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Bits: Hilton / Avios sign-up working, SPG Moments ‘steal’ in Paris, Hyatt Place Heathrow

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News in brief:

Delays in registering for the new Hilton / Avios promotion

Yesterday was meant to be the launch day for the new Hilton / Avios (via Iberia Plus) promotion which I wrote about at the weekend.

The registration process was wobbly yesterday but, by midnight, it seems to have been fixed.  You can register by clicking here.

Here is the important bit of small print we didn’t have before:  “Stays can be booked prior to registration; stay completion required after registration. Additionally, members must register prior to check-out in order for their stay to qualify.”

You can find full details of the offer in my earlier article here – it is worth up to QUADRUPLE Avios points.

Hilton Park Lane

Get a bargain at 2pm via SPG Moments

If you have a handful of Starwood Preferred Guest points hanging around, and you are free on Saturday 21st, there is an SPG Moments package in Paris which looks like an exceptional deal.

There are NINE packages being auctioned, closing at 2pm today.  The bids are only at 5,500 points so far.  This is what you get:

Dig in for an unforgettable dining experience with some of today’s top French chefs. You and a guest will begin in the wine cellar of the Prince de Galles, a Luxury Collection Hotel, with world-class Chef Stéphanie Le Quellec and master Sommelier Clément Gautier. Stéphanie and Clément will guide you through  an exquisite dégustation experience, prepared exclusively for the occasion. After the pairing experience, make your way to La Scène for a several-course lunch prepared by Stéphanie in the Michelin-starred restaurant’s open kitchen.

For dessert, enjoy indulgent creations made by celebrity Pâtissier Eric Lanlard and up-and-coming Pâtissier Nicolas Paciello. When you’ve finished your last bites, you’ll have the opportunity to chat with Eric and Stéphanie and have them sign your books. To top it all off, you’ll receive a small gift from the chefs to remember your experience. Bon appétit!

The French Foodie Experience with Renowned Chefs package includes:

  • Dégustation experience for two (2) in the wine cellar of Prince de Galles, a Luxury Collection Hotel, led by Chef Stéphanie Le Quellec and Sommelier Clément Gautier on 21 May 2016
  • Several-course lunch for two (2) at La Scène prepared by Chef Stéphanie Le Quellec in the restaurant’s open kitchen
  • Dessert for two (2) prepared by Pâtissier Eric Lanlard and Pâtissier Nicolas Paciello
  • Opportunity for two (2) have books signed by Stéphanie Le Quellec and Eric Lanlard

I’ve met Eric Lanlard a few times now and he is a great guy to get to know.  This would be a fantastic deal if you can grab a pair of tickets.

Hyatt Place West London Hayes

Hyatt Place Heathrow finally sets an opening date

It seems a long time since I first wrote about Hyatt Place, the ‘limited service’ Hyatt brand, opening at Heathrow.  The project has been delayed but is now finally set to open on 18th May according to Business Traveller – although the website is only taking bookings from 1st June.

The hotel is technically the Hyatt Place London Heathrow Hayes and is apparently a 20 minute drive from the airport!  I can’t imagine how long the Heathrow Hoppa bus service will take.

The building used to house the Heathrow Gate hotel at one point, see above, but has been totally gutted by Hyatt and the images on the website do look good.

The location may prove a stumbling block although it is a way for Hyatt Gold Passport members to generate a few nights stay credit.

Current Advance Purchase rates start at £76.  It is a shockingly bad deal for a Gold Passport redemption with rooms coming up at 12,000 points or 6,000 points + £52 per night.  I would want at least 1p per point from my Hyatt points.

World of Hyatt update – April 2024:

Get bonus points: World of Hyatt is not currently running a global promotion

New to World of Hyatt?  Read our overview of World of Hyatt here and our article on points expiry rules here. Our article on what we think World of Hyatt points are worth is here.

Buy points: If you need additional World of Hyatt points, you can buy them here.

Want to earn more hotel points?  Click here to see our complete list of promotions from Hyatt and the other major hotel chains or use the ‘Hotel Offers’ link in the menu bar at the top of the page.

