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This is today’s chat thread.
If you have specific questions about Avios, hotels or credit cards, please ask them in the appropriate forum and not here. This thread is a good place to post interesting deals you have spotted or your general thoughts on travel and all things miles and points. Thank you for contributing.
Why is it so hard to find shower facilities at Heathrow?
In June I’ll be spending 5+ hours at Heathrow having arrived solo at T3 on a Virgin red-eye from NYC before departing T3 on a BA flight to Sofia with friends. Then 5 days later on the return leg we arrive from Sofia late Sunday evening and I fly back to NYC early Monday morning.
I’m flying economy and don’t have status with any loyalty programs but I’m happy to pay for lounge access. As far as I can tell, none of the pay lounges in T3 have showers, but I’d have enough time to go to another terminal if that gave me access to shower facilities at a pay lounge.
On my return I don’t suppose there are any lounges open overnight (and the by-the-hour hotel costs more than my flights) so any recommendations on a comfy spot would be appreciated.Woken up to a new offer from Hedonism Wines on my Amex. Spend £350 get £50 back. Brings Conti DRC Three Magnum OWC 2009 down from an extortionate £195,000 to a far more reasonable £194,950. I’m in. If anyone else is interested I’d check you Amex offers. At this price they won’t be around for long…
@Swiss Jim – thanks for that, bargain! I’m ordering a case 😉,
Also have wine flyer, spend £149 collect 3,000 Avios.Good morning from the Staybridge Suites Cannes, an absolute bargain for 25k points. Hotel is fairly new, immaculately clean, 12 normal hangars, coffee machine AND kettle, iron, ironing board, fully equipped kitchen, quality loo roll and proper doors to the facilities. It was only a 10 minute walk to the front where my extensive search for a restaurant that was ‘different’ paid off, Le Pompon is a tiny restaurant with only 16 seats inside, it was fully booked with dozens being turned away. The food was sublime, four decent sized sharing plates ranging from raw sea bass to candied lamb. Next stop Carcassonne as we make our way to Northern Spain.
@strickers, always good to know about new/bargain hotels in that area! Lucky you going to Carcassonne – it was one of my cancelled pandemic trips which I never managed to re-arrange.
How far into northern Spain are you going?
Good morning from the Staybridge Suites Cannes, an absolute bargain for 25k points. Hotel is fairly new, immaculately clean, 12 normal hangars, coffee machine AND kettle, iron, ironing board, fully equipped kitchen, quality loo roll and proper doors to the facilities.
This must be the first hotel that ticks every single box for me.
Well done on finding such a place.I’ve never stayed at a Staybridge (think I parked in their carpark in Liverpool by the docks, but don’t think that counts) is their breakfast much different to a HIX?
@NorthernLass Just San Sebastián and Santander, two nights at each destination with one night in Biarritz before. Ferry home from Santander to end the month long road trip!
@Aston, they’re pretty good properties and often a bargain on points, and you have the benefits of a hotel and studio/suite accommodation. The Liverpool one is in a great location on the docks and is brand new and very comfortable.
What a fabulous breakfast spread too, including oranges with a juicer and warm bread.
What a fabulous breakfast spread too, including oranges with a juicer and warm bread.
Is that normal or location specific?
@Aston100 I’m sure someone will be along in a minute but this is my first Staybridge stay, I’d be back to this hotel if I was in the area without hesitation.
Good morning from the Staybridge Suites Cannes, an absolute bargain for 25k points. Hotel is fairly new, immaculately clean, 12 normal hangars, coffee machine AND kettle, iron, ironing board, fully equipped kitchen, quality loo roll and proper doors to the facilities. It was only a 10 minute walk to the front where my extensive search for a restaurant that was ‘different’ paid off, Le Pompon is a tiny restaurant with only 16 seats inside, it was fully booked with dozens being turned away. The food was sublime, four decent sized sharing plates ranging from raw sea bass to candied lamb. Next stop Carcassonne as we make our way to Northern Spain.
Sounds good! As a very regular visitor to this part of the world, there are more good non tourist type restaurants than one thinks like Le Pompon – the Gault & Millau guide is ones friend!
PS. as an aviator, are you actually finding hangars in cupboards?
Why is it so hard to find shower facilities at Heathrow?
