The HfP chat thread – Sunday 20th September

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• Lost confused says:

  20 Sep20 September 07:51

  It’s quiet in here today…

  Does anyone have suggestions on a reasonably priced destination this winter where a 5 year old can learn to ski? Obviously I’m hoping for options which I can cancel if COVID-19 is rampant – I think this rules out France where hotels wont refund?

  • Peter K says:

    20 Sep20 September 08:31

    Manchester? If Chill Factor is open that is.

    • Lost confused says:

      20 Sep20 September 09:26

      Hmm, sadly that might turn out to be a sensible suggestion although I was hoping for something more picturesque… MK is nearer for us but Manchester must be a more interesting destination. Thanks for the idea

  • Jonathan says:

    20 Sep20 September 09:20

    I think skiing is probably off the table everywhere in Europe this year. The fixed costs are so high (running lifts, snow making, piste maintenance & patrol etc.) that it only makes sense if you can guarantee a busy Xmas/New Year & Feb half term. Apparently every other week in the season is loss making. I definitely wouldn’t expect chalet companies/hotels to take the risk employing staff for a season that could be a write off.

    Some resorts in close proximity to cities may well open at weekends if the snow is good so places like Chamonix, Innsbruck/St Anton especially if they have a permanent resident population.

    • Lost confused says:

      20 Sep20 September 09:54

      All interesting thanks.

      I guess I’m more likely to pick a hotel than chalet as I perceive the risk as lower, but perhaps it’s not going to make much difference.
      I’m also thinking a package (I wouldn’t usually) might be better than independent booking to cancel everything in one place if we can’t travel (ie hotel, flights, lessons and lift pass) rather than relying on insurance to claim back money.

    • Gavin says:

      20 Sep20 September 11:31

      I’ll be very surprised if most resorts are not running ski lifts as normal this season (with reduced capacity on gondolas etc). Many resorts have already published their procedures for this coming winter, are selling lift passes etc. This is for France, for example:
      https://www.france-montagnes.com/covid-19-quel-protocole-cet-hiver-dans-les-stations-de-ski

    • Chrisasaurus says:

      20 Sep20 September 16:05

      Not to be that guy but they ain’t fixed costs if you can avoid them by not opening…

  • Ming The Merciless says:

    20 Sep20 September 09:23

    As a competent skier and mountaineer, I couldn’t recommend Bulgaria (Bansko) enough for giving young kids an introduction to skiing. From memory we were £500 a person for a week including Flights Private lessons, equipment, full board. If my 5 year old had refused to partake it would have been annoying but Not the end of the world!

    • Lost confused says:

      20 Sep20 September 09:41

      Bansko is an interesting idea. I learnt to ski there a bit over 10 years ago. How recently were you there? Do you think the town is kid friendly (eating options) as I remember it being very apres ski (might just be where we choose to go in the evenings).

  • memesweeper says:

    20 Sep20 September 09:40

    Cairngorms?

    • BJ says:

      20 Sep20 September 12:08

      +1, Take the uncertainty of overseas travel out of the equation. Just book when you know they have snow in Cairngorm and/or Glenshee but all is not lost if they don’t as thru will almost certainly have artificial snow on nursery slopes. You could do a two centre.

  • TripRep says:

    20 Sep20 September 16:01

    Glen Shee, weather permitting

• Brighton Belle says:

  20 Sep20 September 08:45

  A question for Hilton fans…We have Hilton Diamond. We like Hilton Bankside or Tower Bridge if it’s cheaper. What other London Hiltons are worth considering that are in the same class and have a pool? Conrad always seems pricey. Need a change from Bankside

  • Chrisasaurus says:

    20 Sep20 September 08:58

    Afaik that’s it for pools I’m afraid

    Conrad is v good, doubletree Victoria is well placed

    • Andrew (@andrewseftel) says:

      20 Sep20 September 09:52

      Metropole has a pool, but wouldn’t say it’s in the same class as those two.

      • Chrisasaurus says:

        20 Sep20 September 16:08

        Ah forgot that – yes their airport hotel experience without the airport

        But cheap as cheap chips right now..

  • BJ says:

    20 Sep20 September 12:18

    Wembley and T4 have pools but not what else you have in mind I guess. We are trying DT KGX Angel next spring as reportedly has good status recognition and a lounge, and seems to be good value for the points (we paid 150k for 5 nights). No pool though. Works for us to arrive and depart KGX.

    • Crafty says:

      20 Sep20 September 21:46

      Islington Doubletree is absolutely fine, but nothing to get excited about. Lounge is a small glass box near the entrance. Go round the corner and get a nice breakfast up on one of the bars’ rooftops.

  • Lyn says:

    20 Sep20 September 18:06

    The Waldorf Hilton also has a pool, although I don’t know if it open at the moment. I’ve only stayed there once, a couple of years ago, but chose it because it was close to Somerset House for an early morning appointment, and gave me a chance to have an even earlier morning swim. A couple of other people were also doing laps and seemed to be regulars from outside the hotel, perhaps part of a club. I don’t know what it is like at other times of the day. I was lucky and given lounge access as Hilton Gold, but think that was probably because it was the first time I stayed there.

• John W says:

  20 Sep20 September 08:48

  Who is planning on travelling between now and New Year – Where are you planning on travelling to ?

  I want to be away in the sun around new year, so looking for ideas !

