Chat thread – Monday 14th April
Discuss today's stories:
-
Tx Peter K Yeah I should give up maths. Realised my calculator is on a foreign setting so , and . doing odd things.
So loois like Qatar is offering 1.2 pencw per avios received by boost. Nothing desperately in mind to use any right now. My normal avios valuation is 0.67p – 0.75p depending on if I have any Nectar to.convert. So well less than 1p.
Would others pay 1.2p per avios to boost ?
If I book multiple rooms as Hilton diamond do all guests get the benefits (eg breakfast and lounge access)?
Interesting morning here in the wine lands just north of San Diego. Having breakfast. Sounded like a low flying aircraft overhead and suddenly the ground started moving. Thought we’d had too many drinks yesterday during happy hour! But then got earthquake alerts on our phones. Fortunately only 5.2 on Richter scale but we are only about 20km north of epicentre.
Yikes – hopefully not a rehearsal for the big one.
Years ago we stayed with a family friend in San Francisco – they had string across all the bookshelves as tremors are apparently a regular event, though we didn’t feel any while we were there!
@LD27 Ooh er that must have been a bit of a shock (no pun intended) – hopefully that’s it and nothing more!
@smitrax, sorry to hear you didn’t get the credit to get sloshed at the Schloss! I think this line in your email is the key:
“I’ve been trying to book the Heritage Room for 1 night, 1 person, on April 11th at Schlosshotel Kronberg but the system keeps crashing on me.”
It read to me like you were having tech issues with the hotel’s website and so wanted an agent to use their system instead. In which case, the fact you wanted a package Virtuoso rate would not have been apparent. That seems to make most sense to me as to what has occured. Just my opinion though.
@smitrax – I don’t do recommendations as one never knows what other people like; even family and good friends like different things and have different concepts of comfort and value. It’s also a constantly changing scene. We increasingly use Airbnb or similar as hotels aren’t getting better, prices have run away and one can find bigger, better accommodation. Very pleased with two recent apartment/house stays in Nice and two in Argentina where the hotel options just weren’t very satisfactory. Two very good new hotels in Nice (better than existing) but silly prices even way out of season.
I don’t like the biggest chains because they are generally so dull, dark, small rooms etc. and offer poor value. Hyatt stands well above IHG/Hilton/Marriott and is the only one that offers a good top level product that is much superior to WA, StR, RC, IC etc which are just the same as the junior cousins with a bit of badly applied lipstick and then there are (sub)brands like Kimpton that try to be cool. Also these hotels are all usually incredibly expensive/bad value vs real luxury hotels (including luxury chains), presumably because of the loyalty effect. As far as chains go, the luxury only ones (with the notable exceptions of Four Seasons and many Belmonds) like Como, Aman, Peninsula, Dorchester, Mandarin offer consistently top notch service with well maintained original accommodation and will offer great deals if you ask nicely. Kempinski a very close runner up as well!
Of smaller places from the last couple of years that we would definitely revisit, we had to try a different hotel in Buenos Aires earlier this month and the Mio was good, Legado Mitico in BsAs and Salta good also. In Tasmania, Stillwater Seven in Launceston and Piermont Retreat on the East coast both fab with great food, in China the Yangshuo Mountain Retreat, not smart or expensive, but so comfortable, brilliant location and unparalleled views. In Zihuatanejo, Mexico the tiny twin hotels Espuma and Tentaciones. In Burgundy Como Montrachet (or Leflaive) although really good less expensive Airbnb options in Beaune as well. In Spain, the parador at Cuenca. In Belgrade, Square Nine, in Albania Zoe Hora at Dhërmi and Villa Përmet. In Greece, Avaton in Halkidiki. Many more hopefuls in the pipeline for 2025!
@smitrax – I think that as markets soften, there will be ever better direct deals to be done which hotels won’t want to show in their headline rates. I’m already experiencing it in one market (at two hotels in different cities) but others are very steady for now.
I’d like to hear some of your hotel recommendation. I’ve read a few posts of yours that seem to indicate you are not a fan of the big chains so genuinely would like to know some of your personal favourites.
