[AnotherUser]

I got a similar offer. £30pppn. Could work out ok value if the lounge and food/drinks are good quality, even with a diamond breakfast – the website talks about afternoon tea and evening cocktails. Hard to know quality in advance, though!

[AnotherUser]

NorthernLass wrote:

@LiamG, was the upgrade at check-in? They mithered me a couple of times by email to pay for a further upgrade, which I resisted, and my booking is still showing as the rather uninspiring King Premium Pet Friendly!

Last stay I booked the double classic, and my booking was initially showing as upgraded to a King Premium Pet Friendly. They upgraded me at check-in to a room with a spectacular view out to the water and a sofa by the window (can’t remember the category – it wasn’t massive, but well laid out and an ok amount of space).

I was hoping they might have started confirming upgrades (beyond the one category guarantee) earlier. No obligation on them to do that, of course!

[AnotherUser]

That’s good to hear – thanks!

Did you find out about the upgrade in advance, or just on the day?

[AnotherUser]

NorthernLass wrote:

I’m just wondering where Diamond breakfast will be served, though if they offer it via room service that would be very pleasant! We’ll be out all day so not worth paying for lounge access.

They did offer free diamond breakfast by room service earlier on this year (don’t think they even billed me for the tip I charged to the room). Don’t know if they’re still doing this, of course.

Would also be curious where diamond breakfast is served, though – room service breakfast probably works less well with a larger toddler!

[AnotherUser]

Don’t know about where breakfast is served, but room service breakfast earlier in the year was fun. Lots of (very good quality) choices, and you could order multiple options

[AnotherUser]

I’d be curious if anyone has experience of the lounge yet?

[AnotherUser]

Lady London wrote:

Looks like I will need to see if IHG will extend my first ever Ambassador by 2 months then

I’d be happy to give the voucher to someone else but IIRC it’s been said on here the Ambassador member must check in, if I recall correctly. A pity, as some friends could do with a short break somewhere nice after a recent issue and the price range of their nearest IC is fine for them – the voucher would sweeten it a bit.

Worth emailing the ambassador help desk to ask if you can use the voucher to treat your friends? They’ll sometimes go beyond policy/T&C’s to be helpful, and it seems like a pretty reasonable thing to ask

[AnotherUser]

Seems to be about 10% cheaper than other non-refundable rates on UK dates I looked at – not bad, but not amazing. With status, I’d be tempted to book a cheaper room on the Railcard rate then try to negotiate an upgrade…

[AnotherUser]

can2 wrote:

Plat’s Hilton Gold doesn’t come with night/stay credits. So a Diamond run requires starting from zero nights — unless Hilton runs some promo

Yeah – sometimes a Hilton status match promo will let you get diamond with fewer nights, but getting Hilton Gold from amex platinum will make you ineligible for a Hilton status match

[AnotherUser]

TJones wrote:

If you want status, I’d maybe look at getting IHG status through amex platinum then either doing the same with Hilton or trying to do a status match for Hilton diamond. Ambassador status may be worth buying if you have an IC stay planned. I’d consider how much money and effort you want to put into this, though. Can you time it so status comes with card sign ups and stays you were doing anyway?

I’d like to know how the OP could get IHG status from Amex Platinum.

Sorry – I misremembered that! Getting status with another chain through amex platinum and using that to try to get Hilton Diamond might still be doable, though I don’t think I’d bother in the OP’s position (and apparently my memory can’t be trusted…)

[AnotherUser]

BJ wrote:

I’d join all the major schemes but with that level of stays I’d resist being caught up in loyalty, preferring instead to find best deal on a trip by trip basis regardless of it being independent or chain. In this respect and given your number of nights per year have a look at Ebookers Bonus+. As a family Amex Platinum and associated Hilton Gold could work for you provided you’re all eligible for the insurance. You don’t mention what category of hotels you stay which is also a key factor. For many status is about upgrades and breakfast. Great upgrades have become increasingly difficult to come by but are still possible. For breakfast remember that quite a few brands include it such as HIX, Staybridge, Hampton, Residence Inn therefore status is not necessary if these work for you.

