The HfP chat thread – Monday 31st May

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Anna says:

31 May31 May 08:09

Hope everyone’s having a lovely sunny bank holiday weekend!
Wondering if there are any IHG/Hilton hotels with a resort feel near Lisbon for 2 adults & 2 teenagers. It’s looking less & less likely that either the US or mainland Spain are going to be on the green list by the end of July and I’m considering booking a Plan D to Portugal but don’t fancy Algarve prices!
- Harry T says:
  
  31 May31 May 08:52
  
  Have you looked at Conrad Algarve? There was some availability for points last time I checked. I’m holding a week in July as a back up.
  - Anna says:
    
    31 May31 May 08:58
    
    Thanks – I will but I’m assuming flights are going to be expensive & there’s not enough award availability for 4 of us. Loads of seats to LIS though.
    - Harry T says:
      
      31 May31 May 09:00
      
      The drive isn’t too bad from Lisbon to the Algarve – I did it last year. Portuguese drivers are crazy though lol. Near Lisbon, I would actually highly recommend Penha Longa, which is a Ritz Carlton – it’s not very expensive for cash but it’s top notch. We stayed last year. I think Rhys is actually visiting there at present.
      - Harry T says:
        
        31 May31 May 09:04
        
        Oh and I think both USA and Spain will be on the green list by July 😊
      - Andrew says:
        
        31 May31 May 09:34
        
        USA may well be green by July, but with cases on the rise here and a prevalent variant not widespread in the US yet – we might not be allowed in. Remember that Australia is already green and no one is going there for a year or so still.
      - Tom says:
        
        31 May31 May 10:41
        
        I am at Penha Longa at the moment. Beautiful setting, food in the restaurants is great quality. Service has been pretty crap, though. I think they don’t have enough staff to cope with the volume of people staying from the U.K. I was at Conrad Algarve a week or so ago and service was much better (albeit it’s twice the price). Whatever you do avoid, Pine Cliffs, which is just not a five star hotel, whatever they claim.
      - Rhys says:
        
        31 May31 May 11:40
        
        I was there last week. Service is up and down and after speaking to the GM recruiting is a real issue. If you get someone pre-covid they are exceptional; if you don’t, service is rubbish.
      - @mkcol says:
        
        1 Jun1 June 05:52
        
        Train from Lisbon to Algarve is even easier & very cheap.
    - Colin MacKinnon says:
      
      31 May31 May 09:10
      
      Ryanair out of Edinburgh is less that £100 each return in most of July and August.
      
      Was looking at June and BA cash flight on Saturday included £30 of govt and airport fees. Ryanair on same day is just £20!
    - David S says:
      
      31 May31 May 09:30
      
      Drive down from LIS to the Algarve. Cheaper flights, cheaper Car Hire and great scenery. Two and a half hour journey
    - Michael C says:
      
      31 May31 May 09:43
      
      Lisbon would be a great base – do the beaches at Costa Caparica/Cascais etc. Oh, and Praia dos Galapos, gorgeous. Then the fab Lisbon restaurants/bars at night!
- pauldb says:
  
  31 May31 May 10:05
  
  I haven’t stated but the IC Estoril seems an obvious suggestion. Fun to ride the tram back into Lisbon too.
  - Pete M says:
    
    31 May31 May 18:41
    
    Stayed there a couple of weeks back. Super ugly building from the outside. But excellent views, great rooms, very good staff and everything else. Would return.
- Harry T says:
  
  31 May31 May 12:23
  
  @Rhys when you’re talking about service, are you referring to Pine Cliffs or Penha Longa? Nuno at Penha Longa was the best.
- Phil says:
  
  1 Jun1 June 09:51
  
  We’ve stayed at Penha Longa and IC Estoril in the past both are excellent. If you are going for more than a few days (or don’t play golf), I’d suggest you’d want a car for Penha Longa.
Oz_Traveller says:

31 May31 May 08:17

Hi

Can you gift a IHG Ambassador weekend voucher to friends or family (if the voucher holder is not travelling)?

