The HfP chat thread – Sunday 21st November

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• Aston100 says:

  21 Nov21 November 16:07

  Hello people.
  The hotel I’d booked for Xmas and NYE in Manhattan contacted me to say they’d been ‘bought out’ by a company to do with NYE in Times Square and were moving all guests out on the night of the 31st of December.
  I’ve been moved to the Intercontinental Times Square for 2 nights and they’ll pay for a taxi. They’ll also not charge me for those last 2 nights.
  I’m happy with this arrangement, though I have no experience of either hotel but I presume the Intercontinental to be one of the better New York hotels.

  However, I’m curious about what would happen if guests refuse to move?
  My booking is pay on arrival, but I’m sure some of the other guests would have paid something up front. The hotel is after all fully booked. Can they cancel your booking and throw you out?

  I also wonder what kind of money must have changed hands to book an entire hotel next to Times Square for New Years Eve.

  • Aston100 says:

    21 Nov21 November 16:08

    No edit feature grrrr! – sorry I meant to say the hotel had been ‘bought out’ for just that one night only.

  • Blenz101 says:

    21 Nov21 November 16:23

    You have zero legal rights, paid in advance or on arrival it’s not like a tenancy agreement. And, particularly in the USA, it’s perfectly possible for even a single guest to throw enough money at the hotel to secure their preferred room.

    You will be governed by the terms of the booking. Most hotels will ‘walk you’ if overbooked, in this case you are lucky to find out in advance. They could have just let you show up then moved you.

    Personally wouldn’t want to be anywhere near Times Square on NYE but each to their own.

  • Chrisasaurus says:

    21 Nov21 November 16:49

    That’s a remarkably good outcome given the usual ones in this situation… Is it another IHG you were booked into?

    Hilton have good policies for walking guests (including transportation, paying for the night and IIRC something like $200 in cash from the register there and then) but it’s really down to the hotel to do the right thing (hence the chains enforce standards like that)

    Blenz isn’t fancying it but I’d join you in a heartbeat!

    • Aston100 says:

      21 Nov21 November 17:59

      Yeah it is a Kimpton.
      I don’t know how these things work, but am presuming there is no actual cost to the IHG hotels if they move guests between them.

      • Blenz101 says:

        21 Nov21 November 18:18

        If under the same ultimate owner no real cost. There will be agreements in place with nearby hotels, some perhaps out of group, in the event of over bookings even on a routine night as well as disaster recovery type events where large numbers of rooms have to be taken out of use.

        Your old room will have been sold at a rate high enough to cover you at the IC and for more than you were paying.

        • kitten says:

          21 Nov21 November 20:56

          Why do I have a worry in the back of my mind that there’s still plenty of time for the replacement hotel to “walk” you as well?

  • ChrisC says:

    21 Nov21 November 16:50

    When someone asked the other day about NYC on NYE I checked the IC and the cheapest room on offer was over £850! Thiugh that;s a bargain the Kimpton Eventi is £2.5k!

    So good job they are paying for your room!

    What sort of room are they getting for you? Any extra benefits to help sweeten the deal?

    Though the IC isn’t actually on Times Square the general area will be very busy. The Ball Drop event will be full on again and crowds willingly pen themselves in from the early afternoon to get a good spot (no toilets and no readmission!)

    The IC will likely give you some sort of pass / wrist band to help get you through the police cordons they use to manage the crowds.

    • Aston100 says:

      21 Nov21 November 18:01

      I was looking into the ball drop thing.
      At my age, there is no way I’d want to be held in one area for 8+ hours with no access to the loo or f&b, all in freezing temperatures.
      Will try and stay well away from the area that night. Probably head to Central Park.

      • ChrisC says:

        21 Nov21 November 20:20

        Time Out will do a listing of NYE events starting from early December so check that out for things like fire works displays.

        One 4th July I was in NYC. I avoided the East River displays (the ‘official’ Macys one) but went down to Battery Park to watch the displays happening in NJ.

        Was still busy but not rammed.

        • Aston100 says:

          21 Nov21 November 20:22

          Thanks Chris, that is helpful.

  • Charlie says:

    21 Nov21 November 17:44

    I was ‘walked’ on the 1st of a 10 night stay at IC Toronto.
    No prior notice like your situation.
    When I returned received upgraded room, $100 F&B credit, 6PM checkout, transport to and from Alternative accommodation (which was decent boutique type)
    So no ‘real’ cost to the hotel, on reflection I should have hassled them for a load of points.

