The HfP chat thread – Wednesday 4th August

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• Mark says:

  4 Aug4 August 07:37

  Staying at Curio Barcelona tomorrow. Last week, on the app there was an option for ‘Request to upgrade’, seems to be gone now and neither is there an option to do online check in. What does this mean? No upgrade? I’m Gold.

  • Algor says:

    4 Aug4 August 08:22

    Request upgrade in the app directs you to Nor1 paid upgrade options.

  • Save East Coast Rewards says:

    4 Aug4 August 12:44

    Is it the Alexandra or is there another Curio in Barcelona now? I had an interesting upgrade when I stayed there. I got a larger room but the weirdest feature was a bathtub on the balcony! I wasn’t brave enough to use it, but the balcony did look very private so I don’t think anyone could see you!

    This was 2019 and I thought it was a nice hotel. No idea if COVID has reduced service in the bar and restaurant. Remember there’s no such thing as “Curio Barcelona” the hotels go by their own name with “Curio Collection by Hilton” added to the end.

    The Alexandra used to be a DoubleTree before rebranding – so The Westminster isn’t the first to do this

    • chabuddy geezy says:

      4 Aug4 August 13:49

      Mark it would be great to hear your opinion on the Curio. I am weighing up booking this or Hilton Diagonal, which has a less convenient location but a better pool.

      • john says:

        4 Aug4 August 15:29

        Diagonal Mar is a nice hotel. Was upgraded to a nice corner room as platinum when we stayed in March a number of years ago. The pool was closed for refurb at the time and I believe it’s now a pay for beach ‘club’ with DJ and loud music and that kind of thing, which may not be what you are looking for! The location is also not amazing for exploring Barcelona is it is a bit away from a lot of the touristy places / decent restaurants but transport is decent from there.

• Jerry says:

  4 Aug4 August 07:38

  Thoughts please – I’ve spent £13,000 on the free BA Amex. My plan was to do the usual upgrade/downgrade to premium card this month before the changes. I have an unlikely Japan 241 flight in Sept and 2 further 241s. If these all get extended to Sept 2023 then another voucher expiring Dec 2023 won’t be much use. Is upgrading / downgrading the free BA Amex worth the hassle and cost? I know come Sept I’ll end up with an economy only voucher but bank of avios and 241s doesn’t feel like a great asset currently.

• Mirp says:

  4 Aug4 August 07:47

  Does anyone know if there is a form to request duty of care expenses from BA? In our case for meals as BA holidays paid for the extra night of hotel.

  • roberto says:

    4 Aug4 August 08:01

    https://www.britishairways.com/en-es/information/help-and-contacts/complaints-and-claims and follow your nose.

• Bob says:

  4 Aug4 August 07:49

  Is the ihg – holiday inn etc Amex offer cumulative? £50 back on £200

  • Kevin says:

    4 Aug4 August 07:55

    Yes based on many HFP experiences

    • Bob says:

      4 Aug4 August 08:08

      Thanks

  • AnotherUser says:

    4 Aug4 August 10:28

    It was cumulative for me

• Bob says:

  4 Aug4 August 07:50

  Any feedback / review on HGI Snowdonia? Thanks

  • John says:

    4 Aug4 August 07:55

    Enough people are willing to pay £200 a night when it’s probably worth £100 that they don’t need to try that hard.

    • Freddy says:

      4 Aug4 August 08:10

      Not at the current prices. I’d normally say look at accomodation outside the main chains in that area but think you’ll be struggling in staycation UK.

    • Bob says:

      4 Aug4 August 08:11

      True, booked at the start of the year when nightly rates were around £100, unfortunately it’s not participating in the Amex Hilton offer

  • Travel Strong says:

    4 Aug4 August 08:35

    Generally reviews were: Hotel good, breakfast below expected standard, eat at the local pubs rather than the restaurant in the evenings. Could not fault the room, and gym is excellent. I was very happy with the room for 27k points. Agree that 200 is a bit of a stretch.