I don’t do recommendations as one never knows what other people like; even family and good friends like different things and have different concepts of comfort and value. It’s also a constantly changing scene. We increasingly use Airbnb or similar as hotels aren’t getting better, prices have run away and one can find bigger, better accommodation. Very pleased with two recent apartment/house stays in Nice and two in Argentina where the hotel options just weren’t very satisfactory. Two very good new hotels in Nice (better than existing) but silly prices even way out of season.
I don’t like the biggest chains because they are generally so dull, dark, small rooms etc. and offer poor value. Hyatt stands well above IHG/Hilton/Marriott and is the only one that offers a good top level product that is much superior to WA, StR, RC, IC etc which are just the same as the junior cousins with a bit of badly applied lipstick and then there are (sub)brands like Kimpton that try to be cool. Also these hotels are all usually incredibly expensive/bad value vs real luxury hotels (including luxury chains), presumably because of the loyalty effect. As far as chains go, the luxury only ones (with the notable exceptions of Four Seasons and many Belmonds) like Como, Aman, Peninsula, Dorchester, Mandarin offer consistently top notch service with well maintained original accommodation and will offer great deals if you ask nicely. Kempinski a very close runner up as well!
Of smaller places from the last couple of years that we would definitely revisit, we had to try a different hotel in Buenos Aires earlier this month and the Mio was good, Legado Mitico in BsAs and Salta good also. In Tasmania, Stillwater Seven in Launceston and Piermont Retreat on the East coast both fab with great food, in China the Yangshuo Mountain Retreat, not smart or expensive, but so comfortable, lovely staff, brilliant location and unparalleled views. In Zihuatanejo, Mexico the tiny twin hotels Espuma and Tentaciones. In Burgundy Como Montrachet (or Leflaive) although really good less expensive Airbnb options in Beaune as well. In Spain, the parador at Cuenca. In Belgrade, Square Nine, in Albania Zoe Hora at Dhërmi and Villa Përmet. In Greece, Avaton in Halkidiki. Many more hopefuls in the pipeline for 2025!
@smitrax – I don’t do recommendations as one never knows what other people like; even family and good friends like different things and have different concepts of comfort and value. It’s also a constantly changing scene. We increasingly use Airbnb or similar as hotels aren’t getting better, prices have run away and one can find bigger, better accommodation. Very pleased with two recent apartment/house stays in Nice and two in Argentina where the hotel options just weren’t very satisfactory. Two very good new hotels in Nice (better than existing) but silly prices even way out of season.
I don’t like the biggest chains because they are generally so dull, dark, small rooms etc. and offer poor value. Hyatt stands well above IHG/Hilton/Marriott and is the only one that offers a good top level product that is much superior to WA, StR, RC, IC etc which are just the same as the junior cousins with a bit of badly applied lipstick and then there are (sub)brands like Kimpton that try to be cool. Also these hotels are all usually incredibly expensive/bad value vs real luxury hotels (including luxury chains), presumably because of the loyalty effect. As far as chains go, the luxury only ones (with the notable exceptions of Four Seasons and many Belmonds) like Como, Aman, Peninsula, Dorchester, Mandarin offer consistently top notch service with well maintained original accommodation and will offer great deals if you ask nicely. Kempinski a very close runner up as well!
Of smaller places from the last couple of years that we would definitely revisit, we had to try a different hotel in Buenos Aires earlier this month and the Mio was good, Legado Mitico in BsAs and Salta good also. In Tasmania, Stillwater Seven in Launceston and Piermont Retreat on the East coast both fab with great food, in China the Yangshuo Mountain Retreat, not smart or expensive, but so comfortable, brilliant location and unparalleled views. In Zihuatanejo, Mexico the tiny twin hotels Espuma and Tentaciones. In Burgundy Como Montrachet (or Leflaive) although really good less expensive Airbnb options in Beaune as well. In Spain, the parador at Cuenca. In Belgrade, Square Nine, in Albania Zoe Hora at Dhërmi and Villa Përmet. In Greece, Avaton in Halkidiki. Many more hopefuls in the pipeline for 2025!
