Resort news: InterContinental Moorea closes, whilst Maldives ponders strict entry rules

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• Phillip says:

  30 May30 May 04:46

  I think the IC DaNang is one of, if not my favourite hotel in the world! Stunning resort, spectacular room s, excellent staff… just cannot fault it. As much as I’d love it to remain at 40k I would say this is more of a special deal. It’s been hard to find reward nights there pre-COVID, while nights on Free Night certificates have been pretty much non existent!

  • NigelthePensioner says:

    30 May30 May 06:47

    +1

  • BJ says:

    30 May30 May 07:28

    Yes, there are all sorts of great deals taking place at luxury hotels all over South East Asia at the moment. Would like to take advantage of one or two when (if) we make our usual winter trip but having lost our summer trip looks likely I’ll be visiting with the MIL for a month.

  • Craig says:

    30 May30 May 08:28

    We were there in February just after Vietnam closed its borders to Chinese tourists. The hotel was less than half full and as a Spire Ambassador we were very well looked after.

  • Archie Bob says:

    30 May30 May 09:07

    Very much agree with comments about the IC Danang. My wife and I have stayed there twice in the past 3 years (5 nights each trip) – it’s an incredible resort. Really can not fault the place; stunning rooms, superb food, extremely private even at full occupancy. Definitely go there if you can – my favourite hotel anywhere by some way.

    I did have a further 5 nights booked for late April, early May 2021 costing 350k points (5 x 70k). Just cancelled and rebooked the same dates for 205k. A real bargain against the cash price of £2,000 for the same stay.

    • Matt says:

      30 May30 May 09:32

      Hi all good to hear the positive reports. How long would you recommend staying there? Also what’s the best time weather wise? Are there months with clear bright skies or is it always cloudy?

      • Archie Bob says:

        30 May30 May 09:50

        In previous years we’ve stayed there in Feb and early June. Both fine weather wise, but remember it being very hot & humid there in June. I’d say Feb-May best time for low rain fall and good temperatures. I’d say you’d want at least 3 days there – more if you can. Although the resort is tucked away on its own private peninsula, it’s only half an hour or so away from the town and just a little further to Hoi An. Taxis very cheap, plus hotel has free shuttle going back and forwards.

        • Matt says:

          30 May30 May 10:09

          Thanks Archie I’ve got enough IHG points for 7 days there. We both like relaxing is luxury surroundings so it sounds perfect. Avios wise I guess the best routing is BA to Hong Kong (2-4-1 voucher) and then Cathay to Danang? I really wanted to fly Cathay F one way to Hong Kong but no availability is showing. Anyone know the likelihood of 2 seats opening up between now and then? Realise I’d forgo the 2-4-1 for one leg but I see it as worth it to try a proper F product.

        • Matt says:

          30 May30 May 10:10

          ^ looking April – May time

        • Darren says:

          30 May30 May 10:15

          In normal times there’s a number of options to/from Bangkok and Hong Kong with LCC’s.

          I’ve found first to HKG can open up quite frequently, rewardflightfinder or seatspy are your friends

        • Cat says:

          30 May30 May 15:24

          Matt – try searching for Danang to London in first (or vice versa) – often Cathay first shows up if you add an extra hop on to somewhere else.
          If that doesn’t work (not every onward destination shows availability like that, despite the seats beng available on both legs), do you think it would be possible to book London to Singapore (which usually does show availability) and then phone and change it for a fee? That might be a bit of a risk though

        • Cat says:

          30 May30 May 16:19

          Hey Matt, have had a bit of a look – you would need to fly back from Danang with Cathay (because the one-way 241 on BA needs to be departing the UK, not returning). There are loads of days with availability for first flights back from Danang (Danang to Hong Kong in Cathay Dragon business, then to London in Cathay Pacific first), but I couldn’t find 2 seats on the same flight.
          If you want to go for it, your options are to get one seat in first and one in business on the same flight, and then try for an upgrade (I’m not sure how to do this with Cathay and whether it’s possible using Avios or money, but I’m sure there are blog posts out there on this topic!). The other option is to get two seats in first, but on separate flights. If you left Danang on 04/05 or 07/05, you could be on the same business flight to Hong Kong, laze in the lounges together, and then depart on different first class flights back to Heathrow – one leaving at 23:55 and one at 00:25, so you shouldn’t have to wait too long in the arrivals lounge at Heathrow. If you then kept a very close eye on both flights, you have twice the chance that an extra first seat opens up on one of them. Again, not sure how easy it is to change flights.
          I hope that helps!

