New DoubleTree hotel, Monti, opens in Rome

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• Tim says:

  11 Apr11 April 05:00

  My first big leap into the miles game in 2006 ish was with Singapore Airlines, attaining gold via a few Virgin flights to Hong Kong and a couple of flights to the U.S. Shame the 50/50 partnership didn’t work out. I still think they are a good match. Didn’t realise Virgin flights still qualify for Krisflyer – looks like Atlantic flights no longer do. On another point: T2 lounges [pre covid] as Gold, beat GF in T5 in my book. You have Senator lounge – good breakfast and nice when not busy. Maple lounge – best breakfast of the lot. Beats T5 GF by a mile. United lounge is good for champagne. Singapore lounge good for quiet space and good food. If only Cathay would jump ship… 🙂

  • Will says:

    11 Apr11 April 08:38

    Agree that Singapore and Virgin make a great match on the face of it.

• Brighton Belle says:

  11 Apr11 April 07:10

  After I read through the exclusions on a Sainsbury’s gift card the £k I thought about spending evaporated. Cards expire after 2 years unless you add funds. 20 x £100 cards is going to need too much management.

  • Andrew says:

    11 Apr11 April 09:13

    Sainsbury’s sell gift cards for many other retailers though.

    • Nick says:

      11 Apr11 April 11:03

      Even as a low spender I would spend £2k in Sainsbury’s in 2 years. Just a shame I don’t have the offer!

    • Brighton Belle says:

      11 Apr11 April 11:34

      T&C’s of Sainsbury’s GC say third party gift cards can’t be paid for by Sainsbury’s card. You can’t use a plastic gift card either for online purchases. You can use an E gift card online but only up to £50. It’s too complex to bother with.

  • BuildBackBetter says:

    11 Apr11 April 11:57

    Can it be used for petrol? Argos? eBay?

    • Brighton Belle says:

      11 Apr11 April 14:00

      plastic gift card can’t be used for:-
      * Branded Gift Cards
      * All lottery related products
      * PayPoint products and services
      * Stage 1 Infant Formula milk
      * Tobacco and related products
      * Postage stamps
      * All in store concessions
      * Petrol and Diesel
      * Mobile phone top ups
      * Online delivery charges
      * Travel Money

      online gift card additionally

      To use the eGift Card online at Sainsburys.co.uk it must be converted to an online coupon. 
      * To convert, enter your unique eGift Card number, starting 63417535, and PIN at checkout. 
      * If a valid card number and PIN has been used, you will be asked to manually enter how much you wish to convert.
      * If you convert only part of your eGift Card balance you will be asked to provide your valid card number and PIN on any future conversions.
      * Once converted, your outstanding balance will be held online and can be found in your coupon wallet at checkout. 
      * Your online coupon held in your coupon wallet will expire 24 months after first conversion. 
      * We will not provide an expiry reminder.

      Dependent on card balance, you may use the eGift Card to deduct a maximum £50 from your shopping total. Any remaining balance must be paid for using the payment card linked to your online groceries account.

      :- And if you can follow all that we’ll whack you with a wet kipper as a reward.

      It aint like Morrisons cards

      • Brighton Belle says:

        11 Apr11 April 14:07

        Argos spend with any Sainsbury’s gift card ?

        No

      • Rui N. says:

        11 Apr11 April 17:28

        That list is wrong. You CAN use plastic gift cards to buy stage 1 baby formula and to pay for petrol (at Sainsbury’s petrol stations, of course). I’ve bought both in the last 2 weeks.

        • The real John says:

          11 Apr11 April 20:10

          I have a plastic gift card and it says “not valid at Sainsbury’s petrol stations”.

        • Brighton Belle says:

          11 Apr11 April 21:48

          My list was copy/pasted off the Sainsbury’s website for gift cards. I’ll try it tomorrow as I have a Sainsburys plastic GC.

  • Eric says:

    11 Apr11 April 14:18

    So a physical Sainsbury gift card bought in-store, wouldn’t pay for a Tesco/Amazon gift card on the self check out?

    • James says:

      11 Apr11 April 14:29

      Sainsbury’s selling Tesco gift cards? Is this a joke?

    • Brighton Belle says:

      11 Apr11 April 15:22

      Seems not.