  • memesweeper says:

    20 Sep20 September 09:42

    I’ve booked to Costa Rica but need a change in UK government policy or we won’t be going 🙁

    • John W says:

      20 Sep20 September 15:11

      Memesweeper , As long as you arrive with Negative Covid test , you are ok arent you ? – Or am I missing something ?

      • memesweeper says:

        20 Sep20 September 18:53

        Negative test is required — as is a route through a country not on the quarantine list. Could be tricky.

    • Stephen Walker says:

      20 Sep20 September 18:09

      Im planning to be in CR late Nov/early Dec with help of a negative test

  • Harry T says:

    20 Sep20 September 09:44

    A few UK staycations. Probably a trip to the UAE if I can find a way out of my trip to Hong Kong (need to rearrange or claim on travel insurance).

  • BJ says:

    20 Sep20 September 12:24

    Booked for Thailand but doubt we will get there.

• Chris says:

  20 Sep20 September 08:56

  Does anyone have any frequent flier blogs/sites focused on the Spain market? I’ve been searching off and on for a while but their don’t seem to be any in English? I’ll even take a Spanish one and use google translate at this point!

  • Doreen says:

    20 Sep20 September 09:35

    If you google “blogs de viajes por España” several will come up (sorry, not aware of any in English)

• Michael C says:

  20 Sep20 September 09:03

  Spot poll: I have a similar price for LHR-BKK next year.
  Would you choose Premium Economy return, or Economy out-Club back combo?!
  One “advantage” is that there’s 3 of us, so would have own Economy row…

  • mr_jetlag says:

    20 Sep20 September 09:09

    Y out J back.

    For me, PE is the worst of both worlds – not enough room to lie down, and no chance of a “ghetto business” bed in case economy loads are light.

    • Novice says:

      20 Sep20 September 10:18

      I agree. I used PE a couple times when started travelling solo and honestly I regretted it every time and the seats always left me in pain for some strange reason. It’s like my body got confused. 😂

      PE is crap anyway. There’s no point to it. Just pay legroom in Economy and come back in style.

  • TGLoyalty says:

    20 Sep20 September 09:14

    WTP return and upgrade one or both legs with Avios?

    • BJ says:

      20 Sep20 September 12:37

      That would be my choice if possible, However, if you have enough avios to do CW out but not return then check obe way J fares on Sri Lanka back from BKK. If tge orice on web js acceotable tgen call abd ask them how much for a flexible fare, iy id not usually much more. Sri Lankan is very good.

      Also, regarding your trip to Hua Hin, if you are not already sold on points for ohe of the mega resorts then check out Baan Talay Dao, a few years since I stayed there but it was a little gem.

      • Michael C says:

        20 Sep20 September 15:12

        Thanks BJ, will have a look. We’ve done the Evason (out of town) a few times (now changed hands), but will stay in town to be in walking distance of markets etc. this time. Lunch at the vineyard in the hills is always a nice side trip!

  • Harry T says:

    20 Sep20 September 09:46

    Any night flights in J. Worth considering buying PE and upgrading to J with Avios if you don’t have enough to get J for three outright with Avios.

    • TGLoyalty says:

      20 Sep20 September 11:48

      Even if you have enough to get Avios outright it’s well worth looking at WTP then J upgrades as they can give you a big saving.

      • AJA says:

        20 Sep20 September 14:01

        Plus you earn TP and Avios on the underlying WT+ fare or if you’re lucky you get the CW Avios and TP crediting as happened to me a couple of years ago 🙂

        • TGLoyalty says:

          20 Sep20 September 14:05

          They’ve closed that loophole.

          Can still happen if it’s cancelled and rebooked.

    • Michael C says:

      20 Sep20 September 15:17

      ..and of course, outbound (night) is the pricey one, and good Y inbound on day flight!
      Will look at idea of WTP +upgrade, though didn’t point out that my decent prices are Hotline flights, so will have to calculate the relevant “savings”!

• tony says:

  20 Sep20 September 09:32

  Has anyone found their Iberia account shut down? I had – I think – a few hundred Avios in there but can’t now access it or reset the password….

• Novice says:

  20 Sep20 September 10:21

  I’m curious; are there any fiction writers here? I’ve always wanted to ask this.

  • Peter K says:

    20 Sep20 September 10:59

    It depends on if they are filling out tesco pet insurance forms or not 😉

    • Jimbob says:

      20 Sep20 September 11:36

      That reminds me, I need to cancel my Tesco pet insurance. Sadly Splodge met an untimely death 🙁

    • Aston100 says:

      20 Sep20 September 11:50

      Comment of the week LOL.

    • Novice says:

      20 Sep20 September 12:04

      😂 I didn’t think that when I asked but you are right. Y’all are fiction writers to some extent (when points/money is involved).

      I’m still curious. Am I the only writer here fr???

      • Crafty says:

        20 Sep20 September 21:48

        Go on I’ll bite: send us a link to something you’ve written then.

• AJA says:

  20 Sep20 September 11:57

  My first supplementary card on BAPP arrived midweek.I got the bonus 3000 Avios before the card arrived. Does the Avios earned on spend on the card go to the supplementary card holder or into my BAEC account?

  • Jimbob says:

    20 Sep20 September 11:58

    Your account

    • AJA says:

      20 Sep20 September 12:06

      Thanks that’s what i thought but nice to have it confirmed. Might have a fighting chance of getting the 2-4-1 voucher now, spend so far since renewal has been lower than usual.

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