The HfP chat thread – Tuesday 29th September

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• James. says:

  29 Sep29 September 08:44

  Looking at a cheap trip to NYC next year (COVID pending). Looking to stay at the Intercontinental Time Square and utilise all the rewards I have through Ambassador and IHG.

  Has anyone had any experience with trying to use the 2 at once (i.e. Reward Night from points or credit card) mixed with an Ambassador weekend night

  • James. says:

    29 Sep29 September 08:47

    Sorry, think I have just found my answer:

    The Complimentary Weekend Night is not valid on any other rates and cannot be used in conjunction with Reward / Free Nights or any other promotional

    • Anna says:

      29 Sep29 September 08:54

      James – there’s nothing to stop you making your Ambassador free night booking then using an IHG free night certificate or points for a separate booking for the 1st or 3rd night. I think the Ts and Cs just mean you can’t have it all on the same booking. Just make sure you contact the hotel or mention it at check in and they should keep you in the same room if possible.

    • memesweeper says:

      29 Sep29 September 08:56

      If you are staying for three or more nights you can book two as Ambassador and ‘tack on’ one or more reward nights on another booking. Email the hotel a few days before arrival pointing out the two bookings are one. They might make you move room for the award night(s) if they are busy but it’s unlikely.

      • ChrisC says:

        29 Sep29 September 09:25

        I has a 7 night booking at the IC in San Francicso for earlier this year (that never happened)

        It was 2 nights cash, 2 nights using the cert and 4 nights on points. I emailed them asking them to link all 3 bookings and the reply was basically ‘no problem’ – they were still 3 sepatate bookings for points and in my IHG account etc purposes but one single booking for the room allocation.

    • James. says:

      29 Sep29 September 12:31

      Thanks everyone you have confirmed what I was going to do so much appreciated.

  • JA says:

    29 Sep29 September 09:01

    I stayed at the IC Boston for 4 nights. 2 nights were using Ambassador weekend night and 2 reward nights. I did it using 2 bookings and just emailed the hotel so they could link the bookings and I didn’t have to change rooms.

  • Dan says:

    29 Sep29 September 10:22

    I did a points, credit card night and AMB weekend booking in Feb-19. We had one night in a dual aspect suite as they were busy and then moved to a triple aspect suite. Views were amazing!

    • Dan says:

      29 Sep29 September 10:25

      I should have added that the AMB booking was for the standard suite and the reward nights were standard rooms so well upgraded. Spire / Ambassador.

• Aston100 says:

  29 Sep29 September 08:58

  Does anyone have experience of an IHG property close to South Kensington and the museums?
  The following seem to be close enough:
  Indigo Kensington
  Crowne Plaza – Kensington
  Holiday Inn – Kensington Forum

  I’m keen on the Indigo, but it seems to be a bit of a walk to the museums, but looks to be very close to Earls Court tube.
  The Holiday Inn is far cheaper and nearer to the museums, but I’m not convinced by the reviews.

  Thanks.

  • Andrew says:

    29 Sep29 September 09:13

    Indigo Kensington should be name Earls Court as that’s its location – literally 2 minutes walk from the tube. For the museums with the CP Kensington or HI Kensington Forum – both close to Gloucester Road tube and a short walk to South Kensington tube where the museums start. If you’re happy to take the tube and want a nicer hotel then Indigo is very nice and the mini bar is free!

    • Chris says:

      29 Sep29 September 16:54

      Bit pointless getting the tube from Earls Court to the museums – it’s no more than a 20 min walk.

  • YC says:

    29 Sep29 September 09:15

    Without looking at prices, I would go Crowne Plaza. Holiday Inn is a very old hotel (lots of airlines up their crew here) and Indigo is a bit far (although new and good service). There is also a Melia near the crowne plaza (worth checking any points arbitrage is possible if Melia points are still on sale)

    • Andrew says:

      29 Sep29 September 09:26

      And Hilton Hyde Park which Rob reviewed for his ‘day room’ article last week – that’s very cheap too and you can walk through Hyde Park down to the museums – which would be a nicer walk than walking from Earls Court along the road. Any central London hotel is dirt cheap apart from the very top ones which are still charging their usual high prices – the Kensington Forum one is £46 for Saturday nights in October.

      • Rob says:

        29 Sep29 September 10:26

        £46 is a fair price for that dump! If you trust the weather then I agree with the above re Hilton Hyde Park.

        Depending on price, the Hilton Curio at 100 Queen’s Gate is a stonking location for the museums and it looks like a nice hotel too, although I believe some rooms are in the basement.

  • Andrew says:

    29 Sep29 September 09:43

    A short walk away is the Holiday Inn – Kensington High Street.

    We use it regularly for conferencing. It’s behind High Street Kensington tube station. I usually get a very good room there – although that may be linked to me paying the invoice for the meeting…

    I’ve never eaten there in the evening, but breakfast (in normal times) is excellent. Their conference catering (we always have a full hot buffet meal) is superb.

