Maximise your Avios, air miles and hotel points

Forums Daily chat thread Click here for today’s chat thread Chat thread – Wednesday 22nd January

  • davefl 2,006 posts

    Amex appear to have fixed the SafeKey flow this evening, such that you’re not asked each time you check out if you want to use points to pay for your purchase. This means SafeKey is a one click, not two click process, which is a welcome change!

    It’s likely just broken and will return but you can always turn off that “feature” if it comes back by clicking on the settings cog icon next time it appears.

    GillyDee 115 posts

    Crikey, does anyone have any good hotel experiences in Kauai?!

    We’ve just booked the flights there for our honeymoon and I’ve been quite surprised how dated the accommodations look everywhere, so haven’t settled on anything yet. The Sheraton Coconut resort mentioned above was looking like the best of a bad bunch, and looks like that is out now too! 🥲😬

    Like you, our trip will also be split with Vegas.

    The Wyndham resort (Kauai Coast Resort at the Beachboy) seems a more genteel place whilst still having very close proximity to the sea. Given that most of the resort activities at the Sheraton are of zero interest to us, the Wyndham might have been the better option regardless of how 70s the interiors look. We booked a deluxe oceanfront king, a cavernous room which seems to have exactly the same amount of furniture as the ocean view king but with a slightly larger balcony – not worth the extra in my view – and we might have been able to check in much earlier had we not booked such a “nice” room!

    TMG 25 posts

    Crikey, does anyone have any good hotel experiences in Kauai?!

    We’ve just booked the flights there for our honeymoon and I’ve been quite surprised how dated the accommodations look everywhere, so haven’t settled on anything yet. The Sheraton Coconut resort mentioned above was looking like the best of a bad bunch, and looks like that is out now too! 🥲😬

    Like you, our trip will also be split with Vegas.

    Koa Kea was top class (2019)

    mrhbeats 7 posts

    Hawaii sounds a bit like Bali – a long and expensive way to travel from the Uk only to find yourself surrounded by people you don’t really want to be surrounded by. Only you are swapping beer swilling Australians for Buffet devouring Americans!

    NorthernLass 10,518 posts

    It’s not popular to say so but the Canaries have a lot of what you can find in Hawaii!

    strickers 1,023 posts

    @NorthernLass Indeed, it won’t be $15 plus 20% for a glass of wine either.

    BBbetter 1,253 posts

    Hawaii sounds a bit like Bali – a long and expensive way to travel from the Uk only to find yourself surrounded by people you don’t really want to be surrounded by. Only you are swapping beer swilling Australians for Buffet devouring Americans!

    The real Bali has nothing to do with the beaches in the south. I feel sad for those who stay at Kuta / Seminyak / Nusa dua and think that’s Bali.

    AL 709 posts

    Amex appear to have fixed the SafeKey flow this evening, such that you’re not asked each time you check out if you want to use points to pay for your purchase. This means SafeKey is a one click, not two click process, which is a welcome change!

    It’s likely just broken and will return but you can always turn off that “feature” if it comes back by clicking on the settings cog icon next time it appears.

    Ooh. I literally never want to spend pints!

    GillyDee 115 posts

    It’s not popular to say so but the Canaries have a lot of what you can find in Hawaii!

    Unfortunately no Hawaiian endemics, but I could certainly have spent a lot less, saved 30 hours flying, eaten far healthier and arguably enjoyed myself more.
    This morning’s delight was overhearing vigorous activity through the very badly insulated connecting door at 06:00 iyswim😱

    executiveclubber 530 posts

    It’s not popular to say so but the Canaries have a lot of what you can find in Hawaii!