Appreciate the response
@smitrax, sorry to hear you didn’t get the credit to get sloshed at the Schloss! I think this line in your email is the key:
“I’ve been trying to book the Heritage Room for 1 night, 1 person, on April 11th at Schlosshotel Kronberg but the system keeps crashing on me.”
It read to me like you were having tech issues with the hotel’s website and so wanted an agent to use their system instead. In which case, the fact you wanted a package Virtuoso rate would not have been apparent. That seems to make most sense to me as to what has occured. Just my opinion though.
You’re probably right. The only reason I mentioned the website problem in my email to him was to explain why I didn’t book myself. The point being I wanted them to know I wouldn’t ordinarily ask them to book for me, and use up their time, when I can do it directly on their portal.
There were other bookings made at a similar time and emails back and forth re how I book directly on their portal and what partnerships I would have to ask them to book.
I suppose from the agent’s point of view he’s done me a favour booking a hotel for me that has nothing to do with him (I wonder if they received a commission?) and then got a load of grief for his act of kindness.
Good evening. We are booking 1 night pre flight hotel 12/13 July. Prices are ‘toppy’ has anyone used Atrium Hotel which has pool sauna etc near to LHR
How would you feel?
There’s a popular hotel booking agent promoted by this website that get lots of positive feedback and I wanted to share my recent experience get a neutral view on it.
Like many on here I like to eke out the bast value for all my stays and as I do a lot of 1 or night stops on road trips I tend to use FHR & Virtuoso frequently. I must admit I rarely use the HFP enquiry page as I don’t find it that convenient (sorry Rob). Maybe I should.
I found a hotel in Germany on Virtuoso that was in the right place at the right price and tried to book but maybe because I was on a mobile device or just a portal problem it wouldn’t let me so I sent a note to this popular travel agent with the details asking him to to book for me. I mentioned my SLH number as I saw they were part of that group in order to try and get points (like I would do with Accor or IHG etc) and perhaps crucially, I did not mention I wanted the Virtuoso rate/benefits.
I got conformation back that it was booked but did not check the details fully. Another mistake.
When I checked in there was none of the chat about upgrades, credit, just breakfast. Not all hotels are good at that and I just assumed as a wedding was going on I got no upgrade and have never had a problem with any previous Virtuoso or FHR booking so didn’t question it.
Come check out I was not given any credit against my F&B spend so I queried this and was told it wasn’t part of the rate. I was just booked on B&B. Surprised, I gave a call to the agent that booked it but no answer. I paid and left assuming there was a misunderstanding and it wouldn’t let be sorted out in due course.
Having now exchanged a few emails with the travel agent, they are stating that they have done nothing wrong and have just booked what I asked for. I’ve tried to understand why they think I wouldn’t have wanted the Virtuoso benefits but just get told they booked the room I asked for. Quite why they thought I would want to use them for a standard rate when I could have booked directly with either SLH or Hilton and received at least the points I find impossible to understand.
I guess strictly speaking they have just taken an order but if I had provided a lesser service than what I feel I should have done as a professional then I would have at least apologised and tried to make amends even if I had done it in good faith.
Here’s the email I sent to get the booking made:
Hi ****
I’ve been trying to book the Heritage Room for 1 night, 1 person, on April 11th at Schlosshotel Kronberg but the system keeps crashing on me.
I would like to request secure parking if available. My SLH membership number is ********.
Booking is for **** ***** and my number is ***********
CC details:
************ **/**
Thanks
****
Have had good experience with the same agent in the past, however, recently, response times are slower, emails are two lines, generic email saying check cancellation terms etc, whereas when cancellation terms are not mentioned in the booking confirmation and when I query it there is no reply. Looking for another Virtuoso agent to move my business to.
Good evening. We are booking 1 night pre flight hotel 12/13 July. Prices are ‘toppy’ has anyone used Atrium Hotel which has pool sauna etc near to LHR
I found the hfp review very insightful… And did not book! https://www.headforpoints.com/2019/09/24/review-atrium-heathrow-hotel-london/
Be sure to read Part 2 also 🙂
… And then book one of the LHR Premier Inns for you dates instead! Which seem reasonably priced and a good standard for the price (and better than the Atrium in all liklihood).
