The new HFP chat thread – Thursday 20th August

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We have decided to run this new daily chat thread on Head for Points.

Historically, the daily ‘Bits’ articles were the de facto repository for random comments and questions. It is unlikely that the news flow will be so big over the next few weeks that we will need many ‘Bits’ articles, however.

The comments under this article are where you should post questions about travel and, indeed, anything else on your mind. At this tricky time, and given that many of you are stuck at home self-isolating, we want the HFP community to have a place to chat.

Please only comment under the main articles on the site if your comment is directly related to the topic of the article. This has long-term benefits as its keeps the commentary relevant for people who read those articles in the future.

By default, HFP shows the last page of comments under the article. If you want to see the first page of comments and read them all from beginning to end in order, click here: https://hfp2022.headforpoints.blog/2020/08/20/the-new-hfp-chat-thread-thursday-20th-august/comment-page-1. The page will refresh with this article but the comments will now show the first page and not the last page.

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Category

General

This article is closed to new posts. Discussion continues in the HfP Forums.

Shaun says:

20 Aug20 August 10:33

Hotel query, need to book x3 nights in Edinburgh for 7/8 people for a golf trip in late September. Any suggestions on options and the best way to book ie Hotels.com or something else?
Somewhere central, twin rooms fine etc. Thanks Shaun
- Dave says:
  
  20 Aug20 August 11:33
  
  Hotels.com would be your best bet. 10 room nights equals one free for you. They also have a price match if you see the hotel you want cheaper elsewhere.
- Andrew says:
  
  20 Aug20 August 11:53
  
  If you bank with LBG, you might find a 10% funds return option on Apex Hotels on your offers pages.
- Lady London says:
  
  20 Aug20 August 12:53
  
  Take a look at the “booker” incentive scheme covered by Rob in an article here about 3-4 days ago? IIRC you’d get half the points for each room you book for someone else, in IHG.
  
  If you’re quick and book by next Monday 24th? you could use either the IHG 2nightsfor1 current excellent pricing (article on here) or there’s another current IHG promo that claims to take about 34 % off for 3 nights expiring 31st? but pricing not as good as the 241.
- Peggers says:
  
  20 Aug20 August 13:08
  
  Check out the new city centre Malmaison – there is a nice one in Leith too, but not central – as Malmaison have a 3 nights for 2 thing going on atm. Can’t remember the dates but may fit. I’m aware it’s not a points opportunity really.
  City centre Malmaison is in St Andrew Square. 2 mins from trains, 1 min from airport tram. 2 mins from Princes St.
Ant says:

20 Aug20 August 10:38

Sitting on the plane to Malta. There are no more than 15 people on board. Can’t see this route lasting for much longer. In fact booked our return trip with Ryanair in 10 days time.
WiFi on board is v poor takes forever to open a website
Got a box with cheese & tomato croissant and a pot of fruit. Okish.
Lounge at LHR was busy though they had a whole section closed. I do like the order by app system it is much more pleasant.
AndyW says:

20 Aug20 August 11:55

Potentially need a Stansted airport hotel. Anyone happen to know if any have suits type rooms with a separate bedroom (multiple young kids) or connecting rooms that they would actually make sure you are setup in? Thanks
- AndyW says:
  
  20 Aug20 August 11:56
  
  Suite type! Oh and I have looked and struggling on this one
- MrHandBaggageOnly says:
  
  20 Aug20 August 15:19
  
  The Radisson Blu has family rooms and (from memory) connecting rooms, although I suspect you’d have to call to make sure you had those.
S879 says:

20 Aug20 August 12:20

I am confused about British Citizens needing a tourist visa to Turkey. Last year I had to pay at Istanbul Airport to get the visa but when I am looking online it says we are exempt. Am not sure and don’t want to pay unless its required.
- Baji Nahid says:
  
  20 Aug20 August 13:39
  
  Yes brits are now exempt from getting a visa to turkey
  - S879 says:
    
    20 Aug20 August 15:04
    
    Thank you for confirming
xcalx says:

20 Aug20 August 13:11

Curve cash I just had a large refund from a cancelled cruise appear in curve cash. I would have preferred it back on payment card. Tried to send it to NS&I with no luck is it stuck there for purchases only. Thanks
- xcalx says:
  
  20 Aug20 August 13:13
  
  Curve blue card
- xcalx says:
  
  20 Aug20 August 13:25
  
  Sorted NS&I worked on second try.
HM says:

20 Aug20 August 13:18

Hi Rob,

I have about 200k Skywards miles of which ~30k are expiring at the end of August. Obviously I am not going to be booking any EK redemptions before then so I am looking to try and liberate the miles before they expire.

Am I right in thinking that my best option is to transfer them to Heathrow Rewards now and then convert them later to a £300 voucher when I have a chunky purchase in mind?

Also, if I transfer the miles, will that be the ‘correct’ 30k miles – i.e. the remainder will live on until their respective expiry dates?

Thanks, HM.
AndyK says:

20 Aug20 August 13:18

Considering taking out Vitality Amex.
Can anyone with the card give some idea of offers available on the card?
PK says:

20 Aug20 August 14:27

Hi All

I have a prepaid Advance Purchase Hilton booking for December 2020, booked in February 2020.

I’d like to cancel this, and get a full refund, will Hilton allow this ? Will it matter that the CC used has expired?

Thanks for your help
- Anna says:
  
  20 Aug20 August 16:49
  
  It seems to depend a bit on the hotel – I recently requested (via customer contact form on the website) cancellation of a “non-refundable” stay in Carcassonne at October half term, booked well before the COVID crisis. I thought I might have problems, especially as another poster had a bad experience trying to cancel an airport hotel in Paris, but within a couple of days it was showing as cancelled in the app, no quibbles.
  If you do get a refund you would just have to contact the card issuer and arrange for the money to be transferred to another card or your bank account. Amex are quite efficient at this, I’ve never done it with a visa or MC though.