Maximise your Avios, air miles and hotel points

Get an overnight covid test and 5* Heathrow hotel stay from £179

Links on Head for Points may support the site by paying a commission.  See here for all partner links.

Arora Group, which operates a number of hotels in and around Heathrow Airport, is offering a new rate that bundles an overnight stay with a 24-hour Covid test.

You can now book a ‘Test & Rest’ package at the Sofitel Heathrow Terminal 5. Rates start at £179 (£199 midweek) for bed, breakfast and PCR test for one person. Additional tests are £60.

HALO, a UK biotech firm, will provide the PCR test, which is based on a self-administered saliva sample.

Sofitel Heathrow Accor coronavirus test

Guests at the hotel simply download the HALO app, scan their test kit, spit in a tube and put it back in the Halo pack.

Arora states that tests submitted by 8pm will be processed overnight, with results returned via the app by 10am. The app acts as a certificate in the case of a negative test result.

Which Heathrow hotels are eligible for ‘Test & Rest’?

‘Test & Rest’ is due to be available at all Arora-run Heathrow hotels at some point. However, I don’t – for example – see it on hilton.com for the Hilton Garden Inn Heathrow Terminal 2/3 or marriott.com for the Renaissance Heathrow.

It IS available for booking via the Accor website. However, it is hidden. You need to select the ‘Packages’ tab on the pricing page to see it.

Conclusion

This is an interesting initiative by Arora As long as your destination will accept the saliva-based PCR test, with results delivered by an app and not a paper certificate, then this is a good option.

The pricing is also keen, given that most private tests cost from £150. The Sofitel’s weekend rates of £179 for a test plus overnight stay (£199 midweek) are very competitive.

You can book via the Accor website here. Remember to select the ‘Packages’ tab on desktop.


Accor Live Limitless update – April 2024:

Earn bonus Accor points: Accor is not currently running a global promotion

New to Accor Live Limitless?  Read our review of Accor Live Limitless here and our article on points expiry rules here. Our analysis of what Accor Live Limitless points are worth is here.

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

Comments (52)

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

  • Winifred says:

    Just been in to Travel Agent Hays in Glasgow Braehead & been told that people from the uk who have bookings to the USA are being turned away by the desk clerks at Heathrow ,stating the USA does not allow anyone travelling from the UK to land .this is including US Citizens who have been trying to get back home , totally confusing .

    lerks USA

    • Anna says:

      UK citizens have been (mostly) barred from entering the USA since March!

  • Lady London says:

    It’s profiteering. Same as mask cost went from pence to through the roof and have only just come back down. For only a small part of the time retailers were charging outrageous prices and claiming to be selling at cost, was there any supply difficulty.
    It’s cliched but here we go again : rip-off Britain

  • Jess says:

    Thank you so much for this, I just booked it as it’s really the only option I had for a NY flight where I can test out of quarantine. Truly appreciate all of the great info you share!

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

The UK's biggest frequent flyer website uses cookies, which you can block via your browser settings. Continuing implies your consent to this policy. Our privacy policy is here.