The HfP chat thread – Friday 6th August

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• Reeferman says:

  6 Aug6 August 13:59

  Am looking at a pre-Christmas break in Edinburgh (in December). Where’s better to stay – The Balmoral or The Caledonian?
  Or are there any”hidden gems” someone can recommend?
  Thanks

  • Cats are best says:

    6 Aug6 August 15:22

    There’s the Witchery.

    • Reeferman says:

      6 Aug6 August 16:09

      Thank you – certainly different!

  • Grant H says:

    6 Aug6 August 17:34

    Nira Caledonia- specifically their jacuzzi suite, without spoiling too much, there’s no other room in Edinburgh quite like it.

  • Chris says:

    6 Aug6 August 17:36

    Caledonian better from a points perspective but I think The Balmoral is the nicer hotel, feels more luxurious (but usually comes with the appropriate price tag)

    Great views of castle from Doubletree (Bread Street), and Sheraton Grand (although this is arguably the wrong side for a proper view, just along the road from Caledonian), perversely best hotel view I’ve had in the city was in Mercure Princes Street which was stunning

    • AnotherUser says:

      6 Aug6 August 18:50

      The castle view room I had at the Balmoral was great, and service was fantastic. Ideal location, too. It’s generally priced accordingly 🙁

      The Radisson Collection hotel can be good value with Amex Membership Rewards (hope it reopens before December!) If value’s not an issue then I’d pick the Balmoral, though!

  • David says:

    6 Aug6 August 18:21

    Balmoral above the Caledonian any day. It will all be about personal taste though really. I’d pick the IC junior suite or above any day of the week.

    • Reeferman says:

      6 Aug6 August 21:21

      Many thanks to you all – appreciate your advice and recommendations.
      Looks like the Balmoral wins out overall.

  • Patrycja says:

    6 Aug6 August 21:42

    Balmoral hands down

  • BP says:

    6 Aug6 August 22:00

    The Balmoral is far better. The Executive Old Town room I had overlooked the North Bridge which made it very noisy on a Saturday night. One thing to be aware of.

    • Reeferman says:

      6 Aug6 August 22:24

      Thanks v much – good to know

  • Chrism20 says:

    6 Aug6 August 23:17

    The Balmoral all day long.

    Also the Edinburgh outpost of Gleneagles is due to open in the Autumn on St Andrews Square which may be worth taking a look at.

  • Peggerz says:

    7 Aug7 August 00:11

    Balmoral over Caley.
    Prestonfield slightly out of city centre, same owner as Witchery. Glasshouse. Either of the Malmaison places. The Grand in St Andrew Sq.

• Alex B says:

  6 Aug6 August 14:06

  Any recommendations for a Parisian hotel? Need access to Stade Sebastien Chartley & Park Monstouris (so South Paris?), ideally with a nice bar/bars nearby and a gym. Ideally between £100- £150 a night.

  • Bob says:

    6 Aug6 August 22:16

    There are no more trafic jams in Paris since Les gilets jaunes (thanks macron) and the covid.

    So any hotels in Paris will be ok for you to get later to Stade Charléty.

    Les gilets jaunes are however demonstrating every saturday, incuding in august, so you may need to avoid the east of paris if you want to take a bus (lines not running on the declared path on the demonstration) but the métro is ok I believe.

  • Nick Burch says:

    7 Aug7 August 00:23

    IHG’s Voco Montparnasse might work, south-central, loads of excellent bars and restaurants nearby, nice vibe, decent rooms etc

• ChasP says:

  6 Aug6 August 14:08

  Anyone got any experience with Air France regardng EU261 rights ?
  Booked tickets on Virgin to Orlando (a lot cheaper than booking wth Virgin )

  After flight was cancelled have spent 2 weeks tryng to contact them – phone is constanty busy and dumps you out after 45 mns waiting
  Finally got a twitter response offering refund or change of dates if i pay the dfference (around £3k!)

  • Lady London says:

    6 Aug6 August 14:41

    Their record according to reports is not honouring EU261 and the French government not forcing them to.

    What do you want? They should reroute if that’s what you want (likely to be the most valuable option EU261 gives you).

    Did you buy in UK? If so send registered letter giving them 14 days to action your request. Tracked or signed-for normally enough but being French they might have a stipulation for Registered somewhere).

    Then after 14 either contact your UK credit card to carry the cost of your alternative travel dates under Section 75 even if higher (statutory right), or Amex if you paid using them (in case Amex ts i cs or practices cover it), check your insurance policy wording to see if it’s covered, or give it 8 weeks including at least one more reminder after 5 weeks headed “Letter Before Action” giving another 14 days then at 8 weeks MCOL quoting EU261, sue them at UK address plus any travel agent involved as co-defendant.

    • Lady London says:

      6 Aug6 August 14:51

      ps EU261 says you dont have to pay any extra at all for your choice of reroute date even if more expensive and no admin charges etc – remind AF of that right under EU261 in writing.

