Getting to the Hotel

The Sofitel Gatwick Airport is located near the North Terminal. Which is rather convenient as I’ve just stepped off a flight from Basel which terminated at the North Terminal. From arrivals, I head one floor up to the lower departure concourse and then head out to the station for the shuttle train that connects to the South Terminal and the mainline railway station. The entrance to the hotel is off to the right of the shuttle station.

The Lobby

I enter the hotel into a wide covered atrium. There is a restaurant and a bar with seating spilling out into the foyer. They don’t do a full afternoon tea, but they will make you a cream tea at the bar. I checked. For a friend.

Reception

The staff at reception are simply outstanding in their customer orientation. I really cannot say enough good things about these guys. It’s not just that they’re friendly and efficient. They’re just so nice about it! The gentleman checking me in tells me that I’ve been upgraded to a luxury room with airport view. However, he tells me that he could likely get me a room away from the airport if I prefer. My eyes bug out at the ridiculous idea, and he must notice, because he simply smiles and says, “right, or maybe not”. I can’t help laugh!

Club Millésime

My room is on the eighth floor, which is also where the Club Millésime lounge is located. The Club is open daily and serves snacks between 18h and 20h. Eligibility to access the lounge is primarily with your membership status, but can also be booked as part of a room package. I only briefly enter the lounge once to have a look around. But I don’t stay, preferring to enjoy the view of the airport from the tranquility of my own room.

The Room

The room is a good size. It doesn’t have a proper desk, which is a bit unusual. However, there is a coffee table that’s a good height to work on if you’re sitting on the divan.

The bed is comfortable and firm, just the way I like it, with a plush, fluffy duvet and plump pillows.

Amenities

When I first enter the room, there are two plates waiting for me on the coffee table. One is a chocolate brownie with strawberries, while the other is a plate of fruit.

The amenities are good, and include fluffy slippers and bathrobes. There’s also a kettle and a Nespresso machine. The minibar drinks are complimentary and are replenished daily.

The Bathroom

The bathroom is sleek and features a walk-in shower. I’m also happy to report that it passes the Knight of Malta flood test effortlessly, and the water pressure is exceptional, even on the top floor. The cosmetics are by Balmain.

And the View…

Of course, if you ask me, the room’s best feature is the view of the airport. And it’s so nice that they even thought to put an armchair near the window for more comfortable spotting pleasure! I mean, granted, I don’t spend much time in the room while I’m here, but it’s still nice after a long work day to return to your room to a view like this.

Dining

I only have breakfast at the hotel, which is served at the brasserie at lobby level. Breakfast is a buffet with your typical choice of hot and cold dishes. But there are a lot of dishes! I only took the one photo, so as not to bother the other guest. But I certainly enjoyed the breakfast at the Sofitel a lot!

Conclusion

Well, I’m very pleasantly surprised by the Sofitel Gatwick Airport, which really is a nice hotel with excellent staff. Airport hotels can be a bit depressing sometimes, mainly because they tend to accommodate people who would likely much rather be somewhere, anywhere else. But this hotel has a nice, comfortable feel to it.