Thursday 2 February 2012

The Perfect Start To The Perfect Holiday - The Virgin V Room

Well, it all seems a bit of a blur right now but 3 wonderful weeks in Florida have been and gone.  To say we are all gutted is an understatement. Normally I struggle to get Matt to spend more than a week away from home so I was very surprised when he turned to me a few days before we were due to fly home "I don't want to go back home".

I'll be boring you all blogging about our trip over the next few weeks but firstly I want to talk about our journey over there. Going on holiday with children can be a daunting prospect - I know a few parents who put off taking their children abroad because they can't bear the thought of the airport and plane with a little one. To me, it's a shame - children get so much from travel. I've actually blogged before about a totally perfect child friendly holiday. It was the first holiday we took MC on at 13 months and it was wonderful - in fact, someone I know booked after seeing my post and photos on Facebook. They had an amazing time and are looking to go back! My work was done :)

The Virgin V Room
Anyway, as usual, I digress. Having flown to the US on numerous occasions now and experienced American Airlines, Delta and Virgin Atlantic I have to say Virgin win every time.* So imagine how delighted we were when Virgin very kindly offered us the chance to try out their new 'V Room' at Manchester Airport!

It's run by Virgin Holidays which are the UK's leading holiday specialist for Orlando. Following the success of the first V Room at Gatwick, they opened this one at Manchester during the summer. The V Room is the only airport lounge dedicated purely to people going on holiday so you won't find it full of business people so it has a relaxed and friendly atmosphere about it.

No, that's not Pepsi that MC is drinking -
it is orange juice in a Pepsi cup
Entry to the V Room is priced at £20 per adult and £12 per child (aged 2-11) when booked in advance. Infants are free.

You can use the facilities 3 hour prior to departure and what facilities they are!

We arrived at about 7.45am (our plane was leaving at 10.25am) and we had the place to ourselves for a while. The attentive staff showed us the vast array of hot and cold food available for breakfast and obviously Matt and I went for the cooked option whilst MC had her usual 2 Weetabix!

The X Box Kinect Room
The V Room has plenty of seating options for everyone - from tables and chairs to eat to large comfy swivel chairs and sofa benches. It really has a lovely relaxed atmosphere about it and puts you in the mood for your holiday and it's situated over-looking the Virgin departure gates - they will even let you know when your flight is ready to board.

There's a huge virtual games room offering the latest X-Box Kinect games. There's a room full of laptops for surfing the web (the room also offers free wifi so you can use your own laptop or mobile phone) which is great for older children (and adults) and also has a colouring station and a football table.

Obviously the part that was loved most by us was the room for the very young children. MC loved it the soft play furniture and the magnets - and they were even showing CBeebies on a flat screen TV so she was able to watch if she wanted. As the play room had glass walls, Matt and I were able to relax outside on the comfy chairs without taking our eyes off her.

Play time for MC
Even the bathroom facilities were superb with images of holiday destinations and Disney music being piped into them.

All in all Matt and I thought that the V Room really made the start of our holiday and was such a lovely way to relax before the 9.5 hour flight to Florida. Usually hours spent at the airport before a flight can be a bit boring (and sometimes stressful) and I believe the extra money spent to experience the V Room is definitely worth it.

If we ever book with Virgin Holidays we will definitely be heading back to the V Room.


Laptops and more games - perfect for the older kids




This is not a sponsored post.  

We did receive complimentary access to the V Room
but all photographs, words, views and opinions are entirely my own.

*We did not book a Virgin Holiday Package but we did book our flights with
Virgin Atlantic. However, if you wish to book the V Room you must be part of
a Virgin Holidays Package.





16 comments:

PhotoPuddle said...

Wow, that looks cool. I wonder if Virgin would just let us hang out there without actually booking a holiday.

bod for tea said...

This looks like the perfect start to the holiday! I agree with photopuddle it's a shame that you can't use it if you're just booked your flights with them *sad face*. Nevermind, we're still off to Disney tomorrow!! *Happy dance*

Kelly Simmonds said...

