Very impressive £39-£99 IHG Flash Sale now on

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• The_real_a says:

  2 Nov2 November 05:11

  OT – i will be taking Air China in First next week LHR to PEK (crazy 37k virgin miles o/w + £320) any tips to maximise the experience?

  • The_real_a says:

    2 Nov2 November 05:14

    I should also say thanks to Rob who made me aware of this deal!

    • the real harry1 says:

      2 Nov2 November 06:34

      get early to the airport, I think you can choose between 3 lounges (Lufthansa Senator, United Airlines Club, Air Canada Maple Leaf) – no reason you can’t try all 3!

      get to work on the drinks and food, get into ‘night shift’ cycle at home a couple of days before the flight so that you can stay awake longer on board & ask the cabin crew to wake you for meals

      • Rob says:

        2 Nov2 November 08:29

        United Club by far the best

      • gs says:

        2 Nov2 November 09:09

        And the SQ lounge, which i personally like best of all A* lounges at LHR.

        Also, SQ and UA lounges have F sections, the other 2 not.

  • JamesB says:

    2 Nov2 November 05:44

    Eat lightly, drink only water, save a few HFP favourites to read offline, go to sleep at 10pm UK time and remain asleep until the cabin crew wake you to return your seat to the upright position 🙂

  • filipino_chino says:

    2 Nov2 November 06:45

    if it’s in Y – something to cover your eyes… i paid around 290 to mnl return for a cash ticket… it was not nice, but for the price you cannot go wrong…

  • the_real_a says:

    2 Nov2 November 18:15

    Thanks All – Great idea, i have a few hours before the flight so i might do a tour of all 3 lounges! I hear the Air China food is not up to par so I’m hoping for a tasty meal in at least one of them.

  • New Card says:

    2 Nov2 November 18:25

    Have an amazing time!

    One Q: did you manage to book a one-way redemption using Virgin miles from LON > PEK? The HFP article before suggested a return booking was necessary, but if one way is possible this becomes much more interesting for me…

    • the_real_a says:

      2 Nov2 November 20:24

      Yes I’m flying one way, its now allowed for the half the stated miles in the partner redemption table. I’m pairing this with a reverse return HKG-LBA / LON-HKG on BA in CW using the LLyods upgrade voucher to get me back for Christmas and then out again in the new year. That was another corker at 78k+£260 total tax for the return.

    • the_real_a says:

      2 Nov2 November 20:31

      I should also add that availability is perfectly matched to United.com First Saver Award inventory. Availability was good with 3-4 days of options each week, more inventory seems to open up at 2-3 weeks from the flight date.

      • New Card says:

        2 Nov2 November 23:06

        Thanks – that’s really helpful to know. Have a great time and enjoy sampling all the lounges!

• JamesB says:

  2 Nov2 November 05:46

  Anybody know if the IHG sale rates will be qualifying stays?

  • Roger C says:

    2 Nov2 November 08:05

    Yes – this would nicely complete my Accelerate target if it’s allowed….

    • Genghis says:

      2 Nov2 November 08:10

      Do they show “Estimated points” on booking?

  • Rob says:

    2 Nov2 November 08:31

    These days they usually are – this was a big issue in the past but for the last few years sale deals have been specifically flagged.

• Ian says:

  2 Nov2 November 07:42

  I’m staying in the Crowne Plaza in Plymouth at the moment which is in the sale priced at £79, but I have to say I wouldn’t even pay that for it. This is the first time I’ve stayed in a Crowne Plaza, and if the Plymouth one (which has only opened this year) is indicative of the quality of this brand then I’ll definitely be avoiding it in future.

  I’m Spire status and have an Executive Room, the bathroom doesn’t even have a proper mirror! Just a very small round magnified one.

  • Jonty says:

    2 Nov2 November 08:34

    Previously it was a Holiday inn with a kind of Roger Moore James Bond-era faded chic. Worth visiting if you want to know how not to refurbish a hotel. Unless it’s just an ironic early noughties airport hotel look and I’m too provincial to notice?

    • Ian says:

      2 Nov2 November 11:19

      Haha definitely worth visiting in a lesson on how to not refurbish a hotel! It’s like they ran out of money. The executive room that I’m sat in at the moment is pretty big! But has oceans of empty space, it badly needs some extra furniture! I guess if they couldn’t afford a mirror for the bathroom there’s no hope of extra furniture though. Oh and don’t even get me started on how bad the Club Lounge is!

  • Andy says:

    3 Nov3 November 03:22

    That used to be the Holiday inn. I used to go there as a teenager with my g/f up to the Poona bar on the top floor. You got unparalleled views of the sound. I can tell you it would take your breath away at night when the around the world ships were in getting ready for the start.

• Ammar Ghouri says:

  2 Nov2 November 07:48

  OT – any tips on where to stay in Madrid for a 48 hour weekend stay in January? Looking for deals, cheap and central location would be ideal to do the sights/tourist/shopping stuff.