      • ChasP says:

        6 Aug6 August 15:49

        thans for that LL

        Yes bought in UK with Virgin Credit card have sent them a copy of relevant bits of EU261 waiting for ther reply
        Slight issue that i bought the tickets but not flying with them (using Virgin points for mine whch has already beeen re-routed) So if it comes to MCOL i assume i claim

        • Ls says:

          6 Aug6 August 17:11

          Rerouting is the benefit of those flying, not those paying. The passengers need to sue. S75 not valid as you are not benefiting from the ticket bought.

• Ian says:

  6 Aug6 August 14:08

  Advice please!

  Open jaw UK to Singapore and return from Hong Kong in December / January 2022/23

  Have the option to use Avios if needed but can also look at holiday option with a night or two in Singapore.

  Just wondering which airlines would be best to look at for both legs. BA or should I try and book an alternative?

  We will not fly less than business.

  Am assuming seats get released 355 days in advance?

  Any tips as new to us. Thanks!

  • Sam G says:

    6 Aug6 August 15:43

    BA will be the only direct open-jaw option but Avios only good value with a 2-4-1 otherwise cash comes into play. The “new” 2-4-1 will potentially be very good for these routes as Avios seats tend to go quickly but I class seats less difficult to get hold of

    If paying cash then Finnair could a good option, smooth connections, usually reasonable price and in normal times you should get a widebody on the short haul flight as well. Otherwise Swiss/Lufthansa have had some v good fares recently but I’m not sure you can open-jaw them. Of course there are the ME airlines but personally I don’t like the middle-of-the-flight/night connection especially to HK.

    • Sam G says:

      6 Aug6 August 15:44

      Just to add that F is often available or comes up later on which is nice on these routes – worth setting a Seat Spy alert for if it isn’t currently available for your dates

      • Lady London says:

        6 Aug6 August 20:24

        No Cathay?

  • Martin Short says:

    6 Aug6 August 19:36

    Go via ARN on Singapore or via Milan on Qatar.
    Both better business class seats and hugely cheaper

• Red Flyer says:

  6 Aug6 August 14:16

  Planning 4 day break to Porto in the first week of Jan 2022 – any alternatives to IC or is that best option in terms of 5* service, dining and location?

  • Genghis says:

    6 Aug6 August 14:41

    It’s a v good hotel in a great location. Never ate there but went to Tapabento about 3 mins walk away twice. Highly recommended.

  • meta says:

    6 Aug6 August 14:43

    You could also look at the other side of the river in Gaia (Yaetman, Curio Collection) or if you want to venture further out – Pestana property or Six Senses Douro Valley.

    There is also Le Maison Albar – Le Monumental Palace which is on the same square as IC.

    Dining wise- you’d be fool to spend every night dining at any of those properties. There are so many others. For example, for me Euskalduna Studio is one of the top restaurants in the world (shout out to @Ghengis for recommending it to me last year!)

  • Alan says:

    6 Aug6 August 14:51

    I can second the recommendation for Tapabento. MUU is not far away and has some truly amazing Steaks at very reasonable prices.

  • mr_jetlag says:

    6 Aug6 August 15:22

    Casa de Companhia – very new (July launched) non chain 5* we stayed at last week – amazing pools and sauna, only 40 rooms so intimate, right on Rua da Flores so steps away from Sao Bento and the Ribeira / bridge. Great drinks in the bar and a very classy though limited dinner menu.

• Princess says:

  6 Aug6 August 14:23

  In case someone is interest…
  To avoid 5 days quarantine in Italy (visiting family so not really practical) we spent 14 days in Greece. We arrived yesterday. Since the 31st of July the nhs COVID pass has been recognised by Italian authority as equivalent to the European green pass. So we didn’t need any test to fly to Italy only to fill passenger locator form (that none checked)
  Only hand luggage and out of Fiumicino in 10 minutes (neither passport control)

• Clive says:

  6 Aug6 August 14:27

  Just following up on the little upstart who was duct tapped in the US recently https://twitter.com/mylesdavies/status/1423472232475418629

  • Dave1985 says:

    6 Aug6 August 18:36

    Unfortunately it’s a spoof 😢

  • James says:

    6 Aug6 August 21:20

    I’m crying 😂😂

• S says:

  6 Aug6 August 14:30

  Back from a 3-4-2 night stay at Conrad St James’ booked via Emyr.

  Booked a deluxe room and upgraded 2 levels to junior suite on arrival which was nice. £80 credit covered two of our lunches at the pub (restaurant closed Sunday and Monday. Could have a little more choice on menu but food was generally quite good. Reception staff very attentive and helpful. Hotel location central and tube station virtually outside the door.

  £50 back also from Hilton Amex offer. Very pleased with everything. Wouldn’t have known about Virtuouso/Impresario without this site so thanks Rob and everyone here on this forum/chat!

  • Babyg says:

    6 Aug6 August 15:13

    i do forget about these option for london staycations… thanks for the mini review

    • Jill ( Kinkell) says:

      6 Aug6 August 18:46

      We had a very nice stay last October , 342 booked with Emyr. Only fly was restaurant closed for a ‘private party’ the entire stay…it was the EU delegation!
      I complained…..politely… as we had not been told until turning up . We got a corner table, maitre ‘d handled it well. Would go back

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