    • Tom says:

      4 Aug4 August 09:51

      Thanks for this, very useful summary. Which type of room were you in?

  • The Savage Squirrel says:

    4 Aug4 August 09:48

    We have a 5-day stay starting Sunday. Will feed back here. Think they had a very ropey start but opening a new hotel 100% full in an area not awash with hotel-experienced staff, rather than building up slowly, was always going to be a stretch. My expectations are suitably modest given TravelStrong gave a fair summary of consensus so far; and we’re just paying HH points.

    • Memesweeper says:

      4 Aug4 August 11:50

      I might overlap a day with you! Feel free to recommend activities/walks for underexercised city dwellers 😁

      There are service issues all over the hospitality sector at the moment due to inexperienced staff. I’m sure this place will be no different.

      I’ve paid in points and feel I’ve got a bargain.

• Ste C says:

  4 Aug4 August 08:12

  Question for the hive mind, I am trying to find a hotel for my mini honeymoon later this year (end of Oct) before we fly somewhere next year and the only requirement my wife to be has is that she wants a freestanding bath.

  We had seen that one of the rooms at the GHI Snowdonia has one but due to me working in education the honeymoon is the same week as half term and the prices have shot up (I am willing to pay this but my OH isnt)

  So… does anyone know of any hotels that meet this long request list? I have Hilton Diamond and IHG Platinum (with Hilton being the one i use the most) and I am based in the north west and willing to drive but thinking against London.

  Thanks

  • Crafty says:

    4 Aug4 August 08:19

    Judging from the reviews, I don’t think you should go to HGI Snowdonia for a honeymoon.

    • Tim says:

      4 Aug4 August 10:21

      Especially if the wife-to-be will only come if there is a freestanding bath. 🙂

  • Tariq says:

    4 Aug4 August 08:30

    The top level room (think it’s Terrace Suite) at University Arms Cambridge has a freestanding bath.

    • TGLoyalty says:

      4 Aug4 August 08:31

      It’s a lovely property too. Even in October/November.

      • Harry T says:

        4 Aug4 August 09:15

        +1 for University Arms, one of my favourite hotels in the UK.

    • Ste C says:

      4 Aug4 August 08:42

      Thanks.

    • Memesweeper says:

      4 Aug4 August 11:51

      +1

      She’ll be delighted.

  • Anna says:

    4 Aug4 August 08:31

    City break, obviously, but the suites at the Kimpton Fitzroy have absolutely gorgeous bathrooms with free standing baths overlooking Russell Square. Book via Emyr and you get breakfast, upgrade plus $100 credit. I booked a superior room and got upgraded to a junior suite. Mention it’s your honeymoon! (It was my birthday).

    • Ste C says:

      4 Aug4 August 08:36

      Thanks, will take a look

  • Mr. AC says:

    4 Aug4 August 08:57

    All the rooms I’ve stayed in at Indigo Bath had freestanding baths of various sizes. The largest were in the vault suits – two adults fit easily. Great breakfast, restaurant and location as well.

    • Andrew (@andrewseftel) says:

      4 Aug4 August 09:09

      Agreed – nice part of the world for a mini honeymoon too.

    • Guernsey Globetrotter says:

      4 Aug4 August 09:31

      Sounds like some good clean fun was had by all ! 🙂

  • Louie says:

    4 Aug4 August 09:34

    One of the Hotels du Vin or Malmaisons?

• Crafty says:

  4 Aug4 August 08:18

  Sweaty Betty has been sold. Probably the most relevant news story for HFPers this morning. Surprised it didn’t get its own article!

  • Chris Heyes says:

    4 Aug4 August 08:25

    OOO NO Sweaty Betty sold hope it doesn’t stop it appearing in offers ?
    What will HFPs talk about now ?

  • Harrier25 says:

    4 Aug4 August 08:37

    It was briefly discussed last night.

  • Mike says:

    4 Aug4 August 10:49

    I hope the new buyer got a discount via their Amex offers

• SteveKicks says:

  4 Aug4 August 08:39

  Still in the middle of the bottom row for me (iPhone)

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