I agree. I’ve got IHG Diamond and Hilton Gold (from credit cards) and – while the free breakfast and shot at an upgrade are nice for a short break in Europe – I’ll often end up booking elsewhere for better price, location etc. I’ve just booked a holiday apartment for a week’s holiday later in the year as a nice flat was about half the price of a HGI. I’m also booking a pre flight night in premier Inn over IHG, as I’d rather save £100 on a place to crash and eat breakfast in the lounge…

A lot of midrange and serviced apartments brands include breakfast anyway (or breakfast may be so-so even if you get it added due to status). Brands like Hampton generally have fewer room types so limited upgrades. Free breakfast is more attractive in higher end brands (and lounge access if you get Hilton diamond).

If you want status, I’d maybe look at getting IHG status through amex platinum then either doing the same with Hilton or trying to do a status match for Hilton diamond. Ambassador status may be worth buying if you have an IC stay planned. I’d consider how much money and effort you want to put into this, though. Can you time it so status comes with card sign ups and stays you were doing anyway?

[AnotherUser]

Anyone found a way to use amex travel to book Ryanair flights? I was hoping to do this for the same reason, but can’t see a way

[AnotherUser]

Have they fixed this already? Can’t see suites available for any dates

[AnotherUser]

Give the hotel an email or a call – if you have diamond and the room rate looked like it would include breakfast, I’d hope they could work something out!

Even with diamond only covering breakfast for two, I’ve never been charged extra for my under-2 (although he eats almost as much as me 🙂 )

[AnotherUser]

You’re welcome. If you need breakfast, I think Railcard rate pretty much always doesn’t include this. The savings may more than cover breakfast, but most often either a breakfast included rate or booking via Emyr or FHR would be better value

[AnotherUser]

Also never stayed at that hotel. I’d second the advice to consider Ambassador, especially if you can combine with using the free weekend night.

I’d also consider either booking with Emyr via this site (to get benefits, but also still be able to register the stay to your IHG account and benefit from Ambassador status if you have it) or looking at the Railcard rate for one or two nights to see if this will save you money. Enjoy the trip!

[AnotherUser]

OldComber wrote:

I’ve a RR UK balance – about 430k or so.
Bearing in mind the decimation of the UK RR scheme and the reduction in value, would you advise transferring to RR US and availing of the transfer to Choice?
I’ve not much intention of using my points in the UK, and I normally stay in London Park Plaza’s/Radissons, and the new scheme isn’t very attractive for that.
Wife & I have BA companion vouchers that we have aspirations of using to visit New York, or Australia in the next year or so.
Any advice?
Thanks

I’ve moved my Radisson points to RR US. As per Rob’s link above, using them with Nordic choice is likely to give much better value (my back of the envelope calculations had me getting more than 4 times the value on an Oslo or Helsinki redemption). There’s a risk I’ll never manage to redeem there or that I’ll be shafted by another devaluation while the points stay in a worse scheme, but the risk seems worthwhile.

[AnotherUser]

Yeah – likely just IHG IT playing up. Day with a y in it 🙂

[AnotherUser]

Thanks. Staybridge Newcastle. I’d booked the add-on to the flex rate (and noticed that this is advertised as elite qualifying in the app during the booking process). Will contact IHG if the points don’t become qualifying, and post my result here.

[AnotherUser]

I think the T&C’s will allow the hotel to say ‘no’. I’d phone or email the IC Edinburgh saying what you would like and asking what they can suggest, though – I found them v helpful when I had questions (and they upgraded me to a nice – non-suite – room for free due to Ambassador).

For me one of the good things about that hotel is the spectacular views over the water from some rooms. I’d personally rather have a smaller room with a sofa overlooking the view than a suite without the view. YMMV, though, especially if the kids are travelling with you.

[AnotherUser]

Thanks for the replies! I’ll check there’s not a big gig on, but given prices when I’m looking at I’d guess the hotel won’t be that busy. I won’t bother paying extra for the lounge

[AnotherUser]

Thanks for the reminder! I thought I’d have to book when I got the vouchers, but can I get £50 vouchers (worth £150) and just use them within a year?

[AnotherUser]

Thanks – only 10k points a night, so not a big difference! Will probably just try the DT

[AnotherUser]

Thanks for the replies. I’ll very likely go for the Hampton, then (the location works ok for my plans, and there are good places to eat nearby). Might email the Doubletree on the off chance they’ll upgrade me to a castle view room, though 🙂

[AnotherUser]

Unless you’re attending a conference at that hotel, I’d avoid booking it if there is a big event on in the hotel (there often is). Can feel oddly like you’ve snuck into someone else’s work event, and the hotel can be a bit slammed if there is a big event. Lots of people will feel different, though.

I wasn’t thrilled to be there during a conference when I was attending the conference 😉