-
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.
Good evening/morning from the Residence Inn (formerly a Conrad) in Chicago.
Prices seem to have softened a touch since last year, unless you want a steak because apparently there are fewer cows than last year so prices have gone up. Had a nice bison burger at a Doubletree restaurant in South Dakota last night but was a little miffed to see $1.09 in “operational fee” added to the bill. I didn’t bother to challenge it as the service, food and beer were excellent and the total cost was reasonable.
Public transport is still half the price of Manchester and London. Uber prices are the same as last year.
Been in the US a week, can’t report any obvious change since last year really. Parks are still great (and as I’ve said before nothing in the world beats an $80 national park pass for value), food is good, prices aren’t crazy unless you go to the luxury end where you will be absolutely fleeced.
Time to hit the blues clubs, that’s why I’m here yet again.
Good evening/morning from the Residence Inn (formerly a Conrad) in Chicago.
Prices seem to have softened a touch since last year, unless you want a steak because apparently there are fewer cows than last year so prices have gone up. Had a nice bison burger at a Doubletree restaurant in South Dakota last night but was a little miffed to see $1.09 in “operational fee” added to the bill. I didn’t bother to challenge it as the service, food and beer were excellent and the total cost was reasonable.
Public transport is still half the price of Manchester and London. Uber prices are the same as last year.
Been in the US a week, can’t report any obvious change since last year really. Parks are still great (and as I’ve said before nothing in the world beats an $80 national park pass for value), food is good, prices aren’t crazy unless you go to the luxury end where you will be absolutely fleeced.
Time to hit the blues clubs, that’s why I’m here yet again.
The blues clubs is something I must try sometime, sounds like a great evening, enjoy the rest of your time in Chicago Dave.
@Gordon random, have been sitting next to a guy from Wigan, just a free miles from where I live.
Chicago blues clubs are amazing. Blue Chicago tonight to see the amazing Ivy Ford yet again. Rosas lounge tomorrow and then 3 days in millennium park, 9 hours per day, all free.
@davefl, it’s a small world! Your trip sounds amazing, bison burgers and blues 🎶. Chicago and national parks definitely on my list for future travels.
We’re off to the zoo this morning (or bioparc as they call it!) with a very excited, animal-mad 6 year old!
Good evening/morning from the Residence Inn (formerly a Conrad) in Chicago.
Prices seem to have softened a touch since last year, unless you want a steak because apparently there are fewer cows than last year so prices have gone up. Had a nice bison burger at a Doubletree restaurant in South Dakota last night but was a little miffed to see $1.09 in “operational fee” added to the bill. I didn’t bother to challenge it as the service, food and beer were excellent and the total cost was reasonable.
Public transport is still half the price of Manchester and London. Uber prices are the same as last year.
Been in the US a week, can’t report any obvious change since last year really. Parks are still great (and as I’ve said before nothing in the world beats an $80 national park pass for value), food is good, prices aren’t crazy unless you go to the luxury end where you will be absolutely fleeced.
Time to hit the blues clubs, that’s why I’m here yet again.
Wait, a Conrad converted to a Residence Inn sounds rather hilarious to me :)))
I hope this is helpful to others… please note there is a train strike in The Netherlands tomorrow! Won’t impact Eurostar but Schipol trains won’t be running. I am off to The Hague via Amsterdam and have managed to book a car but expect the taxi queues to be long.
@davefl Have a great time at the blues clubs. I know it’s highly subjective, but which of the national parks do you rate most highly?
Wait, a Conrad converted to a Residence Inn sounds rather hilarious to me :)))
It’s actually more surreal. Half of the tower is Springfield, the other half is Residence. Residence is comsiderable cheaper than Springfield. TBH I can’t tell the difference between them.
@davefl Have a great time at the blues clubs. I know it’s highly subjective, but which of the national parks do you rate most highly?
Thank you, epic night. They really don’t let you down.
Impossible to say really as they’re all so different. Maybe Yosemite and Mount Rainier. Both tried their hardest to kill me. 52 parks down, 5 more to go before I call it a day. Alaska remote parks and Guam can whistle!
@davefl Have a great time at the blues clubs. I know it’s highly subjective, but which of the national parks do you rate most highly?
Alaska remote parks and Guam can whistle!
This is not the attitude or hardened frequent fliers and exploiters of Avios and miles!! 🤣
Good morning. Has anyone tried using vouchers in the Club Avolta app at World Duty Free at Heathrow. I converted my avios into two £50 vouchers but when the assistant scanned the barcode the till didn’t recognise them. The manager came over and said the only way it will work is if I request physical vouchers from Club Avolta. Their tills do not accept the barcodes in the app. This doesn’t seem right to me. Has anyone else had this experience?
I’m registered with hilton for business and signed up to the current 15k bonus whilst i was away on an ordinary award stay (non business rate booking).
