Maximise your Avios, air miles and hotel points

The HfP chat thread – Sunday 27th June

Links on Head for Points may pay us an affiliate commission. A list of partners is here.

We are running this daily chat thread on Head for Points during the coronavirus outbreak.

Historically, the daily ‘Bits’ articles were the de facto repository for random comments and questions.  With the news flow being lighter, we are running fewer ‘Bits’ articles.

The comments under this article are where you should post questions about travel and, indeed, anything else on your mind.  At this tricky time, and given that many of you are at home, we want the HfP community to have a place to chat.

Please only comment under the main articles on the site if your comment is directly related to the topic of the article.  This has long-term benefits as it keeps the commentary relevant for people who read those articles in the future.

Old chat threads are hidden from the HfP home page.  If you want to look for something in an old thread, click here.  This brings up all the articles in our ‘General’ category which includes the chat threads.

Category

General

Comments (267)

This article is closed to new posts. Discussion continues in the HfP Forums.

  • JP-MCO says:
    27 Jun27 June 08:34

    I just realised that the Park Hyatt property in Mallorca has been reflagged. Completely missed that! Sad really, we really enjoyed our stay PH Mallorca and stayed in an amazing, huge suite on points.

  • Gb says:
    27 Jun27 June 09:19

    I’m staying at the Radisson Edwardian, it’s not been a great stay to be honest. The air con in my room can only blow out cool-ish air, and I’ve just been told that my inclusive breakfast is fully booked, and that they don’t do breakfast room service on a weekend.

    Not a great experience. I stayed here lots of times during lockdown and it was actually better with no issues at all and easy room service.

    • Gb says:
      27 Jun27 June 09:19

      Radisson Edwardian Manchester, I should add.

    • The Savage Squirrel says:
      27 Jun27 June 10:26

      “I’ve just been told that my inclusive breakfast is fully booked,”

      That is extremely poor. Did they offer anything to make this good?

      As with other reviews today, I think service issues is going to be a common theme for many months. Given typical staff turnovers meaning that there will be a high % of effectively new staff members experiencing busy hotels for the first time, and the recruitment issues and short-staffing driven by Brexit, a lot of hotels are in something of a service crisis.

    • Harry T says:
      27 Jun27 June 10:45

      Bad air con is always tragic. The breakfast situation sounds inexcusable – you should have been given room service breakfast as compensation, or at least a reduction in your rate!

    • Super Secret Stuff says:
      27 Jun27 June 11:15

      If you’re feeling brave you could barge into the breakfast and just eat. You paid for it after all…

      • Lady London says:
        27 Jun27 June 12:52

        look up the cost of breakfast online and advise Reception ahead of your checkout (ie anytime from now) that naturally you will expect this deduction off your bill.

        The hotel ought to regret this as normally it’s a high profit item for them. However hotel has chosen not to arrange themselves to supply it… not your fault.

  • Patrycja says:
    27 Jun27 June 09:37

    What’s everyone’s thoughts on Balearics potentially implementing testing for UK arrivals this week? I’ve got flights booked for Sunday. How much notice are we likely to get to organise tests?

    • Will says:
      27 Jun27 June 10:43

      Given how much they want tourism, I very much doubt they’ll leave people in a position where it’s impossible to organise testing in time.

      I’d say the greater risk is either it goes amber again very soon due to rising cases or you test positive prior to return boarding.

      • Patrycja says:
        27 Jun27 June 11:03

        Good point, I’ll keep my fingers crossed they will be sensible. Ibiza going amber is not the end of the world for us as we can both work from home

        • Yuff says:
          27 Jun27 June 11:38

          Balearic tourism ministry sources were saying on Saturday evening that maintaining control of the epidemiological situation in Mallorca is key to preventing any change to the UK’s green listing.

          The Balearic government does not believe that the number of positive cases among Spanish students who have been on trips to Mallorca (and Minorca) will result in the islands being put back on the amber list, but there is no hiding the fact that there is concern. All necessary contacts are therefore being made to explain the situation to the UK government and to tour operators.

          Some 850 students who were in Mallorca are now known to have tested positive on return to their respective regions of Spain. The highest number is in Madrid – 363; a further 3,000 have had to isolate.

          In Mallorca, 268 students are isolating in seven so-called Covid hotels. They had close contact with positive cases and have been placed “under surveillance” pending the results of tests.

          There isn’t only concern in the Balearics. Spain’s tourism minister Reyes Maroto has appealed for young people to show “responsibility”. She has also insisted that the situation in Mallorca (with the students) is specific, is being investigated and cannot be generalised.

