A top-notch Jumeirah – Frankfurt welcome
I booked a room at the Jumeirah – Frankfurt for our last evening in Europe after visiting Laubach, Germany, Amsterdam, Brussels, and Paris. (The hotel is now a JW Marriott.) The concierge greeted Kathy and I with a drink and a smile, and an unsolicited upgrade to a room on the 18th floor.
We opened the door of our room, to find a corner suite with breathtaking panoramic city views! It had a business work station and a separate sitting area complete with a lounging couch (feed me grapes!), and a bathroom with sliding panels to close it off if you’d like. The deep soak tub, a rain shower, and the luxurious peached microfiber robes and slippers gave the bathroom the feel of a luxury spa. I loved the robe so much, I actually bought two of my friends each one for Christmas.
The bed was heavenly, and you control the electronic shades and curtains from your nightstand. An in-the-drawer safe, lighted closets, track lighting, a Nespresso machine, and a fully stocked mini-bar rounded out the list of amenities, or so I thought. Then there’s a knock at the door…we have a dedicated floor attendant!
Gourmet dining, and their own bees!
The on-site restaurant, Max on One, presented a phenomenal breakfast. You can have anything made to order from the kitchen, and the buffet has something for everyone. They offered a gluten free selection, a Mediterranean table, fruit platters, salmon and lox, humus, and veggies. Let’s not forget the eggs, waffles, cereal, and all the other standards, in addition to the beverage selection which included espresso, cappuccino, gourmet loose leaf tea, hot chocolate, a variety of juices, coffee with a full complement of flavored creamers, milk and chocolate milk. I asked about the Skyline honey on display, and it turns out they produce their own honey in beehives on the roof! About 40,000 bees make their home at the Jumeirah – Frankfurt. Their spa even offers a body scrub with the honey, and they use it in cocktails at the bar.
The Jumeirah is a luxury chain where the staff is at your service, and they pay attention to every detail. Good thing, too, because Lufthansa cancelled our flight when their flight crews decided to strike. The concierge contacted the airline and we arranged an alternate flight home with very little trouble. Since our new flight departed later than the original, it was a great opportunity to see that famous stretch of Frankfurt real estate known as Zeil.
The world-renowned Zeil
Zeil, Frankfurt, Germany
A local German on Zeil in Frankfurt Germany
Our hotel was right around the corner of this popular shopping street. It’s lined on both sides with every shop and boutique store imaginable, and we toured them all. Since It is closed to motorist traffic, they have benches and shade trees that run down the center – offering shopaholics and occasional patrons a bit of respite. It also makes it easy for street musicians to set up shop.
Street musicians on Zeil in Frankfurt, Germany
Although we didn’t see them yet, I could hear them playing somewhere up ahead. The music grew louder as we walked along, and I felt a bit like the children being drawn to the Pied Piper of Hamelin. They were excellent, so we stood for a while to listen when we finally came upon them. They were unlike any other street musicians I’ve seen, because here on Zeil they wore tuxedos and had a bassoon player! I could easily see them playing at someone’s wedding.
The road home
That stereotypical German precision and abruptness was apparent on our trip to the airport. The taxi driver was Rocky’s Drago incarnate! (with a back problem, though – I had to put my own bag in the trunk). Basically man on a mission, he had no time for pleasantries. He also went the wrong way to make a certain turn at one point, cursed and muttered, then drove like the Transporter dude to make up the lost time. Maybe he would have liked a thick butter cookie to make him feel better? Shame I managed to eat them all. Still some whips left – but those are MINE! It was definitely an experience.
But a better experience awaited us. If you ever get the chance, fly Air Canada. We enjoyed two meals with a snack in between, and beer and wine at no additional charge. Leg room is ample, and the attendants are really friendly. One even offered to send me more WHIPS when she saw the empty box. They include all the entertainment, and they still offer blankets and pillows. All that for the price of your ticket, and not a single checked bag fee. I can’t wait to fly with them again!
July 9, 2016 – I’m still looking forward to another Air Canada flight…and I’d like to re-visit Frankfurt. I didn’t get to spend much time there, and the city has a draw…just like the Pied Piper…