    • Rob says:

      29 Sep29 September 10:23

      This is an interesting one. It converted before it was refurbished and initial feedback was shocking. I haven’t heard much about it since it was done up. High Street Ken is still a bit of a trot to the museums, although excellent for the shopping on High Street Ken.

      • Andrew says:

        29 Sep29 September 10:30

        HI HSK is awful, I used to have to stay there a lot for work when nothing else was in budget – it’s also an airline crew hotel (they even have a dedicated lift!) the rooms are so small although they have been refurbished in an Ikea MDF way. The location is handy for the tube (walk through Boots and out the side exit rather than round the front of the station and on to the main road; and there are lots of eateries close by. But a long way from the museums.

  • Paul74 says:

    29 Sep29 September 09:51

    I stayed at the Indigo Kensington late in the Summer and thought it was pretty good.

  • DB2020 says:

    29 Sep29 September 10:17

    Rob has previously recommended the Crowne Plaza to other readers.

    The Holiday Inn Forum Kensington is long overdue for refurbishment, although there is a planning application for the entire building to be torn down and a completely new hotel and apartment complex to be built, so unlikely that they will be refurbishing the hotel.

    Previously I used to recommend the Holiday Inn Forum to friends but for the last ten years or so, I have been recommending the Crowne Plaza.

    • Rob says:

      29 Sep29 September 10:21

      Agree with all that.

  • BJ says:

    29 Sep29 September 10:44

    Indigo. Nice hotel, good value, short walk, short tube, short walk through the tunnel to all three museums. Wouldn’t even consider the others if points and/or money worked at Indigo.

    • Andrew says:

      29 Sep29 September 10:50

      And free mini bar at Indigo

  • Yorkieflyer says:

    29 Sep29 September 11:15

    Kensington Forum a character less huge bed factory that’s old and basic. Indigo is great location just round the corner from Earls Court tube, nice local vibe with pubs and restaurants that are not overly touristy

  • The Savage Squirrel says:

    29 Sep29 September 11:19

    Not helpful as it’s not IHG… 😀 but the Rembrandt is literally just round the corner from the museums and, depending on rates, can be very decent for the price. Joining Sarova Select (free) should get you a free – if minimal – upgrade.

  • Michael C says:

    29 Sep29 September 11:47

    Just book (also on the recommentation of Rob & others) CP King Club room for a Nov. w/end for my niece, GBP100.
    Wonderlab at the Science Museum, skating at Nat. History, Harrods & Sunday lunch at Hawksmoor!

  • Steve says:

    29 Sep29 September 19:46

    There’s also the Ampersand right outside South Ken which must be one of the closest to the museums.
    Seems to have upped in class since I worked there in its Norfolk Moat House incarnation.

    • Rob says:

      29 Sep29 September 21:42

      Ampersand is nice, at least downstairs – I use the lounge for meetings sometimes if people are coming in or out of Heathrow.

  • Aston100 says:

    29 Sep29 September 21:19

    Thanks to everyone who replied and contributed their thoughts and alternative suggestions.
    I’ve gone ahead and booked the Indigo.
    The chap on the phone there seemed quite excited about having guests, and was assuring me I’d get a decent upgrade despite not being Spire.
    If anyone here has watched the first season of Altered Carbon, this situation was just like the AI hotel host ‘Poe’ receiving his first guests in 50 years.
    Seems like a very bad time for big city hotels.

    Thanks again.

• Nick G says:

  29 Sep29 September 09:36

  Just trying to decide whether to go for a 3 day break in Warsaw at the hotel Bristol….via a cracking BA holidays price. Or stay in London and was thinking of the Hilton Bankside and take our son to the imperial war museum.

  Both have risks of one kind. Just wish I could decide the best idea. Poland could end up a non starter and equally London could change…

  Has anyone been to the hotel Bristol? Or the Hilton Bankside?

  I’m trying to encourage my son not to be afraid of Covid but understand it and why things are different. At 6 yrs old he’s better than some I’ve seen on the news and with him learning about world war 2 recently at school I want to keep up his interest in history and life yet somehow be safe??!!

  • BJ says:

    29 Sep29 September 10:33

    Staying in your own home is not without risks, there are risks in everything we do. Frankly, I don’t think going overseas at the moment is worth the potential hassle, especially when there is something you would happily do in the UK. I have visited all the major museums in London. The Imperial War Museum held least interest for me before visiting but it turned out to be my favourite after doing so. It is a fantastic place, very insightful and thought provoking for both adults and kids.

    • The Savage Squirrel says:

      29 Sep29 September 11:22

      +1. The Holocaust Exhibition may not be suitable depending on age, but is a must for older chidren.

  • Harry T says:

    29 Sep29 September 12:12

    If you are happy with BA’s flexible booking policies, then Warsaw could be worth a punt. It will depend on your individual risk tolerance and assessment. I’ve booked plenty of UK trips over the next few months and even they could be scuppered by covid!

    I’ve been abroad a few times in July and August, but some holidays were cancelled due to last minute covid restrictions. Nothing is risk free right now. You just have to figure out what risk you are happy with.