          While there isn’t evidence to suggest that infected students have been a cause of infections in the wider community, the number of new positive cases is going up. Last week, there were 100 new cases in one day. The health ministry doesn’t issue reports over the weekend, but data yet to be totally verified and which relate to Friday point to 73 new cases and a positivity rate of 2.21%. These cases are for the whole of the Balearics.

          • Patrycja says:
            27 Jun27 June 12:06

            We are going to Ibiza. Booked hotels in Ibiza Town to ensure we are not as close to the parties. Amber status worries me a little bit less. My concern is to be able to go there and my ability to get the required testing in place if they change the entry criteria.

          • Aaron C says:
            27 Jun27 June 12:25

            So Spain’s government seeks to ape the U.K. by blaming young people despite young people being totally screwed over by this. Sad.

          • Anna says:
            27 Jun27 June 16:11

            Aaron what a ridiculous comment. The students had been breaching the social distancing regulations and subsequently hundreds of them have tested positive. This is the reason there has been a spike in the numbers, whether or not anyone is assigning blame.

          • Aaron C says:
            27 Jun27 June 20:04

            Anna do you blame them? The disease is harmless to young people and they’re losing the best years of their lives to protect other people. Of course they’re going to ignore social distancing. It’s incompatible with being a teenager/20-something! The old have been protected at the expense of the young and even now the government (old people) seeks to blame the young.

  • lumma says:
    27 Jun27 June 10:29

    Would people choose Hotel Indigo Birmingham over the Crowne Plaza Birmingham? Indigo is 6,000 more points per night and I’m IHG Platinum.

    • Will says:
      27 Jun27 June 10:44

      Don’t know either of those myself but Staybridge is where I stay on the rare occasion I need to be in Birmingham and it’s very decent.

      • lumma says:
        27 Jun27 June 11:15

        Cheers, that’s less points than both!

        • Grant says:
          27 Jun27 June 11:33

          Worth bearing in mind, as I’m sure you’ve checked, that the Staybridge is some distance from the CP and Indigo depending on where you need to be. The Indigo and CP are far better located for eating and drinking venues on the doorstep.

          Both CP and Indigo are fine, but if CP is fewer points then I’d head there.

          • Andrew says:
            27 Jun27 June 12:09

            Staybridge is right in the middle of the shopping streets – more central than CP and Indigo.

      • Yorkieflyer says:
        27 Jun27 June 11:34

        Yes also a fan of the staybridge, midweek drinks party used to be very welcome

    • Andrew says:
      27 Jun27 June 12:07

      Indigo is lovely – great rooms, with panoramic views. CP is a bit boring. Staybridge is above Poundland!

      • Yorkieflyer says:
        27 Jun27 June 13:32

        Panoramic views? Of Torquay?

      • Degsy says:
        27 Jun27 June 20:14

        Agree, CP is very average. if you want a really cheap option, HIX on Holliday street is great value for money – modern, fresh, central. plus half decent (free) breakfast (at least it was pre-Covid)

    • Jane says:
      27 Jun27 June 12:46

      Think Indigo has a pool if that’s if relevance and fantastic sunrise views from breakfast. I love the staybridge if I’m with others but not on my own for work as walking there alone doesn’t feel great and lack of restaurant means going out or cooking in. CP often upgrades to executive rooms with lounge access.

    • Chris says:
      27 Jun27 June 12:55

      For me Birmingham Indigo before CP. They are pretty close to each other though; if the price is wildly mismatched (as it seems to be regularly) you can walk down the hill from the CP and get to the bars and restaurants that make the Indigo a nicer place to be.

      The rooftop bar/ restaurant at the Indigo is nice; views and food. The rooms feel a bit like holiday inn with nicer paintings – its a modern hotel branded indigo rather than something shoehorned into an old building. The CP, ironically, is old and doesnt feel like they have refreshed it. The lounge (if its open) always seems too busy when im there which makes it less useful.

    • Nick Burch says:
      27 Jun27 June 13:07

      I really like the Holiday Inn Express City Centre. Basically next door to the Crowne Plaza, it’s under 5 minutes walk to New Street Station and the Mailbox. Rooms are a decent size, and it’s pretty new so in good condition. Breakfast was excellent during lockdown as they delivered it to your door! Now a buffet with staff serving the hot items, still better than many HIEs, and does the job.

      Probably won’t work if you were planning to spend a lot of time in the room and want fancy surroundings, but given the price difference you might just want to pocket the savings and use them when you’re out.

