The HfP chat thread – Monday 13th September

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• Ryan says:

  13 Sep13 September 13:23

  Any ideas on the best way to spend in Ukraine?

  My plan is to bring GBP in cash along with a range of cards (Curve / Horizon / Creation and possibly Clarity)

  • Mr. AC says:

    13 Sep13 September 13:27

    Can’t say about UAH, but for RUB in my experience Curve always beats everyone (incl. on the weekends, surprisingly).

  • John says:

    13 Sep13 September 13:37

    Someone told me ATMs in Ukraine charge for cash withdrawals.

    Revolut doesn’t like UAH but Curve and the others should be fine.

    As the other comment says, Visa and MC rates can be 0.5%-1% off the interbank anyway, so Curve weekend rate may still be cheaper.

    GBP cash (withdrawn via Curve) may be the best of both worlds?

    I’m friends with a Polish money changer so I have all the UAH I need already…

    • Bill says:

      13 Sep13 September 14:09

      I just used my Halifax Clarity when I went. I did card payment only

      • Tony1 says:

        13 Sep13 September 22:51

        +1 , but took a few notes, and still have most of them. Some taxis don’t take card, but Uber was super cheap.

  • Rim says:

    13 Sep13 September 14:39

    If in Kiev, most place accept CC, I used Curve, Revolut for Uber/Bolt taxis apps, Curve for cash withdrawals too. GBP cash can be exchanged at most changers. Exchange rate vary from place to place, sometimes 3-5% difference depends where you are.

    • Ryan says:

      13 Sep13 September 15:45

      Thanks everyone!

      At the end of the day 1% isn’t going to make a massive difference – Kyiv appears to be cheap enough anyway!

  • Laura says:

    13 Sep13 September 18:11

    When I went to Kyiv, I got cash with my clarity card at an atm (at the airport perhaps) and used my card is some places too.

    My accommodation asked for payment in cash in Euros if possible but I didn’t have any.
    Euro cash was significantly stronger than sterling, if you have any handy

• Mouse says:

  13 Sep13 September 13:25

  Virgin status extension – a few days ago someone mentioned that it had not been applied to their status-matched status. Can any others confirm that ‘real’ status holders can see the extension in their accounts and matched status holders cannot? I am in the later category and don’t see an extension

  • Mouse says:

    13 Sep13 September 13:26

    And as a follow-up, has anyone status-matched asked Virgin about this and received a response?

    • Andrew says:

      13 Sep13 September 13:28

      I can confirm that I was status matched and can’t see and extension, but I’ve not contacted virgin about this yet.

• J says:

  13 Sep13 September 13:40

  Do BA require a negative Covid test for all outbound flight from the UK, or are their rules just dependent on the destination? We have tests as Germany requires them to avoid quarantine (but not to enter the country), but one didn’t register correctly. So, will BA allow us to fly, and then we can just get the extra test done in Germany?

  • Andrew says:

    13 Sep13 September 13:42

    No. Depends where you’re flying to – eg Spain, no test required.

  • ChrisC says:

    13 Sep13 September 13:50

    BA do not set these requirements.

    They are set by the destination country and BA is only checking that you comply – same as they have aleays checked that a passenger meets the entry requirements of the destination country.

  • Harry T says:

    13 Sep13 September 13:52

    Every airline simply enforces the guidance of the country you are flying to.

  • Rob says:

    13 Sep13 September 14:06

    No testing of any sort required to leave the UK.

    However, BA will refuse to fly you if you can’t prove you meet the requirements of the country you are travelling to, as BA is likely to a) fined and b) forced to bear the costs of repatriating you if you are refused entry.

  • Steve says:

    13 Sep13 September 14:34

    Doesn’t Germany only require tests to avoid quarantine if you aren’t vaccinated?

    • Steve says:

      13 Sep13 September 14:39

      In fact I’m not sure that tests are so relevant even then: “ Travellers who have spent time in high-risk areas must remain in quarantine for ten days. If, before the ten days have elapsed, you submit proof of vaccination or of recovery from COVID-19 to https://www.einreiseanmeldung.de, you may end your quarantine at the time you submit the necessary proof. Alternatively, after the fifth day in quarantine, you may reduce the quarantine period by submitting proof of a negative test result” https://www.bmi.bund.de/SharedDocs/faqs/EN/topics/civil-protection/coronavirus/coronavirus-faqs.html#doc13797140bodyText3

      • J says:

        13 Sep13 September 16:18

        There’s an exemption for unvaccinated German citizens visiting friends and family which allows submission of the test prior to travel to avoid quarantine. In my original post I was referring to my young daughter (not old enough for vaccination) – anyone over 12 from the UK would have had to have a test before departure anyway.