      • Darren says:

        30 May30 May 10:12

        We went in May and it was hot, high 30s to 40. The length of stay would depend on your preference as IC is a little way out from the town so a taxi/shuttle is needed.

        Hoi An is a definate must do, lovely place and I think there’s a Bonvoy option there if you want to stay on points. There was a review on here a few months ago.

        We stayed in a little independent La Siesta Hoi An, which I’d recommend. I’ve also stayed at Nam Hai which was a good mix of beach/town.

        • Archie Bob says:

          30 May30 May 10:30

          Go for it Matt – sounds like just the sort of place you’ll enjoy. Lots of direct flights to Danang from SE Asian cities served by BA – HKG, BKK, SIN, KUL. If you can get seats in F to HKG using your 241 and then on Cathay Dragon to DAD that’s the preferable routing I’d say. No F availability to HKG for the dates I’ve been looking at (late June – early May 2021) but was able to use my 241 for 2 seats in First out to Singapore and back in F from KUL. Really not a fan of BA CW so don’t mind the slightly longer routing to fly in First.

  • New Card says:

    30 May30 May 10:56

    How many nights would people spend at IC Danang? We’ve got 5 nights booked but wondering if we should extend given how positive the comments are?

    • Matt says:

      30 May30 May 11:55

      Does anyone know what the cost of upgrading to a club room is if stay is booked on points?

      • Secret Squirrel says:

        30 May30 May 17:48

        $200 extra per night at the IC Bali. This might give you some direction.

      • Archie Bob says:

        31 May31 May 09:39

        RE upgrading to club room – I did this this for one night on my last trip to the IC Danang just to see how it was (all nights booked with points). Think it cost $175 USD for the 24h I got it for. It was decent (the breakfast is v good), with afternoon tea, evening cocktails & champagne (think it was Billecart Salmon from memory). Service level was full -on but atmosphere up in the club lounge was a bit non-existent though with just one other guest when we were there. Don’t think I’ll do it again though for that price.

        • Pid says:

          31 May31 May 11:50

          Whats the normal price for breakfast if staying on points? For cash bookings on the dates I wanted they all state breakfast is included, but it is not mentioned for the points stays.

  • SHUEIN says:

    30 May30 May 12:05

    The hotel may be nice, but all of the places you could choose to go in Vietnam we found Da Nang to be a real sh… hole. Very synthetic, full of rowdy foreigners from a country who’s PM rhymes with Rasputin, awful beach and general bad vibes/food. Felt like a Costa del Sol in South East Asia.

    As part of our 2 week Vietnam stint we had booked a Sheraton there for 3 nights – after our first night and stroll around the city we changed flights and went to Saigon.

    Don’t waste any time there.

• Chris says:

  30 May30 May 06:30

  Looks like Danang is dynamic; had xmas-new year booked at 70k. Just cancelled and rebooked and what came out at 56k average. Did get 90k points back though so thanks for the tip 🙂

  Thu 24 Dec 2020 – Thu 24 Dec 2020 40000
  Fri 25 Dec 2020 – Fri 25 Dec 2020 47500
  Sat 26 Dec 2020 – Sat 26 Dec 2020 52500
  Sun 27 Dec 2020 – Sun 27 Dec 2020 47500
  Mon 28 Dec 2020 – Wed 30 Dec 2020 70000

• Boris says:

  30 May30 May 06:35

  How can I find out more about the uk class action and get involved

  • Jake Mc says:

    30 May30 May 07:15

    You don’t. A class action should be for those people who feel genuinely aggrieved/ upset/ displaced/ put off/ impacted by the actions of a company or organisation.

    Asking how to join 2 years after the event occurred because you read there might be a quick £500 or 10000 Avios is a money grab.
    Ultimately that money grab will be passed onto the consumer so likely not worth it.

    • Catalan says:

      30 May30 May 07:18

      +1

    • Mr(s) Entitled says:

      30 May30 May 07:23

      Why do you assume none of your fictitious criteria apply to Boris?

      • Jake Mc says:

        30 May30 May 07:51

        Because it’s unlikely if any of the criteria did apply to such an extent this would not of been the first time that it has been considered.

        A simple google search of BA Class Action Data Breach brings up all the info needed to apply.