  • the real harry1 says:

    2 Nov2 November 07:57

    anywhere close to https://www.booking.com/landmark/es/puerta-del-sol.en-gb.html

    • Ammar says:

      2 Nov2 November 13:58

      Thank you..

  • Cate says:

    2 Nov2 November 13:11

    Coincidentally, we’re going to Madrid end of January too. Toss up between the Westin or the Principal by SPG for us. If you some SPG points (from 12,000) or points and cash (from 6,000 + USD 110 per night) that may help with budgeting. Also if you have a fair few IHG points to burn and don’t mind going a bit further out, the IC Madrid was very nice and has a lovely exec lounge (no spirits though!).

    Transfer costs to/fro airport/Madrid are legally set at 30 euros each way so you may want to consider the metro. Have fun 🙂

    • Genghis says:

      2 Nov2 November 13:34

      EUR17 in an Uber in June to our office not far from the IC.

      • Cate says:

        2 Nov2 November 13:35

        Thanks Genghis!

    • Ammar says:

      2 Nov2 November 14:01

      Thank Cate…excellent tips, will look into them. Did look at the IC Madrid, will check out the others in the IHG sale. I think the metro or the Uber might be winner for our travel from terminal 4 – a wikitravel article mentions a commuter train for 2.60 EUR!

      • Lyn says:

        2 Nov2 November 23:02

        Ammar, the Holiday Inn Piramides is literally above the Piramides train station. You can take the commuter train (called cercanias) directly from the airport, and don’t have to change at Nuevos Ministerios like you do for the metro to most places, like the IC. It is perhaps slightly slower than the metro but cheaper and simpler. It is a different type of ticket to the metro/bus ticket. The HI is within walking distance of some the tourist areas in the centre, and a bus journey to the main art museums yet in a quiet neighbourhood. The staff are particularly helpful.

  • CV3V says:

    2 Nov2 November 14:34

    Holiday Inn Piramides, little bit out from city centre, but has a subways station next door, and the train from airport stops at that station (but double check thats still the case!). As a Plat at the time, was upgraded to a suite (=there was a wall between the bed and the couch).

    • Stu N says:

      2 Nov2 November 22:34

      If you’re not wedded to any particular chain, the Melia ME on Plaza Santa Ana was superb – classy building, quiet rooms, everything in walking distance and the partner restaurant that does breakfast and drinkies was superb. It’s about 10 mins walk from Sol.

      We got it as default choice on a BA holiday – was effectively free with CE flights – and are going back next year on our own dollar.

• Rob says:

  2 Nov2 November 08:27

  Should do because Amex only sees the final number.

  • Tilly says:

    2 Nov2 November 09:29

    Thanks Rob.

    Handy offer, nicely timed.

    Also got the Gucci offer saved on two cards, £50 back on £200 spend.

    • Andrew says:

      2 Nov2 November 11:40

      Did this just pop up today? I’m considering booking some hotels with BA in the next couple of days so would be very handy for me indeed!

    • Tilly says:

      2 Nov2 November 13:47

      Yep. Wasn’t in my offers during the day yesterday but appeared late lastnight.

• TripRep says:

  2 Nov2 November 08:41

  OT: Tesco —> Just reporting Virgin 20% bonus for transfers working perfectly (did one yesterday), think I’m going to sign up to auto convert + manually empty my TCC account to VS, don’t see anything better coming along in the next 6 months…

  • the real harry1 says:

    2 Nov2 November 09:16

    there’s always the chance that BAEC/ avios.com would have gone for a bonus conversion this quarter…(2 years since last one)…

    …were it not for the fact that Virgin grabbed it first

    which means there could be one next quarter? well overdue

• Eli Goldberg says:

  2 Nov2 November 08:59

  The IHG sale clearly includes Mediterranean and Russian locations. So NOT only in Europe!

  Or am I seeing wrong?

  • Nick says:

    2 Nov2 November 09:06

    You’re kidding, right?! Russia (west of the Urals) and turkey are in Europe…

    If your geography is that bad, with all due respect I’d suggest going back to school rather than on holiday.

    • mark2 says:

      2 Nov2 November 09:29

      Turkey was Asia Minor when I was at school!

  • CV3V says:

    2 Nov2 November 14:35

    maybe they use the Eurovision map.

• Nick says:

  2 Nov2 November 09:07

  OT – but you guys always know the answer! Istanbul… would you go for the Hilton (the main one) or Conrad? Both are the same price, and I have gold if it makes a difference.

  • Kai says:

    2 Nov2 November 10:32

    IIRC Hilton Bosphorus is very tired. Hilton Bomonti is generally regarded the best Hilton in town (even over Conrad). I stayed at the IC earlier this year and it’s excellent.

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