Good evening. We are booking 1 night pre flight hotel 12/13 July. Prices are ‘toppy’ has anyone used Atrium Hotel which has pool sauna etc near to LHR
Premier Inn looks cheap as usual (and having passed Atrium Hotel on the bus, I’d suggest you avoid!)
The T4 CP is £ 123 and the HIX £ 106 (both book early and save rate. best Flex is £ 142 / £ 123 respectivly)
I wouldn’t regard that as being ‘toppy’ for LHR.
How would you feel?
There’s a popular hotel booking agent promoted by this website that get lots of positive feedback and I wanted to share my recent experience get a neutral view on it.
Like many on here I like to eke out the bast value for all my stays and as I do a lot of 1 or night stops on road trips I tend to use FHR & Virtuoso frequently. I must admit I rarely use the HFP enquiry page as I don’t find it that convenient (sorry Rob). Maybe I should.
I found a hotel in Germany on Virtuoso that was in the right place at the right price and tried to book but maybe because I was on a mobile device or just a portal problem it wouldn’t let me so I sent a note to this popular travel agent with the details asking him to to book for me. I mentioned my SLH number as I saw they were part of that group in order to try and get points (like I would do with Accor or IHG etc) and perhaps crucially, I did not mention I wanted the Virtuoso rate/benefits.
I got conformation back that it was booked but did not check the details fully. Another mistake.
When I checked in there was none of the chat about upgrades, credit, just breakfast. Not all hotels are good at that and I just assumed as a wedding was going on I got no upgrade and have never had a problem with any previous Virtuoso or FHR booking so didn’t question it.
Come check out I was not given any credit against my F&B spend so I queried this and was told it wasn’t part of the rate. I was just booked on B&B. Surprised, I gave a call to the agent that booked it but no answer. I paid and left assuming there was a misunderstanding and it wouldn’t let be sorted out in due course.
Having now exchanged a few emails with the travel agent, they are stating that they have done nothing wrong and have just booked what I asked for. I’ve tried to understand why they think I wouldn’t have wanted the Virtuoso benefits but just get told they booked the room I asked for. Quite why they thought I would want to use them for a standard rate when I could have booked directly with either SLH or Hilton and received at least the points I find impossible to understand.
I guess strictly speaking they have just taken an order but if I had provided a lesser service than what I feel I should have done as a professional then I would have at least apologised and tried to make amends even if I had done it in good faith.
Here’s the email I sent to get the booking made:
Hi ****
I’ve been trying to book the Heritage Room for 1 night, 1 person, on April 11th at Schlosshotel Kronberg but the system keeps crashing on me.
I would like to request secure parking if available. My SLH membership number is ********.
Booking is for **** ***** and my number is ***********
CC details:
************ **/**
Thanks
****
Have had good experience with the same agent in the past, however, recently, response times are slower, emails are two lines, generic email saying check cancellation terms etc, whereas when cancellation terms are not mentioned in the booking confirmation and when I query it there is no reply. Looking for another Virtuoso agent to move my business to.
Same. No response to recent enquiry through hfp form. Booked through another agent
We’ve not had such reports before, would be very rare. It’s a very personal operation as far as I know, I hope everyone is ok there.
@NorthernLass and @Tootsci – all seems well, but having watched the news this evening it sounds as though there are likely to be more tremors this week. Fortunately we’ll be travelling NE away from the fault line.
Not so long ago we were in Tokyo in a high rise hotel when the room and floor shook – that was more scary as we were high up and enclosed. On another occasion we were driving in NZ when my son found he could control steering the car. We discovered the following day there had been earthquake. Last week in a town near Tbilisi people were walking along the road instead of on the pavement. Our tour guide said it was because there had been an earthquake there many years ago and people were told not to walk under balconies as some had collapsed and the residents still followed the rules! I think I shall avoid walking under balconies whilst we’re here in California!
