Happy Christmas – Head for Points returns on Sunday

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• Jason says:

  25 Dec25 December 07:39

  Happy Xmas all, written from the Intercontinental Hua Hin in Thailand. Thanks to Rob and other contributors for helping to make this happen:

  – BA 2-4-1 used for Club World flights LHR-BKK return
  – 7 nights at the Intercontinental Koh Samui booked using IHG points and free nights from Accelerate 1, pre-IHG devaluation. A cracking 25,000 points per night redemption (now 35,000) when basic rooms were retailing for up to £422 per night, and upgraded to a Club room although without perks via Spire Elite status from Rob’s tip off about the 60,000 bonus points with the IHG Visa which at the time were elite-qualifying
  – Status matched to Hilton Diamond in recent HHonors promo, and used for free breakfast/upgrade/cocktails at Millennium Hilton Bangkok
  – upgraded to beautiful room at current Interconti Hua Hin from Spire Elite status
  – looking forward to trying out the newly renovated Cathay Pacific First Class lounge at BKK on the way back via BA Gold

  This trip would have been completely unaffordable, even unimaginable, just 2-3 years ago. Instead made for an incredible honeymoon. This is why we do what we do! What a hobby.

  Thanks again to HFP and the Commenters, so much friendlier than the US blogs cursed by frequent trolling.

  Jason

  • Danksy says:

    25 Dec25 December 07:41

    Interesting how spire elite is recognized in IHG!

    • Jason says:

      25 Dec25 December 10:26

      Overall mixed bag re Spire, I think the biggest plus (other than the 25k bonus points which were used to bag me an extra £420 night in Koh Samui) has been the was IHG Rewards call centre treated me when I chose to cut short the Koh Samui stay due to awful weather earlier this week and move to Hua Hin. Despite not being entitled to anything (and the resort not being too helpful either) they immediately refunded me the points, called the Interconti Hua Hin, and persuaded them to open up an extra reward night availability so I could move over. Was pretty amazed at that.

      In resort, other than a room upgrade (which could have been due to Ambassador anyway), I got free premium Wifi, a local newspaper that I didn’t read and 25% off breakfast (which I didn’t use either). Oh, and one free drink for the stay.

      Very different to the way Hilton treated me as a new Diamond in Bangkok. When I lose the Spire status I won’t bother to chase it again unless the 2016 benefits yet to be announced are significant. I’ll instead steer my work trips towards Hilton/Conrad instead of Interconti/CP. Hadn’t been in Hiltons for ages beforehand so this status match will work out nicely for them as well as me, pretty shrewd I think.

      • harry says:

        25 Dec25 December 12:17

        See if you can squeeze in Koh Tao

        • Jason says:

          25 Dec25 December 16:02

          Missed that opportunity unfortunately – guess it makes a good excuse to return some day!

  • David says:

    25 Dec25 December 16:05

    We are in Ko Samui. Arrived late weds and I think we are (fortunately) catching the tail end of the bad weather. It was sunny with clouds later both thurs/fri daytime, with rain in the evening. There have usually been gaps between the rain so you can make a dive between places. Take it was much worse last week?

    • Jason says:

      25 Dec25 December 17:10

      Yes, you could say that! There were a couple of days, Tues and Wed, when the changes in the weather were between light, heavy and torrential rain. The forecast was for sun on Fri and rain/thunder other than that, vs wall to wall sunshine in Hua Hin. We’d had a good week in Samui and figured we’d go with the odds and fly back up north. When we awoke on Thurs morning to sun we weren’t sure if we’d made an error, but it shire has been great to be by the pool and walking along the beach uninterrupted by rain.

      Hope the reality for you guys is far better than the forecast

• Danksy says:

  25 Dec25 December 07:40

  I’m in blighty but this year have been on 8 trips , 4 using advice from here and have..

  Gained Hilton diamond and spire elite for me and the wife , racked up 200000 hhonors and 350000 IHG points.

  Stayed and been upgraded at Waldorf cavalieri in Rome, Hilton Brussels, holiday inn Honolulu, Sheraton Kahului Kona, Astoria ras al kameiha , Astoria the palm Dubai.

  Bagged 2 x cheap club world flights to Rome
  Flew to HNL ex DUB for £1k and hit BA silver
  Booked the family to fly ex CPH to LAX for £230 each!

  So a massive thanks

• David says:

  25 Dec25 December 07:44

  Thanks for articles and advice as ever.

  Using, probably our sixth, 2-4-1 on Monday LHR to Denver First out Club back.

• Ralphy says:

  25 Dec25 December 07:45

  Merry Christmas to you and yours Rob and thanks for all the amazing work you do that enables so many benefit with amazing upgrades, great flight deals and free hotel nights and upgrades.

  Currently sat in T5 Galleries lounge and heading to Moscow on the 10.15 flight for Christmas, burned a 241 as couldn’t use it otherwise. Staying at the National, an DOG property which should get us an upgrade.

  Used another 241 just before the BA devaluation and bagged Sydney coming up this March for a month. Will use my New Hilton Diamond status at some point there I am sure as well as burning 400,000 IHG points and about 50,000 SPG points.

  Flying on to New Zealand, can’t decide whether to use Avios, Virgin our AA miles for those flights but it will be fun working out the best value.

  Thanks again Rob, the possibilities, with HfP are endless!

• Cat says:

  25 Dec25 December 07:50

  In a hammock in Thailand, also drinking cocktails. This was not a redemption trip, but I did fly myself and an old school friend out to Nairobi in the summer holidays, first class, using my 2-4-1 voucher, for an awesome safari and beach holiday in Tanzania. Just received my next 2-4-1 voucher and am idly wondering how to use it this time…

  Merry Christmas Rob, and thanks for all of the useful info this year!

  • Metty says:

    25 Dec25 December 08:08

    Merry Christmas Rob, thanks so much for all the hard work. 3 years ago I would never have imagined I’d have done Hawaii TP runs and be sat here in Phu Quoc, Vietnam on an airbed trying not to drop my cocktail in the pool, having flown 4 of us here in J via Tokyo and SGN on BA and JAL using many of your suggested Avios earning opportunities. Have a great 2016!

• DaveP says:

  25 Dec25 December 08:08

  Merry Christmas to you Rob and thanks for all the advice. Took advantage of ex-FRA fares to go to Singapore/Hong Kong in Oct and will be doing ex-CPH next year to LAX, both journeys in CW.

  Have a well-earned break.

• Fadi says:

  25 Dec25 December 08:15

  Jordan, France, Amsterdam, Wales was my route over two days to the Lake District where I am now for Christmas. Merry Christmas everyone and may God bless you all.

• AndyGWP says:

  25 Dec25 December 08:18

  As always Rob, thanks again for all the brill articles this year, and Merry Christmas and thanks to you and all the other people who comment and leave insightful advice and hints! 🙂

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