        My comment is not to say that it’s not technically allowable but if everyone who was affected joined, compared to those actually put-out (i.e. the stress of losing £££ compared to the £0.01 that they attempted on my card) eventually the whole cost would be passed to consumers.

        I don’t think it’s particularly valuable to claim 35000 avios as happened in the US and then only to see the cash “surcharges” rise even higher as they did when departing America.

        • Mr(s) Entitled says:

          30 May30 May 08:12

          Justice is available to all.

        • David says:

          30 May30 May 08:49

          But the impact of the action on prices will apply to Boris whether he joins in or not.

        • Chris Heyes says:

          30 May30 May 09:53

          Jake Mc@ But that is only your opinion an “Opinion” means absolutly “Nothing”
          now if you was stating facts that would be different
          if “Anyone” wants to money grab or points grab thats entilly up to them
          I’ve done it myself pet insurance, supl IT error, Tesco IT mistake loads of points ect
          You could say i shouldn’t “But i Did” lol

    • Rob says:

      30 May30 May 09:52

      It takes 2 years to get these things together. The court hearings in the UK for the 2018 breach weren’t due to start until this Autumn and have probably now been pushed back.

      • Doug M says:

        30 May30 May 09:59

        I wonder when the class action against the unfair changes in the T&C’s prohibiting class actions begins.

    • Aliks says:

      30 May30 May 10:22

      err no – the money will ultimately be taken from shareholders as BA has a limited ability to raise prices at will.

      BA takes its price from what the market will bear.

  • BJ says:

    30 May30 May 07:37

    Boris, I’m not taking sides on the debate that will likely develop from Jake’s comment but the info is out there for you to find anyway so here is HFP and the community on the subject.
    https://headforpoints.com/2019/10/07/british-airways-data-breach-compensation/

    • Jake Mc says:

      30 May30 May 08:59

      David is that correct?

      If there was no action the only cost would be the fine unless I am mistaken! Not a lawer though!

      Does the class action not add on further monies out the door as well as legal fees! It’s this additional cost that will be passed onto consumer – just as happened in the US

• Mark says:

  30 May30 May 07:19

  So is BA putting pressure on it’s American and Canadian members to agree not to join a class action otherwise they loose their Executive membership?

  • BJ says:

    30 May30 May 07:43

    Don’t think so. From what I can tell from the limited reading I did I think it is built into the booking process. So, the carrot/stick depending on your point of view I suppose is that if you want to make another booking with BA then you have to accept the new terms.

  • Rob says:

    30 May30 May 09:51

    Yup …

• JP_MCO says:

  30 May30 May 08:27

  Re: extended stays in the Maldives
  It all depends on personal preference; our last stay in the Maldives was 4 weeks at One&Only Reethi Rah. The time flew by and before we knew it we were boarding the yacht to take us back to Male. We were supposed to be going again for a month in August but unfortunately that’s now cancelled. If you like sitting on the beach, swimming in the ocean, snorkelling, diving, water sports it’s very easy to spend that length of time in the Maldives and not get bored. The kids absolutely adore the kids club which means we all get a holiday!

  • Anna says:

    30 May30 May 09:11

    +1, 14 days is about right somewhere like that where you have a long journey either side. We’ve been to the Caribbean for 3 weeks for the last few summers and still didn’t want to go home at the end!

    • Secret Squirrel says:

      30 May30 May 09:26

      Agree Anna, why would anyone only want to stay in Paradise for 5x days? It’s a min 7x days and most suited to 10-14 days IMO.

      • Rob says:

        30 May30 May 09:46

        Maldives isn’t the Caribbean though. In Barbados you have a whole island to explore with lots of small towns and places to visit. In the Maldives you are sat on one atoll for 14 days – same restaurants, no ‘days out’.

        • JP_MCO says:

          30 May30 May 09:53

          There are tonnes of opportunities for off island days in the Maldives. You can rent a private island, private sandbank, go on a jetski tour or charter a yacht. We did all these during our time there last summer. As for having the same restaurants to eat in – that’s true but there’s so much variety on an island like Reethi Rah that I didn’t eat the same dish twice. There’s also private dining where they will cook you anything you like.

        • Anna says:

          30 May30 May 10:15

          But if you are happy with the restaurants and can happily spend 14 days or more with a stack of books and a daily snorkel/dive activity that’s heaven for some of us! We know GCM so well now, last year we really didn’t move very much from the resort apart from to do a couple of grocery shops and visit other beaches.