    Is there anywhere pretty, without needing a car (eg accessible to supermarket / beach) and peaceful? I quite fancy a trip somewhere sunny this weekend but don’t fancy going far.

    strickers 1,023 posts

    Costa Adeje is OK, short taxi ride from the airport. I wouldn’t necessarily call it pretty but it’s warm and there are quite a few minimarts. Mixture of cheap eats and €2 pints to some very nice restaurants.

    davefl 2,006 posts

    @executiveclubber It really depends on which island. The local bus services are pretty good on the islands and pretty is a personal persepective.

    I love the rugged volcanic landscape of Lanzarote, but it does have nice beaches too. Costa Teguise, Playa Blanca would suit.

    Furteventura has great beaches and a lovely mountainous interior (car or bus to that required). Look at Corralejo or Costa Calma (both n hour from the airport) or Castillo Caleta de Fuste (20 mins from the airport).

    Can’t comment on Tenerife or GC as it’s decades since I went to both.

    Your best bet might be browsing BA Holidays/Jet2/Easyjet and find a package that has the hotel you want and also transfers to take the hassle away.

    executiveclubber 530 posts

    Thanks both. I did visit Fuerteventura in 2021 post-covid with a friend (not my usual thing) and the beach was surprisingly nice. We’re not package holiday people (prefer to explore and find our own food, plus OH is vegan) but we’ve done two Virgin Voyages thanks to this site so open to broadening our horizons and questioning our accidental snobbery!

    It seems like Iberostar is the best of the lot in the Canaries? The less people the better!

    NorthernLass 10,518 posts

    There is particularly stunning scenery in the north of Tenerife, think fluted emerald mountains, rainforest, and banana plantations (the Hawaii comparison), as well as the dramatic landscapes of Teide national park more centrally. It’s quite a hike from the main tourist airport (TFS) BUT you can connect in MAD to Los Rodeos (TFN) in the north, and IB cash flights can be really cheap.

    There’s also often good avios availability on IB.

    NorthernLass 10,518 posts

    The beach at Las Teresitas just outside Santa Cruz (a fascinating destination in itself, and where Admiral Nelson famously lost his arm!), is the nicest on the island.

    You can also go dolphin and whale-watching (also like Hawaii, but cheaper) and the snorkeling and diving are decent, though not as good as Lanzarote.

    strickers 1,023 posts

    Santa Cruz is lovely, much more authentic, whilst the weather is usually similar if a couple of degrees cooler than the south it can be changeable.

    mrhbeats 7 posts

    Hawaii sounds a bit like Bali – a long and expensive way to travel from the Uk only to find yourself surrounded by people you don’t really want to be surrounded by. Only you are swapping beer swilling Australians for Buffet devouring Americans!

    The real Bali has nothing to do with the beaches in the south. I feel sad for those who stay at Kuta / Seminyak / Nusa dua and think that’s Bali.

    100% this!

    NorthernLass 10,518 posts

    @strickers, have you been to the military museum in Santa Cruz? It’s really interesting, especially the exhibition on the Battle of Santa Cruz and Nelson’s surrender, including the desk where he signed the capitulation! (Obviously things went a bit better for him in later years 😂)

    NorthernLass 10,518 posts

    And the letter Nelson wrote to General Gutierrez thanking him for allowing the British an honourable surrender, framed on the wall in the museum!

    strickers 1,023 posts

    @NorthernLass I haven’t no, it’s on the list, I will be in Tenerife on Tuesday but only down south with no car. I’ve split a few trips between Santa Cruz and Costa Adeje in the past. I’ll add the museum to my list.

    Misty 399 posts

    It’s not popular to say so but the Canaries have a lot of what you can find in Hawaii!

    That sounds interesting haven’t been there for years, did take the kids to Gran Canarias once and Lanzarote twice but am talking 25 years ago.

    I do remember Lanzarote scenery being very striking, not pretty as such, more like a moonscape in places, and it was just about large enough to get off the beaten track. Might be time to re-visit.

    NorthernLass 10,518 posts

    Wrong day, sorry!

  • The topic ‘Chat thread – Wednesday 22nd January’ is closed to new replies.

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