In June I’ll be spending 5+ hours at Heathrow having arrived solo at T3 on a Virgin red-eye from NYC before departing T3 on a BA flight to Sofia with friends. Then 5 days later on the return leg we arrive from Sofia late Sunday evening and I fly back to NYC early Monday morning.
I’m flying economy and don’t have status with any loyalty programs but I’m happy to pay for lounge access. As far as I can tell, none of the pay lounges in T3 have showers, but I’d have enough time to go to another terminal if that gave me access to shower facilities at a pay lounge.
On my return I don’t suppose there are any lounges open overnight (and the by-the-hour hotel costs more than my flights) so any recommendations on a comfy spot would be appreciated.My immediate thought was a day room at a heathrow hotel. The Hilton near T2/T3 wasn’t listed for the date I typed in, but the HGI at Hatton Cross (free travel on the tube there and back) was £65. Not cheap, but only double the cost of a pay lounge
But the underlying problem is valid: I value the Virgin Revivals lounge after an overnight flight, so understand your frustration
@NorthernLass Just San Sebastián and Santander, two nights at each destination with one night in Biarritz before. Ferry home from Santander to end the month long road trip!
Very nice. I’ll be visiting San Sebastián in June so do report back on any culinary discoveries.
PS. as an aviator, are you actually finding hangars in cupboards? 🤣
Force of habit to write that I expect.
Why is it so hard to find shower facilities at Heathrow?
In June I’ll be spending 5+ hours at Heathrow having arrived solo at T3 on a Virgin red-eye from NYC before departing T3 on a BA flight to Sofia with friends. Then 5 days later on the return leg we arrive from Sofia late Sunday evening and I fly back to NYC early Monday morning.
I’m flying economy and don’t have status with any loyalty programs but I’m happy to pay for lounge access. As far as I can tell, none of the pay lounges in T3 have showers, but I’d have enough time to go to another terminal if that gave me access to shower facilities at a pay lounge.
On my return I don’t suppose there are any lounges open overnight (and the by-the-hour hotel costs more than my flights) so any recommendations on a comfy spot would be appreciated.For the return leg Premier inn T4 is attached to the terminal and is an easy free rail/tube ride away and often very inexpensive
Just been searching the IHG app for an upcoming stay & overnight the Ruby hotel chain has appeared (London search) with a note saying IHG benefits coming soon. To book it says you need to go direct to the hotel itself – didn’t try as not really interested until they are fully integrated.
There was a HFP article on it recently, some interesting properties.
Why is it so hard to find shower facilities at Heathrow?
Plaza Premium used to have arrivals lounges at LHR T2/3/4 but I guess they didn’t work out commercially.
@NorthernLass Just San Sebastián and Santander, two nights at each destination with one night in Biarritz before. Ferry home from Santander to end the month long road trip!
Very nice. I’ll be visiting San Sebastián in June so do report back on any culinary discoveries.
We’ve been a few times to SS and are back there next week for an eating and drinking trip. Some recommendations but I would just suggest wandering, eating and drinking!
Ganbarra, La Mejilonera (throwing mussels), La Vina (cheesecake), Bar Sport (good for sea urchins), Bar Nestor
We always go to Casa Julian in Tolosa – short train ride (which is cheap) but amazing steak.
@strickers – enjoy Carcassonne. If you have time go along the Canal du Midi.
Staybridge Suites is our go to hotel in Birmingham. Excellent location close to New Street.
Just been searching the IHG app for an upcoming stay & overnight the Ruby hotel chain has appeared (London search) with a note saying IHG benefits coming soon. To book it says you need to go direct to the hotel itself – didn’t try as not really interested until they are fully integrated.
I’m staying at the Ruby Geneva next week, and similarly noted that it had appeared in the IHG app. We’ll undoubtedly be staying just before IHG benefits become available.
Just received an email from Air France to say that our flight from Nice to LHR has been modified and it will now make a stop over in Paris Charles de Gaulle.
However, the email and booking section of both Air France and Virgin Atlantic where booking was made on points) does not have any information regarding the change or the length of stop over time.
Anybody experienced this before?
Interesting (ultimately failed) attempt by Lufthansa to argue that – post-Brexit – UK originating delay compensation claims are invalid. Paywall removed.
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