        • Anna says:

          30 May30 May 10:25

          I can’t imagine ever getting tired of spending part of each day on a white sand beach with a good book, alternating between reading (or listening) and gazing at a turquoise sea. It’s an utterly zen experience for me, it’s the only time I feel absolutely in the moment with no cares about the past or the future!

        • JP_MCO says:

          30 May30 May 14:01

          I couldn’t agree more Anna. I’ve never been bored in the Maldives. It’s just heavenly! Our perfect family holiday destination.

        • Lady London says:

          30 May30 May 22:13

          plus you have to haul your suitcase with mini-stove and ready meals due to eye watering restaurant prices.

          It’s Butlin’s for rich people really.

        • JP_MCO says:

          31 May31 May 14:46

          @Lady London I’ve heard of that happening at Maldives resorts that offer point stays – thankfully it doesn’t happen at the ones that don’t! We always have a half board meal plan at O&O Reethi Rah and it’s very comprehensive. Lunch is pricey and good wine is eye watering but we still enjoy it.

  • Rob says:

    30 May30 May 09:49

    We did 5 nights at Reethi Rah and it was enough! We don’t dive though and we didn’t have the kids then.

    • Chris Heyes says:

      30 May30 May 09:59

      Rob@ lol did kids come along 9 months later lol

      • Baji Nahid says:

        30 May30 May 18:28

        LOL

    • Michael C says:

      30 May30 May 09:59

      That would be my max. for a similar place.
      I remember many friends going when I lived in SIN and coming back and saying “It was cloudy for the week…so we read…”.

      Apart, of course, from the Maldives’ horrific,horrific religious freedom/gay rights record.
      My brother goes to Malé every six weeks or so for work and says it’s a nightmare in every sense.

      • Aston100 says:

        30 May30 May 17:36

        What’s it to you?
        If you don’t like their laws then don’t bother going.

    • JP_MCO says:

      30 May30 May 10:01

      I would give it another go if I were you. We’ve done the Maldives with and without children and both experiences though each different are really great. I think you have to like that kind of holiday though and for some people a beach holiday for 2 weeks is their idea of hell. Reethi Rah (like all O&O properties) is particularly good for kids. Our children made many friends, had movie nights on the beach, made pizzas, did painting, went on snorkelling trips, did pottery, made jewellery, played sports, went on bike rides and that was on top of all the beach stuff. They just loved it and they talk about it all the time. The hard part was getting them to spend time with us!

    • Secret Squirrel says:

      30 May30 May 17:53

      Lots of excursions available which doesn’t involve diving!

  • Optimus Prime says:

    30 May30 May 19:47

    4 weeks? I wish I could afford one there! X-D

• Marcw says:

  30 May30 May 08:31

  How are those resorts in isolated places (Maldives, French Polynesia) going to survive anyway?

  • Secret Squirrel says:

    30 May30 May 09:28

    There very expensive places to book. Some rooms at the Conrad Maldives next Jan-Feb are already sold out.

• JP_MCO says:

  30 May30 May 08:35

  Also, just regarding the Telegraph article about the Maldives – it popped up back around the middle of May and was quickly taken down. It was an initial draft as a basis for discussion with the tourism industry and is not Maldivian Government policy. Not surprisingly it was met with a lot of fierce resistance and I don’t think the entry requirements will ultimately end up looking like this.

• MD says:

  30 May30 May 08:43

  Re The Maldives news (which would be disastrous), take this as you wish but a chap called Thomas Chambers has made this comment BTL:

  “This ‘news’ has been lifted from a draft guideline that was sent out for comment to partners and stakeholders in the Maldivian tourism industry. The feedback from all parties was similar to the Telegraph’s; that many of the ideas were unworkable. Namely paying for a visa/test on arrival, quarantining in your room, arriving with an antibody test and staying for a minimum of 14 nights. They have, therefore, been omitted from the actual guidelines. As a result, sensible policies remain to safeguard guests, without causing them extra stress or costing more money. As a multi-island nation, Maldives is naturally equipped to deal with such a pandemic.

  Fake news as D. Trump would say. Please now publish the real (non-draft) guidelines so people have the correct information.”

  • JP_MCO says:

    30 May30 May 10:06

    This statement from the Ministry of Tourism gives a more accurate plan for restarting tourism in the Maldives than the source quoted in the Telegraph article:
    https://twitter.com/MoTmv/status/1264870255551107072

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