The 5K bonus points have posted, so it appears it isn’t necessary to book for business rate. Just as long as signed up..Wait, a Conrad converted to a Residence Inn sounds rather hilarious to me :)))
It’s actually more surreal. Half of the tower is Springfield, the other half is Residence. Residence is comsiderable cheaper than Springfield. TBH I can’t tell the difference between them.
A snapshot of current hospitality marketing :))
Different floor levels, different hotels… Put an Autograph hotel in the basement!Good evening/morning from the Residence Inn (formerly a Conrad) in Chicago.
Prices seem to have softened a touch since last year, unless you want a steak because apparently there are fewer cows than last year so prices have gone up. Had a nice bison burger at a Doubletree restaurant in South Dakota last night but was a little miffed to see $1.09 in “operational fee” added to the bill. I didn’t bother to challenge it as the service, food and beer were excellent and the total cost was reasonable.
Public transport is still half the price of Manchester and London. Uber prices are the same as last year.
Been in the US a week, can’t report any obvious change since last year really. Parks are still great (and as I’ve said before nothing in the world beats an $80 national park pass for value), food is good, prices aren’t crazy unless you go to the luxury end where you will be absolutely fleeced.
Time to hit the blues clubs, that’s why I’m here yet again.
But what about the prices of eggs and petrol😉
@davefl – would be interested to know the cost of transport in Chicago. I think £1.75 for a bus in London, where you can change buses within the hour for free, is cheaper than most capital cities and is very good value. I can’t comment on Manchester.
If of any use to anyone.
Loganair running a redemption offer until June 10th. One way fares reduced 50% from just 3250 Avios (down from 6.5k).
https://www.loganair.co.uk/loyalty/avios-redemption-offer/If need to go to Scotland, especially outside of the destinations BA serve – some real bargains to be had Vs cash prices.
Barclaycard are weird, they have just emailed me my AVIOS updates for March, April and May, all at the same time, give or take a minute or two.
@davefl – would be interested to know the cost of transport in Chicago. I think £1.75 for a bus in London, where you can change buses within the hour for free, is cheaper than most capital cities and is very good value. I can’t comment on Manchester.
Look at the CTA website and your interest will be sated!
Barclaycard are weird, they have just emailed me my AVIOS updates for March, April and May, all at the same time, give or take a minute or two.
Yes, very strange, I received my March, April and May Avios statements yesterday.
Barclaycard are weird, they have just emailed me my AVIOS updates for March, April and May, all at the same time, give or take a minute or two.
Yes, very strange, I received my March, April and May Avios statements from Barclaycard yesterday.
Hot on the heels of Honest Burgers launching their loyalty scheme is… Fortnum & Mason, which is emailing customers to join their ‘friends’ programme for £100 per year in exchange for free order shipping and in-store events.
Funny world
Seems BA are clamping down on staff taking photos on layovers!
https://aviationa2z.com/index.php/2025/06/04/british-airways-bans-cabin-crew-from-hotel-photos/
Just had an email receipt from Hertz following returning a car yesterday at Gare du Nord – where the return instructions were terrible, the signs in the carpark to the drop off area stopped a few floors before the actual drop off location, there were no humans present other than other confused customers, and I only spotted the key Dropbox hidden behind a post out of sheer luck.
Anyway the receipt implies I only returned the car this morning (I guess that is when they opened the key box) and they’re charging me an extra €110. Like hell they are.
I’m struggling to find a phone number to discuss, so have emailed their customer service. If that fails, does anyone know a number to call? Presidents Circle applies if that helps. Thanks!
@davefl – would be interested to know the cost of transport in Chicago. I think £1.75 for a bus in London, where you can change buses within the hour for free, is cheaper than most capital cities and is very good value. I can’t comment on Manchester.
$2.50 for a single journey, so slightly higher at £1.85 (with transfers) but that’s for the L train and bus.
$5 for unlimited travel all day is hands down cheaper
@qc I covered that last week. Petrol prices are unchanged despite the orange one’s claim in his recent speech that they were amazingly lower. Eggs are eggs. If you kill millions of chickens due to avian flu then market forces push up the price, but apparently that’s not true, it’s all the fault of the previous incumbent.
@Misty Barclaycard are useless in the US at Jewel Osco (grocery store), tills say invalid merchant and also at Love’s gas station, rejected at the pump. Fell back on trusty Halifax Clarity.
@can2 There’s a Fairfield on the next block, so they tried to manage a triple. I was going to pick that one but it’s directly opposite a fire stations so loud.
I stayed at a Hilton Tru the other night which was also a Hampton. They were so integrated that when the guys in front me of needed a suite/shared room the receptionist at the Tru changed their reservation to the Hampton, cut their room key and sent them across the parking lot to the other property. Swimming pool was also shared.
@Paul I may be a collector but not a survivalist. Parks that need a $5000 float plane ride and a gun for defence against wildlife are out thanks. Guam, maybe I could tack on a trip out of Honolulu, Taipai or Tokyo on miles but I think I can live without it.
- You must be logged in to reply to this topic.
Popular articles this week:
