Mr & Mrs Smith availability

[NorthernLass]

2024 is A level year chez nous and I have been forbidden from booking any major holidays during Q’s 1 and 2 or indeed anything which might distract the teenager from his revision. (I managed to pass 5 A levels without sacrificing any socialising or sunbathing but apparently the hedonistic 80s approach to studying is frowned upon nowadays 😂)

Anyway, I am consoling myself by booking a series of mini breaks for me and my OH and thought it would be fun to check out some of the UK Mr & Mrs Smith portfolio, partly using some of our accumulated points (not wholly though as they can be quite poor value). However, there seems to be no rhyme or reason as to when you can book award nights. Some properties never seem to have reward availability (e.g. Grantley Hall near Ripon), and some have it but on odd nights (e.g. Saturday is available but Thursday isn’t, even though there are rooms to be had for cash).

I’ve managed to snag a couple of points bargains over next Easter weekend in the Cotswolds but it’s slow going, especially as each individual property has their own policy around breakfast and other benefits.

Does anyone else have any sweet spots to share?

[jsto]

Personally I haven’t noticed any sweet spots (unless you have an old IHG Creation Free Night voucher) – value seems to be pretty constant at ~0.55p/point (which isn’t too bad, imo). One thing worth looking out for though is hotels that automatically include breakfast in the standard room rate. Then you can be reasonably confident you’ll get breakfast included on a points booking, as to the hotel it just shows up as a standard Mr & Mrs Smith booking.

[RussellH]

jsto wrote:

as to the hotel it just shows up as a standard Mr & Mrs Smith booking.

i have seen that stated elsewhere too. Nevertheless, when checking out a week ago, I was told “The room is paid for with IHG points, so there is just last night’s dinner to pay for”.

[NorthernLass]

I actually stayed at a Mr & Mrs property last night – Rothay Manor near Ambleside. We certainly did get breakfast and it was superb. It’s a real shame they are leaving IHG! It was a points booking but it wasn’t mentioned when I paid the bill for the previous night’s dinner. The staff member at reception said she wasn’t even aware they were leaving IHG.

[RussellH]

NorthernLass wrote:

I actually stayed at a Mr & Mrs property last night – Rothay Manor near Ambleside. We certainly did get breakfast and it was superb. It’s a real shame they are leaving IHG! It was a points booking but it wasn’t mentioned when I paid the bill for the previous night’s dinner. The staff member at reception said she wasn’t even aware they were leaving IHG.

Never stayed there – too near home until recently. But we did have a couple of excellent afternoon teas there!

And we did get free breakfast at our stay in Somerset

[jsto]

Anyone had any luck finding availability with Mr & Mrs Smith properties? All seems to have disappeared, presumably due to the Hyatt news.
I fear for my points stay in Crete at the end of July….

[yorkieflyer]

jsto wrote:

Anyone had any luck finding availability with Mr & Mrs Smith properties? All seems to have disappeared, presumably due to the Hyatt news.
I fear for my points stay in Crete at the end of July….

Same for ours in the UK in August, hoping at least for an offer of a favourable rate, we got this at Bertchesgarten a few years ago in same circumstances

[gtellez]

OMAAT has reported today that the partnership ends immediately, but previous bookings will be honoured and will earn points.

[jsto]

That would be a massive relief, had used around a million points for my booking over the summer so certainly didn’t want to lose it.
Regret not booking up places like Chewton Glen and Heckfield Place over the next 12 months though!

[jsto]

On the IHG site: https://www.ihg.com/rewardsclub/content/us/en/mrmrssmith

[shilly]

Yes just had an email from IHG confirming our reservations at Chewton Glen and Cliveden will still be honoured for July so huge relief!!!

[yorkieflyer]

And had an email saying my august booking is safe and will earn points. It’s a points booking so we’ll see?

[Dace]

Starting to realise how big of a miss Mr and Mrs Smith is for the IHG chain. I would’ve booked an expensive Ski trip and at least two other hotels for about 6 nights in the first quarter of 2024 if I had realised the partnership was going to end.

[Peter K]

Yes. Similar for me. It feels like there is a gaping hole in IHG’s portfolio now as well.