Category

Hilton Honors, Iberia and Iberia Plus, Marriott Bonvoy, World of Hyatt

Comments (48)

This article is closed to new comments. Feel free to ask your question in the HfP forums.

  • George says:
    13 May13 May 10:49

    For the experienced SPG moments redeemer, would an english-speaker (with not conversational French) be out of place in a Parisian-hosted experience?

    • John says:
      13 May13 May 11:06

      What language do you think Germans (not Swiss though) use to communicate with French people?

      • George says:
        13 May13 May 11:16

        Fair point – although I still remember hopping on a Hamburg tour bus about 15 years ago where me and my friend were the only english-speakers (everyone else was German!) and after being defeated in a show-of-hands language war, the tour guide did the entire tour in … German.

        I’m just not too keen on this being repeated 😛 (tour buses now do recordings in many languages, so I got that covered!)

        • Boris says:
          13 May13 May 13:53

          You have to raise your hand more loudly when they are voting.

      • Rob says:
        13 May13 May 11:55

        Given that the offer is only being advertised in English, you can be pretty certain that all the guests will speak English.

        Eric Lanlard is based in Battersea so you’ll have no problems with him! I’d also imagine Stephanie, as a chef at a hotel run by a US group for international guests, has perfect English.

        All the paperwork for the event will come from SPG in Dublin so no problems there either!

  • Robman says:
    13 May13 May 12:27

    How much is 6000 SPG points worth in real money? Any hotel deals for Paris?

    • Boris says:
      13 May13 May 13:53

      £75 ?

      • Genghis says:
        13 May13 May 14:06

        I’d agree with that. Valuing avios at 1p, you get the 5k bonus at 20k SPG conversion meaning 1.25p / SPG point. However, as they are also multi-convertible, that adds to the value

  • Boris says:
    13 May13 May 13:58

    OT:

    Rocketmiles avios came through from a booking, but I didn’t get the 5000 bonus, just the 3000.

    Not bad for a £55 booking though. If i had the 5000 I would have made a profit.

  • Simmo says:
    13 May13 May 14:25

    OT/ Has anybody used their Curve card to order/buy foreign currency? If so how was it treated/charged and how much did you order?

    Away in Spain next week, wondering my best options for cash now considering the AMEX travel money option is now shut.

    • Genghis says:
      13 May13 May 14:28

      Very good question. I’d be keen to know this too as will be buying currency next week.

      • Jude Law says:
        13 May13 May 15:39

        I read a comment on flyertalk in the Manufactured Spending forum about the curve that said “I find it great, and will only get better. Purchased foreign currency last night, treated as a purchase so Avios as well.”

        I know no more than that but am also off on my travels next week (Vegas) and would like to know more if anyone has first hand Intel.

        • Genghis says:
          13 May13 May 15:58

          I’ll give it a go next Sat at Travelex LHR. £150 currency using Curve + 2,500 HR points (sign up bonus). It won’t be a great rate but then work are paying…

    • Jason K says:
      13 May13 May 17:34

      Somewhat tangental, but Transferwise only charge 0.3% fee for credit cards. I send money abroad regularly, happy to pay 0.3% on Curve card and earn 1.5 miles per £ on my BAPP.

  • Andy says:
    13 May13 May 15:36

    Just a quick question re Iberia Plus and the Hilton offer – Is the 1000 Avios cap per stay still in existence re the Hilton programme? Would render this pointless of so!

    • John says:
      13 May13 May 16:16

      Well, just make sure your final stay isn’t over £120 🙂

      I very rarely stay more than 1 night so I’m covered…

    • Rob says:
      13 May13 May 17:26

      The cap is still in the rules but I assume bonus points are exempt or you’d get stung even on cheap stays!

      • TimS says:
        13 May13 May 18:34

        Bonus points are exempt. I’ve earned over 1000 IB Avios on a single hilton stay before including bonus avios.

  • Brian says:
    13 May13 May 18:43

    Seems like the Hilton sale mentioned in the comments a couple of days ago is now official – The Big World Sale…

This article is closed to new comments. Feel free to ask your question in the HfP forums.

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