    • Aston100 says:

      21 Nov21 November 17:57

      Ah good thinking about the IHG points, I hadn’t thought of that.
      That said, I’m happy with the current outcome.

      • BuildBackBetter says:

        21 Nov21 November 18:50

        You can still ask for things that might not cost them much – a club level room, exec lounge access if not already included etc

        • Sandra says:

          21 Nov21 November 20:26

          IC Times Square is a couple of minutes walk from Times Square not actually on Times Square. We stayed there about 5 years ago. It’s ok but our rooms (standard) weren’t particularly large so I would have a look on the website, get an idea of the different rooms and then pick one you like and ask that they put you in that/upgrade you. Higher floor better and you’ll at least have a chance of seeing something over some of the lower buildings around it, the lower floors just look straight out onto buildings. I think, if I remember correctly, there is a subway station just outside it.

  • Colin MacKinnon says:

    21 Nov21 November 20:21

    Friends of the family had booked Gleneagles for a wedding when a well-known footballer and his pop star partner decided they wanted to get married there that same day.

    First call from Gleneagles asked if they would mind changing day – this was about four months in advance. No, they replied – family in Australia etc have already booked flights.

    Second call: We will pay for your whole reception, if you move to another day. Answer: No, we don’t want to hassle guests.

    Third call: free reception and 30k in cash. Wedding moved!

    • Aston100 says:

      21 Nov21 November 20:23

      What a result!

• Matthew says:

  21 Nov21 November 16:15

  Is it ok to book 3 rooms for 1 night using my IHG points? One for me, one my mum and the other for in-laws. I guess I can list them as additional guests? Thanks.

  • TGLoyalty says:

    21 Nov21 November 16:15

    Yes no issue.

    • Matthew says:

      21 Nov21 November 16:26

      Perfect, thanks.

  • ChrisC says:

    21 Nov21 November 16:54

    I’d email / call the hotel to tell them you really want 3 rooms just in case their systems think it’s an error and cancel 2 of them.

    • Jim says:

      21 Nov21 November 17:03

      Really? IHG tell you to book multiple rooms separately! I’ve done this dozens of times and never had any issues…

      • ChrisC says:

        21 Nov21 November 19:33

        Yes really.

        Nothing wrong with belt and braces. I’ve seen plenty of reports where rooms have been cancelled because they were as being duplicate bookings.

        Contacting the hotel would also be an opportunity to ask for close together rooms or one with an accsesable bathroom ( if that was needed) etc

        • Brian W says:

          21 Nov21 November 22:48

          Nonsense 🙄

          I do this on a weekly basis and never have it questioned.

  • Phil W says:

    21 Nov21 November 23:17

    Only issue you might have is if the hotel runs out of Reward availability as you’ll need to book each room separately.

• Scott says:

  21 Nov21 November 16:24

  Hi, is the BAPP companion voucher normally visible in the BA App?
  I had a voucher in my BA account, but can’t see any mention of the voucher in the app, even if I try a dummy reward flight booking.
  I can’t currently log in to the web version to check if it’s still there, due to the IT upgrade.

  • Scott says:

    21 Nov21 November 17:19

    Used the workaround to log into the web and the voucher is OK. Still would like to know how to see it in the app though.

    • ChrisC says:

      21 Nov21 November 17:28

      You can’t in the app.

      Remember the app is a cut down version of the website. So many things you can do on the web that you can’t on the app.

      • Scott says:

        21 Nov21 November 19:57

        OK, thanks.

• JAD says:

  21 Nov21 November 17:31

  Looking for advice on which Hilton to stay at for a trip to Istanbul next May. We like to walk around cities so want to be reasonably close to the key sites. I’m a diamond member so will be a points redemption and ideally looking for a bit of luxury as just me as Mrs JAD. Have had a look at options and swithering between the Bosporus and Bonmonti. But equally happy to be advised to look elsewhere! Many thanks.

  • chabuddy geezy says:

    21 Nov21 November 18:38

    Doubletree Sirkeci is walking distance to the the Blue Mosque and Hagia Sophia etc. It’s an unremarkable hotel, personally I would stay at the Conrad and get cheap taxis to the historical sites

    • JAD says:

      21 Nov21 November 19:58

      Thanks, will look at that.

