Chat thread – Tuesday 14th December

[BuildBackBetter]

Gary wrote:

Chat thread is very difficult to follow. Used to be such a relaxing read but has turned into a memory exercise matching questions to replies. Also some beloved regular posters seem MIA.

Pointless having a daily thread. Create a thread for new deals if that’s the aim.

Apart from that, the forum is very good and saves a lot of time in ignoring threads you aren’t interested in.

[DJ]

Kimpton password: Just Chilling

Would it be valid in all Kimpton hotels, including the one in Glasgow? Thanks

[yorkieflyer]

My measure of success of the new forum will be whether I can successfully dodge all the bendy and creation stuff!

• This reply was modified 3 years, 4 months ago by yorkieflyer.

[AndrewF]

Update – in line with the extra article today I’ve just had a flight change email. Still LGW but actually better flight times so we’ll be pleased if they happen in line with what’s on the email!

[yorkieflyer]

Agreed text v small and don’t like font either for that matter, supposed to be an answer to up thread, quote doesn’t seem to be working for me

• This reply was modified 3 years, 4 months ago by yorkieflyer.

[Alan Todd]

DJ wrote:

Kimpton password: Just Chilling

Would it be valid in all Kimpton hotels, including the one in Glasgow? Thanks

Yup, should be. I’d take screenshot of FB post/tweet or whatever just in case, but generally they’re pretty clued up.

[Danny]

I hope so as the new format is really putting me off!

[GaryE]

New schedule is showing that they are only flying to Gran Canaria in summer once a week on a Saturday from LGW rather than on a Wednesday and Saturday – we have 10 days booked and heard nothing from them – so maybe they will load extra flights up later

[Laura]

Alan Todd wrote:

Laura wrote:

Morning 🙂

Are LoganAir offering the day trips to Barra again this winter? Can’t find any information online about it anymore

Yes, I booked a few days ago for February. Availability was a bit limited but managed to find a day that suited.
Can’t seem to post the link but the webpage is still active. Must be booked by phoning booking line on 0344 800 2855.

Thank you!

[buchanan101]

Early stages of planning a west coast trip…

Out to San Francisco (Virgin fly A350-1000s currently), some days there, flight to Vancouver and a drive a loop to Banff, Jasper, Kamloops etc). BA back..

How many days would folk spend in SF and Vancouver to “do” them reasonably? (I am someone who is happy to spend 7 or 8 nights in NYC to give an idea of my “depth” of being a tourist). Thinking 3 or 4 nights max in either (leaving a week or so for the Rockies)? SF more interesting than Seattle?

Best time of year for SF, Vancouver and Rockies? Thinking September/early October?

[JS]

Make sure not to force anything this week, market likely gets choppy and not an easy ride in either direction. Fed meeting on Wednesday and OPEX/Quad Witching on Friday

[JS]

That was a reply to n166

[slidey]

Are all IHG properties supposed to give a drink/snack voucher upon checkin?

Holiday inn express dubai airport refused to give me any vouchers claiming that all they offer is a 30% discount on food and drinks?

Also the room had loads of small flies in it, would not recommend.

[Go197]

BuildBackBetter wrote:

Gary wrote:

Chat thread is very difficult to follow. Used to be such a relaxing read but has turned into a memory exercise matching questions to replies. Also some beloved regular posters seem MIA.

Pointless having a daily thread. Create a thread for new deals if that’s the aim.

Apart from that, the forum is very good and saves a lot of time in ignoring threads you aren’t interested in.

Correct.

The old comments chat was multiple conversation topics in one place. A reply in a forum thread is not like a reply in the comments on a post.

A forum thread is conventionally used for one conversation topic. When you reply, you are replying to that topic so your reply is appended, not nested.

The only way to handle multiple topics in a single thread is by quoting the comment to which you are responding.

Create a new thread for a new topic, or quote the comment you wish to answer, or append something new to the bottom of this general thread by replying.

(The position of the reply link doesn’t help people understand how replies work in a forum thread. Nor does it help that while the reply link auto-scrolls to the textbox, the quote link does not. I also do not like having to cycle through 3 screens of google captcha verification just to post a comment.)

• This reply was modified 3 years, 4 months ago by Go197.

[cinereus]

Rhys Jones wrote:

can wrote:

I can see the tears already, but I will protest this quote/reply mess and not participate in this daily chat anymore. It used to be so much fun for me, and look at the mess we are in now..

This is being fixed shortly, bear with us!

What about the moderation issue? I can see people getting frustrated after writing out long and timely replies only for them to disappear into the aether for hours or forever.

[cinereus]

buchanan101 wrote:

Early stages of planning a west coast trip…

Out to San Francisco (Virgin fly A350-1000s currently), some days there, flight to Vancouver and a drive a loop to Banff, Jasper, Kamloops etc). BA back..

How many days would folk spend in SF and Vancouver to “do” them reasonably? (I am someone who is happy to spend 7 or 8 nights in NYC to give an idea of my “depth” of being a tourist). Thinking 3 or 4 nights max in either (leaving a week or so for the Rockies)? SF more interesting than Seattle?

Best time of year for SF, Vancouver and Rockies? Thinking September/early October?