        • Steve says:

          13 Sep13 September 17:18

          Ah, got it, thanks – although not sure what you mean at the end about people over 12 needing tests before departure? (unless you mean departure from Germany to the UK? which would be over 10, I think)

          (I’m mildly paranoid about understanding this correctly as I’m going to Germany in a few days from the UK!)

        • Rob says:

          13 Sep13 September 17:28

          You cannot enter Germany if you are 12+ and unvaccinated, unless you quarantine. Kids are therefore stuffed.

        • J says:

          13 Sep13 September 18:18

          @Rob – There’s a loophole for unvaccinated German citizens or child/spouse of one. This allows the test to be submitted before the 5 day minimum (can be before you fly) only if you are visiting family in Germany. It’s a bit buried in the documents, but happy to forward and highlight the relevant section to you if you may want to make use of it. When you do the Germany digital registration form, this scenario is a check box for selecting your quarantine exemption reason.

        • J says:

          13 Sep13 September 18:26

          @Steve – (I think…) because the UK is a “higher risk’ country, everyone 12+ needs a test (pcr up to 72 hrs before or Lateral flow under 48 hrs before) their arrival in Germany. BA will require you to upload this before the flight, and you’ll need to show it at the border. You also need to do the Germany digital registration, which allows you to upload double vaccination evidence which prevents you needing to quarantine. This should be done before arriving in Germany. There was a good guide on the ADAC website which was last updated on Friday – will try to find the link when I’m home.

        • Steve says:

          13 Sep13 September 19:06

          “because the UK is a “higher risk’ country, everyone 12+ needs a test (pcr up to 72 hrs before or Lateral flow under 48 hrs before) their arrival in Germany”

          This seems to differ from what it says on the UK government advice:

          “From 1 August 2021 travellers aged 12 or over entering Germany from abroad must possess either proof of vaccination, or proof of recovery, or a negative COVID-19 test prior to arrival and present this proof on request to carriers or authorities. If you are aged 12 or over, travelling from the UK and are not fully vaccinated or recovered from COVID-19, you will need to enter Germany with either a PCR test result that is no more than 72 hours old, or a rapid antigen or other test sample that is no more than 48 hours old. The result of the test required by the German authorities can be either in paper or electronic form.”

          and on the linked German government website it says:

          “No matter where they spent time outside of Germany, all travellers over the age of 12 who are entering Germany are required to present either proof of a negative test result, proof of vaccination or proof of recovery from COVID-19 when requested by the responsible authority or border official when arriving in Germany. People travelling by air must present the same proof to their air carrier.

          People who have spent time in an area of virus variant of concern must always submit a negative COVID-19 test result. Proof of vaccination or proof of recovery is not sufficient.”

          So as far as I can see it’s just areas with virus variants of concern, not high risk areas?

        • Steve says:

          13 Sep13 September 19:11

          PS this file seems pretty definitive (and I think confirms no need for tests):

          https://www.rki.de/DE/Content/InfAZ/N/Neuartiges_Coronavirus/Transport/Archiv_Risikogebiete/Risikogebiete_2021-09-10_en.pdf?__blob=publicationFile

        • J says:

          13 Sep13 September 21:53

          @Steve- Yes you’re right, this is the page I mentioned earlier – nice easy table: https://www.adac.de/news/quarantaene-einreise-deutschland/

        • Steve says:

          14 Sep14 September 06:16

          @J thanks for confirming!

  • TGLoyalty says:

    13 Sep13 September 15:04

    Do BA require a negative Covid test for all outbound flight from the UK – No

    are their rules just dependent on the destination – yes

• BearingUp says:

  13 Sep13 September 13:56

  Given existing plans for 4 weeks in Chile are unlikely to happen I’m looking to take OH to Madeira for a week in late Oct, early Nov for our birthdays. Has anyone recent experience of Reids, will most facilities be open then? I believe the weather should be ok and temp around high teens. Any suggestions/advice? Thx.

  • Steve S says:

    13 Sep13 September 15:09

    @BearingUp
    Not stayed at Reids but Portobay Hotels are worth a try.
    https://www.portobay.com/en/hotels/madeira-hotels/les-suites-at-the-cliff-bay/

  • Aaron C says:

    13 Sep13 September 16:25

    We were at Reid’s in May. The hotel was busy (80% full they said). Almost everything was open except the sea pool at the bottom of the lift. When we have been there before that pool has been too cold to use so I didn’t miss it much.
    I’d get a car and dine around the island unless you want to take HB at Reid’s. Villia Cipriani is excellent for at least one meal.
    You’ll have a great holiday and Reid’s is an excellent property.

