The HfP chat thread – Wednesday 29th September

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Liam says:

29 Sep29 September 17:24

I’m sure this has been discussed many times on here so forgive me for asking but I’m due to land at LHR (T3) on October 19 and would like to do the “day two” test in the airport before leaving. It looks like there are a few options. Are any of them particularly good or worth avoiding?
- ChrisC says:
  
  29 Sep29 September 18:10
  
  If there is one in T3 then do that.
  
  I wouldn’t bother with trying to switch terminals etc to save a few quid.
Freddy says:

29 Sep29 September 17:45

Booked Radisson red London 02 ages ago on reduced points only to receive an email today to say that they’ve fell victim to a government takeover to become a red list quarantine hotel (whatever) until Jan 2022. No offer to rebook me at no additional cost elsewhere, just a meh please go elsewhere. Am I expecting too much here
- TGLoyalty says:
  
  29 Sep29 September 18:01
  
  The didn’t fall victim to anything they signed a government contract for more ££
  
  Yes they should find you elsewhere or compensate you.
- ChrisC says:
  
  29 Sep29 September 18:07
  
  There was no ‘government takeover’.
  
  They chose to bid to be a quarantine hotel and the Government accepted it.
- Benilyn says:
  
  29 Sep29 September 18:13
  
  ^ you pessimists 😉
  Have you not heard of national duty? :p
  - Freddy says:
    
    29 Sep29 September 18:26
    
    Yeah I told them I’m not accepting their fictional story about a military coup storming their hotel. No response to a request to rebook yet. Shoddy really
    - Anna says:
      
      29 Sep29 September 19:17
      
      Lol!
      I was looking at the CP Birmingham NEC the other day, their last 10 or so reviews on Tripadvisor were 1 star from people who’d also been spun this story so it seem to be a script coming from multiple chains!
      - ChrisC says:
        
        29 Sep29 September 21:01
        
        Much easier to blame the government though isn’t it even if it’s your own decision?
        
        I’d be tempted to push back and ask to see the requisition order from the government.
ChrisC says:

29 Sep29 September 18:00

Just checked my MAN HI booking for the weekend (mainly to check the cancellation time as was thinking of not going)

Nice surprise is I’ve been upgraded to a Junior Suite.
- The cyclist says:
  
  29 Sep29 September 18:11
  
  That’s great, I checked it out as well, you will have the choice of the Colin Bell or George Best Suite, perfect for predicting this weekends football scores!
Matt says:

29 Sep29 September 18:23

Hi I’ve got Bovey Castle booked using my IHG points. Has anyone stayed there, and what are your thoughts? The points rooms books you into a Mews Room (not the main building) which worries me a bit. Any thoughts would be appreciated.
- Njb says:
  
  29 Sep29 September 19:03
  
  Stayed in the lodges quite a few times.
  Prepare yourself for beautiful location, attractively designed interiors, so so food and entry level rooms that may be disappointing but everything else makes up for it. Love it there.
- mark2 says:
  
  29 Sep29 September 21:36
  
  If you go into Bovey Tracey I, can strongly recommend the Guild of Devonshire Craftsmen. The marble museum is also surprisingly interesting.
  Assuming of course that they are open and in full operation.
Manny_D says:

29 Sep29 September 18:52

Does anyone know if the Marriott Luxury spend £400 get £100 back Amex offer is cumulative?

Got a stay booked there that has been prepaid but it has come as 2 separate entries on the charge as there are two rooms.
Benilyn says:

29 Sep29 September 19:45

Long shot… parking at Oxford during undergrad graduation. Is it difficult in the town centre for over night parking?
- HH says:
  
  29 Sep29 September 19:52
  
  Westgate is just £3.50 flat rate from 5pm-6am
- Matt says:
  
  29 Sep29 September 19:53
  
  Easy. Park at westgate shopping centre underground parking.
- TGLoyalty says:
  
  29 Sep29 September 20:21
  
  If you need access to the car at all there is a car park across the road from westgate for the same overnight rate.
  - Andrew says:
    
    30 Sep30 September 09:08
    
    Westgate has 24 hour security. Oxpens doesn’t.
    
    Enter Oxford via Redbridge/Abingdon Road for the most straightforward route to the Westgate.
    
    Don’t park at Gloucester Green underground car park, pedestrian access is only by a narrow staircase, and there’s a massive issue with junkies discarding sharps. It’s also incredibly expensive.
- AL says:
  
  30 Sep30 September 01:38
  
  Beware of the bus lanes!
Phil says:

29 Sep29 September 20:14

We’ve got a few nights in Lympstone Manor next week.

I was wondering if it’s a member of any of the independent hotel groups that might have Amex offers running, but wasn’t sure how to find out.

Any advice you can share?
- JDB says:
  
  29 Sep29 September 20:51
  
  It’s a Relais & Châteaux but I think the Amex offers they had have now expired.
  - Phil says:
    
    30 Sep30 September 07:27
    
    Thanks JDG – it is indeed.
    
    You never know, another offer might arrive yet!
David says:

29 Sep29 September 20:43

The Cosmopolitan Las Vegas has been sold to MGM -any ideas when it will leave Bonvoy?
- Rob says:
  
  29 Sep29 September 20:50
  
  Will take a while for the sale to legally complete and you are then looking at whatever notice period Bonvoy built in.
- The Savage Squirrel says:
  
  29 Sep29 September 20:56
  
  Almost certainly will align with MGM/Hyatt tie in but as for timescale; who knows. Sale scheduled to complete in first half of next yr I believe which is quite a date range; so not leaving imminently (as in not within weeks) I would have thought.
  - David says:
    
    29 Sep29 September 21:11
    
    Its a toss up between the Cosmo or The fourseasons – on a FHR rate in November the 4seasons is cheaper but a outdoor terrance and Bonvoy will swing it.
    - JDB says:
      
      29 Sep29 September 21:25
      
      It’s a while since we went, but for us the fact that the 4S doesn’t have a casino (but there is a door into one) made the hotel much more civilised. Obviously it’s a matter of personal taste/choice, but for us the giant casino hotels are fun to visit while you are there but not to stay at.
      - David says:
        
        29 Sep29 September 21:30
        
        Not sure civilised is what I want.
    - Travel Strong says:
      
      29 Sep29 September 22:08
      
      Its hard to beat having a terrace at the Cosmo over looking the Bellagio fountains. If you haven’t done it already, its an easy choice.
      
      Everything else about the Cosmo is on a par with other top tier properties (wynn/encore, ven/pallazo, etc), but the terraces are unparalleled. Also it’s also the most centrally located of all the top tier resorts.
      
      The only thing that stops me booking there every time is an abundance of wynnslots credits, hilton points…. And the cosmo beds are too soft for my liking!
      - David says:
        
        29 Sep29 September 22:10
        
        Thanks for the advice ! Cosmo it is .
      - Manya says:
        
        29 Sep29 September 23:04
        
        Don’t forget the $20 trick. Sometimes it works, sometimes it doesn’t. The time it worked for us at Mirage the welcome hamper of beer and bar snacks alone was worth >£20. That’s also not factoring the value of a room on a higher floor with an express lift overlooking the strip and pointing towards the Bellagio fountains.
      - The Savage Squirrel says:
        
        30 Sep30 September 00:09
        
        +1. If you are looking for “uncivilised” but upscale then Cosmo will be a good option for you.
        From a HfP perspective, it will be interesting to see how RW’s 3 Hilton properties go into the mix, and indeed whether there’s that much difference beyond the superficial between any of them.
- AL says:
  
  30 Sep30 September 01:39
  
  A shame. I once got a comped penthouse at the Cosmo – fond memories.