    • chabuddy geezy says:

      29 Sep29 September 22:20

      The uprising museum in Warsaw is definitely worth a visit if you are interested in ww2.

• Ben says:

  29 Sep29 September 09:53

  If I spend today on my BAPP to get over £10k, would the voucher post with the 6 month expiry extension? Or have I left it too late…

  • Anna says:

    29 Sep29 September 10:06

    Did you post this somewhere else? You’re pushing it as you the transaction needs to clear before the voucher is triggered but you might just make it as it’s a weekday and less likely that Amex will delay processing the payment.

    • Ben says:

      29 Sep29 September 10:07

      Thanks – nope, first time asking but thanks for the help.

      • Anna says:

        29 Sep29 September 10:11

        See the poster above who asked this earlier, there are some more responses!

• Doug M says:

  29 Sep29 September 10:29

  Are you guys going to cover JetBlue starting transatlantic service, or wait and see if it really happens.
  Also, for anyone that may be interested currently fares to some US cities from Luxembourg are really low, think £850 for Miami or Boston in Business. That’s not much more than the fees on a redemption, albeit less flexible.

  • Rhys says:

    29 Sep29 September 11:05

    We know it’s happening and we’ve covered it previously.

    • Doug M says:

      29 Sep29 September 13:06

      Indeed, but if they’ve really secured Heathrow slots I’d say that’s news. In terms of my interest that peaks way above some unlikely to ever be enforced changes to the BAEC T&C’s.

  • Harry T says:

    29 Sep29 September 12:15

    The prices from Luxembourg are very good. I’m tempted but exEU adds another element of uncertainty at the moment, with an extra country’s entry restrictions to worry about. Though hopefully things will be better by summer next year!

    I think these sale prices really show how little value a 241 is to the US, unless potentially travelling in F, if you have flexible leave and are happy to add an extra EU mini stay to your holiday.

    • ChrisC says:

      29 Sep29 September 18:02

      I’d never thought od LIUX as an ex-EU starting point. Some good fares to e.g. next March (when I want to go for) less than a grand.

      If I book by tomoorrow it will still come under book with confidence.

      Will have a sleep on it tonight.

      My alternative was ex INV with a single nigts hotel so it counts as a holiday co can pay a deposit only.

      • Doug M says:

        29 Sep29 September 22:54

        According to some posts on FT you can make it even cheaper by leaving LUX and returning to BRU.

  • Rob says:

    29 Sep29 September 13:54

    Here’s the thing. The stories at the weekend about JetBlue getting Heathrow slots are solely based on a comment on a VERY niche and totally unread UK aviation website. It sites ‘multiple sources’, which is even less trustworthy than saying ‘one source’. We haven’t heard it from even one source.

    The GM of JetBlue Europe is a mate of ours from Flybe so I will hopefully be able to get the proper, verified story at a suitable time.

    • Doug M says:

      29 Sep29 September 14:10

      OK cheers. In itself interesting there’s a JetBlue Europe.

• Rob says:

  29 Sep29 September 11:10

  Hi all. Tier Run advice please. I am blue BAEC with my collection year ending mid November. I will not achieve status by the end of this collection year so will wait until it resets and then do a tier run to get Gold. Does anyone know if I can become Gold if I fly at the end of November by using the reduced Tier threshold BA introduced? (1,125 vs 1,500 that it was) Or is it only applicable for the next Tier above so Blue to Bronze only? (in my case) Thank you for any advice.

  • TGLoyalty says:

    29 Sep29 September 12:53

    It was applicable to all tiers not just the one above your current one.

    No idea how long it was for tbh but I believe it’s atleast for any TP years starting this calendar year.

• antoinette says:

  29 Sep29 September 11:30

  apologies for the very OTT question, but has anyone done a virtual gin tasting and can recommend a company? Any ideas for virtual events much appreciated as i am trying to organise a few events for employees and clients

  • johnny_c-l says:

    29 Sep29 September 11:45

    I’ve used ‘Mix and Match’ for a virtual cocktail session before, it was a good experience (if a bit rushed, we did three cocktails in an hour so not much time for conversation in between making drinks).

    They post out the glasses, cocktail shaker, ingredients and booze to you the day before. Not sure if they do gin specifically but might be worth checking them out.

  • Neil says:

    29 Sep29 September 12:21

    Cocoa Runners to virtual chocolate events and also chocolate + wine or beer I think.

  • Colin MacKinnon says:

    29 Sep29 September 21:49

    Pals run Edinburgh Personal Chef and have done several online events for one of the big banks, plus weekly shows for an activity company.

• Andrew says:

  29 Sep29 September 11:40

  I purchased a batch of cheap Dragon Pass visits via Red Dufry when Rob posted this deal back in January. For obvious reason it looks like I’m not going to get to use any of them this year.
  Does anyone remember how you cancel and get a refund? I seem to remember you have to close your account – but is that your Red Dufry account or your Dragon Pass account

  • BS says:

    29 Sep29 September 12:35

    I emailed them as in same position. I have it in writing they are intending to extend the passes for 1 year.

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