  • Tracey says:

    13 Sep13 September 17:11

    Was at Reid’s 2 weeks ago. Everything is open but some of the restaurants are only open certain days of the week. If I remember the afternoon tea is only available 3 on days. All the pools, the spa, gym and the tennis court are open.
    Don’t be conned into paying for an antigen test to come home through the hotel, they wanted 105 Euros each! Download the MadeiraSafe app and arrange a free test. In fact upload your vaccine certificate to the MS app and you will get pre-approval through Funchal airport. No lounges we’re open at FNC.

    • BearingUp says:

      13 Sep13 September 17:30

      Thank you all very much for the info – food for thought, literally, as we like to eat in various venues.
      Very useful re antigen!

• Aaron C says:

  13 Sep13 September 13:58

  Has anyone been to Secrets St James/ Wild Orchid or Hyatt Ziva Rose Hall in Montego Bay? All 3 resorts seem fairly decent and similarly priced. Anything much to chose between them?

  • Dr MJ says:

    13 Sep13 September 21:24

    Just came back from Jamaica. We stayed at Couples Tower Isle which I’d recommend if just two of you (no kids). Very laid back compared to Sandals.

    Obv. be wary re. insurance as currently against FCO advice to travel there.

• ChrisC says:

  13 Sep13 September 14:03

  What’s the latest on the BA rebooking policy for cancelled flights?

  Has it gone back to the previous within 1 year of original ticketting date or is it the newer 1 year from the date of the cancelled flight?

  Also have an ex AMS booked for next year. The final leg was LGW-AMS but is now LHR-AMS. Same times and flight numbers.

  Can’t remember if that count as a cancellation so I can shift the booking by a few months? Plenty of time to sort it out but need to deal with BA Bremen office.

  • Lady London says:

    13 Sep13 September 15:56

    Change of airport is cancellation. BA did use to argue LHR and LGW both counted as same airport but I gather it didn’t stand up (as it shouldn’t have, given Gatwick is at Crawley).

• Rich says:

  13 Sep13 September 14:10

  Last night, I checked in to the River Ness Radisson hotel in Inverness and they insisted I pay now. So I have tried to pay with amex, which was the card I used to reserve the hotel, to be told they don’t accept it. I was surprised, it is normal for Radisson not to accept amex? I have gold status but this was not recognised either.

  • Rob says:

    13 Sep13 September 15:35

    I would have popped it into the card machine anyway.

    For the last two nights of our recent Spanish trip we were in an unbranded 4-star because some friends of ours were there too. Hotel website says ‘no Amex’ and we were told the same at check-in, where we had to pay our bill in advance. Our friends told us that it did actually take Amex and they had used one.

    • Rich says:

      13 Sep13 September 16:03

      I did popped it but card machine declined it. It is not end of world anyway.

  • Lady London says:

    13 Sep13 September 17:08

    Methinks they wanted to be paid now to forestall issues when they tried not to accept your Amex at checkout after you’d had your stay. See Rob’s comment

• DI says:

  13 Sep13 September 14:51

  Switching *away* from Virgin Money current account

  Hi HfPers,
  I am contemplating switching away from my Virgin Money current account for a bonus (Santander for example).
  I switched for the 15k points incentive, I am not really using any ongoing perks at the moment.

  Is there any reason why I might want to keep the VM account long term?

  Thanks.

  • Doogie says:

    13 Sep13 September 15:29

    £20 a year of interest on £1k for no minimum monthly shuffle is free money – not much free money but more than none. I also believe you can open more than one, but I only curently have the one.

    Other than that, not aware of anything, but if I had another donor account I’d use that first rather than losing the £20 a year.

    • Paul says:

      13 Sep13 September 15:31

      Isn’t that 2% only for the first year also?

      • Doogie says:

        13 Sep13 September 16:30

        No, it’s not restricted. You might be confusing it with the nationwide one which is first 12 months only.

  • Paul says:

    13 Sep13 September 15:31

    The 2% interest on a balance of up to £1k?

    I can’t think of any other perks of that account! Likewise looking to maybe switch in the near future

  • David says:

    13 Sep13 September 16:12

    Fee free cash withdrawals abroad, and debit card transactions, if you value that?

    • DI says:

      13 Sep13 September 17:50

      Thanks everyone, good points, but I think not enough to prevent me from switching 😁

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