Thanks in advance
- berneslai says:
  
  31 May31 May 13:08
  
  Not according to T&Cs. It “has to be used by the Ambassador member”.
  
  In reality, I’ve never tried but I’d assume that I can’t be done.
KS says:

31 May31 May 09:05

Apologies for a introducing a new topic. Just called Amex to cancel BAPP and was told that I would lose all companion vouchers earned but not redeemed as well as those redeemed but for which I hadn’t yet taken the flight. Quote ‘we have had one instance of one passenger being refused boarding for this reason’. Sounds a bit harsh to me. Does anyone know if if that’s even right?
- TGLoyalty says:
  
  31 May31 May 09:08
  
  They are really upping the BS if they told you that.
  
  Never lost a single companion voucher after cancelling.
  
  In theory you could be denied boarding if they asked to see the original card and you didn’t have it but being asked is rare as hens teeth.
- Tracey says:
  
  31 May31 May 09:09
  
  Never heard of this. You do need to pay the taxes and charges for the 241 flight with Amex, but it can be any Amex card.
- DT says:
  
  31 May31 May 09:14
  
  This is not true, whenever they tell me this I just say “okay that’s fine, I’ll still cancel”.
  They need to get through their script and they aren’t going to tell you that it’ll still work with any Amex.
  Payment processor can’t tell what type of Amex you use, they can just see you’re using an Amex
  
  And when was the last time you had to show the check in desk your method of payment card. Highly doubtful anyone got denied boarding over using the “wrong” Amex.
- Anna says:
  
  31 May31 May 10:04
  
  I would have asked for specific details of the person and flight for which boarding was denied!
  - Jamie says:
    
    31 May31 May 14:38
    
    Yes, because they can share that specific information can’t they Anna.
    - TGLoyalty says:
      
      31 May31 May 15:24
      
      It’s highly likely they don’t exist anyway so it would have just been a lie either way.
Ian M says:

31 May31 May 09:36

Can we start a H4Ps campaign to get Amex MRs UK and Hyatt to become transfer partners?
- Harry T says:
  
  31 May31 May 09:44
  
  I’m in!
  - Ian M says:
    
    31 May31 May 11:59
    
    Let’s get Rob on board. I want to get away from Marriott. Been Ambassador for a few years and the service just gets worse and worse. Hyatt seems the answer but the lack of a UK credit card really puts me off
- Memesweeper says:
  
  31 May31 May 13:27
  
  They’re not a transfer partner in the US are they ? so I’d guess it’s unlikely.
  - TGLoyalty says:
    
    31 May31 May 15:24
    
    They do have their own cards though so transfer partner is a half way house.
Aaron C says:

31 May31 May 09:45

We’ve got a trip to Lisbon/Porto in a few weeks with BA. Which testing providers are people going with? So far the cheapest I’ve found is the Randox Green Pack with BA discount (£120 for 2 which includes the pre-departure tests and the day 2 test on return) and the the Qured lateral flow pack to do in Portugal (£33 each). Is this the best we can get? By best I mean cheapest.
- N says:
  
  31 May31 May 09:48
  
  Following this one.
- Rhys says:
  
  31 May31 May 10:30
  
  You should be able to get lateral flows cheaper locally. 25 euro at Lisbon airport and I got one for 35 euro at Pine Cliffs.
  
  £120 for two PCR tests is about average. Eurofins will do you a fit to fly test in the post for £40 via BA, but the 2 day test is £55. That’s the cheapest it goes. Expresstest also £60-£80 per test, but no postage to you which may save time etc.
  - Aaron C says:
    
    31 May31 May 10:53
    
    Cheers, Rhys. I should clarify that the Randox offer is for 2 people (BA Green Package) so that’s 4 PCR tests in total (2 pre-departure and 2 on day 2) so £30 per test which seems pretty good.
    Will look at local options for the return lateral flow then.
    Thanks again.
    - Rhys says:
      
      31 May31 May 11:39
      
      How are you getting 4 PCR tests for £120?
      It’s £120 per person last I checked.
      - Aaron C says:
        
        31 May31 May 11:55
        
        No you’re right I hadn’t updated the quantity! Duh. It did sound too good to be true.
Aston100 says:

31 May31 May 10:00

Following Sukes report last week of being asked for a passport when checking into a London hotel, I was asked for formal ID when checking into a Hilton in London.
Driving licence was accepted.
I cannot remember ever being asked for ID at a hotel in the UK before.
Anyone else had this recently? Wondering if something has changed recently due to lockdown or Brexit? Though I did a few stays last summer and autumn without challenges.
- Blenz101 says:
  
  31 May31 May 10:14
  
  Standard practice to take ID from non-U.K. residents / nationals. Usually determined by accent / appearance in my experience. When I’ve booked rooms for friends in the past if they have shown up with a Canadian accent before me a passport has been required. When I arrive no such requirement.
  
  I can imagine hotels are keener to collect ID at present to support test and trace. Those returning/visiting from overseas and putting the hotel address on the passenger locator form etc.
  - Lord Doncaster says:
    
    31 May31 May 10:30
    
    Indeed. Hotels in UK will only ask for ID, in my experience, if they guess you’re a foreigner.
    - Yuff says:
      
      31 May31 May 15:01
      
      I was asked for my passport at the Conrad st James on Saturday, never asked before.
      If I hadn’t needed it fir flying the next day I would not have had it with me.
      - Yuff says:
        
        31 May31 May 15:01
        
        Friday, I flew Saturday 🤦🏻‍♂️
- Tonyb says:
  
  31 May31 May 17:44
  
  I stayed at the Shangri-La at the Shard Friday they asked for ID , driving licence was fine
- Laura says:
  
  31 May31 May 21:40
  
  Had to show my ID at Park Plaza last Saturday but nothing needed at the Z Hotel on the Friday night
Rob says:

31 May31 May 10:02

This morning entered a big breakfast area at a major London hotel chain to be told to wear a mask as I wouldn’t be allowed to enter if I wasn’t wearing one.
Once inside it was like the covid wild west with a 20 deep que through other diners tables to make yourself a cappuccino, between each user there was no sanitisation at all and the coffee machine was like a wasps nest for the whole duration I was in the restaurant.
Every table was full by 9.30 with people sat eating with no social distancing going on at all.
I don’t care too much about catching covid but my point is, what’s the point of wearing a mask to enter?
- Peter K says:
  
  31 May31 May 10:05
  
  It’s the law isn’t it? But in that situation it doesn’t make sense as the hotel clearly hasn’t provided any other mitigating factors to prevent spread.
- Anna says:
  
  31 May31 May 10:08
  
  +1, not a great deal of social distancing at breakfast at the Kimpton (we’ve got room service this morning) plus we had a (very quick) cocktail in Fitz’s bar on Saturday night where they were crammed in like sardines!
  Otherwise, fabulous 😂
- Eddie says:
  
  31 May31 May 10:25
  
  Had breakfast @ The Biltmore an hr ago, literately being the only table there. No buffet and with limited menu available, but left quite pleased about food and service.
- Harry T says:
  
  31 May31 May 10:33
  
  I personally think it’s not evidence based to require masks when entering a restaurant or heading to the loo, but then let crowds of people sit in a poorly ventilated room without masks, while they eat, drink and talk loudly for hours. But at least we don’t live in a country that’s silly enough to make people wear masks outdoors 😂
  - Blenz101 says:
    
    31 May31 May 12:56
    
    I agree wearing masks outdoors isn’t great but it does become habit forming. I just don’t leave my front door now without a mask, people I meet in my building elevator all have a mask on, when I jump in a taxi we both have masks, when I leave that taxi and enter a mall, masked the whole time.
    
    I’m sure there is no real benefit to wearing one outdoors but the impact of the whole city not ‘forgetting’ and frankly just getting used to wearing one over the last 12/18 months with it now becoming second nature has likely helped overall.
    
    Still, I am ready for the rule to be removed now!
  - Crafty says:
    
    31 May31 May 13:37
    
    Went to a wedding like this yesterday, in Scotland. Utterly bizarre. Best part was in the snooker room – if standing up to play or watch, masks on; if sitting down to watch, masks off.
  - Yuff says:
    
    31 May31 May 15:04
    
    And also whilst on the running machine in the gym, which I did today 😡
- Doug M says:
  
  31 May31 May 11:02
  
  This is about rules for the sake of rules. Was amused a couple of days back as to enter coffee shop and buy a take out coffee required a mask for the one minute I was there. Tables full of of people remaining for much longer we’re maskless, often having finished eating and drinking. Like a lot of things it’s do what’s easy not what’s right.
  - TGLoyalty says:
    
    31 May31 May 11:08
    
    Yep because the rule is it’s ok to not have a mask while seated but must have it while standing in the exact same place 😂
    
    It’s bizarre bordering on stupidity.
    
    Schrödinger’s Mask if you like.
    - Callum says:
      
      31 May31 May 11:32
      
      It’s neither bizarre nor stupid.
      
      Though I’d fully advocate compulsory mask usage indoors as people continually flout any rules where any leeway at all is given, I’m sure you’d be completely opposed to that? In which case, being able to take off the mask to eat and drink is basic common sense.
      - TGLoyalty says:
        
        31 May31 May 11:50
        
        It is bizarre. As if you only emit virus loaded aerosols when you’re standing.
        
        wear a mask for the 1-5% of the time people are walking from the entrance to the table (or table to toilet) where you proceed to take it off and emit any aerosols into the atmosphere for 99-95% of the time you’re in the building.
        
        The rule isn’t when you’re at eating and drinking either no mask while you’re seated.
        
        It makes complete sense in shops etc where people wear them for 99% of the time.
      - Rob says:
        
        31 May31 May 12:17
        
        Callum: I think you must be really lacking in the common sense department tbh.
      - Jamie says:
        
        31 May31 May 12:56
        
        No Rob, you’re just thick as mince.
      - Rob says:
        
        31 May31 May 14:02
        
        Thanks Jamie..it is good of you to point out where you stand on the mask debate anyway.
        I don’t even like mince, I’m vegan.
      - Jamie says:
        
        31 May31 May 14:40
        
        There is no debate Rob, only for the misguided and misinformed.
      - TGLoyalty says:
        
        31 May31 May 15:27
        
        Go on then Jamie. Enlighten us on the science based evidence that wearing one for 1-5% of the time when standing up in a restaurant makes any notable difference.
        
        I await all the links …
      - The Savage Squirrel says:
        
        31 May31 May 18:53
        
        If you look at it in isolation of walking into your restaurant table only it’s stupid, but don’t be so short-sighted. If you look at it in the round of making clear rules for the public (of all levels of education) to follow in all venues them it makes perfect sense. Mask on indoors unless you are eating, drinking or exercising. Simples. Sometimes the value of clarity and simplicity of advice trumps scientific accuracy. Often, in fact.
- HBommie says:
  
  31 May31 May 18:58
  
  Its quite simple, if that scenario was in front of me then I’d turn and get breakfast somewhere else.
BLT says:

31 May31 May 10:08

Limited appeal but just received an email to say 3 Marriott points per £1 spent on the Marriott MasterCard (no longer available to applicants) until 31 July. Time to dust it off and spend as there is no limit
- Harry T says:
  
  31 May31 May 10:31
  
  I’m jealous!
  - YC says:
    
    31 May31 May 11:36
    
    Me too – it’s the one card I wished I had signed up for the past. Mainly for the 10night boost.
- RussellH says:
  
  31 May31 May 11:14
  
  Glad I am not the only one to get the e-mail! This is my standard M/Card so all to the good.
  Not clear what happens when you use the card at a Marriott – normally 2x points in the UK or 4x points outwith the UK. Hopefully 4 x points in the UK and 6x points outwith the UK!
  I was surprised to see the e-mail come from Marriott, not Creation, though.
  - Luke F says:
    
    31 May31 May 14:35
    
    The email says 12x points on foreign Marriott spend, 6x in the UK. Bonuses also on flights, car hire and restaurants.
    It’s not really clear if the triple points applies to non- hotel/flights/car hire/restaurant spend.