I’ve been trying to book the Heritage Room for 1 night, 1 person, on April 11th at Schlosshotel Kronberg but the system keeps crashing on me.
This is my go-to hotel when work forces me toward soulless Frankfurt. Hands down the best place to escape town with good personal attention. And you know your money / corporate spend is going to a decent family.
Aak for one of the off-menu vintages. No better way to round off a day than a 80’s Winkeler Hasensprung / Johannesberger Klaus Spätlese over dinner or a 60’s trockenbeerenauslese with dessert & coffee.
So, I had a chat with Emyr about the case above.
First – there was an element of misunderstanding. Very few SLH hotels are in Virtuoso. This is a very niche hotel (had any of us heard of it?) Emyr assumed it was an SLH booking and did that. Honest mistake. It would been clear to the booker if he had looked at the confirmation.
Second – Emyr offered to pay $100 out of his own pocket towards another upcoming booking made by the same person. He accepted this offer. Oddly he has not mentioned it in the postings here.
So, I had a chat with Emyr about the case above.
First – there was an element of misunderstanding. Very few SLH hotels are in Virtuoso. This is a very niche hotel (had any of us heard of it?) Emyr assumed it was an SLH booking and did that. Honest mistake. It would been clear to the booker if he had looked at the confirmation.
Second – Emyr offered to pay $100 out of his own pocket towards another upcoming booking made by the same person. He accepted this offer. Oddly he has not mentioned it in the postings here.
To be fair to the poster they did state this at the end of their post at 16:19:
“As it turns out, the agent has now made an acceptable offer to smooth things over”
How would you feel?
There’s a popular hotel booking agent promoted by this website that get lots of positive feedback and I wanted to share my recent experience get a neutral view on it.
Like many on here I like to eke out the bast value for all my stays and as I do a lot of 1 or night stops on road trips I tend to use FHR & Virtuoso frequently. I must admit I rarely use the HFP enquiry page as I don’t find it that convenient (sorry Rob). Maybe I should.
I found a hotel in Germany on Virtuoso that was in the right place at the right price and tried to book but maybe because I was on a mobile device or just a portal problem it wouldn’t let me so I sent a note to this popular travel agent with the details asking him to to book for me. I mentioned my SLH number as I saw they were part of that group in order to try and get points (like I would do with Accor or IHG etc) and perhaps crucially, I did not mention I wanted the Virtuoso rate/benefits.
I got conformation back that it was booked but did not check the details fully. Another mistake.
When I checked in there was none of the chat about upgrades, credit, just breakfast. Not all hotels are good at that and I just assumed as a wedding was going on I got no upgrade and have never had a problem with any previous Virtuoso or FHR booking so didn’t question it.
Come check out I was not given any credit against my F&B spend so I queried this and was told it wasn’t part of the rate. I was just booked on B&B. Surprised, I gave a call to the agent that booked it but no answer. I paid and left assuming there was a misunderstanding and it wouldn’t let be sorted out in due course.
Having now exchanged a few emails with the travel agent, they are stating that they have done nothing wrong and have just booked what I asked for. I’ve tried to understand why they think I wouldn’t have wanted the Virtuoso benefits but just get told they booked the room I asked for. Quite why they thought I would want to use them for a standard rate when I could have booked directly with either SLH or Hilton and received at least the points I find impossible to understand.
I guess strictly speaking they have just taken an order but if I had provided a lesser service than what I feel I should have done as a professional then I would have at least apologised and tried to make amends even if I had done it in good faith.
Here’s the email I sent to get the booking made:
Hi ****
I’ve been trying to book the Heritage Room for 1 night, 1 person, on April 11th at Schlosshotel Kronberg but the system keeps crashing on me.
I would like to request secure parking if available. My SLH membership number is ********.
Booking is for **** ***** and my number is ***********
CC details:
************ **/**
Thanks
****
Have had good experience with the same agent in the past, however, recently, response times are slower, emails are two lines, generic email saying check cancellation terms etc, whereas when cancellation terms are not mentioned in the booking confirmation and when I query it there is no reply. Looking for another Virtuoso agent to move my business to.