Why only 7 nights in NYC? Surely you’re only scratching the surface? I’d say as long as you can muster in SFO, even just to do some of the major sights and most interesting restaurants would be at least a week and that’s completely ignoring Oakland and Berkeley.

[Go197]

slidey wrote:

Are all IHG properties supposed to give a drink/snack voucher upon checkin?

Holiday inn express dubai airport refused to give me any vouchers claiming that all they offer is a 30% discount on food and drinks?

Also the room had loads of small flies in it, would not recommend.

The exact nature of the welcome amenity isn’t specified in the terms, except for Kimpton and Six Senses.
Usually points or a drink/snack voucher, or club lounge access at CP.

[Go197]

cinereus wrote:

buchanan101 wrote:

Early stages of planning a west coast trip…

Out to San Francisco (Virgin fly A350-1000s currently), some days there, flight to Vancouver and a drive a loop to Banff, Jasper, Kamloops etc). BA back..

How many days would folk spend in SF and Vancouver to “do” them reasonably? (I am someone who is happy to spend 7 or 8 nights in NYC to give an idea of my “depth” of being a tourist). Thinking 3 or 4 nights max in either (leaving a week or so for the Rockies)? SF more interesting than Seattle?

Best time of year for SF, Vancouver and Rockies? Thinking September/early October?

Why only 7 nights in NYC? Surely you’re only scratching the surface? I’d say as long as you can muster in SFO, even just to do some of the major sights and most interesting restaurants would be at least a week and that’s completely ignoring Oakland and Berkeley.

And there is a classic example of why it’s futile to ask other people how long you “should” stay in one place.

You know how you like to travel. Do what suits you.

Perhaps your question might be “what are the best things to see and do in SF or Vancouver” and then make your own selection.

For what it’s worth, Vancouver and north is a great place for a road trip, especially if you enjoy the road part of the road trip. From Vancouver I would drive to Whistler first and spend a few days there. I stopped in Whistler for a month I liked it so much, but even a few days is better than no days, and I’d rather spread my time out over more places.

I’d go insane to be stuck in NY for a week trying out restaurants but someone else probably hates the idea of mountain biking, quad biking, bungee jumping and skydiving for a month in Whistler.

[Not Long Now...]

Bloomberg reporting red list countries to be scrapped now Omicron variant is widespread. Perhaps our JNB trip for christmas may be on after all… having spent all week booking a fallback trip to USA.

[secretsquirrel]

If your transiting through Abu Dhabi as a stop to connect to another flight back to Heathrow, I take it the one PCR test required to enter the U.K. will be all we need? As we are staying airside at ABU we do not need anymore tests?

[buchanan101]

Love it… I mention I like a week in NYC and one person says too long and another too short.

Hey, I’m a typical city tourist, museums, go up some tall buildings, go on some open top bus tours, on a boat or two, just go for walks. And see a show or two.

Only 4 nights next year in NYC, but it’s after a QM2 crossing – so only 4 days as OH can only realistically get a fortnight off work.

Which brings me back to SF/Vancouver/Rockies.

So @Go197: what are the best things to do in SF/Vancouver. Hadn’t registered Whistler! Is it really possible in Vancouver to ski and sea swim in the same day. (I’ve also forgotten about Victoria Island)

[Andrew.]

buchanan101 wrote:

Early stages of planning a west coast trip…

Out to San Francisco (Virgin fly A350-1000s currently), some days there, flight to Vancouver and a drive a loop to Banff, Jasper, Kamloops etc). BA back..

How many days would folk spend in SF and Vancouver to “do” them reasonably? (I am someone who is happy to spend 7 or 8 nights in NYC to give an idea of my “depth” of being a tourist). Thinking 3 or 4 nights max in either (leaving a week or so for the Rockies)? SF more interesting than Seattle?

Best time of year for SF, Vancouver and Rockies? Thinking September/early October?

Three nights each is fine to do both SF and Vancouver, just try and go when it’s not raining.

New York? Really don’t like it, my ideal visit to NYC is a 2 hours stopover at Newark. DC on the other hand, I’d happily spend a fortnight with at least 2 days in the Newseum.

[Not Long Now...]

Did YVR and rockies last 2 weeks of September this year. Beautiful, but be aware last weekend of September is change over period for summer to winter pursuits, so many businesses in the rockies were closed slightly early from summer season or still not open for winter season. Possibly COVID exacerbated, but anyway… Also had first major snowfall 24th I think, and several hiking areas in the more mountainous region closed off. Wonderful avalanches behind Lake Louise though…

[cinereus]

Go197 wrote:

cinereus wrote:

I’d go insane to be stuck in NY for a week trying out restaurants but someone else probably hates the idea of mountain biking, quad biking, bungee jumping and skydiving for a month in Whistler.

I personally wouldn’t suggest Whistler for skydiving. Low exit altitude and the DZ is a massive tandem factory. If you’re on the west coast anyway and have a few weeks, you’ll crack out much better jumps in NorCal. Skydance and Lodi in particular.

• This reply was modified 3 years, 4 months ago by cinereus.

[Bob]

contacted barclaycard to query missing Hilton points and was referred to contact Hilton directly. Of course Hilton advise that you have to pursue with the card provider…anyone know the best number to contact Hilton team at barclaycard?