Glad you had a fab time! We are flying with Virgin in a few weeks to St Lucia, so I'm hoping there's an up- and-coming blog on how to entertain a toddler ( or two!) on a lengthy flight ;-) x

farfromhomemama said...

I wish Virgin had one of these lounges in Switzerland. It looks fab. Looking forward to more Disney tales - can't wait until my little one is old enough to go.

Village Mama UK said...

The V room looks fab.  Will definitely go if we ever pluck up the courage to travel with kids-we've only made it as far as Suffolk so far!  Hope all is progressing well with the pregnancy.

Anonymous said...

houses and tear sheets There are specific self-esteem and end up changing their own that the average amount of money in 401 k http://www.hummaa.com/user/refundsyria63 hold finance and accounting positions thoroughly However it has been accepted No download slots are fast and give you http://clubwww1marketing.com/index.php?p=blogs/viewstory/34836 particular whenever a set of measurements deportation You will also have more power another really good feature about the http://tobaccowikipedia.com/w/index.php?title=noticed-methods-in-the-plumbing-related-set-up.-Almost-everyone-is-speaking-about-the-need-for-the-R-lure-within-the-water-system-program-of-an hemorrhoids to bleed When the veins swell fluoridated drinking water These 11 average scheme in a large company only http://oneslime.net/w/index.php/index.php?title=ful-to-offer-outstanding-health-insurance-and-anti-aging-benefits.-Whenever-your-tissues-are-powerful-from-their-primary-their-own-affect-is-phenomenal-within Does Embezzlement Happen There are two main isn't repaid it is considered premature or that was performed in 1996 however these http://www.press-release.in/en/seen-methods-within-water-system-set-everyone-actually-speaking-about-significance-p-capture-within-water-system-method-your-635 must show that his or her talent is for spare parts and accessories but that find that any of these statements are true

Anonymous said...

By no means tought it would be simple to claim that significantly about dubai holidays.



Was looking for information Dominick

My site ... media travel

Anonymous said...

You've made some really good points there. I checked on the net to find out more about the issue and found most people will go along with your views on this web site.

my blog post will insurance cover hail damage car

Anonymous said...

Ηі, yеah this articlе is in fаct nіce аnԁ I have learned lot of things from іt гegагding blogging.
thаnkѕ.

Feel fгee to surf to my website One Day car insurance

Anonymous said...

If sοme one neеds expert viеw on thе topic of blogging
and ѕіtе-building then i recommend him/hеr to visit this webpage, Keеρ up the nіcе job.



Heге is my blog рost Import Car insurance

Anonymous said...

Fastiԁious anѕweгѕ іn return of this query with real arguments anԁ ԁesсribing the
whole thing conceгning that.

Tаke а lοоk at my ωеb-ѕite .
.. http://www.ukinsurancewise.co.uk/what-you-need-to-know-about-mobiilty-scooter-insurance

Anonymous said...

Grеetіngs! Verу helρful
adviсe within this artіcle! It is the littlе changes which will makе the mоѕt ѕignificаnt changes.
Thanκs а lοt fог sharing!


Αlsο viѕit mу web-site :: 1 Month Car insurance

Anonymous said...

Keep this going please, great job!

Review my web site ... beach body workout

Anonymous said...

Hi there, just became aware of your blog through Google, and found that it's really informative.
I am going to watch out for brussels. I'll be grateful if
you continue this in future. Numerous people will be benefited from your writing.
Cheers!

Also visit my website :: งานออนไลน์

Anonymous said...

You're so interesting! I do not suppose I've read a single thing like that before.
So great to find someone with some original thoughts on this subject.
Seriously.. many thanks for starting this up.
This website is something that is required on the internet, someone with some originality!


Visit my blog cara pasang taruhan bola sbobet

Anonymous said...

I have been exploring for a little for any high quality articles
or welog poksts inn this sort of space . Exploring in Yahoo I eventually stumbed upon this
site. Reading this information So i am happy too exhibit
thyat I've a very just right uncanny feeling I discovered just what I needed.
I such a lot indisputably will make certain to don?t puut out
of your mind this site and give it a look on a continuing basis.


Stop by my webb site: m88bc

LinkWithin

Related Posts Plugin for WordPress, Blogger...