The HfP chat thread – Tuesday 21st September

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Munch says:

21 Sep21 September 18:47

Going to Croatia next week which requires a Rapid Antigen Test on entry. On the Croatian PLF form do I enter my vaccination certificate or Rapid Antigen Negative Test certificate.
- TGLoyalty says:
  
  21 Sep21 September 19:47
  
  Considering they want a rapid anti gen test form all travellers and your vaccine status irrelevant. why would they want to see your vaccine certificate?
- Jonathan says:
  
  21 Sep21 September 20:03
  
  Travelling from U.K. you need a test but if you want to cross the border into Slovenia or Bosnia then showing vaccine certificate (paper version not App/QR code) will get you back into Croatia without a test. Equally if you flew to Venice & drove/ferry over to Croatia a test would not be necessary if fully vaccinated.
- Joe says:
  
  21 Sep21 September 20:22
  
  I uploaded vaccine certificate and then showed test at airport and border.
- TJ says:
  
  21 Sep21 September 21:42
  
  Just arrived in Split today. You need to upload your vaccination cert. Bring a pen with you as despite uploading all requirements, BA insisted that we also complete yet another form on the flight over (contact tracing form). At border control, we had all our docs ready to show but they only wanted our passports – really quick and easy.
  - TJ says:
    
    21 Sep21 September 21:44
    
    Sorry, it’s a bit late. I meant upload test cert not vaccination cert which they don’t ask for.
Andrew says:

21 Sep21 September 18:51

WorldHotels Collection £100 back on £250. Includes the Washington, Mayfair and a couple of dozen others across Europe.

Marston’s has just popped up too. £10 back on £25
Luke says:

21 Sep21 September 19:21

Now the Netherlands have dropped the quarantine requirements, I’m going to use some Eurostar vouchers to visit Amsterdam for the weekend. Any recommendations on where to get an antigen test at St Pancras before the train leaves at 11am (test required to enter Netherlands).
- ChrisC says:
  
  21 Sep21 September 19:31
  
  There is a testing place there – Collinson I think. Google will find it for you
  
  The timings might be an issue – you’d likely need to be there a good few hours before your train departs
  - Luke says:
    
    21 Sep21 September 19:37
    
    Thanks, will check them out. Hopefully they’re open at 9am on a Sunday.
  - meta says:
    
    21 Sep21 September 19:47
    
    I’ve been doing Collinson antigen at St. Pancras for a while now as it is the cheapest and closest in-person for me. £32 with Amex20 or BA20 code. Super quick and easy. You pre-book a slot. You can come a early or a bit later and still ok. You get results via online portal and you can download PDF. Results in 15 minutes. One time it was 30 minutes. So I’d bake in an hour at least all in just in case.
    - Rob says:
      
      21 Sep21 September 20:12
      
      I did a test here on Monday morning and it worked exactly as you described. £32 was a fair price I think.
      - Luke says:
        
        21 Sep21 September 20:14
        
        Thanks all, much appreciated.
Munch says:

21 Sep21 September 20:03

Anyone has their status extension for Virgin hit their account? My account still has an end date of 30th September.
- Babyg says:
  
  21 Sep21 September 21:41
  
  nope, still waiting for extension to post even thou i have the email, note im a gold via status match – if that has any bearing on extensions
  - AL says:
    
    21 Sep21 September 21:45
    
    I’m an organic Gold – still waiting for a response to a WhatsApp message I sent the other day asking about this, and no update to my FC account yet. Mind, they will be super busy now that world+dog is trying to get a flight!
Sarah says:

21 Sep21 September 20:26

Someone mentioned they were planning to visit Barra – this planted the idea in my head! How many nights is enough for a brief visit? Also, any hotel or B&B recommendations?
- Save East Coast Rewards says:
  
  21 Sep21 September 20:32
  
  It’s small, a night would be enough (based on people I’ve talked to) many only come for the flight and leave the same day or maybe flight there and ferry back
  - Sarah says:
    
    21 Sep21 September 21:01
    
    Thanks – will look at the different options for arrival and departure
Rosie says:

21 Sep21 September 20:41

Hi I’m a platinum member with marriot , do ritz Carlton properties in Europe ever give free breakfast due to platinum elite ?

If not do ritz Carlton give 1000 points instead
- E says:
  
  21 Sep21 September 20:58
  
  You should get 1000 points but not free breakfast. I don’t know of any which would offer it as it’s not a benefit of Platinum.
- TGLoyalty says:
  
  21 Sep21 September 20:59
  
  Ever? Maybe if they are feeling very generous but as per the rules nope no breakfast 99% of the time.
  
  Yes 1k points.
- Blair says:
  
  21 Sep21 September 21:31
  
  Find an agent who can offer you a STARS rate if you’re going to RC. On site breakfast prices are ridiculous.
  - TGLoyalty says:
    
    21 Sep21 September 21:40
    
    Emyr or FHR. Check the website as well as the app too as I find they often have different rates.
    
    There is also a visa/MasterCard free breakfast link knocking around if you google it.
- Harry T says:
  
  21 Sep21 September 22:13
  
  RC Abama does, from what I remember. I wouldn’t rely on it though. STARS rates are your friend at EDITION and RC.
Bill says:

21 Sep21 September 21:06

Am I correct in thinking that neither a 6 year old nor 8 year old will require car seats in a taxi in Alicante? The Cabify app has a “kids” option which has caused me some confusion.
- AL says:
  
  21 Sep21 September 21:49
  
  They don’t need car seats in cities, but do in rural (read: anywhere but a city) areas. Which appears to back this up, too: https://www.which.co.uk/reviews/child-car-seats/article/child-car-seat-laws-uk-and-abroad/child-car-seats-laws-around-the-world-aKQx68K6rsbK
  - Bill says:
    
    21 Sep21 September 22:01
    
    Thanks!
ChrisC says:

21 Sep21 September 21:25

I could cry.

Spent 2 hours waiting for a BA chat agent, get to #1 and my laptop decides to crash on me

🙁
- Blair says:
  
  21 Sep21 September 21:32
  
  ChrisC have you seen the Xmas sweets tubs in your local supermarket? You have my blessing to crack one open tonight.
- SteveJ says:
  
  21 Sep21 September 21:35
  
  Call the US call centre, very short queues at this time, and you’ll get a UK based agent majority of the time
- Lady London says:
  
  21 Sep21 September 21:46
  
  Are you sure it wasn’t BA chat that crashed?
  - ChrisC says:
    
    21 Sep21 September 22:05
    
    Definitly my laptop as completly shut down
    
    Wasn’t urgent but was doing some other changes as I was waiting. Just needed them to make another for me as not possible online