'lads' enjoying their pre-flight breakfast of lager and a fry-up. And the whole place is doing our heads in. Another two minutes of this, let alone two and a half hours, and one of us might spontaneously combust. GET US OUT OF HERE!!!!
Fortunately, there is an alternative to this, and, we discovered it. At Manchester Airport there is a lovely littly oasis of calm called, appropriately, The Escape Lounge. Ok, you pay £15 per person to get in, but my word what a world of difference. Once you're in, it's free newspapers and magazines, unlimited free drinks (alcoholic and non-alcoholic), tea/coffee, pastries/toast, various other snacks, fresh fruit. Lovely comfortable seats. Restful water features. And, most of all, peace and quiet. The place has sound-proof glass - you can look down at the madness below you, but you don't have to listen to it. Nor do you have to endure the thick cloud of cigarette smoke coming from those getting their final fixes before they are denied their demon weed whilst on their aircraft. The Escape Lounge is non-smoking. Bliss.
You can pre-book your stay at the Escape Lounge on Manchester Airport's website, or alternatively you can simply walk in and pay at the desk if it's not too busy - the price is the same, £15 per head. A bit steep perhaps, but, believe me, well worth every single penny, particularly if you consider what you have to pay for tea/coffee and a snack at one of the cafes anyway (not to mention the price of alcoholic drinks!). Not sure what the price is for kids. There are signs directing you to The Escape Lounge but it is a little tricky to find. It's accessible through a set of double doors and a flight of stairs. If you're struggling then a member of the airport staff will show you the way I'm sure.
We sat and relaxed for two hours and in that time there were never more than half a dozen people in the place (in fact they ensure that the place never gets crowded, numbers are kept to a minimum)
Apparently some holiday companies are offering to include use of The Escape Lounge as part of their packages, for a small supplement. Go for it, it's a winner.
----UPDATE----
Sorry, should have included this originally (thanks to Zoe Page for pointing this out). The Escape Lounge is located in TERMINAL 2. Cheers!
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Feb 10th, 2003
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