When I traveled two weeks ago, I had the chance to go wait in the VIP Cedar Lounge for a change instead of roaming around in the duty free stores.
The place was nicer than I expected and had free internet access as well as free access to an open buffet and bar. The food however wasn’t that great as it mainly consisted of cold sandwiches, croissants and a small table for desserts.
I had a 3 hours wait, so after I ate and had a drink, I took a walk around the lounge and found a Kids area. I am not sure why it is called a Kids area as PS3s, Wii and Arcade games are not just for children. Also, you don’t get “Kids Area” when you translate “Salle des jeux” or “Sallat Al Al3ab” to English.
Anyway, I went in to try out all the games since there was no one and I had 2 hours to kill but it turned out nothing was working for some reason. So I headed back to my couch, watched some TV and browsed the internet.
It is definitely much better than waiting like everyone else does as the couches are really comfortable and the place is not crowded and you have free internet, but it is not that fancy for a VIP lounge.
Did u pay extra to get access?
chab el vip.
No I did not pay. I was invited in via a certain someone.
i didn’t like it at all, it’s a waste of space. Food is bad, the furnitures are old, the only thing i liked was the complimentary magazines. i would much rather be roaming in the duty free than staying in the vip lounge, it has an eeerily silent that i didn’t like.
so how does a person with no connections get access to the vip lounge ?
If u r travelling business class or have an American Express credit card or using ur cedar miles card
munich_calling you can’t. You have to be cool like Najib and “get invited via a certain someone”.
There’s nothing cool about it. You can get credit cards with some access card that comes along or a priority pass card and pay 30$.
Yeah Najib you make it sound so glamorous, what does “a certain someone” mean anyway? Did you tweet Najib Mikati? Was he your special someone?
and you forgot to mention the free alcohol dude.
Nothing glamorous about it. I just don’t feel like I should mention who that person was because it was a one time thing and I don’t brag about wasta.
No problem man, next time call me, I’ll get you in
Khayye khaleele yek.
I can’t think of a VIP lounge at any airport that really got my attention. I usually don’t go too early to the airport and when I do I prefer roaming around or going to other places in the airport. However, when I have had flight delays or really late flights, I praise the Lord for the lounge and go and chillax there.
At one of the Beirut airports cafeterias I saw a sign for a kids area…. it consisted of one table next to a colorful wall so it seems like the kids in the lounge have it good. 🙂
I don’t like that lounge either, I prefer to go to the cigar lounge instead.
But the lounge I actually like is the 1st class in Qatar, very zen n elegant!
Been to many Business lounges around the world, Beirut funny enough is definitely in the top 3 in terms of comfort and facilities. when it comes to food and everything else the emirates lounge in Dxb is the best followed by the non emirates bizz lounge in DXB… I hear Delta’s in the USA are great lounges as well but never had the chance to visit them…
by the way i traveled business consistently for 4 years at work, if you have work and travel a lot, the quality of business lounges is crucial to your efficiency and comfort. you want splash and luxury you got to go first class…now that’s an entirely different story…