      Note that there’s a few HIEs in Birmingham, the one I like is the City Centre one on Holliday Street

    • OP says:
      27 Jun27 June 15:18

      FYI the leisure facilities including pool and gym (which are otherwise quite good) are STILL closed due to COVID at the Indigo in Birmingham. And besides breakfast, don’t touch MPW restaurant with a bargepole. Lots of other good food and drink options in Birmingham.

      Rooms in Indigo Birmingham are nice and as per other comments good views. In my experience (5 or so visits) status recognition is a hit and miss. On our last visit the hotel had just changed over card processors and couldn’t take Amex !

  • Oz_Traveller says:
    27 Jun27 June 10:52

    European weekend away – joint birthday celebration

    I am planning a European weekend away with my wife to celebrate our 40th birthdays next Autumn.

    Key requirements => City to explore, romantic, relaxing…. The norm 😉
    Ideally a IHG, Hilton, or even a LHR hotel group.

    Thanks in advance

    • Oz_Traveller says:
      27 Jun27 June 10:53

      Repost… Keyboard issue

      European weekend away – joint birthday celebration

      I am planning a European weekend away with my wife to celebrate our 40th birthdays next Autumn.

      Key requirements => City to explore, romantic, relaxing…. The norm 😉
      Ideally a IHG, Hilton, or even a LHR hotel group.

      Thanks in advance

      • meta says:
        27 Jun27 June 11:10

        You didn’t say what period. It can make a difference whether it is late September, October, November or early December.

        • Oz_Traveller says:
          27 Jun27 June 11:13

          Likely to be early Oct. Thanks

          • MrHandBaggageOnly says:
            27 Jun27 June 11:39

            You also haven’t said where you’ve visited before, but I’d be suggesting Barcelona, Rome or Venice for starters, if you haven’t ever been to any of those.

          • Ikaz says:
            27 Jun27 June 11:41

            Not many benefits for spire elite members, but the top IHG hotels in Portugal sound like a good bet! (IC Porto, IC Lisbon, IC Cascais, SS DV) Some decent options in France also (IC Lyon, IC Bordeaux, IC Marseille)

          • Optimus Prime says:
            27 Jun27 June 13:50

            Athens is great in early October. You can mix it up with a stay at Westin Costa Navarino or even Ikos Oceania if you don’t mind a 45-min flight (Aegean has very cheap ATH-SKG flights).

      • Yorkieflyer says:
        27 Jun27 June 11:35

        Being pedantic, do you mean this autumn 21 or next autumn 22, it will likely change my pandemic view

      • Jake says:
        27 Jun27 June 11:50

        Vienna? I rate it very highly!

      • Harry T says:
        27 Jun27 June 12:33

        Prague is always good. Romantic and interesting city. Pretty inexpensive. October could work as it’s usually better to travel there slightly out of the summer season. If you do go there, I’d recommend booking the restaurant Field for a mid week lunch.

        • DeB20 says:
          27 Jun27 June 14:55

          I agree with Harry T and also highly recommend Budapest, if they will be open to UK visitors. Between the two of them, I prefer Budapest, but Prague is a close second.

        • Oz_Traveller says:
          27 Jun27 June 19:14

          Thanks @Harry T – extremely helpful! I haven’t been to Prague, so it might be a front runner. Thanks again

      • Tony1 says:
        27 Jun27 June 18:17

        Dont forget Krakow ….

      • Oz_Traveller says:
        27 Jun27 June 19:15

        Thank you all for your comments. It is all very appreciated! Have a great week!

  • James says:
    27 Jun27 June 11:11

    Are there any travel restrictions within the Schengen area? Currently in France, want to go to Germany or the Netherlands for a bit and then go back to France.

    • Sam G says:
      27 Jun27 June 11:21

      None. In theory you shouldn’t even encounter a passport check but these might be happening ad-hoc still

    • Rui N. says:
      27 Jun27 June 11:22

      Yes, there are. E.g., Germany is forbidding non-essential trips to Portugal starting on Tuesday, as compensation for Portugal having let the Brits in in May. It’s a good start for the EU covid certificate (which will be available on July 1st in all EEA countries), as Germany won’t even allow people with the certificate to travel Portugal.

    • Aaron C says:
      27 Jun27 June 12:27

      Yes there are. For example between Holland and Germany. Denmark and Holland too.
      Germans seem to be doing a fair bit of travelling within Europe, however.

      • Lord Doncaster says:
        27 Jun27 June 14:09

        Frau Merkel appears rather incredulous at the thought of her fellow Germans coming face-to-face on holiday with Brits on trips to the Mediterranean.

  • Sam G says:
    27 Jun27 June 11:29

    Ouch! It’s hard to keep up !