  • John says:

    21 Nov21 November 20:16

    Bosphorus is in a central location, but it’s old (and historic, after all). Bomonti is not so central but is nicer, and has nicer lounge and facilities, pre-covid at least. Depending on how long your trip is you could try both

  • Can says:

    21 Nov21 November 21:18

    I like Bosporus. It’s the first five star in the country. So a bit dated, but renovated. wonderful views from the lounge. The location is excellent for the new town.
    I wouldn’t ignore Conrad either.

    • yorkieflyer says:

      21 Nov21 November 21:52

      Bosphorus, stayed twice, an excellent choice

• Craig says:

  21 Nov21 November 18:07

  Just wondering how we get together and start a campaign to free Polly?

  • Track says:

    21 Nov21 November 18:54

    It is a simple lesson for us that for the next two years, it is not risk-free to visit SE Asia — from quarantine and interaction with low-level officials.

    Wouldn’t travel without a generic business/residency need.

    Masks in 40 degrees heat, QR-codes, other measures — suddenly the region stops being a desirable high level of service destination.

  • Alex M says:

    21 Nov21 November 18:57

    Now Britney is free, we can focus on Polly…

  • Polly says:

    22 Nov22 November 00:18

    Ha ha Craig, and Alex W, v funny! Nice thought tho..

    1st morning in camp…warning light flashing on the oxygen sat level monitor. They even remotely monitor that too..ph call at 7 to ask was l ok? Breakfast of white bread jam sandwich, clementine, and water, help, get me out of here. Great menu! Luckily packed some milk, so have a real cuppa going…have to ration that, unless grab can bring me some..still in shock!

    Track, agree, that’s it for Asia for us now as you say, too risky. Place is full of tourists the nurse told me this am. Similar with neg PCR but suspect serology, so piling them up here atm…definitely appear to be using extra sensitive PCR tests…

    • meta says:

      22 Nov22 November 00:31

      So basically they used your sample for arrival PCR to do a serology test. I doubt you have agreed to that when you provided the initial sample, but who knows what you had to sign. They should change the wording of the entry requirements if they want to do that. Who knows what else they are doing with your sample.

      You should get this story into the papers once you’re out of it…

      • Polly says:

        22 Nov22 November 01:38

        Yep, interesting theory. Definitely didn’t agree to that level of intrusion. The airport lab which is also MOH btw, state it’s negative. No idea why l need a 2nd. But seems to be protocol now, maybe they do random serology sampling, who knows. Just been told only PCR today, have to hang around til tomorrow now for serology blood test, which l usually faint at! So that means earliest release is now Wednesday, as phlebotomist only attends each site on rotation…glad only have to wait til tomorrow, v grateful for small mercies at this stage…

• John says:

  21 Nov21 November 18:42

  Anyone been to Al Maha recently on redemption?

  Is food still included?

  Thanks

  • N says:

    21 Nov21 November 23:15

    FT suggests yes. I’m there in a few weeks, can report then!

  • MinR says:

    22 Nov22 November 12:16

    It was in October when my brother went, and at the start of the year when I did.

• Backpacker says:

  21 Nov21 November 19:23

  UK Debit card – spend on rewards.
  Losing the cherished Tesco current account next week.
  Does anyone else offer debit account rewards based on spend besides Chase (who have a massive list of exceptions)?

  • Blenz101 says:

    21 Nov21 November 19:57

    The replacement card Tesco offer is pretty much the same. They have just sewn up the MS routes via NS&I and financial institutions.

  • Backpacker says:

    21 Nov21 November 21:09

    Hey Toaster, great suggestion! Will try both with Curve, many thanks.

    • Blenz101 says:

      21 Nov21 November 21:45

      Curve pass the MCC code, not sure what curve adds beyond giving two bites of a single transaction to try and get points?

• swifty says:

  21 Nov21 November 19:24

  hi, can anyone give me referral code for enterprise, there’s a car at the end of my road!’

  • Yorkie Aid says:

    21 Nov21 November 19:38

    There’s no code you have to add a first and last name. Then £20 credit each following your first rental. Rob might appreciate it as your sub 🙂

    • swifty says:

      21 Nov21 November 21:01

      ah cool, he prob not working at this hr on a sunday i’ll check in morning

      • Dominic says:

        21 Nov21 November 21:18

        If you just need a first and last name, I reckon you can manage to get Rob’s….

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