The HfP chat thread – Sunday 9th May

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Rob says:

9 May9 May 16:00

Good question. I imagine so, but we’ll find out soon enough.
- Sundar says:
  
  9 May9 May 17:07
  
  Yep, eager to understand as that will be the 1 transaction for the month 🙂
  - Toby says:
    
    9 May9 May 18:10
    
    It bills as deliveroo plus, not deliveroo, so I’d guess not. Let’s see!
John says:

9 May9 May 17:09

Note to anyone else who booked the grand suite at Sheraton Grand Park Lane:
Review on website dated January 20 re not receiving additional amenities advertised on website. He was refused additional amenities as had response that these only applied to eligible rates. Response from on duty manager stated: “I would like to sincerely apologise regarding confusion with the package that is included, in case one of our suites are booked on best available rate”
As we all booked on prepaid rate, looks like we won’t receive additional amenities. Obvious they have never bothered to update website to reflect this following the review/ response.
- Ed says:
  
  9 May9 May 17:10
  
  In terms of which additional amenities?
- Harry T says:
  
  9 May9 May 17:24
  
  I think this has no bearing on prepaid rates, which are no different from any other rate.
- Rob says:
  
  9 May9 May 17:49
  
  Is this regarding the five senses package on the website? If so they stated it won’t be happening due to covid and it had been stopped last year.
  - John says:
    
    9 May9 May 20:57
    
    Yes it is that package – they are still advertising it on the website today
    - Rob says:
      
      9 May9 May 21:12
      
      Yeah I reached out and asked and they replied saying
      
      I regret to inform you we no longer provide these services since the Covid-19 pandemic. This used to be a part of the Grand suite but they are suspended over a year now.
      - Si says:
        
        9 May9 May 21:21
        
        I think the first stay of a reader is 17th of May… (?) so guess on 18th we find out what we win.
        
        I’m in about 3 weeks time for 2 nights. Still even if service is cut back a little, this may end up being my deal of the year. I’m mainly hoping the lounge is open so can make most of that for breakfast and drinks.
Niall says:

9 May9 May 17:25

Sadly, a lot of the American destinations which were good value with Iberia from Madrid have moved up to more expensive zones yesterday.
Optimus Prime says:

9 May9 May 17:38

There’s been some devaluation on Avios redemptions at Iberia. Chicago and LA are now requiring more Avios,

https://insideflyer.co.uk/2021/05/breaking-the-best-value-avios-redemptions-have-been-devalued-without-notice/
- Gavin says:
  
  9 May9 May 20:59
  
  That’s a shame, Lima was a great bargain. Still good value but not quite as good as before!
- H says:
  
  9 May9 May 21:45
  
  I’ve had a look through booking on the IB website and when you click through it shows the previous rates.
YC says:

9 May9 May 18:02

For anyone with IHG points to burn, SS Ibiza is bookable at 150k/night. Did a quick search for Ibiza and just realised how pricey hotels are! So 150k/night seems good value (relatively)
- Anna says:
  
  9 May9 May 18:19
  
  Yep … hence we’ve been going to the Caribbean in August for the past few years! We can fly there in J and have 2 weeks on a tropical white sand beach for the price of the same fortnight in the Med …
  - YC says:
    
    9 May9 May 18:34
    
    But isn’t that hurricane/wet season in the carribean? My one worry about holidays being a complete wash out
    - Anna says:
      
      9 May9 May 19:20
      
      Occasional short sharp showers. One year we went for 3 weeks in August and it rained on 2 days in total. The humidity is the worst thing but if you go on a beach holiday to relax then it’s manageable!
- Ant says:
  
  9 May9 May 19:12
  
  We are booked for June to Ibiza staying at ME Ibiza using 36,000 a night. Happy with that as we purchased the points on Amazon.
Rob says:

9 May9 May 19:38

No, you lose it.
stevenhp1987 says:

9 May9 May 20:16

Just checked in to an IHG hotel near Luton Airport.

Expected a lot of questions about why we’re staying as English Hotel stays are not yet open for leisure yet.

No questions were asked and no needing to show them the evidence of why we’re travelling.

Just no amenity drink (or even points)…
- Richard says:
  
  9 May9 May 21:23
  
  This annoys me even more now that last Thursday two IHG hotels when I had a genuine reason (emergency childcare) refused me to stay there. One even said “you should know you can only travel here if you are a keyworker”.
James says:

9 May9 May 20:40

Why would you pay £600 to go to Portugal when you can go for £75?

Just go BEFORE the 21st May – arrange to view an apartment to buy – that’s essential reason for travel.

You still come back from a green country.
- James says:
  
  9 May9 May 20:42
  
  Not that anybody cares or checks when you fly out.
  - James says:
    
    9 May9 May 21:02
    
    yellow mattress?
    
    flew out last week so just reporting back
- TGLoyalty says:
  
  9 May9 May 21:11
  
  17th May?
  - James says:
    
    9 May9 May 21:13
    
    I stand corrected
- Colin MacKinnon says:
  
  9 May9 May 21:33
  
  Except that Portugal – like the rest of the EU – doesn’t allow Uk citizens in yet!
  - James says:
    
    10 May10 May 07:51
    
    True for Portugal if you don’t have residence rights – but not correct for the rest of the EU en bloc – each country has its own rules in this respect.
- John Gallagher says:
  
  9 May9 May 23:05
  
  2 weeks ago a friend was denied boarding to Porto. She had documents proving she was going to purchase a house but was denied boarding.
  Was told that the Portuguese authorities would not let her enter.