• Susan says:

  11 Apr11 April 07:12

  Monti is a terrific area of Rome – very central with excellent transport links and some superb restaurants. And yes, very walkable to the main sites. The street outside is very busy and cobbled so quite noisy but still a super location.

  • John says:

    11 Apr11 April 07:19

    Looking forward to trying it out. Stayed in the HGI before and it was a bit far to get around though public transport was good.

    • Susan says:

      11 Apr11 April 07:48

      The Claridge? I lived just around the corner from there, it is a bit further from the main tourist sites but lovely going through the Borghese gardens. And the no 3 tram takes you door to arch of the Colosseum or the 19 to the Vatican. I miss Rome!

      • John says:

        11 Apr11 April 11:40

        Yes it was very convenient for the Vatican – and I was the only tourist with a ticket when an army of inspectors descended on the 19!

      • Anna says:

        11 Apr11 April 13:22

        We stayed there a couple of years ago because it had a nice suite which accommodated 3 of us without silly prices. They honoured our gold free breakfast for all 4 nights even though I booked through BA holidays. We did have a lovely walk through the Borghese gardens!

  • AJA says:

    11 Apr11 April 08:46

    I agree, the location is excellent. I like the idea of the roof top terrace as well. Would give this Doubletree serious consideration if going to Rome. I wonder what the prices will be?

    • Jonathan says:

      11 Apr11 April 12:12

      Looked at march 22 , quoting £396 or 40,000 points a night

  • Boon says:

    11 Apr11 April 13:50

    Doesn’t seem really good value in September… EUR182 (excl tax) or 57,000 points….! Hopefully the points will come down. Or maybe it is the cash rates that are currently excellent?

• Andrew says:

  11 Apr11 April 09:16

  Maybe the Sainsbury’s offer wasn’t put on the BA cards because Sainsbury’s would rather encourage you to spend your Avios in Sainsbury’s and if you’re incentivised to spend cash on your Amex instead, you won’t.

  • TGLoyalty says:

    11 Apr11 April 10:02

    It wasn’t put on the nectar card either though which is even stranger.

    • Nick says:

      11 Apr11 April 11:06

      Is it? Maybe they considered Amex nectar card holders to be ‘attached’ enough to Sainsbury’s not to need an extra bribe?

      • TGLoyalty says:

        11 Apr11 April 12:14

        I don’t see why. Nectar was collected in many places prior to last year and many (like me) barely step foot in sainsburys, the BA partnership has started to tempt me in to spend a few £ on the offers but they aren’t getting my main shopping.

        I spend about £20 every 2 weeks in there but around £400 in waitrose/M&S/Morrison’s in that period.

        Tbh the 3 MR won’t tempt me while I have M’s vouchers bought when 10% off was on.

• Peggerz says:

  11 Apr11 April 11:59

  Re new hotels: The IC Ambasciatori Rome is now taking bookings for their forthcoming opening.

• Andrew says:

  11 Apr11 April 12:16

  I think it’s new today on BA Blue.
  Boots, 7% on a £10+ spend.

  • KBuffett says:

    11 Apr11 April 15:23

    What does this mean?

    • TGLoyalty says:

      11 Apr11 April 16:37

      New Amex offer that appeared today.

      7% off over £30 spend. Valid once per card.

      • TGLoyalty says:

        11 Apr11 April 16:38

        £10*

• Chris Heyes says:

  11 Apr11 April 12:25

  I think we will definitely try the Hilton Monti Rome.
  Next time we go to our usual Sorrento Suites, make a nice change.
  not a big fan of Rome (to many tourists) but partner is
  OOOooo the thought of me and her brother having to wait outside all the church’s she will want to go in (that’s everyone she sees lol)
  Last time we did our Sorrento Suites we did Capri as well, time before that it was Pompeii, I was fascinated by the dead bodies turned to stone

• Super Secret Stuff says:

  11 Apr11 April 13:22

  Sainsbury offer is very interesting. I wonder if 3 points per pound at a specific retailer will become a new benefit?

  • KBuffett says:

    11 Apr11 April 15:25

    Is it really that interesting considering Morrison’s was giving at least 10% off recently that was stackable.

    Tesco is coming out with something too with BottomQuidFront

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