Same for me of late! I can recommend an alternative Virtuoso agent, and they do read hfp, and comment, but it would not be appropriate for me to post on here, for obvious reasons.
So, I had a chat with Emyr about the case above.
First – there was an element of misunderstanding. Very few SLH hotels are in Virtuoso. This is a very niche hotel (had any of us heard of it?) Emyr assumed it was an SLH booking and did that. Honest mistake. It would been clear to the booker if he had looked at the confirmation.
Second – Emyr offered to pay $100 out of his own pocket towards another upcoming booking made by the same person. He accepted this offer. Oddly he has not mentioned it in the postings here.
Hold on there, Rob…
As the above poster said, at 16:19 yesterday I said an acceptable offer was made. However, he did not offer to pay $100 out of his own pocket as far as I can tell.
This is what I received from Emyr yesterday:
‘While i can’t do anything about Saturday’s booking, I notice you have a reservation at the Raffles in Warsaw later this year – I have arranged for an extra $50 hotel credit to be included on your reservation, so you will have $150 credit in total to use there.’
I’ve tried to be fair about this on here and really just wanted neutral views on what happened.
@smitrax – I think that as markets soften, there will be ever better direct deals to be done which hotels won’t want to show in their headline rates. I’m already experiencing it in one market (at two hotels in different cities) but others are very steady for now.
I’d like to hear some of your hotel recommendation. I’ve read a few posts of yours that seem to indicate you are not a fan of the big chains so genuinely would like to know some of your personal favourites.
I don’t do recommendations as one never knows what other people like; even family and good friends like different things and have different concepts of comfort and value. It’s also a constantly changing scene. We increasingly use Airbnb or similar as hotels aren’t getting better, prices have run away and one can find bigger, better accommodation. Very pleased with two recent apartment/house stays in Nice and two in Argentina where the hotel options just weren’t very satisfactory. Two very good new hotels in Nice (better than existing) but silly prices even way out of season.
I don’t like the biggest chains because they are generally so dull, dark, small rooms etc. and offer poor value. Hyatt stands well above IHG/Hilton/Marriott and is the only one that offers a good top level product that is much superior to WA, StR, RC, IC etc which are just the same as the junior cousins with a bit of badly applied lipstick and then there are (sub)brands like Kimpton that try to be cool. Also these hotels are all usually incredibly expensive/bad value vs real luxury hotels (including luxury chains), presumably because of the loyalty effect. As far as chains go, the luxury only ones (with the notable exceptions of Four Seasons and many Belmonds) like Como, Aman, Peninsula, Dorchester, Mandarin offer consistently top notch service with well maintained original accommodation and will offer great deals if you ask nicely. Kempinski a very close runner up as well!
Of smaller places from the last couple of years that we would definitely revisit, we had to try a different hotel in Buenos Aires earlier this month and the Mio was good, Legado Mitico in BsAs and Salta good also. In Tasmania, Stillwater Seven in Launceston and Piermont Retreat on the East coast both fab with great food, in China the Yangshuo Mountain Retreat, not smart or expensive, but so comfortable, lovely staff, brilliant location and unparalleled views. In Zihuatanejo, Mexico the tiny twin hotels Espuma and Tentaciones. In Burgundy Como Montrachet (or Leflaive) although really good less expensive Airbnb options in Beaune as well. In Spain, the parador at Cuenca. In Belgrade, Square Nine, in Albania Zoe Hora at Dhërmi and Villa Përmet. In Greece, Avaton in Halkidiki. Many more hopefuls in the pipeline for 2025!
I regret reading this as your Zihuatanejo recommendation looks delightful. I’ve booked the Thompson, and will probably stick with that due to being on the beach, but Tentaciones looks fab to possibly go back to in the future if we like it in Zihua.
What’s the food like at Tentaciones, and I take it the restaurant is available to non-hotel guests?
- The topic ‘Chat thread – Monday 14th April’ is closed to new replies.
Popular articles this week:
