The HfP chat thread – Thursday 3rd June

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Richie says:

3 Jun3 June 13:27

If a greek island goes green, do the very close by non-airport small islands also go green?
- Super Secret Stuff says:
  
  3 Jun3 June 13:31
  
  How could the government prove anyone has been there? Given that you won’t be flying from the small islands and they won’t stamp your passport
Sandra says:

3 Jun3 June 13:48

I remember flying into Kefalonia in 1990 or 91 before it had a new airport. The border policeman brought a desk outside (if I remember correctly he was on a tractor and trailer) and the jobsworth checked every passport and stamped each one. Not been back since although I would like to!
James says:

3 Jun3 June 13:50

Portugal to be removed from green list – ouch!
- bafan says:
  
  3 Jun3 June 13:52
  
  Isn’t confirmed yet? It’ll be interesting to see if the leak is correct.
  - James says:
    
    3 Jun3 June 13:57
    
    BBC and Sky News both now running with it.
- Lord Doncaster says:
  
  3 Jun3 June 13:52
  
  Indeed – HfP will have to go to Iceland for a jolly next 😂
  - Anna says:
    
    3 Jun3 June 14:08
    
    By the time we manage to go anywhere we should have saved enough cash to buy a drink in Iceland anyway!
    - Super Secret Stuff says:
      
      3 Jun3 June 14:28
      
      Might even be able to stretch to an Nandee’s or a Metro (McDonalds closed and reopened with the same owners under the Metro brand)
      
      I do joke but it is an stunning city and country, well worth a visit as many times as you can
      - meta says:
        
        3 Jun3 June 14:38
        
        I’ve booked for September and it’s not much more expensive than any central London establishment although a lot of hotels outside Reykjavik are pretty basic for the price.
      - Super Secret Stuff says:
        
        3 Jun3 June 15:22
        
        @meta the hotels aren’t that badly priced, it is everything else because it has to be shipped or flown in if they can’t make it locally (given they have a small population, that is a lot of things)
  - Rob says:
    
    3 Jun3 June 15:10
    
    I’m fully up for that – but doing Gibraltar first.
    - Super Secret Stuff says:
      
      3 Jun3 June 15:26
      
      You can currently see an erupting volcano in Iceland if that helps sway you lol
      - Super Secret Stuff says:
        
        3 Jun3 June 15:27
        
        Only a small one though, been going for a while
      - Matt says:
        
        3 Jun3 June 15:39
        
        Harder to get to, but if this is on your bucket list you should really go to Stromboli.
      - Lady London says:
        
        3 Jun3 June 19:33
        
        @Super Secret Stuff that was what they thought last time
DT says:

3 Jun3 June 13:54

Got an email from BA about a sale, I think we’ve reached a point where it would be easier for them to just let us know when there’s no sale on
- Andrew says:
  
  3 Jun3 June 14:09
  
  Yes they have become a bit like a sofa shop now haven’t they.
  - ChrisC says:
    
    3 Jun3 June 15:43
    
    I’m not complaining.
    
    I’ve saved £40 by cancelling and rebooking onto the same flights. And I thought the price I paid originally was good.
    
    Am going to miss not being able to do this when BWC ends.
James says:

3 Jun3 June 13:54

Have just gone to check in at the Hilton in Cheltenham and was hoping for some sort of room upgrade for being Gold, but was told that it was only a like for like room upgrade, so only for another room of the same size – is that correct?
- SteveJ says:
  
  3 Jun3 June 14:00
  
  Upgrades are not guaranteed so you take what they give you. Better view, same room type is quite often all you can expect. If full you’d get nothing.
  
  How is the DT Cheltenham? Possible option for later in the year so would be good to read your thoughts.
  - James says:
    
    3 Jun3 June 14:03
    
    Ahh damn, they might just be full. Will give the full run down later but it seems you have to book the pool in advance (2 or 3 days before) which means we only managed to get it in for one day. I’ll update you with what the rooms are like 🙂
  - tony says:
    
    3 Jun3 June 14:53
    
    Had a very pleasant stay at the Hotel du Vin in Cheltenham a few years back…
- DT says:
  
  3 Jun3 June 14:02
  
  If you’re already in the largest room type that is not a suite, they will only be able to offer you better view or high floor type “upgrades”
  - James says:
    
    3 Jun3 June 14:03
    
    Ahh thanks, must be out of luck today!
  - DT says:
    
    3 Jun3 June 14:03
    
    That’s not to say it’s impossible to get upgraded into a suite as a Gold, just not as likely as the T&Cs specifically exclude suites from upgrade for Gold. Anything beyond the T&Cs is at the discretion of the hotel.
    - Isherwood says:
      
      3 Jun3 June 14:54
      
      We were in the Hilton Tower Bridge at the weekend on Gold. Booked cheapest King room on points. Upgrade on arrival was same room but with coffee machine, slippers and comp wine / water in room (‘Deluxe Plus’). The exec rooms were not on offer. No lounge open so voucher for free drink. Breakfast was waiter service only, with limited table slots so best to book on arrival. Lots of disappointment for those who didn’t. Late check out offered and accepted. Overall, positive experience in a modern build Hilton with a comfortable bed and status suitably recognised.
    - Chris Heyes says:
      
      3 Jun3 June 18:38
      
      DT I find that strange that it says specifically exclude Suites from upgrade for Gold
      I’m Hilton Gold never been higher
      We travel as 3 adults off-peak I Book a 3 bedded room and we are always up-graded to a Suite and I mean always, Hundreds of stays always upgraded plus Executive Lounge
      Never in last 40 years of Hilton stays have I not been
Tracy says:

3 Jun3 June 13:55

I have not used my MBNA horizon card in a very long time. Checked it today and I have 10% cash back at Sainsburys, will this work for gift cards? Anyone tried it? Thanks
- SteveJ says:
  
  3 Jun3 June 14:05
  
  I’ve tried this on a Santander card with the same offer. I mixed in a few groceries so it was all one big mixed transaction, and it paid out fine. Am sure I was being over cautious but can’t confirm if gift cards alone would be rung through differently.
- Andrew says:
  
  3 Jun3 June 14:10
  
  MBNA don’t know what you spend your money on at Sazbo’s.
  
  Just be mindful of any maximum fund return, and you won’t get it until last business day of July.
  - Tracy says:
    
    3 Jun3 June 14:49
    
    Ok, thanks. Some more amazon gift cards then 🙂
bill says:

3 Jun3 June 13:57

no new countries added to UK’s green travel list – and Portugal moved to amber

seems the guardian political correspondent was correct when he tweeted last night
- meta says:
  
  3 Jun3 June 14:21
  
  Still not confirmed!
- ChrisW says:
  
  3 Jun3 June 14:22
  
  The island of Grenada has not had a single covid case since February yet remains on the amber list. There literally is no covid there yet the UK Government says it’s not safe to travel there.
  
  The green list is not based on any formula, logic, or science.
The Lord says:

3 Jun3 June 14:00

Relevant for those in Portugal now, what is the cheapest Test to Release provider for those returning from amber countries?
- Super Secret Stuff says:
  
  3 Jun3 June 14:33
  
  Will only take effect if you arrive back after 8th June so no need to rush for a test