The HfP chat thread – Tuesday 8th December

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• memesweeper says:

  8 Dec8 December 15:57

  From today’s Guardian:

  Why didn’t Mary and Joseph make it to Bethlehem?

  Because all Virgin flights were cancelled.

  • Anna says:

    8 Dec8 December 16:01

    But they did make it to Bethlehem! Must have exercised their EU261 rights to re-routing by donkey.

  • Charlieface says:

    8 Dec8 December 16:14

    Have fun:
    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=euYzySIQgiQ

    • Charlieface says:

      8 Dec8 December 16:14

      Not the Nine o’Clock News: Nativity sketch, in case anyone was wondering

      • mark2 says:

        8 Dec8 December 16:35

        I prefer the car hire office!

• PJJ says:

  8 Dec8 December 16:04

  Had an email earlier today with regards to Eurostar extending status for5 months
  Anyone aware if they are extending the points from expiring by the same 5 months
  TIA

• Nick G says:

  8 Dec8 December 16:09

  Anyone been to the newish Grand Hyatt Abu Dhabi and any experience of the club lounge there? Been to the Fairmont Bab Al Bahr and thoroughly enjoyed it. Toying between RC and the Grand Hyatt. I’ve emailed the GH and they accept children in the lounge but no mention of an afternoon tea just “11:00 AM – 11:00 PM (All day tea, coffee, juices, fruits and pastries)”.

  Just looking at pushing the button on a 10night trip next October.

• Tom says:

  8 Dec8 December 16:17

  Hi all, I have two questions regarding Marriott hotels.

  1. Has anyone stayed at the Marriott Regents Park in the last 1-2 years? If yes, what are your impressions? I keep reading reviews online and scrolling through pictures but I am not sure whether I want to stay there.

  2. Can someone explain Marriott’s categories to me? Or is there any good article about the categories? I cannot find anything and I find it quite strange that some Marriott hotels in London (e.g. Residence Inns) are in a Cat 6 (same as the Dixon) while Marriott Canary Wharf is in Cat 5 and the University Arms in CAM is in Cat 4 …

  • Anna says:

    8 Dec8 December 16:40

    Am I right in thinking the individual hotel gets to choose which category it falls into? There are some surprisingly low ones (like the Trump Turnberry) and some ridiculously high ones like the Grand Cayman Marriott Beach Resort which is a nice but not special hotel (which doesn’t even have a beach any more) but considers itself to be Cat 7!

  • Harry T says:

    8 Dec8 December 17:32

    The categories are decided centrally by Marriott and reflect the demand for redemption bookings. So properties that are frequently booked on points tend to be in higher categories. Generally speaking, the more expensive luxury hotels are higher categories because they have cash values and people tend to redeem there.

    • Anna says:

      8 Dec8 December 17:38

      Well, they do probably have a lot of points-rich Americans booking the GCM properties. As and when the island’s re-open for tourism, the Westin is probably the best value Bonvoy redemption, much better property than the Marriott (even though cash and points rates are similar) but not ridiculously overpriced like the RC, where a points night or lowest cash price will only get you a room on the wrong side of the main road from the beach!
      Let’s not talk about the Turnberry any more then, shall we 🤣.

• Max says:

  8 Dec8 December 16:40

  Does anyone have any recommendations for Covid test centres in London to get a fit-to-fly certificate for travelling to Spain?

  I’ve also read that the NHS drive-thru tests are potentially valid, does anyone have experience of this?

  • Zoe says:

    8 Dec8 December 17:04

    In I understand it you need your passport number on the test result, this doesn’t happen on a drive thru NHS test. Quite apart from the misuse of NHS testing.

  • Optimus Prime says:

    8 Dec8 December 17:48

    Someone mentioned Medicspot last week.

• Charlieface says:

  8 Dec8 December 16:51

  AF/KL discount code £50 off: UKFESTIV50

• Lady London says:

  8 Dec8 December 17:00

  Rob’s standard valuation per avios is 1.6p each btw based on BA selling price

  • TGLoyalty says:

    8 Dec8 December 18:04

    Robs standard value for avios is 1p

    • Lady London says:

      8 Dec8 December 18:09

      not on claims.
      On claims that’s using as a benchmark the price BA sells them at.

      • Lady London says:

        8 Dec8 December 18:12

        he’s put the 1.6p value into post comments quite recently, at least once and I think teice, when the subject of claiming for involuntary downgrade was being discussed amongst posters.

        • TGLoyalty says:

          8 Dec8 December 19:44

          Perhaps for a claim against BA but that wasn’t clear from your comment (which on review looks like a reply to
          Someone that’s gone in the wrong
          Place)

        • Lady London says:

          8 Dec8 December 21:31

          TG L another comment wordpress mislocated, this seems to be happening after shorter intervals recently. originally only lost its place if it was a really, really long interval before Submit was clicked, now it’s started happening after much shorter intervals, seems to happe more when there:s at least a couple of comments already present but can’t put finger closer than that as to.when it happens

• Aston100 says:

  8 Dec8 December 17:15

  Struggling to find availability at the Edison in Georgetown, Penang, Malaysia this summer.

  Does anyone have any recommendations for something similar within the city? (so no to the Doubletree and any places beyond that).

  Looks to me like very few (if any?) major chains. Perhaps it’s better that way. This will be a city break, out and about all day.

  Thanks in advance.

  • Blenz101 says:

    8 Dec8 December 18:12

    Eastern & Oriental Hotel everytime when staying there.

    I wouldn’t dismiss having a nice hotel on the expectation you will be out and about the whole time, there isn’t a huge amount to see and do in Georgetown.

    The second part of our stay on Penang in Batu Ferringhi was more enjoyable that Georgetown itself.

    • Aston100 says:

      8 Dec8 December 18:36

      Interesting. How long do you feel is a reasonable number of days over there?
      Are you splitting it equally between the city and the beach resorts?

      Thanks.

      • Crafty says:

        9 Dec9 December 22:42

        We stayed 10 nights on Penang. 5 nights at a small boutique in Georgetown and the remainder at the Hard Rock in Batu Ferringghi. We loved Penang and had an amazing time, really good food and a very relaxing place to be. I would recommend spending most of your time in Georgetown, Batu Ferringghi beach isn’t very nice.

  • Michael C says:

    8 Dec8 December 18:12

    The E&O is fabulous.

  • Andrew (@andrewseftel) says:

    8 Dec8 December 18:56

    Another vote for the E&O.

    • Nick says:

      8 Dec8 December 21:36

      Don’t write off the doubletree completely. It’s a lovely hotel, nice facilities, great Gold recognition and friendly staff. Plus a shuttle both into town and to the night market, and a city bus stop right outside for making your own way around (reliable and cheap).

      • Aston100 says:

        8 Dec8 December 21:40

        Thanks Nick.
        This was meant to be a city break, hence I didn’t think the location of the Doubletree would be suitable.
        Does it take long to get into the centre of Georgetown by taxi or bus?

        • Crafty says:

          9 Dec9 December 22:42

          In my view the Doubletree isn’t close enough, you wAnt to be staying in the town.

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