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Five hotels with helipads

11 Jul 2012

The option of a helicopter transfer to the hotel is a treat, but sometimes, it can also be a necessity, especially when you are in a city with notorious road traffic. And other times, you may simply want an aerial experience. Here are five properties with helipads:


Jakarta, Indonesia
 
Shangri-La Jakarta
 
Located in the heart of the city’s Sudirman business district, this luxury hotel is an urban oasis that forms part of the Kota BNI (Bank Negara Indonesia) complex. 
 
Location: Built in 1994, the helipad is on the 32nd floor, more than 211 metres above ground.
 
Services: Jakarta-based operators Transwisata Prima Aviation and Javajet provide helicopter services on demand. Airport transfer service and sightseeing tours can be arranged on request. 
 
Cost: Rates for chartered service start from US$2,000 an hour, and the hotel charges a landing fee of US$100 per landing.
 

www.shangri-la.com/Jakarta  

 
Bangkok, Thailand
 
Peninsula Bangkok
 
Situated on the banks of the Chao Phraya, this hotel is uniquely designed in a W-shape to allow guests in all the rooms to enjoy the river view. The circular landing space for helicopters, in use since 1998, has automatic barriers lining its edges for safety.
 
Location: Located on the 38th floor and 114 metres above ground, the helipad can be reached from the Aviation Lounge via a lift.
 
Services: Advance Aviation runs the helicopter services, including airport transfers and sightseeing tours. A "Fly You to the Moon" package is offered for those wanting to celebrate special occasions such as, among others, surprise marriage proposals.
 
Cost: One-way transfer from the airport costs THB43,750 (US$1,381). Aerial journeys can be arranged for guests who purchase a minimum of two hours of service at the price of THB87,500 (US$2,762) per hour.
 

www.peninsula.com/Bangkok


Bangalore, India

 
ITC Royal Gardenia
 
Situated in the commercial heart of the India's IT hub, ITC Royal Gardenia has a circular helipad inaugurated in October 2009. It is set atop the hotel's 5,040 sqm duplex, Peacock Suite (presidential suite).
 
Location: Located on 12th floor, the landing space is 54 metres from the ground.
 
Services: The helipad is licensed by Directorate of Civil Aviation as a daytime landing facility. OSS Air Management operates the flights. Airport transfers and city visits can be arranged. A package inclusive of accommodation in the Presidential suite is available.
 
Cost: One-way journey from Bengaluru International Airport to the hotel costs about US$2,679 for up to a maximum of six guests.


 

Istanbul, Turkey
 
Ciragan Palace Kempinski Istanbul
 
Located on the European shores of the Bosphorus, Ciragan Palace Kempinski claims to offer supreme luxury services and facilities. The hotel’s rectangular shape H-1 category helipad, opened in 2000, is the first registered hotel helipad in the city.
 
Location: Situated at the Palace Garden, the helipad is at sea level.
 
Services: The hotel operates a licensed helipad with Kaan Air as the subcontractor, running two helicopters - an Agusto 119 Koala (six seats) and Enstrom 480B (three seats). Other helicopters may also land or take off here. 
 
Cost: Prices vary, depending on the number of passengers, duration and travel distance. A 30-minute city tour onboard the Agusto 119 Koala for up to three passengers costs US$859 per head, whereas a one-way transfer to the Ataturk Airport or Sabiha Gokcen Airport is priced at US$859/US$1,411. On an Enstrom 480B, the prices are US$1,104, US$859 and US$1,349 respectively.
 

www.kempinski.com

 

Vevey, Switzerland
 
Le Mirador Kempinski
 
Set at the foot of Mont Pèlerin by the Lake of Geneva, near Lausanne, this property is located in the same Swiss town that is also home to the headquarters of global food producer Nestle. It is known for its cosmetic dentistry facility and wellness centre, and to reach it, you can choose to land on the helipad set against the backdrop of the Alps.
 
Location: Built in 2009 on the hotel's rooftop, the helipad is some 800 metres above sea level and offers a magnificent view of the lake.
 
Services: The closest airports are in Sion and Geneva. A helicopter transfer from either takes 20 to 25 minutes. Private tours around the area can be arranged and a journey across the lake and over the mountain is highly recommended by the hotel.
 
Cost: The cost is CHF2,200 (US$2,244)-CHF2,400 (US$2,448) per transfer and the helicopter can fly two to four passengers. There are no pre-set packages but customised tours can be arranged.
 
 

 

For a round-up of more hotels with helipads, click here


Michelle Fong and Reggie Ho

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