    Seems like a futile measure, Delta is surely spreading everywhere by now , Germany just doesn’t do a lot of sequencing

    • Yorkieflyer says:
      27 Jun27 June 11:38

      I reluctantly admit there is a certain logic in slowing the spread in a way BJ failed to do here

      • Lord Doncaster says:
        27 Jun27 June 11:55

        Germany does far less testing and sequencing…so Frau Merkel isn’t best informed about what’s happening in Germany re COVID.

      • Yuff says:
        27 Jun27 June 12:08

        Not sure that’s strictly correct, the border force restrictions would have kept out those following the guidance, however how many British citizens got in via Turkey until Turkey went on the red list.
        If anyone travelling from India in April, before it went on the red list, had correctly followed the rules the variant would not have been so prevalent.

        • Aaron C says:
          27 Jun27 June 12:28

          But Turkey was amber at the time so they should have had tests and then quarantined at home on arrival as well.

          • Lord Doncaster says:
            27 Jun27 June 14:11

            Even if they did quarantine at home, they might have shacked up with ten other family members in the house who didn’t travel.

        • Sam G says:
          27 Jun27 June 15:10

          Yes this is the obvious flaw in Amber isolation, you’re welcome to stay at home with others who go about their normal life. In Singapore even if “Stay Home Notice” is permitted it has to be accommodation only occupied by you and your travelling party which seems more sensible if we’re going to bother at all, especially with Delta being so contagious

    • Yuff says:
      27 Jun27 June 12:05

      Germans can still travel to Portugal though, surprise surprise
      Pot and kettle Frau Merkel

      • Rui N. says:
        27 Jun27 June 12:35

        Only until tomorrow. Travel for non-essential reasons banned from the 29th onwards.

  • will says:
    27 Jun27 June 12:11

    Ref green list countries, EG Balearics, what happens if you test positive prior to returning to the UK?

    • Rob says:
      27 Jun27 June 12:21

      You can’t fly until you test negative.

      • will says:
        27 Jun27 June 12:30

        Are you free to spend another few days on holiday mooching about or will you be obliged to self isolate or go into gov quarantine?

        • Rui N. says:
          27 Jun27 June 12:43

          Are you really asking if you have to isolate if you are infected with Covid?!

          • Will says:
            27 Jun27 June 16:02

            It’s not as a ridiculous as it sounds.
            Spain has no test on entry, so in theory you can still enter Spain with covid without any particular restriction as far as I can see.

            In reality, how many people are going to take some lateral flow tests in their luggage, do one at their hotel before the official test to return and then extend their holiday by a few day’s if it’s positive.

            Somewhere like Ibiza, where young UK people with the highest positive rates can enter without a test and are going to be clubbing within weeks it would seem will be messy. There could be lots of people testing positive on return having spent all of their money with a bit of a dilemma.

            Frankly, it’s bonkers to allow non double vax to travel anywhere imho and it certainly seems logical that older people or families on holiday would be less of a transmission risk than clubbing holidays.

        • TGLoyalty says:
          27 Jun27 June 13:29

          You’ll have to self isolate as per their rules which is 10 days as well I believe.

          There are quarantine hotels available for those tourists that test positive and need it.

        • The Savage Squirrel says:
          27 Jun27 June 14:07

          It will depend entirely on the rules of the country where you are.

          If the red/amber/green list and public behaviour in reaction to it has shown anything, it’s that an alarmingly high proportion of the public thinks that the UK sets the laws and rules in other countries. I’ve had more than one discussion with people generally aggrieved with HMG/Boris because they cannot freely enter Aus/NZ…

    • Rich says:
      27 Jun27 June 12:47

      Forget about red/ amber/ green in this situation – you need to follow the local public health rules. Not always easy to find out, obviously, but you should assume you’ll be isolating by yourself and might not be popular with your accommodation provider!

This article is closed to new posts. Discussion continues in the HfP Forums.

New to Head for Points?

Welcome!  We’re the UK’s most-read source of business travel, Avios, frequent flyer and hotel loyalty news. Let us improve how you travel. Learn more on our About page.

VAA

Latest comments

Latest Forum Posts

Get 30,000 points bonus with American Express Platinum

Amex Gold

Check reward flight availability instantly for free!

See a whole year of reward seat availability on one page at SeatSpy.com

Booking a luxury hotel?

Our luxury hotel booking service offers you GUARANTEED extra benefits over booking direct. Works with Four Seasons, Mandarin Oriental, The Ritz Carlton, St Regis and more. We've booked £1.3 million of rooms to date. Click for details.

Get 20,000 bonus points and your first year free with American Express Gold

Amex Gold